Yu Luming had also doubted this woman's identity.
He had used countless methods to investigate the woman's authenticity, but all evidence indicated that they were mother and son.
Of course, Yu Luming had not yet had time to do a paternity test at the hospital.
However, with Yu Luming's capabilities, he believed his judgment was far more accurate than a paternity test.
Zhang Shantong brought the woman out of the dry well and in front of Yan Shouyi and Yu Luming, preparing for a confrontation.
Yan Shouyi examined the woman with the Black Sarira.
Within this woman's heart, there existed many colors, representing her seven emotions and six desires. Among them, malice was not prevalent, no different from an ordinary person.
Yet, it was precisely because this woman was too ordinary that she aroused Yan Shouyi's suspicion.
The State Preceptor was an entity of extreme evil. Unless she was as beautiful as a celestial being or possessed something extraordinary, an ordinary woman would never attract the State Preceptor's interest.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi concluded that the State Preceptor would not be interested in the woman before them; she was merely a pawn deliberately sent to Longhu Mountain.
"My... my son, where are we now? Are the people around you your friends?" The woman was blind and unaware of her surroundings, but she could feel Yu Luming's presence beside her.
The woman's nervous and fearful demeanor made even Liu Yiren feel a pang of sympathy.
However, Yan Shouyi was iron-hearted, and he coldly asked the woman, "Are you truly Yu Luming's mother?"
"Of course, I am. I carried the child for ten months. How could I not know?" The woman immediately gave a definitive answer.
Yan Shouyi asked several more questions about Yu Luming's background, such as where Yu Luming was born, where he was eventually abandoned, if he had any birthmarks, and how the woman and the State Preceptor met, and so on. Da Feng Novel Network
The woman answered everything fluently and with great sincerity, not like someone lying. There seemed to be no issues.
As the questioning progressed, even Zhang Shantong began to lose confidence; he couldn't find any fault with the woman.
Yu Luming remained silent, merely watching Yan Shouyi. His expression seemed to convey: "I have already asked all these questions, she is fine, she is my mother."
Yan Shouyi fell silent for a while.
He suddenly asked, "How did you go blind?"
The woman sighed, saying sadly, "Half a year ago, I contracted a strange illness. Doctors couldn't cure it, and I slowly lost my sight."
The woman's eyes were milky white, as if covered by something.
Yu Luming couldn't bear it and interrupted Yan Shouyi, "My mother has suffered enough. Please don't ask any more questions."
Yan Shouyi let out a cold snort.
He directly reached out and grabbed the woman's eyes.
"Yan Shouyi!" Yu Luming exclaimed in shock.
However, Yan Shouyi's movements did not falter in the slightest. His fingers touched the woman's eyes, and he immediately felt emotions from another person.
That's right...
The one who was truly problematic was hiding inside the woman's eyes!
Yan Shouyi forcefully pulled, and astonishingly, a soul was dragged out from the woman's eyes!
He ferociously threw the soul onto the ground and then stepped on its chest.
Everyone was startled.
How could something hide inside a person's eyes?!
At the same time, the woman's vision was instantly restored.
She looked around in surprise, somewhat bewildered, "I... I can see now?!"
Yu Luming froze for a few seconds, then quickly helped the woman up, "Mother, how are you feeling now? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
The woman looked at Yu Luming and suddenly displayed an unfamiliar gaze, "Who are you? Where is my son?"
"I am your son!"
"No, you are not my son. I remember what my son looks like, you are definitely not him!" The woman shook her head and denied it. "I would surely recognize my own son!"
Yu Luming was stunned for a moment.
Nothing was more convincing than his own mother's denial.
Before, his mother couldn't see. Now, she could see...
"Hmph, if you want to know the truth, just ask this fellow directly!"
Yan Shouyi stepped on the soul beneath him, crouched down, and interrogated, "Who are you?"
The soul was unstable, seeming to only be able to survive by possessing someone else.
However, at this moment, it felt the threat of disintegration and, trembling, intermittently answered Yan Shouyi's questions:
"I am... the Xin Xuan Sect's... Ming Gui..."
So, a member of the Four Pillars and Five Ghosts?
Yan Shouyi narrowed his eyes and gestured to Yu Luming.
Yu Luming felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
Regardless of whether the woman before him was his biological mother or not, one thing was certain: this was definitely a trap set by the State Preceptor!
Liu Yiren led the bewildered woman aside, while Yan Shouyi continued to interrogate Ming Gui:
"Why were you hiding in this woman's eyes?"
This Ming Gui was reluctant to speak, but Yan Shouyi was not worried. His precept ability could make stones speak, let alone a mere soul?
"Amitabha, thou shalt not bear false witness!"
The precept power took effect immediately. Ming Gui confessed everything in one go: "Li Genmiao told me... to cover the woman's eyes... to have her incite the Celestial Master... to delay the cooperation between the two factions..."
"What is this woman's background? What are your abilities? How can you influence the Celestial Master?" Yan Shouyi fired off three questions at once.
Ming Gui replied, "She is just a mother... who lost her child... and fell ill from longing. I... can influence people's... memories... making them say... the most real lies..."
Everyone suddenly understood.
It was true that the woman had lost her child, and her experiences matched those of Yu Luming's real mother. Hence, she was chosen by the State Preceptor and sent before Yu Luming.
Under the influence of Ming Gui's manufactured memories, the woman believed herself to be Yu Luming's mother. Therefore, no matter what methods Yu Luming used to test her, she could provide "sincere" answers. This was because, in the woman's eyes, what she said was the truth, and she genuinely treated Yu Luming as her son.
But when the woman regained her sight, she immediately realized that Yu Luming was not her son.
This Ming Gui's ability was very special; it could even subtly influence Yu Luming. However, for every gain, there was a loss. The Ming Gui's本体 was extremely fragile, unable to resist even in front of Yan Shouyi.
Having learned the truth, Yu Luming cast a silent glance at the woman not far away.
His dejection and disappointment were evident on his face.
He had also hoped to have a living relative. Although he had been deceived this time, the joy in his heart was real.
It was just that this beautiful dream was too short-lived.
"I was wrong. She is not my mother, and the State Preceptor is not my father," Yu Luming said, lowering his head. "Yan Shouyi, I'm sorry."
"Don't be in a hurry to apologize," Yan Shouyi suddenly patted Yu Luming's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "That woman is definitely not your mother, but your father might be... or rather, the State Preceptor is possibly the only person in this world who knows your origins!"
Yu Luming's head snapped up, his eyes widening as he looked at Yan Shouyi in disbelief.
Yan Shouyi sighed and said, "What the woman and Ming Gui said corresponds to your childhood. Have you ever considered why they knew this information? There is only one possibility: the State Preceptor told them. In other words, the State Preceptor knows all about your past. He understands you better than you understand yourself."