The Servant of Three Surnames

Bang!

Ye Wuyou, who had been held tightly by Yuwen Xiong, was abruptly dropped to the ground.

Yuwen Xiong recoiled as if electrocuted, swiftly withdrawing his hand and frantically rubbing it against his robes, as though desperate to scrub away any lingering misfortune.

"Uncle, hurry up and throw this jinx out!"

Yuwen Bo’s face darkened. Why don’t you do it yourself, you idiot?

"Ahem..." Yuwen Bo cleared his throat. "Don’t worry. While the Demon Infant is indeed sinister, its curse primarily affects blood relatives. For outsiders, it poses little threat."

Hearing this, Yuwen Xiong finally relaxed slightly.

"Then, Uncle, what should we do with this brat? It seems he really does have a grudge against Gu Qingfeng, but we should just kill him. A future Immortal King—and we’ve already kidnapped him. Since we’ve made an enemy, we should eliminate the threat permanently."

Ye Wuyou, still sprawled on the ground, panicked and scrambled to his feet. "No grudge! No grarde! I’m easygoing—I never hold grudges!"

Neither of them paid him any attention.

After a moment of silence, Yuwen Bo mused, "This matter is best left to the Ancestor’s judgment."

"Such a trivial matter requires the Ancestor’s involvement?" Yuwen Xiong was taken aback.

"The Demon Infant is no small matter. The Ancestor may have his own plans."

As he spoke, Yuwen Bo retrieved an ancient mirror shimmering with radiant light. With a series of hand seals, he began summoning the presence of the Radiant Dawn Immortal King.

Moments later, the mirror’s surface swirled with immortal light, revealing a figure whose face was obscured, yet whose aura loomed as vast as the sun, moon, and stars.

Even through the mirror, the overwhelming majesty of his presence was palpable.

This was the Radiant Dawn Immortal King.

The two immediately dropped to their knees, bowing deeply. "We greet the Ancestor."

"What is it?" A voice, ethereal and resonant like the echoes of the Great Dao itself, emanated from the mirror.

Yuwen Bo stepped forward and respectfully recounted the situation regarding Ye Wuyou.

Silence fell over the mirror.

Then, Ye Wuyou—who had been trembling under the Immortal King’s oppressive aura—suddenly felt an unimaginable gaze descend upon him, as if piercing through countless stars to fixate on his insignificant form.

It was the gaze of a deity.

His trembling intensified, and an overwhelming sense of insignificance, like an ant before a god, seized his heart.

Yet, deep inside, he swore a silent oath: Elder Demon Gu! The Radiant Dawn Clan! You humiliate me now, but if I survive this day, when I ascend as an Immortal King, I will repay every ounce of suffering tenfold!

"You are called Gu Wuyou?" The Radiant Dawn Immortal King’s voice was indifferent, devoid of emotion.

Thud!

Ye Wuyou immediately prostrated himself, kowtowing so hard it seemed he might smash his head into the ground. "Immortal King, this lowly one’s original name is Ye Wuyou."

"Ye Wuyou? Indeed, you bear the Demon Infant’s physique. But do you know that, with just the Demon Infant’s talent alone, you will never ascend to Immortal King?"

Ye Wuyou shuddered. "This lowly one begs for the Immortal King’s guidance."

The Radiant Dawn Immortal King’s voice remained calm. "The path to Immortal Kingship is fraught with peril. Talent alone is insufficient without the strength to protect yourself. In my youth, I relied on the combat prowess of my Radiant Dawn bloodline, the Demon Infant’s innate gifts, and the protection of my maternal clan to overcome every obstacle.

"But you? You have no protector, no formidable bloodline. Your chances are slim."

Ye Wuyou was no fool. Having survived under the cruel reign of Elder Demon Gu, his wits and instincts were razor-sharp.

He immediately grasped the subtext—the Immortal King had no intention of killing him. Instead, he saw value in him.

Of course. A future Immortal King—who wouldn’t be tempted?

Yuwen Bo and Yuwen Xiong weren’t fools either. They understood the Ancestor’s implication: he wanted Ye Wuyou to join the Radiant Dawn Clan.

Yuwen Xiong instinctively resisted. He was the clan’s brightest rising star. If Ye Wuyou joined and was granted the Radiant Dawn bloodline, his own position would be obliterated.

"What am I to do?!" Ye Wuyou feigned despair. "I sacrificed my entire clan for the Demon Infant’s power. If even that isn’t enough to achieve my goals, how can I face my ancestors in the afterlife?

"Immortal King, this lowly one is honored to share the Demon Infant’s fate with you. I beg you, by the bond of our shared origin, to help me!"

"After countless millennia, another Demon Infant emerges. Perhaps this is fate. Very well, I permit you to join—"

Before the Radiant Dawn Immortal King could finish, Yuwen Xiong blurted out, "Ancestor! The Demon Infant is a walking curse! He’ll bring ruin to the entire clan!"

Radiant Dawn Immortal King: "..."

Ye Wuyou: "..."

Yuwen Bo: "..."

An awkward silence descended.

Only then did Yuwen Xiong realize his blunder. His face drained of color, sweat pouring down his back. "N-no! Ancestor, I didn’t mean you! I meant Ye Wuyou! A slip of the tongue—please forgive this unworthy descendant!"

He kowtowed frantically, the sound echoing through the hall.

After a long pause, the Radiant Dawn Immortal King finally spoke.

"The Demon Infant’s curse primarily targets its own bloodline. For others, the ill effects are negligible. As for the residual misfortune... I have my ways to mitigate it."

His words settled the matter. No matter how much Yuwen Xiong objected, he dared not speak another word.

Ye Wuyou was overjoyed. Not only had he escaped death, but he’d also secured a powerful backer!

A master of opportunism, honed by years of groveling under Elder Demon Gu, he wasted no time.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Three resounding kowtows later, he raised his tear-streaked face.

"Wuyou lost his father young, drifting through life with no purpose. My only regret is not meeting the Immortal King sooner.

"You, who owe me nothing, have shown me such kindness. Wuyou is eternally grateful. If you would have me, I wish to honor you as my adoptive father. From this day forth, I shall serve you with filial devotion."

As the saying goes: Once you betray your roots, you’ll do it again and again.

Radiant Dawn Immortal King: "..."

Yuwen Xiong: "..."

Yuwen Bo: "..."

Was this rehearsed?

The Radiant Dawn Immortal King had only intended to recruit him into the clan. He hadn’t expected an instant adoption.

I offer you kinship, and you leap straight to sonhood?

After a moment’s consideration, for reasons unknown, the Immortal King finally replied, "Very well. Given our shared lineage as Demon Infants, I shall accept you as my nominal son."

Ye Wuyou trembled with excitement, kowtowing once more.

"Your son, Yuwen Wuyou, pays homage to his father!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Rise," the Radiant Dawn Immortal King said coolly. "Once matters here are settled, return to the clan."

With a wave of his hand, a surge of radiant immortal light enveloped Ye Wuyou.

For a heart-stopping moment, Ye Wuyou feared an attack—but when the light faded, he was unharmed.

Even the oath-binding curse Elder Demon Gu had planted within him was gone.

He was instantly overcome with wild joy. He had long fantasized about breaking free from Elder Demon Gu's control, never expecting this day would come so soon.

Moreover, with the help of his adoptive father, his vengeance against Elder Demon Gu was now within reach!

As the saying goes, man strives upwards while water flows downwards.

The same principle applied to choosing an adoptive father—having a Celestial King as his protector meant a lifetime free from worry!