Kiana: It's fine, really. Should I ask Coco Leigh… forget it, let Natasha take the orphanage kids over to help look after them?
Bug Bug Is Also Very Cute: I can manage alone, no need for help.
"Can she really…?"
Kiana couldn't help asking herself.
She knew exactly how many little Bug Spirit girls needed minding.
Imagining a petite black-haired cutie struggling to feed a swarm of kids… "I'd better go check."
A cold sweat broke out on Kiana's forehead.
After assigning Livelier her clan land earlier, she'd completely forgotten… the girl must be exhausted. If it gets too much, maybe Bai Heng next door can lend a hand?
After all, both were in Xuan Cang's Returning-to-Void Cloud Sea; the Cloud-Pinnacle Dragon Palace wasn't far from the Bounty Tree.
Kiana: All right, I'll head over now, talk about the Penacony swarm and see the kids while I'm at it.
After sending the message, Kiana cupped her hands round her mouth and shouted toward Bianca and the others:
"Big sis! I'm off to see Livelier!"
"Huff… huff… okay!"
Bianca yelled back, breath ragged from training.
Kiana gave a small nod, casually tore open an Imaginary rift, and stepped through.
Bug Bug Is Also Very Cute: Great!
Far away in her treetop cottage above the clouds, Livelier beamed at the message on her jade sign.
Kevin's face floated through her mind, then faded, replaced by the impassive, silver-white aura-wreathed figure of Kiana.
If she remembered right, the General liked girls—and was single. The Propagation knew no gender!
Only the Locust-like Insectoids, mutated and mixed with other genes, had sexes at all.
Offspring with the General would surely be formidable!
At the thought, Livelier flushed, anticipation sparkling in her eyes as she waited.
But recalling the disgust on Kevin's face, she resolved to take it slow this time.
She would pace herself in the search for a mate!
As she mused, an Imaginary Gate silently opened beside her.
Still day-dreaming, Livelier snapped awake and composed herself.
"General~ you're here~"
Setting down the well-fed tot in her arms, she greeted Kiana with a gentle, perfect smile.
She had to overwrite her old shameful image.
"You've changed a lot, Livelier."
Taking in the sweet face and gently swaying antennae, Kiana blinked in surprise.
The girl who once chased Kevin like a love-crazed maniac now looked serene and adorable!?
Had motherhood awakened while she nursed the kids?
Kiana, who hadn't peeked into Livelier's thoughts, assumed so.
Yet… "Have these little ones just been crying?"
Noticing their moist eyes, she tilted her head in puzzlement.
Was their step-mother bullying them?!
Or did the savage, cold nature of the original Insectoids still linger?
Frowning slightly, Kiana's gaze carried a silent question.
Did the General dislike her after all…?
Feeling that subtle shift, Livelier's smile froze.
To Kiana it looked like tacit admission of child abuse.
"Sigh…"
Kiana exhaled, disappointment plain on her face.
The General sighed! Was it because she hated clingy girls, or because Livelier had once clung to Kevin?!
Staring at Kiana's stern face, Livelier opened her mouth but no words came.
Flustered, she wrung her tiny hands; even her cute antennae curled inward in dismay.
"Why…?"
Kiana's voice was heavy with disappointment and confusion.
Livelier batted ruby eyes, cheeks pink.
"Because…"
She paused, drew a deep breath, and steeled herself:
"Because I like the strong, and you, General, are the mightiest—I want to bear your offspring!"
(In this setting, Heroic Spirits can't reproduce, but as The Propagation Livelier has special means; other Spirits may use gene-tech if they wish.)
"Why would you hurt these children?!"
Both spoke at once.
"…" ×2
They froze; Livelier's eyes filled with confusion, Kiana's with shock.
I never hurt them!
She's shifted her target to me!
Each screamed inwardly.
"General, it's all a misunderstanding…"
Fighting down her embarrassment, Livelier hurried to explain:
"I just brushed one of them by accident and they all started crying…"
These were the last of her clansmen—why would she harm them?
She treasured every one!
"I see…"
Kiana, equally embarrassed, scratched her head and stepped back.
General, was that step back for real?
Rejected again—silently—and wrongly accused, Livelier felt a stab of pain.
Biting her lip, she lifted a toddler and murmured:
"You didn't come only for the children, did you? I'm not sure about the swarm slime in the photo either…"
Her voice trembled, antennae drooping; she looked utterly downcast.
"Sorry, I misjudged you…"
Apology written on her face, Kiana knelt, gently stroking Livelier's silky black hair.
Her reflexive recoil had indeed hurt the girl.
Besides, Livelier was cute—and still pure.
Only that earlier stalker image had biased her.
In truth Livelier's schooling had been scant; aside from her mother's dying words she knew almost nothing.
That earlier behavior hadn't really been her fault.
Kiana's sudden gentleness made Livelier shiver; she nuzzled the hand stroking her hair.
"Livelier, you only make children with someone you love, understand? Not casually."
Kiana coaxed softly.
She wanted Livelier to grasp love, not mere instinct.
"Understood…"
Livelier nodded, voice muffled.
Bright as she was, she'd absorbed plenty since coming to Wangshu; she knew what fondness felt like.
That thump in her chest when she looked at the mighty General was exactly that—but the General didn't believe it. Sigh~
Take it slow, you can do it, Livelier!
She cheered herself on.
"General, about the slime in the photo, I'll need to go myself and analyze the pheromones before I can tell what's going on."
Feeling a bit better, Livelier leaned into Kiana's arms and whispered.
Watching the girl cuddling a child in her embrace, Kiana fell into thought.
A husband abandoning wife and kids, the virtuous wife left behind, toddlers everywhere… why did it feel so familiar!?
This Young Lady is no heart-breaker, hey!
"Hahaha! Aha just got back in time to see this gem! Let's polish it up and hand it to the Garden of Recollection!"
Aha's trademark laugh rang out and vanished, as though it had never been there at all.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"