Chapter 177: My Daughter’s Father Is Hao Hun?
Chapter 177: My Daughter's Father Is Hao Hun?
The pair of heterochromatic blue and gold eyes locked onto mine with a depth of profound affection, tracking my movements as Xue Wuxia took a slow, deliberate sip of her steaming spiritual tea.
I held her close, my left arm wrapped securely around her waist as we relaxed together on a plush, soft daybed inside the private sanctuary of her Palace Master Peak residence. Just outside these doors, she had already given her directives to Xia Bing and Lin Xue. The latter was an intriguing case—not a true member of the imperial capital's prestigious Lin family, but an orphan discovered abandoned on a doorstep, adopted out of pity by a distant branch of the clan.
Wuxia, who had been anxiously counting down the moments until my arrival, was still quietly annoyed with Xia Bing for causing delays and cutting into our precious time together. Naturally, we had made the absolute most of every spare second. We shared a quiet dinner, bathed together, and made passionate, unbridled love until our bodies were thoroughly spent. Now, with the intense heat of our intimacy settling into a warm afterglow, we were holding a quiet, private ceremony to solemnly commit ourselves to one another as husband and wife.
Sitting closely beside her, I let out a soft chuckle, tilting my head slightly. "Wuxia, can I ask you something? Why is it that you don't seem to like me as Loki Sky?"
The normally frigid, unapproachable goddess reached up, her slender fingers gently tilting my chin up to force me to meet her gaze. "Don't be foolish," she murmured, a rare warmth softening her sharp features. "I know perfectly well that you are Loki Sky, and that Hao Hun is merely your dual identity. But it is your striking grey hair and those sky-blue eyes that I love the most. Honestly, I have grown incredibly fond of your ruthless, decisive style when you act as Hao Hun. But the absolute biggest reason I want you to maintain that identity around me is far simpler."
She leaned in close, her breath warm against my skin, and gently pecked my lips. Breaking the kiss, she paused, her eyes dancing with an unspoken secret as she waited for me to prompt her further.
"I suppose I just love your gloomy face!" She burst into a soft, melodic laugh. "No, I am only half-kidding. The true reason I need you to stay as Hao Hun whenever you are by my side is this..."
Taking my right hand in hers, she guided it down across the smooth silk of her robes, pressing my palm firmly against the soft curve of her lower belly.
"When my daughter grows up and asks who her father is, I don't want her to be confused by a man constantly shifting his face," Wuxia said, her voice dropping to a tender whisper. "I have already chosen her name: Hao Luan. She will be named Luan, after the Ice Phoenix Bloodline that you so brilliantly tamed and forced to vanish from the perception of the outside world. Your Shared Fate Spider is truly a magnificent creature... to think it could completely wrap up and conceal the very spirit of my bloodline from the Emperor's prying eyes."
I gave her stomach a final, affectionate caress before letting my fingers trail up to the lapel of her vibrant red silk robe. A heavy sigh escaped my chest.
"My beautiful Ice Nymph, I have to leave soon... Parting is never easy, but I must return to my life as Loki Sky before long."
Setting her teacup down with a soft click, she took my hand and rose from the daybed with me. Her slender fingers moved deftly across my chest, meticulously smoothing out the wrinkles in my robes and adjusting the collar.
"Make sure you come back the moment your affairs in the Western Kingdom are settled," she instructed, looking up at me with fierce intensity. "You need to be back in time to lead my Ice Palace disciples into the Time and Space Secret Realm... and you had better protect Lin Xue well."
She let out another soft laugh, clearly amused by the subtle panic on my face, because she had already laid bare the truth regarding that mysterious woman.
Lin Xue was no ordinary human. She was a Youkai—specifically, a high-tier entity known as a Flying Demon.
Among her kind, Flying Demons were notoriously vicious predators. They sustained their immense power and vitality by systematically draining the blood, primordial essence, and material wealth of men to nourish their very core. The entire reason Lin Xue had taken on the undercover persona of the "Queen of Flowers" within the walls of the Thousand Flower House was to satisfy this primal hunger. By acting as a peerless entertainer who sold nothing but her transcendent music, witty conversation, flawless calligraphy, and profound poetry, she was able to bleed the wealthiest men of the region dry without ever touching them—literally feeding her Youkai nature by consuming their fortunes.
She was a natural Demon of Mist, much like a traditional Snow Woman, completely distinct from the entities born within the horrific Plane of Darkness. In essence, she was a flawless, air-element hybrid of a vampire and a succubus.
The primary reason Lin Xue was now fiercely bound to honor our marriage contract was because she possessed no alternative means to conquer or eliminate me. Her astronomical, mind-boggling bride price was actually a deliberate evolutionary mechanism meant to completely drain a man's wealth in one fell swoop. I, in all my brilliant ignorance, had simply paid the absurdly high cost upfront, operating under the naive assumption that it was merely a steep fee required to extricate her from her undercover assignment. I just wanted to show off and prove what an absolute badass I was.
As it turned out, all I was actually supposed to do was deliver a specific message ordering her to leave. I had completely overengineered the solution.
Because of that blunder, I was left with two stark choices: marry her, or reject her entirely. If I chose the latter, the abrupt denial of an established contract would fundamentally destabilize her very essence as a Youkai. It would trigger severe Heart Daemons and catastrophic cultivation backlash for failing to fulfill the destiny of a Flying Demon—which was to thoroughly milk her chosen man for his blood, essence, or accumulated wealth.
Mwah!
I pulled Wuxia into one final, breathless kiss, holding her tight before I finally prepared to step through the door. "Wuxia, promise me you will accompany us when we fly out to the imperial capital this summer. I feel like I haven't spent nearly enough time properly pampering and doting on you."
A beautiful, radiant smile broke across her face, and she gave a firm nod. "I will... I can genuinely feel it within our intertwined pasts that you used to dote on me endlessly. So, you truly believe that we met lifetimes ago within the Plane of Life, and that you were this ancient king, Oberon?"
I nodded, my expression turning deeply serious as I shared the pieces I had stitched together. "The Fate Spider originally hailed from the Plane of Life. A highly trusted Valkyrie seems entirely convinced that I am the reincarnation of Oberon, and my Fate Spider possesses an undeniable instinct to target and bind itself to Nymph and Fey women. My gut is telling me that this Fate Spider was likely my most loyal, right-hand lieutenant in that past life... Puck."
I had recently learned from Frigg that Puck had vanished from existence at the exact same time Oberon fell. Given that the Fate Spider was explicitly male and constantly acted like a fiercely loyal, overachieving wingman hooking me up with beautiful women, it made perfect sense. From this day forward, I would call the Fate Spider Puck.
"Then I choose to believe I was a Snow or Ice Nymph back then," Wuxia teased, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "And I must have been a cherished lover of yours, because that is exactly how your presence makes me feel. Alright, leave now before I change my mind and lock you away to keep you here longer... Go on, go be that rogue Loki Sky and enjoy yourself with that absurdly well-endowed breast cow, Meidi. Humph!"
I could only offer a helpless, internal sigh. Xia Bing and Baihu had been bitter adversaries in their past, and Xue Wuxia and Wan Meidi were lifelong, fierce rivals constantly warring for dominance at the top of the prestigious Heavenly Goddess Rankings. Some things never changed with powerful women.
A short while later, Xia Bing escorted me back down toward my personal peak to see me off on my journey. However, as we neared my destination, I realized one final visitor was already patiently waiting for me outside the grand entrance of my Triple Eclipse Palace.
Standing at a graceful five-foot-eight—yet easily matching my own height thanks to the elegant heels she wore—was the Holy Maiden herself, Lin Xue.
Her crimson eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of her silky, midnight-black hair.
Xia Bing leaned in close, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, "Master, I will see you at the absolute start of the Summer Council Gathering... You had better be waiting anxiously to see me. Haha. Goodbye for now."
I watched with a mix of amusement and fondness as a highly satisfied Xia Bing turned on her heel and departed, ensuring the heavy double doors locked securely behind her as she left me alone with my guest.
Lin Xue cleared her throat softly, a faint, delicate blush creeping up her pale cheeks. "I happened to hear rumors that you were preparing to leave, and since you never bothered to come find me... I decided to take matters into my own hands and see you off. I brought you a gift to ensure we can get to know one another a bit better, Hao Hun."
Extended in her pale, flawless hands was a pristine slab of magical white jade. It was roughly the size of a handheld tablet or a modern smartphone from Earth. I recognized the design immediately; it was the exact type of high-grade artifact that Sect Masters utilized to communicate directly with the Heavenly Palace.
"It is the matching counterpart to my own personal Communication Jade," she explained, stepping closer. "I used it frequently while operating as a spy for the Palace Master, but I managed to secure it back from her specifically to give to you. Here, let me show you how it works."
She glided seamlessly to my side, bringing with her a breathtaking, intoxicating aroma. The very air radiating from her skin felt incredibly fresh, crisp, and wildly addictive—no doubt a subtle manifestation of her specialized Youkai nature.
Channeling a precise thread of magic into her slender fingertip, she began to trace elegant characters across the clear, pale white screen. Her letters pulsed with a brilliant, luminous mana as she spelled out the words: [Let's not be strangers, Hao Hun.]
The moment she finished, she held up my corresponding Communication Jade, demonstrating how the message instantly materialized on my screen. She gently took my hand, guiding my fingers to touch the surface to acknowledge her words.
With a quick swipe of my hand, I cleared the screen completely. The device operated much like a magical Etch-a-Sketch; it wasn't a sophisticated smart-computer capable of archiving massive chat histories, but rather a text-based, real-time magical walkie-talkie.
Amused, I channeled a pulse of my own distinct, sky-grey mana, the energy flowing from my fingertips onto the blank white surface as I cast a sideways glance at the tall temptress standing beside me. "Alright then, Lin Xue. Let me write something back to ensure the connection is perfectly synchronized."
She peered down at the glowing words appearing on the screen. A sudden, deeper blush erupted across her face, accompanied by an amused, slightly exasperated smile as she read my message aloud.
"You're leaving... with or without a hug?"
Before she could even finish the sentence, I slipped the Communication Jade into my robes and casually turned toward the exit, leaving her momentarily utterly speechless.
"Shameless..." she huffed, stomping her foot slightly. "Stop right there. I will give you a hug. We are officially engaged, after all."
Lin Xue stepped forward, her initial shyness melting away as she threw her arms around me, mashing her body tightly against my chest. She possessed a staggeringly voluptuous, gravity-defying G-cup figure that radiated a rare, overwhelmingly magnetic allure. In terms of sheer shape and proportions, her chest and body were identical to Camila's, though she stood just a few inches shorter—making her absolutely flawless in my book.
As the incredibly pleasant embrace came to an end and I began to pull away, my sky-grey eyes locked onto her deep crimson gaze in a long, silent stare.
"Hao Hun," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I have never actually kissed a man before."
I gently released her body, reaching down to firmly clasp her hands in mine as I uttered words that felt entirely uncharacteristic of my usual rogue persona. "In that case, save that first kiss for the exact moment your heart truly falls for me. I will wait patiently for that day to arrive. Until then, let's make good use of the Communication Jade to bridge the distance."
Her grip tightened around my hands, a genuine, heartbreakingly beautiful smile gracing her lips. "Su Youming came to find me earlier specifically to brag and rub your marriage in my face... Promise me that you won't completely fall for her before you've even given yourself a chance to get to know me first."
I gave her a reassuring nod, slowly releasing her hands as I backed out the front door. "I can tell you right now that I already like you significantly more in every single way compared to Su Youming, Lin Xue... I will see you in a few short months."
As Lin Xue stood on the threshold watching my figure vanish into the distance, any lingering, deeply romantic impressions she had just formed of me evaporated in an instant. Her Communication Jade flared to life with a bright flash of mana. Reading the parting message I had just sent, her face exploded into a furious blush, and she nearly shouted at the empty air.
"My chest is the best?! Damn you, Hao Hun!"
She cutely stomped her foot in a display of false anger, though a helpless, captivated smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she looked down at the jade, her face burning hot.
Once I was safely clear of the sect grounds, I shed my disguise and reverted back to my true form as Loki Sky. Reunited with Baihu, I made a swift departure from the Ice Palace Sect... only to be immediately ambushed the moment I set foot inside the Beastmaster Sect!
It ultimately cost me two full, grueling days of turning in newly accumulated Sect Points to satisfy the demands of the seven new Beastmaster women.
They had collectively pooled together a whopping 8,888 Sect Points each specifically to purchase a highly exclusive, one-on-six dual cultivation advice session with me.
Why six women and not seven, you ask?
Because the seventh woman was currently standing right beside me, preparing to journey back to the Balder Kingdom along with Ku Mu and myself: Zia Qing.
A short while later, we materialized in the sprawling backyard of the Beastmaster town-home located within the Albion capital. The fierce, biting winds of early spring whipped through the courtyard, blowing my short, crimson hair across my face. I narrowed my emerald eyes, scanning our immediate surroundings while actively pushing my senses outward, trying to determine if any of my active Summoner Links were currently in the vicinity.
Ku Mu was still clinging tightly to my waist, while my right hand held fast to Zia Qing's. The long-legged Phoenix woman was blushing furiously, her eyes wide with awe and anxiety as she took in her new surroundings while holding onto her sect master's hand.
Zia Qing looked up at me, pouting slightly. "Sect Master, I still can't believe you completely forgot that I was part of the final batch of disciples stationed here. Humph. You even personally saved my life back in the Secret Realm."
Before I could properly apologize, the back doors of the estate swung open, and my beautiful wife Bianca stepped out into the courtyard to greet us.
She glided gracefully across the grass, throwing her arms around my neck without a moment's hesitation. She leaned in, pressing her soft lips against mine in a deep, deeply affectionate kiss before pulling back just enough to look me in the eye.
"Welcome back, husband. I missed you terribly," Bianca murmured, a playful, knowing smirk dancing across her lips. "I would love nothing more than to steal you away and spend some quality time together right this second, but unfortunately, you have a massive family crisis waiting for you at home. Haha. Don't worry, it isn't a bad thing, but your Vampire Brides and Angelica have apparently been up to some incredibly naughty things in your absence, and you need to go handle them immediately. Go on, rush home and see Angelica—she is dying to tell you all about it."
Her words instantly triggered my memory of the urgent prayer I had received from Angelica days ago, as well as the curious fact that she hadn't bothered to report to me through my Summons Divinity since. However, seeing that Bianca didn't look remotely worried or stressed, I knew it wasn't a lethal emergency.
Turning on my heel toward the front gates, I offered a sheepish grin to the women behind me. "Um... my lovely ladies, I shall return the absolute moment I finish putting out these raging harem dumpster fires! I love all of you, bye!"
With that, I sprinted out the front gates at top speed.
Left standing in the courtyard, Zia Qing pointed a trembling finger at herself, a look of sheer, unadulterated bewilderment on her face. "Did... did Loki just say he loved me too?"
Bianca offered a warm, incredibly kind smile to the stunned Eastern woman.
Ku Mu, on the other hand, simply slapped her palm against her own forehead, letting out a loud, highly amused chuckle. "Qing'er, don't read too deep into it. You are simply the latest log tossed directly onto his roaring harem dumpster fire. Haha."
Zia Qing playfully stuck her tongue out at her master, her cheeks flushing a deep, radiant crimson as she looked toward the open gates.