Chapter 481: That Child is in Your Care
Chapter 481: That Child is in Your Care
Fang Cheng lay on the floor with Uka Kaori draped over him, their bodies tightly pressed beneath a blanket. Neither spoke, yet each could distinctly hear the other’s frantic heartbeat and feel their scorching warmth.
Only after Ye Yuqing’s footsteps faded did they both exhale in relief. Uka Kaori silently praised Fang Cheng’s quick thinking – had others seen her in such a state, she’d have been too mortified to face anyone.
As her initial panic subsided, the compromising nature of their position struck her fully. She’d never even ridden a bicycle’s crossbar before, yet here she was experiencing something far more intimate. Overcome with embarrassment, she began squirming to escape.
Fang Cheng’s voice halted her movements: “You witnessed Mirai’s condition.”
Uka Kaori’s focus shifted instantly. “What condition?”
He detailed Uka Mirai’s periodic dark transformations. The revelation shocked Uka Kaori – her daughter had never shown such tendencies before. But Uka Mirai wasn’t an ordinary monster; as the potential Lord of All Monsters following the previous Ghost Lord’s death, her future remained uncertain.
Worry eclipsed Uka Kaori’s earlier discomfort. “I’ll consult Lord Yuki for alternatives when we return,” she murmured, forgetting her struggle to break free.
“I’ll be traveling soon,” Fang Cheng continued. “Mirai’s safety is assured, but her condition must wait until my return.”
After consideration, Uka Kaori proposed: “I’ll request extended leave from Lord Yuki to monitor her. The Iron Fortress remains stable, and this concerns us both – we can’t keep burdening you.”
Fang Cheng shrugged. “Fine. The child’s your responsibility now.”
His phrasing reminded Uka Kaori of marital discussions, stirring peculiar emotions she couldn’t decipher. After prolonged silence, she demanded: “How long will you keep holding me?”
Instead of releasing her, Fang Cheng countered: “I helped you tonight. Doesn’t that warrant a reward?”
“Your evil god caused this!” she retorted hotly.
“Don’t blame me! I’m the victim here,” he protested. “Trouble crawled into my bed while I slept!”
Uka Kaori flushed, mistakenly assuming he referred to her. After tense silence, she whispered: “What… do you want?”
Her controlled voice betrayed faint tremors.
“One kiss.”
The simplicity of his demand startled her.
Fang Cheng was infamous as an LSP, known even to the Iron Fortress. Given the circumstances, everyone could guess what demands he might make.
Uka Kaori had steeled herself to reject his proposition, yet found herself speechless when Fang Cheng presented such a simple request.
“I’m… I’m Mirai’s mother.”
Uka Kaori lowered her gaze, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Must you always act this way?”
Fang Cheng countered, “I don’t have any relationship with Mirai.”
True enough – but Mirai’s feelings for him had driven her to dark transformation. How could a mother possibly compete with her own daughter?
She’d secretly wondered many times: What if she’d met Fang Cheng before Mirai? What if she behaved like other monsters, casting aside shame and morality?
But fantasies weren’t reality.
After prolonged silence, Uka Kaori murmured, “Close… close your eyes.”
Fang Cheng complied.
Uka Kaori hesitated for twelve full seconds before brushing her lips against his.
Fang Cheng had anticipated this. The moment he felt her soft mouth, his hand cradled her head.
“Mmph?!”
Her eyes flew open as she struggled weakly, resistance fading until she surrendered completely.
When Fang Cheng’s wandering hand ventured lower minutes later, Uka Kaori shoved him away with sudden force, escaping the blanket’s confines.
He didn’t pursue her. Pushing further now would backfire – this kiss alone marked progress. Better to advance step by step than frighten her off.
Rising, he saw Uka Kaori across the room. Her soaked nightgown outlined every curve, more tantalizing than nudity.
Noticing his gaze, she dried the garment with a spell. She avoided meeting his eyes – both from their recent kiss and his current undressed state.
“Put clothes on. Now.”
“Summer heat’s better endured naked.”
“Are you deranged?”
Chuckling, Fang Cheng clothed himself through blood creation. Despite Uka Kaori’s maturity, her flustered reactions around men surpassed even young Sato Mai’s innocence – an oddly charming contrast.
Though still flushed, Uka Kaori composed herself to check on Uka Mirai. The girl had remained sleeping since being rescued.
Past experience suggested several hours until waking. Uka Kaori felt secret relief – when Mirai awoke, she’d remember nothing of her dark transformation. Otherwise, tonight’s events would make facing her daughter impossible.
After straightening her daughter’s clothes, Uka Kaori turned and asked, “How will we return?”
She, her daughter, and Fang Cheng had all disappeared. Fang Cheng’s escape had been noticed, leaving the apartment in chaos. Explaining their return would be complicated.
Fang Cheng smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ve planned it all.”
…
In the apartment, everyone except the still-sleeping Tsukikage Chuxia had gathered in the living room.
“That thing was too sneaky!” Ye Yuqing complained, having just returned. “Darted around like a rat—couldn’t catch it at all.”
Kanzaki Rin asked, “Did you see what it was?”
Ye Yuqing shook her head. “Just a wrapped-up bundle. Couldn’t tell.”
Kanzaki Rin turned to Qingxue. “You entered the room first. What did you see?”
“Nothing clear,” Qingxue lied. She’d recognized the fleeing blanket bundle—only Fang Cheng would hide like that. His reason for fleeing remained unclear, but as his loyal maid, covering for him came naturally.
While Kanzaki Rin pondered, Ye Yuqing scanned the room. “Where’s that bastard Ah Cheng anyway?”
Had the girls not been present, they might’ve suspected he’d relapsed and sneaked out. Uka Mirai’s absence also drew attention, though no one believed Fang Cheng would meet her secretly—their sibling-like bond was obvious.
The nine-tailed fox yawned. “Notice the Iron Fortress fox is missing too?”
Silence fell. Shock crossed every face.
Fang Cheng and Uka Kaori? Impossible! She was Uka Mirai’s mother. Even a beast wouldn’t go that far.
Only Qingxue stiffened. She alone knew their relationship wasn’t simple.
The doorbell interrupted them. Sato Mai answered to find Uka Kaori in a nightgown.
“Madam Uka,” Kanzaki Rin eyed her suspiciously, “where were you?”
Uka Kaori explained solemnly: She’d seen Uka Mirai sleepwalk into Fang Cheng’s room. After both suddenly flew off, she’d chased but lost them. Now she begged help finding her daughter.
Fang Cheng had crafted this story. Qingxue spotted the flaw but stayed silent under her adoptive mother’s gaze.
Kanzaki Rin believed it—why would Uka Kaori lie? She didn’t know their true relationship.
An hour later, Fang Cheng returned carrying sleeping Uka Mirai. His story mirrored Uka Kaori’s: Dark-transformed Uka Mirai had tried sneaking into his room, fled when thwarted, and he’d tracked her until she collapsed.
The unconscious girl never knew how many “black pots” she’d been handed.
Most accepted this, alarmed by her “worsening condition.” Qingxue knew better—Uka Mirai’s dark transformations strengthened her, but never enough to outpace Ye Yuqing. Still, she kept silent.
When Uka Kaori announced she’d stay in Mechanical City to care for her daughter, relief spread. A mother’s care seemed best.
Hours later, Uka Mirai awoke with no memory of her “dark transformation.” Uka Kaori sighed in relief, missing her daughter’s newly odd gaze.