“According to Master, that egg can hatch into a divine beast… likely a phoenix,” Lin Que explained.
“A phoenix?!”
Upon hearing this shocking news, not only was Qin Wanyuan surprised, but even Qin Qian’er who had been pretending to focus on her meal couldn’t help but react in astonishment.
After all, phoenixes were divine beasts they had only ever read about in ancient texts like the Classic of Mythical Beasts. And now, there was a real, living phoenix egg sitting in their own home.
After the brief shock, Qin Wanyuan’s expression turned serious. “Lin Lang, this matter must not be revealed to anyone else.”
“Of course. I’m not that naïve,” Lin Que replied, naturally understanding the gravity of the situation. He wasn’t foolish enough to go around bragging about having a phoenix egg.
While he did have some strength to rely on, if he were to cross paths with a powerful cultivator coveting the phoenix egg, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
Even though he had stormed into the demonic beast forest with great momentum that day, he had kept a low profile on the way back.
And besides, Drunken Jade Peak only housed Lin Que, An Xiaoyao, and a few others plus the protective array around the mountain. So there wasn’t much to worry about.
Speaking of which, Drunken Jade Peak was the only peak in the entire Sword Seeking Sect that had such a costly defensive formation. Naturally, this was due to the attack Lin Que had suffered when he was eighteen, after which An Xiaoyao personally arranged the formation.
After dinner, Qin Qian’er uncharacteristically took the initiative to speak to Lin Que.
“Can I… go to your room to see the phoenix egg?”
“Sure.” Lin Que didn’t mind at all.
The three of them returned to his room together. Qin Qian’er crouched in front of the huge egg, her eyes locked on the glowing patterns that shimmered across its surface, utterly captivated.
“What incredible spiritual energy… And these markings. So exquisitely intricate they seem more like the work of a grand cultivator than something formed naturally…”
Qin Qian’er cultivated the Path of Enlightenment, which involved sensing all things under heaven. Observing a divine beast’s egg up close could indeed bring her significant benefits.
“If you enjoy looking at it, you can take it back to your room and study it more,” Lin Que said to Qin Qian’er.
Since the divine beast egg was still far from hatching, using it to improve his relationship with Qin Qian’er was ideal.
Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared on Qin Qian’er’s face. But she quickly shook her head.
“No, I’m not someone so shameless.”
She was well aware of her past behavior. If everything before had been a misunderstanding, then the harsh words she had spoken were essentially an unprovoked offense to Lin Que.
That he was willing to respond with kindness spoke to his character, but she absolutely would not take advantage of it.
Qin Qian’er had her own pride.
Seeing this, Lin Que didn’t push her. “If you ever want to come observe it, you’re welcome anytime.”
“Mm, thank you… brother-in-law.”
Leaving those words behind, Qin Qian’er quickly walked away.
“Lin Lang, you really are so gentle~”
Watching her younger sister leave, Qin Wanyuan no longer held back. She immediately wrapped her arms around Lin Que’s strong, muscular arm.
In her past life, aside from Lin Que’s death, her greatest regret had been not seeing Qin Qian’er and Lin Que reconcile.
Now that she had been given a second chance at life, everything had changed. Lin Que and Qin Qian’er had finally resolved their past grievances. A burden had been lifted from Qin Wanyuan’s heart.
However, Lin Que’s fondness for Qin Qian’er still wasn’t very high. While he was no longer cold toward her, their relationship was still far from friendship.
If only they could grow a little closer… after all, harmony at home brings prosperity to all things!
Qin Wanyuan couldn’t help but think to herself.
As the sun gradually dipped below the horizon and the last rays of dusk painted the sky, Lin Que suddenly seemed to recall something. He turned around, scratched his chin, and looked at Qin Wanyuan with a slightly complicated expression.
“Wanyuan, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“Mhm? Go ahead, Lin Lang.”
“Well… do you like children?”
“…….”
Qin Wanyuan was momentarily stunned when she heard the question. She blinked and replied blankly, “Lin Lang… could you say that again?”
“Do you like children?”
“Huh?”
Hearing the question a second time, Qin Wanyuan stiffened. Her slightly flushed cheeks turned completely red, and she bit down gently on her rosy lips, letting out a soft, delicate whimper full of bashful shyness.
That question… Lin Lang had never asked her that in their previous life!
Qin Wanyuan suddenly panicked, completely thrown off balance. Although Lin Que’s question was somewhat subtle, there was no mistaking it…
He wanted a child!
Though she felt unbearably shy inside, Qin Wanyuan still quietly replied:
“If Lin Lang wants one… I’ll do my best…”
“Huh?”
Now it was Lin Que’s turn to be stunned. But since they had spent so much time together, he quickly realized the ambiguity in his wording had led to a misunderstanding.
“Actually, I didn’t mean our child. I was talking about… this.”
As he spoke, Lin Que pointed to the phoenix egg and began to explain to Qin Wanyuan.
“Ohhh, I see! I thought you meant…”
—I thought you were talking about having a baby with me…
Because of the recent system tasks, Qin Wanyuan had unconsciously started interpreting things in a pessimistic light.
So when she heard Lin Que say it wasn’t their child, her first reaction was that Lin Que thought she wasn’t good enough. That he was planning to have a child with Jiang Moqing instead and even bring it back to raise.
Realizing how ridiculous and foolish that line of thought was, Qin Wanyuan’s face turned even redder.
Still, despite how absurd her earlier assumption was, a faint sense of unease had indeed started to rise in her heart.
After that night when she was bound to the system, Qin Wanyuan had naturally taken the time to secretly brush up on knowledge in that area and realized just how much of a noob she really was.
If things continued like this, she feared she still wouldn’t be able to satisfy Lin Que, let alone have a child with him.
Fortunately, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Qin Wanyuan wasn’t someone who would just sit around and wait for doom. For these past two missions, the system had gifted her two bottles of stamina potion.
It wasn’t that Qin Wanyuan had forgotten about those potions. It was just that she believed in saving her troops for the critical moment. She’d originally planned to stock up on a few more bottles before using them. But after what Lin Que had just said, she couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
Right now, countless thoughts were warring in Qin Wanyuan’s heart. But in Lin Que’s eyes, she merely seemed a little distracted, at times downcast, and at times oddly excited.
He also realized that the ambiguity in his earlier words might have made Qin Wanyuan a little upset, so he added, “Of course, Wanyuan, if you do want a child, then I can also…”
Before he could finish, Qin Wanyuan suddenly rose on tiptoe and sealed his lips with her cherry-red ones.
When their lips parted, the pink-cheeked girl gave him a gentle smile.
At this moment, it felt as though any words would be superfluous. She had already expressed her intentions through actions, and naturally, Lin Que would accompany her to the end.
Not a word was spoken the whole night.
The next morning, Qin Wanyuan slowly woke from the bed, her waist and legs feeling weak and sore. Though she had taken the initiative to ignite Lin Que’s passion the night before, she hadn’t been able to handle it at all. On top of that, she’d forgotten to drink the potion right away, which led to some unexpected issues.
Fortunately, during their mid-battle break to shower, she managed to sneak off and drink the potion, giving her the strength to keep going.
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