Chapter 117: What an Astonishing Twist!

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“Really?” The middle-aged woman had asked only in passing. She had never expected Liu Ping actually to be her child. Shocked and overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, she studied his face carefully.

The almost feverish look in her eyes made Liu Ping uneasy. He asked again, “Why do you know my mother?”

Only then did the woman realize that she had been rude. She gave a slight shake of her head and said, “It is simple. Your mother is my younger sister. That makes you my nephew.”

The revelation left Liu Ping utterly stunned. It was so bizarre that he could hardly believe it. “Why have I never heard my mother mention you?”

The middle-aged woman shook her head again. “My given name is Qin Han. You are indeed my nephew, and your mother is indeed my younger sister. In those years, because our family had no sons, communication between the sisters gradually became difficult. We slowly lost touch and rarely visited one another. I never imagined that my nephew would grow so large, and that I would not recognize him at all.”

Many questions churned in Liu Ping’s mind. He asked, “Then Ying Ning is your daughter?”

Qin Han nodded. “She is indeed my daughter. Come inside and sit for a while.”

She led Liu Ping to a guest room. He sat down and glanced around. The place did not look poor at all. He could not help pondering in secret. Ying Ning did not seem to be human. If so, Qin Han was probably not human either. But why did she claim to be his mother’s younger sister?

Wait. If that was true, could his mother also be something other than human?

If his mother was not human, then he himself was not a pure-blooded human either…

What kind of joke was this?

That was absolutely impossible. Yet if it was impossible, how was he to explain the situation before him? Was this woman lying? But anyone who lied must have some ulterior motive. What could she possibly want?

Liu Ping shook his head and cast aside his wild speculations. Before long, Qin Han and Ying Ning entered the room.

Qin Han said, “This is your cousin. Hurry and greet him.”

Ying Ning was clearly startled. She stuck out her tongue, then smiled and said, “Hello, Cousin.”

“Mm. Hello, Cousin.” Liu Ping nodded with an impassive expression, but inside, his thoughts were surging wildly. The situation felt extraordinarily strange. What kind of development was this? It was practically a divine reversal! They had been flirting back and forth, and there might even have been a chance for them to become fond of each other. Yet suddenly she had become his younger cousin. How abrupt could things get?

And this younger cousin did not seem like an ordinary person. She could use magic and had caused that wealthy young disciple to suffer a crushing defeat.

Qin Han said, “Ying Ning, stay here and have a good conversation with your cousin. I am going to prepare dinner.”

With that, she rose and left, leaving Ying Ning and Liu Ping staring awkwardly at each other.

Ying Ning smiled. “I never imagined that Young Master Liu would be my cousin. We must share a truly remarkable bond.”

Many of Liu Ping’s doubts remained unresolved. Frowning slightly, he asked bluntly, “Are you really human?”

The question was exceedingly strange. Whether it was Qin Han or Ying Ning, Liu Ping could not tell whether they were human or fox.

If they were not human, they must have reached the Demon General realm. Within the same realm, foxes who knew how to live among humans possessed a special method of disguise. Even Liu Ping could not see through it. Thus, he could not be certain. Though the question was somewhat abrupt, he had asked it nonetheless.

It was terribly impolite. The smile on Ying Ning’s face immediately froze, and her brows rose sharply.

“You’re the one who isn’t human!” she snapped.

Her answer only deepened Liu Ping’s confusion. He asked again, “I apologize for my abruptness. I only ask because I have too many doubts…”

Ying Ning ignored him. She seemed genuinely angry, puffing out her cheeks as she picked up a book beside her and lowered her head to read.

Under ordinary circumstances, a beautiful young woman sitting beside him with her head bowed over a book would have been a delightful sight. But Liu Ping had no heart to appreciate it now. He could not help regretting his question. It really had been too blunt. He should have drawn the information out of her gradually.

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“Ying Ning?” Liu Ping called from the side.

She paid him no attention at all. Speechless, he shifted his gaze to the book in her hands and was suddenly delighted.

Wasn’t this his own Investiture of the Gods: Three Kingdoms?

He did not allow his joy to show. Instead, he asked calmly, “Is the book any good?”

Although she did not wish to answer, Ying Ning nodded instinctively.

Liu Ping asked, “Actually, I am the one who wrote it.”

Ying Ning replied expressionlessly, “Oh,” then turned a page and continued reading with perfect composure.

Seeing her indifferent reaction, Liu Ping’s pride suffered a blow. Could his bestselling novel really be that bad? No, if it were, she would not be reading it. But why was she ignoring the author standing right in front of her? Could it be that the book was merely passable?

Before long, a maid arrived and brought them two cups of tea.

Liu Ping was slightly surprised. This farmhouse actually had a maid? The place was truly unfathomable.

He lifted his cup and took a small sip. The tea was dreadful—bitter and harsh, with no aftertaste whatsoever. Yet there was something novel about drinking such aggressively inferior tea. It was honestly the first time he had ever tasted anything so lacking in refinement.

Novelty aside, it was still terrible. After drinking a third of the cup, he truly could not force down another drop. Just as he was about to set it aside, Ying Ning suddenly raised her head and stared at him in astonishment.

“What did you say?”

Liu Ping jumped. His hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the teacup onto the floor. He looked up blankly at her lovely face and asked in confusion, “What did you say? I haven’t said anything.”

“I mean what you said just now. You said that you were…”

Liu Ping replied expressionlessly, “What I said just now… Oh. I said that I am the author of this book.”

Ying Ning stared at him in shock. “You are Dragon Proud of Heaven, the author of Investiture of the Gods: Three Kingdoms?!”

“…”

Seeing her astonished expression, Liu Ping nodded gravely.

At that moment, he felt a little exasperated. Her reaction time was absurdly long! How could such a sly young woman also possess the additional trait of being adorably slow on the uptake?

Still, despite his exasperation, he looked at the little stars shining in Ying Ning’s eyes and once again recovered the bearing of a great author.

He spread his arms wide, ready to welcome this passionate female fan into his embrace and enjoy a little harmless intimacy to soothe his wounded heart.

Unfortunately, Ying Ning did not throw herself into his arms. Instead, she asked disdainfully, “When will the third volume be released? You have delayed it for so long—are you sure that is all right? And why are you holding your arms out like that? Did you think that because I like your novel, I would leap into your arms and let you do whatever you pleased?”

Liu Ping awkwardly lowered his arms. “Wasn’t that what you meant?”

“Of course not. You still haven’t answered my question.”

“What question?”

“The third volume! The third volume! Do I have to say it a hundred times?”

“All right, all right. I will finish it as soon as possible.” Liu Ping curled his lips, thinking, Why is she demanding the manuscript as though she has every right in the world?

“That is more like it.” Ying Ning closed the book and asked, “You may ask me whatever you wish, but you are not allowed to ask another question as rude as the one just now.”

Liu Ping asked, “Since you are my cousin, why were you playing with Bai Zhi back then? You must have known that Bai Zhi was a fox, right?”

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Ying Ning answered as though it were obvious, “Of course I knew. Bai Zhi and I trained under Third Grandmother Hu. We are fellow disciples.”

Humans could cultivate alongside foxes too?

Liu Ping’s doubts diminished somewhat. He asked, “In that case, do you know where Bai Zhi went? I went to see her just now, but she was not there.”

“I do not know what she went to do either. I heard that Third Grandmother Hu summoned her. It must be something important.”

“Is that so…” Liu Ping nodded, half convinced and half doubtful.

As they continued talking and spending time together, he learned one more thing: Ying Ning really did seem to be human.

He stayed there for a meal, but the food was truly awful, as if he were chewing wax. He ate a little out of courtesy, then took his leave.

He boarded the carriage, woke the dozing coachman, and continued toward Qinshui County.

In truth, Liu Ping still had quite a few doubts. He simply did not dwell on them. They no longer seemed to have much to do with him.

After a long journey, he finally reached home on the evening before the Dragon Boat Festival.

The sight of the brand-new residence lifted his weary spirits considerably. The gatekeeper recognized Liu Ping and hurried to open the doors.

He quickly entered. At that moment, his parents and younger sister were having dinner at the dining table.

The meal was abundant and refined, consisting of six dishes and a soup. His parents and sister had heard the maid announce that the young master had returned. They had immediately put down their chopsticks and come out, meeting Liu Ping just as he approached.

“Our son is back,” his parents said in unison, quickly ushering him inside.

“Big Brother!” Liu Yue called with a smile.

“Father, Mother.” Seeing his parents’ faces warmed Liu Ping’s heart. Then he looked at his younger sister and brightened even more. “Little August Moon.”

His sister had been born in the eighth month, so her childhood nickname was Little August Moon. Hearing her brother use it now, she wrinkled her nose in displeasure, though she was secretly overjoyed. At last, she had seen her brother again.

They resumed their meal, setting aside the family rule that one should not speak while eating. After exchanging affectionate greetings and asking about his journey, they also expressed concern over whether Investiture of the Gods: Three Kingdoms had affected his studies.

Liu Ping answered each question in turn. After they had finished dinner, he suddenly remembered something and asked, “Mother, do you have an elder sister?”

His mother froze, then nodded. “Yes. How did you know?”

Hearing her answer, Liu Ping thought, So Ying Ning and Qin Han really are human?

He was just about to say something when he saw the remembrance in his mother’s eyes.

“I have never mentioned her to you. How did you learn of her? I did indeed have an elder sister…” She sighed. “Unfortunately, she passed away more than ten years ago.”

“What?!”

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