Hua Xianle

Chapter 41:

Silence fell over the room at the revelation of Cangse Sanren’s infertility. No one knew how to respond to it, not even the two Martial Gods. Slowly, Hua Ying lifted up his hands, watching them tremble ever so slightly.

“Then… is my mama… not my mama?” His lip was trembling and he looked like he was about to cry.

“Of course, she was your mama,” Madame Jin declared, not a trace of doubt in her voice. “You’re the spitting image of her, no one can deny that. I suppose if anyone could find a way to conceive a child despite such hurdles, it would be those two. Or maybe it was a divine blessing from Taizi Dianxia himself. They prayed to him every day to try and-”

“Wait, hold up!” Mu Qing held up a hand, his mind reeling. “Are you saying that she prayed every day to Dianxia to bless her with a child?”

“Diligently,” Madame Lan confirmed. “Why?”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing exchanged glances, nodding to each other. The former then placed two fingers on his temple, tapping into the communication array. “Your Highness? You need to come to Qishan immediately. Bring Crimson Rain as well. It’s about Hua-”

He didn’t even finish the thought before the two beings materialized in the room, immediately turning towards their son. When they saw everyone gathered around, it didn’t take a genius to figure out that their cover was blown. Neither really cared, focusing instead on their son, who seemed confused and distraught at the same time.

“A-Ying? Baobei, what’s wrong?” Xie Lian knelt next to his son as Hua Cheng did the same. “Why are you upset?”

“Who made you cry?” Hua Cheng scanned the room, eyes locking on the two Martial Gods. “Was it the Jiangs again? Clearly, they need to be taught a-”

“Calm yourself, Chengzhu,” Feng Xin interjected, waving him down. “We’re just having a rather… interesting discussion, one you two need to be a part of. Especially with information on our A-Ying’s mother that has come to light.”

Confused, and more than a little worried, the Heavenly Emperor and Ghost King both knelt around their son and his zhiji, knowing separating them was a futile effort.

“Well, get on with it,” Hua Cheng demanded, snapping his fingers to urge them to talk.

“Dianxia,” Mu Qing spoke up, clearing his throat. “Do you remember blessing a rogue cultivator who prayed to you every day for a child due to infertility?”

Xie Lian furrowed his brow, thinking back. “Hmmm, I think there was one about… two decades ago? Give or take? San Lang and I went to help her out and bless her with a child, wanting to gift someone with a blessing we ourselves could not have at the time.”

“Dianxia…” Feng Xin hesitated a moment before speaking once more. “I don’t think you healed her infertility. I think what you did was have her act as a surrogate.”

“A surrogate?”

“Yes. When you and Crimson Rain went to bless her with a child, both of you were longing for one of your own. So, when you went to heal her, you instead supplied her with a culmination of your power and spirit. That rogue cultivator… was Cangse Sanren.”

“Then…” Hua Ying looked back at his Baba and A-Die. “I-if what you’re saying is true… then how do I look like my birth parents?”

“Honestly, you look a lot like your adoptive parents too,” Mingjue remarked, speaking up for the first time this evening.

“He looks like all of his parents,” Feng Xin clarified, trying to pick and choose his words carefully. “His body is the product of both Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, while his spirit is the product of Xie Lian and Hua Cheng. All four of them are his true parents thanks to Dianxia choosing her as the vessel for his child.”