| The Paternity Guard (PATERNITY) |
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Fufeng Sect?
Hearing these three words, Xing Beiming first thought of something unpleasant but then suddenly felt fortunate. The unpleasant thing was getting acquainted with that woman named Bai, who plotted against him. As for why he felt fortunate, it was because of the person beside him. If it weren't for meeting Bai Yuqin, she wouldn't have thought of making him take fertility medicine.
Without the fertility medicine, Shi Qi wouldn't have a child and he probably wouldn't have paid attention to him. But just thinking about this made Xing Beiming feel uncomfortable all over. He pulled the person from the horse and kneaded him for a while before letting go.
Shi Qi naturally didn't know what his Master was thinking. He also thought of that woman named Bai. She was indeed a crucial part of the whole thing. If it weren't for her, his Master and he would not be in their current situation.
"Let's go and find a place to stay." Xing Beiming took the reins and led the horse into Fufeng Sect's territory.
Using Xing Beiming's reputation, Fufeng Sect warmly prepared a room for them and said there would be a grand feast at night. The young women of Fufeng Sect, except for the slightly older sect leader, all cast flirtatious glances at the two, especially after hearing Xing Beiming's name. It seemed that Bai Yuqin didn't say much about her emotional experiences to her sect after returning. There were no righteous accusations or indignation.
"The renowned leader of the top fortress in the Martial Arts World is here, bringing glory to our Fufeng Sect. Lord Xing, please rest first. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." The Sect Leader of Fufeng, Liu Xinmei, was a slightly older woman with a friendly face. Looking at Xing Beiming, her eyes were filled with admiration.
"Thank you, Sect Leader Liu." Xing Beiming nodded in thanks and led Shi Qi into a room. Liu Xinmei looked at another room prepared but unoccupied and furrowed her brow in confusion.
Women were meticulous indeed. Seeing that both of them were soaked, someone brought hot water for them. After closing the door, Xing Beiming sighed at the small bathtub in front of him.
It was inconvenient being outside. Forget about sharing a bath; he could only imagine it.
Shi Qi, seeing his Master's slightly melancholic expression, shivered.
What was his Master thinking?
‘One couldn't be too presumptuous on someone else's turf.’ Xing Beiming thought so but it didn't stop his hands from taking off Shi Qi's clothes. He even occasionally pinched the sensitive areas, making Shi Qi who didn't know if he should laugh or cry, "Master, I can do it myself. You should go in quickly."
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Xing Beiming said, "Go in? Where should I go? Here?" His hand, which had already taken off his pants, gestured towards a hidden part with a strong implication.
Shi Qi shivered while holding back someone's mischievous hand. "Master, not here..."
Ignoring his words, Xing Beiming, still conscious, just took off his clothes and helped him bathe.
This...
Shi Qi was a bit hesitant. Although it wasn't the first time but it was always after doing that kind of thing and not while he was perfectly fine.
Making his Master wipe himself, this was too...
After cleaning him thoroughly, plus countless flirtatious acts, Xing Beiming wrapped him in a clean towel before throwing him on the bed. He quickly tidied himself up and then climbed onto the bed to hug him. "Rest first. We'll talk about the night's affairs later."
During this time, numerous women, beautiful or ugly, passed by pretending to be casual but they never saw the two coming out again.
In the evening, after getting up from bed and just putting on clothes, they heard a rhythmic knock on the door. Xing Beiming's voice was deep, "Come in."
Bai Yuqin appeared in front of them with a hint of resentment and surprise on her face but not the hysteria and hatred she had when she left. She bowed gracefully and said, "Lord Xing, long time no see." But her expression stiffened when she saw Shi Qi standing beside him.
Nodding, Xing Beiming didn't abandon his sense of propriety, "Long time no see. Just passing through here, so I had to disturb."
Bai Yuqin said softly, “Lord Xing, there's no need for explanation. Yuqin wouldn't presume that Lord Xing intentionally passed through here. I'm just happy to see you at this moment and thought about the old times, so I came to say hello. Please don't blame Yuqin for it.”
Xing Beiming shook his head. “Of course not.”
Bai Yuqin hesitated to speak, seeming to have something to say. Xing Beiming's eyes flashed with cunning while Shi Qi, not understanding, wondered why his Master was so nice to Bai Yuqin. But Xing Beiming spoke first, "If you have any questions, now that this Lord is here, I'll satisfy your curiosity."
Bai Yuqin gathered her courage and asked about the recent rumors she heard, "Lord Xing, I heard that you expelled all the sisters from the Lakeside Pavilion to seek their own livelihoods?"
"That's right." he answered bluntly.
"Why?" she asked anxiously. She had made a mistake, that's why she was being expelled.
Has everyone else as well?
"Have you not heard the recent rumors? You don't need me to remind you of what you've done, right?"
Bai Yuqin took two steps back as her expression turned grim.
Of course, she knew what the recent hot topic was about.
Had the Fertility Medicine she personally gave to Xing Beiming resulted in someone else's happiness?
How ironic!
However, Xing Beiming only acknowledged the child but there was no news about the woman. She must not have won Lord Xing's heart! "Lord Xing, who is the mother of that child?"
Xing Beiming seemed to smile and his tone lost its previous distance and became more casual. "The child has no mother, only a father."
Bai Yuqin didn't understand Xing Beiming's meaning but seeing that he didn't want to discuss it further, she dared not ask anything more. She just mentioned that the Sect Master had requested their presence in the main hall of Fufeng Sect and was about to leave but Xing Beiming stopped her. "Yuqin, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with..."
………..
After the banquet, Xing Beiming and Shi Qi arrived at the back mountain of Fufeng Sect. Bai Yuqin's aunt, Wu Qinghe, lived here, secluded from the world for years and not appearing in the sect or outside, all for a man who didn't love her back, which could be considered ruining her life. Xing Beiming didn't know if her wish had been fulfilled but he hoped this trip wouldn't be in vain.
The back mountain wasn't as lush as the front, with tall and sturdy trees casting shadows and dense bushes scattered around. At night, it was pitch black, making the path almost invisible. Since there were no treasures or secret chambers here, there were no arrays or formations either. The two of them easily found a wooden house nestled between rocks and open space.
Wu Qinghe stared at the two men in front of her and was unable to comprehend why they had sought her out. Even before her seclusion, she was not well-known in the Martial Arts World. Now, she hardly met anyone in a years. "What brings you here?" she asked with a hint of urgency, wondering why these two strangers needed her assistance.
Xing Beiming didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly, "I've come to seek advice from Senior regarding fertility medicine."
Wu Qinghe's expression revealed understanding. "Did Bai Yuqin inform you of my whereabouts?" She glanced at the visibly formidable young man before her and understood why Bai Yuqin had taken a chance. However, she doubted Bai Yuqin's success. "Did she use the medicine on you?"
Xing Beiming nodded, not hiding anything. "Yes, I have a son now. But there are still some things I don't understand, so I wanted to ask Senior about the specific effects of this medicine."
Wu Qinghe laughed heartily. "It's just a fertility medicine, what other effects could it have? Compared to the random concoctions in the folk, it indeed has a hundred percent success rate. Isn't it just a matter of one night?" She jokingly wondered if something had gone wrong with the intended recipient. She had met Bai Yuqin a few times and initially thought she had given up on using the medicine, only to realize that she had already used it on someone else.
Xing Beiming fixed his gaze on her and asked directly, "Senior, can this medicine enable a man to bear children?"
Shi Qi beside him trembled slightly and upon looking at Wu Qinghe, he froze in place, who was seemingly trying to decipher the meaning behind Xing Beiming's words. After a moment of uncertainty, she asked, "You mean, a man? Why ask this way? Is your child born from a man?" She found the idea incredulous, almost comical.
Wasn't this just a legend?
Thinking so, he saw Xing Beiming nod, further surprising Wu Qinghe, who burst into laughter. "Young man, are you here to mock me? I've only read about men bearing children in ancient books; it's just a legend."
"I wouldn't dare mock Senior. If it's unnecessary, I wouldn't want to discuss this with others either. But since it concerns his body, we must ensure nothing goes wrong." Xing Beiming had discussed this issue with Gu Weijing before leaving and he had been researching relevant books.
This was a major concern for him.
He didn't want to witness Shi Qi's suffering again like the last time.
Fortunately, although Wu Qinghe had suffered heartbreak, her character remained unchanged. Upon hearing this, she was surprised but then became serious and cautious. If the medicine had such an effect, she must safeguard it rigorously. The most crucial aspect now was the man who bore the child and her gaze fell on Shi Qi beside him. "That person should be you. Can you let me examine him?"
They proceeded accordingly and Wu Qinghe, with keen observation, nodded after examining Shi Qi. "It's not easy for an ordinary man to bear children as they often lead to health issues. His vital energy is smooth now and his internal strength seems stronger than before. Perhaps there's a miraculous potion aiding him?”
Xing Beiming nodded, "Senior is right. Without spiritual medicine, there might be a loss in cultivation progress."
Wu Qinghe examined Shi Qi's pulse and physique carefully then shook her head, "Your body shows no signs of being special, unlike what the books say about descendants of a tribe capable of bearing children. You can rest assured." Xing Beiming pulled Shi Qi back to his side, feeling relieved but Wu Qinghe was still concerned. "You two should go back for now. I'll further study fertility medicine. Also, if anything unusual happened during your consumption of the medicine, remember to inform me."
That night, as Shi Qi lay on the bed, he was still filled with doubts. He realized that his Master had been holding onto this matter all along. However, if even Senior Wu didn't understand the reason, why was that?
Seeing Shi Qi tossing and turning, Xing Beiming pulled him closer and whispered, "Don't overthink. Since it's not due to your body's constitution, let it go."
Let it go?
There was no sense of letting go; instead, there was a hint of disappointment. After pondering for a while, Shi Qi nervously asked, "Master... do you dislike children? Or..." He hesitated, not wanting to imply anything negative but his mind was in turmoil.
Xing Beiming didn't expect Shi Qi to misunderstand his intentions. He replied harshly, "I just don't want to see you in pain again. You have no idea what you were like at that time... Where did you get such ideas? You're so foolish!" He finished his sentence with a frustrated knock on someone's forehead.
Although Shi Qi was hit, he still felt a sweet warmth in his heart. But he realized he had misunderstood his Master. Quickly changing the subject, he said, "Master, could it be due to Martial Arts? Unusual internal cultivation techniques or martial skills might alter one's constitution, like extreme yin or extreme yang practices."
Xing Beiming's eyes lit up, "It's possible. I'll talk to Wu Qinghe about it tomorrow." However, he also harbored doubts as Shi Qi hadn't practiced any special martial arts but he himself...
……….
"This situation you mentioned is very plausible. Moon Shadow Divine Art is an extremely sinister skill. Practitioners of this Martial Arts are said to be as cold as ice, extremely sensitive to sunlight and experience intense pain throughout their bodies, even in their bones, periodically. You don't seem to have practiced it, though. Did you have any extraordinary encounters?"
Sensing Shi Qi's worried expression, Xing Beiming held his hand reassuringly and said, "Indeed, thanks to a Master I met in my youth and the Cold Soul Silver Flower from extremely yin regions, I can neutralize the cold qi in my body.”
"Cold Soul Silver Flower?" Wu Qinghe muttered to herself, then burst into laughter. Shi Qi anxiously asked, "Senior, is there something wrong with the flower?"
Wu Qinghe laughed for a while, looking amused, then shook her head. "There is indeed something wrong, a big problem! I thought such a thing didn't exist in this world but it seems your luck is quite extraordinary. With the Cold Soul Silver Flower combined with my fertility potion, I reckon there won't be any issues for both men and women. Consider yourselves lucky!" Wu Qinghe stopped talking and handed them a bottle. "Inside is the medicine I brewed. The Windchant Grass can counteract the effects of the Forget Dust Powder in it. Whether to use it or not is up to you. Actually, with Moon Shadow Divine Art and Cold Soul Silver Flower protecting you, if you end up having a child, it would greatly enhance your cultivation even in a lower position! Think about it?"
Xing Beiming's face darkened instantly. "Thank you, Senior. There's no need to consider it. We'll take our leave."
Parting ways with the leader of the Fufeng Sect and under the reluctant gazes of many women, they rode off into the distance. Although some questions remained unanswered, there were many mysteries in the world that defied explanation and harboring a bit of awe and doubt wasn't unreasonable.
However, the medicine bottle in Xing Beiming's arms was scalding hot. He turned to look at Shi Qi's contemplative face but also had a silly smile.
Xing Beiming's face turned dark again. "What are you thinking? I'm telling you, don't think about nonsensical things!"
Shi Qi shook his head. "I'm not thinking about nonsensical things. I just feel that Senior Wu Qinghe, despite having suffered such a blow, is still so kind-hearted. It's truly rare! Compared to the mistakes made by infatuated lovers, she's quite an exceptional woman!" Shi Qi nodded to emphasize that he was genuinely pondering about this matter and not thinking about anything nonsense.
Besides... imagining what his Master would look like when pregnant couldn't be considered nonsense, could it?
"Claiming you're not thinking nonsense? But your mouth is practically grinning from ear to ear!" Xing Beiming couldn't help but curse Wu Qinghe inwardly for her nonsense.
What a load of nonsense!
He sternly called out, "Shi Qi—" indicating that trouble was brewing.
Startled, Shi Qi hurriedly spurred the horse and galloped away.
‘You dare to run?’ Xing Beiming gave the innocent horse's rear a firm slap to urge it to speed away with the cool breeze.