Chapter 179 - 175: Nan Zishi Becomes Resolute

Outside the coffee shop, one luxury car after another pulled up.

From all sorts of luxury cars, one successful-looking middle-aged person after another stepped out.

There were teachers, doctors, CEOs, and government officials among them.

Nan Zishi and Nan Zhinian were both taken aback.

Finally, a modest little car pulled to a stop. A young girl helped a plainly dressed 70-year-old man inside.

The distinguished-looking middle-aged people followed them in, politely greeting Nan Zishi when they saw her.

One of the CEOs went straight to the counter and booked the entire coffee shop for them.

’I thought Qi Yingmei only had one son,’ she recalled.

’Who are all these people?’

Nan Zishi quickly pulled out a chair for the elderly man to sit down.

After studying Nan Zishi for a long moment, the man said, "You don’t look like her... You are..."

"I’m Nan Zishi," she replied.

"Nan? Are you Yingmei’s granddaughter?"

Nan Zishi shook her head. "Sir, I’m not. I’m just a traveler who is repaying a kindness from Qi Yingmei by fulfilling her final wish."

Nan Zishi handed the man a printed photograph of Qi Yingmei’s tombstone.

The room fell silent, as if time itself had stopped.

"Yingmei..."

"Yingmei... she said the country was in shambles and needed to be rebuilt, and that she wanted to educate more children."

"She said she loved being a teacher, that she loved being with children..."

"Yingmei, do you see this? Of the children you taught, some became entrepreneurs, some went into government, and some followed in your footsteps to become teachers themselves..."

"Do you see?"

For a long time after, the only sound was the man’s quiet sobbing.

...

With a heavy heart, Nan Zishi let Nan Zhinian drive, as he already had his license.

On the way back, Nan Zhinian tried to cheer his sister up, but she remained silent and still.

Giving up, Nan Zhinian changed the subject.

"Sis, I found that information on Li Yun. Her dad’s illness is terminal.

I called the hospital, and the doctor said he might only have a month left.

They don’t have money for treatment, so he’ll probably be discharged today and sent home."

They both knew what it meant to be sent home with no money for treatment.

"Which hospital?"

"In the next city over. It’s a two-hour drive."

Nan Zishi said, "Zhinian, let’s go to the hospital."

"Okay." Nan Zhinian didn’t ask any questions and drove toward the neighboring city’s hospital.

When they arrived, Nan Zishi saw an elderly man lying in a hospital bed. He looked very much like Li Yun; it was her father.

Grandma Li, her hair white with age, was tending to her son, a tragic sight of an elder caring for the young on their deathbed. "My son," she murmured, "just hold on a little longer. I had a dream last night... I dreamed that Yun’er is coming home."

Nan Zishi leaned against the wall, remaining silent for a long moment.

She abruptly turned, went and deposited 200,000 into the medical account for Li Yun’s father, and then left the hospital.

’Even though I love fluffy things and rescuing animals, I’ve never denied that I get a sense of satisfaction from it.’

’I do it for that feeling.’

’I really don’t think of myself as selfless.’

’I was kidnapped and taken to the Beast World, threatened by the System with my best friend’s life.’

’I’m not so kind that I’d give up my own freedom just for her.’

’What I was thinking was, yes, I don’t want to do these childbearing tasks, but I don’t really want to die, either.’

’So I have to fight. I have to fight for my own survival, to the best of my ability.’

’When the Beast God brought me back to Earth and told me to fight the Childbirth System...’

’I thought it was ridiculous. I never wanted to be some world-saving hero. I felt I’d accumulated plenty of good karma just by saving small animals; I never thought I’d have to risk my life for some grand cause.’

’But today...’

’Seeing Qi Yingmei’s loved ones, seeing Li Yun’s family... I suddenly felt...’

’Every girl was resisting, struggling in any way she could.’

’Qi Yingmei left behind the Fertility Pill and her own experiences for the next person.’

’Li Yun found a place that could block the System for the next person.’

’Even though they were all different, every girl was trying to find a way to help the next one.’

’Why is everyone so amazing, so strong?’

Nan Zishi propped her chin on her hand and gazed out the window.

She suddenly felt an indescribable will and power surging through her.

In that moment, the last trace of hesitation in her heart was forged into unshakeable resolve.

’This monstrous thing, the Childbirth System...’

’It must be destroyed, utterly and completely!’

...

「The Beast World Continent, the day after Nan Zishi’s departure.」

The Snake King, Xuan Jin, was already growing restless.

Only a day had passed, yet it felt like a year.

’Why is time passing so agonizingly slowly?’

’I miss my female master. So, so much.’

’She’s all I see, whether my eyes are open or closed.’

’I want to bury my fingers in her soft hair, hold her head, and kiss her. I want to breathe in her scent, to cover her, inside and out, with my own.’

’If I didn’t hold back, I would indulge myself completely, just to hear the soft sounds she makes when she’s aroused.’

’I wish she’d let me mate with her in my snake form. It would be easier to have my body in contact with every part of hers.’

’I want to coil around every inch of her skin. The feeling that she belongs completely to me would drive me insane!’

Chi Xiao was also frustrated, and the sight of Xuan Jin only made it worse. "You damn snake."

Xuan Jin snapped out of his twisted reverie, the rims of his eyes red with uncontrollable agitation. "Stupid bird."

The Fire Red Eagle and the Xuan Snake were at it again, fighting off to the side.

Wolf Day, Wolf Night, Hu Bai, and Lanxing were all in a state of near-catatonic listlessness.

Hu Bai couldn’t remain lost in his sorrow for long. The commotion from Chi Xiao and Xuan Jin was too much, and he looked up.

Chi Xiao and Xuan Jin were trading lethal blows, each move aimed to kill!

Hu Bai was furious. "Both of you, stop it!"

The male White Fox surged forward, blocking Xuan Jin with one hand and Chi Xiao with the other. On the snow-white Fox King’s face, Beast Patterns suddenly appeared.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

It was Eight Patterns!!!

The listless ones could no longer remain listless. Wolf Day, Wolf Night, and Lanxing shot to their feet.

Lanxing spoke in shock, "I’d heard the Fox Clan’s ancient superpower was insanely powerful... but I never imagined it was *this* insane. Brother Hu Bai just recovered his strength. How did he advance to Eight Patterns so quickly?"

Having fought, Xuan Jin and Chi Xiao had blown off some steam. Xuan Jin, at least, was gradually calming down.

He recalled the time he’d snatched Nan Zishi from the East Coast. He had fought Hu Bai then, and even at that time, he’d sensed that if Hu Bai hadn’t been in poor health, he might not have been able to defeat him.

Now, not only had Hu Bai recovered, but his power had also soared.

That kind of innate talent was something you couldn’t even be envious of.

Chi Xiao asked, "Hu Bai, you leveled up?"

Hu Bai grunted in affirmation.

"When did you level up?" Chi Xiao asked eagerly.

’We were all getting along just fine at Seven Patterns, how did you go and secretly level up to Eight Patterns?’

"Sometime last night, I think. I wasn’t really paying attention."

"Holy crap! How is that even possible?!" Chi Xiao exclaimed in envy. "Come on, spar with me."

"Do you really want to do this?" Hu Bai asked.

"Of course! I’ve fought everyone in this family except you and Lanxing. I’ve never dared to challenge you before. We have to fight now!"

"Alright."

With that, Hu Bai activated his superpower: Devastating Allure!

In an instant, the towering Fire Red Eagle seemed completely bewitched. He felt an overwhelming urge to offer his very heart to Hu Bai. He walked slowly toward the fox and knelt before him.

He raised one hand. "Lord Hu Bai... I... I surrender..."

Xuan Jin, Wolf Day, Wolf Night, and Lanxing were speechless.

Hu Bai retracted his superpower.

Chi Xiao’s face turned bright red. He shot to his feet, spun around awkwardly, and finally just blurted out, "Holy crap!"

’What the hell was that? How did I end up on my knees, surrendering, before the fight even started?!’

"Still want to fight?" Hu Bai asked.

"Nope! No fight, no way, not happening!" ’This is so humiliating!’

Xuan Jin’s thought: ’Note to self: Don’t mess with Hu Bai. I can’t afford that kind of humiliation.’

Wolf Day and Wolf Night suddenly felt that being at Seven Patterns was still a bit too weak.

Lanxing’s thought: ’Brother Hu Bai is at Eight Patterns, the other brothers are all at Seven Patterns... and I’m only at Six Patterns. What am I going to do?’

And so, because Hu Bai had advanced to Eight Patterns, the males of the family briefly forgot their sorrow over their female master and the cubs’ departure.

The arms race had begun!

...

When Nan Zishi returned home from her trip, Mr. Nan, Nan’s mother, and the cubs were all arriving home as well.

Nan Zishi hurried over to help. "Mom, Dad, were the cubs good? Did they wear you out?"

Mr. Nan was beaming. "Good? They were angels! Every single one is so precious and adorable. I absolutely adore them!"

Nan’s mother was still buzzing with excitement. She laughed, "Your dad took the seven little ones out to play today, and he was bursting with pride!

Did you know, we took them to the... what’s it called... the rock climbing wall in the mall. Little Lang Xian did one little hop, and everyone in the entire mall was stunned! One of the staff members even asked if we wanted to apply for a Guinness World Record!"

Nan Zishi was speechless.

Lang Xian blushed slightly.

He had just wanted to show off for Grandpa and Grandma a little; he didn’t know it would cause such a commotion.

"And then there was the jungle gym! We were worried they’d be scared, but each one was braver than the last.

They blew past the obstacles as if they weren’t even there, one right after another.

If the staff hadn’t insisted on strapping them into safety harnesses, not a single one of them would have worn one!"

The six cubs awkwardly rubbed their noses and scratched their heads. Only Little Fu, who had no feet to run on, couldn’t play with her brothers.

Nan’s mother said, "I bought the cubs milk tea and ice cream.

At first, the seven little darlings were a bit scared and didn’t dare to eat them, but once they started, oh, you should have seen their little faces!

It was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! So cute it made this old grandma want to give them everything I own."

Nan Zishi was speechless.

Nan’s mother said playfully, "Anyway, I won’t keep you. I have to go make a delicious dinner for my grandbabies!"