Chapter 137: The Teacher’s Son

"No way!"

Hu Liena covered her mouth in shock, unable to believe it. "Did the Grand Worship really say that?"

After listening to Snake Spear Douluo's account, Hu Liena was too stunned to speak.

Snake Spear Douluo nodded solemnly and said in a low voice, "I'm taking a huge risk by telling you this. You must not spread it around. If the Grand Worship finds out, Ci Xue and I will be in serious trouble."

Hu Liena looked skeptical but quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, Elder She, I won't tell anyone."

"Why did Teacher send me to Heaven Dou City personally? If Ye Hao is truly her biological son, why would she ask me to come and see what he looks like? Unless... Teacher never told Ye Hao the truth. In other words, Ye Hao might not know that Teacher is actually his mother." Hu Liena speculated in her mind.

Then, she shook her head vigorously, dismissing the thought. "That doesn't make sense either. Teacher has clearly stated before that she has no son. Then where did this Ye Hao come from? There's no way two people in the world could look exactly alike unless..."

Suddenly, Hu Liena looked up at Snake Spear Douluo and asked, "Elder She, is Ye Hao's martial soul the Death Spider Emperor?"

Snake Spear Douluo slowly shook his head and sighed, "Saintess, you're mistaken."

"I'm wrong?" Hu Liena was taken aback. "So Ye Hao's martial soul isn't the Death Spider Emperor? Or could it be..."

Snake Spear Douluo smiled faintly, "Under normal circumstances, a person's martial soul is inherited from the stronger parent. And Ye Hao's martial soul originates from His Holiness, the Pope."

Hearing this, Hu Liena could no longer suppress her shock.

"Elder She, are you saying that Ye Hao has twin martial souls?"

Snake Spear Douluo confirmed firmly, "You are correct—Death Spider Emperor and Soul Devouring Spider Emperor. I've seen Young Master Ye's twin martial souls with my own eyes, and they are exactly the same as His Holiness the Pope's. Not to mention, he also looks strikingly similar to the Pope. Plus, the words the Grand Worship spoke when Xue Ci and I returned to the Spirit Hall… Do you still think Young Master Ye isn't His Holiness's biological son?"

At this point, Hu Liena was caught in hesitation. After a long moment, she slowly nodded.

On one hand, there was what her teacher had said. On the other hand, there was what the Grand Worship had said.

For a moment, Hu Liena didn't know who to believe.

Making up her mind, she decided to go find Ye Hao and ask him directly. This was a major matter concerning the Spirit Hall.

Hu Liena followed the secret passage into Ye Hao's house once again. Coincidentally, at this moment, Ye Hao was playing cards with a dog and two spiders.

"Ye Hao!"

Hearing her voice, Ye Hao glanced at Hu Liena and casually tossed the cards in his hand aside.

"Pair of Aces! Do you want to play?"

Xiao Hong looked at its cards and said slowly, "No play."

Zhu'er glanced at hers and also said, "Pass."

Hu Liena called again, "Ye Hao, are you even listening to me?"

Ye Hao said indifferently, "Am I not sitting right here? Miss Hu Liena, why haven't you returned yet? Shouldn't you be reporting this to His Holiness the Pope?"

"I've been out for so long already, it won't make a difference." Hu Liena looked at Ye Hao meaningfully.

"Just in time. I actually have a question for you, Miss Hu Liena." Ye Hao said, playing a five-card straight.

As soon as the cards landed, Xiao Hong's dog eyes widened, and it immediately threw down a bomb card!

"Ask away."

Hu Liena said, "But after I answer, you must answer one of my questions as well."

"As you wish." Ye Hao agreed, then asked, "I'd like to know how Miss Hu Liena found out where I live. Ever since I changed my name to Ye Ritian, I have been extremely cautious, never revealing a single secret. I believe I've hidden myself well, so how did the Spirit Hall find me? And don't say they told you—because I won't believe that."

Hu Liena was briefly stunned before chuckling bitterly. "I thought it was something serious, but it turns out to be this. Fine, I'll tell you."

"The reason I know where you live is because those two girls from this morning told me."

Ye Hao frowned slightly, his expression shifting.

"You mean Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing? They actually told you?"

Hu Liena smiled mysteriously. "You could say that, or you could say they didn't."

"Back in the Spirit Hall..."

She recounted what had happened that day.

After hearing the full story, Ye Hao finally understood and sighed inwardly. "Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing are still too naive. They had no idea they were being followed and even thought the tavern's walls had no ears. Little did they know, Hu Liena had overheard everything."

Following the trail, Hu Liena had simply followed Ning Rongrong to find him.

After learning the whole truth, Ye Hao gave Hu Liena a thumbs-up. "As expected of Bibi Dong's disciple—intelligent and resourceful."

Ye Hao smirked inwardly. "So it wasn't me who got exposed, but those two clueless pig teammates who sold me out. I really need to be more careful about making friends!"

Fortunately, there was no real danger this time.

Hu Liena smiled and said, "Now that I've answered your question, it's time for you to answer mine."

Ye Hao picked up his teacup and said indifferently, "Ask away."

Hu Liena bit her lip. She hadn't wanted to say it outright, but in order to complete her teacher's mission, she had no choice.

Finally, she asked, "Ye Hao, is my teacher—also known as the Pope—your mother?"

As soon as she spoke, the three spectators, led by Xiao Hong, suddenly lit up with interest.

But before the dog and two spiders could react, Ye Hao shot out a jet of water, drenching their faces instantly.

In that moment, the room fell into an eerie silence.

Ye Hao stared blankly at Hu Liena, completely stunned.

For a long moment, he didn't know what to say.

Everything… had happened too suddenly.

Seeing Ye Hao remain silent, Hu Liena frowned and pressed further, "Why aren't you saying anything? Answer my question!"

Ye Hao stood frozen in place, unsure of how to respond.

Hu Liena gave him a skeptical look and continued, "I'll give you five seconds. If you don't answer, I'll take it as confirmation."

"Five, four, three, two…"

Seeing that Ye Hao still didn't speak, Hu Liena sighed in exasperation, shook her head, and strode away without looking back.

At that moment, Ye Hao suddenly snapped out of his daze and blurted out, "Hu Liena, who told you—"

"…Where did she go?"

Ye Hao stood up and looked around, realizing that Hu Liena had already disappeared.

Xiao Hong rolled its eyes, wiped off the last traces of water from its face, and said, "That girl is long gone. She's probably already on her way back to the Spirit Hall."

"What?!" Ye Hao was utterly shocked.

This is bad.

How did Hu Liena find out that he was Bibi Dong's son?

Although Ye Hao had hinted at it to some people before—and even occasionally used this identity to protect himself—he had never directly confirmed it.

So, how did Hu Liena find out?

Ye Hao rushed out of his house, scanning his surroundings, but Hu Liena was nowhere to be found.

Too late.

It's over.

If Hu Liena reported this to Bibi Dong, given the Pope's temperament, once the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament began, and he had to meet her… wouldn't that mean—

Just now, Hu Liena had…

It must have been him!

Ye Hao immediately took the secret passage from his study to Qian Renxue's residence. Coincidentally, she had just returned from morning court.

Seeing her younger brother arrive, she was just about to greet him when—

Ye Hao stormed past her, heading straight for Snake Spear Douluo, and demanded, "Elder She, did you just tell Hu Liena something important? Something like…"

"Hu Liena?" Qian Renxue frowned, looking toward Snake Spear Douluo. "Uncle She, when did Hu Liena come? What was she here for?"

Faced with questioning from both young masters, Snake Spear Douluo was stunned.

What's going on today?

After a brief silence, Snake Spear Douluo finally spoke.

"…"

Ye Hao was speechless. "That's all you told her?"

Snake Spear Douluo nodded. "That's it."

At that moment, Ye Hao completely lost hope. He collapsed onto the sofa, his eyes lifeless.

This is it. How the hell am I supposed to explain this when I get to the Spirit Hall?!

Thanks to Snake Spear Douluo's words, even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he wouldn't be able to wash this off.

Now, he was officially labeled as 'Bibi Dong's biological son.'

Going up the mountain was easy—coming down, not so much.

But the worst part wasn't even that.

The real nightmare was—

The Grand Worship of the Spirit Hall believed it too!

Ye Hao had never seen this coming.

And who was the Grand Worship?

Qian Daoliu!

Qian Renxue's grandfather. The true mastermind behind the Spirit Hall.

Now, Ye Hao finally understood why Snake Spear Douluo had looked so uneasy when he returned from the Spirit Hall.

Good lord.

Snake Spear Douluo had told Qian Daoliu everything.

Then, add in some misunderstandings and assumptions, and just like that…

The label of 'Bibi Dong's biological son' was completely cemented.

Ye Hao looked absolutely defeated.

He had been backstabbed countless times, yet only now did he realize the full extent of it.

For the past few days, Qian Renxue had been acting strangely.

Ye Hao had tried to get closer to her, but she kept pushing him away.

She even told him, "I'm your sister. We can't."

Now, Ye Hao finally understood the truth.

"Sigh—"

Ye Hao let out a long sigh, feeling utterly miserable.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue gestured for Snake Spear Douluo to leave.

Then, she sat beside Ye Hao and, like a caring older sister, began to comfort him.