"It's all your fault. If our parents find out, they'll flay you alive," Li Ruhua said, the thought of the trouble she'd face with her family giving her a headache.
Unwed pregnancy was a huge taboo.
Ma Zhongyuan had a smile on his face. Having a child means I can firmly tie Li Ruhua to me. The Li family's power is even greater than I imagined, making them a good choice among the cultivators of the Inner Sect. If I can firmly bind myself to Li Ruhua, I can ride on her coattails as she rises in status, eventually becoming a disciple of the Lingbao Sect. Otherwise, with only the status of a Protector, unclear and unofficial, who knows when I'd be 'promoted'? No one can guarantee that Li Ruhua won't grow tired of the old and seek the new; I have to firmly control her. This child represents my future. My close brother has become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingbao Sect, and I am not willing to be left behind.
