Demon Suppression Department.
In the courtyard, Ling Yishan lay on a rocking chair, gently waving a palm fan, glancing at the moon-white figure beside him.
Ling Ningzhi was crouching on the ground, hugging her knees. In front of her, a copper pot sat on the brazier, its lid trembling and making a "puff puff" sound, yet she seemed oblivious, her gaze empty and unfocused.
"Girl, it’s boiling."
Ling Ningzhi snapped back to reality, only then noticing the boiling tea, hurriedly reaching out to lift the copper furnace.
She forgot to use primordial qi to shield herself, and her fingers got scalded by the hot handle. She withdrew them as if jolted, staring blankly at the red mark rising on her fair fingertips.
Since the Martial Arts Exam ended, this girl has been absent-minded. Could it be because she was eliminated in the first round?
He knew his granddaughter well; she never cared for vain fame or profit. Participating in the exam was merely to represent the Tianshu Pavilion formally. Such matters would not likely disturb her mindset.
What on earth has happened?
"Grandpa might be old, but I still have some influence in Tiandu City. If there’s trouble, don’t hesitate to speak up," Ling Yishan said.
Ling Ningzhi lifted her delicate chin, revealing a radiant smile, "Grandpa, don’t worry, everything is fine."
Her smile was somewhat forced, with a hint of panic in her eyes, clearly putting on a brave face... Ling Yishan probed, "Has that crazy master of yours come?"
Ling Ningzhi shook her head, "No, Master wouldn’t come to Tiandu City easily."
This time, she was telling the truth.
If it isn’t because of this, then what could it be?
Suddenly, Ling Yishan recalled the man who defeated Ling Ningzhi, the same Sky Scale Guard Hundred Household Officer who had recently caught his attention.
This man’s fortune is rather peculiar, even someone with his perceptive eyes can’t see through it clearly.
Ling Yishan fanned himself leisurely, saying, "That Chen Mo, who won the Martial Arts Champion, has become quite famous recently..."
Ling Ningzhi responded expressionlessly.
Her eyes trembled slightly, her breathing quickened, and the base of her ears turned a bit red—although she quickly regained composure, these subtle changes did not escape Ling Yishan’s notice.
Could it really be because of that boy?
"Zhi’er, do you like Chen Mo?" Ling Yishan directly asked.
Even with all her poise, Ling Ningzhi was caught off guard.
A blush crept onto her fair face, her eyes rounded in disbelief, stammering, "Who, who likes him?! He’s just a bully! How could I possibly like someone like that?!"
Looking at her indignant and embarrassed demeanor, Ling Yishan nodded as if confirming.
"If it were merely dislike, it wouldn’t disturb your mindset unless you actually care deeply..."
Ling Ningzhi lowered her delicate chin, sighing silently in her heart.
Grandfather had no idea what Chen Mo had done to her.
In front of a crowd, he didn’t just mock her, he forced her to call out names too shameful to speak aloud.
Though the actions were covert and went unnoticed by others, every time she thought of it, the shame that surged in her heart nearly consumed her, threatening to unsettle the Dao Heart she had cultivated for over twenty years.
Yet due to the constraints of a contract, she couldn’t tell anyone and had to endure it quietly alone.
"No, I won’t talk to you about it, I’m going out for a walk..."
Ling Ningzhi stood up and swiftly left the courtyard.
Watching her retreating figure, Ling Yishan drew up a smile.
"Tsk tsk, it’s like a withered tree blossoming, witnessing Zhi’er’s awakening feelings in my lifetime was unexpected."
Having understood the girl’s sentiments, Ling Yishan felt no anger. Instead, there was a sense of relief filling his old heart.
His Dao Foundation was severely damaged, and to maintain power, he had to continuously consume his life force, leaving him with little time.
In his final moments, he didn’t want to see Ling Ningzhi follow his path, becoming an emotionless cultivating machine, nor did he want her to be trapped by guilt all her life.
Ling Ningzhi should have a life of her own.
"Seeking immortals and understanding the Dao in a dream of yellow millet, comprehending worldly attachments, it’s all just a fleeting dream."
"Relentlessly pursuing transcendence, isn’t that just another form of obsession? Living peacefully and joyfully with a companion, raising children at their knees is not a bad life choice."
Ling Yishan squinted his eyes, a gleam flashing through them, "Not everyone is fit to be worthy of this old man’s granddaughter."
A deep male voice echoed from the void.
"Keep an eye on that boy from the Chen Family..."
Everything that happened at the Heavenly Human Martial Exam swept through the entire streets and alleys like a storm.
Chen Mo overcame the true disciple from the Daoist Sect, the foremost of the Buddhist sect, seized the title of Martial Arts Champion, and became the first martial cultivator in a century to top the Cloud Top Ranking!
Due to the high attention, his previous accomplishments were unearthed: slaying the Tenth Sky Demon, solving the Zhou Family Case, beheading a flood dragon in Linglan County... In just a few months, he achieved great success, rising from a General to a Hundred Household Officer, and he is about to climb even higher!
Yet, he is only twenty years old, with limitless potential ahead of him!
Ling Ningzhi walked along the streets, passing by taverns and teahouses, overhearing loud discussions, all revolving around that man.
On the day she was defeated by Chen Mo, she did not leave but stayed on the outskirts to continue watching the competition.
Witnessing with her own eyes Chen Mo’s valor against Shi Yun was somewhat astonishing to her.
That broken body, with snapped bones yet standing tall like a pine, was hard to associate with the scoundrel who teased her.