The night above Beast God City was still young. While Qu Jing was hard at work coaxing the truth about the snake lord incident out of Wei Peng, another one of Chen Wentian's souls was also seeking the truth, this time from a small family surnamed Jin in the lion lord's faction.
Their young master Jin Zenan had made quite a stir during the day by revealing the snake-skin transformation art that the snake lord was famous for. Because of this Yang Cang, the senior brother of the lion lord's faction, paid a visit to the Jin family the same evening.
"Senior Brother Yang… I didn't think you would come at this hour." Jin Zenan said.
Sitting across from him in the small garden pavilion was Yang Cang, or more accurately Chen Wentian through his avatar.
"Zenan, do you look down on me?" Chen Wentian asked casually.
This question wasn't without merit. Yang Cang was the most talented of the current crop of young cultivators in the lion lord's faction, the one with the most potential to become a Spirit Lord. Jin Zenan could be considered the most talented of the next generation and would probably equal or exceed Yang Cang's current status given enough time.
"Junior doesn't dare."
"Hmph," Chen Wentian took a sip of tea and stared out over the garden, "I don't think we are so different. The Jin Family, the Yang Family, they are both small families. I am the closed-door disciple of Immortal Tempest Badger Qiu Chuyi while you received the legacy of the snake lord. So tell me, how did you do it?"
"What does senior brother mean by that?" Jin Zenan asked.
Although his tone was respectful, there was still a tinge of discontent.
Chen Wentian smiled, "Do I have to ask it in a straightforward manner? Fine, how did your Jin Family survive the purge? Why did your family switch allegiances to the lion lord?"
"…" Jin Zenan put down his teacup and was silent for a long time. Eventually, he stood up and called for the servants. "It is getting late, please escort Senior Brother Yang home safely. I hope Senior Brother can accompany me some other time."
"Hmph," Chen Wentian slammed his fist on the chair and stood up.
He didn't bother to look back as he pushed aside the servants, "Step aside, I know the way out."
Jin Zenan watched Yang Cang leave with a cold expression. He then whirled around and quickly retreated into the manor.
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Sometime later, a nondescript horse carriage arrived at the lion lord's castle. A middle-aged woman came out of the carriage and was quickly whisked away by the guards into the castle. After going through a maze of corridors, she arrived at a luxurious courtyard that was incomparable to even the largest manors throughout the city.
"Lady Jin!"
"Lady Jin, what are you doing here?"
The middle-aged woman was Jin Niang, the mother of Jin Zenan. She had a tall and curvy figure. Aside from a few wrinkles, she had yet to show her age which was a small miracle. In the dimly lit courtyard, she could still be mistaken for a devastating beauty from afar.
"Step aside, I want to see He Xinghan." Jin Niang demanded.
"Lady Jin…"
"We can't…"
However, Jin Niang seemed used to such protestations and pushed the servants aside. She knew where to go and walked quickly through the garden until she reached the doors to a bedroom. The inside was brightly lit and laughter could be heard. There were several female voices, their laughs high-pitched and vivacious like freshly blossomed flowers. There was also a man's voice that seemed to be groaning with a steady rhythm.
Bang!
Jin Niang kicked the doors open.
"Ahhh!"
"Who?"
Jin Niang stepped inside and was greeted by a steamy sight. Immortal Lion of Fortune He Xinghan was lying naked on a large bed, an equally naked young lady straddling his waist. Two more naked women accompanied the pair. Aside from the group, empty wine bottles covered the tables along with some half-eaten dishes.
The naked women tried to cover themselves while He Xinghan's expression changed from ugly to embarrassed to angry.
"Jin Niang…" His face softened when he recognized who it was.
He waved his hand and covered his body with a silk robe, "Rest of you, leave."
His voice carried his immortal aura. The naked women quickly scrambled for their clothes and left the room in a rush. The servants also disappeared, leaving only He Xinghan and Jin Niang in the room.
"Jin Niang…" He said, "What brings you here tonight?"
He reached out to caress her face but she caught his hand, "He Xinghan, do you still remember what you promised me thirty years ago?"
His expression became unhappy, "Of course, why are you suddenly asking about that?"
"Don't you think it's about time you fulfilled that promise?"
"What happened, tell me."
"Hmph, still pretending? Are you telling me that you didn't know that Zenan displayed his snake-skin transformation art to the whole city today? If you didn't tell him to do that, then who did? Now, everybody is asking questions. Even some nobody like that bastard Yang Cang dares to barge into my house, berate my son, and treat the Jin Family like we are a bunch of traitors."
"This… I really didn't know. It must have been my father. You know him, he often doesn't tell me a lot of his plans." He Xinghan protested.
Jin Niang stamped her feet and prodded his chest with a slender finger, "Okay, fine. You didn't know. But Jin Zenan's cultivation art has been revealed and it cannot be concealed ever again. So, what are you going to do about it?"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Make good on your promise. He is your son. It's time for you to officially recognize him."
"This…"
"He Xinghan! You promised me!" Fury and sadness surged through her heart as she started to cry, "You promised me when you took my virginity. You promised me when you gave me away to Zhuge Ming. You promised me again when we conceived our son, the day before I married him."
"I… I have to consult my father. If he agrees…"
"He Xinghan!" Jin Niang shouted, "Are you a man? Why can't you take responsibility? Ahh..."
She then buried her face into his chest and cried pitifully.
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