Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya!

Before long, Linghe brought the two of them before Qin Hong.

"Martial Uncle Shen, Martial Uncle Jiang, he is the fellow disciple who wanted to see you."

"Hmm?"

Hearing Linghe's words, a middle-aged man in a black Daoist robe, with a square face and dignified bearing, stroked his beard in puzzlement. "Who is he? Which fellow disciple's disciple is he? He looks unfamiliar; I have never seen him before!"

"Martial Uncle Shen... could this be Shen Gongbao?"

Thinking this, Qin Hong could not help studying Shen Gongbao a few more times. Sword-like brows and bright eyes—while he was not exactly suave and dashing, he was certainly not bad-looking, and he had the face of an upright gentleman.

"This is far too different from the stories, isn't it?"

Qin Hong felt thoroughly bewildered. The Shen Gongbao before him radiated righteousness. Aside from his somewhat hoarse voice, he was practically the archetypal righteous protagonist!

But thinking about it, that made sense. If he had looked crooked and ugly, like an obvious villain at first glance, how could he have persuaded so many Interception Sect disciples? After all, no one was stupid!

Moving his gaze away from Shen Gongbao, Qin Hong looked at the child beside him, who was staring at him with wide eyes and a timid expression.

Hmm?

This was Jiang Ziya?

He was far too different from the image of a white-bearded old man!

Rumor had it that Jiang Ziya cultivated at the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain and only descended the mountain at eighty, so naturally he should have looked like an old man.

Looking at the tender, youthful Jiang Ziya before him, Qin Hong was completely dumbfounded.

Fine, Shen Gongbao was already different from how he had imagined him, but Jiang Ziya was even more so.

One was full of righteous aura and conducted himself with perfect propriety, while the other was still a child.

"Um..."

After a brief moment of shock, Qin Hong bowed.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers!"

"I am Qin Hong, Tongtian's son. Greetings, Senior Brothers!"

"Jin'ao Island was boring, so I came to play with my Senior Brothers. I hope you will not blame me!"

His words were neither overbearing nor servile, neither elevating nor diminishing himself, and his etiquette was impeccable.

"Hmm?"

"You are Qin Hong, Martial Uncle Tongtian's son?"

Upon hearing Qin Hong's introduction, Shen Gongbao's previously composed expression visibly gave way to surprise once more.

Sect Master Tongtian's son—he was practically the little ancestor of the entire prehistoric world!

He had damaged the Investiture of the Gods Scroll in Zixiao Palace and emerged completely unharmed. In the days after it happened, Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning had vented quite a bit of his anger on Shen Gongbao. All of it was thanks to the little fellow before him.

"Mm-hmm, that's me. Senior Brother, aren't you happy to see me? I'm very happy too!"

Qin Hong said with a smile, his eyes sparkling.

After saying that, Qin Hong looked at Linghe beside him.

"Little Linghe, I'll play with my two Senior Brothers for a while. I'll come play with you another day!"

"Remember, we're good friends!"

Now that Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya, the two male leads of the Investiture of the Gods, had arrived, Linghe was no longer useful. Besides, with Linghe here, there were some things Qin Hong could not do and some words he could not say.

However, Qin Hong's words took on the exact opposite meaning in Linghe's ears.

Little Martial Uncle truly considered me, Linghe, a friend. He wanted to play with Martial Uncle Shen and Martial Uncle Jiang, and as their junior, I would surely feel awkward staying here. Although Little Martial Uncle did not mind me, etiquette could not be neglected. Little Martial Uncle must have been worried that I would feel uncomfortable.

Thinking this, Linghe smiled happily.

"Mm, Little Martial Uncle, you have fun. I'll go back and help watch over Master for you!"

With that, Linghe spread his wings and flew away.

Naturally, Qin Hong had no idea what Linghe was thinking as he watched him leave.

Seeing Linghe depart just like that, Shen Gongbao stepped forward.

"Junior Brother, may I ask why you sought us out?"

The wariness in Shen Gongbao's tone was impossible to miss.

After all, given the identities of the two of them, and Shen Gongbao's own intelligence—

The Investiture of the Gods Calamity was imminent, and the relationship between the Interception Sect and the Sect of Enlightenment was already poor.

Moreover, Qin Hong was Saint Tongtian's son and the Young Sect Master of the Interception Sect. Their statuses and positions were far too different.

Now Qin Hong had traveled all the way from Jin'ao Island to Kunlun Mountain to see them. He must have had some business; only a child like Linghe, who spent every day following Heavenly Venerate around and had never experienced the world, would believe he had come just to play!

Unlike Shen Gongbao's vigilance, Jiang Ziya merely looked at Qin Hong with a happy expression on his little face.

It could not be helped. Jiang Ziya was of the Human Race, and at this point, both in mind and body, he was truly just a child.

At Jiang Ziya's age, children were curious about everything and loved to play the most.

Though he was rather sensible as a Saint's disciple and far more mature than children his age, he was still a little child at heart. Seeing Qin Hong, another child, naturally increased his fondness for him.

Looking at Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya, Qin Hong suddenly swept out his hand. A powerful force instantly surged forth, and he had already set up an array that enveloped Jiang Ziya.

He could neither see nor hear what was happening outside.

Seeing Qin Hong act without warning, Shen Gongbao's face filled with surprise.

He was not even trying to hide it anymore? He had simply acted directly?

"Junior Brother Qin Hong, what are you doing?"

Recovering his senses, Shen Gongbao shouted.

"Nothing," Qin Hong said calmly.

"Senior Brother Shen needn't worry. I bear neither of you any ill will. On the contrary, I am here to save you!"

"There are some things I need to tell you, but they are not suitable for Senior Brother Jiang to hear."

Hmm?

Save us?

Hearing Qin Hong's words, Shen Gongbao's eyes flashed with deep wariness and disbelief.

"What does Junior Brother mean by that?"

Seeing that Shen Gongbao did not attack at once but instead calmed himself down, Qin Hong had to admit that his composure was remarkable.

Qin Hong smiled.

"Senior Brother, there is no need to be so wary. Let Junior Brother ask you a question first."

"Why do you think my Second Uncle accepted you as his disciple?"

"Was it because your origins were good?"

"Was it because you were thick-skinned?"

"Did you meet my Second Uncle's standards?"

"How many people in Jade Void Palace truly regarded you as a second-generation disciple of the Sect of Enlightenment?"

"Compared with the Twelve Golden Immortals, you are diligent enough, respectful enough toward your master, and outstanding in both strength and temperament."

"Have you ever wondered why you were not among them when my Second Uncle named the Twelve Golden Immortals?"

Hearing Qin Hong's words, Shen Gongbao's face twitched involuntarily as sorrow and bitterness welled up in his heart.

Indeed, just as Qin Hong had said.

After joining the Jade Void Palace, he rose earlier than chickens and slept later than dogs every day.

He cultivated with unmatched diligence and did not dare slack off in the slightest.

Yet despite all his hard work, Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning had never truly regarded him with any importance.

Though he too was a second-generation disciple, the treatment he received was blatantly biased.

For cultivation pills, magical treasures, and every kind of resource, he was always placed last.

Was his talent truly inferior to True Man Taiyi and the others?

Just imagine it: if Heavenly Venerate had not favored others, if he had been treated equally and given the same treasures and resources, he would definitely have cultivated faster than the Twelve Golden Immortals!

But there were no hypotheticals in this world.

Resentment had always festered in his heart.

Why, exactly, was all of this happening?

Was it because I was a leopard who had cultivated into a spirit, one of the furred and horned kind, that I was treated differently?

If so, why had he accepted me as a disciple in the first place?

Why give me hope with his own hands, only to slowly close the door on that hope step by step?