The Child's Mother

"Your Holiness, Madam Ning has a point. I think we should consider urging Xiao Xue's parents to hurry up."

Qian Xunji agreed with a straight face, though he could barely hold back his laughter.

My dear Xiao Xue, all the love I've given you hasn't been wasted. I forgive you for forgetting your father the moment you saw Tang San.

Bibi Dong's expression darkened further. She shot Qian Xunji a glare but said nothing.

Seeing that his teasing had gotten him nowhere, Qian Xunji stopped and stepped forward to look at the baby.

Who would've thought Ning Rongrong, one of the main characters, would be lying here in Spirit Hall? I even gave her her name, and she's taken Xiao Xue as her older sister, Qian Xunji thought as he gazed at her.

Suddenly, a mischievous idea struck him.

"Ahem. Sect Master Ning, I feel a connection with Rongrong. In a way, I even gave her her name. I'd like to take her as my goddaughter. What do you think?"

"Oh? Surely you're joking, Eighth Worshipper?" Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes.

Of course he knew that having a Super Douluo as a godfather would benefit Rongrong greatly in the future, but...

Even though Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were enjoying a honeymoon period, letting a worshipper of Spirit Hall become his daughter's godfather still felt strange.

Besides, he had another worry: what if Spirit Hall took Rongrong away?

He had absolute faith in Rongrong now. He believed she would lead the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to new heights. But what if Spirit Hall took her?

Would Spirit Hall talk Rongrong into joining them? Would she even hand the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect over to them?

No, that won't do. We can be close, but not that close!

Beside him, Bibi Dong was displeased too. What was Qian Xunji playing at, trying to make Ning Rongrong his daughter?

If Ning Rongrong really became his daughter, wouldn't that make Bibi Dong half a godmother to her?

She didn't want another daughter out of nowhere.

Xiao Xue and Nana were enough. She had only just begun getting to know Nana these past few days.

"Eighth Worshipper, don't joke about this," Bibi Dong said, trying to stop him.

"Your Holiness, I truly feel a connection with this little girl. I'm not joking." Qian Xunji ignored her objection and pretended not to understand.

"Eighth Worshipper, it isn't that I object," Ning Fengzhi said. "She's still young, and I don't want to decide for her. Why not wait until she's older? If she wants it then, I certainly won't stand in her way." Rather than refuse outright, he planned to put it off. Once Rongrong grew older, he could gradually teach her to put the sect first.

When Rongrong's values had fully taken shape, he could reconsider letting her accept this godfather.

"So as long as Rongrong agrees, you have no objection, Sect Master Ning?"

"Of course. I only want to respect my child's wishes." Ning Fengzhi nodded.

"Sect Master Ning is right," Bibi Dong agreed.

Heh!

At Ning Fengzhi's agreement, Qian Xunji nearly burst out laughing.

He bent over Rongrong, and Luo Ningshui, though puzzled, made room for him.

The Sword-Bone Pagoda members and Bibi Dong all watched him in confusion.

What was he doing?

Then Qian Xunji spoke gently to Rongrong.

"Rongrong, will you let me be your godfather? If you agree, call me Daddy, all right?"

"Pfft!" Luo Ningshui and the Sword-Bone Pagoda members couldn't hold back their laughter.

Rongrong was only a month old, and he wanted her to call him Daddy?

"Oh, Eighth Worshipper, Rongrong's still little. She probably doesn't even know what a godfather is. Even if she did, she can't say it yet," Luo Ningshui explained, stifling a laugh.

"Don't be so sure, Madam Ning. Perhaps this child and I are meant to meet. A miracle might happen."

Bibi Dong's mouth twitched. She silently cursed Qian Xunji.

"Da... Daddy!" A few indistinct syllables slipped from Ning Rongrong's little mouth, but everyone could tell she had said "Daddy."

"What?!" Ning Fengzhi and Luo Ningshui reacted first.

Ning Fengzhi forgot all about maintaining his composure. He hurried to the bedside and leaned over Rongrong.

"Rongrong? Did you really say Daddy? Say it again. Come on, one more time. Daddy's right here."

"Rongrong, I'm Mommy. Say Mommy for me, all right? Good girl?"

But no matter how they coaxed her, Rongrong said no more. She just stared at them with wide eyes, smiling as usual and babbling.

"Sect Master Ning, it seems Rongrong and I really do have a connection."

Ning Fengzhi rose with an awkward but polite smile and reluctantly accepted it. The first person his daughter had called Daddy wasn't him, but a worshipper of Spirit Hall City?!

Yet after that, what choice did he have? He could only tell himself it might be the Angel God's will. The Angel God must have intervened again.

Even Sword and Bone Douluo had noticed nothing amiss. They, too, could only attribute it to the Angel God.

Hopefully it was a good thing. On strength alone, a Super Douluo was no small gain.

Still, hearing his daughter call someone else Daddy first hurt so much he almost wanted to cry.

Bibi Dong, however, secretly rolled her eyes at Qian Xunji. She knew exactly what he had done. He had only recently developed this advanced use of Mind Control: against a creature with no self-awareness or very little of it, he could control its mind and make it act as he wished, provided its body was capable of movement.

Qian Xunji had spent ages showing off the technique to her.

But now that it had happened, she couldn't expose him. She could only swallow her irritation and let it stand. She would deal with him properly when she had the chance.

After another half day of pleasantries, Qian Xunji left the room with Sword and Bone Douluo. Ning Fengzhi and Luo Ningshui remained behind to ponder what had happened.

Once Sword and Bone Douluo returned to their rooms, Bibi Dong finally lost her patience.

"Why do you have to be such a menace?"

"Heh. What? Getting one of the main characters to accept her enemy as her father should steal some of their luck. I'm only doing it to undermine Tang San."

At that shameless answer, Bibi Dong shot him another glare. She couldn't be bothered to argue and turned to leave.

Qian Xunji suddenly hugged her from behind. "Mother of my child, you heard Xiao Xue today. She wants a younger brother or sister. Won't you think about it? For Xiao Xue's sake."

Bibi Dong jumped. She wanted to lash out, but she was afraid of alarming the Sword-Bone Pagoda members in the adjoining private room. She took a deep breath and forced down her anger, though she couldn't keep her voice from shaking.

"Qian. Xun. Ji. Let go of me!"

"All right, all right. Don't be angry." Qian Xunji swallowed, savoring the feel of her in his arms.

But he was afraid she might explode, so he hurriedly let go. Even so, that brief embrace had been enough to satisfy him.

"Qian Xunji, you're getting bolder by the day!"

"Don't be angry, mother of my child. I just wanted to ask if you'd consider giving Xiao Xue a younger brother or sister. I couldn't help myself."

"I still haven't settled what happened that night with you! And now you're pushing your luck?" Bibi Dong paused, then added:

"You like being a father so much? I'll bring Nana over in a few days and have her call you Dad. How about that?"

"Fine by me! Of course! If you think of her as your daughter, then she's mine too. But she wouldn't be Xiao Xue's sister by blood. I'm thinking of Xiao Xue."

Bibi Dong hadn't expected him to be so shameless. She wanted to curse him, but couldn't find the words. In the end, she called him a bastard and left, this time staying alert in case he tried to grab her again.

Qian Xunji stood there, staring dazedly at her retreating figure. He took a deep breath.

"She smells wonderful!"