Xu Yuan crouched down and said with some surprise, "Good grief, she actually resurrected so quickly."
Regarding Ah Yin, God King Tang San had mentioned a little to him, saying she was a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor, but he hadn't said anything else.
In the Sea of Spirit, God King Tang San said without any surprise, "Of course, I used some of my power to accelerate the resurrection."
Looking at Ah Yin's current state, it would still take some time for her to fully resurrect.
However, it wasn't a big problem; he could speed up Ah Yin's resurrection himself.
Thinking of this, God King Tang San used his power to accelerate Ah Yin's resurrection.
The divine force, like a trickling stream, silently seeped into the roots and stems of the Blue Silver Grass.
That faint golden halo suddenly brightened, and Ah Yin's phantom became increasingly clear; one could even see light particles like dew drops clinging to her flowing hair.
Xu Yuan could clearly feel that the vitality of that Blue Silver Grass was skyrocketing at an alarming speed.
The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of the surrounding Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well seemed to be drawn in, converging frantically toward the core area, forming a visible energy vortex around her.
"This power..." Ah Yin's phantom slightly parted her thin lips, her voice carrying the haziness of just waking up, yet revealing an indescribable familiarity.
Countless stalks of Blue Silver Grass seemed to be summoned, frantically drilling out from the soil of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Slender vines carrying crystalline dew drops surrounded Xu Yuan in layers, weaving into an airtight emerald cocoon.
Xu Yuan could feel the energy vortex around him becoming increasingly violent, and golden light flickered on the leaves of the Blue Silver Grass, as if countless lives were surging within.
He did not struggle, just quietly feeling the warm touch coming from the vines.
In the center of the cocoon, the originally upright Blue Silver Grass suddenly trembled violently, and the golden halo at the roots burst open, turning into fireflies filling the sky.
The fireflies circled and converged in the air, gradually outlining the silhouette of a woman.
In the Sea of Spirit, God King Tang San's voice carried a hint of distant emotion: "Almost... She has slept for too long, she is finally about to wake up."
Regarding his mother's situation, God King Tang San had some suspicions in his heart.
His father had no intention of having his mother resurrected at all, otherwise, he wouldn't have placed her in that spot.
If it were truly for his mother's good, he should have sent her to the Blue Silver Forest, where she could have been resurrected in not many years.
Instead of putting her in that place with almost no energy, letting her fend for herself there.
Xu Yuan didn't speak, just stared intently at the burst of golden fireflies in the center of the cocoon.
Those light particles circled faster and faster in the air, and the woman's silhouette became increasingly clear.
Her smooth long hair was like the purest blue-silver silk, drifting slightly in the air; her slender waist was wrapped in flowing light mist, with the curve of her skirt faintly visible; even the gentle outline of her eyebrows and eyes gradually appeared in the convergence of light particles.
The surrounding energy vortex became increasingly violent, and the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was drawn in like a boiling tide, constantly pouring into the cocoon.
The Blue Silver Grass vines surrounding Xu Yuan began to shake violently, the golden light on the leaves grew brighter, and they even began to emit a scorching temperature.
Xu Yuan could feel a massive amount of life energy being continuously injected into the central light ball through the vines.
"Buzz—"
Xu Yuan subconsciously closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, a woman appeared before him.
She was dressed in a blue long dress, the hem adorned with tiny golden specks of light.
Smooth blue-silver long hair fell to her waist, a few strands of hair gently pressing against her cheeks, outlining a soft profile.
She was indeed the Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin.
In the next second, Ah Yin directly pounced on Xu Yuan, pinning him to the ground.
"What?!"
The cocoon began to shake, from slowly to violently, and it was a long time before it ended.
God King Tang San: "..."
At this moment, God King Tang San didn't know what to say and began to analyze why this was happening.
After much thought, God King Tang San considered a possibility, which was that Ah Yin was influenced by the nourishment of the Origin Power.
...Afterward, Xu Yuan was somewhat dazed.
Could he now be considered the father of both God King Tang San and Tang San?
Ah Yin was still lying in Xu Yuan's arms, her blue-silver hair spread out like a waterfall, covering most of her face, revealing only her small, reddened earlobes and her tightly pursed lips, which carried a hint of bashfulness and confusion.
The sudden pounce just now, and the subsequent world-turning shaking within the cocoon, still left a strong impression on Xu Yuan's senses.
"Um... Senior Ah Yin?" Xu Yuan spoke tentatively.
He really didn't know how to face the situation before him.
The woman in his arms was the mother of both God King Tang San and Tang San, and he... just now seemed to have had something happen with her that crossed the boundary between Senior and junior.
What was more important was that God King Tang San had watched the whole process.
Ah Yin's body trembled slightly as if disturbed by his voice, and she buried her face even deeper, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Don't... don't call me Senior..."
"Then... I'll call you Ah Yin?" Xu Yuan was even more confused.
This form of address didn't seem quite right either, but it was better at easing the current embarrassment than the title 'Senior.'
The person in his arms gave a soft 'Mhm,' accepting it.
Xu Yuan took a deep breath, trying to let his thoughts settle down.
He examined his Sea of Spirit; it was completely silent. God King Tang San hadn't made a sound since finishing watching.
He estimated that this God King's current mood was a hundred times more complicated than his own.
After all, in a sense, his current identity... Xu Yuan didn't dare think too deeply; the moment that thought popped up, it made his scalp tingle.
What was he?
The'step-father' of God King Tang San and Tang San?
Xu Yuan looked at Ah Yin in his arms and said, "Ah Yin, my name is Xu Yuan."
Xu Yuan's voice rang out in the quiet cocoon, carrying a hint of imperceptible nervousness.
He knew that giving his name was only the beginning; what he had to face next was a situation far more complex than this.
Ah Yin's body stiffened again, and her face buried in his chest seemed to move. After a good while, her weak response came: "Xu... Yuan..."
She whispered those two words as if savoring their meaning, and as if trying to carve this name into her newly awakened memory.
Ah Yin paused, as if having made some kind of decision, and looked up at Xu Yuan: "Just now... just now it seemed I didn't do it on purpose. When I woke up, my mind was blank, and I only felt that there was a... a power in you that made me feel incredibly at ease, like... like I had found my long-lost roots, and I couldn't help but want to get close to you, to hold onto you..."
She felt incredibly guilty toward Tang Hao, having actually betrayed him.
If she met Tang Hao in the future, how should she face him
"Roots?" Xu Yuan froze for a moment, then immediately thought of God King Tang San's previous analysis.
With the nourishment of the Origin power, the strength in his body might have truly resonated with Ah Yin's life Origin as the Blue Silver Emperor.
It might have even become the key nutrient supporting the reshaping of her physical form during her resurrection, causing her to develop this almost instinctive dependence on him.
Thinking this, the awkwardness and confusion in Xu Yuan's heart seemed to ease slightly, replaced by a complex feeling.
"I understand," Xu Yuan tried to keep his tone as gentle and calm as possible. "You've just woken up, and your Soul and body still need time to adapt. It's normal to have some instinctive reactions."
As he spoke, he carefully released his hands from Ah Yin's shoulders and slowly sat up.
Ah Yin also sat up accordingly, though she still kept her head lowered.
After a moment of silence, Ah Yin asked Xu Yuan, "Xu Yuan, do you know what happened to Tang Hao?"
Xu Yuan shook his head and said, "I don't know. I only know that after that great battle years ago, the Clear Sky Douluo's whereabouts became unknown."
Ah Yin nodded, indicating she understood.
In her heart, she couldn't help but worry about her child, wondering how they were doing now.
Xu Yuan asked Ah Yin, "Uh, Ah Yin... You are a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast; how were you discovered?"
He was very curious about this matter and felt that asking the person involved would clarify the situation at the time.
Ah Yin spoke up, "Back then, when I became pregnant, Tang Hao said it was for the good of the child and me, so he took us to travel everywhere. While passing through a city, I suffered a Pregnancy Complication, and my Spirit Beast aura leaked out, which was discovered by a Titled Douluo."
Then, Ah Yin gave Xu Yuan a brief explanation regarding the knowledge of Spirit Beasts taking human form.
Xu Yuan raised his doubt: "I want to know, did Tang Hao know that after a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast becomes pregnant, it's easy for their identity to be exposed?"
This question was very important, as it concerned whether there was a conspiracy.
Ah Yin nodded and said, "He knew. I told him about Spirit Beast lore very early on."
Hearing Ah Yin's answer, Xu Yuan's brow couldn't help but furrow slightly.
Tang Hao knew that a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast's identity was easily exposed during pregnancy... then why did he still take her to travel between various cities while she was pregnant, even eventually leading to her suffering a complication in a city, leaking her Spirit Beast aura, and inviting disaster?
There seemed to be an indescribable strangeness in all of this.
This Tang Hao was either an idiot or had malicious intentions.
No matter which it was, Tang Hao could not be absolved.
Xu Yuan continued to ask, "Ah Yin, I remember you two evaded Spirit Hall's pursuit back then. Why didn't you return to the Clear Sky Sect later?"
There was a period when Spirit Hall had no idea where Ah Yin and Tang Hao were; returning to the Clear Sky Sect then would have been perfectly fine.
Xu Yuan's question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, making Ah Yin's already melancholy expression even more somber.
She lowered her eyes to look at her hands clasped on her knees. Her blue-silver long hair slid over her shoulders, covering half of her face, and her voice carried a hint of inexpressible complexity.
"Return to the Clear Sky Sect..." Ah Yin softly repeated those words, as if chewing on the bitterness within them. "It's not that we didn't think about it. It's just... some things aren't as simple as they seem."
Xu Yuan's heart stirred, and he pressed further, "What things? Was the Clear Sky Sect not welcoming of your return?"
As one of the Upper Three Sects, the Clear Sky Sect was immensely powerful, and Tang Hao was a once-in-a-century Genius of the Sect.
Logically speaking, if he brought his pregnant wife back, the Sect would have no reason not to accept them; in fact, they should have provided full protection.
After all, although Ah Yin was a transformed Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast at the time, as long as she was hidden well, outsiders might not have known. Tang Hao's status and talent were enough for the Clear Sky Sect to take that risk for him.
Ah Yin shook her head, a flash of weariness in her eyes. "It wasn't that we weren't welcome. It's just... Tang Hao told me that the Clear Sky Sect wasn't a monolith internally either..."
Xu Yuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, his heart now certain that Tang Hao was after the Hundred Thousand Year spirit ring and Spirit Bone.
Following that, Xu Yuan asked, "When you were giving birth, how were you discovered?"
Ah Yin shook her head and said, "I don't know. They appeared suddenly, as if they had known we were there all along."
After hearing Ah Yin's words, Xu Yuan was one hundred percent certain Tang Hao was after the spirit ring.
Tang Hao, perhaps from the very beginning, never intended for Ah Yin to survive childbirth.
What he wanted was never 'for the good of the child,' but the Hundred Thousand Year spirit ring and Spirit Bone that would be produced after Ah Yin's sacrifice.
"Xu Yuan? What's wrong?" Ah Yin noticed that Xu Yuan's face had become extremely unsightly and his gaze was chillingly cold. She couldn't help but pull his hand in worry.
"Ah Yin, I..." Xu Yuan opened his mouth.
He didn't know how best to say it, fearing Ah Yin wouldn't be able to accept it.
"Have you... thought of something?" Ah Yin's voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremble as she slowly released Xu Yuan's hand. "About... Tang Hao, about the reason I was discovered..."
Her gaze was fixed intently on Xu Yuan, carrying a nearly cruel expectation.
She both hoped for a negative answer and had a faint premonition that the truth might be even colder than she imagined.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan's voice was low and heavy. "Ah Yin, listen to me. These are just my speculations; there is no concrete evidence..."
Xu Yuan paused, meeting the determined look in Ah Yin's eyes, and finally spoke his deduction. "From what you just said, Tang Hao knew your pregnancy made you vulnerable to exposure, yet he insisted on taking you to travel. He knew the Clear Sky Sect could provide refuge, yet he found excuses to decline. The people from Spirit Hall were able to find the exact place where you gave birth... When all these coincidences are put together, they are no longer coincidences."
Ah Yin's body swayed slightly, and her face turned pale at a visible rate. She subconsciously shook her head, her lips trembling. "No... it couldn't be... Tang Hao wouldn't... He loved me so much, how could he..."
"His love for you might have been real," Xu Yuan's voice held a hint of pity, yet he hardened his heart and continued, "but what he might have wanted more was your Hundred Thousand Year spirit ring and Spirit Bone."
Those last words were like a dagger quenched in ice, stabbing ruthlessly into Ah Yin's heart.
Ah Yin's eyes instantly became hollow. Her blue-silver long hair fell down, obscuring her face and making it impossible to see her expression.
But Xu Yuan could feel that the aura around her was changing drastically.
The surrounding Blue Silver Grass vines also seemed to sense her pain and began to tremble violently.
"No... impossible..." Ah Yin's voice was as thin as a thread, filled with deep despair. "He said he would watch the child grow up with me, that he would let me live a stable life... He said so..."
Chapter 113: Ah Yin's Decision
She seemed to be murmuring to herself, yet also as if she were conversing with the Tang Hao in her memories. Those once warm vows had now turned into the sharpest shards, slicing her heart until it was dripping with blood.
Xu Yuan reached out, wanting to support her as she swayed unsteadily, but Ah Yin abruptly dodged him.
Ah Yin raised her head, her face already covered in tears, her blue-silver eyes filled with pain, struggle, and disbelief: "Tell me, this isn't true! Xu Yuan, tell me, this is just your speculation!"
Her voice carried a sob, filled with a desperate longing for a denial.
Xu Yuan sighed; he truly hadn't expected Ah Yin to react this way.
"Ah Yin, calm down first," Xu Yuan said, looking at her.
Xu Yuan's voice was calm but carried a soothing power, like a clear spring attempting to extinguish the churning flames in Ah Yin's heart.
He knew that any intense words at this moment might cause her to break down, so he could only stabilize her emotions first.
Ah Yin, however, seemed not to hear him, still shaking her head as tears rolled down like broken strings of pearls, hitting her collar and blooming into small dark patches.
"Calm? How can I be calm?" Ah Yin's voice was choked with tears, full of despair and helplessness. "How do you expect me to calm down? You're telling me that my beloved husband might have been plotting against me from the very beginning, all for my spirit ring and Spirit Bone? Xu Yuan, tell me!"
Her emotions grew agitated again, and the Blue Silver Grass vines around her trembled violently, their leaves rustling loudly as if screaming for her pain.
Seeing Ah Yin looking as if she were about to shatter, Xu Yuan stepped forward and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
The embrace was broad and warm, carrying a reassuring scent, attempting to smooth away the tremors throughout her body bit by bit.
"Alright, alright, don't cry..." Xu Yuan gently patted her back, his voice extremely soft, like coaxing a frightened child. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have said it. Whether it's true or false, I'm here. The sky won't fall."
Ah Yin struggled at first, but Xu Yuan's embrace was too secure, his steady presence like a gentle net firmly wrapping around her.
The accumulated pain and fear found an outlet at this moment. She finally couldn't help but bury her face in the crook of his neck and wail, her tears soaking his collar, scalding and bitter.
The restless Blue Silver Grass vines around them also ebbed and flowed with her cries, the leaves stained with crystalline water droplets as if weeping for her.
Meanwhile, within the Sea of Spirit, God King Tang San watched the two embracing, a complex array of emotions flashing in his eyes.
This wisp of divine force didn't bring any abnormality, but it acted like a pair of invisible hands, gently plucking the softest string in the depths of Ah Yin's heart.
Her originally tense body suddenly relaxed, and she unconsciously buried herself deeper into Xu Yuan's embrace, as if she had finally found a harbor after drifting for a long time.
The crying gradually subsided, leaving only suppressed sobs, and her breathing slowly steadied along with Xu Yuan's heartbeat.
Xu Yuan felt the change in the person in his arms and was slightly startled, then held her even tighter.
He could feel Ah Yin's reliance on him quietly deepening, and he felt somewhat speechless regarding God King Tang San's actions.
Xu Yuan looked at Ah Yin and made a suggestion: "Ah Yin, how about this? Stay with us for a while. During this time, don't reveal yourself to Tang Hao and the others. Observe them in secret to confirm whether those thoughts are correct."
Ah Yin's sobbing gradually stopped, and her face buried in Xu Yuan's neck rubbed against him slightly, as if drawing strength from that stability.
After a long while, Ah Yin finally raised her head. Her blue-silver eyes were swollen and red, but the madness from before had faded, replaced by a somewhat dazed clarity.
"Observe in secret..." Ah Yin murmured, repeating those words, unconsciously clutching Xu Yuan's collar. "I... I'm afraid..."
Afraid that the truth she saw with her own eyes would be even more cruel than her current speculations.
Afraid that the tiny bit of hope remaining would be crushed to dust by reality.
Xu Yuan raised his hand and gently wiped away the remaining tear tracks on Ah Yin's cheek with his thumb: "Are you not going to look just because you're afraid? Instead of being tortured by suspicion here, it's better to go and see for yourself. Whatever the result is, at least we can give up hope and move forward."
Xu Yuan paused and added, "Besides, this is just my speculation. Perhaps... things aren't as we think."
These words were like a glimmer of light, quietly shining into Ah Yin's Chaos-filled heart.
She looked into Xu Yuan's calm eyes; there was no perfunctoriness there, only sincere consolation.
She knew Xu Yuan was right; escaping wouldn't solve any problems.
"Fine..." Ah Yin's voice was still a bit hoarse, but she had already made up her mind. "I'll go with you. I'll see for myself, ask for myself..."
She wanted to personally ask Tang Hao whether those years of mutual support and those moments of risking his life to protect her were sincere, or just a carefully planned scheme.
Xu Yuan asked God King Tang San in his mind: "My Lord, can you change her appearance?"
God King Tang San replied: "I can. I can make it so Tang Hao won't be able to recognize her."
Xu Yuan looked at Ah Yin and said, "Ah Yin, I can change your appearance. Are you willing?"
Ah Yin's eyelashes fluttered, and a hint of hesitation flashed in her blue-silver eyes, only to be replaced by determination.
She knew that if she didn't want to be recognized by Tang Hao, this was the most direct method.
"I am willing," Ah Yin's voice was very soft, yet exceptionally firm. "As long as I can find out the truth, it doesn't matter what I become."
Xu Yuan nodded and signaled God King Tang San to act. A gentle divine force quietly enveloped Ah Yin.
When the light dissipated, Ah Yin's original long blue-silver hair had turned into a gentle ink-black, and her eyes had become a clear apricot color, adding a bit of the softness of an ordinary woman.
"Like this... is it enough?" Ah Yin raised her hand to touch her cheek, her voice carrying a hint of unfamiliarity.
"Yes," Xu Yuan looked at her, his eyes showing no abnormality. "This way, Tang Hao will never recognize you."
Ah Yin looked at her new appearance reflected in the water and took a soft breath.
This face was very unfamiliar, yet it gave her a sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Perhaps, facing the past with a brand new identity would actually allow her to see more clearly.
"Let's go." Ah Yin turned around and looked at Xu Yuan. Her eyes no longer held the previous breakdown, only a calm expectation. "Let's go see... what those truths really are."
Xu Yuan nodded and picked Ah Yin up in a princess carry. Ah Yin let out a startled cry, instinctively clutching his neck, her cheeks instantly flushing a faint red.
The wind whistled past her ears, and the scenery below receded rapidly. The mist of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was quickly left behind, revealing a clear sky.
"There's no need to fly so fast..." Ah Yin's voice carried a slightly embarrassed muffled tone, her fingers unconsciously tightening on Xu Yuan's collar.
Xu Yuan glanced down at Ah Yin: "Going back early will also help you adapt to your new identity sooner
Xu Yuan flew very steadily; the person in his arms could hardly feel any turbulence.
Ah Yin quietly looked up at his well-defined jawline, and a strange feeling suddenly welled up in her heart.
Before long, the silhouette of Heaven Dou City appeared in their sight, the green bricks and black tiles shimmering with a gentle luster under the sunlight. Xu Yuan slowed down, landed in a secluded forest outside the city, and gently set Ah Yin down.
"Entering the city from here won't attract attention," Xu Yuan said. "I'll take you to see Xiao Wu and the others first. I'll say you're a distant cousin of mine who has come to seek refuge with me for a while."
Ah Yin nodded and straightened her clothes. Her ink-black long hair fell over her shoulders, and her apricot-colored eyes held a hint of cautious probing.
She raised her hand to touch her face, as if still confirming this unfamiliar appearance.
"Don't be nervous," Xu Yuan said softly, sensing her unease. "They are all very good people."
Ah Yin took a deep breath and followed him toward the city gate.
When they returned to Blue Tyrant Academy, Xu Yuan took Ah Yin to see Liu Erlong and the others.
While sizing up Ah Yin, Xiao Wu asked, "Brother Xu, who is she?"
Xu Yuan turned to look at Ah Yin beside him and introduced her naturally, "This is a distant relative of mine. She came from the countryside to seek refuge with me and will be staying with us for a while."
Following Xu Yuan's lead, Ah Yin nodded slightly and gave a gentle, faint smile. Her apricot eyes showed a perfectly timed sense of restraint. "Hello everyone, just call me Xu Yin."
Her voice was deliberately soft, a stark contrast to the Blue Silver Emperor's usual steadiness; she truly had the gentle air of a country woman.
Xiao Wu looked at Xu Yuan with suspicion. "Really? Why do I feel like the two of you don't look alike at all?"
Jiang Zhu and Zhu Zhuqing both nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with Xiao Wu.
Xu Yuan remained unfazed and reached out to rub Xiao Wu's hair, his tone teasing. "She's a distant relative from several generations back; it's normal not to look alike. Did you expect all my relatives to be cast from the same mold?"
Xiao Wu tilted her head as he rubbed it and muttered, "Still, you can't be completely different..."
She stepped closer, staring into Ah Yin's eyes before glancing back at Xu Yuan. "Look, your eyes are blue, but Auntie Xu Yin's are apricot-colored. Even your hair is different..."
Ah Yin felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze. She gently twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingertips and showed a timely bashfulness. "I'm just a country person with an ordinary appearance. I can't compare to a child like Yuan'er."
She continued along that line, her tone carrying a bit of self-deprecation, which made her seem even more fitting for her role as a country woman.
Liu Erlong waved her hand dismissively. "It's no big deal. Xu Yuan is always bringing back a woman when he goes out; it's not the first or second time."
First he brought back Ning Rongrong, then it was Gu Yue, and now it's this one called Xu Yin.
Hearing this, Xu Yuan almost choked. He looked at Liu Erlong, caught between laughter and tears. "Teacher Erlong, how can you say that? I'm not that casual."
Liu Erlong raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "The first time Ning Rongrong came back, you said she encountered danger. Then Gu Yue popped up, also because of danger. Now it's a distant relative, Xu Yin... You kid certainly have good luck with people."
At those words, Xiao Wu and the others immediately perked up, their suspicion turning into curious excitement. Xiao Wu even leaned into Xu Yuan's ear, whispering while making faces, "Brother Xu, be honest. Who exactly is this Auntie Xu Yin?"
Xu Yuan patted her head and said crossly, "Don't guess blindly. She's just a distant relative. Something happened at her home, so she's staying with me for a bit. She'll leave once she's settled."
Standing to the side, Ah Yin listened to the conversation. Her bashfulness deepened, and she quietly stepped back half a pace behind Xu Yuan, looking timid. She truly resembled a country woman who had never seen much of the world and was a bit overwhelmed by the situation.
Seeing this, Liu Erlong stopped teasing them and called out, "Alright, alright, stop crowding around. Sister Xu Yin, I'll take you to see your room. It happens to be close to Xu Yuan's, so it'll be convenient to look after each other if anything comes up."
Ah Yin quickly thanked her and followed Liu Erlong inside.
As she passed Xu Yuan, Liu Erlong quietly glanced up at him with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
It seemed it would take some effort to make everyone believe this 'distant relative' story.
For some reason, Liu Erlong had a vague feeling that Xu Yuan would bring even more people back.
Watching their retreating figures, Xiao Wu turned back to Xu Yuan and rubbed her chin. "Although it still feels strange, Auntie Xu Yin looks very gentle. She shouldn't be a bad person."
Zhu Zhuqing said calmly, "Xu Yuan knows what he's doing."
Jiang Zhu also nodded. "Mm, since Xu Yuan brought her, she's definitely trustworthy."
Xu Yuan headed toward his room, and Xiao Wu followed him, still very curious.
Just as Xu Yuan pushed open his door, Xiao Wu followed him in like a little tail, even closing the door behind her. Her large eyes were filled with a determination to get to the bottom of things.
"Brother Xu, be honest, who is that Auntie Xu Yin really?" Xiao Wu leaned in front of Xu Yuan, standing on her tiptoes to try and find some clue on his face. "I always feel there's something indescribable about her. Especially when she looks at me, her eyes are so gentle, like... like a mother's."
Xu Yuan's hand paused while pouring water. He looked up at her. "What are you imagining? She's just an ordinary distant relative with a gentle personality."
"No, she's not!" Xiao Wu puffed her cheeks, clearly unconvinced. "When she speaks, I feel like even the wind around her turns soft. How can an ordinary woman have such an ability?"
Xu Yuan said somewhat helplessly, "Fine, I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone else."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up instantly. She nodded repeatedly and even put a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, leaning closer and lowering her voice. "I promise! It'll absolutely rot in my stomach!"
Seeing her tense yet expectant look, Xu Yuan pondered for a moment and said in a very soft voice, "She is... actually an old acquaintance of my mother's. Her family went through some changes, and it's not convenient for her to show her true face, so she's using an alias for now."
This explanation was half-true, explaining Ah Yin's uniqueness without revealing her true identity.
Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, then clapped her hands in realization. "No wonder! I knew she wasn't ordinary!"
Her eyes darted around as she leaned in even closer. "Then is she... also a Spirit Master? And her spirit power must be quite high, right?"
Xu Yuan remained noncommittal and simply said, "Don't ask too much about that. She needs peace right now. Usually, look after her more, but don't pry too much, understand?"
"Mhm! I understand!" Xiao Wu nodded vigorously. Most of the doubts in her heart were finally cleared, replaced by a sense of sympathy. "Don't worry, Brother Xu, I'll treat Auntie Xu Yin well!"
Only then did Xiao Wu turn around satisfied, walking out with light footsteps. At the door, she turned back and gave Xu Yuan a reassuring gesture before skipping away