At the foot of the stairs awaited Mushu and Pharsa, standing resolutely like twin sentinels guarding the entrance.

"Madame," Mushu intoned, bowing deeply, his voice honed with respect. "I will prepare your breakfast at once."

Ling Li paused, her gaze sharp yet warm, imbued with an underlying intensity. "Let Pharsa go. There is something I need to discuss with you."

Pharsa blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing her features, then nodded in understanding. "I shall take my leave," she said, turning elegantly toward the kitchen, her trench coat billowing behind her like the tail of a comet streaking through the cosmos.

Mushu straightened, instinctively tightening his posture as he perceived the shift in atmosphere.

Ling Li stepped closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, yet steady and resolute. "I will be sending Shi Min to the Hidden Valley for cultivation."

Mushu's brows arched slightly, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes, but he maintained his silence.

"I intend for you to accompany him," she continued, her voice unwavering. "You have lingered at the threshold of the Nascent Soul for far too long. The breakthrough pills infused with Azure Bone that I entrusted you with are potent. With the dense qi of the valley and your unwavering discipline, I trust you will succeed this time."

Mushu felt his breath catch in his throat, a potent mix of hope and apprehension swirling inside him.

He had dedicated decades to his training, faced wars that tested the very limits of his endurance, and guarded Ling Li through storms and whispers of death. Yet, the elusive step into the Nascent Soul realm had remained just beyond his grasp, like a shimmering mirage teasing him from afar.

Nevertheless, his first instinct was not one of ambition but of concern.

"Madam," he replied, his voice steady yet tinged with deep emotion, "I understand your intentions. But your safety remains my paramount concern."

Ling Li's expression softened, her eyes glimmering with understanding, though her tone held firm. "Do not fret for my well-being. I will commence the training sessions starting tomorrow, surrounded by Butler Oda and the Seven Shah. I will be secure."

Mushu hesitated, his jaw clenched tight as if wrestling with the conflict within himself.

Finally, he bowed deeply, his voice thick with emotion. "Then I shall accompany Shi Min. Thank you, Madam."

A wave of excitement surged through him, barely contained; his eyes sparkled, his shoulders lifted high, and his breath quickened, transforming his stoic demeanor into that of a youthful disciple teetering on the brink of discovery.

Ling Li chuckled softly, the sound as melodic as wind chimes swaying in a gentle spring breeze.

She turned, gliding toward the dining hall, her robes trailing behind her, capturing the first light of day, the soft shimmer of residual qi from her alchemical work catching and refracting like a thousand tiny stars.

As Mushu watched her retreating form, he felt a surge of not just gratitude but purpose unfurling within him.

The Hidden Valley beckoned in vibrant promise.

And this time, he would not return unchanged.

Breakfast Revelations: Fate in the Morning Light

Ling Li sat regally at the head of the breakfast table, where the soft steam spiraled from her perfectly shaped lotus bun, rising like a delicate ribbon in the tranquil morning air. Sunlight streamed through intricately carved windows, casting lace-like golden patterns across the polished wooden floor, transforming the room into a tapestry of light and shadow. The air was imbued with the intoxicating aromas of jasmine tea and warm roasted chestnuts, enveloping the moment in a serene embrace of quiet domesticity.

Pharsa stood nearby, her posture impeccably poised and alert, embodying her usual grace. But when Ling Li turned to her and spoke with a calm certainty, the atmosphere shifted.

"You're pregnant."

Pharsa blinked, confusion flitting across her features. "Oh."

A palpable silence enveloped them as her eyes widened in shock. "Wait — what did you say??? Are you talking to me?"

Ling Li chuckled softly, taking a delicate bite of her bun, her demeanor so casual as if she were revealing something trivial rather than life-altering. "Is there anyone else in the room who can be pregnant except you? It can't be Butler James."

At this, Butler James, who had been meticulously arranging the delicate tea set beside Pharsa, looked up, his eyes bulging in surprise. "You!"

Pharsa, unsettled, turned back to Ling Li, disbelief etched across her face. "So you really mean I'm pregnant?"

Ling Li nodded with a nonchalant hum, savoring her food as if the news were just another flavor on her palate. "Uhm."

Pharsa's eyes widened even further — then, as if the weight of the revelation crashed upon her, she fainted.

Butler James, ever the vigilant steward, managed to catch her just before she hit the floor, cradling her with a startled grunt. "Madam, she's out cold!"

Ling Li rose with a composed expression, amusement dancing in her eyes as she approached Pharsa. Extending two fingers, she gently tapped Pharsa's forehead, infusing her with a pulse of serene spiritual energy. A soft glow enveloped Pharsa's body, stabilizing her qi and nurturing the fragile fetuses within.

Yup. Fetuses.

Pharsa stirred, blinking rapidly as she slowly regained consciousness, her posture stiff like a marionette just released from its strings, and her mind whirling with the enormity of the revelation.

Ling Li resumed her seat, sipping tea with a tranquil expression, the warmth radiating through her as she regarded Pharsa with a knowing gaze. "Why are you surprised? It's not like you don't have a husband."

Pharsa continued to stare, as if she were still lost in a dream. "I just… I don't feel it's the right time. There's so much happening. So much still to be conducted."

Ling Li's gaze softened, but her voice retained its resolute tone. "Being pregnant is every woman's fate, and this is your destiny. The divination from before was clear — you're expecting triplets."

Pharsa's mouth opened, then closed, struggling to process the staggering impact of this news.

"Triplets?" she whispered in disbelief.

Ling Li raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief lingering in her voice. "Don't you dare faint again."

"I… I…" Pharsa stammered, the words barely escaping her lips.

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