Chapter 61: Unveiled

“Lord of the Earth, I was too reckless. I apologize.”

“Then why are there so many demons and monsters emerging now?”

Li Xintian clasped his hands in respect as he spoke.

“It’s no matter. This place now survives only by incense offerings. I appear before you because I don’t wish to see you in conflict with the Judge.”

“As for why so many demons and monsters have appeared, chaos is approaching. We gods can barely protect ourselves anymore.”

The Earth God’s face was filled with sorrow.

“Why has it come to this? What has happened?”

Li Xintian wanted to understand more about this world.

“This is merely a wisp of my divine consciousness, without much memory—only a trace of intent left by my true self.”

“If you truly wish to know, you’ll have to seek the answer yourself.”

The Earth God sat on the steps and patted the spot beside him.

“So that’s how it is?”

“Then, Lord of the Earth, surely you know about all the demons and monsters within a hundred miles?”

Li Xintian was secretly guessing that the Earth God must know something, but perhaps he was hesitant to tell.

“I can barely keep this small temple standing. The incense has run out, and this is the last thread of my divine consciousness.”

“Tonight is my final night remaining in the mortal world.”

The Earth God shook his head and sighed deeply.

After half a month had passed since the incident with the spider demon and the temple of the Earth God, at the Hong Manor—

Yu Bao had given birth to a son, and the manor was filled with festive joy.

Li Xintian watched as Hong Tianyun smiled broadly, holding what might not even be his own child, pondering how to handle the situation.

Yu Bao was emboldened by her son’s birth, growing more arrogant and domineering, flaunting her favor and acting spoiled. It seemed that aside from Hong Tianyun, she regarded no one else.

She frequently yelled at the servants, beating and scolding them.

Li Xintian thought that if he spoke up now, it would likely backfire. Zhao Liang, who had been present that night, had not appeared since. If he spoke, he himself would become the scapegoat, unless Yang Surong was present.

Li Xintian wanted to help but could not, so he sent Hu Qiuyan and Xiaodie to the old woman’s courtyard to fetch Yang Surong, urging her to return quickly.

“The baby is full, and after eating, it’s time to sleep,”

Hong Tianyun said, unable to contain his joy as he held the child.

“When he wakes and grows up, he’ll study and become the top scholar, just like his father, attaining a good reputation—won’t that be wonderful?”

Yu Bao spoke softly, standing nearby.

“Yu Bao, you’re already eager for the child to study and become a high official? Isn’t that too soon?”

Hong Tianyun retorted.

“Children grow fast. Before you know it, he’ll be grown.”

“Then he can serve his parents.”

“Master, don’t you want your child to serve us early?”

Yu Bao replied with a smile.

“To serve you? Then who will serve Surong?”

Li Xintian interjected.

“Surong.” Hong Tianyun turned and saw Yang Surong.

He handed the child to the maid beside him.

“You venomous woman, you still dare to return?”

Yu Bao’s face twisted with anger as she addressed Yang Surong.

“I am Hong Tianyun’s first wife, the rightful lady of the Hong family. Why shouldn’t I return?”

“And you, what is your status?”

Yang Surong already knew what had transpired and would not be deceived by Yu Bao again.

“I am a concubine of the Hong family. I have given the family an heir.”

“You, the venomous woman, dared to poison our child.”

“What right do you have to return to this family?”

Yu Bao shouted like a shrew on the street.

“Lady Hong took you as a concubine solely to continue the family line, and now you accuse her of poisoning the child? Isn’t that slander? A pity…”

“Perhaps, this child isn’t even of the Hong family.”

Li Xintian commented from the side.

“This is our family matter. Who are you, an outsider, to interfere?”

Yu Bao glared viciously at Li Xintian.

“Zhixian, what’s really going on?”

Hong Tianyun was bewildered, feeling as if a vast grassland was growing atop his head, and hurriedly asked Li Xintian.

“Tianyun, I’ll speak frankly.”

“Half a month ago, Xiaodie and I saw Yu Bao meeting secretly with a stranger in the bamboo grove behind the house.”

“I investigated, and the man’s name is Zhao Liang.”

“Xiaodie also recognized Zhao Liang as the man Yu Bao brought home when Lady Hong redeemed her on the street. I fear the two conspired to deceive you and Lady Hong.”

Li Xintian spoke calmly.

“You’re lying! That night, I was with the master the whole time!”

Yu Bao’s eyes filled with tears as she rushed into Hong Tianyun’s arms, sobbing with a performance worthy of an actress.

“Surong, explain yourself. Didn’t you say Yu Bao was from a scholarly family?”

Hong Tianyun comforted Yu Bao and looked at Yang Surong.

“I…”

“Yu Bao was someone I picked up on the street. She was alone and destitute, chased by creditors. I pitied her, so I…”

“I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

Yang Surong was at a loss as Hong Tianyun pressed her.

“Why did you hide this from me?”

Hong Tianyun continued.

“I was afraid you’d think she was of unknown origin and low birth. I had no other intention, I just…”

Yang Surong was interrupted before she could finish.

“That’s enough, Surong.”

“Is there anyone who can prove what has happened?”

Hong Tianyun truly did not wish to continue the conversation.

“There is—the child. If we use a drop of blood to confirm parentage, everything will be clear.”

Li Xintian took over.

He knew the blood test was unreliable; only modern paternity testing could be trusted.

“You mention blood confirmation—what right do you have? You don’t have that authority!”

Yu Bao left Hong Tianyun’s embrace, wiped away her tears, and shouted.

“I do. I am still Tianyun’s first wife, the lady of the Hong family.”

“I now demand that Yu Bao use the child for the blood test.”

Yang Surong spoke forcefully.

Uncle Wen the steward quickly brought two bowls of clear water and placed them on the table.

Hong Tianyun pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall into the bowl.

Uncle Wen pricked the child’s finger and let a drop of blood fall into the other bowl.

The two drops of blood did not merge but slowly drifted apart.

Hong Tianyun was struck as if by lightning.

“Yu Bao, after all my kindness to you, how could you be so cruel?”

“Not only did you try to drive away Surong, you schemed to seize the Hong family estate. Truly wicked—what else do you have to say?”

Hong Tianyun slammed the table in anger, glaring at Yu Bao.

“Tianyun, don’t be angry. The child was conceived right after your marriage—I’ve investigated it thoroughly.”

“The urgent task now is to capture Zhao Liang.”

Li Xintian interjected to comfort Hong Tianyun, giving him a way out.

“For the sake of your service to me, I won’t hold your framing of Surong against you. But I never want to see you again.”

“Uncle Wen, drive Yu Bao and the child out. If you know what's good for you, leave with your lover and never set foot in the county again—or I’ll show no mercy.”

Hong Tianyun followed Li Xintian’s lead, ignoring anything Yu Bao said, for everyone knew the truth.

Uncle Wen took the child from the maid, grabbed Yu Bao, and escorted them out, disregarding Yu Bao’s pleas to the master and dragging her away.