An Unexpected Turn: Villain Becomes Dad

The system’s voice rang out. Yang Chen’s lips curved slightly.

Five hundred points. Not much, but better than nothing.

If only Hao’er had been here for the most exciting part earlier, it would have been an even better show.

Zhao Shirou also noticed the murderous intent in Li Hao’s eyes and worried he might speak out of turn. So she took him to a side hall.

“Hao’er, you must not speak to Yang Chen like that! You’ve just ascended the throne and your position is unstable! If you anger him, the consequences could be disastrous!” Zhao Shirou said helplessly, hoping Hao’er would understand the situation.

But Li Hao asked sternly, “Mother, what exactly is your relationship with that bastard? Why is he in your palace?”

Zhao Shirou’s face stiffened, and she hesitated to speak. She wanted to tell Hao’er the truth about her relationship with Yang Chen but felt it was too difficult a topic to broach. She also feared Hao’er wouldn’t accept it. So, she said: “Hao’er, didn’t I tell you earlier? We have a cooperative relationship! Yang Chen wants Liyang to be under the absolute control of Xuantian Sect, and I demanded your ascension to the throne! We were discussing these matters just now!”

“Really?” Li Hao looked skeptical.

“Of course it’s true! Do you not even trust your mother now?” Zhao Shirou sighed.

“Of course, I trust you, Mother! But Mother, Yang Chen is a despicable person. You must not let your guard down around him! I have a feeling he has ill intentions towards you!”

Hearing this, Zhao Shirou’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes flashed with panic and helplessness but she still said: “Hao’er, don’t worry! Mother is a late Nascent Soul cultivator. Even if I can’t beat him, I can still escape!”

“Alright, mother, but be careful! Give me a hundred years, and I will kill that bastard and avenge us!” Li Hao said fiercely. He was confident. Once Qingxuan saw the Dragon and Phoenix Dual Cultivation Method he provided, she wouldn’t be able to resist. By then, combining this dual cultivation technique with his imperial bloodline, he was sure he could kill Yang Chen within a hundred years.

But Zhao Shirou didn’t take his words seriously, thinking he was just venting his anger. She knew best how powerful Yang Chen was. Hao’er was only at the Foundation Establishment realm. Even if he was highly talented, reaching the Nascent Soul realm within a hundred years would be quite good. By then, Yang Chen might have already advanced to the Soul Transformation realm, becoming a formidable figure. The gap would only widen.

“Alright, Hao’er! Mother understands! By the way, why did you come tonight?” Zhao Shirou asked.

“I just wanted to check if the yin qi on you has improved! It’s good to see you’re alright, mother!” Li Hao said.

“So that’s it!” Zhao Shirou’s face showed a trace of comfort. After all, Hao’er, whom she had raised for decades, still cared about her and came to check on her.

“Mother is fine! The yin qi has been suppressed by Yang—by me! Hao’er, if there’s nothing else, you should go back first! Mother and Yang Chen still have some things to discuss!” Zhao Shirou said gently.

“I …” Li Hao hesitated. He felt something was off with his mother’s eyes and tone today. But since his mother asked him to leave, he had no reason to stay. Besides, he had just ascended to the throne, and there were still many matters in the palace waiting to be dealt with. His mother was a late Nascent Soul cultivator, so Yang Chen shouldn’t be able to harm her.

Thinking this, Li Hao said, “Alright, mother, I’ll go back then! Take care!”

After speaking, Li Hao left the side hall.

“Hao’er, leaving already?” Yang Chen said in a host-like tone. Li Hao clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

“Hmph!” He snorted and left the palace.

Just wait, bastard. One day, I will cut you into a thousand pieces!

“Phew!” Zhao Shirou sighed in relief, but suddenly—

“Ah!” Zhao Shirou gasped as a pair of roguish hands wrapped around her slender waist from behind, gently caressing her. A tingling sensation spread through her body, almost making her lose her balance. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn’t resist. After all, she and Yang Chen were now Dao companions in both name and reality. During the process of removing the yin qi, they had exchanged many intimate words. This embrace was nothing compared to that. Zhao Shirou leaned into Yang Chen’s arms, feeling the strong yang qi emanating from him. Her beautiful face blushed, and her eyes gradually became misty.

“Brother Chen, you won’t be mad at Hao’er for speaking to you like that, will you?” Zhao Shirou asked softly, her tone filled with concern.

Yang Chen replied nonchalantly, “Don’t worry, Rou’er! Hao’er is your son, so he is my son too! As a father, how can I take offense at my own child?”

“You’re so bad!” Zhao Shirou couldn’t help but blush at his proud tone, but she was relieved. If Brother Chen called Hao’er his son, it meant he didn’t mind that she had a son as old as Hao’er!

Through the palace window, the dazzling night sky was visible, with a bright full moon hanging high, exceptionally clear. Moonlight bathed the palace, casting a golden glow on the floor.

“In the past, every full moon night, I was in unbearable pain from the cold! Tonight, for the first time in centuries, I find the full moon quite beautiful! Brother Chen, if I had met you earlier, I wouldn’t have suffered so much!” Zhao Shirou leaned against Yang Chen, looking at the night sky, speaking softly.

“Is that so?” Yang Chen’s lips curved playfully. Holding Zhao Shirou’s shoulder, he walked into the moonlight.

“Brother Chen, what are you doing?” Zhao Shirou’s voice trembled as she felt Yang Chen’s hands moving around.

“What do you think, Rou’er? The full moon is high; shouldn’t we do something meaningful?”

“Hehe!”

At this moment, Li Hao had returned to the Tianyang Hall. Sitting on the throne, he felt uncomfortable, as if something was slipping away from him.

“How strange! Why do I feel like this?” Li Hao was restless, unable to concentrate on the official documents. His mind kept drifting back to the scene he had witnessed just before he lost consciousness—the sight of Yang Chen embracing his mother, Zhao Shirou, without any resistance from her.

“No, I need to go check again! Yang Chen is deceitful and vile. I can’t be at ease with my mother around him!” Li Hao muttered to himself as he stood up and headed towards Zhao Shirou’s palace.

As he approached the palace and was about to enter, he suddenly froze.

Inside the palace, he heard soft sob like moaning sounds.

Li Hao was initially confused, but then his face turned green with rage. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his body trembled with fury.

“Ah!” Li Hao roared, “Yang Chen, you bastard! I will kill you! Mother, why did you lie to me? Why? Why! Ahhhh!”