A Harmonious Family

The human gestation period typically lasts between thirty-eight and forty-two weeks. In other words, a normal, healthy baby must be born within two hundred and sixty-six to two hundred and ninety-four days. In that sense, having passed thirty weeks—about two hundred and ten days—Tang Suryeon's belly was so swollen that it wouldn't be strange for her to be considered full-term in just another month.

The truly absurd part of this situation, however, was that both of her daughters were also pregnant women who had entered their thirtieth week.

"I'm glad to see all three of you are so healthy."

Of course, a warm smile couldn't help but spread across the lips of Tang Hwi and the three women who carried his seed.

Deep within the Patriarch's Pavilion, Tang Hwi had completely renovated the very chamber reserved for the Patriarch's secluded cultivation, transforming it into a private sanctuary for the pregnant mother, daughters, and sisters. Since they were all formidable martial artists, moving around wasn't an issue despite their heavy bellies. Still, Hwi made sure to provide them with custom-tailored maternity wear and went to great lengths to satisfy any sudden food cravings they had.

If the ancestors of the Tang Clan ever found out that the sacred grounds of the Patriarch's secluded cultivation had been repurposed like this, they would probably leap straight out of their graves. The once-sealed, windowless room now had large windows carved into the walls to let in the sunlight. Not only was the space lavishly decorated with soft, luxurious silks, but it was also filled to the brim with cosmetics, rouge, and fine garments tailored to each of their tastes.

All of these luxuries had been personally procured by Tang Hwi, who used his clones to slip out of the estate unnoticed. Furthermore, because the Patriarch's Pavilion was an incredibly secluded and secure area, the women could occasionally take leisurely strolls through the private gardens. With such care, there was simply no reason for them not to be in peak health.

The mother and daughters gazed at Tang Hwi, each wearing a tender smile.

"My son is far too overprotective, which can be a bit embarrassing... but personally, this mother of yours is incredibly happy."

"With our Hwi taking such wonderful care of us, there's no way we wouldn't be healthy."

"More importantly, Brother, come over here and sit with us. You're just going to leave the rest of the paperwork to your clones anyway, so let's spend some quality time together as a family."

Though they weren't quite at full term yet, they all gently cradled their round, swollen bellies with both hands as they spoke to him. Tang Hwi responded with a warm, affectionate smile.

Of course, he couldn't say for certain whether he would be able to maintain a proper parental relationship with his future children. After all, in his countless past lives, his relationships with his offspring had broken down more times than he could count. Human relationships were incredibly complex, and trying to navigate them through the lens of parent and child only made things more difficult. No matter how many lifetimes he lived, every child was born with a completely different personality, making it impossible to cater to them all perfectly.

Some of his past children had put on a perfect facade of filial piety while secretly plotting to stab him in the back. Others had seemed perfectly loving, only to chop his corpse into five pieces and scatter them into the sea the moment he died.

Thus, Tang Hwi believed that no matter what kind of relationship he ended up having with his children, he would simply adapt and deal with it when the time came.

Though, if possible, a sweet, gentle daughter would be nice.

A well-behaved son wouldn't be bad either, but as a man, it was only natural to prefer a cute, beautiful daughter over a dull, gruff boy.

Still, whenever I bear fruit with the women I love, it always brings a fresh wave of emotion and makes my heart flutter.

With a warm, pleasant feeling rising in his chest, he happily joined his family.

Feeling the warm, intense gaze of the patriarch of the household resting openly on their swollen bellies, the pregnant women smiled suggestively.

In truth, they had harbored a sliver of regret and doubt after first finding themselves pregnant. Setting aside the taboo of loving a blood relative, they had wondered if it was truly right to bring children into the world under these circumstances. It would be incredibly difficult to explain the true nature of their relationship to the child, and they worried about the immense shock the child would face upon discovering the truth.

Those anxieties had weighed heavily on their minds... but seeing Tang Hwi so genuinely overjoyed and watching him cherish them so deeply made those painful regrets melt away like spring snow.

"It looks like delaying the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering will go smoothly. There won't be any issues with Sister and Ga-in participating."

"My goodness, really?"

Tang Ga-hui let out a wry smile as she looked at her younger brother—who was also her husband.

While she was incredibly happy that he had delayed the grand tournament for their sake, she had been utterly shocked when she first heard that he had handed over such a massive quantity of Night Luminous Pearls to achieve it. She had been so startled that she feared she might miscarry, and she had spent the entire day behaving with the utmost caution.

She was deeply grateful to him for going to such lengths just to ensure that she could make a grand return to the martial world, and that Tang Ga-in could make an equally spectacular debut.

Unlike Tang Ga-hui, who expressed her gratitude with a mix of wry smiles and adoring, wistful glances, Tang Ga-in was much more direct, clinging to Tang Hwi to shower him with affection.

"Hehe. Brother~ You know you're the one I love most, right? Mwah, mwah! ♡"

"Ga-in. You are about to become a mother. What is with this frivolous behavior?"

She climbed onto Tang Hwi's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting sweet kisses all over his cheeks. Tang Suryeon scolded her for being so shamelessly affectionate, but Tang Ga-in simply stuck her tongue out.

"Bleh~! I'm not a middle-aged woman like you, Mother. I'm a young lady in the absolute prime of her youth! This kind of behavior is just cute and charming. Right, Brother? ♡"

"......"

Tang Suryeon seriously debated whether or not to give Tang Ga-in a good smack on the head. However, reminding herself that her daughter was also pregnant, she managed to pull back her fist.

"In any case, all that's left is for Sister and Ga-in to make a magnificent scene at the tournament. Since you both have reached the Super-Peak Realm, there shouldn't be anyone among the 'Phoenixes' who can match you... Wait, actually, is there?"

"Hmm? What do you mean by that? As far as this mother can see, none of the Six Phoenixes would stand a chance against my daughters."

"Remember when I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mentioned needing a yin-attributed spiritual medicine to complete my martial arts? I tried to establish a connection with the North Sea through my aunt to obtain an Ice Crystal... and it seems they are coming."

"Huh? Who's coming?"

As Tang Ga-in asked sleepily from his embrace, Tang Hwi gave a brief explanation.

"The Young Palace Master of the Ice Palace is coming to the Central Plains to participate in the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, and she wants to discuss the matter with us."

"What? Ye-jin's daughter?"

"Oh my."

"Wait, what?"

Those were the reactions of Tang Suryeon, Tang Ga-hui, and Tang Ga-in, in that order.

Tang Suryeon, who, like Tang Sua, was close enough to the North Sea Ice Palace Lord to exchange letters occasionally, knew her friend's personality well and found this development intriguing. Meanwhile, Tang Ga-hui and Tang Ga-in reacted sharply to the news that a woman who was essentially the princess of the North Sea was coming.

Tang Hwi understood his sisters' reactions. As the Young Palace Master and designated successor of the ruler of the North Sea, she would possess boundless resources and exceptional talent. If she fought with everything she had, they might actually lose—

"Is she pretty?"

"That... that woman, is she beautiful?"

"Hmm."

Tang Hwi let out a soft groan. Had he really given his women so little reason to trust him? He had seduced a mother and her daughters to build his own private paradise of flesh, but as far as he knew, he had never once cast his eyes on an outsider.

Besides, Tang Hwi had never actually met the women of the North Sea in this lifetime, so he couldn't give them an answer. Sensing her daughters' jealousy, Tang Suryeon stepped in with an amused smile.

"Fufu. She is likely exceptionally beautiful. With hair as white as snow and the striking blue eyes unique to those who practice ice arts, she must look like a living jewel. Even though this mother was celebrated as the First Beauty of Sichuan in her youth, when I met Han Ye-jin—the current Ice Palace Lord—back then, I couldn't help but feel somewhat defeated."

"Ugh, what is that? If she's that beautiful, she'd have to be compared to the First Beauty of the Central Plains! I hate her already...! Brother~!!"

Still clinging to Tang Hwi's chest, Tang Ga-in flailed her legs and whined. Tang Hwi gently wrapped his arms around her, stroking her belly to soothe her.

"Do not worry. To this brother of yours, my family will always be the absolute best."

"Is that true?"

"Of course, Sister. To me, Mother, you, and Ga-in are far more beautiful than any 'First Beauty of the Central Plains' could ever hope to be."

At his immediate response, the mother and daughters all made almost the exact same expression.

"""...♡"""

Watching them blush as if they could barely contain their overflowing love, Tang Hwi firmly shook his head.

"But none of you have forgotten that sex is strictly forbidden ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now, correct?"

The women pouted in disappointment, but Tang Hwi remained unyielding.

"As you all well know by now, my cock far exceeds normal proportions. While it's safe for a woman to engage in intercourse once she enters a stable stage of pregnancy, with a cock of my size, there's no telling what might happen. So, absolutely not."

Tang Ga-hui and Tang Ga-in looked thoroughly dejected.

However, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one person—Tang Suryeon—flushed a deep, burning crimson and hung her head low.

Tang Ga-hui and Tang Ga-in would never know in their wildest dreams.

Squelch...

Every time Tang Suryeon shifted her posture, the dildo inserted deep inside her back door rubbed continuously against her inner walls. At Tang Hwi's request, she was currently in the middle of self-developing her rear passage.