Chapter 157: Recognition

Although Tiyana did not understand why Yang Guang's emotions had suddenly fluctuated so violently, she was now dead at heart and too weary to care.

"My child is already dead, and I have no desire to go on living."

Hearing Tiyana's words, a trace of inner conflict flashed across Yang Guang's averted face.

At this moment, he neither knew whether he should acknowledge her as his mother nor whether her words were true.

The kindness Chen Sinian had shown him over all these years made it difficult for him to doubt the man.

Yet, upon hearing that Tiyana intended to give up her life, a sharp, violent ache pierced through Yang Guang's heart.

"You are a princess of the Tidi clan. Although your inner strength has been crippled, if you can return, perhaps the Tidi priests will find a way to save you. Do you not wish to look upon your homeland once more?"

Yang Guang turned his head, casting a complex gaze at the damp, muddy ground beside him, and spoke in a persuasive tone through clenched teeth.

"Homeland?"

Hearing Yang Guang mention her homeland, Tiyana's mind momentarily drifted back to the vast, blinding expanse of white, recalling her royal father and her brothers.

For all these years, she had not stopped thinking of it. Yet, as time gradually slipped away, the scenes deep within her memory had begun to blur. The pale snowy landscapes she used to see in her dreams were now reduced to a vague, hazy mist.

The faces of her father, her elder brother, and her younger brother had their features gradually faded away by that glaring, boundless white light.

With a self-deprecating smile at the corner of her lips, Tiyana let out a cynical scoff and sighed aloud.

"I know the condition of my own body better than anyone. Restoring it is surely impossible by now. Homeland? Family? In this wretched state, I would rather they never laid eyes on me."

As she spoke, Tiyana looked down at the wounds covering her entire body, some of which had already begun to rot, emitting a faint, unpleasant odor.

Although the Tidi clan possessed such tenacious vitality that they could not regenerate severed limbs, they would never show signs of festering wounds.

Judging by her current state, Tiyana was truly nearing the end of her oil and the drying of her lamp.

"Since I must die sooner or later, I would rather they remember me as I used to be."

Hearing this, Yang Guang slowly turned his head, looked intently at Tiyana's face, and seemed to make a decision in his heart.

"Do you hate him? Do you regret going to save him back then?"

Hearing Yang Guang's question, Tiyana shook her head slightly and replied with a bitter, mocking laugh.

"All of this is of my own doing. By now, my heart has long since grown numb."

Watching Tiyana's desolate and despairing expression, Yang Guang's emotions were deeply stirred. No longer caring about her previous answer, he spoke in a soft voice.

"I am Yang Guang."

Tiyana smiled faintly at his words, then suddenly realized what he had just said. Her smile froze instantly. Staring at Yang Guang in disbelief, her tone became exceptionally sluggish and halting as she asked,

"You... what did you... say?"

Gazing at Tiyana with a steadfast and resolute look, having evidently persuaded himself inwardly, Yang Guang answered earnestly.

"I am your child."

"You... are you Guang'er? Are you truly Guang'er?"

Overcome with emotion, Tiyana scrambled toward the cage. Reaching her massive hands out through the gaps of the iron bars, her eyes brimming with tears of agitation, she tried to caress the child she had yearned for so long.

Yang Guang stepped closer to the iron cage, allowing Tiyana to stroke his cheek. Her rough skin grazed against his face like worn-out, weathered leather.

"Mother, do not die. Your son will take you out of here."

Tears welled up in the corners of Yang Guang's eyes, dampening Tiyana's fingers as he spoke softly.

Tiyana nodded with deep emotion and replied with firm resolve.

"I will not die. I will not die anymore."

Originally, she had long lost the will to live, but seeing her child alive and well ignited the hope for survival within Tiyana's heart once again.

Bang!

Just as Tiyana and Yang Guang, mother and son, were immersed in the joy of their reunion, a deafening explosion echoed from the entrance of the secret chamber.

Instantly, the entire artificial rockery and the passageway connected to the secret chamber were blown apart.

Billows of dust and shattered rock fragments danced and scattered through the air.

"A mother-son reunion is indeed quite a touching sight, but this Prince has lost his patience."

Chesinian's figure appeared at the entrance, his lazy voice drifting lazily through the swirling dust.

"My Lord!"

Hearing Chen Sinian's voice, Yang Guang and Tiyana turned in alarm toward the drifting dust. They watched as Chen Sinian's figure gradually emerged, holding a long saber in his hand.

Panicking, Tiyana hurriedly urged Yang Guang, whose shock was rapidly turning into rage: "My child, run! Run quickly and leave me to my fate!"

Tiyana naturally knew what kind of martial prowess Chen Sinian possessed. Although the Yang Guang before her had reached the level of a grandmaster, he was definitely no match for him.

Glaring at the newly arrived Chen Sinian with furious eyes, Yang Guang rose to his feet and drew his own saber. Even though he knew he was no match for Chen Sinian, his own birth mother was locked inside the iron cage behind him; he had no other choice.

Chen Sinian cast a cold, indifferent glance at Yang Guang, a trace of disdain curling at the corner of his lips.

"Guang'er, do you intend to betray me?"

Yang Guang remained silent. He simply tightened his grip on the saber with both hands, standing his ground in front of her, using his actions to express his answer.

Watching the guarded Yang Guang before him, Chen Sinian smiled faintly. With a flick of his hand, he struck with his blade, his figure instantly materializing right in front of Yang Guang. The great saber descended like a flash of lightning.

Before Yang Guang even had time to react, he saw a blur flash before his eyes. Immediately afterward, a fierce, bone-chilling killing intent wrapped in a freezing gale smashed down from above his head.

Instantly, Yang Guang instinctively crossed his saber above his head with both hands to block the blow.

However, the force transmitted through Chen Sinian's heavy saber far exceeded Yang Guang's expectations.

Feeling a numbness shoot through the web of both his hands as if crushed beneath Mount Tai, Yang Guang was driven straight down into a half-kneeling position by the sheer weight of the impact.

Bang!

Cracks shattered across the ground beneath the knees of Yang Guang's forced kneel.

Clenching his teeth in a grueling struggle, Yang Guang gripped his saber with both hands, laboriously withstanding the terrifying strength behind Chen Sinian's blade, a profound shock gripping his heart.

Although he had mentally prepared himself beforehand, Yang Guang never imagined that the gap in their strength would be so vast and insurmountable.

"Why... why are you so powerful?"

Incredulous, Yang Guang knew he had exerted every ounce of his strength, yet Chen Sinian—holding his blade in one hand with a cold expression—looked entirely at ease, staring down at him with aloof detachment and eyes full of utter contempt.

With a slight smirk at the corner of his mouth, Chen Sinian offered no answer. Instead, he casually kicked out, striking Yang Guang squarely in the chest.

Bang!

Yang Guang was sent flying backward like a sandbag, slamming heavily against the remaining stone wall of the secret chamber.