My girls were insatiable. But I suppose that’s normal, when all of your energy is being put into growing as fast as you can.

Hana and Kanna were nursing, while Chen helped Kiyoko burp and prepared to nurse her own triplets. It was just as well we didn’t actually need sleep, because taking care of half a dozen babies at once was taking every waking minute of the day sometimes.

Still, we squeezed in personal time. Wedding planning, time to cook, time for… other activities. Our Shun was back on duty, defending and helping to rebuild Rivermill, and I was glad we were allowed to know where he was now.

A year was forever to wait, but Chen made a point when saying that we’d both need at least that amount of time before we’d be ready to… well, we were planning a little more carefully this time. Definitely wanted that lucky wedding night conception, though.

But looking at how Chiaki and Chang were eyeing each other… wow. They were holding back hard. I hoped they’d wait until she was a little less likely to break the way I had, but Chen assured me her brother wasn’t that rock-headed, and Chiaki wouldn’t dare slow down her cultivation until she’d reached Mastery.

It was annoying we couldn’t get further, really. I’d asked mom about why I couldn’t reach Elder, and she just said it was because the Dragon and Tiger Kings still existed.

I didn’t fully understand why that was an issue, but then Aunt Xiang made it clear it was because they were hoarding too much qi at their personal nexus points, and until their elements were freed cultivation was limited. That I could understand, though it annoyed me.

Still, Chen and I did find time to cultivate, usually on a rocking chair as we nursed the babies.

Something soothing and natural about that, and Chen mentioned that Aunt Xiang had awakened while nursing when I mentioned it.

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Kinda weird, but she just shrugged it off, noting that a rabbit magically becoming sentient at all was weird. Fair enough point.

Ow. Kanna bit me again, signaling that she was done. Didn’t think it’d hurt so much to be bit by an infant, especially one that didn’t have teeth yet, but apparently it’s normal. Doubly so when you’re about three times as sensitive as you’d normally be. I handed her off, and finished emptying out with Hana. At least she didn’t get mean when she wanted my attention. Kanna had a fixation for chomping on everything she could, and Kiyoko almost seemed to be as playful as mom sometimes. Hana was my princess, the one daughter who seemed like she wouldn’t be so much trouble.

Of course, that likely meant I’d have to watch her the closest as they got older. But I was too busy with them now to worry about it.

My girls went into their crib to rest, and I rocked little Hong while his sisters fed. Fen and Fu always insisted on being the first to eat, so Hong and I bonded in the meantime. He’d tried to feed off me while he waited a few times, but had learned by now that I was pretty much dry by the time his turn came around.

Poor little boy. A sign of his future, in a household of girls. I can only hope Chen and I could give him a few brothers sooner rather than later. We were both used to crowded homes with lots of children, but I’d failed to realize just how crazy it got when you doubled the output potential. With six infants, I worried we were neglecting a few things just keeping them fed and cleaned. Mom and Aunt Xiang assured us we were doing fine though, and passed us some toys for them and food for us. I think they’ll be teething soon, but I can’t really think about it.

Chen shook me awake suddenly. Apparently I’d nodded off. Brief moment of panic, but Hong was fine, and ready for lunchtime with his mommy. Minor breast envy, as Chen inherited pretty much her entire build from her mother, but my own sufficed for their purpose, and certainly didn’t get ignored when I wanted to show them. Not that this was the time and place, with Fen and Fu to settle and put to bed.

The bunny twins seemed to take after their grandma, with eyes that challenged the world. Their hair colors were different though, a deep brown instead of Chen or Aunt Xiang’s bright pink. Hong resembled his father, though also had some of his grandfather’s look. I also caught flashes of Chang in his eyes, that steady nature and stubborn streak that’d do him no favors over his life.

Managed to get the bun-twins to bed, then collapsed into my own for a while. Chen joined me shortly after.

“Kids are exhausting, Song.”

I only nodded, falling asleep in time for everyone’s afternoon nap.