"Senior Yuan Xiang?" Lin Qian was slightly surprised when he heard the baby shout into the crystal. The oppressive aura of his imperial might eased slightly.
The small infant held the crystal in its tiny hands, which gradually began to emit a faint glow, eventually spreading out into the air.
From the crystal's shimmering light, a figure slowly emerged, one that Lin Qian was all too familiar with. It was none other than Xuanjun Yuan Xiang.
Yuan Xiang's appearance was widely known to all of humanity across the Soul Martial Continent. His image was displayed everywhere, and when Yun Yunyan saw the figure form clearly, she almost stopped breathing.
To the people of the Soul Martial Continent, Xuanjun Yuan Xiang was a legendary figure, a household name. He was practically revered by everyone, and Yun Yunyan, in particular, had long admired him. In her youth, she had read his autobiographies with great fascination.
Seeing her childhood idol appear in front of her was enough to make her heart race with excitement. When she first learned that her son had made contact with Yuan Xiang, she had been thrilled beyond belief.
But now, seeing the figure form from the baby that had emerged from her husband, a strange unease crept into her heart.
How could this infant know Yuan Xiang? And why, when her son was about to take action, did the baby seek help from this legendary figure? Could it be that her husband, Lin Di, had some unknown connection with Xuanjun Yuan Xiang?
The light scattered through the air eventually converged into a solid form, taking on the familiar appearance of Yuan Xiang, who stood firmly on the ground.
Though his body was still somewhat transparent, it appeared much more solid compared to the last time Lin Qian had seen him in the Four Directions World.
"I never thought you'd recover so quickly," Yuan Xiang remarked in surprise as he gazed at the small baby sitting on the bed.
The infant, propping its tiny face up with its hands, grumbled in response, "Well, that's thanks to the master's son providing him with a cultivation method that seems tailor-made for him. Plus, the strange medicinal herbs he's been given create ideal conditions for cultivation. Waking up early isn't all that surprising."
"Just explain the situation already, or if the young master really makes a move, things are going to get troublesome."
Yuan Xiang couldn't help but laugh at the baby's anxious demeanor. "Lin Qing, it's rare to see you so flustered. Even if the young master were to attack, he couldn't possibly break through your defenses."
The baby—Lin Qing—stood up and pointed at Lin Qian. "That's what I thought too, but his aura is suppressing me! I can't guarantee he wouldn't break through my defenses, especially since I'm not at full strength."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Xiang's expression grew more serious as he turned to look at Lin Qian with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Lin Qian said nothing, silently observing the two.
After a long pause, Yuan Xiang smiled and waved at Lin Qian. "It's been a while."
"…" Lin Qian remained silent for a moment, then sighed. "Senior, don't you think it's time you properly explained this situation to me?"
There was an unmistakable edge in Lin Qian's voice. His father was currently in a coma, and Lin Qian didn't care who Yuan Xiang was—if he didn't get a satisfactory explanation, he wouldn't hesitate to take action.
In this life, Lin Qian cherished his parents deeply. He wouldn't tolerate anything that posed a threat to them.
"If I were to tell you the full truth right now, you, your parents, and everyone around you would die instantly. Do you believe that?" Yuan Xiang's tone turned grave as he addressed Lin Qian after a long silence.
Lin Qian's frown deepened, and he stared at Yuan Xiang without a word. The claim that revealing the truth could lead to such severe consequences left him speechless. Could the situation really be so dire?
"If I tell you the truth, I'd have to mention certain individuals. As soon as they're mentioned, your father would be found," Yuan Xiang said solemnly, casting a glance at Yun Yunyan. "Lin Di has already died once. Do you really want him to die a second time?"
Boom!
Yuan Xiang's words hit Lin Qian and Yun Yunyan like a bolt of lightning, exploding in their minds.
"Senior, what do you mean by this?" Yun Yunyan, her voice trembling with urgency, stepped forward to ask.
Yuan Xiang only shook his head, looking at her with a somber expression. "I can only say that he will be fine. Stay by his side. You are the first person he has truly loved. Grow stronger together until you're able to protect yourselves."
"Lin Qing is the artifact spirit of your father's yuan device. He is his protector, his life-and-death companion. He would never harm his master," Yuan Xiang then explained to Lin Qian, his tone calm and slow.
Lin Qian remained silent, deep in thought. Despite his frustration, he respected Yuan Xiang greatly as a revered figure of the human race on the Soul Martial Continent. He had no reason to lie.
"A powerful one reborn…" Lin Qian chuckled bitterly, rubbing his temples. "I never thought this would happen to my father."
He continued to speculate. "It seems my father must have died from some accident but didn't truly perish. Instead, he was reborn in the Soul Martial Continent. You found him and protected him in secret, waiting for him to grow strong enough to defend himself before revealing the truth. This would explain his mysterious origins and why he was once in a dazed, confused state—his soul must not have fully awakened at that time."
As Lin Qian spoke, Yuan Xiang and Lin Qing exchanged startled glances, clearly shocked by his insight. "How did you know?"
"Because I'm a genius," Lin Qian smirked, spreading his hands. "I won't pursue this further. I'll make sure my father regains his strength and rises to the top. Whoever caused his death once will regret ever coming into this world."
With that, Lin Qian grabbed Lin Qing's head. "Since you're my father's artifact spirit, there's no problem. Just tell me what I need to know. Don't keep playing mysterious."
"You could've just told me you were his spirit from the start."
Lin Qing crossed his chubby arms and huffed, "I didn't think you'd believe me. It's much easier having Yuan Xiang explain it."
"Senior, who exactly is my husband?" Yun Yunyan asked in a quiet voice, her gaze fixed on Yuan Xiang.
Yuan Xiang slowly shook his head. "That's something I can't reveal. You'll have to uncover it for yourselves. The less you know now, the safer you'll be."