"I’ve seen you a few times. Trailing after that old bastard, you were much more docile than you are now, kid," the woman said coolly.

"Old bastard..." The corner of Song Changsheng’s mouth twitched. No matter how slow he was, he had finally put two and two together. Her connection wasn’t with his good-for-nothing father, but with his own grandfather.

’And what’s with that name she called him? It sounds so intimate, yet so full of dissatisfaction.’

’Could this be that Senior Xiao? What on earth is the history between Grandpa and her?’ She was sitting right in front of him, yet he couldn’t get a read on her attitude. ’Based on what I’ve seen so far, she’s probably not an enemy.’

After a moment’s thought, Song Changsheng asked tentatively, "Dare I ask, Senior, is your surname ’Xiao’?"

The woman’s expression remained unchanged as she looked at him with a playful smile. "And what if it is? What if it isn’t?"

’As if I could do anything to you either way,’ Song Changsheng grumbled to himself. ’It’s so exhausting talking to these powerful seniors. Why can’t they just be direct instead of shrouding everything in fog?’

Though he was complaining internally, he replied with the utmost respect, "When I was studying cultivation with my grandfather, he often mentioned a senior whose surname was ’Xiao.’ You seem quite similar to his description of her, which is why I asked. Please forgive my forwardness, Senior."

The woman raised an eyebrow, set down her teacup, and stared at Song Changsheng with her phoenix eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Is that so? And what did he say about me? You’d better think carefully before you speak. If you dare to spout nonsense, I’ll spank you until your bottom blossoms."

This was a tacit admission, but Song Changsheng felt none of the excitement of solving a mystery. Instead, he felt like he had just dug a pit and buried himself in it.

The whole story about his grandfather constantly mentioning her was something he had just made up to probe her identity. He originally thought she would remain evasive, but she had called his bluff and turned the tables on him.

Song Xianming had never mentioned such a person to him. Aside from knowing about a Jade Pendant and that strange dream, he knew nothing else. Now that she was telling him to speak, what could he possibly say?

When he didn’t know her identity, he could say whatever he wanted. Now that she had laid her cards on the table, if he dared to spout more nonsense, he might not be in any life-threatening danger, but he certainly wouldn’t get off easy.

’If she actually spanks me, I’ll never be able to show my face in public again.’

Song Changsheng’s mind raced as he searched for a response. In just a short while, sweat began to bead on his forehead.

Seeing him remain silent, the woman took a delicate sip of her tea and spoke in an icy tone, "Why aren’t you talking? Haven’t you cooked up a good story yet, or did that old bastard say something unpleasant about me to a junior behind my back?"

Her icy words were like a harsh winter wind, making Song Changsheng shiver involuntarily. He quickly plastered a smile on his face and said, "Senior, you must be joking. I am but a junior; I wouldn’t dare gossip about my elders. That would be the height of disrespect. I beg your forgiveness, Senior."

’I’ve put on such a deferential act. Surely she won’t press me any further, right?’ Song Changsheng thought, sneaking a glance at her.

But to his surprise, the woman wasn’t buying it. "So defying me isn’t disrespectful?" she said coolly. "I told you to speak, so speak. If that old bastard has a problem with it, tell him to come find me."

Song Changsheng’s expression soured. It seemed she had no intention of letting him talk his way out of this. After a moment, he decided to say something ambiguous to test the waters.

"Back then, I was still young, learning the way of Arrays from my grandfather. It was then that I saw a Jade Pendant hanging from his waist, engraved with the character ’Wan.’

"I was curious at the time, so I asked who the Jade Pendant belonged to. Grandfather told me it belonged to a senior with the surname ’Xiao.’ He said she was not only a Great Cultivator at the Purple Mansion Stage, but also a Tier Three Alchemist, and that if I ever met her, I had to be as respectful to her as I was to him," Song Changsheng said, keeping his eyes lowered obediently.

This story was half-truth, half-lie. He had indeed asked who the Jade Pendant belonged to, but Song Xianming had been extremely tight-lipped and refused to say a thing.

"That’s all he said? Didn’t you claim he mentioned me often? What else did he say?" The woman’s expression was unchanged as she pressed on, clearly not intending to let Song Changsheng bluff his way through.

’Right now, I really wish I could just slap myself across the face,’ Song Changsheng thought. ’Why on earth did I have to go and uncover her identity? Now look what I’ve done; I’ve completely trapped myself.’

Without him even realizing it, Song Changsheng’s back was soaked with sweat. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

After a long moment...

’To hell with it!’

Song Changsheng gritted his teeth, looked up at her, and said with a "serious" expression, "Originally, Grandfather forbade me from repeating these words to outsiders. But since it’s you who wishes to know, Senior, I suppose I can make an exception."

"Oh? Is that so? Let’s hear it then," the woman said dismissively, picking up her teacup.

Song Changsheng took a deep breath and dropped a bombshell. "Senior, the truth is... Grandfather has been in love with you for a long, long time!"

PFFT—

Startled by his words, the woman, who had been drinking tea, sprayed out the mouthful she hadn’t yet swallowed. She glared at Song Changsheng, a mixture of shock and anger on her face, and said coldly, "What nonsense are you spouting, you damn brat? If you don’t make yourself crystal clear today, that old bastard can start looking for a new heir."

Though her threat was terrifying, she hadn’t attacked him. Instead, she had given him an opportunity to continue his "artful" explanation. This was all Song Changsheng needed to feel his confidence return.

’I’m sorry, Grandpa,’ he prayed internally. ’Your grandson was backed into a corner today. You have to forgive me.’

After his silent prayer, Song Changsheng immediately felt unburdened and struck while the iron was hot. "Senior, how would I dare spout nonsense? It’s all true!