Chapter 169: Becoming a Father

Boom!

With a loud noise, a big man was kicked off the martial arts platform, landing right in front of Li Nianlong. Sensing something wrong, Li Nianlong casually slapped him, sending the man flying more than ten meters and crashing into a crowd.

The big man was in a miserable state, knocked unconscious by Lin Yueru's ferocious kick and Li Nianlong's "Cloud Clearing Palm." He was foaming at the mouth, and who knew if he would be traumatized for life? But at this moment, no one cared about him.

"You!" Lin Yueru stood on the platform, pointing angrily at Li Nianlong below. "You shameless scoundrel, dare to speak ill of me! Come up here, I'll teach you a lesson!"

Seeing Lin Yueru's ferocious appearance, Liu Jinyuan, who had been instigated by Li Nianlong, couldn't help but feel that his cousin was so unbearable, so fierce and unyielding, with no trace of a young lady's demeanor!

Li Nianlong turned to Liu Jinyuan. "Jinyuan, see that? Do you really want to marry such a woman?"

Liu Jinyuan suddenly realized, smiling bitterly as he clasped his hands. "In the past, I was young and ignorant. Now, thanks to Brother Li's guidance, I see the light. I will return home to study diligently, strive for success in the imperial examinations, and serve the court in the future."

After speaking, Liu Jinyuan turned and left, waving his sleeves without taking away a single cloud.

Watching Liu Jinyuan's departing figure, Li Nianlong sighed lightly. "What a fool!"

"Come up here!" Lin Yueru was furious. "I must teach you a lesson today!"

"A lesson?" Li Nianlong smiled faintly. "Miss Savage, have you forgotten how I subdued you yesterday?"

Lin Yueru blushed instantly.

Her father, Lin Tiannan, however, brightened up at the sight of Li Nianlong, admiring the noble and heroic young hero.

At this moment, the steward of the Lin Family, Lin Zhong, walked over. "Master, this young gentleman did not register to participate."

"I don't care!" Lin Yueru was furious. "I won't rest until I've beaten him up! Father, make him come up here, or I won't give up!"

"Yueru, you... sigh! What should we do?"

"What's the point of talking? Just watch what I do!"

Li Nianlong stepped forward speechlessly. "If you want me to go up, I can. But we're just sparring, not seeking marriage. If the lady agrees, I'll go up."

"Hmph! Stop talking nonsense! I just want to teach you a lesson, who said anything about marriage!" Lin Yueru brandished her sword. "Come up here!"

Li Nianlong turned to Zhao Linger. "Linger, I'll go settle things with this uncivilized girl. Wait for me here, I'll be back soon."

"Okay." Zhao Linger smiled gently. "Brother Long, do your best."

"Her strength doesn't even warrant me doing my best." Li Nianlong smiled confidently, stepping onto the platform.

Facing Lin Yueru, Li Nianlong smiled faintly. "Miss Savage, I'm here."

"Good!" Lin Yueru swung her sword, and a burst of sword energy emanated from the blade, shooting towards Li Nianlong as she swung.

Is this the Seven Extremes Sword Qi?

Li Nianlong's heart skipped a beat. Although Lin Yueru's skill was still shallow, sword energy was not to be trifled with. If hit, he would be injured.

Li Nianlong didn't dare to be careless, dodging the sword energy and not giving her a chance to attack again. He raised his hand and struck out. With a bang, Lin Yueru grunted, her sword flying out of her hand. Despite losing her sword, Lin Yueru didn't admit defeat. With a scolding, she raised her finger and shot out a blast of Qi Sword. Although its power was inferior to the Seven Extremes Sword Qi, it was faster, more concealed, and had a larger attack range, almost covering Li Nianlong's entire body.

Li Nianlong smiled faintly, no longer dodging. He activated his Heavenly Gang Bodyguard, increasing his defense by 300%, making him as solid as a diamond. Although the Qi Sword struck him all over, it didn't harm Li Nianlong at all.

Brushing off the dust from his body, Li Nianlong smiled faintly. "Miss Savage, is it necessary to continue?"

"You... you're unharmed?" Lin Yueru was shocked.

"Do I look like I'm harmed?" Li Nianlong smiled faintly. "Miss Lin's Qi Sword is indeed extraordinary, but unfortunately, your skill is still shallow. If Master Lin personally made a move, perhaps I would have been injured."

Li Nianlong's words didn't please Lin Yueru. Instead, she felt deeply frustrated. She had exerted all her strength, yet he seemed to be deliberately letting her off. Even so, she couldn't harm him in the slightest. How could he be so strong?

Seeing Lin Yueru's dejected look, Li Nianlong smiled faintly. "Since you're not saying anything, let's consider our grievances settled, shall we?"

"Hmph!" Lin Yueru snorted lightly, but still muttered softly, "I lost."

Li Nianlong smiled faintly, clasping his hands. "Thank you for conceding."

The next moment, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheers. Li Nianlong was surprised: could it be...

"Hehehe..." Lin Tiannan laughed, his face beaming with joy: "Thank you, everyone. Today, the Lin Family's martial arts contest for marriage has finally come to a conclusion. Starting from today, the Lin Family will host a grand banquet for three days. Welcome everyone to join us."

As expected!

With a wry shake of his head, Li Nianlong realized that things had indeed developed in this direction.

"Master Lin, I have something to say." Seeing Lin Yue as about to leave the stage embarrassed, Li Nianlong quickly shouted, suppressing the noise in the venue, making everyone's eardrums buzz and the place fell silent instantly.

Lin Tiannan was also astonished by Li Nianlong's profound martial arts skills and didn't dare to neglect him. He hurriedly asked, "Young hero, what do you have to say?"

Li Nianlong sneered, "Master Lin, I made it clear before stepping onto the stage that the duel with Miss Lin was just a friendly sparring, with no intention of seeking marriage. Everyone present heard it, and Miss Lin admitted it too. Why did Master Lin force me to marry your daughter? Moreover, I already have a wife..."

With that, Li Nianlong beckoned to Zhao Linger in the audience, "Linger, come up here."

"Dream Dragon Brother," Zhao Linger was deeply moved and immediately walked up from the audience, nestling beside Li Nianlong.

Li Nianlong embraced Zhao Linger in front of everyone, his eyes filled with tenderness. "This is my wife, Zhao Linger. If Master Lin is willing to let your daughter become my concubine, I won't object. But becoming my lawful wife is impossible."

"Nonsense!" Lin Tiannan's face turned extremely ugly. "How could the daughter of the Lin family become someone's concubine! Since the young hero already has a wife, let's forget about what happened just now." Then, he turned to the pale-faced Lin Yue, speaking kindly, "Rest assured, Yue'er. There are many heroes in the world. Dad will find you a suitable husband."

Lin Yue glared fiercely at Li Nianlong and then ran off the stage without looking back. With such a scene happening in front of the entire Suzhou city, she couldn't face anyone anymore. Naturally, she ran away as far as she could.

"Yue'er!" Lin Tiannan called out, but Lin Yue had already run far away. Lin Tiannan's face turned iron-blue, but he still maintained his composure, saying politely, "Apologies for the inconvenience, everyone. The martial arts contest for marriage will be temporarily concluded today. If there's another one, we'll notify everyone separately. Lin Zhong, please see our guests off."

"Yes, Master!" Lin's steward immediately put on a smiling face and accompanied the guests to leave. Having watched such a great show, everyone was already satisfied. But the news of the Lin family's young miss being rejected in the marriage contest would spread throughout the streets and alleys in the coming days.

Lin Tiannan looked at Li Nianlong with a grim expression. "Young hero, please."

Li Nianlong smiled faintly, cupped his fists, and left with Zhao Linger.

After leaving the Lin Family's stronghold, Zhao Linger asked, "Brother Dream Dragon, where are we going?"

"It's getting late." Li Nianlong looked at the sky and smiled. "Let's go back to the inn and rest for the night. We'll set off for the next destination tomorrow."

"Okay." Zhao Linger was a bit tired from playing around, so she returned to the inn with Li Nianlong. After having dinner, they rested together.

However, when Li Nianlong reached out to Zhao Linger, she stopped him.

Confused, Li Nianlong looked at her. Blushing, Zhao Linger said, "Brother Dream Dragon, I'm not feeling well right now. I can't serve Brother Dream Dragon."

Not feeling well? Is it that time of the month?

Furrowing his brow, Li Nianlong looked at Zhao Linger's complexion. It didn't seem like she was having her period. Instead, it looked like...

Li Nianlong was shocked. "Linger, are you... pregnant?"

Seeing that Li Nianlong figured it out, Zhao Linger blushed even more and murmured softly, "Mm-hmm."

Li Nianlong was stunned. How is this possible? This doesn't make sense at all! I clearly didn't finish inside her! Is it the system's doing again?

A myriad of thoughts raced through his mind. Li Nianlong took a deep breath. "I'm going to be a father?"

In reality, he didn't even have a wife yet! And here, he was about to become a father. What kind of rhythm was this?

"Brother Dream Dragon..." Zhao Linger was shyly happy. "During those days, Brother Dream Dragon was always... I tried to persuade Brother Dream Dragon to control himself, but Brother Dream Dragon wouldn't listen."

Those days?

Li Nianlong remembered. Those were the days he was 'away' from Immortal Sword. In the system, his other self was newlywed with Zhao Linger, engaging in intimate activities day and night. It would be strange if she didn't get pregnant.

With all these memories flooding back, Li Nianlong smiled wryly. "System, you're ruthless!"

There was nothing he could do. Ultimately, this was just a game. Even if this world seemed real, it was still fake. But Li Nianlong's feelings for Zhao Linger wouldn't change. A person would develop feelings for anything, even for cats and dogs. How could he not develop feelings for a real person like Zhao Linger, or for companions, or loved ones in a virtual online game? Zhao Linger was such a real person. How could he not develop feelings for her?

He hugged Zhao Linger tightly, caressing her abdomen gently. Li Nianlong's eyes were filled with tenderness. "Linger, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Blushing, Zhao Linger replied, "I... I only found out these past two days. I was too playful and forgot to tell Brother Dream Dragon."

She's just a child.

Only then did Li Nianlong realize that Zhao Linger was only sixteen years old. A sixteen-year-old girl was already pregnant. By the time she turned seventeen, she would be a mother. If things followed the original story, she would meet a tragic end at seventeen...

Li Nianlong hugged Zhao Linger tightly. "Linger, I'll protect you. I'll make sure you're always happy and safe."

"Brother Nianlong..." Zhao Linger was deeply moved, tears shimmering in her eyes, filled with happiness.