World-Shattering Information (Part 2)

Lin Ming nodded in understanding, knowing that the old man needed some time to digest this.

After waiting a while longer, Lin Ming continued, extracting himself from the carefully woven story he had constructed. His tone slowed, carrying the calmness of someone recounting past events.

"At that time, that senior... no, His Majesty." Lin Ming corrected his form of address to show respect.

"He looked at Zi Yan with an incomparably complicated expression. There was concern, guilt, and barely concealed excitement in his eyes. He spoke, his voice carrying an imperceptible tremor as he called out, 'Child... my child...'"

"It was that one call that made Zi Yan's entire body shake violently. At that very moment, the sealed memories deep within her soul and the resonance of her bloodline were completely awakened. She instantly understood that the ancient, majestic voice which had suddenly sounded in her mind within those Ancient Ruins, sternly warning her not to reveal the information about the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit and not to return to Ancient Dragon Island immediately, had come from the man before her—her biological father!"

At this point, Lin Ming added another genuine detail to draw himself closer to Zhu Kun, making his story a blend of truth and falsehood.

"Later, after we talked for a while, perhaps because Zi Yan and I were quite close and had supported and cared for each other for many years, His Majesty... was rather easygoing. He said that since I was Zi Yan's most trusted and closest person, and the one who had truly cared for her over the years, I need not be overly bound by formalities. I did not have to be so distant and could simply call him 'Uncle.'"

A suitably "flattered" and "hesitant" look appeared on Lin Ming's face as he