Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Please Have a Child With Me!

The lightning around Little Hao slowly faded, sparks retreating like embers swallowed by ash.

Su Yan asked inwardly, “Little Mei, what talent is Little Hao now?”

Little Mei didn’t answer—because Pei Xuan did.

“Earth Rank.”

Shock flashed across Pei Xuan’s face. He stared at the two remaining boxes in his hand as if they were both blade and shield, then fed both pills to Little Hao without hesitation.

This time, the lightning that burst out was thicker, denser. It wrapped Little Hao in a web of light, the air snapping with violent brightness.

Su Yan’s mouth fell open. “Are you trying to stuff him? I gave you three, not so he could swallow them like candy.”

Pei Xuan didn’t look away from his son. “This pill is gentle on him,” he said, voice tight. “Like it was refined specifically for him.”

A strange prickling crawled up Su Yan’s spine.

She opened the system shop again and reread the beast-nurturing pill’s description, even checking the recipe details. She still didn’t bother with the update notes.

Pei Xuan turned to her, expression suddenly solemn, as if he’d made a decision that wouldn’t change. “I owe you a major favor.”

Su Yan snapped out of the system and waved it off, smiling. “No, no. I gave it to Little Hao. Not you. You don’t owe me anything.”

“He is my son,” Pei Xuan said quietly, “and my only offspring. His debt is my debt.”

Su Yan exhaled, unsure what to do with the seriousness in his eyes. “It’s… really nothing.”

Her gaze drifted to Little Hao. “Honestly, I have a little black panther son too. I’ve never seen him. Little Hao reminds me of him, so… it feels like I’m missing my own son through him.”

Pei Xuan’s eyes deepened, turning heavy and unreadable—like he wanted to tear something open, then stopped, restrained by something sharper than caution.

At last, the lightning settled.

Little Hao’s talent stabilized at Heaven Rank.

Even more shocking, his lightning-type evolved into purple-gold thunder, the color rich and imperial, as if the storm itself had been gilded.

A single pillar of it would be at least ten times the force of an ordinary thunderbolt.

Pei Xuan’s breath caught. Joy flared in his eyes—bright, fierce, almost disbelieving. He bowed to Su Yan with a formality that carried real weight. “From today on, you may command me.”

Su Yan laughed, trying to make it sound light. “It’s nothing. But… I might ask you for something later.”

Please have a child with me.

The thought pressed close, warm and shameless. She studied him, and the more she looked, the more he felt like exactly the kind of male she needed.

“One word,” Pei Xuan said.

“One word,” Su Yan agreed.

Little Hao’s advancement had drained him. Soon he sank into deep sleep again, body slack and heavy with exhaustion.

Holding him, Su Yan said, “I came today to keep him company. Since he’s asleep, I’ll sleep too.”

“Fine,” Pei Xuan said. “I’ll take you to his room.”

From a distance, the buildings in the mountain forest looked grand, clustered like a small city caught in the trees. Up close, they were even more breathtaking—green tiles and red eaves, halls and towers layered like a painting.

Lacquered pillars gilded in gold were carved with cloud patterns and insect-and-grass motifs. Every detail was exquisite, extravagant without a single sloppy corner.

“This place must have cost a fortune,” Su Yan said, unable to help herself.

She’d just renovated an inn. She could recognize expensive craftsmanship when she saw it.

“This is the ancestral residence,” Pei Xuan replied. “Since I inherited the clan chief position, I’ve barely changed anything here.”

“Clan chief?” Su Yan blinked. “Clan chief of what?”

Pei Xuan paused, eyes narrowing slightly.

Then, quietly, “Golden-eyed black leopard clan.”

Su Yan went silent.

So he was her son’s clan chief.

And she’d been thinking about having a child with him.

No. She didn’t want to complicate something that should stay simple—no matter how “ideal” he was.

A servant entered and bowed. “Clan chief, the dean of Divine Beast Academy has arrived. He also brought Rong family’s young hero, Rong Wu.”

“Rong Wu?” Su Yan’s eyes lit up.

Ever since the bun shop, she’d been thinking about him. Mortal beast, Earth Rank—exactly what she needed to evolve the childbearing system.

Pei Xuan caught her expression. His gaze shifted. “You know him?”

“I don’t,” Su Yan said honestly. “But I want to.”

Pei Xuan’s voice stayed even, but there was something probing beneath it. “Then do you want to come with me and meet him?”

Su Yan did want to. But she looked down at the sleeping Little Hao in her arms, then remembered what she was wearing—plain clothes, no makeup, hair barely done.

“Forget it,” she said. “I’m here for Little Hao. Another time.”

Pei Xuan’s expression smoothed out. “Mm. The dean is probably here to invite me to be a guest instructor.”

“A guest instructor?”

“I used to refuse. Now…” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Now I’m suddenly interested.”

Su Yan smiled. “Teaching is meaningful. Too bad I’m not lightning-type, or I could mooch a little benefit from you.”

“If you need anything,” Pei Xuan said, meeting her gaze, “come to me.”

“Okay. Go entertain your guests. I’ll sleep with Little Hao for a bit.”

“What do you like to eat? I’ll have the cook prepare it.”

“Anything,” Su Yan said. “I’m not picky.”

Pei Xuan arranged attendants for her and Little Hao and left. “Rest well.”

…

In the reception hall, Rong Wu stood nervously behind Lin Fu—the dean, and also Rong Wu’s maternal uncle.

He’d come to see what the legendary Half-Spirit Realm looked like.

He hadn’t expected to be stared at like prey the moment he stepped inside.

Pei Xuan’s gaze made the hair on Rong Wu’s neck stand up. His instincts screamed danger.

“How old are you?” Pei Xuan asked.

Rong Wu swallowed. “Seventeen. Nominal age.”

Pei Xuan’s gaze lingered on his youthful face—especially those clear, ice-blue eyes. The kind Su Yan would like.

After a pause, Pei Xuan asked, “Do you like females older than you, or younger?”

Rong Wu’s throat tightened. “That…”

His eyes darted to Lin Fu in silent plea.

Lin Fu laughed and waved a hand. “Old Pei, since when are you interested in children’s marriage prospects?”

Pei Xuan frowned. “I’m only twenty-two. I’m not old.”

Lin Fu blinked. “Huh? You’re… how old?”

“Twenty-two,” Pei Xuan repeated.

Lin Fu stared. “Didn’t you inherit the clan chief position early?”

“Sixteen years ago. I was six,” Pei Xuan said flatly. “I took a pill that made me grow quickly for a short time. I never told my grandfather my real age.”

Lin Fu let out a low whistle. “Ruthless. I’ve heard of that kind of pill. When it wears off, it feels like your bones are being torn apart.”

“It was tolerable,” Pei Xuan said.

…

Su Yan slept until late afternoon.

When she woke, the room was dim with slanting light. Little Hao was still sleeping, chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths.

She let her awareness sink into the system.

“Little Mei—Little Hao swallowed three beast-nurturing pills at once. He’s really fine?”

“It is normal,” Little Mei replied. “His body is adapting to the talent shift. At the latest, he will wake tomorrow.”

“Good.” Su Yan rubbed her temples. “Give me a vitality-restoring pill.”

“Exchange complete. Vitality-restoring pill has been placed in system space. Does Host have any other needs?”

Su Yan didn’t hesitate. “What about Rong Wu? How is he as a male?”

“Does Host intend to bear children with Rong Wu?”

“I’m considering it. Does his talent meet the system’s requirement?”

“Earth Rank, water-type. Barely.”

Then, without mercy: “Host is advised to seek a male with Heaven Rank talent.”