Bo Bo showed some reluctance when he heard the master wanted the Netherworld Ghost Key.

Oh, why is the master so foolish, wanting that broken key? Bo Bo doesn’t want to come to this ghostly place of the Netherworld again at all.

The Netherworld Ghost King pondered for a moment, thinking that the Ghost Key is an essential tool for shuttling between the Netherworld and the Human World. Although giving this Ghost Key to the female Human Mage might disrupt the Netherworld’s order, it was indeed better than it falling into the hands of some other evil being.

Although this woman seemed neither good nor evil and acted differently from ordinary people, since she is now an Undead Summoner, having the Netherworld Ghost Key might not cause too much trouble with her.

"As for the third condition, I will keep it for now. When I think of it someday, I will come to you for it," Yun Sheng felt that obtaining both the Heart Difficulty Lamp and the Netherworld Ghost Key was quite worthwhile.

"Yun Sheng, take a moment to adjust your breath. I have some matters to discuss with the Empress Dowager," Gold Coin nodded to Yun Sheng and left with Empress Li.

After Yun Sheng separated from Ye Beiming, she did not immediately begin meditation to adjust her state.

Although Yun Sheng didn’t ask much, she sensed something amiss between Ye Beiming and Empress Li.

Before adjusting herself, Yun Sheng called for Bo Bo.

"Bo Bo, before I start meditating, I need you to do me a favor," the bond between Yun Sheng and Bo Bo had grown stronger after the incident at the Ghost King Cave.

"Dear master, whatever you say, Bo Bo will agree to," Bo Bo fawningly replied.

"Don’t say that too early. I need you to find the Netherworld God and inquire about something," Yun Sheng chuckled at Bo Bo’s toady behavior.

As expected, when Bo Bo heard that it needed to find the Netherworld God, it became deflated like a frost-beaten eggplant.

"Alright, what does the master want that bad guy for?" Bo Bo reluctantly agreed to go to Mingri after Yun Sheng’s persuasion.

"I want to know why Empress Li was captured in the Netherworld back then," Yun Sheng was also curious about why Empress Li ended up with such a fate and what terrible crimes she had committed.

"No problem, leave it to Bo Bo. Bo Bo will go find that conceited Netherworld God immediately," Bo Bo flapped its wings and vanished with a swoosh.

Meanwhile, Ye Beiming and Empress Li were having a face-to-face meeting for the first time in many years.

"My child, I’ve heard about you from Miss Yun," Empress Li gazed at Gold Coin. Although she didn’t see Ye Beiming’s human form, she heard from Yun Sheng that Ye Beiming resembled her and was a rarely beautiful man in his time.

Gold Coin looked at Empress Li. Actually, his memories of her were unclear because Ye Beiming was very young and blind at the time.

But in his heart, he had always imagined what his Empress Dowager looked like. Now meeting her, he noticed the woman before him looked quite similar to him, but she was different from his memories.

More precisely, Empress Li didn’t make him feel especially close, lacking the excitement and connection that a reunion after many years should have between a mother and her son.

This was evident from Empress Li’s expression, and Gold Coin even sensed a deep apprehension in her eyes.

Perhaps it was just an illusion because the mother and son had been separated for so long.

"The Netherworld Ghost King is a decent person," Gold Coin stopped dwelling on it and instead asked about Empress Li’s future plans.

Although with a mindset that doesn’t tolerate two tigers on one mountain, Gold Coin didn’t like the Netherworld Ghost King because he almost killed Yun Sheng.

However, he clearly saw that the Netherworld Ghost King was genuinely sincere towards Empress Li.

Though Empress Li had gathered her soul, she was ultimately a Yin Soul and could never return to the Human World.

With the Netherworld Ghost King taking care of her, Ye Beiming actually felt more at ease. He hoped that Empress Dowager could let go of the past grievances and her disappointment with men to accept the Netherworld Ghost King.

A touch of awkwardness flashed across Empress Li’s beautiful face.

Earlier, she intentionally appeared aloof in front of the Netherworld Ghost King, but inside, she was tormented.

For over a decade, during the years she lived in a confused state, she may not have known everything happening outside, but she knew a man had been carefully caring for her all along.

When she played the lute, that man quietly sat by, and when she daydreamed, he also kept her company.

Empress Li had experienced three men in her life.

The first was Emperor Ye of Great Zhou, who received her youthful, sincere love. But Ye Chengtian was also the one who hurt Empress Li the most.

The second was Hei Yao, the Clan Leader of the Hei Qilin Clan. Hei Yao’s love for Empress Li felt more like plunder, and her life was destroyed by Hei Yao.

After these two men, Empress Li thought she wouldn’t fall for anyone again, but after her death, she met the Netherworld Ghost King.

In terms of strength, the Netherworld Ghost King surpassed both Emperor Ye and Hei Yao.

But to Empress Li, he was a redemption.

"He is a good man. I will stay in the Netherworld," Empress Li understood that staying by the Ghost King’s side was her best choice.

Even though she hadn’t fallen for the Netherworld Ghost King yet, she had grown used to the feeling of having him around. She planned to slowly fall for him in the countless years to come.

"Bang," a dull gasp came from outside the door.

Ye Beiming and Empress Li both couldn’t help but smile. Ye Beiming had long noticed the Netherworld Ghost King sneaking around while the mother and son had their private conversation.

The very idea of the dignified Ghost King acting like a thief to eavesdrop was amusing.

Empress Li smiled coyly but her smile appeared a bit strained under Ye Beiming’s gaze.

"Now that he’s gone, you can ask whatever you want. I’ve long known this day would come," Empress Li sighed, realizing that some things couldn’t be kept hidden.

Ye Beiming turned out to be much more perceptive than she had imagined.

"Is my father really Hei Yao?" Ye Beiming’s earlier statement was aimed at the Netherworld Ghost King. Once he got his satisfying answer, he left.

"Hei Yao doesn’t deserve it," Empress Li’s expression changed abruptly when she heard Hei Yao’s name.

Hei Yao was the greatest nightmare of Empress Li’s life. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Then... am I Ye Chengtian’s son?" Ye Beiming’s expression darkened.

"Don’t you remember at all? You are neither Hei Yao’s son nor Ye Chengtian’s son, and you are not even my son," Empress Li sighed.

Ye Beiming was suddenly startled.

"How is that possible? If you aren’t my mother, then who am I?"

"This matter dates back more than twenty years. Back then, I had just married Ye Chengtian, and I was young, with my head filled with thoughts of romantic entanglements..." Empress Li spoke softly with a face full of wistfulness.