Chapter 33: Mysterious Inheritance
Xie Bailu had thought that her words would make Ling Yiyao break her facade and stop pretending to be a loving mother, but the other party’s level was beyond her expectations.
After Ling Yiyao let go of Xie Bailu’s hand, she lowered her gaze and sighed deeply before saying faintly, “I know, I was wrong to Song’er in the past. Now, these words sound very hypocritical.”
She looked up again, her eyes already filled with tears. “But Bailu, now I really know I was wrong. Back then, Song’er’s father and I couldn’t be together forever. I just hope that such a thing won’t happen to Song’er. I know you’re standing up for Song’er, and you feel sorry for him. This is very good. Only someone like you can heal his past wounds.”
Xie Bailu knew that no matter what she said, she couldn’t shake Ling Yiyao anymore. Even though she hadn’t been an elder for long, she was a Golden Core cultivator after all.
Fortunately, she wasn’t really standing up for Ling Song. She also sighed. “I do feel very sorry for his past, even if I only heard a little from Zong Sheng. Can you tell me? I want to know everything about him.”
With the previous “harsh ridicule,” Xie Bailu’s genuine feelings now seemed much more real. Ling Yiyao gently wiped away her tears and was silent for a moment before saying, “Because of my disagreement with Song’er’s father, I married A’Sheng’s father shortly after giving birth to Song’er. I rarely returned to the Ling family after that and deliberately ignored Song’er. It was only later that I found out that without my protection, he had been bullied endlessly…”
Ling Yiyao paused, as if to calm her emotions, before smiling. “When Song’er was ten, I returned to the Ling family. It was only then that I discovered that Song’er was indeed of my bloodline. He had started cultivating on his own at the age of six and reached Foundation Establishment at nine. How many people in this world have such talent?”
Xie Bailu sincerely agreed, “He is indeed amazing.”
Ling Yiyao sighed again. “Under my care, his cultivation improved steadily, and I was also making up for what I owed him. Until he was fifteen, my brother’s son, Hong’er, had some conflict with him. He injured Hong’er, and I scolded him. He was probably hurt at that time. After that, he left the Ling family under the pretext of training and almost never came back.”
Xie Bailu listened very carefully. After all, she was hoping to find a way to get rid of Ling Song from his past.
Ling Yiyao’s description of the facts was probably mostly true, but she definitely hadn’t told the whole truth in some important places. For example, what did she mean by “Hong’er had some conflict with him”? The bullying Ling Song had suffered before he was ten must have included Ling Hong, and the so-called conflict was most likely Ling Hong, the son of the family head, leading his followers to bully Ling Song.
And what Ling Yiyao had said about “scolding him” was definitely an understatement. Injuring the foundation of the family head’s son, it couldn’t have been just a scolding. It probably also included corporal punishment. It was only because of Ling Song’s outstanding talent that his foundation was not equally destroyed.
If what Ling Yiyao said was true, then her bringing her here from so far away could be explained as a way to alleviate her guilt and at the same time, to show goodwill to Ling Song and ease the relationship between them.
But Xie Bailu still felt that it was too hasty. It hadn’t even been a month since the rumors about them had spread. Was the Ling family really so sure it was true?
And Ling Song’s attitude could also be a side-proof. If Ling Yiyao was really because of guilt, how could Ling Song not know what Ling Yiyao wanted to do and thus deliberately test her?
Xie Bailu said insincerely, “You didn’t want things to turn out like this either. Now that Big Brother Ling Song is back, you can just make it up to him.”
Ling Yiyao said, “Yes, you’re right. But, I’m afraid Song’er won’t be willing to stay in the Ling family, and then I won’t be able to do anything.”
Xie Bailu tested, “Then shall I help you persuade him to stay in the Ling family?”
Was Ling Yiyao’s purpose to make Ling Song stay in the Ling family and become a part of their combat power?
Ling Yiyao shook her head. “No need. Song’er has always been very independent since he was a child. Forcing him to stay will only make him resent me more.”
Alright, so it’s not to make Ling Song stay.
Xie Bailu said, “Then what can I do for you?”
Ling Yiyao smiled. “Bailu, you just need to love Song’er well.”
Xie Bailu waited, but there was no follow-up. She couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.
She couldn’t figure it out!
Ling Yiyao’s attitude was consistent from beginning to end. She just wanted her to treat Ling Song well. But was all this trouble just for this? What was the point? To make her treat Ling Song well, so that he would become a love-struck fool and stop going out to be crazy?
Impossible. No one would think that Ling Song could become a love-struck fool! Besides, this was too childish!
After Ling Yiyao finished speaking, she looked at Xie Bailu, as if waiting for her to express her stance.
Xie Bailu said, “I definitely will.”
Ling Yiyao gently patted Xie Bailu’s hand. “It’s good that you have this intention. Also, you know that the higher a cultivator’s cultivation, the harder it is to have children. Although Song’er is young, his cultivation is improving by leaps and bounds. If you two are not against it, it would be good to have a child early.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” The dagger is finally out of the sheath! So Ling Yiyao wants Ling Song to have a child!
She pretended to be shy. “We… we’ll consider it.”
Ling Yiyao didn’t seem to be in a hurry, at least she didn’t show it. It was as if she had just mentioned it casually. Then she wiped the corners of her eyes. “I’ve made a fool of myself. Where is Song’er? Go find him. Let him show you around the Ling family. Don’t be in a hurry to leave.”
Very good. After achieving her goal, she’s sending her away. Very efficient.
Xie Bailu agreed and then left under Qingke’s guidance.
Before she returned to her room, Xie Bailu saw Ling Song standing straight by the roadside. Qingke bowed to Ling Song and then retreated.
Xie Bailu walked to Ling Song’s side and looked up at him with a sweet smile. “Do you know what your mother called me to talk about?”
A hint of a smile appeared on Ling Song’s originally indifferent expression, and he asked cooperatively, “What did she say?”
Xie Bailu smiled with ill intentions. “She wants you to be a stud and have a few more children.”
Ling Song was speechless. “…?”
He lowered his eyes and glanced at Xie Bailu, chuckling. “She wants you to have them, right?”
Xie Bailu showed no shyness at all when she mentioned this and said calmly, “She’s not my mother. The focus is on you, not me. It doesn’t have to be me, it can be someone else, as long as it’s your seed.”
Ling Song’s smile faded a little. “Impossible. She wouldn’t want me to continue my bloodline.”
Xie Bailu smelled the scent of an important secret and asked, “Why?”
Ling Song leaned in to look at her, his smile dangerous. “I can tell you, but you’ll have to die after you know.”
Xie Bailu pushed him away. “…Forget it. I’m not curious at all.”
Although in Ling Song’s eyes, she was as good as dead, there was a big difference between dying early and dying late.
Besides, even if he didn’t say it, she could guess. Wasn’t it just that there was a problem with his father’s side? No one knew who his father was or what his background was. It must be a big secret. In addition, she had seen Ling Song’s red eyes before. Considering Ling Yiyao’s different treatment of her two sons, it could only be because Ling Song had inherited something extraordinary from his father.
But… if that mysterious inheritance had led to the Ling family’s strange attitude towards Ling Song, why didn’t they just kill him when he was a child? Even now, his cultivation was high, but it was still easy for a major family to kill him.
What was that mysterious inheritance? Why did Ling Song think that his mother couldn’t possibly want to continue it, but Ling Yiyao had shown an intention to continue it?
This should be due to a lack of information. Ling Yiyao was Ling Song’s biological mother. She knew more than Ling Song, and it was easy to hide things from him and mislead him.
The different treatment of Zong Sheng and Ling Song by Ling Yiyao made Xie Bailu convinced that Ling Yiyao’s motherly love for Ling Song was very hypocritical. Therefore, she did not hesitate to speculate on the other party with the worst of intentions.
One wanted to kill her, and the other wanted to trick her into having a child. This mother and son were not good people.
“What else did she say?” Ling Song asked again, as if the previous threat had not come from him.
Xie Bailu also wanted to get more feedback from Ling Song, so she said truthfully, “She said to let me love you well. She had treated you badly in the past and felt guilty, and now she hopes I can take care of you on her behalf.”
Ling Song looked ahead, a faint smile on his lips. Only when he heard Xie Bailu say “guilty” did a hint of ridicule flash in his eyes.
Seeing that he didn’t speak, Xie Bailu stared at him and tested, “What do you think? I feel that your mother is very sincere.”
Ling Song finally turned to look at her, not caring about the test in her words, and just said, “Wait here.”
With that, he strode away, in the direction of Ling Yiyao.
Xiao Xing waited until he was gone before popping out. “Master, what did you mean by what you just said? Aren’t you two faking it?”
It was very clear about the attraction of a strong person to a cultivator, and Ling Song’s madman appearance was very attractive to a female cultivator. It was really afraid that Xie Bailu would be confused for a moment and really think that she could be with him.
Xie Bailu was looking for any opportunity to survive. The test just now was indeed to see if Ling Song had any intention of letting up. What if he had developed feelings for her after chasing her? She could accept him for the sake of survival.
But facing Xiao Xing’s question, she obviously couldn’t say that. So she said another purpose. “I was testing to see what his reaction to his mother’s words was. The Ling family is too strange. I think it’s beneficial for me to figure it out to counterattack.”
Xiao Xing was a little excited. So they could already think about counterattacking that madman! Before, they could only run for their lives. As expected of its master, as expected of the chosen one. As soon as there was a chance, she thought of a way to counterattack!
Xie Bailu rubbed Xiao Xing’s soft body. It was a pity that she couldn’t see the conversation between Ling Song and Ling Yiyao with her own eyes. She was very curious if their conversation would bring about any changes.
When Ling Yiyao saw Ling Song, she was a little surprised, and her brows furrowed unconsciously. She stood up and said, “Song’er, why aren’t you with Bailu?”
Ling Song looked at Ling Yiyao’s concerned expression and suddenly laughed. “Mother, what are you trying to do?”
Ling Yiyao subconsciously clenched her fists. Facing this son whose cultivation was higher than hers and who had little affection for her, she was as nervous as anyone else. She said even more gently, “Song’er, I know I was wrong to you in the past. Now I just hope you’re well.”
Ling Song’s lips curved into a smile. “‘I don’t have such a son. I feel disgusted when I see him.’ You said that, right?”
Ling Yiyao looked at Ling Song in astonishment. She had never said such a thing to him, but she had indeed said it to others in private. Could it be that he had left back then because he had heard this?
After a brief moment of astonishment, her eyes quickly turned red with tears. “Yes, I was wrong at that time and said such a thing. Today, I no longer think that way. Song’er, you are the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to with great difficulty. How could a mother really hate you?”
But Ling Song clapped and laughed. “After so many years, mother is more and more like an elder.”
Ling Yiyao’s tears were still in her eyes, but because of Ling Song’s words, she was so embarrassed that they wouldn’t fall.
She composed herself and said sorrowfully, “Song’er, mother was wrong to you back then. If you think of mother like this now, mother won’t blame you. Now that you have a lover by your side, mother can also be at ease. You are luckier than mother was back then.”
Ling Yiyao mentioned the past, and Ling Song also fell silent.
Ling Yiyao’s tearful gaze fell on Ling Song, and she sighed. “Mother’s words were too harsh back then. You are not like your father. You will not repeat the same mistakes. Mother believes in you. You don’t have to worry. If you need it, mother will also do everything she can to help you.”
Ling Song’s long, narrow eyes had been looking at Ling Yiyao coldly as she poured out her heart. After she finished speaking, he suddenly smiled. “Mother, you seem to really want me and Xie Bailu to grow old together.”
His tone was frivolous, with a hint of ridicule. Ling Yiyao looked at him nervously. “I am your mother. Of course I hope you are well.”
Ling Song seemed to be smiling with great pleasure. “You also want me to leave a bloodline.”
Ling Yiyao already regretted being too aggressive, but now she could only hold on. “You are different from your father. Your child will naturally be different. Mother just doesn’t want you to be alone. Mother knows you don’t like the Ling family, won’t treat the Ling family as your home, and won’t treat the Ling family members as your family. Then if you have a lover and a child who is connected to you by blood by your side, loving and caring for you, mother can be a little at ease. Bailu is a good girl. You will be very happy with her.”
Ling Song summoned Shishang, startling Ling Yiyao into taking a step back.
Ling Song caressed the sharp blade and said to himself, “I used to believe what mother told me. Now that I think about it, mother has hidden a lot from me.”
Ling Yiyao’s face was pale. “What are you talking about, Song’er? About your father, mother has never lied to you. If you don’t believe me, you can go and ask those who were seriously injured by him back then. They saw with their own eyes how cruelly your father killed the Ling family disciples.”
Ling Song did not respond to her defense, but just talked about something seemingly unrelated, his expression gentle and smiling. “Mother said one thing right. Lulu is a good girl. I love her so much that if she’s gone, I won’t have any more attachments in this life.”
The more Ling Yiyao heard, the more startled she became, and a sense of foreboding rose in her heart. But she saw Ling Song turn and walk away, with Shishang in his hand, his back also full of a chilling killing intent.
Ling Yiyao secretly thought it was not good and quickly chased after him.
Xie Bailu was boredly kicking stones. She was still thinking about the strange relationship of the Ling family when she saw Ling Song return.
She was about to go up and probe him, but she saw that Ling Song was holding Shishang in his hand and was walking towards her with a killing intent.
The cells in her whole body were screaming “danger, run,” but a Golden Core’s aura was locking onto her, making her stiff and unable to move.
Why? Why would he suddenly have such a great killing intent for her? Had he achieved his goal in their conversation just now, and was he planning to end this game?
Xie Bailu met Ling Song’s gaze. There was only an inhuman indifference in those dark eyes. The Ling Song who would smile with pleasure and unexpectedly indulge her and listen to her, as she had expected, was just a dream, which burst with a light poke.
Xiao Xing also sensed that this crisis was unusual and cried out in a panic, “M-Master, run!”
But Xie Bailu couldn’t run. Ling Song knew she could use the Divine Movement Art to run, so he didn’t give her this chance from the beginning. This time, he really wanted to kill her once and for all.
Xie Bailu’s mind raced. She couldn’t just wait to die. She had to think of some excuse to make Ling Song not kill her… But the problem was, she didn’t even know why he had suddenly changed his mind!
After taking a deep breath, she said loudly, “You said you would give me a month! The time is not up yet! You can’t go back on your word!”
Ling Song’s response was to raise the sword in his hand.
Xie Bailu’s pupils constricted, but she heard a female voice shout, “Song’er, stop! Don’t do something foolish!”
Ling Yiyao’s sword blocked Ling Song’s sword. She said quickly, “Song’er, don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life!”
She didn’t even turn her head. “A’Sheng, take Bailu and go!”
Zong Sheng, who had come over at some point, heard this, picked up Xie Bailu, and ran.
Xie Bailu looked back. Ling Song’s gaze met hers. His pupils were dark, and for a moment, his eyes didn’t seem to be full of killing intent, but it was quickly obscured by his fight with Ling Yiyao.