After leaving the Heaven and Earth Society, Hikaru, Feng Baobao, Zhang Chulan, and the Xu brothers—Xu San and Xu Si—headed straight to a private hospital.
Along the way, Xu San was quietly calculating how to maneuver Hikaru into visiting Wherever Hall.
He believed that once Hikaru was on their turf, they could take control of the situation—and of Hikaru himself.
But Xu Si stopped him just in time.
Though usually appearing lazy and unreliable, Xu Si had a knack for keeping his head cool in critical moments.
He understood just how unfathomably powerful Hikaru was. What they'd seen so far was just the tip of the iceberg.
Even if they did bring Hikaru to Wherever Hall, there was no guarantee they could contain him.
More importantly, Hikaru clearly knew something about Feng Baobao's origin.
If he were to reveal her secret in public, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Their father, Xu Xiang, had gone so far as to assign Baobao the role of a "temporary worker" just to keep her hidden and safe.
If their recklessness caused that secret to leak... they wouldn't even need their father to scold them—they wouldn't be able to forgive themselves.
So, Xu Si took the risk of bringing Hikaru directly to their father.
It was dangerous to place their hopes on another's mercy, but right now, they had no better option.
Hikaru's knowledge had become the checkmate they couldn't escape.
Xu San's face was grim as he led them into Xu Xiang's hospital room.
Inside, Xu Xiang lay frail and emaciated, his breath weak, his life force flickering like a candle in the wind.
Hearing movement, he opened his eyes with difficulty and saw his sons enter with Baobao.
But when his gaze fell on Hikaru, a flash of sharpness passed through his eyes.
Before he could speak, Xu Si leaned in and quickly explained the situation.
Xu Xiang's face darkened, and he harshly scolded his sons for their foolishness.
Even such a simple mistake left him breathless.
When he calmed down, he turned to look at Baobao.
She was clutching tightly to Hikaru's sleeve—clearly afraid he'd vanish at any moment.
Xu Xiang's heart trembled, but years of experience allowed him to steady himself quickly.
In as calm a tone as possible, he asked:
"May I ask your name, sir? If there's anything we can offer… we'll do our best to assist."
Hikaru pulled over a chair and sat down with calm indifference.
"No need for that. You can't help me. I only want one thing from Feng Baobao—and she must give it willingly."
Feng Baobao, sharp as she was, still understood the gravity of what he meant.
But the Old Farmer's Technique wasn't something that originally belonged to her, so she hesitated.
She turned to Zhang Chulan and said, "Zhang Chulan has to agree too."
Zhang Chulan, who'd been enjoying the drama quietly from the side, was suddenly dragged into it. He looked around, confused.
"Me? What's this got to do with me?"
Hikaru smiled mockingly. "Because your grandfather gave it to her before he died."
Zhang Chulan's pupils shrank.
He stared at Baobao in disbelief.
She had never mentioned that.
A storm of emotions swelled inside him—shock, doubt, anger.
But before he could process it all, Hikaru added another bombshell:
"Oh, and… your grandfather died at Feng Baobao's hands."
That sentence struck like thunder.
Zhang Chulan stood up in a flash, electricity sparking around his body as his eyes locked onto Baobao with fury.
'Why? Why would she kill Grandpa?!'
But in his rage, he noticed something off in Hikaru's words.
If Baobao really had killed his grandfather, why would he entrust her with something as vital as the Old Farmer's Technique?
There had to be more to the story.
Swallowing his fury, Zhang Chulan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He needed answers more than he needed vengeance.
Hikaru watched as the anger faded from Zhang Chulan's face, replaced by control.
He nodded slightly in approval.
'Impressive restraint.'
At that moment, Xu Xiang began to speak, his voice weak but clear—revealing a truth buried in dust.
"Your grandfather… yes, he died by Baobao's hand. But at the time, he was already dying—critically wounded, clinging to life."
And so, piece by piece, the events of Zhang Huaiyi's final days were laid bare.
Zhang Chulan learned that it was actually the Tang Clan who had fatally wounded his grandfather.
Baobao merely delivered the final mercy.
The truth eased some of his inner turmoil, though the bitterness remained.
Finally understanding why Baobao needed his consent, and recalling everything they'd been through together, Zhang Chulan nodded.
"...Fine. Go ahead."
With everyone watching, Baobao stepped up to Hikaru and pressed her forehead to his.
The transfer of the Old Farmer's Technique began.
The others could only watch, emotions mixed—gritting their teeth at how easily it happened.
And then—
[Qi Source Technique Acquired]
The system's prompt appeared in Hikaru's mind.
But he barely noticed it.
He was staring at Baobao—and what he saw shocked him.
The Truth Behind Feng Baobao
From the instant they touched, he finally saw what made Baobao feel so… wrong.
She wasn't naturally born.
Her body constantly absorbed the world's spiritual energy, as if instinctively pursuing immortality.
And more bizarrely—deep within her soul—Hikaru found several preset runes, fixed like lines of code, running like a machine.
Scripted. Programmed.
Like a construct.
It confirmed his long-held suspicions.
And now that he had the Qi Source Technique, he no longer held back.
"It's time I tell you who you are."
His voice was calm but heavy.
Xu Xiang forgot all about his pain and forced himself upright, not daring to miss a word.
"You're not human."
The sentence landed like a hammer.
Everyone in the room froze—except for Baobao, who simply blinked in confusion.
The others' faces turned pale, stunned by the revelation.
But Hikaru continued, unbothered.
"You were created. A product of the Eight Forbidden Techniques. The reason you're immortal is because of that."