Ziqing’s anxious question finally drew Meng Wanyue’s attention to her presence, and it was only then that she pulled her gaze away from Jun Beiyue and turned it toward Ziqing instead.

“You… you are…?” Meng Wanyue asked gently.

Earlier, Old Meng Five had already given her a rough account of what had happened in the poison-beast world, how the Liuguang Dagger had ended up there, and of course, he’d mentioned the existence of Ziqing and little Xiong Bao as well.

Now, with Meng Wanyue looking at her and asking directly, Ziqing suddenly grew nervous — so nervous that she completely forgot the urgent matter that had been weighing on her mind just moments before!

This was the first time her mother-in-law had ever looked at her, the first time she’d ever spoken to her!

It wasn’t so different, essentially, from meeting one’s in-laws for the very first time.

And this was someone she’d once suspected might be a wicked mother-in-law, who was turning out instead to be a good one — at least, from everything she’d seen so far… she seemed very, very good indeed!

Ziqing was too nervous to even speak. But little did she know, there was someone even more nervous than her in that moment — and that was little Xiong Bao!

He’d caused trouble twice now, trapping his grandmother inside the Qiankun Poison Pouch, and the second time had very nearly kept her sealed away for who knew how much longer before they could get her out!

And now Grandmother was looking over — looking straight at him and Mommy!

Grandmother was about to notice him any second now — how was he going to explain himself? He really, truly hadn’t meant to do it!

Grandmother looked so kind and gentle, surely she wouldn’t hold it against him too much, would she? But he could already feel his face flushing, feel the embarrassment creeping up on him.

Seeing that Ziqing hadn’t spoken, Meng Wanyue took the initiative instead. “You… you must be… Han Ziqing? You’re the child of the isolated island, my daughter-in-law?”

Daughter-in-law?

Instantly acknowledged, her identity confirmed just like that!

Something she’d once been reluctant to even dwell on — her own identity — turned out to be settled with just a single sentence, spoken so easily.

Ziqing nodded firmly. As long as this woman’s intentions had nothing to do with cultivating a human-gu, accepting this mother-in-law would be nothing but an honor to her.

Seeing Ziqing nod, Meng Wanyue grew emotional once more, stepping forward quickly to take her hands, her face full of tenderness and sympathy. “A child of the isolated island… you, oh you…”

But before she could finish speaking, her gaze landed on little Xiong Bao, and suddenly her expression grew strange.

A look of sudden, frozen astonishment crossed her face.

Seeing this, Old Meng Five could no longer contain his excitement, rushing forward immediately to take little Xiong Bao’s hand and make the introduction. “This child — he’s Beiyue’s son!”

The way Old Meng Five now fussed over little Xiong Bao, it was as if he wasn’t the same man who’d been shouting at this troublesome child just moments before!

Of course, Old Meng Five’s earlier scolding had been genuine — but his current excitement was equally genuine!

For people of advanced age, there was no greater happiness, no greater sense of completeness, than having a grandchild.

“Xiong Bao…” Meng Wanyue was even more overcome than Old Meng Five, instinctively reaching out to embrace little Xiong Bao. Her hand had already extended before she realized how abrupt the gesture was, yet she couldn’t bear to pull it back either, her voice choked with emotion. “My grandson… my precious grandson… I actually have a grandson… I’m a grandmother now… a grandmother!”

Grandmother?

She’d accepted it — she’d accepted Xiong Bao as her grandson, a grandson who also carried the blood of the isolated island in his veins!

Ziqing’s heart swelled with joy, completely satisfied — for a mother, there was nothing more delightful than hearing her child acknowledged and embraced.

She glanced at Jun Beiyue, so happy she nearly wanted to cry, and pushed Xiong Bao forward on her own initiative, a little bashful, saying softly, “Son, go on, call her grandmother.”

She couldn’t bring herself to be the one to say “mother-in-law” first, but Xiong Bao certainly could!

Xiong Bao was excited too — a grandmother, he actually had a grandmother!

Though a little shy, he still couldn’t help reaching out for an embrace, which delighted Meng Wanyue to no end. She immediately pulled Xiong Bao into her arms, hugging him tight. “Say grandmother! Come on, say grandmother!”

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiong Bao immediately said sweetly, “Grandmother!”

“Yes!” Meng Wanyue responded instantly, hugging him even tighter, as though cherishing some precious treasure, loving him down to her very bones.

Little Xiong Bao’s dark, glossy eyes rolled about, and seizing the emotional momentum of the reunion, he immediately volunteered a confession.

“Grandmother, I… I accidentally grabbed the Liuguang Dagger, and that’s how the Qiankun Poison Pouch ended up mine.”

At these words, it had to be admitted, the originally joyous mood grew slightly tense — at least, everyone around them grew a little tense. But Meng Wanyue’s smile remained as warm as ever, her beauty radiant, her gentle brows carrying an air of loving compassion, like a living bodhisattva.

She teased playfully, “My, aren’t you something! The Qiankun Poison Pouch is quite the treasure, you know!”

Huh…?

Little Xiong Bao was delighted — Grandmother wasn’t angry at all! She didn’t seem to mind in the least!

Emboldened, little Xiong Bao pressed his advantage and confessed the second matter as well. “Grandmother, I also… well, I also let in four sea serpents.”

“Ha ha, well done! Capturing your very first beast, and it turns out to be a treasure belonging to the Xiao family of the Beast Clan — truly worthy of being my grandson, Meng Wanyue’s grandson, how impressive!” Meng Wanyue joked, showing not the slightest hint of displeasure.

Now thoroughly reassured, little Xiong Bao immediately went ahead and filed a complaint of his own. “Grandmother, Fifth Great-Uncle kept yelling at me, saying I’d caused a huge disaster. Grandmother, I did mess up, didn’t I — go on, scold me for it!”

Oh my.

Xiong Bao, you really do hold a grudge, and you’re quite the tattletale too — and you phrase it so cleverly!

Baili Weisheng muttered to himself inwardly, nearly bursting out laughing!

If anyone could truly rein in Old Meng Five, who else but Meng Wanyue herself?

Meng Wanyue, still holding Xiong Bao, immediately shot a glare at Old Meng Five. “Fifth Brother, you yelled at my grandson?”

Old Meng Five went utterly mute, obediently keeping his mouth shut, not daring to say another word!

But to everyone’s surprise, Meng Wanyue wouldn’t let it go. “Fifth Brother, this child is so young — how could you possibly blame him? He doesn’t understand anything yet, and you’re a grown man with plenty of years behind you!”

Old Meng Five didn’t offer a single word in his own defense, simply enduring Meng Wanyue’s scolding, which only made everyone around them grow even fonder of this formidable old woman.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Old Meng Five didn’t try to explain himself either, but simply changed the subject. “Fourth Sister, hurry up and tell us — what exactly is the secret of the isolated island, and what does it have to do with our Dream Clan’s founding ancestor?”

The moment he finished speaking, the Dream Clan leader’s voice immediately rang out nearby. “Fourth Daughter, you must explain this matter clearly.”

Everyone turned toward the sound at once, and there stood the Dream Clan leader, having arrived at some point without anyone noticing!

The instant she saw him, an expression of sorrow and guilt surfaced on Meng Wanyue’s face. She walked over, bowed her head, and called out softly, “Father.”

“The Jiao people have just left. Let’s discuss this matter inside,” the Dream Clan leader said flatly, his expression somewhat stern.

Meng Wanyue glanced at Old Meng Five, whose own expression was equally complicated. He knew that, as far as the Dream Clan was concerned, Meng Wanyue was a wrongdoer — someone who, without ever inheriting the position of clan leader, had trespassed into the forbidden grounds on her own!

That was no small offense.

But this had also been exactly what he himself had worked so hard to arrange for Meng Wanyue’s sake, all in order to keep Jun Beiyue here.

Now that Meng Wanyue had emerged, whether Jun Beiyue chose to stay was entirely up to her to sort out for herself.

Right now, the secret of the isolated island was the only thing on everyone’s mind!

The group gradually made their way down from Xuyu Peak’s summit, heading toward the mountainside…