217: Who can bear it?

Hearing this somewhat rude question, Kong Jiamu glared at Li with some displeasure.

"It's... I heard that the risks of childbirth are related to one's beast form, and the preparations vary among different races."

Li didn't know his mind could work so fast, actually managing to find such a reason.

He didn't know if he really wanted to hear the answer or not.

"Oh, oh, oh."

Kong Jiamu suddenly understood.

"Right, I think I've heard that before too. Then Tu Nan's risk should be lower; they all say Cat Beastkin are more suited for childbirth."

"But that should be relative. Tu Nan is so small... Oh, I really wish I could take her place. My health is much better."

"Why don't Male Beasts give birth? Clearly our bodies are stronger. Why let the Female Beasts do it?"

Kong Jiamu was becoming quite flustered.

Just thinking about Tu Nan suffering and being in pain was more than he could bear.

"...Giving birth to what... Ahhh, I'm really starting to panic."

He didn't notice that Li was completely distracted as he rambled on.

"Gene Lock... I'll definitely lock it properly next time. I... Ahhh, it's all my fault for making her suffer!"

Every word from Kong Jiamu was like a nail driven into Li's mind.

So.

Tu Nan already had such a Male Beast by her side.

Yes, that's right.

She deserved to be treated well.

Kong Jiamu... Li looked up to glance at the dazzling man before him, feeling as if he were burned by his excellence.

Did he actually have the audacity to compare himself to Kong Jiamu?

What quality did he have that was worth showing?

But what made Li feel most inferior wasn't Kong Jiamu's excellence.

It wasn't his status, his birth, or even his Rank.

It was that pure, natural outpouring of heartache for Tu Nan.

He held Tu Nan in his heart of hearts, instinctively considering her needs without caring about his own masculinity.

Li could see the pride Kong Jiamu felt when mentioning Tu Nan; it was a heartfelt recognition and love for her.

Li thought.

If only Tu Nan had met Kong Jiamu first.

If only he, this vulgar Chaotic Beast, had never appeared in Tu Nan's life.

"You... are very good."

Li spoke with difficulty.

He stood up abruptly, looking wretched and not knowing what else to say.

"You must treat... her well. Many things... only happen once."

He didn't bow to the higher-ranking Kong Jiamu and fled in a panic.

Kong Jiamu's attention was still on the other side of the starry sky.

The words Li spoke were almost like passing clouds to him.

Leaving no trace.

However, in an instant, a sharp alarm resounded throughout the entire military camp.

All the soldiers looked solemn, holding their breath to identify it... it was a continuous, blaring sound—a Level One Combat Readiness Alarm.

Confirming this, everyone began to run quickly, returning to their tactical posts.

All the longing and worry in Kong Jiamu's mind vanished instantly.

He leaped directly out of the cafeteria window.

In mid-air, he spread his arms and transformed into his Peacock Incarnation.

With a clear cry, he shot like an arrow toward the Headquarters.

Li was running in the open space below the cafeteria; looking up, he saw the departing figure.

Star Worms.

They had launched a large-scale active offensive against the defensive line.

***

Tu Nan had entered her due period.

She was only a few days away from completing eight months of pregnancy, but the specific date of delivery was hard to estimate.

It depended on the Rank of the Children.

In short, it was imminent.

Every day she had to report to Dr. James, who cared for her belly with meticulous attention.

He would even find ways to warm up the examination medicine before applying it to her stomach.

One day, after The Emperor and the Empress Dowager had an unpleasant encounter at the ball, the Empress Dowager suddenly ran into the pregnant Tu Nan... "You! You're pregnant?" The Empress Dowager was shocked. "Is this... His Majesty's?"

She nearly fainted.

Tu Nan didn't approach the Empress Dowager, cautiously keeping her distance, while Peng Tianyu pressed nervously to her side.

"It's not His Majesty's, Empress Dowager," Tu Nan comforted her.

"Then whose is it?" the Empress Dowager asked aggressively.

Tu Nan was reluctant to answer this question. How should she put it? As a favored official, she now had the confidence to be a bit willful.

"This is related to research. Please forgive me, I cannot say."

Peng Tianyu didn't understand why Tu Nan was making the future mother-in-law relationship so tense.

But perhaps The Emperor had other instructions.

Regardless, it wasn't his concern; he was only responsible for Miss Tu Nan's safety. And, of course, the safety of the Children in her womb.

The Empress Dowager stood there panting heavily, her eyes scanning Tu Nan's belly back and forth.

Her expression shifted from disgust to surprise. After a moment, she seemed to figure something out and began to laugh.

"If you won't say, then don't." She looked at Tu Nan's protruding belly and said pointedly, "It's so big; you must have been pregnant for a long time. It must be hard."

"Oh, no wonder you're at the Medical Institute."

She sighed and shook her head, laughing self-mockingly.

"Then take good care of your pregnancy."

The Empress Dowager's eyes were full of expectation.

"Don't go running around or moving about recklessly lately. You must not be careless, do you understand?"

Her attitude completely suggested she still viewed the child as her own grandchild.

Tu Nan softly agreed.

After that, The Emperor somehow ensured she didn't have any further interactions with the Empress Dowager.

Today, as the first light of dawn appeared.

Tu Nan suddenly received a summons from The Emperor.

Telling her to go to the study immediately.

What happened? Tu Nan reviewed everything she had handled recently in her mind and found that everything was progressing according to plan.

There were no surprises.

"Your Majesty, has there finally been progress in the military?"

Tu Nan could only think of this; that military general was very cautious.

They had followed many leads, but unfortunately, they hadn't identified the person yet.

For The Emperor to summon her so urgently, Tu Nan could only think of this. She felt a bit of joy; the excitement of a matter that had consumed so much effort finally coming to a conclusion.

The Emperor did not answer her.

He stood sideways by the window, turning a large black seal in his hand.

As the dawn light broke, the first ray hit his smooth forehead, then slid along his silver hair, past his shoulders and arms.

Waiting in this oppressive silence, when the light reached his hands.

It was as if the ice sculpture that was The Emperor finally thawed, gaining life.

He finally turned from the window, slowly paced to Tu Nan's side, and reached out to grab her arm.

Tu Nan looked at The Emperor in bewilderment; her arm was being squeezed a bit painfully.

"Are the Children alright?" The Emperor asked calmly.

"...They're fine."

That wasn't what he wanted to say; Tu Nan was certain.

What was it?

The Emperor was silent for another moment before finally speaking.

"War report from the Gamma Galaxy. The defensive line has collapsed."

So... that was it. Tu Nan stared intently into The Emperor's eyes.

The child in her belly woke up. Little Bird chirped, asking, "I'm not awake yet, I'm so sleepy... Mommy, what's wrong?"

The Emperor's hand was ice cold.

"Kong Jiamu is seriously injured." He paused, and though he couldn't bear it, he finished the news.

"The truth is, he is currently in a Treatment Pod for emergency treatment. His wounds are healing, but his spirit... seems to have dissipated."

"There is a high probability he won't make it."

Tu Nan's whole body slumped downward, but fortunately, The Emperor caught her.

"How can that be?"

The proud Peacock, the Peacock who always had infinite vitality—how could that be?"

How could it be him?

"Mommy?" Little Fish began to feel something was wrong; his mother's emotions were affecting him.

"Mommy!! Mommy, what's wrong!" Little Bird screamed.

Too many thoughts flooded Tu Nan's mind.

For a moment, she felt she couldn't hear any other sounds.

"Hold on!"

The Emperor's command was cold but firm.

"Think about who you are. You are not allowed to faint!"

His voice was like an anchor, pulling Tu Nan back from that turbulent flow.

Who... am I?