Page 282

"Mother... Mother... Why won’t you let me see my mother?"

The little girl’s tears fell like raindrops as she pleaded throughout the entire evening, no one, neither Chen Ying nor Shen Yuan and the others who had followed along, could bear to watch, yet they could only harden their hearts and stop her.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to fulfill the girl’s wish, they were afraid that seeing Yun Yuye in her current state would traumatize her!

Chen Ying sighed, gently wiping away the little girl’s tears, while her master, Mu Hongqing, who had come with Lumings, was also silent.

He was the representative who had come out to negotiate on behalf of Zhou Hanyang and the others.

The Grand Icy Snow Array that Chen Qing had designed also had another advantage: it could prevent the armies that had infiltrated Nan Ming Prefecture from coming out and causing trouble.

Even now, Zhou Hanyang and his men were still on high alert, completely unaware of Lumings’ current situation. After being surrounded by Chen Qing’s Warrior Army, they could only temporarily adopt a negotiation stance under Mu Hongqing’s persuasion and remain holed up in Nan Ming Prefecture.

"Master..." Chen Ying looked at Mu Hongqing, finding herself overtaken by a bitter sorrow she couldn’t express.

She had long known what her master cared about most and knew that his sister was still planted in the courtyard of the Lu Family. Although the mere thought was terrifying, only after seeing such a scene could she understand how utterly chilling the visual impact was.

When they found Yun Yuye, her body was already decomposing, maggots were gnawing all over her, and she had been tormented to the point of unconsciousness, resembling a living corpse that emitted ghastly screams at anyone who approached.

No one doubted that, if they released her chains, she would pounce like an Evil Ghost.

She dared not imagine what kind of torture one had to endure to end up in such a state.

And her master was so young when he had to witness his own sister in an even more horrific condition. How could he have possibly coped with that?

At the very least, she couldn’t accept what she saw in Yun Yuye.

She now desperately wanted to go to the underworld and have Second Master Shen cut open that wicked woman’s heart to see what she was made of that could drive a person to such malevolence?

"It’s alright... it’s all in the past now.

" Mu Hongqing looked at her, his face relaxing into a slight smile as he gazed into the distance, "This child, she’s rather unfortunate, but also quite lucky.

She and her mother encountered the most malicious person in the world, yet they also met someone as formidable as Chen Qing.

To be rescued in just one day is an incredible stroke of fate. "

"Master... you can do it too," Chen Ying suddenly said, "Lumings is dead, your wish... is finally going to come true."

"Yes..." Mu Hongqing stared into the distance, "It’s finally going to come true, like a dream."

To this day, he still couldn’t believe that the two great burdens that had weighed on his heart would one day vanish so abruptly...

He had thought that he would need to sacrifice much, much more to have a chance at liberating his family.

Because the higher he climbed, the more he knew how insurmountable those two individuals were.

He even felt that he might never get the chance in his lifetime...

Realizing this, he decided to adopt and teach Chen Ying, to leave behind a piece of his legacy.

"Girl, when Chen Qing comes, pass on my words to him."

"Master?" Chen Ying was taken aback, "You’re... leaving now?"

"Why wouldn’t I leave?" Mu Hongqing laughed, "Don’t you know how anxious your master is? I can’t wait to fly to the Capital City and resolve the obsessions that have plagued me for so many years."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ying paused, but hurriedly said, "Master, bring auntie back with you, we can definitely heal her here."

Mu Hongqing looked at Chen Ying, hesitating for a moment, "Is that possible?"

"It’s difficult..."

A helpless voice came through, startling them both as they turned to look. It was none other than Chen Qing, dressed in white.

"When did the master arrive?"

"Cough, just now..."

Chen Qing looked at Chen Ying with a wry smile.

He had actually been there for a while but felt somewhat awkward and didn’t want to come out, after all.

.. even if she was a concubine’s master, he was still an elder, and in his previous life, he had no experience of facing his father-in-law, so he felt a bit unnatural.

The reason he came out was that he feared Chen Ying, in a moment of impulsiveness, would make a promise that shouldn’t be made. If by chance she was taken seriously, it would be rather embarrassing.

"I pay my respects to my father-in-law," Chen Qing took a deep breath and respectfully bowed deeply.

Mu Hongqing was Chen Ying’s master, and now that Chen Ying’s parents were deceased, Mu Hongqing had become her father...

Chen Ying blushed at this, taken aback!

Truth be told, despite promising herself to Chen Qing as a concubine years ago, Chen Qing had never touched her in the two years’ time, leading her to believe he had no intentions in that regard.

Mu Hongqing observed him closely and seeing the earnestness and nervousness in his eyes, he couldn’t help but laugh.

The man who had calculated Lumings to death, he had always thought, would be a ruthless character, yet here he was showing such a tender, youthful demeanor...

But he didn’t dislike it; a bit of humanity was a good thing. At least, it showed that he truly regarded Chen Ying highly, or else, he would not have taken this approach with him.

"Chen Ying... I leave her in your care," Mu Hongqing said.

"Rest assured, father-in-law," Chen Qing quickly replied, "I won’t let her suffer any disadvantage."

At that, Chen Ying rolled her eyes. Was this really the kind of response to give?

"Really?" Mu Hongqing seemed pleased with the straightforward answer. Although blunt, he quite liked it. Not letting Chen Ying suffer any disadvantage was, in his view, the best response. There likely weren’t many men in the world who could achieve that.

"You mentioned earlier that it’s ’difficult.’ What did you mean by that?"

At this question, Chen Qing immediately revealed a troubled smile. It seemed the other party was indeed very concerned about this matter. But it was understandable; he had also heard from Chen Ying about Mu Hongqing’s past. To not care about it... would be nonsense.

"The hardest thing to heal in a person is their mental state," Chen Qing took a breath and said earnestly, "If one’s sanity is damaged, there’s nothing medicinal that can restore it. I’ve heard about your close relative’s condition, but in my opinion, if a person has been a Man-Eating Flower for longer than they’ve been human, restoring their human sanity is as difficult as ascending to heaven! "

Mu Hongqing’s body shivered slightly upon hearing this, but he didn’t show much surprise. This, in fact, was something he had anticipated.

"How could this be?" Chen Ying’s face was filled with astonishment as she looked at Chen Qing, hope evident in her eyes, obviously seeking even a sliver of hope from this man who seemed to know almost everything.

Chen Qing, a bit speechless by her fan-like pleading gaze, could only continue to explain, "However, it is not entirely without chance. If Father-in-law brings your close relative to Jiangnan intact, I will do my utmost!"

"I’ve heard that... once you’re in Jiangnan’s territory, even the dead will enter the underworld?"

"Yes..." Chen Qing instantly understood the other party’s idea.

"Can they recover after entering the underworld?"

"They can!" Chen Qing nodded, "Using the method of Extraction, it’s possible to do so, but... there’s a great divide between humans and ghosts.

Even though I founded the underworld, I cannot violate some of its rules.

Father-in-law must think carefully, once your close relative enters the underworld, seeing them again will become very difficult. "

"It’s okay..." Mu Hongqing shook his head and smiled, "I want to liberate them, not to keep them here with me. As long as they’re well, that’s enough."

This father-in-law’s values are certainly right...

Chen Qing’s expression turned serious and he bowed again, "Then, Father-in-law, the sooner you leave, the sooner you return!"

"Alright..." Mu Hongqing nodded, but then added, "I’m leaving in a rush, so it will be up to you to persuade Zhou Hanyang and the others. These men are fine fellows, completely different from Lumings."

"I understand."

After Chen Qing responded, Mu Hongqing’s figure disappeared from the spot, clearly, just as he said, he couldn’t wait to fly back to the Capital City!

"Come in."

With Mu Hongqing gone, Chen Qing looked towards a corner outside the military tent. After an indeterminate amount of time, a shadow formed of energy walked out.

Chen Ying, being a Magician, immediately recognized the figure, her face turning icy, "You? What are you doing here?"

Lumings didn’t even bother to look at her, in his eyes, Chen Ying wasn’t even qualified to talk to him.

"Uncle Lazy?"

A soft and gentle voice sounded, causing Lumings, who had been expressionless, to become visibly moved, his body turning to look stiffly in the direction of the voice.

I’m in my Yin Spirit form, aren’t I? Why can Ke’er see me?

"Uncle Lazy..." Ke’er ran over with red eyes, "Mother, mother is in trouble!"

The little girl threw herself at Lumings, who almost subconsciously wanted to catch her, but seemed to have forgotten that he... was a Yin Spirit...

Yunke’er passed right through Lumings and was caught by Chen Ying beside her!

"Uncle Lazy?" Ke’er turned around, her eyes red, staring blankly at Lumings.

Lumings also looked at her, his face finally showing a hint of emotion as he smiled faintly.

Chen Qing... you’re tough on yourself but I didn’t realize you were a kind person. The little girl doesn’t even know that the person who hurt her mother... is right in front of her...

"You just said that mental injuries are difficult to heal, but once they enter the underworld, the Extraction method can be used to restore them, right? What about Yun Yuye then?"

"You are not entitled to decide any of this!" Chen Qing said coldly, "The fate of her mother can only be decided by this girl."

"You’re letting a child decide?"

"Would you rather you decide?"

Lumings was taken aback, unable to come up with a response for a long time.

It seems true, letting a child decide is unreliable, but should the decision be left to the very culprit responsible for the trouble?

Chen Qing is right, where do I have any right to decide?

"Let’s go..." Lumings closed his eyes, "Go see Yun Yuye."

Chen Qing nodded and took the lead, with the little girl, upon hearing she was going to see her mother, quickly gripping tightly onto Chen Qing’s leg.

"If you want to follow, then walk properly!" Chen Qing frowned. This little girl, where is she wiping her snot?

"My Lord?" Chen Ying’s eyes widened in surprise.

"You don’t need to worry," Chen Qing glanced at the determined little girl, "She’s stronger than you think, having endured the poison to help me find Nan Ming. And as I said before, only she can decide Yun Yuye’s fate."

This logic is definitely correct. After all, in the modern world, shouldn’t the critical condition notice be given to the family?

Lumings’ body paused slightly, walking a few steps before finally stopping, and then he said, "The Flying Star Bottle comes from Great Serpent Country, it’s one of the four great magic artifacts of that land!"

"Magic artifact..." At these words, a trace of gloom flickered in Chen Qing’s eyes.

This concept, too, was something I envisioned for the new version, but it... was never uploaded.

Could it be that the world I’ve arrived in is the one after the patch was applied?

But if I, the designer, have transgressed into this world, then who is applying the patches to it?