"Second Aunt."
Yang Cheng stared at Yun Guanqing. "I was born with keen perception. Why do I feel like you want to kill me?"
He was completely making this up.
People's thoughts are hard to read. Unless someone's killing intent leaks out, there's no way to detect it so easily. Anyone who could do that would either be a Martial True God or close to one.
And he definitely didn't have that kind of skill.
But the others in the room believed him.
Yang Cheng just seemed too monstrous. When he claimed to have such an ability, their first reaction was shock, not disbelief.
Yun Guanqing's expression froze, and she forced a smile. "Cheng'er, are you misunderstanding your second aunt?"
But beside her, Cheng Junyi was already looking at her with a cold expression.
Yang Cheng blinked. "Maybe it is a misunderstanding. How could Second Aunt want to kill me? It's just that when you look at me, I get this sudden premonition, exactly like I've felt when facing enemies before."
Yun Guanqing's smile stiffened even more.
She never expected Yang Cheng to have such a freakish ability.
Cheng Junyi's expression turned even colder. "Someone, see the guests out."
If Yun Guanqing had only shown hostility toward Yang Cheng, Cheng Junyi might have tolerated it. But trying to kill him—she couldn't let that go.
If not for the fact that Yang Cheng's "ability" wasn't tangible proof, she would've already attacked Yun Guanqing herself.
Lately, more maids and servants had joined Autumn Water Courtyard.
Two maids immediately stepped forward to show the guests out.
Yun Guanqing felt angry, but mostly just embarrassed.
"Junyi, we'll talk again another time."
She could only take Xu Yanci and Yang Heng and leave in a hurry.
After she left, Cheng Junyi crouched in front of Yang Cheng. "Chengcheng, the gift Heaven gave you is incredibly precious. You have to trust in your ability."
She was worried Yun Guanqing might cause Yang Cheng to doubt himself.
Yang Cheng was stunned.
He'd just made that up to trick Yun Guanqing, but now it seemed like his teacher believed it too.
His first instinct was to explain it clearly to her.
But then he paused and thought about it. Maybe it was better not to explain.
Because he was reborn. He already knew what kinds of enemies he'd face in the future. Most of them, he hadn't even met yet, so it would be hard to explain things to others when the time came.
Now, he realized this fake ability might actually be the perfect excuse.
"But why would Second Aunt want to kill me?" Yang Cheng said, faking confusion.
"There are too many tangled interests in the adult world."
Cheng Junyi said seriously, "When people are blinded by greed, they'll even turn against their own blood. Chengcheng, I know you're smart, but you're still too young to understand how complicated people can be. That's why you need to trust your gift."
She hesitated for a moment, then added, "I don't know much about the rest of the Yun clan, but Duke Wei is an upright man. He should be trustworthy. Of course, I can't be too certain—but I think you should go see him yourself."
Yang Cheng fell silent for a moment.
In his past life, his grandfather Yun Qingcang died two years later, which meant his health had already been terrible.
But Yang Cheng never had a good impression of Yun Qingcang.
His mother had clearly given Yun Qingcang a Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill, yet Yun Qingcang didn't take it. That pill ended up in Yun Yirou's hands.
Plus, even though Yun Qingcang had been bedridden, his mind was still clear. He wasn't a vegetable.
Yet in both his past and current lives, Yun Qingcang had always ignored his mother and him.
That made Yang Cheng believe that Yun Qingcang, even if not the main instigator, at least condoned how the Yun clan treated them.
Still, his teacher's words reminded him of something.
Even if he didn't care about Yun Qingcang anymore, his mother still did. This had always been a knot in her heart.
For her sake, he had to go see Yun Qingcang.
[The host has once again heard the name Yun Qingcang from Cheng Junyi.]
[The host holds resentment toward Yun Qingcang, but there are secrets unknown to the host.]
[The host must find out these secrets—they are critical to both the host and the Wasteland Realm.]
[Note: It has been nearly 500 years since Yun Qingcang's death. Much has been buried under the dust of history. This investigation will be extremely difficult. The host is granted an extended deadline of 10 years.]
[Mission reward: Minor Stars Shift.]
Yang Cheng's mind stirred. Then he said to Cheng Junyi, "Teacher, I understand. Once today's cultivation is over, I'll go visit Duke Wei's manor."
Even if only to complete the mission, he now had to meet Yun Qingcang.
Cheng Junyi smiled in relief. "Then go train with Tangtang."
While Yang Cheng was cultivating, Yun Guanqing had already arrived at Duke Wei's residence.
"What did Lady Cheng say?"
asked the Madam of Duke Wei.
Yun Guanqing looked bitter and recounted what happened.
The Madam of Duke Wei scowled. "Lady Cheng's teacher Wang Ruoheng is the last descendant of the Wang clan of Longzhou. That family is said to have the bloodline of the ancient Tai Sui Dao Lord Wang Xianluo. At their peak, they had more power than even the Xu family. Later, for unknown reasons, the Wang clan rapidly declined and Wang Ruoheng vanished too.
"But the family still holds considerable influence. And since Mister Mingxin is also her senior martial brother, with a vast network of connections, now that both Wang Ruoheng and Mister Mingxin are missing, all their connections naturally fall on Lady Cheng.
"Winning her over is extremely important. We thought your old friendship with her would help, but who would've guessed it'd all be ruined by that little cursed prince."
She hesitated, then looked at Yun Guanqing suspiciously. "Guanqing, don't tell me you went soft on that little brat and told Yan Ci to hold back?"
Yun Guanqing frowned. "Aunt, Yun Liyue has always outshone me since we were kids. She's younger than me, yet always acted like she was better. Why would I go soft on her son?"
"If anyone's gone soft, it's you. After all, she is your daughter."
"My daughter?"
A flash of sarcasm passed through the Madam of Duke Wei's eyes.
Yun Guanqing's gaze flickered. "Aunt, are you saying Yun Liyue isn't your daughter? But she was clearly raised in the Yun family since she was a baby."
"There's no point hiding it now."
The Madam's expression darkened. "Do you remember? I brought Yun Liyue back when she was only a month old."
"I do," Yun Guanqing replied. "You spent a year at your country estate before she was born. Back then, you said she was conceived during that time, and after giving birth out there, you brought her back to the Yun family."
"Hmph, that was just a lie to fool outsiders."
The Madam of Duke Wei snorted coldly. "That little bastard was the child of that old dog Yun Qingcang and some seductress surnamed Su. After giving birth to Yun Liyue, that woman vanished. Yun Qingcang was so bewitched by that fox he forced me to pretend to be Yun Liyue's mother and ordered me never to tell the truth."
Shock flashed across Yun Guanqing's face.
So Yun Liyue wasn't the Madam's biological daughter. No wonder the Madam never seemed to care for her.
"That little brat is a damn ungrateful snake."
Hatred burned in the Madam's eyes. "I raised her, and how did she repay me? She got my real daughter, Yirou, killed. I used to hold back because of that old bastard, but now that he's bedridden and barely hanging on, I don't need to tolerate it anymore. I've already secretly informed all the elders of the Yun clan. The upper ranks have agreed—our priority now is protecting the family's interests."
"But isn't the Marquis Champion fiercely loyal to Yun Liyue?"
Yun Guanqing asked.
"He might have earned great merit, but without military power, he's nothing."
The Madam sneered. "His stupidest move was giving up command right after achieving glory. Now all he has is an empty reputation—he can't influence anything."
Autumn Water Courtyard.
As soon as Yang Cheng stepped out of the courtyard, he said to Hu Po, "Hu Po, I want to meet Grandfather. Is there a way to do it without alerting anyone else in Duke Wei's manor?"
Hu Po was surprised, but then she smiled. "Your Highness, that's actually quite easy. I know a few secret routes into Duke Wei's estate."
"Good, then take me there," said Yang Cheng.
Hu Po was efficient. She had the carriage continue toward the palace, while she quietly slipped away with Yang Cheng.
A quarter of an hour later…
Yang Cheng stood face to face with Yun Qingcang.
This was his first time meeting his maternal grandfather across both lifetimes.
Yun Qingcang was once a powerful military general of Great Zhou. Now, even though he was only in his sixties, he looked like a frail old man. His body was thin and worn down by age.
He had been a Martial Sovereign at his peak, but now his cultivation had dropped to the Martial Saint realm.
Even so, his senses remained sharp. He immediately sensed Yang Cheng and Hu Po's presence.
When Hu Po stepped in, Yun Qingcang gave no reaction. He looked like an empty shell.
But the moment he saw Yang Cheng, a flicker of surprise appeared on his face.
Yang Cheng cupped his hands. "Your grandson, Yang Cheng, greets Grandfather."
Yun Qingcang was visibly moved. His lips trembled slightly, but in the end, he stayed silent.
This surprised Yang Cheng.
He hadn't expected their first meeting to be like this.
Yun Qingcang gave off the impression of someone whose spirit had died. But what could possibly turn a former Martial Sovereign into this?
Yang Cheng glanced at Hu Po.
She understood immediately and stepped out, sealing the room against sound.
Yang Cheng remained calm and said slowly, "Grandfather, I believe you can tell. Though I'm only three years old, my cultivation has reached the eighth level of Martial Master. Also, I was born with divine strength and have already grasped sword intent and blade intent. For a peerless genius like me, having a few special abilities should be no surprise to you."
He decided to lean into his trickery again.
For someone like Yun Qingcang, who seemed utterly broken, only something shocking could jolt him awake.
"I've seen fragments of the future in my dreams," Yang Cheng said. "In that future, I'm crippled and stripped of my crown prince title, fleeing like a stray dog. Uncle is ambushed and killed. Mother is thrown into the Cold Palace and lives in misery..."
"Sigh..."
A sigh finally came from Yun Qingcang.
"The old man here just wanted to die quietly, but you little rascal just had to ruin my peace of mind."