Golden Sun Pavilion!
A stream between Sun Peak and Three-Legged Crow Peak shimmered like a ribbon of glass.
It was the Spirit Sun Stream!
A narrow river sheltered by a thick canopy of trees.
A fancy wooden boat drifted along its surface.
The servant at the back pedaled slowly, sweating as he tried to keep his movements dignified, for he was currently transporting two beauties and one… baffled husband.
Li Qingmu sat in the furthest possible corner of the boat.
His knees were tight together, back straight, acting like there was no space.
As if he wasn't allowed to breathe too loudly.
He stared straight ahead.
He regretted it instantly.
Because she was there.
Song Yan sat elegantly across from him, her long, fair legs crossed beneath flowing robes. A lazy breeze brushed through the forest canopy, but she remained brighter than the sun filtering between the leaves.
Beauty like hers refused to be dimmed.
She twirled a strand of her silky white hair around one slender finger.
Even the reflection of her face in the river looked like a painting blessed by the heavens.
Li Qingmu swallowed.
If he could impregnate such a world-level beauty he would be granted empires!
And beside her, Gu Jiayue glared at him like she wanted to drown him personally.
She was a dark-skinned beauty admired by many.
Tall, short messy black hair, strong long legs.
Her slender yet athletic tomboyish figure somehow only made her much more beautiful.
It wasn't just her plump, high-set breasts she foolishly hid under layers of leather armor.
The little fang-like tooth she unconsciously bit her lip with was very cute.
And the faint blush on her caramel cheeks made her look like a strong woman who would immediately turn obedient when in bed with a man.
Li Qingmu looked away immediately.
Even looking in her direction was dangerous.
A soft hmm? came from Song Yan.
She flicked her hair gracefully, and her phoenix-like eyes curved with interest.
"Are you tired of looking at me, Qingmu?"
She smiled sweetly.
But it felt dangerous.
Gu Jiayue's heart nearly stopped.
『E-, Elder Song… is casually allowing a peasant to stare at her? Unfair! UNFAIR!!』
Li Qingmu choked on air, then cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Elder Song… I only want to know why we're going to Three-Legged Crow Peak?"
He gestured vaguely to the golden forest around them.
"That peak is reserved for Immortal Officials and Core disciples, right? I'm not even allowed past the mid-level of Spirit Sun Peak unless my wife needs me. So why take me there, of all places?"
Song Yan inhaled deeply.
Which made her already generous chest rise in a proud and perfect curve.
Gu Jiayue, who was preparing tea, glanced down.
She felt instantly inadequate and aggressively clattered cups together out of spite.
She wished she was confident to show off her breasts like Elder Song Yan's amazing pair.
Song Yan finally answered.
"The Heavenly Governor wants to see you. He personally instructed me to bring you."
She stirred a lock of her silver hair behind her ear.
"You should be grateful the news of the Peach Blossom Pill you gave Zhen Rou reached the Governor before you were executed. You were five minutes from losing your head."
Gu Jiayue finished brewing the tea and handed it to Song Yan with a respectful bow.
Li Qingmu blinked.
"…How did he even know about the pill?"
Song Yan closed her eyes and used the teacup lid to gently stir the steaming tea with elegance.
"A bald Outer Disciple barged into to my Fenghuang Peak to inform me Son-in-Law Li is being framed! Though I can't remember his exact words."
She took a sip, unbothered.
Li Qingmu scratched his cheek, blushing a little.
"Oh. I'm… flattered you knew my name."
Song Yan didn't even open her eyes.
"I don't."
"Oh."
She took another refined sip.
"But I do not tolerate the killing of innocents… it doesn't matter their status. For stepping in and saving a life without fear or hesitation…"
Her eyes opened slowly and seductively.
"I feel I deserve a reward. Yes?"
Her fox-like gaze locked onto him.
Gu Jiayue clenched her teeth.
『So shamelessly seductive…! Elder Song, you're killing me here!』
Li Qingmu tried not to stare at the soft curve of her lips.
He coughed, straightened his back.
"Ahem. What does Elder Song want?"
Then a dangerous thought hit him.
『Wait… is this because she heard how I satisfied a boar like Zhen Rou? Is this jade-like beauty seriously asking for a taste of my dragon—』
Song Yan shattered the fantasy.
"I want two of your pills."
"Eh?"
Perhaps she meant to say balls.
She placed a hand gently over her ample chest.
"I witnessed the effects on Zhen Rou myself. I'm curious how such a pill would affect me."
Li Qingmu's brows furrowed.
Oh.
So that was it.
Beauty and power—nothing was free in this world.
She was just like every other political powerhouse in the cultivation world.
Use, discard, benefit.
But surprisingly, the realization didn't sting.
Because now?
Li Qingmu understood the value of these things.
『Just like the baby in Wife's belly.』
He exhaled softly.
Song Yan noticed his silence, sipped her tea again, and asked with gentle sweetness.
"So? Will you make this pill for your big sister?"
Li Qingmu smiled warmly.
"Of course, Big Sis Song."
Crack.
The teacup in her hand cracked.
Her dainty fingers twitched.
Gu Jiayue jumped up, outraged.
"How dare you address Grand Elder Song so—"
A pale, slender hand rose.
Song Yan's.
"It's fine."
She smiled beautifully… though her eye twitched.
"I like it."
Gu Jiayue nearly fainted.
Li Qingmu nodded innocently.
The boat continued gliding along the glowing river until finally, the towering silhouette of Three-Legged Crow Peak rose like a golden fortress.
They docked at the radiant foot of the mountain.
Li Qingmu stepped off.
He waved politely to the stunning Elder and the furious but secretly flustered tomboy.
He took a single step forward.
Then froze.
"…Should I… keep walking?"
He nodded to himself.
"Yes. Maybe Father-in-law wants to thank me."
He marched forward with hands behind his back.
══════
Ancestral Hall of the Heavenly Governor.
Li Qingmu was led by two celestial guards through massive doors.
Inside, Zhen Guang sat in lotus position on an opulent throne shaped like a coiled dragon.
His beard flowed like white silk.
His eyes were sharp enough to slice souls.
This man was like an old beast!
Li Qingmu bowed immediately.
"I, Li Qingmu, pay respects to the Heavenly Governor."
Zhen Guang didn't blink.
"I don't want your greeting."
He leaned forward.
"I want a grandchild."
Li Qingmu stiffened.
"Already—!?"
He quickly composed himself.
"I've already slept with Zhen Rou. Soon she will be pregnant with your grandchil—"
"WRONG."
Zhen Guang's cultivation aura exploded.
It shook the hall.
"It's been a month! I've sent the finest physicians in Heavenly Sun City and beyond to examine her. She is NOT pregnant, you infertile pig!"
The hall trembled.
Li Qingmu collapsed onto one knee.
This was a terrible way to find out he was infertile.
"I—I didn't know—!"
After all the System didn't tell him.
Or maybe Zhen Rou was so fat his cream couldn't swim deep enough.
Zhen Guang pointed at him like a judge condemning a useless criminal.
"You have five months. If she is not pregnant…"
Li Qingmu brightened.
『Divorce? Good! That's fine too! Even being forced to leave her is still a bless—』
"…you will be brutally executed for wasting my daughter's precious virginity."
Li Qingmu stared.
"Come again?"
Zhen Guang rose and left without another word.
Li Qingmu stood alone.
Shaking.
Ding!
[New Mission: Refine a heaven-grade fertility pill]
Li Qingmu nearly collapsed.
"I am not an Apothecary Grandmaster!"
[You have a new task! Sleep with Zhen Rou ten times to acquire Heaven-grade Fertility Pill.]
He fell to his knees and clawed at the carpet.
"NOOOOOOOOO!!"
Elsewhere in the Ancestral Hall.
Zhen Guang stepped into a luxurious lounge.
Ye Lingxiao sat there with legs crossed and the serene face of a holy saint.
He immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Heavenly Governor."
Zhen Guang laughed proudly.
"I've given that infertile brat an impossible task."
He adjusted the neck of his robes.
"Soon, Zhen Rou will be yours."
He extended his hand.
Ye Lingxiao rose, smiling gently, and shook it.
"Thank you, honored Governor."