Book 12: Chapter 1 (2)
Book 12: Chapter 1 (2)
Sundowners.
Tong Yao walked briskly towards Qingyu Peak.
Every month at the end of the month, her biological father, the Lord of the Hades Hall, would send something to her.
Although she said no with her mouth, her facial expression still showed a trace of disdain, but in fact, this might be one of the things that she most expected.
Before she opened the box with her own hands, she would guess over and over again what was inside the box.
Medicinal pills?
Spirit Tools?
Weapon materials?
Or alternatively a special cultivation method?
Tong Yao never guessed correctly, but she was neither angry nor regretful.
The things in the box are paintings, snacks, and clothes!
The portrait painted for her by the Lord of the Hades Hall is nowhere near as skilled as Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian's, but it still isn't ugly.
The snacks are handmade by the Lord of the Hades Hall and have an unremarkable appearance and taste.
As for clothes.
That was sewn together with a thread and needle from the Lord of the Hades Hall, sewn crookedly, and with the loose threads not tidied up.
Anyway, Tong Yao won't show off by wearing it outside.
But that didn't stop her from flipping through her clothes when she had nothing else to do.
"What will it be this time?"
Tong Yang thought as she walked.
It would be best if there were Medicinal Pills to boost one's cultivation base.
If she does that, she will be awesome and then she could sit Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei down and tickle them with her feet!
In a short while, she arrived at the disciples' residence area of Qingyu Peak.
Her "entourages" were gathered together to discuss the matter.
"We have been doing a really poor job with our work lately!"
"Yes, yes."
"We arrogantly claimed to be the strongest support group for Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian, but even a newcomer knew her glorious accomplishments while we didn't - this is truly embarrassing!"
"Let's have a meeting, let everyone reflect well. Elder Martial Sister Tong is not here, we can't lose the great achievements she has achieved."
"Yes…Ah, Elder Martial Sister!"
Tong Yao nodded and asked, "What are you guys doing?"
"This is the case."
A female disciple came over embarrassedly.
She told Tong Yao the rumors she had heard about Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian these days.
Listening to them, Tong Yao's face changed.
Aren't they the stories she made up to fool Martial Sister Lu?
Incorrect.
These things are not made up, they are real and cannot be more real!
Tong Yao spoke earnestly, "You all should really reflect! You can't rely on me for everything, otherwise, if I'm not around one day, will this backup group just dissolve?"
Someone hung their head in shame.
"Elder Martial Sister…"
Somebody said, "How could Elder Martial Sister be not here?"
Tong Yao looked serious, "What I meant was, what if, what if!"
"Considering how talkative you are, hah… Elder Martial Sister, don't worry, we will work hard."
Tong Yao nodded courteously.
She remembered the appearance of Bai Lian when she was training her.
She sighed, "Cultivation is personal, you all need to get this soon!"
(Translated by Gravity Tales ??)
"Yes."
She walked into her room with her head held high and her chest out.
To her surprise, she didn't see the familiar purple box on the shelf.
"Where is it?"
It should be today, right?
Tong Yao scratched her head.
She didn't panic, but left immediately to look for Master Qin. This box was usually handed over to her by Master Qin.
As she expected.
When she walked up to the main hall of Qingyu Peak, she saw the box placed on the table in front of Master Qin.
"Master?"
Tong Yao called out softly.
She noticed Master Qin's face was very serious, and his eyes were fixed on the box.
Not until she called out "Master Qin" again did he come to his senses.
"You're here, this thing has just arrived too."
Tong Yao went past and said, "Master, I'll take the box away."
Master Qin stopped her, saying, "Wait. Open it right here."
"Huh?"
How embarrassing that is.
Unfortunately, Master Qin's eyes were fixed and Tong Yao could only lift up the box awkwardly.
In an instant, a soft purple light shone from the box, completely illuminating the room into a purple color.
"This is…"
Tong Yao's eyes widened.
Suddenly appearing in front of her was a perfectly square seal, with strange patterns inscribed on its back.
Master Qin relaxed a bit.
Even with the box shielding the seal, he still felt a massive oppressive force.
He was scared of what bad thing could be hidden in this box.
"Is this a Spirit Tool?"
Tong Yao took the seal out.
She hadn't had time to read the words engraved on the front of it yet when three words suddenly appeared in her mind.
The Netherworld Seal.
Then she found a faint yet present connection between herself and the Netherworld Seal.
"This must be the memento your father left for you," Master Qin guessed.
Tong Yao nodded confused.
It is impossible for her to refine a Spirit Tool with her cultivation base.
"Why doesn't he just give me some Medicinal Pills instead?"
Tong Yao muttered, putting away the Netherworld Seal.
"Master, I'm heading back first. I still have to go see Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian tomorrow for the training."
"Go, go."
Master Qin said with a smile.
These days, Tong Yao looks more composed.
Since she is not involved with the Younger Martial Brothers and Martial Sisters anymore, she no longer causes trouble.
Master Qin is very pleased!
It looks like it is a very correct decision to let Bai Lian polish Tong Yao more.
At most, it should take ten years for Tong Yao to gradually pass on the work he is doing.
"Good things come to those who wait; my daughter is finally becoming an adult…"
He watched Tong Yao until she was out of sight, smiling slightly, and then he lowered his head and started to deal with the matters of Qingyu Peak.
Until the time of 23 o'clock.
Master Qin stretched languidly.
He was about to go out for a walk when he received Jue Yunzi's message.
[Something bad happened.]
"…"
Master Qin stopped at the entrance of the main hall.
He raised his head and looked up at the moon which seemed to be veiled in a light purplish veil.
The evening wind whistled through the hallway.
The rustling of the leaves was like a plaintive wail of distress.
Yes.
Something happened.
Master Qin smiled wryly.
No wonder today's gift is so different from the rest.
He turned and walked towards Tong Yao's place.
He walked very slowly.
He walked for a quarter of an hour for the journey which usually takes only a few breaths of time.
Master Qin stood outside the window.
Through a hazy layer of paper, he saw Tong Yao sitting in a lotus position on the bed.
The room was ablaze with candles.
Tong Yao placed the Netherworld Seal in between the creases of the snow-field wind coat.
She held her cheeks with her hands and even the corners of her eyes were filled with a happy smile.
She was muttering to the Netherworld Seal.
"To be honest, I'm not interested in the Spirit Tools or anything. I don't need them anyway, and the Medicinal Pills…whatever, it doesn't matter."
"It would be great if there was something else to eat."
Tong Yao poked the Netherworld Seal, just like poking a frog's butt.
"When it comes to eating, I think of Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian!"
"Today was the first time I tried food made by Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian, and the taste… wow! It was much better than what you cooked."
Tong Yao licked her lips.
She squinted her eyes as if she was still savoring the taste of lunch.
Then, she nervously clutched the ends of her hair.
"I'm not blaming you either."
"Well, I guess there is a bit of truth to it - because your cooking skills are too bad!"
"I'm sure you'll soon improve your cooking skills. You're already so grown up, you can't be so clueless about cooking, can you?"
"Well, let's not talk about that anymore, let's talk about Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian instead."
"Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian is nice to me, but her few Martial Sisters are too annoying!"
"They bully me for no reason and I can't beat them. If this goes on, something bad will happen between me and Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian…?"
Tong Yao suddenly shut her mouth.
She heard an discordant sound coming from outside the door.
She quickly turned around and saw Master Qin standing at the doorway.
Finished!
Tong Yao got up from the bed in a hurry and in a fluster.
A white sock was only half-way on and dragged on the ground. She stepped on it, almost tripping herself up.
Tong Yao's face was pale. "Master… please don't tell anyone what I said just now, or else I…"
Master Qin nodded gently.
But there are some things that must be said.
Tong Yao is no longer a child, and news in the cultivation world spreads like wildfire, so it's impossible to keep a secret.
"Tong Yao."
Alas.
After calling out the name, Master Qin sighed.
Someone has said that tragedy is showing people the destruction of something beautiful.
This really makes sense.
Even though Tong Yao usually acted silly over big matters, she can tell something was wrong this time.
"Master, is something wrong?"
"Hmm."
Master Qin nodded.
"I also don't know if this counts as a bad thing, but at least it's not something good."
Tong Yao stood there without saying a word.
She just stared blankly at Master Qin.
It is almost summer, yet tonight it is a bit cool.
Master Qin said, "I just received news from the Sect Leader that two days ago, the Hades Hall suddenly sank and nobody has seen it ever since."
"…"
When Tong Yao heard that the Hades Hall suddenly sank, her mind went blank.
What was said in the second half no longer matters at all.
She turned around in a hurry.
She saw the faint purple light emanating from the Netherworld Seal.
The light was warm.
Like a mother's hand gently caressing her body, but she suddenly fell into an icy cave.
Tong Yao realized why this time the gift sent to her was a mysterious seal, instead of clothes, snacks, or drawings like before.
No more.
Because it is no longer possible to make something like that.
Therefore, is that the final gift?
It's only just beginning.
Even her mentality has not been adjusted yet.
She had the joy of finding her roots again in her heart and a dilemma about her true identity.
She hadn't even thought of how to deal with the relationship between her master and her father.
Now?
No need to consider any further.
All the troubles have disappeared.
It's like going back to the past.
But…
I can't go back.
Tears suddenly flooded Tong Yao's face at this moment.
The world is big.
She was like a small boat without its sails, completely lost in a sea of darkness with no way out.
Her loneliness.
"I understand."
Master Qin moved forward and tightly embraced Tong Yao.
"I will take you to find him, it will be alright, it will definitely be alright."