When he had first discovered Dai Yueying's special constitution, Lianshan Xin had instinctively assumed it was inherited from Blood Guanyin.
It was a perfectly reasonable deduction. Lianshan Xin considered himself to have the makings of a master detective, incapable of error—since when did investigating a case require evidence anyway?
Now, however, Lianshan Xin realized he had been too young and inexperienced.
Times had changed; men and women were no different.
One really had to broaden one's horizons.
Dai Yueying and Zeng Ningbing were unlikely to share the same mother.
Which meant...
Lianshan Xin suddenly remembered that the current Emperor, His Majesty, was universally recognized as wise and martial, yet the current imperial court was just as famous for being packed with fierce, outspoken officials.
Supposedly, there were plenty of civil and military officials who berated the Emperor right in Jinluan Hall, leaving him unable to step down with dignity.
Yet in the end, His Majesty possessed an all-embracing magnanimity and knew how to employ talent, earning praises across the court and common populace alike, acclaimed as being equal to any sage ruler in history.
With a sage Son of Heaven on the throne, Great Yu had lasted a thousand years and still held promise for a great resurgence—a blessing for the realm.
Lianshan Xin had once thought so as well.
Now...
*Hiss...*
This matter could not withstand close scrutiny. The more he thought about it, the more seamlessly the logic closed into a loop.
Before Lianshan Xin could ponder any further, He Ruoyu was the first who couldn't bear to listen.
"Junior Sister Zeng, what on earth are you talking about?"
Could she really say something like that right in front of him? What did she take him for?
Zeng Ningbing's dark brows knit, and she shot back, "What does that have to do with you?"
He Ruoyu: "..."
Listen, the sound of a breaking heart.
Even Lianshan Xin couldn't stand it. "He's an admirer of yours, after all. Couldn't you show a little consideration for his face?"
Zeng Ningbing sneered. "My admirers could form a line stretching from the Golden Scale Alliance headquarters all the way to Bailudong Academy. How could I possibly cater to them all?"
He Ruoyu suddenly felt a dull ache in his chest.
Lianshan Xin thought for a moment, then his expression abruptly darkened as he chided her, "Others admire you because they acknowledge your charm. What gives you the right to be so arrogant? Where are your manners?"
He Ruoyu immediately spoke up: "Junior Sister Zeng lost her father when she was young. Junior Brother, aren't your words a bit too vicious?"
"Shut up! Lianshan Xin was speaking up for you! Can't you understand human speech?" Zeng Ningbing snapped.
He Ruoyu: "..."
Lianshan Xin nearly failed to keep a straight face and burst out laughing.
Very good. It was now confirmed: Zeng Ningbing had broadened her path again.
True Dragon bloodline... interesting.
Lianshan Xin felt that it wasn't just Zeng Ningbing—the entire imperial family had broadened their path.
Of course, He Ruoyu had narrowed his.
"Lianshan Xin, you're right. I've never had good manners since childhood. My mother was busy with the Golden Scale Alliance's affairs and had no time to look after me. As for my father... I don't know who he is. My mother adopted me when I was young. This is just my temperament. If you don't... then I swear I will kill you."
With a single basic attack from Lianshan Xin, Zeng Ningbing had blown all her ultimates.
It yielded even more information for Lianshan Xin.
"Elder Zeng isn't your birth mother?" Lianshan Xin raised an eyebrow.
Why did he find that so hard to believe?
Was it inconvenient to explain having a child out of wedlock, so she used adoption as an excuse?
Unaware of Lianshan Xin's thoughts, Zeng Ningbing answered plainly, "No. Why? Are you disappointed?"
"A little," Lianshan Xin said intentionally. "You couldn't even take one strike from me. If you don't even have a good pedigree, what makes you think you're worthy of me?"
He Ruoyu couldn't take it again: "Junior Brother, aren't you being far too arrogant—"
"You have a point, but my mother treats me as her own," Zeng Ningbing cut He Ruoyu off.
"The fact that you speak so bluntly shows you aren't two-faced. That's far better than the hypocrites who pursue me just to climb the social ladder, yet stubbornly refuse to admit it."
He Ruoyu felt as if another blade had pierced his chest.
He desperately wanted to ask Zeng Ningbing if she was out of her mind.
But he didn't dare.
Lianshan Xin did.
Speaking his mind, he asked, "Are you out of your mind?"
"I simply accept defeat when I've lost. You're right; I'm no match for you." Zeng Ningbing openly admitted that she had been beaten into submission.
"My mother taught me from a young age: when you're out in the world, stand straight and take your beating. Within the Golden Scale Alliance, I could throw my weight around because of my mother, but outside the alliance, I would eventually run into someone who wouldn't give me any leeway. I just didn't expect to meet one so soon. Fortunately, Mother also said that the earlier you make mistakes, the better."
He Ruoyu felt that he could have beaten Zeng Ningbing into submission too.
Yet even now, he still didn't dare raise a hand against her.
It was only natural that he remained an utter loser.
"Lianshan Xin, I must thank you for making me realize there are always higher mountains and greater talents."
Zeng Ningbing sounded completely sincere, but He Ruoyu felt she sounded utterly subservient.
Ignoring Zeng Ningbing, Lianshan Xin turned to He Ruoyu instead. "Does the way she looks right now seem familiar to you?"
Subconsciously, He Ruoyu nodded. "It does."
"Like what?"
"Like me."
Lianshan Xin smiled. "Congratulations, you got it right."
The seventh of the Bailudong Seven still carried the weight of the title. At least when it came to self-awareness, he had it down to an art.
He Ruoyu: "...How dare you humiliate Junior Sister Zeng like this?"
Lianshan Xin smiled again. "Zeng Ningbing, am I humiliating you?"
Zeng Ningbing shook her head first, then nodded. "You shouldn't compare me to him."
He Ruoyu's defenses collapsed entirely. "Farewell."
*Master, this path of changing one's life through marriage is far too difficult.*
He wanted to give up.
Yet Lianshan Xin gave him no such chance: "Halt."
He Ruoyu looked at Lianshan Xin in bewilderment.
Lianshan Xin said calmly, "Have you forgotten that just moments ago, you suspected me of being a Demon Cult villain?"
He Ruoyu frowned. "That was merely a misunderstanding."
"Whether it was a misunderstanding isn't for you to say, but for me. Right now, I suspect you are a Demon Cult villain left behind in the academy by Thousand Faces."
Lianshan Xin's expression turned stern as he said coldly, "Come along with our people. Rest assured, Nine Heavens will never wrongfully accuse an innocent person, nor will we let a single villain slip away."
As Lianshan Xin's words fell, two figures flanked them from left and right.
The people of Nine Heavens had arrived.
Naturally, Bailudong Academy was currently under Nine Heavens' surveillance. It was just that Lianshan Xin hadn't called for them earlier.
Zeng Ningbing had convinced him: the rule of Great Yu was that young people should resolve disputes among themselves; "calling the parents" was not a good approach.
Therefore, Lianshan Xin planned to deal with Zeng Ningbing himself. But dealing with He Ruoyu did not require his personal effort.
"Also, explain everything about your master, Lin Xiangwen. He is suspected of ties to the Demon Cult as well."
He Ruoyu knew Lianshan Xin was deliberately causing trouble. But since he had picked a quarrel first, and Lianshan Xin was paying him back in his own coin, he had no choice but to take it.
"Junior Brother, I come from a lesser clan, my master is a close friend of Tanhua Qi, and I myself am one of the Seven Worthies of Bailudong. Since you're so intent on venting your spleen, I'll go with you."
At this moment, He Ruoyu had yet to realize the gravity of the situation.
Chapter 58