Chapter 179   Who’s My Dad?

Yun Shimo gave the hare a stare. Why did he find Hua Qiyue’s words not quite credible?

The hare was not so concerned. It continued hugging onto the chicken thigh, munching. Hua Qiyue felt that there was nothing to do and was prepared to leave.

Tomorrow, she would return to her native village and pay her parents her respects at their graves.

Yun Shimo called out for her to stop. “Qiyue, no matter what happens, you must trust me.”

Hua Qiyue stared perplexedly at that solemn face. She felt that he had changed. He was so much stranger now.

Trust him? Did he mean the fact he didn’t object to the Princess’s proposal?

But she had too many things to deal with. She did not have time to bother about such trivial stuffs. Yun Shimo could like or be engaged to anyone. It was his own free choice.

If he really chose the Princess, Hua Qiyue would still respect his decision.

She was not someone who would force things. She married Zhou Zhicheng out of love, yet it had ended as a tragedy. Fate must have predestined everything.

Hua Qiyue went out. Tianci, Ji Feng and the others were gone. They must be roaming outside in the capital. When she returned to Hua’s Mansion, Butler Wang had already purchased the items she had asked for.

Butler Wang was very curious. He kept asking Hua Qiyue what these items were for.

Even the Old Madame had heard about this. She came over to Cuihua Court to see Hua Qiyue. Hua Qiyue was now the backbone of Hua’s Mansion. Hua Liting was bringing up Hua Qianming himself. He was teaching his son everything he knew.

Hua Qianming was still a boy. But each time he met Hua Qiyue by chance, his eyes would glow with a deep hatred.

Although he was young, Hua Qianming knew in his heart that Hua Qiyue was the culprit behind his mother’s death. She was also the one responsible for his elder sister’s disappearance.

“Qiyue, what are you doing? Butler Wang said that you’ve... ”

“Grandma, it’s so hot. You could have let someone else inform me. Then I would hurry to Prosperity Court. Why are you here?” Before she could finish, Hua Qiyue had helped the Old Madame up the jade couch. Youshui quickly hurried to the Old Madame’s side and fanned her.

“Grandma may be old, but it’s still good to walk around outside.”

“But... the weather’s hot. You must still take care of yourself, Grandma. You must be wondering why I have bought these items,” Hua Qiyue said quietly. The Old Madame nodded.

The Old Madame’s face was florid. Her health seemed to have improved. Hua Qiyue grinned. “Qiyue has adopted Tianci. I would like to take him to the countryside to pay respects to his mother at her grave.”

After her case ended, Rong Qiyue’s bones were interred in the grave at her native Bright Hill Village. Hua Qiyue had sent her remains back to be with her parents’.

“I see. You’ve made Grandma so worried for you.”

The old grandmother heaved a sigh of relief. But soon her expression turned solemn again. “Qiyue, I heard that Princess Qianyang has asked His Majesty to grant her marriage in Righteous Hall. She wants to wed... Prince Nan?”

“Yes. But... Grandma, you needn’t worry. The situation’s not too good now but we will resolve the problem.”

Hua Qiyue did not want the old lady to know too much. She could not help them and would only worry.

Old Madame Hua nodded gently. She patted Hua Qiyue’s fair, jade-like hand lightly. “Qiyue, no matter what happens, you must live on, you understand? Survival is the most important thing.”

Hua Qiyue’s heart missed a beat. The Old Madame wasn’t a muddlehead. The activities of the Gnawing Devils Sect were growing. Rumors had started to circulate.

The Old Madame must have got wind of something. Furthermore, Hua Qiyue was a Qi Artist. She could not help but be worried.

“Grandma, I know what to do.” Hua Qiyue gave a confident smile. The Old Madame heard her and breathed a sigh of relief.

After sitting for a while in Cuihua Court, Hua Qiyue took the Old Madame back to her courtyard personally. Returning to her compound, she made Qiuyun bring out a roast chicken and two flasks of osmanthus wine from the kitchen. Then, she entered the green jade gourd to look for Tianpi.

Tianpi was sitting under the tree with a black face. Even when he saw the wine in Hua Qiyue’s hand, he did not react.

“Master, why are you so grim? I didn’t reveal your whereabouts to them.”

Hua Qiyue sat down by his side, slipping the flask of wine into his hand. “Don’t be angry. I didn’t tell them anything about you.”

Tianpi gave a cold snort. “That old devil! I will surely give him a lecture when I get out!”

Tianpi ought to be referring to the hare.

Hua Qiyue pursed her lips. The Tianpi before him was so diabolical-looking that he could charm countless girls if he re-entered the human world. She had seen so much of him that she was somewhat immune.

But there was no murderous malice from his body. Wouldn’t a devil give off a very strong murderous aura?

Had he stayed so long that the murderous aura from his body had disappeared?

“What are you looking at?” Tianpi said, quite displeased, sensing Hua Qiyue’s eyes on him. It wasn’t enjoyable to be gazed at from head to toe by someone else aesthetically.

Hua Qiyue smiled a little. “Master, they all call you a devil.”

“So, you are afraid, eh?”

“If I was, would I be here?” Hua Qiyue gave a cold snort, unfurling the oil paper. She laid the fragrant roast chicken down before Tianpi’s eyes. Tianpi gulped down some saliva and put down his wine. Then, he grabbed the roast chicken and chewed off a big mouthful.

Tianpi cast her these words with some vexation. “Don’t believe in their nonsense.”

Oh, nonsense?

The hare rarely had such a solemn expression on its face. And yet Tianpi said that it was talking nonsense?

When he saw Hua Qiyue’s baffled expression, Tianpi offered an explanation most unwillingly. “Although I killed many people 10,000 years ago, I have since reformed.”

Oh, I see. Hua Qiyue blinked her eyes. But she knew she mustn’t ask him anything now.

Because had she refused to enter here or had run away, Tianpi would still control her. She could not escape since there was a pact between them.

“The hare said that it would like to fight you.”

“Humph, let him wait. Make it wash its neck for me to hack.”

Tianpi said nonchalantly. In his tone and eyes though, there wasn’t much hatred. Hua Qiyue surmised that there might be some differences between them, but they were not serious.

If there was really a great feud between them, Tianpi would have run away.

However, this was still a good thing. At least she needn’t feel torn between them.

“You’d better be careful about the hare and Yun Shimo.” As he ate, Tianpi mumbled indistinctly.

“Is Yun Shimo very dangerous? The hare... won’t kill me, I believe. After all, he is an elder. It will do him no good to kill me.” Hua Qiyue frowned. Tianpi kept telling her to keep a distance from Yun Shimo. Why did she feel that other than being troubled, Yun Shimo was not dangerous?

“Humph, you must listen to your Master.” Tianpi snorted unhappily. Hua Qiyue no longer bothered about her. She was about to enter the spiritual pool to cultivate when she suddenly remembered a question.

“Master, the Gnawing Devils Sect’s about to act. It seems that its Sect Leader has retreated for ten years. He was formerly at the Great Completeness of the Moon Eclipse Realm. If he comes out of his retreat, he will surely be at the medium level of Round Sun or the Great Completeness. By then, we won’t be able to deal with him even if we join hands.”

Hua Qiyue said. Tianpi gave a start. If Hua Qiyue died, his life would be in danger too.

“The Great Completeness of Round Sun. Very few artists in Tianyuan Continent have achieved this. He’s definitely a hard nut to crack. Have you thought of a way?”

Tianpi kept licking his lips. He seemed to be in absolute bliss, but in his eyes was a tinge of worry.

If it was something even Tianpi was worried about, it must be very serious.

“I’m thinking of imparting my lethal skills to some trustworthy followers. Then, our overall strength will improve. There’ll also be a higher chance for us to escape if necessary,” Hua Qiyue said after musing for a while.

This was the only way.

“Well, you’re quite right. After all, I don’t care if you impart these lethal skills to outsiders if you like. One more thing. Give more herbs to that fellow, Yun Shimo, and let him refine them into pills. If anyone takes them, his cultivation will improve quickly. Don’t let that guy be idle. Humph!”

Tianpi really found Yun Shimo such an eyesore.

“Very well. Thank you, Master!” Hua Qiyue was delighted. Tianpi had agreed. She could impart her skills to them without any worry.

As she entered the pool silently to cultivate, Tianpi was under the tree eating and drinking. He sipped a mouthful of osmanthus wine and found its scent lingering around his nostrils. He seemed to have entered into a forest of osmanthuses, his entire person refreshed and invigorated.

But when he remembered Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo’s imminent wedding, Tianpi gave a light frown.

The next day.

Hua Qiyue placed Tianci on the carriage and they headed for Bright Hill Village.

Tianci was playing with the Man-Hunting Insect in his hand. He gave it two flowers to nibble.

“Does a Man-Hunting Insect eat flowers?” As she watched her son’s adorable little face, Hua Qiyue asked with a smile.

Tianci nodded. “Yes, that was what Uncle Feng said. A Man-Hunting Insect eats flowers and fruits, not meat.”

Youshui by their side started to cover her mouth and giggle. “Miss, Young Master Ji’s so kind to Tianci. This insect isn’t cheap. It costs 1,000 taels of gold!”

“Sister Youshui, you shouldn’t be so calculative! Mom also gave Uncle Feng many herbs! Each is worth a few hundred taels of gold!” The young fellow began to smile craftily. “But Mom, if Tianci can have a few more Dads, Tianci will be rich!”

His words made the company laugh. Hua Qiyue stabbed a finger at the little fellow’s head. “Don’t talk nonsense! You can’t say these crazy things. You can only have one Dad!”

“Mom, so who is Tianci’s Dad?”

Tianci raised his innocent little face, asking curiously.

Yun Shimo was said to be his godfather. Although Tianci had called him Dad, a lot of people told him that Yun Shimo wasn’t his real father.

So, he was confused. Who really was his real Dad?

Hua Qiyue paused for a moment and shook her head slightly. “Your Dad... has died of an illness.”

This was the only way to sever the longing in his heart.

Since even the Divine Eyes Organization could not trace that man, he was either dead or too powerful. Either way, they could not find him.

“But last night I was using the Jade Twig to locate him. I asked if my Dad’s alive. It started to glow very brightly!”

The little fellow said, perplexed. Hua Qiyue was quietly astounded. So that Jade Twig really had this use?

“Take out your Jade Twig and let Mom have a look,” Hua Qiyue said softly. Tianci quickly placed the samite box in Hua Qiyue’s hands.

Hua Qiyue opened it. She took out the Jade Twig, shutting her eyes and thought about her dead parents. Then she re-opened her eyes and looked. The Jade Twig was not glowing.

It was formerly bright. Yet, the moment it sensed Hua Qiyue’s Divine Sensory fluctuations; its light gradually turned dim.

It seemed really effective.

But who really was that person?

Hua Qiyue paused for a while, looking at the Man-Hunting Insect on Tianci’s shoulder. She was a little disappointed, since the insect would need an item from the man to locate him.

How could Hua Qiyue have an item from that man?