The sweltering sun hung high over HuMing’s head.
Puddles of water dotted the ground, reflecting the afternoon sunlight that pierced through the gaps between the trees, casting shimmering patches on their shallow surfaces.
HuMing lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic woodland before him. A sky ladder, fashioned from trees, clung precariously to the cliff’s edge, its ascent made even more treacherous by the gnarled old vines and brittle branches.
He stood at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the vast sea of trees below.
Today marked the seventh day of the trial—the final day of the agreement.
For the past six days, HuMing had survived alone on this isolated island. And it all traced back to what had transpired after he returned to the Gu family.
Sitting in the shade, he retrieved a coconut shell from his waist—the makeshift container he had been using to hold water. He took two small sips before wiping the corner of his mouth, his eyes never ceasing their watchful scan of his surroundings.
From the very beginning, this trial had never been truly "safe".
When HuMing followed the old butler into the Gu residence, he finally met the head of the family—Gu WeiJun.
The middle-aged man studied him carefully, his gaze steady, revealing neither doubt nor dissatisfaction at HuMing’s sudden appearance.
HuMing, in turn, observed the man before him, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity welled up within him.
At that moment, he was almost certain—this man was likely Han HuMing’s biological father.
Beside Gu WeiJun sat an elderly man clad in a Zhongshan suit, his hair stark white with age. Unlike Gu WeiJun, whose expression remained unreadable, the old man's gaze was intense, scrutinizing HuMing as though he were trying to bore a hole straight through him.
HuMing found the stare somewhat startling, but his face remained composed, betraying no reaction.
It was Gu WeiJun who finally broke the silence, a faint smile appearing on his face as he spoke.
"You’re HuMing, correct? We’ve looked into your background. I heard you grew up in the Han family. So, how exactly are you connected to the Gu family?"
"I’d like to ask the same question. Before my grandfather passed away, he instructed me to investigate this jade pendant. I never expected it to be tied to the Gu family. After all, he did let me stay in the Han family for a very long time."
HuMing's words revealed quite a bit of information to the two people in front of him.
To Gu WeiJun and the elder beside him, this statement implied one crucial fact—HuMing knew. He knew that the Second Old Master had deliberately left him in the Han family for all these years.
They had already looked into HuMing’s past and were well aware of his history with Han ShuYi.
Compared to Han ShuYi—who, despite being the legitimate son, had been abandoned by the Han family—they found HuMing’s decisiveness far more striking.
After all, he had managed to drive the real young master of the Han family out of his own home. That was no small feat.
And yet, everything they had heard painted HuMing as nothing more than a frivolous, idle young master for the past decade—a typical wastrel. But then, after Han ShuYi’s return, he had undergone a complete transformation.
Something about this drastic change felt… suspicious.
"HuMing, to be frank, we still find your identity rather… coincidental," Gu WeiJun admitted, his voice calm, as if testing the waters.
As expected, the seemingly affable head of the Gu family wasn’t so easily convinced.
HuMing remained unruffled. His expression unchanged, he met Gu WeiJun’s eyes and responded evenly.
"Mr. Gu, I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood something. I didn’t come here to claim a place in the Gu family—I came to uncover the truth about my grandfather. Now that he’s gone, returning to the Gu family holds no benefit for me."
Silence fell over the room.
Gu WeiJun glanced at his father, who had remained quiet all this time. But the weight in the old man’s gaze made one thing clear—this matter was of great importance to him.
Gu WeiJun knew little about his second uncle. Before he was even born, the man had already been exiled from the family.
No one spoke of what had transpired, not even his father. The other elders of the family remained just as tight-lipped.
But Gu WeiJun had often seen his father, late at night, muttering to himself—asking where his younger brother had gone all these years, why he had never returned.
It was evident that the old man still cared.
Gu WeiJun turned his attention back to HuMing.
Truth be told, he felt no hostility toward the young man before him.
HuMing showed no particular resentment toward the Gu family. More importantly, he had come forward openly, willing to lay everything on the table.
And he was right—his grandfather was already gone. Even if he did return to the Gu family, what could he possibly gain? From what they had heard, he had lived comfortably in the Han family. Why abandon that for an uncertain future?
Gu WeiJun exhaled slowly. He had his own thoughts on the matter.
Still, the final decision rested with his father.
HuMing observed the two men before him. His words earlier had been carefully chosen, a deliberate move.
If he wanted to establish himself within the Gu family, the first step was ensuring they remembered exactly who he was.
And judging by their hesitation, he had succeeded.
Finally, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an aged envelope.
The wax seal remained intact, untouched.
"By the way, I have a message from my grandfather. Before he passed, he told me that if I ever found you, I should deliver this to you."
The old butler took the envelope from HuMing’s hand and presented it to the elder.
This letter—Lan Jun had told him—was the key to his return to the Gu family.
HuMing had no idea what was written inside. He hadn’t read it. But he trusted that his grandfather wouldn’t have led him astray.
After all, his grandfather had personally instructed him to come.
The elderly man took the envelope, carefully breaking the wax seal.
"It’s his handwriting," he murmured, his voice hoarse with emotion.
His eyes scanned the letter, absorbing every word with an intensity that suggested he feared missing even a single character.
But the deeper he read, the more his body began to tremble. Even Gu WeiJun couldn’t help but grow concerned.
"Father, are you alright?"
"Stubborn old fool! You've lived for decades and still don’t understand?" The old man suddenly burst into a furious rant, his face contorted with anger.
He looked up sharply at HuMing, eyes flickering with recognition as he took in the boy’s features—features that bore a resemblance to his own.
Finally, the old man let out a long breath, the anger draining from his face.
"He’s Second Brother’s grandson. That makes him one of us. WeiJun, the rest is up to you."
"Understood, Father."
Clutching the letter tightly, the butler supported him as he slowly left the hall.
HuMing and Gu WeiJun turned to face each other once more.