"But... alas, that's all in the past. I am still very happy. You take good care of yourself during this time, don't have any mishaps. Oh, right, we need to find someone professional for this. The Five Elements Hall hospital has nutritionists, and we need to find a trustworthy person of our own to help look after you."
Wan Lei spoke to himself, then turned towards the Alchemy Hall and sent a divine sense message to Sui Xiaohang, telling him and Feng Silu to hurry over.
Sui Xiaohang, seeing that it wasn't a major issue, finished refining a batch of pills before coming.
"What's the rush, calling me over so urgently?"
Sui Xiaohang pulled Feng Silu along as they flew over.
"Xiao Yu is pregnant."
Wan Lei joyfully shared the good news with his friend.
"Holy cow? Pregnant? You're going to be a dad? I'm going to be an uncle? This is quite something."
Sui Xiaohang was also surprised, but then he asked doubtfully,
"Huh? That's not right. Haven't you been striving for sainthood all this time? When did you have time for that? Unless...
Xiao Yu, I didn't mean it like that! Why are you hitting me..."
"That's exactly what you meant!"
Fang Xiaoyu raised her fist and started hitting Sui Xiaohang.
"Hey, it was the day we came back. Stop fooling around, Xiao Yu, don't move, don't disturb the fetus."
Wan Lei quickly said.
"You're in such a good mood, having the energy for that after returning from the battlefield. I'm not trying to criticize you, but at this crucial stage of becoming a saint, you let your wife get pregnant. Isn't that clearly saying you don't want to be bothered? Covering your tracks after the deed is done..."
"Say one more word, and I'll kill you."
Wan Lei said with a dark expression, then instructed,
"You two go with Xiao Yu to the hospital in the south for a check-up. Oh, and get the best specialists. Figure out what she should eat and how to recuperate. Go for the best and most expensive options, money is no object, understand?"
"Got it, got it. Is it a boy or a girl? Hehe, I can't believe I'm going to be an uncle at such a young age. Wan Lei already has a child. What a world..."
Sui Xiaohang chuckled as he flew, seeming even happier than Wan Lei.
"Are you sure it's uncle and not aunt?"
Fang Xiaoyu narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"Why aunt? I'm a few months older than Wan Lei, so I'm definitely an uncle."
Watching their retreating figures, Wan Lei clenched his fist in excitement, feeling a surge of strength throughout his body.
He was prepared to use everything he had to protect this child's growth.
He was no longer a child. He was a strong one, a saint, a guardian of the true plane, and more importantly... a father.
Half a day later, Fang Xiaoyu and the other two returned.
"How was it? Did you get checked? Are there any problems?"
Wan Lei asked anxiously.
Sui Xiaohang said with a hint of annoyance,
"We did. The doctor said she's as strong as an ox and there's no need to worry. As long as she doesn't engage in high-intensity combat, with her semi-saint physique, the child will be born safely without any special care.
In fact, once the child is fully developed, it can even choose when to be born without waiting for the due date.
Alright, eat well and drink well during this time. I'm going to refine some pills to stabilize her pregnancy and calm her nerves. See ya."
"That's good, that's good."
Wan Lei finally felt at ease.
The nervousness of becoming a father for the first time was unavoidable.
"Alright, you can relax now. I'm going back to continue my cultivation. You don't need to worry about the childbirth; there won't be any accidents. Remember, don't descend from there out of nervousness or concern.
If you give up your progress, it will be tantamount to indirectly causing the deaths of more soldiers, understand?"
Fang Xiaoyu rolled her eyes after speaking.
"I know, I know. I definitely won't come down. With your cultivation, the child will definitely be born safely."
"That's good, I'm leaving."
In the following period, as Wan Lei ascended the Saint Ascension Ladder, he would occasionally glance down. Seeing Fang Xiaoyu's gradually protruding abdomen brought him immense happiness.
This further strengthened his resolve to become stronger. He wanted to protect the immortal realm, protect the true plane, and allow his child to grow up healthily here.
Soon, another half a year passed. Wan Lei had now been on the Saint Ascension Ladder for ten months, having completed nearly a third of the journey.
On this day, Wan Lei's small courtyard was bustling with activity.
Sui Xiaohang and Feng Silu had brought doctors and an entire medical team for the delivery.
Logically, childbirth should have taken place in a hospital, but Fang Xiaoyu insisted on not going. She felt it was a simple matter of giving birth and cutting the umbilical cord, nothing too complicated.
With no other option, Wan Lei asked Sui Xiaohang to directly invite the doctors.
None of them were short of money, so Sui Xiaohang hired a whole team.
Wan Lei upheld his promise and did not descend. However, he stood on the Saint Ascension Ladder, anxiously watching from above.
Finally, with a loud cry, a golden Saint Ascension Ladder descended from the cloud summit with a rumble.
It landed very close to Wan Lei's, descending side-by-side.
Wan Lei knew that the child had been born safely, and Fang Xiaoyu's Life Saint Dao had also been successfully comprehended.
He smiled.
After some busy work, the medical team left. Fang Xiaoyu, holding the baby, walked out of the house and flew up with Sui Xiaohang and Feng Silu.
Wan Lei took the child, carefully cradling it as if it were a priceless treasure.
"This child must have great potential. As soon as it was born, spiritual energy automatically entered its body. Such a phenomenon is unheard of,"
Sui Xiaohang exclaimed in wonder.
"This is my child, Wan Lei's child. So adorable."
Wan Lei held the sleeping infant in his arms, his heart melting.
"Have you decided on a name for the child?"
Feng Silu looked at Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu.
"I've thought of it. I've thought of it long ago."
Wan Lei bypassed the discussion with Fang Xiaoyu and named his child.
"Tsk, the name you picked is probably ugly and perfunctory,"
Fang Xiaoyu retorted with a dismissive eye-roll.
"Sister, I've never seen names as perfunctory as Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu."
Sui Xiaohang burst into laughter.
"Oh, there are. What if yours is even more perfunctory?"
"Brother, he's an Immortal Venerable. Even if he were called 'Gou Dan' or 'Er Zhu', it would still be the most imposing name."
Wan Lei chuckled, then extended a finger and gently poked his son's little nose. The little one yawned and fell back asleep.
"Hello, your name is Wan Lin."
Wan Lei looked at the child in his arms, his eyes filled with infinite tenderness.
Sui Xiaohang frowned,
"Wan Lin? See, I told you it was perfunctory. Too many people use the 'Lin' from forest, don't they?"
"It's probably the 'Lin' from '淋雨' (drizzle), since it's a bit related to Xiao Yu,"
Feng Silu said.
"It's '霖' from '甘霖' (timely rain),"
Wan Lei explained helplessly,
"The character above is '雨' (rain), which is Xiao Yu's '雨', and the one below is '林' (forest). It signifies the blessing of rain upon the earth, and also that Xiao Yu gave birth to him."