Chapter 297: Blood Relatives (Part 2)

"Are you... really... my grandfather?"

Even with all the evidence laid out before him, the merged drops of blood serving as irrefutable proof, he still questioned it. It wasn't that he didn't believe it, but the impact of this astonishing truth made it difficult for his bewildered mind to accept.

"Child... my child..." Yun Canghai's face was streaked with old tears. "I never imagined I would have a grandson nineteen years ago... You carry the Yun family blood, yet you've endured so much suffering... Separated from your parents at birth, never having met them to this day. As your grandfather, I never showed you an ounce of care, and on the first day we met, I nearly killed you with my own hands... I truly am the most incompetent, most wretched grandfather in this world... Heaven has been merciful to let us, grandfather and grandson, reunite in our lifetimes. For a hundred years, I cursed the heavens, but now... I have never been as grateful to the heavens as I am today..."

"Are you... really my grandfather?" Yun Che mumbled, still in a daze.

"I know I'm not worthy of being your grandfather. I didn't give you any care, yet I brought you into this place of disaster. It's only right if you hate me, if you resent me..." Yun Canghai, the formidable Demon King who had once struck fear across the Illusory Demon Realm and the Four Sacred Grounds, now spoke with a tear for every word. Perhaps the tears he had shed over the past few centuries combined did not amount to as much as he shed today.

Yun Che slowly rose, looking at the tattered, disheveled, white-haired old man with a gaunt face drenched in tears. A profound ache instantly swelled in his chest... A relative! Before him was his kin, his grandfather, his closest blood relation... his first true relative in two lifetimes!

"Gra... grandfather..."

The two words he had spoken countless times in this life, once so familiar, now came out awkwardly... with difficulty... yet uncontrollably... because in Yun Canghai's eyes, he saw the same profound, blood-deep affection that his grandfather Xiao Lie had, a love that would give his entire world to him.

Yun Canghai's entire body stiffened, feeling as if he had suddenly entered a realm of clouds and mist... He had spent sixteen months with Yun Che, enough to gain a basic understanding of him. Yun Che's talent was astonishing, his potential immeasurable, and his perseverance left even him deeply shocked. Given his proud nature, occasionally arrogant, and with a dignity that would never tolerate being slighted, Yun Canghai never dared to hope that Yun Che would call him "grandfather." All he felt towards Yun Che was debt and guilt. But he never expected that this familial address would be uttered by Yun Che, at such a close distance.

The happiness and fulfillment in that moment made him feel that even if he were to die immediately, he would gladly accept it.

"You're willing to acknowledge me... You don't... blame me?" Yun Canghai stammered.

Yun Che slowly, very slowly, shook his head. "You are my grandfather. Without you, how would I exist in this world? You are my grandfather, so how could I possibly blame you? Finally... I finally found my family... Grandfather, you've suffered these past years..."

As his voice faded, Yun Che stepped forward and tightly embraced Yun Canghai, his first found kin... There was no upbringing between them, and there had even been resentment and hostility, but none of that mattered anymore. He wouldn't coldly or proudly reject this sudden family bond, nor would he resent his grandfather for not fulfilling a day's responsibility. They were family; the same blood flowed in their veins, and that was enough.

He had been heartbroken when he separated from Xiao Lie and his aunt. His two lives had made him fully understand that family is something worth guarding and cherishing with everything, for an entire lifetime.

"Good child... my good child!" Tightly embracing the grandson heaven had sent him, Yun Canghai's emotional dam finally broke completely, and he sobbed uncontrollably, losing all semblance of composure.

"Your father's name is Yun Qinghong. Although I am several centuries old, he is my only son. His talent was quite good; like me, he awakened the Azure Profound Aura. Your mother's name is Mu Yurou, the daughter of the Mu family head, who is also one of the twelve Guardian Families of the Demon Emperor. Although all twelve Guardian Families exist to protect the Demon Emperor clan, there are still divisions among them. Our Yun family and the Mu family have always had the best relationship. Your father and mother were childhood sweethearts, growing up together. A hundred years ago, when I left the Illusory Demon Realm alone, they had just been married."

"Ah, for the past century, they must have worried greatly about me. The reason they came to the Profound Sky Continent, risking such great danger, might have been because they heard somewhere that I was still alive... I just never expected that during their time searching for me in the Profound Sky Continent, they would have you... It truly is fate playing tricks. I'm afraid even they themselves never anticipated it."

Grandfather and grandson stood facing each other. Once they had calmed down, they began to recount their respective experiences.

"I just don't know how they are now. The person named Ling Kun said that although they escaped the Profound Sky Continent, the long period of pursuit and severe injuries left their life-force nearly extinguished... Alas!" Yun Canghai sighed deeply, his face filled with worry and melancholy... and deeply hidden hatred.

Yun Che remained silent.

Even now, he still hadn't fully processed his true lineage.

He wasn't from the Profound Sky Continent.

His homeland was actually in another world—a world dominated by demons.

Even with his strong mind, it was difficult for him to fully accept and reconcile with this truth in a short time.

"Although your father didn't find me, he not only had you in the Profound Sky Continent but also gained a true friend. That's a huge blessing." For protecting his friend's child by sending his own son into an almost certain death situation, Yun Canghai felt deep gratitude towards Yun Che's adoptive parents. "How are your foster father and mother doing now?"

Yun Che shook his head, closing his eyes. "My foster father, Uncle Xiao, was later questioned about my parents' whereabouts by a mysterious person and then died by that person's poisonous hand. My foster mother committed suicide shortly after... Grandmother also fell ill from grieving for her son after giving birth to my aunt, and she passed away in sorrow. I never even got to see what they looked like... It was Grandfather who raised and protected me, treating me better than his own grandson, and because of me, he silently endured countless grievances and ridicule..."

Yun Canghai was deeply moved. After a long pause, he said in a deep voice, "Che'er, this great kindness, we must never forget for all eternity! You must honor your Grandfather Xiao as if he were your own grandfather in the future... And this great vengeance must also be repaid!"

Yun Che slowly nodded, silently clenching his hands, remembering the words he had spoken before Xiao Ying's grave three years ago. He silently vowed in his heart, "Uncle Xiao, I finally know who killed you... One day, I will offer their blood before your grave!"

Yun Che lifted the pendant from his neck and asked, "Grandfather, what exactly is this thing?"

"It's called the Samsara Mirror," Yun Canghai said.

The name sent a jolt through Yun Che's heart... It truly was the Samsara Mirror, one of the Seven Profound Heavenly Treasures that Jasmine had spoken of. Then, his incredible experiences in both lifetimes truly were because of it!

If it really was the Samsara Mirror, it could explain most of Yun Che's long-standing doubts. But when Yun Canghai uttered "Samsara Mirror," his expression was quite calm. Yun Che suppressed his emotions and tentatively asked, "So, what does it do?"

"I don't know," Yun Canghai shook his head. "I only know its name. It's a 'supreme treasure' that the Demon Emperor clan obtained in ancient times. According to the Demon Emperor clan's legends, it can change a person's fortune or even destiny. If the Demon Emperor clan were to decline one day, it could enable them to rise again. However, no one knew how to use it, nor did they know its true function. The Demon Emperor clan entrusted it to our Yun family to guard. In the years I guarded it, I never saw it exhibit any power... But for some unknown reason, this supreme treasure became known to the Four Sacred Grounds of the Profound Sky Continent. They called it a 'Profound Heavenly Treasure' and tried to seize it. The enmity between the Illusory Demon Realm and the Four Sacred Grounds all started because of it."

Yun Che held the Samsara Mirror, lost in thought. He had no idea how to use the Samsara Mirror either. Yet, in his two lives, it had autonomously displayed heaven-defying abilities, pulling him back from death twice, altering his destiny.

In the Profound Sky Continent, after he was poisoned to death by Xiao Yulong... the Samsara Mirror he wore released its power for the first time, allowing him to be reborn in the Azure Cloud Continent, but without memories.

In the Azure Cloud Continent, he fell to his death from a cliff... the Samsara Mirror released its power for the second time, bringing him back to the Profound Sky Continent, resurrecting in the body that should have died. This time, he carried all his memories. Although this life in the Profound Sky Continent was interspersed with death, there was no break in continuity; that lifetime in the Azure Cloud Continent was like a sudden dream imprinted in his memory.

According to Yun Canghai's description, the Demon Emperor clan seemed to have never activated its power after obtaining the Samsara Mirror.

So, when does it take effect? Is it death?

Or perhaps, only on specific individuals?

"Before I came to the Profound Sky Continent, I entrusted it to your father. I never expected that when he came to find me, he would bring it with him... Perhaps he intended to use it to exchange for my life. He truly underestimated the despicable shamelessness of those so-called 'saints'!"

Yun Canghai looked up, his eyes suddenly turning incredibly sharp and cold. He stared at Yun Che, saying each word with force, "Che'er! As your grandfather, I should advise you to let go of hatred, forget everything, and live a peaceful life... But I cannot do that. Our Yun family is the royal family of the Illusory Demon Realm. Those with the surname Yun may be weak, but never cowards! I want you to remember: who harmed your adoptive parents who saved your life, who harmed your biological parents, making them endure pursuit and flight, their lives unknown, who caused your grandfather to suffer a hundred years of torment, and who caused you to be separated from your parents at birth, unable to meet them until today... These hatreds, you must engrave them firmly in your heart. Unless the Heaven's Might Sword Region is destroyed, never erase them from your mind!"

Yun Che said nothing, slowly nodding.