Chapter 36: Waiting
When Zong Sheng lay on the ground, battered and bruised, Xie Bailu had already eaten her fill of melon seeds.
As long as Ling Song wasn’t beating her, watching him beat someone else was indeed an entertaining activity. Zong Sheng had not been without a thought of resisting, but the gap between his and Ling Song’s realms was too great, and he didn’t have Ling Song’s ability to kill across realms. He had been beaten down as soon as he had risen.
In the end, he could only raise one arm tremblingly while he could still speak. “Brother, I’m going to die…”
Ling Song looked at Zong Sheng’s miserable state and gave a gentle, faint smile, asking, “Will you talk nonsense next time?”
Zong Sheng said, “I won’t dare, I won’t dare!” He would dare next time! But he would have to wait until he had gathered some more magical treasures!
Ling Song didn’t care about Zong Sheng’s little thoughts and flew down in front of Xie Bailu. “Did you enjoy the show?”
Xie Bailu gave a thumbs up. “You’re amazing!”
Ling Song chuckled and held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
Xie Bailu obediently went over, and Ling Song wrapped his arm around her waist and flew up, heading towards the Ling family’s mansion.
Xie Bailu held it in for a while before finally asking, “How much longer are we going to stay in the Ling family’s mansion?”
She couldn’t wait to rush to her three months of freedom without Ling Song.
Ling Song’s clear voice came from above Xie Bailu’s head with a hint of a smile. “Are you in that much of a hurry?”
Xie Bailu also smiled. “Indeed, very anxious.”
Ling Song said, “Wait a little longer.”
Xie Bailu said, “Oh.”
What was she waiting for? She didn’t know, but she could only listen to Ling Song.
Just as the two of them saw the Ling family’s mansion, a handsome and clear figure blocked their path.
It was a handsome young man with a hint of excitement in his expression, but he forced himself to be calm. “Young Master, my name is Ling Ci. May I ask for your guidance?”
Xie Bailu looked at his sparkling eyes that were fixed on Ling Song and knew that this was probably Ling Song’s fanboy. She hadn’t expected that he would actually have a fanboy who wasn’t afraid of him.
Ling Song scanned the other party and said, “Not afraid of death?”
Ling Ci was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head. “No. I admire the Young Master very much. You didn’t rely on the Ling family’s resources and have come this far on your own. I’ve wanted to see you for a long time, but I’ve never had the chance. Can you give me a little time today?”
Ling Song also seemed to be encountering such a situation for the first time. He paused for a moment, then put Xie Bailu down. “Wait for me for a moment.”
Xie Bailu pulled on his sleeve, and when he looked over, she smiled. “Big Brother Ling Song, it’s rare that someone isn’t afraid of you. Be merciful.”
Ling Song smiled. “Aren’t you not afraid of me either?”
Xie Bailu gently punched him and said coquettishly, “What’s our relationship! Don’t break the fanboy’s heart.”
Ling Song didn’t understand what “fanboy” meant, but he didn’t ask, nor did he promise anything. He gave Xie Bailu a smile and walked towards Ling Ci.
Xie Bailu still remembered that when she was in White Rock City, she had heard that Ling Song had seriously injured two Golden Core disciples from the Ling family’s branch. He was not soft-hearted towards the Ling family. She just hoped that he would be merciful for the sake of this little fanboy.
Ling Ci’s talent was also among the top in the Ling family. He was only in his twenties and was already at the peak of Foundation Establishment. It was still early for him to break through to the Golden Core stage. If he could challenge Ling Song when he was about to break through, it would be of great help to his breakthrough.
Unfortunately, Ling Song’s whereabouts were uncertain, and he rarely returned to the Ling family’s mansion. Therefore, he could only take the rare opportunity of Ling Song’s return to ask for guidance.
Ling Song summoned Shishang and said to Ling Ci, “I’ll give you half an incense stick’s time.”
Ling Ci quickly thanked him, then took his sword and assumed a stance, attacking Ling Song.
Xie Bailu was still watching the battle from the side.
She had seen many battles between top-notch cultivators and had gained some insight. Ling Ci and Zong Sheng both had the style of being raised by a major family, very by-the-book. Facing a cultivator like Ling Song who had walked between life and death, they were naturally crushed. However, the difference in their cultivation was large, and Ling Song was also rarely more patient, only defending and not attacking, like a teacher guiding a student.
Ling Ci’s face was serious, and he didn’t dare to be distracted at all. Every attack was with all his might, but every time it was easily resolved by Ling Song. He was not discouraged, and his emotions became more and more excited.
Half an incense stick’s time passed quickly. In the end, Ling Song used the body of Shishang’s sword to pat Ling Ci’s body, knocking him back. Without saying another word, he walked towards Xie Bailu.
Ling Ci staggered back several steps, and blood also overflowed from the corner of his mouth, but he had a big smile on his face and said loudly, “Thank you, Young Master!”
Xie Bailu looked at Ling Song’s calm expression and said in a low voice, “I didn’t expect Big Brother Ling Song to have such a soft-hearted moment!”
Her voice was a little resentful. Why couldn’t he be soft-hearted towards her? She also wanted him to be merciful and let her live!
A similarly resentful voice came from the side. “That’s right, brother is so good to others. I’m your brother, right!”
Xie Bailu turned her head and saw Zong Sheng, who was covered in wounds, had caught up, complaining with a scarred face.
Ling Song ignored Zong Sheng and looked at Xie Bailu deeply, the corners of his lips slightly curved, his eyes smiling. “Didn’t you tell me to be merciful?”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” You’re listening to me now! When I asked you to let me go and go our separate ways, you didn’t listen at all!
She forced a smile. “Then I’ll thank Big Brother Ling Song!”
Ling Song ignored Zong Sheng and Ling Ci and took Xie Bailu back to the Ling family’s mansion.
After such a long day of tossing and turning, it was now late. When the two of them returned to Ling Yiyao’s courtyard, Qingke appeared as if she had been waiting for a long time and said that she had prepared a meal for Xie Bailu.
Who would want to eat dry rations when there was hot food? Of course, Xie Bailu happily took the food box from Qingke and went back to her room to eat.
It was only when Xie Bailu was alone again that Xiao Xing jumped out. “Master, quickly install the water elemental essence stone.”
Xie Bailu thought it made sense. After she left the Ling family’s mansion, she wouldn’t have such a good opportunity. She couldn’t use the Divine Movement Art to run away here for the time being, so it didn’t matter if Xiao Xing was temporarily offline.
Then she heard Xiao Xing say, “When I wake up next time, I’ll teach you the Turtle Breathing Art! As long as there’s water, you can completely hide your form and aura. Even if that madman has a spiritual sense imprint, he won’t be able to find you!”
Xie Bailu’s heart leaped with joy. Although there were great restrictions, such an effect was already very good! The Divine Movement Art could only travel a thousand li in a day in an open, open place.
She asked, “How long can I last with my cultivation?”
Xiao Xing said, “About an incense stick’s time!”
About half an hour. Although it was a bit short, it was a life-saving skill for a while.
Xie Bailu was already very satisfied. She rubbed Xiao Xing’s soft white body. “You appeared under Ling Song’s pressure just now to remind me to take this, right?”
Xiao Xing said happily, “Fortunately, master understood and chose the right one! The wood elemental essence stone is of no use to master now!”
Xie Bailu felt a little guilty. Although she had indeed considered Xiao Xing at that time, she had thought it wanted to complete the Five-Star Cauldron as soon as possible. She hadn’t expected it to be thinking for her. It was so simple-minded. After believing her bluff, it had started to think for her wholeheartedly.
Her movements as she touched Xiao Xing became even gentler. “Don’t worry. In the future, I will not only protect you, but I will also do my best to find all the elemental crystals.”
Xiao Xing happily spun around. “I believe in master! Master, you were even able to get back the water elemental crystal that was snatched by that madman. Is there anything you can’t do!”
Its praise was extremely sincere, and it made Xie Bailu feel a little smug. Wasn’t that right? Regardless of the process, just looking at the result, she was so powerful that she could get things back from Ling Song. Regardless of whether Ling Song was willing or not, didn’t she personally take it back from his storage bag!
Thinking of the next three months, Xie Bailu was in a very good mood and enjoyed her meal.
After eating, Xiao Xing fused with the water elemental essence stone and temporarily went offline.
Xie Bailu simply lay down to sleep. The last time Xiao Xing had been offline for a whole day. It said it would be faster this time. Maybe it would be online again when she woke up.
The next day, Xiao Xing was still not online. Xie Bailu was invited by Ling Yiyao again and asked about her being hunted by Ling Song again yesterday.
Xie Bailu’s face was innocent. “We were just playing.”
Ling Yiyao thought of how A’Sheng had come to her last night and cried about Ling Song’s ruthlessness, and had also asked her for many magical treasures. She was a little skeptical of Xie Bailu’s words. She said with concern, “If you have any misunderstandings, you should resolve them as soon as possible, so as not to hurt your feelings.”
Xie Bailu said, “Don’t worry, we’re fine now!”
Ling Yiyao could only nod. “That’s good. Song’er said he’s going into seclusion for two days. If you want anything these two days, just go to Qingke.”
Xie Bailu also agreed readily.
When she returned to her room, Xiao Xing was also online. “Master, I’m back!”
Xie Bailu didn’t waste any time and asked Xiao Xing to teach her the Turtle Breathing Art.
The Turtle Breathing Art also had five hand seals, which were not difficult to learn. She quickly memorized them all, but because she didn’t want the Ling family and Ling Song to know, she couldn’t find a place to practice for the time being.
Even so, she still practiced over and over again to increase her proficiency. She had a strange sense of urgency.
Ling Song had said to wait a little longer, and then today he had gone into seclusion. But he hadn’t been injured recently, and he had just advanced in his cultivation a while ago. What was he going into seclusion for? She had reason to suspect that he was stalling for time, giving some people time to react, and with action, there would be flaws.
Ling Song’s trip to the forbidden area had a legitimate reason to deal with the Ling family, but he had gone to the forbidden area after all. And from the looks of Ling Yiyao and Ling Yizhu, there was definitely something in the forbidden area that they didn’t want Ling Song to find. Therefore, even if they were temporarily at ease, there would always be others who would have doubts.
This was what she judged from Ling Song’s attitude. Originally, he had already used her to deal with Ling Yizhu, the family head. Why did he have to wait? Then it could only mean that he thought or he knew that there were others involved in his father’s matter, and these others were not Ling family members.
What level of person could be involved with the Ling family head in this matter? Shouldn’t she quickly practice her life-saving skills?
Ling Song was indeed in seclusion for two days. Xie Bailu didn’t leave her room either, just cultivating in the room. Qingke would bring her food. She didn’t want any accidents.
When Ling Song came to find Xie Bailu, Ling Yiyao also came, probably knowing that he was leaving.
The mother and son didn’t have a tearful farewell. Ling Song took Xie Bailu and left, and Ling Yiyao just watched him go.
After Ling Song had taken Xie Bailu dozens of li away from the Ling family’s mansion, Xie Bailu quickly said, “Young Master Ling, let’s part here!”
Whatever Ling Song’s purpose was, whatever people he wanted to lure out, it had nothing to do with her. She wanted to run quickly, so as not to get blood on her.
Ling Song said with a faint smile, “Miss Xie can really guess anything.”
Xie Bailu pretended to be innocent. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just want to get as far away from you as possible as soon as possible.”
Ling Song looked at her with a smile. “Zong Sheng is still following behind.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…What does he want!”
He had been beaten up like that by Ling Song. How could he still be so shameless as to follow? Did he want to die that much?
Ling Song said, “Then I’ll have to trouble Miss Xie to bear with it a little longer.”
What else could Xie Bailu do? Of course, she could only smile and agree.
Because she didn’t have to use her strength, and Ling Song didn’t talk to her, she became a little drowsy, until Ling Song suddenly stopped, and she also suddenly woke up.
In front of the two of them, in mid-air, was a man in black with a pure black mask.
The moment she saw that person, Xie Bailu tensed up and subconsciously grabbed Ling Song’s collar.
Now the blood was really going to splash on her. The aura on this man in the black mask was deep and bottomless. She had never felt this from the two Nascent Soul evil cultivators. And Ling Song had almost lost half his life fighting that evil cultivator’s senior brother. What about the person in front of them?
If it were any other time, she would have definitely applauded and cheered. But this time, the other party was most likely here for Ling Song’s father’s matter. She, a semi-insider, would not be left alive.
Ling Song looked at the person in front of him with great interest and smiled. “Are you here to kill me?”
The man in the black mask did not say a word and took out a plain, ordinary longsword with no distinguishing features, similar to the longsword Xie Bailu had bought in the Treasure Pavilion.
She also noticed that his black clothes had no markings.
This was to prevent people from discovering his identity. But, with the other party’s cultivation, was he still afraid that the two of them would have a chance to escape?
Was the other party putting on a show, and not actually wanting to kill Ling Song? Or was the other party wary of Ling Song’s strength? But Ling Song’s cultivation was far from the other party’s, unless… the other party was wary of Ling Song’s red-eyed, out-of-control state.
“Lulu, wait for me for a moment.” Ling Song caressed Xie Bailu’s back.
Hearing this name, Xie Bailu also looked up at him with a worried expression. “Be careful. I’ll wait for you.”
Ling Song put Xie Bailu down, and the man in the black mask had not made a move all this time.
Xie Bailu wanted to use the Divine Movement Art to escape immediately, but she also wanted to see what their fight would be like. What if she could see them both take each other out? But in the next moment, she didn’t have to struggle anymore, because the man in the black mask had locked onto her with his aura, and she couldn’t run.
The man in the black mask did not attack first, and Ling Song, because of the large gap in their cultivation, also did not attack first. He only self-harmed with Shishang, instantly increasing his cultivation. Then he performed a hand seal, and his cultivation was forcibly increased again, surpassing the mid-stage Nascent Soul and reaching the late-stage Nascent Soul.
Xiao Xing cried out in a low voice, “He’s really crazy! He’s actually burning his own lifespan to forcibly increase his cultivation!”
Xie Bailu frowned. It seemed that this man in the black mask was really difficult to deal with. Ling Song was probably using all his trump cards.
Speaking of which, Ling Song knew that there was a problem with his bloodline. Did he have any understanding of his out-of-control state? She felt that he probably did, and she estimated that his out-of-control state was even more powerful, but he was using all his trump cards at this moment, as if he didn’t want to enter that state.
Every breath of forcibly increasing his cultivation with a secret technique was burning his lifespan. Therefore, after he finished, Ling Song immediately raised his sword and attacked the man in the black mask.
The man in the black mask was extremely fast, like a ghost. He easily dodged Ling Song’s attack, and Ling Song didn’t even graze him with his sword wind.
But Ling Song didn’t even pause. Shishang was like a part of his own body, tracing beautiful and dangerous arcs, continuously attacking the man in the black mask.
However, every time, the man in the black mask could perfectly avoid it. He only defended and did not attack, like a strict mentor coldly testing his disciple’s studies.
At a certain moment, the man in the black mask began to counterattack. He just gently vibrated his spiritual energy, and the sword qi on his longsword forced Ling Song back. After that, he never sheathed his longsword again. Every move seemed simple, but it also blocked all of Ling Song’s escape routes. After a while, Ling Song was cut by the sword qi, leaving countless wounds, and his red clothes became even more brilliant.
This was the first time Xie Bailu had seen Ling Song so powerless against an enemy. She watched him fight nervously, while also trying to break through the man in the black mask’s aura lock.
It seemed that Ling Song was in a bad situation today. She didn’t want to be buried with him!
Perhaps the man in the black mask’s fight with Ling Song had distracted him a little. Xie Bailu felt the aura on her loosen. She quickly performed the hand seals for the Divine Movement Art. As time passed, when the last hand seal of the Divine Movement Art fell, her mind relaxed, and her whole person turned into a white light.
But before her white light could fly out, a sudden sword strike blocked her escape. She reappeared, clutching the hole in her abdomen and vomiting a mouthful of blood.
It turned out that Ling Song couldn’t stop her in the Eye Demon’s domain before because his cultivation was not high enough. With a higher cultivation, he could even stop her already successful Divine Movement Art.
As her vision gradually blurred, Xie Bailu saw the blood-stained red robe blocking her way.
Ling Song’s voice was calm but also carried a hint of madness. “You hurt her.”
The man in the black mask, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, “What can you do?” His voice was hoarse and old, and it sounded like it had been disguised.
Ling Song did not answer. His figure was faster than before, and he attacked the man in the black mask without any regard for himself. He only attacked and did not defend. After a while, his already scarred body was dripping with blood.
But, he still couldn’t shake the man in the black mask. The gap in their cultivation was too great.
Xie Bailu saw Ling Song’s futile counterattacks, but he didn’t cause any harm to the other party. She wanted to hold on, but her injuries were too serious. Even though Xiao Xing was calling her anxiously, she still fainted.
But before she fainted, she seemed to see a pair of red eyes, with even the whites of the eyes stained red.