Chapter 145: Chapter 145: One of the Culprits

"Y-You... aren’t you afraid Female Mother will blame you?"

The vines snaked up Ao Yun’s ankle. She shrieked, "I’m still Female Mother’s daughter right now! If you kill me, aren’t you afraid she’ll blame you?!"

Yu An was unmoved. "But you aren’t Female Mother’s child."

’Before, for Female Mother’s sake, she could have forgiven Ao Yun for some harmless antics. But now? Why should she let go of one of the culprits who tore her family apart?’

"But Female Mother doesn’t know," Ao Yun threatened, her gaze fierce. "Until Female Mother gets her memory back, I am her daughter!"

"Is that so?"

As if by magic, Yu An produced a recording pen and pressed play. A voice that Ao Yun couldn’t be more familiar with rang out: "I’m truly not Female Mother’s child..."

Ao Yun’s face changed drastically. "You—"

Yu An put the recorder away. "Well, that takes care of your worry. Now, to take care of you."

She glanced at Ao Yun. "You should be glad I don’t feel like getting blood on my hands right now."

Anyone who had lived through the apocalypse for ten years had more or less gotten blood on their hands.

She had no family to protect her and could only rely on herself to survive in the apocalypse. But after transmigrating to the Beastman Continent, she found herself with a family that loved and protected her.

Yu An stroked her belly, missing her Beast Husband and Zaizai on the Beastman Continent more than ever, as well as the elders and friends who were closer than kin.

She looked up at Ao Yun and saw the vines binding her limbs, gradually tightening. Ao Yun wanted to scream for help, but another vine clamped over her mouth.

"Don’t waste your energy," Yu An advised warmly. "You just said you put a sedative in the fire. Female Mother and the others won’t be waking up anytime soon."

Ao Yun’s body went stiff. She watched in despair as the vines trussed her up completely.

Yu An’s face was cold and indifferent, making her look like a completely different person from her usual smiling self.

Just as Ao Yun was about to suffocate, a heavenly voice sounded by her ear. "What... are you two doing?"

It was Yu Huang’s voice!

Ao Yun immediately snapped to her senses, using all her strength to break free from some of the vines. "Female Mother, save me! Yu An is trying to kill—"

Before she could finish, Yu An pressed the play button on the recording pen. "Female Mother, please listen to this first."

’A misunderstanding was out of the question. She’d present the evidence before Ao Yun could even try to create one.’

The sound from the recording pen drowned out Ao Yun’s own voice. Yu Huang was silent for a long time, whether stunned by the scene before her or shocked by the recording’s content.

Seeing that the vine that had covered her mouth didn’t move forward again, Ao Yun quickly tried to plead her case. "Female Mother, none of that is true! I’m your child!"

"When you were gravely injured, I was the one who stayed by your side day and night to take care of you! And last year, I even blocked a beast’s attack for you..."

"Ao Yun," Yu Huang met her earnest gaze and spoke slowly, "I appreciate what you’ve done for me."

Ao Yun froze. "Female Mother..."

"I am not your Female Mother," Yu Huang cut her off. "You are Ao Yin’s daughter. You have nothing to do with me."

Yu An was surprised. "Female Mother, have your memories returned?"

Yu Huang shook her head. "No."

"Then why," Ao Yun’s face was pale as she demanded, her voice cracking, "why are you denying that I’m your child?!"

Yu Huang didn’t look at her, saying softly, "Because I don’t like Ao Yin. Just looking at him disgusts me. I don’t like anything associated with him."

It was a visceral revulsion. If it weren’t for that thing inside her body, she would have left the Invincible Alliance long ago.

The last bit of color drained from Ao Yun’s face. "Is it just because of that? I... I didn’t want it either! If I could choose, I wouldn’t want Ao Yin as my Beast Father."

Her biological mother was executed right after her birth. From the moment she was old enough to understand, Ao Yin had indoctrinated her with the idea that Yu Huang was her Female Mother. Even after her birth mother’s friend revealed her true parentage—hoping she would one day avenge her mother—she never planned on abandoning Yu Huang, such a powerful Female Mother.

First, it was a matter of survival. Ao Yin had more than one child—Yu Yun, who was sent to the Beastman Continent, was one of them. If she hadn’t fought for her place, hadn’t made Yu Huang see her in a special light, she would never have survived to this day!

Second, Beastmen admire the strong. A biological mother with no name, no family, and no power wasn’t worth giving up the power that was within her grasp.

"I couldn’t choose that," Ao Yun pleaded. "Save me... just... for the sake of the many years I spent by your side."

’As long as I’m alive, as long as I can get back to the Invincible Alliance, I’m confident I can persuade my Beast Father to personally come and capture Yu An.’

’No, I just need these vines to loosen their grip.’

Ao Yun inconspicuously glanced at the Jade Pendant bound by the vines, her expression flickering.

Yu An knew all too well the consequences of not pulling a weed out by its roots; the bear cub from before was the perfect example.

Sensing Yu An’s gaze on her, Yu Huang sighed softly. "I didn’t finish what I was saying before. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but my grave injuries, the beast attack... weren’t those your handiwork?"

Ao Yun’s breath hitched. "Y-You... how could you know?!"

’I was so careful when I made my move. I didn’t do it with my own hands, and I even went to great lengths to avoid Yu Huang’s suspicion.’

Yu Huang had a strange expression on her face. She frowned. "Do you really not know what Chu Feng does?"

Chu Feng was Yu Huang’s confidant. He was also the head of intelligence gathering for the Invincible Alliance.

It was only later, after Ao Yin planted his own people, that Chu Feng stepped down.

’So... so that’s how I was exposed!’

Ao Yun’s gaze went dull, unable to believe what she was hearing.

’Hilarious. Utterly hilarious.’

Seeing Ao Yun’s silence, Yu Huang said faintly, "You are not my ’benefactor.’ You are merely one of the culprits who forced me and my child apart."

"What about Yu An, then?"

Ao Yun gritted her teeth. "She could also be someone the Alliance Hierarch planted by your side to impersonate your daughter!"

’Since Yu Huang hasn’t recovered her memories yet, I’ll make her suspect Yu An has ulterior motives! I’ll drive a wedge between mother and daughter!’

"Lu Lu, smash her mouth in for me!"

’Oh, Yu An was furious. So, the plan was to drag her down too, was it!’

’She’d learned from Chu Feng that her Female Mother was already distrustful of everyone due to her memory loss. Now all her previous efforts were going down the drain!’

Meeting Yu An’s uneasy gaze, Yu Huang’s eyes suddenly softened. "The little tricks you’ve been pulling lately are enough to prove that An’an is my daughter."

She reached out and gently stroked the top of Yu An’s soft hair. "I’m sorry, An’an. I haven’t recovered my memories yet. I don’t remember anything about you."

"But the fact that you are my child is something that no accident can change."

Yu An was taken aback. "Female Mother..."

Yu Huang’s lips curved slightly. "Mm, Female Mother is here."

Watching this scene, a crazed light flashed in Ao Yun’s eyes.

’Why... Just why...’

The Jade Pendant, which was activated by spiritual power, suddenly felt a huge surge of energy pour into it. In an instant, it broke free from the vines’ restraints, its suction force growing even stronger than before.

Its target was Yu An.