226: gaze

Peng Tianyu stepped forward to support Kong Jiamu.

"Let's go, we can figure it out once we're outside."

How should he put it... He actually quite understood Kong Jiamu's shock and disappointment.

After all, he had gone through a similar mental journey a few days ago.

When he found out that Young Miss Tu Nan was actually not pregnant with His Majesty's Children, he was just as unwilling to believe it.

Soul-crushed, Kong Jiamu was easily led out of the room by him.

Lance looked left and right, then also secretly slipped out from the corner.

Well... the pressure of being in the same room as The Emperor was too great.

It was better not to get too close to one's idol.

In an instant, only The Emperor and his two Silver Armored Knights remained in the room, staring at the mother and her Two Children on the bed.

Tu Nan didn't speak, she just lowered her eyes.

[System, where is my reward?]

Where did the System go today? Hadn't she gone through all this trouble just for this moment?

[Here. I saw you were busy.]

It offered a meaningless sort of consideration.

[Settling rewards now.]

Sensing dissatisfaction from her silence, the System hurriedly threw out the rewards.

[Collected mutant gene: Ancient Phoenix (Divine-Grade)]

[Collected mutant gene: Ancient Kunpeng (Divine-Grade)]

[Breeding successful, host's gene chain completed by: 10%]

[Remaining survival time: 2695 days, gene chain completion: 70%]

[Filling sensory gene chain, obtained Cat Beast base abilities.]

[host's human form: Vision +50%, Agility +50%, Hearing Acuity +50%, Perception +50%... Cat Beast Form: Dynamic Vision +200%, Agility +200%, Hearing Acuity +200%]

[Can transform into Cat Beastkin complete form.]

「Does that mean I can actually turn into a beastman? What about attack power?」

When a Male Beast transformed into its Beast Form, its attack power increased exponentially.

[There is no such option; the same applies to the Female Beasts of this world. Besides, a little kitty doesn't need to live such a hard life~]

「You know, whenever you feel like you're in the wrong, your tone gets disgustingly sweet.」

「What's the use of me turning into a giant cat? To pretend to be a leopard? Next time, please just admit you're useless.」

[...] The System was depressed and helpless.

White Tiger, Phoenix, Kunpeng.

Although they didn't correspond perfectly, thinking about His Majesty the Emperor who occupied 15%, Tu Nan felt the gene the next child would awaken was very likely—

「His Majesty's child, is it the 'Azure Dragon'? Don't play dead, the Children were just born, you should have enough energy.」

[...Yes.]

Probably seeing that Tu Nan was very active in doing tasks, the System felt there was no need to hide it from her.

「So, why do you need these four Divine Beast genes to reappear in the world? Is it enough that they just exist, or do you want them to do something dangerous?」

It wouldn't be sacrificing them to some evil god, would it? But given the System's useless nature of only issuing tasks without any power of seduction...

It wasn't that Tu Nan looked down on it, but it probably wouldn't survive past the next episode.

[What I can say is limited; I'm afraid you won't understand.]

「Understanding is my business, just say what you can. If I can help, I will; if you're good, I'm good, right?」

"Are you alright?" The Emperor suddenly stepped forward, interrupting the conversation in Tu Nan's mind.

[His ability seems to be able to perceive me, I'm out. I'll think about it and tell you next time.]

「Next time? When?」

"Tu Nan?"

The Emperor frowned as he observed the Female Beast before him. Her eyes were slightly closed, but she was clearly not asleep; her eyelashes were trembling constantly.

He placed his hand on Tu Nan's forehead, and Tu Nan felt a sort of wave ripple out from where their skin touched.

It felt as if her thoughts had been lightly passed through a sieve for an instant.

Perception +50%

She realized this was the enhancement brought by that ability. Before this, she couldn't feel the field generated when His Majesty's Talent was activated.

She opened her eyes, pretending she hadn't noticed anything.

"What's wrong?" she asked in confusion.

"Nothing, I just felt as if you were being gazed at by something..." The Emperor withdrew his hand, looking thoughtful.

"That's very mysterious. What was it?"

The Emperor thought about the feeling just now. "It was like... an existence that doesn't belong to us."

"However, it didn't seem to have any malice."

Tu Nan was stunned; he really had sensed it.

"Is there a Rank above S?"

Maybe the System was just some person of a higher Rank? she speculated wildly.

The Emperor shook his head slightly.

"I don't know, I've never discovered one."

"But Ranks are meant to distinguish the 'known'. As for the 'unknown', who can define a Rank for them?"

The Emperor was very clear-headed on this point, not arrogant at all.

"S, or even S+, is just the peak we can see, that's all."

"The Universe is infinite..." Tu Nan's thoughts expanded along with his words.

"Yes, the Universe is infinite."

The Emperor nodded in appreciation.

However, he immediately ended the topic and looked at the two babies who had already fallen asleep beside her.

"Very cute. The imperial palace will be even more lively in the future."

The Emperor's words were concise and to the point.

This was the second time since he entered that he had directly stated the future relationship between these Two Children and himself.

The first time was when he directly told Kong Jiamu that they were his students.

Now he was saying they would be in the imperial palace in the future.

"They're still small, their Talents haven't been tested yet." Tu Nan was certain of the Children's Talent Ranks in her heart, but how could The Emperor be so sure?

The Emperor let out a faint smile.

"What, you're thinking of that now? Before, you were so full of confidence, saying you'd give me four S-Rank students."

Tu Nan was choked up by his words.

"There's no need to bring up old scores, Your Majesty."

She looked up to check in with His Majesty.

"Kong Jiamu... can Your Majesty find an opportunity to talk to him properly?"

The Emperor retracted his smile.

"You underestimate him," he told Tu Nan.

"Firstly, this is a battlefield; no matter how distressed he is, he won't break down. Secondly, he owes you his life."

He pointed at Little Bird.

"Well, and now you've also given him a child."

"He'll come around."

"Hain, on the other hand." The Emperor pondered. "Don't be fooled by his gentle appearance; he's the more stubborn one."

"I suggest you think about what to do."

Yes, there was still Hain... "I've thought about it. If Hain's communication comes through, I'll let him know."

Tu Nan looked at Little Fish, "I won't leave the Children without a choice. If possible, Children should have the love of both parents."

"I see." The Emperor didn't comment further.

This Female Beast clearly had two S-Rank Children, but she didn't seem to intend to live parasitically through them.

Her love for the Children was one of expectation and companionship.

Creating an environment for them and providing choices, without forcibly pruning their branches.

Perhaps others would think this was easy to do.

But as an Emperor, The Emperor knew how difficult it was.

S-Rank Children were equivalent to heavy weaponry, and their mother was the person holding that weapon.

If she only had one, she might still be able to restrain herself.

But to have two, to have four, and still be able to restrain herself from developing inappropriate ambitions... it was extremely difficult.

"I've been thinking," The Emperor suddenly spoke up.

"I've decided to assign a Silver Armored Knight to you—no, to my students."

Tu Nan's lips parted slightly, having no idea how The Emperor had come to this conclusion.

"Isn't Peng Tianyu already following me?"

The Emperor seemed to smile briefly.

"It's not good for Peng Tianyu to always be following you; they have other things to do as well."

Wait? Are you saying your Silver Armored Knights have nothing else to do?

"This represents my stance." The Emperor spoke proudly, "When everyone finds out you have four S-Rank Children, you'll understand that this is necessary."

He signaled the knight behind him to step forward.

"Shou, come meet Tu Nan."

Shou stepped forward again, clad in full silver armor, and knelt on one knee before Tu Nan's bed.

All distracting thoughts in his mind were cleared. He gently picked up Tu Nan's hand from outside the quilt and lightly pressed his forehead against it.

All for this moment.

Forsaking everything.

No regrets.