Chapter 123: The Appraisal Results

Huang Ying’s suggestion reminded everyone.

That’s right! DNA testing would be more accurate.

Yun Lengyue made a phone call immediately. After hanging up, she informed Gu Xiangnan that a hospital in Jiangning City could perform the test, and if they paid for an expedited service, the results would be available in three hours.

The group hurried to the hospital’s DNA testing center, where Yun Lengyue had already made the arrangements. A staff member used a cotton swab to collect cell samples from both of them. Afterward, everyone waited in the lounge for the final result.

After an agonizing three hours, the results were finally ready. A staff member walked out holding a document. Gu Xiangnan took it and looked at it. It read:

[Based on mitochondrial DNA analysis, Gu Xiangnan and Zi Xiaoyin share the same maternal lineage.]

Gu Xiangnan frowned. "Doctor, what does this mean?"

"Between biological siblings, it is impossible to be one hundred percent certain with this test alone; corroborating evidence is required."

What did that mean? Weren't other test results usually something like a 99.999% probability of being related? Why was his different?

Seeing the confusion in Gu Xiangnan’s eyes, the doctor explained, "If you want one hundred percent accuracy, you would also need to be tested alongside your father."

Both Gu Xiangnan and Zi Xiaoyin looked disappointed. The doctor offered some comfort: "As it stands, you both share the same maternal line. In other words, you are at least relatives—you could be full siblings, or perhaps maternal cousins."

Regardless, Gu Xiangnan knew he had finally found his only remaining relative in the world. He took Zi Xiaoyin’s hand and said with deep emotion, "Little sister, from now on, with your big brother here, no one will ever dare to bully you again!"

Zi Xiaoyin wept with joy, too overwhelmed to speak. Su Hanyan was astonished; Zi Xiaoyin had been staying at her home for so long, yet she never expected her to be Gu Xiangnan’s sister. She felt a wave of shame, recalling how she had secretly been wary of Zi Xiaoyin. She had truly misjudged a good person.

Gu Xiangnan initially wanted Zi Xiaoyin to move into his home, but he reconsidered. He had attracted a lot of trouble, and many people were out to assassinate him. Bringing his sister into the line of fire would only put her in mortal danger. It was better to keep things as they were for now.

Since this was a joyous occasion, the three senior sisters prepared to celebrate with Gu Xiangnan. However, due to the constant harassment from mercenaries, Gu Xiangnan suggested they celebrate at Su Hanyan’s villa instead. The group returned to Su Hanyan’s home in high spirits. Wang Mei began preparing dinner, while Zi Xiaoyin and Huang Ying assisted.

During dinner, Gu Xiangnan introduced Yun Lengyue’s identity to everyone. Huang Ying was shocked to learn that the War God of the Northern Frontier was actually Gu Xiangnan’s senior sister.

This was trouble. Zi Xiaoyin felt a secret sense of awe. As an ordinary girl, she would have had no connection to a War God in her entire life. To think such a prominent figure was her brother’s senior sister—what exactly had her brother been through?

After the meal, Huang Ying made an excuse and left early. Upon arriving home, her first instinct was to make a report. She called Tanaka, but his phone was powered off. Huang Ying found this unusual; she had called him countless times before, and it had never been off. After a moment of contemplation, she called Otsuka Shunsuke. His phone was off as well!

This was very wrong. What was going on? Huang Ying began to panic. She dared not call Fusang directly for fear of exposing her identity. After weighing her options, she turned on her computer and used technical means to mask her IP address. Then, using an encrypted communication app, she contacted her handler at the Fusang Hanfang Association headquarters.

[Huang Ying reporting: Gu Xiangnan has found his biological sister. Furthermore, I have discovered that the female War God of the Northern Frontier is Gu Xiangnan’s senior sister.]

A few minutes later, the reply came: [Received. Well done!]

Huang Ying hesitated for a moment before asking a question she shouldn't have: [Huang Ying reporting: I am unable to contact Tanaka from the provincial branch or Otsuka Shunsuke from the Imperial capital branch.]

The reply came back swiftly: [They are both dead.]

Huang Ying felt as if she had been struck by lightning, freezing in place. Dead? How could they be dead? With trembling fingers, she typed: [Can you tell me the cause of their deaths?]

[They were killed by Gu Xiangnan! Not only them, but everyone at the Dongsheng Building was killed.]

What? Everyone... killed by Gu Xiangnan?

The other side issued a new order: [Assassinating Gu Xiangnan is proving difficult. The plan has changed; you must look for an opportunity to carry out an assassination attempt on him.]

[But... I am no match for Gu Xiangnan at all. I fear I will be unable to complete the mission.] Huang Ying typed, her hands shaking.

[You must do your best. Your mother is still in Fusang, waiting to see you again!]

It was a blatant threat. Huang Ying clenched her fist and struck the desk in frustration.

She then replied: [As long as you can guarantee my mother’s safety, I will do everything I can.] She dared not refuse; she had no choice but to agree.

Su Hanyan invited the junior brother and sister to stay at her villa. Gu Xiangnan and Zi Xiaoyin had not seen each other for years, so the senior sisters tactfully left them alone to talk. Yun Lengyue went to the room Su Hanyan had prepared for her, intending to rest, but she received a call. An emergency mission had come up, and she was being recalled to her unit.

Yun Lengyue decided to leave Wang Mei there. After giving her detailed instructions, she left in a hurry. She had successfully helped her junior brother improve his cultivation during this trip, and with the Jia family now reconciled with Gu Xiangnan, she could leave with peace of mind.

In the study, the siblings sat on the sofa. Zi Xiaoyin looked at her brother, puzzled. "Brother, there is something I don’t understand. Why do you never mention the time you spent at the orphanage when we were little? Even when we went there last time, you didn't say a word."

It was indeed perplexing. Gu Xiangnan frowned. "It’s strange. I have absolutely no memory of being in an orphanage."

Why was that? The test results confirmed they were definitely related; there was no doubt about that.

"Perhaps I just forgot," Gu Xiangnan said, trying to comfort his sister.

The night grew deep. Everyone else had retired, but the siblings had endless things to say. They wanted to share every detail of the years they had spent apart. Zi Xiaoyin’s adoptive parents, despite having little income, had never let her go without. Given her beauty, if her adoptive parents had been selfish, they might have married her off to a wealthy family long ago. Instead, after her adoptive father passed away, her adoptive mother had sold pancakes to support her through university.

Gu Xiangnan was deeply moved. "Little sister, I must repay the auntie who raised you so well."

They talked throughout the night. As soon as dawn broke, they rushed to the hospital. Upon entering the room, the siblings saw the doctor shaking his head with a grave expression, while Zhang Hongmei, sitting opposite him, was weeping in total despair.