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Shi Hao stood motionless in front of the courtyard gate, like a silent statue.

But his sudden intrusion immediately caught the attention of Shi Ziling and his wife.

"Hao...Hao'er? Is that you?"

Qin Yining's voice trembled violently. She released Qin Hao from her arms, slowly stood up, and stared intently at Shi Hao's face.

Shi Hao had grown into an adult, and the features of his face had long since lost their childishness, but Qin Yining still recognized him at a glance.

This is her eldest son, Shi Hao!

Shi Ziling also stood up abruptly, his tiger-like eyes filled with tears, his lips trembling, but he couldn't make a sound.

Shi Hao watched them rush towards him without dodging.

next moment.

He was embraced in a warm hug.

"My son...you're still alive, you're still alive..."

Qin Yining sobbed uncontrollably, stroking Shi Hao's face with both hands, trying to see every inch of his features clearly.

Shi Ziling stood behind him, looking at Shi Hao with equally doting eyes.

Shi Hao closed his eyes, suppressing the bittersweet feeling of this reunion.

He didn't linger in the warmth for long. Instead, he gently pushed Qin Yining away, his gaze passing over her shoulder and looking directly at the pale-faced, armored youth still sitting on the stone bench.

"Father, Mother."

Shi Hao spoke calmly, pointing at Qin Hao and asking, "Who is he?"

The air in the courtyard seemed to freeze instantly.

Shi Ziling and Qin Yining both froze, their joy replaced by helplessness.

The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with guilt.

Qin Hao clenched his fists, raised his head, and met Shi Hao's gaze defiantly.

After a long silence, Shi Ziling sighed heavily and said in a dry voice, "Hao'er, he is... your younger brother, Qin Hao."

Qin Yining quickly chimed in, explaining urgently, "Back then, you lost your Supreme Bone and your life was in danger... We were desperate, and we heard that there was a secret method in the Immortal Mountain that might... could save you. One of the conditions was that a close blood relative had to be here... so we..."

"So you gave birth to him."

Shi Hao continued, "You want to use his life to exchange for a sliver of hope to save me?"

These words were like a cold knife, piercing Qin Hao's heart.

He suddenly stood up, knocking over the stone bench beneath him with a loud bang.

"So that's it..."

Qin Hao's voice was sharp and trembling, typical of a young man. His eyes were red-rimmed as he stared intently at Shi Ziling and Qin Yining, then turned to Shi Hao: "So, the purpose of my birth was just to be a medicinal ingredient for you, my 'brother'?!"

"Hao'er, no!"

Qin Yining tried to take Qin Hao's hand, but he shook her off forcefully.

"Do not touch me!"

Qin Hao said sternly, suddenly drawing a bright silver spear from behind him, the tip pointing directly at Shi Hao: "I want to duel with you. I want to show Father and Mother that I, Qin Hao, am no less than you. I am not anyone's substitute, nor am I anyone's medicine!"

"Nonsense!"

Shi Ziling tried to step forward to stop him, but Shi Hao stopped him with his hand, then looked calmly at Qin Hao and said, "Okay, I agree."

After Shi Hao finished speaking, he took a step forward.

"I will fight against those of the same realm."

"Who asked you to give way!" Qin Hao felt insulted and attacked without hesitation.

His figure moved like lightning, his spear flashed like a dragon, the silver spear light tearing through the air, piercing straight for Shi Hao's heart with a shrill shriek.

This shot embodied all his grievances and resentment.

Shi Hao didn't move at all. Only when the spear tip was three feet in front of him did he simply raise his right hand, put his index and middle fingers together, and point forward with perfect accuracy.

"--Ding!"

A crisp metallic clang rang out.

Without any dazzling flames or overwhelming momentum, Shi Hao's fingertip simply touched the tip of Qin Hao's spear.

"--boom!"

The next second, Qin Hao felt an irresistible, immense force surge through the spear shaft, his hand instantly split open, and the spear flew out of his grasp, embedding itself deeply into the artificial rock in the distance with a "thud".

He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the grass several meters away, his bones feeling like they were shattered.

The difference in their abilities is immediately apparent.

Shi Hao withdrew his finger, looked at his younger brother struggling to get up, and slowly said, "Qin Hao, you're wrong. If Dad and Mom could really be so heartless as to exchange your life for mine, they would have left Immortal Mountain with their so-called 'hope' and returned to Stone Village to find me after you were born..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the pale-faced Shi Ziling couple, and continued, "The reason they're still here, enduring the pain of separation, raising you to this age, teaching you skills, and protecting you... is because they can't bear to part with you. I am their child, but you are equally precious to them. This reluctance and torment is a thousand times more painful than simply 'using' you..."

Shi Hao's words were like an invisible hand, suddenly tearing open the scars that Shi Ziling and Qin Yining had been trying to cover up.

Qin Yining covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

Shi Ziling turned his head away, his shoulders shrugging slightly.

Neither of them expected that after several years apart, their child would see right through their secret.

"is this real?"

Qin Hao lay on the ground, no longer trying to get up. He raised his head and asked Shi Ziling and his wife in a broken voice.

Seeing the despair in their youngest son's eyes, Shi Ziling and his wife could no longer escape and nodded heavily and slowly.

"Hao'er...I'm sorry...Mother is so sorry for you two brothers..."

Qin Yining almost collapsed, but Shi Ziling held her tightly.

Shi Hao walked up to Qin Hao, extended his hand, and said, "Get up, my brother. No matter what happened before, from now on, we are family..."

Mr. and Mrs. Shi Ziling were slightly taken aback.

They never dreamed that Shi Hao, at such a young age, could be so insightful and righteous.

"Don't be so smug. You're only two years older than me. If you give me another two years, I'll definitely surpass you!"

Qin Hao didn't reach out to take Shi Hao's hand. Instead, he struggled to his feet and silently walked to the side.

Shi Hao withdrew his hand, not minding at all.

He turned to Qin Hao and asked again, "Little brother, do you also have a Supreme Bone?"

Qin Hao's body trembled. He turned his head and looked at Shi Hao again, reluctantly nodding and saying "Mm".

Shi Hao touched his chest, a place that had once been brilliant, then empty, and now a new light was being nurtured there.

“Born with supreme bones… I never imagined that we brothers would all be like this.”

Shi Hao muttered to himself. His voice was very soft, but when it reached Qin Hao's ears, it was like a thunderbolt, making him widen his eyes in shock.

Qin Hao stared at Shi Hao in disbelief and asked, "You also have the Supreme Bone?"

...(End of chapter)