"Mother, what kind of person is Father really?" Chang Ji You's expression was hesitant, his lips moving for a long while before he finally asked the question he most wanted to ask.
He had never met Chang Shan Yin. Back when Chang Shan Yin's mother was struck by a lethal poison, and Chang Shan Yin fought a life-and-death battle with Ha Tu Gu, Chang Ji You was still an unborn child in the womb.
His mother, Ni Xue Tong, let out a sigh heavy with worry. In a tone brimming with deep affection and longing, she said, "My child, has your resolve wavered? Don't forget our current situation. Don't worry about your father—he's a legend of the Northern Plains. Back then, he single-handedly slaughtered Ha Tu Gu's horse caravan and became a great hero who rid the people of a menace."
Chang Ji You cut his mother off: "Mom, I've long grown tired of hearing all that. From the very first time, I've been listening to these stories as I grew up. Wherever I go, whatever I do, there's always someone saying, 'Look, it really is Chang Shan Yin's son.' Father is like an eagle soaring in the sky, casting his enormous shadow on the ground below. In just a few more days, I'll get to see him, and my heart is in complete turmoil. I just want to hear about him…"
Before Chang Ji You could finish, the tent flap was pulled aside, and a fierce, imposing middle-aged man walked in with sharp, commanding presence.
It was none other than the current patriarch of the Chang family—Chang Biao, Chang Shan Yin's former brother, a Fourth Transformation, High Stage Wind Path powerhouse.
"Greetings, adoptive father." Chang Ji You hastily bowed.
"My child, why don't you step outside for now? Your mother and I have things to discuss," Chang Biao said in a gentle tone.
"Yes." Chang Ji You had no choice but to leave the tent.
The tent flap was lowered and a guard stood watch outside. Now only Chang Biao and Ni Xue Tong remained inside.
"Husband!" Ni Xue Tong threw herself into Chang Biao's arms, weak and helpless tears streaming from her eyes.
"Sigh… these past few days, I know you've been feeling terrible," Chang Biao said, holding Ni Xue Tong in his embrace and gently stroking his beloved wife's hair. At the same time, he activated a gu insect to isolate their voices from carrying outside.
Ni Xue Tong sobbed softly: "You'er asked me about Chang Shan Yin again. What am I supposed to say? Do you know, just moments ago, an impulse surged through me—I nearly told him the truth, told him that he isn't Chang Shan Yin's biological son at all, but the fruit of our love!"
Chang Biao's body trembled. How could his own heart not be torn with conflict, filled with anguish?
He said in a low voice: "This is all because of my inadequacy! Back then, we were childhood sweethearts, but Chang Shan Yin cut in, coveting your beauty. On the very day of our wedding, he seized you away. I was no match for him, so I had no choice but to secretly continue seeing you, and we conceived Chang Ji You. But once Chang Ji You was born and his bloodline tested, the truth would come out—and that would be the end of everything. So I conspired with Ha Tu Gu, and in the end, we framed Chang Shan Yin."
"Afterward, in the name of being Chang Shan Yin's brother, I brought you back and took in Chang Ji You as my adopted son. These years, although the tribe's situation hasn't been great, they've been our happiest and most blissful days. And I've successfully established Chang Ji You as the young patriarch. But precisely because of this, you absolutely cannot reveal this secret."
Once this secret was revealed, Chang Biao and Ni Xue Tong would become targets of everyone's scorn, bearing the infamy of "adulterers" for the rest of their lives, unable to hold their heads up. Furthermore, they had framed a powerful clansman of their own tribe for selfish desires, disregarding the greater good—a truly unforgivable sin!
And Chang Ji You would become the despised "illegitimate son." Whether it was his position as young patriarch or Chang Biao's position as patriarch, both would be in grave danger, vulnerable to the schemes of ambitious plotters.
The Righteous Path had its own rules of the game.
All along, Chang Biao had taken care of his deceased brother's wife and treated his adopted son as his own flesh and blood. Such loyalty commanded respect. Such virtue earned praise.
It was precisely because of this that Chang Biao had won the position of the Chang family's new patriarch by a narrow margin.
If this truth were exposed, he would lose everything. The restless schemers within the tribe would not let him off. Liu Wen Wu, who wished to recruit Chang Shan Yin and still harbored even the slightest hope, would not spare him either.
When that time came, his only option would be to flee with Ni Xue Tong and his own flesh and blood, Chang Ji You—becoming a Demonic Path Gu Master, reviled by the Righteous Path, hunted down by the tribe.
"Why? Why must Eternal Heaven treat us this way?" Ni Xue Tong wept bitterly, her emotions running wild. "We clearly love each other truly, yet we've ended up in such a wretched state! Chang Shan Yin is clearly the murderer, the villain—why is he the one receiving praise? And we can only live behind masks, deceiving even our own son?"
These past few days, the psychological pressure on her had been immense.
Ever since "Chang Shan Yin" had reappeared, she hadn't been able to sleep properly. The nightmares of old had resurfaced, plunging her into deep distress and anxiety.
"Do you think Alliance Leader Liu is trying to recruit Chang Shan Yin? If Chang Shan Yin agrees, will we have to go back to living the way we used to? Has Chang Shan Yin been broadcasting his revenge everywhere because he discovered that we conspired against him back then? If he truly returns to the tribe, what will we do?" In her lover's arms, Ni Xue Tong craned her neck and fired off question after question.
"No, no. Don't think of things so gravely." Chang Biao tenderly comforted the woman he loved most in this life.
"First, Chang Shan Yin most likely hasn't discovered that we are the real culprits. Otherwise, given his nature, he would have announced it long ago and ruined our reputations completely. He merely suspects there's a mole within the Chang family, but he isn't sure who."
"Alliance Leader Liu does indeed wish to recruit Chang Shan Yin. After all, he is the Wolf King, a Slave Path master—there's no alliance leader of any army who wouldn't want his help. But Young Master Liu Wen Wu is no fool. He sees clearly and understands that the chances of recruitment are slim. The true purpose of this scheme is sowing discord, and further, shaking the Wolf King's fighting spirit."
"Just think—Chang Shan Yin doesn't know about Chang Ji You's true parentage and believes wholeheartedly that this is his son. As a father, what thoughts would he have? This is blood-is-thicker-than-water kinship! The thought that Chang Ji You might be killed by his own wolf pack—in the great battle to come, would he still fight with everything he has?"
"That's true…" Ni Xue Tong gradually calmed down after hearing these words.
"Alright, don't worry. I'm here for everything." Chang Biao's face was full of tender affection as he gently patted Ni Xue Tong's back.
The tent was filled with a warm, intimate atmosphere.
But how long could such a moment last?
Neither Chang Biao nor Ni Xue Tong had any confidence in their hearts.
Boom!
A figure smashed through the window of the great lizard den gu and went flying outward.
Bei Gentleman Sun Shi Han crashed to the ground. He crawled up with a bruised and swollen face, and amid his shock and fury—mixed with malice and panic—he immediately shrieked at the top of his lungs: "The Wolf King has struck! The Wolf King attacked me! He's rebelling! He's going to kill someone! Help! Help!"
Sun Shi Han was a favorite of Hei Lou Lan, and his cries for help quickly drew a crowd of Gu Masters.
Fang Yuan let out a cold snort and leaped out through the window, planting another kick squarely at Sun Shi Han.
Sun Shi Han didn't dare activate his gu insects first and could only dodge.
But Fang Yuan quickly shifted his stance, sweeping his right fist across and smashing it into Sun Shi Han's nose bridge.
Sun Shi Han let out a miserable scream. He had just gotten back on his feet when he was knocked flat on the ground again. His face was covered in blood—his nose bridge had been broken clean through by Fang Yuan, and two front teeth had been knocked out. He looked utterly wretched.
But the Gu Masters who had come at the sound did not intervene. Instead, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Neither Fang Yuan nor Sun Shi Han had activated any gu insects. That meant no rules were broken—it was merely an altercation at most.
When people interacted, there would always be some friction and conflict. A verbal spat between individuals was perfectly normal. As long as they didn't use gu insects against each other, it didn't violate the binding oath.
"Chang Shan Yin, you're far too arrogant! Your wife and children are in the enemy's camp, and I merely came to kindly persuade you—yet you flew into a rage and beat me! You clearly have a guilty conscience!" Sun Shi Han scrambled to his feet, screaming in a shrill, grating voice.
These words set the surrounding Gu Masters whispering among themselves. Chang Shan Yin's connection to the Chang family was well known, and it had been the subject of much discussion throughout Hei Lou Lan's army these past days.
Looking at the triumphant yet venomous gaze Sun Shi Han directed at him, Fang Yuan gave a disdainful smile. He didn't bother responding at all—instead, he directly swung his fist once more.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every blow from Fang Yuan was heavy and devastating. Though Sun Shi Han had some foundation of physical strength, how could he possibly compare to Fang Yuan's enormous investment in the Strength Path?
After just a few exchanges, he was knocked down again, lying on the ground while Fang Yuan pummeled him with a barrage of fists.
"The Wolf King is formidable! Even though he's a Slave Path master, his Strength Path foundation is also impressive," the onlookers marveled in astonishment.