What Are You Suspecting?

"It does have some credibility." Ming Chen's expression turned solemn.

"Hui'er has never seen the Life Tree Martial Soul, nor has he heard of the academy's Golden Ancient Tree, yet his description is remarkably similar—especially the part about it giving off a faint golden glow."

As a former student of Shrek Academy's Inner Court, he had seen the Golden Ancient Tree up close.

Its golden radiance was an outward manifestation of immense Life Force.

"Could Hui'er be the Reincarnation of some Deity from the God Realm?" Qingyi finally voiced the suspicion in her heart, though she found it somewhat awkward.

And frightening.

The former was because the notion of a Deity's Reincarnation made her feel as though she had served as a surrogate mother. The latter was because she feared that once this unknown god fully recovered his memories in the future, he would grow distant from her—or even refuse to acknowledge her as his mother.

After all, he was a lofty god!

Minghui shared her discomfort and concern, but in consideration of his wife's feelings, he said gently, "No matter what, Hui'er is our flesh and blood now—the child we conceived together, isn't he?"

Hearing this, Qingyi's thoughts settled somewhat. She pursed her lips, a smile appearing on her face as she nodded with some relief. "Chen, you're right! No matter who Hui'er was before, that's all in the past. The current him is the flesh and blood I carried for ten months and gave birth to."

"Our blood flows through him. He is our son."

Having said that, she straightened her chest slightly and solemnly changed the subject.

"Chen, I've thought it over. We should send Hui'er to the Body Sect first. Only the Body Sect can provide the best training for Hui'er's Body Martial Soul, lay the strongest foundation for his future cultivation of the Radiant Plume Divine Bow, and minimize the threat of martial soul backlash."

"As for Shrek Academy, it should be fine to put that off for a while."

Having spent many years together, Ming Chen caught a different implication in his wife's words and probed, "Ayi, what do you mean?"

A trace of concern rose on Qingyi's face. "Chen, you've seen the situation in the Sun Moon Empire over these past years."

"Although the country has placed increasing importance on martial soul cultivation, its research into Soul Tool technology has never stopped. The Imperial Royal Family still attaches great importance to it as well, and the funding allocated to Mingde Hall every year has never been lacking. That is what has created Mingde Hall's current influence."

"But the continued consumption of resources for Soul Tool development has severely depleted the Sun Moon Empire's domestic resources. Combined with the annexation of land by nobles and powerful clans, many commoners have already been left with no land to farm. Domestic conflicts have grown increasingly severe in recent years."

"Last year's Uprising Incident was the best proof of that."

"To salvage the current situation, they either have to ruthlessly go after the current vested interests—the old noble forces within the country—and rob the rich to aid the poor. Or they have to shift the conflict outward and launch a war, advancing east to seize the fertile lands of the former Three Great Empires."

"In my view, there is no other choice."

"And judging by Mingde Hall's momentum in recent years, the Sun Moon Empire's Imperial Royal Family has likely chosen the second option."

Massive funds were allocated every year, yet very few finished Soul Tools entered the market. That alone was enough to reveal the problem.

"I have a feeling that the Sun Moon Empire is currently stockpiling strength and actively preparing for war. Sooner or later, it will make a move against the Three Great Empires."

The main reason the Qing family had chosen to relocate beneath this Snow Mountain was that the family head of that time had discovered a Rare Metal Vein beneath this land, one that could be used to manufacture Soul Tools. To avoid attracting covetous eyes, they had kept it hidden and sent outstanding clan members to Shrek Academy every year, merely to use Shrek Academy's influence as insurance and later establish cooperation with the academy.

She had been one of them, having entered the Inner Court.

It was also because of that vein that her family had begun engaging with Soul Tool technology early on.

On the surface, they were fur purchasers and suppliers around the Far North Perimeter. In secret, they dealt in Soul Tools.

The Far North lay north of the Heaven Dou Empire, and its internal environment was exceedingly harsh. Rare things were precious, and garments made from furs produced in the Far North were naturally beloved by noblewomen and dignitaries from every nation.

And the higher one's status, the more valuable the information one possessed.

Using furs and fur-related goods as a foot in the door, after years of accumulation, the Qing family's overt and covert businesses had long spread across the continent, naturally including the Sun Moon Empire.

Because of this, they could obtain certain internal information in a timely manner.

And secretly acquire some of the latest Soul Tool technology.

Shrek Academy had been able to establish its Soul Tool Department and master quite a bit of Soul Tool technology in the first place because of her family's covert support.

"Unfortunately, we still failed to catch up to Mingde Hall's deep foundation." Thinking of this, she could not help but sigh.

Of course, even now, Shrek Academy still did not know that the Qing family controlled a metal vein. They only knew that the Qing family appeared to trade in furs, while secretly maintaining contact with the Underground Chamber of Commerce in the Sun Moon Empire, allowing them to purchase Soul Tools and Precious Metal.

Times changed, and people changed with them. Human hearts were the hardest to fathom; one had to stay vigilant!

"When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. Chen, we are ultimately citizens of the former Three Great Empires." Qingyi sighed, then her expression turned solemn.

"As clan head, I absolutely cannot place the family's future or the lives of our clansmen in the hands of outsiders."

"To guard against every possibility, I must prepare before the rain comes."

"Hui'er's appearance may be an opportunity—an opportunity for the Body Sect and Shrek Academy to temporarily set aside their past grievances and resist the Sun Moon Empire together." If they truly could not win, the family could still take the children and retreat westward into the sea. That was another reason their ancestors had settled here.

It was close enough to the Great Sea.

"This truly is an opportunity." Ming Chen nodded.

"The Old Dean understands the greater good. He has spent his entire life thinking of the academy, so he will likely approve of your idea."

"Besides, we can only discuss this with the Old Dean," he added.

If they went to Yan Shaozhe, Xuan Zi, or the others of the older generation, they would likely fly into a rage on the spot and denounce them as traitors to the academy.

They had merely been academy students, and had already graduated at that.

Those people looked down on Soul Tools. There was no reasoning with them; he had seen it firsthand when he was still a student decades ago.

"I think so too." Qingyi nodded.

"Then I'll set off at once and speak to Du Busi personally." Minghui made the decision without hesitation.

Although the Body Sect was also a reclusive sect, it had caused quite a stir outside because it fiercely protected its own. The Qing family had therefore managed to determine the location of the Body Sect's headquarters.

"As for Hui'er enrolling at Shrek Academy afterward, in my opinion, it would be best to bring it up only when Hui'er's Soul Power is close to Rank 30."

Qingyi immediately understood and nodded. "All right."

"Tomorrow, I'll take Hui'er outside to wait near the sect. By the time you return, Hui'er's body should be more or less nursed back to health, and he'll be able to go out and obtain a Soul Ring."

For safety's sake, and to leave the family a way out, the Qing Family Territory never received outside guests.

"Good." Ming Chen rose and strode out of the room.

Half an hour later, Minghui woke from the bed and got up to leave the room.

Soon afterward, Aunt Hong arrived, and before the mother and son, she completed a lifelike portrait.

"Clan Head, who is this woman?"

Aunt Hong was deeply puzzled.

She had watched Minghui grow up. If even she had never seen this woman, then Minghui definitely could not have seen her either. Could it be that his heart had begun stirring at such a young age, and he had imagined her?

But Little Hui was only six this year! Wasn't that a little early? Her gaze could not help but drift toward Minghui.

He was so young, and his illness had not even fully healed. Could he manage?

What are you suspecting? Minghui sensed the strange look in his elder's eyes and felt somewhat indignant.