44: Chapter 44 Tender Affection

Xu Changkun put his arm around Senior Sister Liu Qingxu and walked into the study. He reached back and gently closed the door, shutting out the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Senior Sister Liu Qingxu's gentle face. Her belly was already visibly rounded, stretching her originally loose dress taut. Xu Changkun helped her sit on the soft couch, his gaze falling tenderly upon her stomach.

Since becoming pregnant, Senior Sister Liu Qingxu's cheeks had become a bit rounder, shedding some of her former coldness and adding a touch of maternal softness. She leaned against the soft couch, breathing slightly heavily; it was clear that the recent emotional fluctuations had left her a bit exhausted.

"Is the baby giving you trouble?" Xu Changkun sat down beside her, reaching out to gently stroke her belly, his palm feeling that heavy, precious vitality.

"It's fine, though it kicks quite hard at night." Senior Sister Liu Qingxu leaned against his shoulder, her voice soft and tinged with a hint of languor. "Husband, Second-Rank Inspection Envoy Zhao Wuji might come. He is at the fifth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage and is the ancestor of the Zhao Family. His methods are ruthless, and his cultivation is much higher than yours..."

As she said this, a hint of worry crept into her tone, and her brows furrowed slightly.

"So what if he is at the fifth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage?" Xu Changkun said indifferently, his tone calm yet radiating a powerful sense of confidence. "If he comes, I will just kill him. Whoever dares to touch my family, no matter who they are, will pay the price."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu's body trembled. She looked up at his determined profile, a warm current surging through her heart, but she could not help but hold him tighter. "I don't want anything to happen to you. The baby and I are both waiting for you; you cannot afford to have any mishaps."

Xu Changkun cupped her face, his heart softening when he saw her eyes filled with worry and attachment. He lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers, and whispered, "Rest assured, for the sake of you and the baby, I will not let anything happen to myself."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu reached out to touch Xu Changkun's face, her fingertips cool as she traced his brows and eyes. "Husband, you've lost weight. Has it been very hard during this time?"

"It's from missing you." Xu Changkun took her hand and kissed it lightly. "Everything at home is fine, but without you by my side, I always feel like something is missing."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu's cheeks flushed slightly, and a trace of shyness flashed in her eyes, yet she boldly met his gaze. "I miss you too. Every day in the sect, I think of you."

Suddenly, she stood on tiptoe, leaned in, and kissed his lips.

This kiss was filled with urgency and worry. The moment their lips touched, Xu Changkun could feel her trembling slightly. He wrapped one arm around her waist and supported the back of her head with his other hand, responding to her gently yet firmly.

Having been separated for many days, their longing surged like a tide. Senior Sister Liu Qingxu hooked her arms around his neck, as if wanting to pour all the longing from these past days into this kiss.

Xu Changkun could clearly feel the roundness of her belly, the proof of their shared bloodline. He moved even more gently, fearing he might squeeze the baby, simply using his warm embrace to give her the greatest sense of security.

After a long while, Xu Changkun released her, his eyes filled with doting affection. "Qingxu..."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu leaned in his arms, calming her breathing, her cheeks flushed red and her eyes as gentle as water.

Xu Changkun adjusted her into a comfortable position, letting her half-lie in his arms. Senior Sister Liu Qingxu was nearly eight months pregnant, and her body was heavy; leaning like this made it easier for her.

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu took his hand and guided it to gently caress her belly. "Husband, the baby misses you too..."

Xu Changkun's palm rested against her rounded belly, feeling it quietly. Suddenly, a slight movement came from his palm, as if the little one inside was saying hello to him.

"It moved!" Xu Changkun said with pleasant surprise. "Little one, do you know that Daddy is here?"

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu chuckled, her eyes curving into crescents. "It definitely knows. Whenever you aren't here, it is very quiet. As soon as you return, it starts making a fuss; it seems to be a little rascal just like you."

She suddenly pulled Xu Changkun's hand and pressed it gently against her own heart. "Husband, listen."

With his palm pressed against the soft fabric, Xu Changkun could feel her rapid and powerful heartbeat, thumping against his hand, beat by beat.

"It's beating so fast," he said.

"Hmm." Senior Sister Liu Qingxu looked at him with misty eyes. "Every time I see you, it's like this. Husband, you are my tribulation, and you are also my cure."

Xu Changkun leaned down and planted a kiss on her smooth forehead. "You are my life as well."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu closed her eyes, enjoying this rare moment of tenderness.

Xu Changkun's hand gently stroked her long hair, combing through it strand by strand, his movements as tender as if he were treating a rare treasure.

"Qingxu," he said in a low voice, "after the baby is born, move back here to live. Yanran as well. Although the sect is good, it is ultimately not as comfortable as home. I want to see you all every day."

"Hmm." Senior Sister Liu Qingxu responded, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest. "I want to come back too. It's just that over at the sect... Master has high expectations for me; if I leave at this time, I'm afraid it might cause some trouble."

"It doesn't matter, I will go talk to the Yunxia Sect." Xu Changkun's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable firmness. "If they won't let you go, I will go and bring you back myself. No one can keep my woman and child."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu felt a warmth in her heart. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with admiration. "Husband, you are so good."

She suddenly remembered something, sat up straight, took out two exquisite small jade bottles from her storage bag, and stuffed them into Xu Changkun's hands. "These are the Fetal Protection Pills and Heart-Clearing Pills I refined during this time. Distribute the Fetal Protection Pills to the sisters at home; they are good for the fetus. Keep the Heart-Clearing Pills for yourself; if you are disturbed by inner demons while cultivating, you can take one."

Xu Changkun looked at the pills in his hand, knowing this must have cost her a great deal of effort. Although the Yunxia Sect had abundant resources, such top-grade pills were not easily obtained.

"You've worked hard."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu shook her head and took out a warm, polished jade pendant, tying it personally around Xu Changkun's waist. "This is an amulet I begged Master to bestow upon me; it can block a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Keep it on you at all times, and you must never take it off."

Xu Changkun held her hand, looking at her thin wrist, a wave of heartache washing over him. "What about you? You've given all the good things to me; what will you do in the sect?"

"I'm fine. I'm very safe in the sect, and Master protects me very well." Senior Sister Liu Qingxu leaned back into his arms. "It's you I'm worried about. If Second-Rank Inspection Envoy Zhao Wuji comes, you must be careful. If you can't win, run; don't force it. As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood."

Xu Changkun chuckled and flicked her nose. "Do you really have so little faith in your husband?"

"It's not that I don't believe in you." Senior Sister Liu Qingxu shook her head, a trace of lingering fear flashing in her eyes. "I'm just afraid... afraid of losing you. I cannot live without you, and the baby cannot live without a father."

As she said this, her eyes reddened again, and her voice carried a hint of a sob.

Xu Changkun lowered his head and kissed away the teardrops from the corners of her eyes. "Don't cry. I promise you, I will definitely be safe and sound. For you and for the baby, I will live well."

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu sniffled and reached out to gently smooth the furrow between his brows. "Husband, let me see your wounds."

Xu Changkun was taken aback, then immediately realized she was worried about the injuries he had sustained earlier when fighting the Zhou Family. He didn't want her to worry, so he said, "They were just superficial wounds; they healed long ago."

"I don't believe you. I want to see for myself," Senior Sister Liu Qingxu insisted.

Helpless, Xu Changkun had no choice but to undo his collar, revealing his sturdy upper body. Several faint scars on his chest had already scabbed over and fallen off, leaving only shallow marks, but they still looked somewhat jarring against his fair skin.

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu's fingertips lightly caressed those scars, her fingers trembling slightly, her eyes filled with heartache. "It must have been very painful back then..."

"It didn't hurt." Xu Changkun held her hand and placed it against his heart. "With you in my heart, what is a little injury like this?"

Senior Sister Liu Qingxu leaned down, and her warm lips pressed gently against those scars. Her kisses were very light, filled with endless pity and love.

Xu Changkun's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. He reached out to wrap his arm around her shoulders, silently comforting her.

After a long while, Senior Sister Liu Qingxu finally raised her head, a glimmer of firm resolve in her eyes. "Husband, from now on I will work hard to cultivate and help you share the burden. I will never let you face danger alone again."

Xu Changkun was moved, pulling her tightly into his embrace. "Good, we will be together forever and fight side by side."

The two embraced and spoke intimately for half the night. They chatted about everything from the baby's name to future plans, and from interesting happenings in the sect to the development of the family.

The night deepened, and the candle burned out. Senior Sister Liu Qingxu gradually grew sleepy, falling into a deep slumber in Xu Changkun's arms. A satisfied smile hung on the corners of her mouth, and her brows had smoothed out.

Xu Changkun, however, did not sleep. By the moonlight, he watched her sleeping face, his fingers gently caressing her rounded belly, a strong desire to protect surging in his heart.

Second-Rank Inspection Envoy Zhao Wuji? Yunxia Sect?

Whoever dared to touch his family, he would make them pay the price!

The spiritual energy within his body circulated slowly, and a cold, sharp glint flashed in his eyes. This time, he would not only protect the family well but also let everyone who coveted the Xu Family know that the Xu Family was not to be trifled with!

By the time the sun had risen high, sunlight spilled into the room through the window lattice. Senior Sister Liu Qingxu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly woke up.

Seeing Xu Changkun still watching over her, her heart felt at peace. But thinking that she still had to rush back to the sect, a trace of reluctance flashed in her eyes.

After a hurried wash and tidy up, Senior Sister Liu Qingxu prepared to leave.

"Stay a little longer." Xu Changkun held her hand, feeling somewhat reluctant.

"I can't. I have to go. If Master discovers that I didn't return all night, I'm afraid she will be suspicious." Senior Sister Liu Qingxu gently broke free from his hand, looked back at him deeply, and suddenly stood on tiptoe to press a kiss to his lips.

"Husband, you must be careful. I will wait for you to come and take us home."

After saying this, she turned resolutely and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Xu Changkun stood in the courtyard, gazing in the direction where she had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

"Second-Rank Inspection Envoy Zhao Wuji..." he murmured to himself, his voice sounding as if it came from the Nine Nether Hell. "If you dare to come, I will ensure you never return!"