Chapter 16: The Truth
In the valley, a gentle breeze rustled the treetops. Chen Chang'an, Wu Bo, and Chen Xingcai sat beneath an old locust tree, the air heavy and silent.
Chen Xingcai clasped her father's right arm in both hands, resting her small head on his shoulder, her bright eyes fixed on the old man before them.
A grey bear lay sprawled in the distance, occasionally glancing in their direction.
"Speak."
Chen Chang'an had no intention of hiding the truth from his daughter, so he signaled for Wu Bo to tell everything.
Wu Bo's heart sank. Knowing he would likely not survive the day, he simply steeled himself, took a deep breath, and began slowly.
"The young lady's origins must be told from ten years ago."
His voice was low, tinged with bitterness.
"Fifteen years ago, after the Hong family's ancestor returned from the Heavenly Pool Forbidden Land, he was inexplicably gravely injured, even showing signs of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man. The Hong family owes its current status entirely to the ancestor, so… the family head immediately silenced all Hong disciples who had witnessed the injury, sealing the matter in secrecy."
"From then on, a shadow loomed over the Hong family. People feared the ancestor's death. And the current family head, Hong Tianque, happens to be a true madman."
"With the ancestor unreliable and his own talent limited, for the sake of the Hong family, he turned his gaze upon his own descendants. Against the elders' objections, he forcibly married his own sister. Six years ago, they had twins—Hong Longxiang and Hong Yuechan."
"Heaven was unjust, for his vile act achieved his goal. Among the twins, Hong Longxiang was born with the Celestial Saint Body, and Hong Yuechan with the Supreme Bloodline."
"Two saintly physiques in one family should have been Hong's greatest fortune, but they still underestimated Hong Tianque's madness…"
Wu Bo's voice trembled, as if reliving a nightmarish memory.
"To further enhance his son's talent, he personally drained his daughter Hong Yuechan's blood to extract the Supreme Bloodline, transplanting it into Hong Longxiang's body."
"Then, he ordered me to throw the dying Hong Yuechan into Youzhou's Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern, condemning her to eternal damnation."
At this, Wu Bo's eyes turned red.
"I… I couldn't bear it."
"So halfway there, I placed her in a mountain stream within a valley, thinking… at least she could rest in a beautiful place."
"I never expected she would survive… and be taken in by you."
Wu Bo exhaled heavily, as if unburdened from years of guilt.
After a moment of silence…
Chen Xingcai, who had been listening with her head down, clenched the hem of her clothes tightly.
Suddenly, she looked up, her eyes red, voice trembling.
"This Hong Yuechan… is so pitiful."
Uh… Chen Chang'an froze. Daughter, wasn't that your own story we were telling just now?
Then, he felt her small body press tightly against him. "My father is still the best."
So… she hadn't realized?
Chen Chang'an instinctively glanced at Wu Bo, who happened to look back. The two men exchanged a look, silently agreeing not to expose the truth.
Moments later, Chen Xingcai wiped her tears, stood up, and whispered, "Father, I'm going to find Master Xiao Hei."
Chen Chang'an nodded, kissed her forehead. "Go."
Chen Xingcai lowered her head and walked quickly away, her small figure tinged with loneliness.
Once she was gone, Chen Chang'an looked at Wu Bo and said coolly,
"You should be dead."
Wu Bo gave a bitter smile. "I know."
"But in light of your single act of mercy back then, giving her a chance to live…"
"I will give you two choices."
"First, I kill you now."
"Second, you stay, accept a restriction, and from now on remain in this valley to care for Xingcai—atoning for that scum's sins."
Wu Bo barely hesitated before kneeling, speaking solemnly,
"My Wu family has served the Hong family for generations, and Hong Yuechan… no, Chen Xingcai, will always be my young lady in my heart."
"For six years, this matter has haunted me like a demon. So… I am willing to stay and care for her!"
Chen Chang'an nodded, placed a finger between his brows, and planted a restriction.
"Remember, from now on, you live only for her."
Wu Bo bowed deeply. "Yes."
Evening, Chen Chang'an's courtyard.
The sun dipped toward the west, the evening glow dyeing half the sky red.
Wu Bo arrived at Chen Chang'an's residence, intending to pay his respects to the young lady.
The events of the day still felt like a dream to him.
As for whether the Hong family would come seeking trouble—he wasn't worried. With the Hong ancestor in that state, would they dare provoke another Saint Venerate?
Well… he had forgotten to ask for the Saint Venerate's name earlier. After all, the other party was now technically his master.
As for Hong Tianque…
Those who lose the Way find little support.
Wu Bo felt no burden at all in his betrayal.
However, as he approached, he saw Chen Xingcai sitting alone on a small wooden stool in the courtyard, her cheeks propped in her hands, looking downcast.
"Young lady?" Wu Bo called softly.
Chen Xingcai lifted her head and forced a small smile. "Wu Bo."
This was the form of address Chen Chang'an had taught her before.
Wu Bo walked over and sat beside her, asking carefully, "What's wrong?"
Chen Xingcai was silent for a while before speaking in a low voice.
"Actually… I figured it out."
"I'm that Hong Yuechan, aren't I?"
Wu Bo's heart trembled.
So… she had known all along?
Chen Xingcai bit her lip, her voice dropping even lower.
"I pretended not to know… because…"
"I don't want Father to feel I'm not really his daughter."
Wu Bo's eyes grew hot, and he quickly comforted her.
"Young lady, don't think too much."
"I can tell your father cares for you deeply."
"No matter whose daughter you are, in his heart, you'll always be his child."
Hearing this, Chen Xingcai finally let her tears fall, yet the corners of her lips curved upward.
"Mm!"
She nodded firmly, her mood seeming lighter.
Wu Bo breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered about the Saint Venerate's name and asked,
"By the way, young lady, I still don't know the name of the master… uh… your father."
Chen Xingcai wiped her tears and smiled brightly.
"My father's name is—"
"Chen Chang'an."
"Oh… Chen Chang'an, huh."
Wu Bo subconsciously repeated it, and then—
Boom!
His mind exploded, his whole body struck as if by lightning, frozen on the spot.
Chen… Chang'an?
His pupils contracted sharply, his mouth opening but no words coming out.
No wonder…
So that's how it is…
Now everything made sense.
Wu Bo felt as if a veil had been lifted from his mind.
The one who had adopted the young lady… turned out to be that man—
Number one on the Heaven Ranking!
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