NOVEL NEXT Chapter 492: Oh No, I've Been Exposed!
Chapter 492: Oh No, I’ve Been Exposed!
It was noon when Lin Fengmian was led to the Imperial Garden, where he met Jun Qingsheng in a pavilion at the center of a lake.
The Heavenly Grace King was of medium height, slightly portly, with a square face and a beard that gave him an air of authority.
From his appearance, Lin Fengmian could only see traces of Xu Zhibai and found no resemblance whatsoever to Jun Chengye.
It seemed like the Jun family bloodline had been completely overshadowed by the Xu family!
Thinking of Jun Yunzheng, who was exceptional in every way except for his unfortunate looks, Lin Fengmian couldn’t help but wonder if Jun Wuxie was even Jun Qingsheng’s son.
He decided that he would have to find an opportunity to get some of Jun Qingsheng’s blood and have Yue Shuying test it.
Not knowing that Lin Fengmian was already plotting against him, Jun Qingsheng concentrated on brewing tea.
Behind Jun Qingsheng, a woman in a green dress stood with her back turned to Lin Fengmian as she gazed at the calm surface of the lake.
The breeze from the lake gently stirred her skirt and hair, making her appear graceful and ethereal.
Even from just a glance, she exuded an aura of breathtaking beauty, leaving one to imagine what her face might look like.
Lin Fengmian’s heart skipped a beat. He had no idea who this woman was, but she seemed completely at ease in front of the Heavenly Grace King.
Suppressing his unease, he stepped forward and bowed his head. “Your son greets you, Father.”
While brewing tea, Jun Qingsheng glanced at his handsome young son.
Noticing that Lin Fengmian was still at the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret and helplessness at the vast amount of rare resources he had invested in him.
With so many spirit stones and treasures, even a pig would have reached the Core Formation Realm by now.
Was this a case of “all that glitters is not gold”?
He sighed inwardly and asked in a deep voice, “Wuxie, why are you back so late?”
Lin Fengmian honestly replied, “Your son took a detour through Haining City and was ambushed on the way, which delayed my return.”
Jun Qingsheng said indifferently, “The Junyan Imperial Court claims that you killed one of their guest elders and hung his corpse on the bow of your ship. Is this true?”
Lin Fengmian shook his head. “It is true, but he ambushed me first. I was only defending myself.”
“If it was self-defense, why didn’t you capture him and hand him over to the Junyan Imperial Court for judgment?”
A melodious voice chimed in, coming from the woman who still had her back turned to Lin Fengmian.
Lin Fengmian was unsure of the woman’s identity, but since Jun Qingsheng didn’t react, he decided to answer truthfully.
“Capturing him alive would have been too difficult. Besides, I don’t believe in repaying malice with kindness. If someone tries to kill me, they will have to pay the price.”
The woman didn’t respond, and since her back was turned, Lin Fengmian couldn’t gauge her expression.
Jun Qingsheng glanced at the woman and continued, “Song Yuanqing, the sect master of the Heavenly Deception Sect, has accused you of leading the shadow guards to storm his sect, destroy his mountain gate, loot his treasure vault, and abduct his young daughter. Do you have anything to say about this?”
Lin Fengmian replied frankly, “Nothing to say. It’s all true. But he disrespected me first.”
There was no point in hiding these facts, as Jun Qingsheng clearly knew about them already.
The woman’s displeased voice rang out again. “So because he disrespected you, you destroyed his mountain gate, looted his treasure vault, and abducted his daughter?”
Lin Fengmian felt somewhat helpless. Lady, who are you anyway?
“I was just trying to save someone.”
The woman snorted coldly. “Don’t make it sound so noble. You were just trying to curry favor with a woman from the Joyful Union Sect!”
Lin Fengmian didn’t explain any further, simply watching Jun Qingsheng as he brewed tea.
Jun Qingsheng smiled and asked, “Was it worth offending the Heavenly Deception Sect for a woman from the Joyful Union Sect?”
“Worth it.”
Lin Fengmian calmly replied, “The Joyful Union Sect not only possesses dual cultivation techniques, but also has a Spirit Refining Ginseng that can help me rebuild my spiritual roots. As long as I can pass this selection, offending one Heavenly Deception Sect is nothing. I’ll do the same to two more if I have to.”
Jun Qingsheng’s expression turned strange, and the woman, now visibly angry, turned around to glare at Lin Fengmian.
“Wuxie, it’s been years since I last saw you. I never expected you to become so arrogant and domineering!”
The woman was stunningly beautiful, with pale skin, a tall and slender figure, a narrow waist, and long legs – a true incomparable beauty.
The only flaw was her modest chest, which was barely a handful.
Lin Fengmian stared at the beautiful woman before him, his mind racing.
The test just got harder!
This woman wasn’t Jun Wuxie’s adoptive mother, Consort Xuan, nor was she in any of the portraits he had seen.
The two of them stood in silence, the woman seemingly at a loss for words, while Lin Fengmian had no idea what to say.
The woman’s expression grew colder, her eyes filled with disappointment, which only further confused Lin Fengmian.
At that moment, he desperately wished that someone would come and tell him how he should address this woman.
Somebody, please save me! Who is she?!
Perhaps the heavens heard his plea, because Jun Qingsheng delivered the final blow.
“Wuxie, why are you standing there? Greet her!”
Lin Fengmian wanted to kill him.
I want to greet her, but what should I call her?
I can’t just call her ‘Mother,’ can I?
Just then, a thought occurred to him.
He noticed that the woman’s eyes and brows bore a slight resemblance to his own, and he was struck with disbelief.
Holy crap, is this Jun Wuxie’s mysterious, supposedly deceased birth mother?
Recalling the woman’s earlier words and tone, it seemed more and more likely.
Under the combined gaze of the woman and Jun Qingsheng, Lin Fengmian hesitated for a moment before speaking in a confused tone.
“Mother… Consort?”
This must be Jun Wuxie’s mother, right?
It has to be, right?
But clearly, he was wrong.
The title of “Mother Consort” stunned both Jun Qingsheng and the woman.
Jun Qingsheng choked on his tea, violently coughing and scolded, “Wuxie, what are you calling her?!”
Lin Fengmian’s face turned pale. Oh no, I screwed up.
As he frantically tried to think of a way to salvage the situation, the woman’s expression softened when she saw the panic on his face.
She said gently, “I’m afraid you’re wrong. I’m not your mother.”
Lin Fengmian was taken aback.
Not my mother?
Then there’s still hope!
Jun Qingsheng chuckled awkwardly. “Xiuer, the last time he saw you, he was very young. That’s why he mistook you for someone else. Don’t take it to heart.”
Lin Fengmian’s eyes appropriately showed a mixture of sadness and disappointment, perfectly mimicking a child who has mistaken someone for his mother.
“I’m sorry, I mistook you for someone else…”
Nangong Xiu looked at Lin Fengmian with a touched expression, her gaze softening.
She had met Jun Wuxie once when he was very young, and had given him a portrait of his mother as a gift.
Having never seen his mother, he must have looked at that portrait often, which was why he had mistaken her, who bore a slight resemblance to his mother, for his mother.
She said gently, “It’s okay. It seems you still have the portrait I gave you all those years ago.”
Lin Fengmian had no idea about any portrait, but he remained silent as if unsure of what to say.
The two of them stood in silence, and Nangong Xiu, recalling their earlier conversation, couldn’t help but advise him.
“Wuxie, the women of the Joyful Union Sect are not to be trusted. The power gained through dual cultivation is ultimately a castle in the air.”
“Listen to your aunt and cut ties with that enchantress from the Joyful Union Sect as soon as possible. Don’t ruin your future.”