"But Brother Junting… I can't be certain that Dong'er's First Dad is lying," Huo Yuhao said, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. He knew Chen Junting's reasoning was sound.
But Dong'er's life was at stake—he couldn't afford to gamble.
"Don't worry—you won't need to," Chen Junting replied, as if reading his thoughts. Then, unexpectedly, he added, "Tianmeng and Ice Empress must have already guessed I possess a divine inheritance, right?"
Huo Yuhao had long since revealed the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm and Ice Empress's existence to Chen Junting and Ning Tian—back when he was receiving Snow Empress's guidance at Hao Tian Fortress. Even their transformation into soul spirits had been orchestrated by Chen Junting himself.
As for how Tianmeng and Ice Empress had deduced his divine inheritance…
Perhaps Snow Empress wasn't a skilled liar. Or perhaps Niu Tian and Titan had dropped subtle hints. Regardless, Chen Junting had noticed Huo Yuhao's shift in attitude toward him during their stay at Hao Tian Fortress.
But he hadn't minded.
After all, he'd never intended to keep it a secret.
"Hey! Stop calling me 'big worm'!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm burst out of Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, puffing up his tiny, translucent body indignantly. "I'm a million-year soul beast, for crying out loud! You call her 'Ice Empress'—can't you call me 'Brother Tianmeng'?!"
"You've got some nerve!" Ice Empress snapped, flicking her tail to swat him away again. Then, she transformed into human form, arms crossed, standing beside Huo Yuhao.
"We did suspect it. So what are you getting at?"
"Ice Empress…" Huo Yuhao started, wanting her to be more polite.
But Chen Junting cut in, unfazed: "It's simple. Whatever 'illness' Dong'er supposedly has—a god would see through it instantly. Divine power doesn't make mistakes."
"You mean… confront Dong'er directly?" Huo Yuhao gripped the vellum tighter, heart pounding. He couldn't imagine how to broach such a topic with her.
Fortunately…
"No need," Chen Junting said, turning toward the door where Gu Tianchen and a stunned Wu Feng stood waiting. "Old Gu, would you and Xiao Feng go fetch Wang Dong'er? Invite her to dinner at the Nine Treasure Pavilion."
"Got it." Gu Tianchen nodded, already opening a Void Gate.
Noticing Wu Feng still frozen in place, he tapped her shoulder. "Come on—why the daze?"
"You… knew?" Wu Feng blurted out, then spun to face him, eyes wide with betrayal. "Don't tell me everyone knew Swordy had a divine inheritance… and I'm the only idiot left in the dark?!"
"Ahem—" An awkward silence filled the room.
Gu Tianchen was the first to speak, deadpan: "I went through everything with Old Chen. Of course I knew."
Huo Yuhao's survival instincts kicked in: "Senior Feng, I didn't know either! Brother Junting never told me! Even now, it's just Tianmeng and Ice Empress's guess!"
Even Ning Tian chimed in to soothe her: "Sister Feng, I only found out a few days ago myself."
When Wu Feng's accusing gaze turned to him, Chen Junting could only shrug helplessly.
"Wow—you fu-!" Wu Feng huffed. "Even Swordy can't be bothered to lie to me anymore!"
…
"Seriously… she doesn't look sick at all," Wu Feng muttered, chopsticks dangling from her mouth as she watched Wang Dong'er devour her meal with zero ladylike restraint.
Ning Tian, sitting beside her, nearly rolled her eyes.
Wu Feng, you've got the nerve to criticize?
You two are exactly the same—neither of you has room to talk.
Just then, Wang Dong'er noticed Huo Yuhao hadn't touched his food. "Yuhao, why aren't you eating?"
"I am, I am—I'll eat now," he mumbled, but his eyes never left Chen Junting. Anxiety etched his face. With Dong'er's "illness" unresolved, how could he possibly eat?
After the meal, the group conspired to send Wu Feng off with Ning Tian. The moment they were alone, Huo Yuhao couldn't wait any longer.
"Brother Junting—what's the verdict?"
Chen Junting smiled faintly. "Good news: no illness."
"Thank the heavens!" Huo Yuhao exhaled in instant relief.
In his spiritual sea, Tianmeng and his fox spirit cheered—only Ice Empress wore a cold smirk. "Told you. She eats like a horse, acts carefree, and has the energy of a warhorse. Does that sound sick to you? That Niu Tian guy probably cooked this up as some ridiculous 'test' to mess with you."
"Ice Empress…" Huo Yuhao chided softly.
In truth, he felt a flicker of resentment toward Hao Tian's Sect Master. Tests were fine—but using Dong'er's life as bait? That nearly cost the sect a precious disciple!
Chen Junting didn't know Huo Yuhao's exact thoughts, but seeing the displeasure in his eyes, he guessed well enough. He exchanged a silent glance with Ning Tian.
From the start, he'd never claimed to use divine or Electrolux's power to "detect" Dong'er's illness—because there was nothing to detect. His real goal was to set the stage, to prepare Huo Yuhao for what lay ahead.
He couldn't let Huo Yuhao end up as helpless as in the original timeline. Otherwise, what was the point of bringing him into their fold?
(Though, admittedly, it wasn't a total loss—Huo Yuhao's soul engineering talent was exceptional. Half the breakthroughs in early Battle Armor designs were his.)
"Yuhao… there's one more thing," Chen Junting said.
Unnoticed by the others, an invisible divine consciousness had already sealed the private room.
"Another thing?" Huo Yuhao's heart leapt back into his throat. "Good news or bad?"
Chen Junting steepled his fingers, resting his chin on them, expression grave. "For you… it's bad news."
"For me?" Huo Yuhao blinked, confused.
Chen Junting didn't answer immediately. He waited—until Gu Tianchen left the room, stationed himself outside to keep intruders away, and closed the door.
Then, softly: "Yuhao… that trident-shaped seal on Dong'er… wasn't made by human hands."
Not human? Then what could it be?
Huo Yuhao's mind blanked.
But Tianmeng and Ice Empress—watching from his spiritual sea—understood instantly.
"What?!" Tianmeng shrieked, eyes wide with disbelief.
Seeing Huo Yuhao still lost, he hurriedly explained: "Yuhao—if it's not human, yet it worries a divine inheritor… who else could it be?!"
"A god?!" Huo Yuhao stared at Chen Junting, stunned.
Chen Junting's nod confirmed his worst fears.
A god's seal? But that contradicts what Dong'er's First Dad said…
Wait—
Realization struck. Huo Yuhao leaned forward urgently. "Brother Junting… do you know something?!"
In response, Chen Junting met his gaze—eyes deep as the void—and spoke three words heavy with implication:
"Can you truly bear the truth?"
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