Chapter 6: Suspicion

The Ghost Sovereign flashed back into the inner chamber of the Yama Palace. Yan Nianqing was rubbing his eyes in a daze; seeing the Ghost Sovereign suddenly appear before him, he felt nothing amiss. He reached out his hands toward the Sovereign, his soft, tender voice lisping, "Mother..."

The Ghost Sovereign felt a slight sense of relief. He stepped forward to embrace Yan Nianqing, who leaned乖乖 against him. Suddenly, as if remembering something, the child looked up and asked, "Mother, did you just go out?"

The Ghost Sovereign nodded. "Mother went out to take a look. From today on, you will stay here with me for a while. Be a good boy, all right?"

Yan Nianqing pouted in grievance. "Then Mother must take Little Nian’er everywhere. The people here are so strange, Little Nian’er is scared..." As he spoke, he tugged at the Ghost Sovereign's sleeve. "Mother, didn't you say you were bringing Little Nian’er to see Father? Where is Father?"

"You have already seen him." The Ghost Sovereign’s aura softened, his eyes filled with a gentle, indulgent warmth as he looked at the child.

Yan Nianqing’s grip on the sleeve tightened abruptly. "Seen him? Then why doesn't Father come to find us?"

The Ghost Sovereign fabricated a lie. "Some bad people fed your father a medicine, so he doesn't recognize us anymore."

"Father is so pitiful..." Yan Nianqing’s eyes turned slightly red.

The Ghost Sovereign had not expected such a reaction. A sudden, loud rumbling sound from the child’s stomach broke the melancholic atmosphere. Yan Nianqing covered his belly, embarrassed. "Mother, Little Nian’er is hungry..."

The Ghost Sovereign picked up Yan Nianqing and stood up to leave, only to bump into Yan Yunqing, who had been standing outside the door for who knows how long. In his arms, Yan Nianqing shrank back. Annoyed, the Ghost Sovereign patted the child’s back to reassure him, then walked straight past Yan Yunqing. "I never expected you, the King of Hell, to have the hobby of eavesdropping."

The Ghost Sovereign had been so focused on Yan Nianqing that he hadn't sensed Yan Yunqing's approach. To be able to approach without the Sovereign noticing meant that he was only a paper-thin layer away from the Concealed Realm.

Yan Yunqing blocked his path. "This is not the way of hospitality in the Underworld. The meal is prepared; I was merely..."

The Ghost Sovereign glanced at him sideways. "Then I trouble Lord Yama to lead the way quickly. Did you not hear just now? My child is hungry."

Yan Yunqing said nothing more and walked ahead, silently leading the way. Watching that familiar back, the Ghost Sovereign had a fleeting illusion, but it lasted only a moment. He knew all too well that, in Yan Yunqing’s current state, it was impossible for him to recall his trials.

Even if he did remember and felt a stirring in his heart, he would only resist as he had in his third life. Thinking about it, the current situation was much better than back then; at least both parties were aware of each other's identities. The Ghost Sovereign let out a soft huff—no matter what he did, Yan Yunqing could not refuse him.

Yan Yunqing, meanwhile, was pondering the words he had overheard outside the room. He hadn't intended to listen, but for some reason, he had chosen not to enter. Since he had come to find someone, and that person had been found, there was no reason to keep them in the Underworld. Having reached this conclusion, Yan Yunqing felt settled.

In truth, Yan Yunqing’s perspective stemmed from his lack of interaction with the Ghost Sovereign. He was unfamiliar with the Sovereign’s character—after all, this was not the first time the Ghost Sovereign had stubbornly refused to leave a place. Those who knew him mostly prioritized their own safety and maintained a tacit understanding.

Since Yan Yunqing had promised hospitality, the dishes were naturally the best the Underworld had to offer. The three of them sat down for a rare and harmonious meal. Seeing his favorite food, Yan Nianqing felt at ease and gradually began to smile.

While they were eating happily, Hozuki was having a splitting headache because of the Ghost Sovereign. It was already difficult to explain why the Ghost Sovereign's child resembled Yan Yunqing, and now there were rumors that the Sovereign had personally admitted he came to the Underworld to find someone who looked just like the King of Hell. How could there be so many people who looked alike? Others might not know, but he did: the official word was that Yan Yunqing was in secluded meditation, but in reality, he had gone to the mortal realm to undergo trials.

Hozuki didn't know what Yan Yunqing had experienced or whom he had met during those ten lifetimes, but the current situation gave him a vague, terrifying suspicion: could that child be the offspring of the Ghost Sovereign and Yan Yunqing?

Thinking this, Hozuki furrowed his brows. The more he compared the appearances of the three, the more it seemed plausible. *Tsk.* He shook his head. If this were true, the Underworld would be turned upside down.

With the Ghost Sovereign’s arrival and his intentional or unintentional remarks, rumors spread throughout the Underworld, growing increasingly wild. Ox-Head, having heard the Sovereign's earlier tall tale, was genuinely helping him search for "the person" in his spare time.

With all the chaos outside, the Ghost Sovereign stayed quietly in his room with Yan Nianqing. Since he had occupied Yan Yunqing’s residence, the King of Hell had moved to a side hall, and other than meeting at meals, no one knew where he went.

In truth, the Ghost Sovereign didn't know that Yan Yunqing had moved his official duties to the side hall to leave the main hall entirely to him, just to avoid trouble. Yet, he didn't realize that this was exactly why the gossip couldn't be quelled.

Yan Yunqing had only been on the throne for a short time, and he had already summoned Hozuki many times. Once again, he sent for him.

Hozuki didn't even bother to knock. "Just say it! Why did you call me?"

Yan Yunqing put down his documents. "Searching for someone."

Hozuki was surprised. "To help the Ghost Sovereign?"

Yan Yunqing nodded calmly. Hozuki understood immediately; the man was so busy with official business that he was likely completely unaware of the rumors. He spoke frankly, "If it is for this matter, you need not go to such trouble. Are you aware of the rumors circulating in the Underworld lately?"

Yan Yunqing looked at Hozuki with his ink-black eyes. He only concerned himself with Underworld affairs; he did not interfere in other matters.

"You! You really should keep track of these rumors, or you won't even know what your subordinates are thinking. How can you lead the Underworld if you don't? Do you know what features the person you asked me to search for has? It is said that the person looks exactly like you. There aren't that many people who look alike in this world..."

"Like me?" Yan Yunqing repeated the key phrase, his brows furrowing.

Hozuki sighed and laid out his deductions. "Others only know you are in seclusion; few know about your trials. I suspect that during your time in the mortal realm, you had some entanglement with the Ghost Sovereign. While I don't know the truth, it is highly likely that the child with the Ghost Sovereign is yours. You must be cautious; after all, regarding the Ghost Sovereign, other than a few scattered words from the previous King of Hell, we know nothing."

*His child?* How could that be possible? Even in the mortal realm, his constitution of ten-thousand-year cold ice remained unchanged, making it impossible to get close to ordinary people, let alone have offspring. Yan Yunqing felt a trace of doubt, but still said softly, "You are overthinking. How could that child possibly be mine?"

There was a touch of sorrow in his tone. Hozuki suddenly remembered Yan Yunqing’s cold ice constitution, which invalidated his theory. *Sigh!* If only the previous King of Hell were still here, they might have understood more about the Ghost Sovereign.

Yan Yunqing collected his thoughts and picked up his documents again. "If that is all, then there is nothing else. You may return to your work."

Hozuki raised an eyebrow, shook his head helplessly, and walked out of the side hall. It was truly going to be an unsettled time.