187 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

When it came to discussing her friends, Fu Ling suddenly had a lot to say. From Lin Yumiao to Fang Sijian, from Feng Yuanqing to Jiang Beiqing, the tales of the experiences she and her friends had shared could fill three days and nights. "Brother Lin is the most talented sword cultivator of our time. If you knew him, you'd be moved by his relentless pursuit of swordsmanship; Sister Yuanqing is incredibly kind, always considering others first, and being with her is pure joy; Miss Jiang is impressive as well, not only a descendant of the Jiang family but also the next leader of the Tianhua Sect; and as for Young Master Fang, even though he never mentions it, I suspect he has an unbreakable connection with Lingbao Pavilion..." One unfamiliar name after another tumbled from the young girl's lips, and the stories about them stirred a sense of yearning in Yu Ping, who had never truly interacted with anyone or made real friends before. Yu Ping nodded, her worries gradually dissipating, leaving only a faint smile— Although Fu Ling constantly praised her friends, perhaps she herself was the one everyone would most want to befriend. Listening quietly, Yu Ping waited until the girl finished speaking before she smiled and asked, "So, are we friends now?" Fu Ling paused at the question, then quickly nodded with a smile. "We already have been!" As they talked in front of the door, the atmosphere was peaceful and beautiful. Tianya is a celestial herb from the upper realm that used to feed on fresh blood, its spiritual energy long depleted. Knowing her true form now, Yu Ping no longer consumed blood, and some of her demonic aura had faded. Standing next to Fu Ling at this moment, she inexplicably felt a powerful force. This energy was warm and familiar, making her want to transform into her true form and stay beside Fu Ling all the time. She was unaware that when Fu Ling was in the Misty Forest, she not only absorbed ancient spiritual energy but also received a precious blessing due to her reverence for the celestial spirits— The protection of the celestial spirits. Being of the upper realm too, Yu Ping naturally sensed this safeguarding presence. While the two conversed, Jiu Ying approached them. With their concerns resolved, it was time to return. The three gathered their things briefly and went to bid Ning Wanqiu farewell at the tavern before leaving. As for the little fox Xintao, she finally regained her human form with Jiu Ying's permission. During her time at the tavern, she'd endured quite a lot. Now returned to human form, the first person she intended to trouble was, of course, the woman who forced her to greet customers at the tavern door every day—Ning Wanqiu. After requesting permission from Jiu Ying, she successfully stayed in Guixi City. Ning Wanqiu, unaware of these events, was unlucky. She hadn't just lost her beloved little fox overnight; a stranger who enjoyed teasing people suddenly appeared in her shop, complimenting Ning Wanqiu's beauty and expressing a desire to take her home—such trouble! *** Once out of Guixi City, the three did not return to Qingzhu Sect but instead journeyed toward Xinlan. Only upon reaching the small town between the Jiang and Ruan families did Fu Ling realize they had reached the Jiang family's territory. After several days of travel, Yu Ping was exhausted. Upon arriving at the inn, she hurried to her room to rest, with Qing Tong guarding outside, not daring to leave. Once Yu Ping and her servant were settled, Jiu Ying and Fu Ling left the inn, taking advantage of the remaining daylight. The sunset hovered on the horizon, casting golden light over the land as the two walked side by side along the long street without any particular destination. It had been a long time since Fu Ling last visited this place. Remembering her previously strained relationship with Jiang Beiqing, her mouth involuntarily curled into a smile. "Is Senior Sister here to see Miss Jiang?" Fu Ling inquired, watching as Jiu Ying scanned the crowd as if searching for someone. "Indeed, I am looking for Miss Jiang, but also, another person." Another person? Fu Ling furrowed her brow, surprised to realize how many people her senior sister knew. After a moment's thought, she dredged up a faint memory. "Besides the Jiang family, there's also the Ruan family here. Could Senior Sister be looking for the third daughter of the Ruan family, Ruan Xiu?" Hearing this familiar name, Jiu Ying's expression subtly shifted. "Yes, do you remember when the spiritual realm first opened, and I left to chase down Si Qi? On that day, Ruan Xiu was present. She not only saw my true form but also Si Qi's true form." "Si Qi had a divine artifact protecting him, allowing him to survive the heavenly punishment. To this day, his true identity remains undisclosed." Fu Ling had never heard Jiu Ying mention this, but in an instant, she guessed her senior sister's true thoughts. "Does Senior Sister mean that Ruan Xiu concealed this matter for Si Qi?" Jiu Ying nodded, still scanning the crowd. Behind her calm demeanor lay a heart riddled with anxiety. "Indeed, I want to know whether she willingly hid Si Qi's identity or if there is another reason." "In our past life, we were acquainted, but to my shame, I was controlled by love poison at the time, never viewing her with normal perception, nor understanding her as a person. I even maliciously poisoned her, leaving her in a coma for twenty years." Bringing up past misdeeds altered Jiu Ying's tone slightly. To Fu Ling, Jiu Ying had always been a flawless figure, needing immense courage to reveal her less favorable side so openly. She feared tarnishing her perfect image in Fu Ling's eyes and that Fu Ling might disdain her past actions. Unknowingly, Jiu Ying grew increasingly concerned with Fu Ling's opinion. The bustling crowd and occasional vendor calls added to the noise around them. Though she heard the girl beside her speaking, the words were unclear. Perhaps her tension rendered her steps slightly hurried. Only when someone tugged on her sleeve did she snap from her daze. Amid the throng, she turned to see a fair, lovely face mirroring a light smile, devoid of any disdain she had anticipated. "As you said, Senior Sister was under the influence of love poison when the mistakes were made. If we're assigning blame, Si Qi should bear half the responsibility. If you still feel guilty over it, why don't we visit her?" "Seeing as she knows Si Qi's real form, she might have deduced his identity. To witness the heir of Heaven living, the impact on her must be significant. If she was coerced into hiding his identity, perhaps we could help her." The girl's bright, melodious voice, filled with care and soothing comfort, instantly calmed Jiu Ying's unsettled heart. She lowered her gaze, her lips slightly parting before she cast her eyes back to the elfin, lively face. The longer they interacted, the more she noticed Fu Ling's growth and change. In the past, she always consoled Fu Ling, but now Fu Ling increasingly reassured her. Though she'd anticipated Fu Ling's maturity, facing it was unexpectedly overwhelming. Right now, she didn't know how to respond. It wasn't until Fu Ling extended a hand toward her with a smile that Jiu Ying grasped its true significance. "Shall I take you to see Miss Ruan, Senior Sister?" Five jade-like fingers hovered, revealing a slender wrist adorned with a black bracelet, augmenting the alabaster skin on her arm. Jiu Ying looked at that beautiful hand, the fingers beneath her sleeve trembling slightly. In the bustling crowd, she heard nothing else. Before she could reach out, the young girl by her side couldn't resist slipping her hand inside Jiu Ying's sleeve, gently clasping her hand. Fingers intertwined, palms touching, she felt the warmth from Fu Ling's grasp. So warm, once touched, one never wanted to let go. Still silent, she obediently let the person beside her lead her by the hand in another direction. Ruan's family was southwest of the town, not far. After a short walk, they reached their destination just as the sun set. Although they had arrived, neither Jiu Ying nor Fu Ling had a solid reason to approach Ruan Xiu. In this lifetime, neither Jiu Ying nor Fu Ling had any ties with Ruan Xiu. Fu Ling bit her lip, her wide eyes fixed on the tightly closed gate of the Ruan household, filled with confusion. Ordinarily, with night not fully fallen, there was no reason for the Ruan family to shut their doors so early. Unlike the bustling and lively scenery of the town, the Ruan family, one of the Eight Clans, seemed unusually quiet at their doorstep. Not only did Fu Ling sense something amiss, but Jiu Ying also felt the peculiarity. The last time she visited Xinlan, she accompanied Ruan Xiu here, and the Ruan household had not been this quietly discreet. "Senior Sister, do you think something happened at the Ruan house?" Fu Ling waited in vain for someone to emerge, her curiosity intensifying. Jiu Ying was equally perplexed, her brows furrowing lightly. "As one of the Eight Clans, if the Ruan family were in trouble, news would spread far and wide, not keep silent as it is now." Such secrecy only fueled more intrigue. Hearing her companion's words, Fu Ling grew more eager to uncover what the Ruan family was up to. For half a day they remained, with night now fully descended. Fu Ling contemplated sneaking over the wall to see what was happening inside the mansion, but before she could move, a hand barred her way, stopping her. Turning her head, still adjusting to the surprise, she found an item placed into her hands. "Use this—" It was the Light Shadow Coin she had claimed from Han Yan. Fu Ling brightened with delight, nodding as she accepted it without hesitation. "Senior Sister, wait here for a moment. I'll be out soon." With her cultivation surpassing most in the world, manipulating shadows with the Light Shadow Coin was an easy task for her. In that moment, Jiu Ying realized the extent of the trust she had developed in Fu Ling—to allow her to undertake something potentially dangerous, whereas before, she'd never let her go alone. Somehow, unnoticed, the Light Shadow Coin was taken, and the girl had closed her eyes. In the enveloping darkness, nobody observed a shadow slipping stealthily into the Ruan residence along the ground. Jiu Ying sighed softly, acknowledging Fu Ling's spirit had left with the shadow, shaking her head in quiet acceptance. She had come to appreciate and accept Fu Ling's growth without realizing it. Inside the Ruan estate, the scene differed markedly from the deathly stillness outside. Servants moved with tense expressions, heads lowered as they hurried about. Clearly, something significant was unfolding within the Ruan household. Sticking close to the shadows of the walls, Fu Ling carefully maneuvered herself to the inner hall. She had no personal ties to the Ruan family, but she had heard the real head was not Ruan Xiu's father but her mother. The logic was simple; Ruan Xiu's mother was the true bearer of the Ruan name, whereas her father was merely a low-status live-in son-in-law. In the inner hall stood three men and one woman, the woman likely Ruan Xiu's mother—Ruan Yuzi. The three men, presumably her father and brothers. The group appeared to be in a heated argument, their voices so loud that despite the distance, Fu Ling could hear them clearly— "Xiu Xiu doesn't want this, why force her?! Must you wait until it's irrevocable to feel regret?!" The speaker, a world-weary middle-aged man, was visibly angry, clearly incensed over the predicament his daughter faced. Ruan Yuzi listened impassively, her expression unchanged. Turning to instruct the older youth beside her, her tone remained unyielding with authority. "Go to the Si family tomorrow, and do as I've instructed." Though unwilling, the young man nodded, resigned to carrying out his mother's orders. Fu Ling found the scene bewildering, unclear about what was being discussed. Just then, a servant girl rushed in, eyes still red. "Madam, the young lady has woken up!" Awakened? Could Ruan Xiu have met with misfortune? Fu Ling's heart jolted, and her gaze followed the maid's toward the woman, finding no imaginable relief or joy. "Keep a close watch on her, and if anything else happens, don't expect to survive." Such cold words hardly seemed motherly. By now, Fu Ling was almost sure something had befallen Ruan Xiu. The maid trembled under her mistress's reprimand, torn between fear and the desire to flee but ultimately resigned to comply. "I understand, Madam. I'll ensure nothing reckless happens again." Only then did Ruan Yuzi's expression soften slightly. Throughout, the others remained silent. The maid's eyes glanced swiftly across the three men, noting the gladness in the father's and son's eyes, realizing that without the madam's permission, nobody could see the young lady. Poor young lady—these words filled her mind. Fu Ling grasped the Ruan family's predicament—a mother forcing Ruan Xiu into something unbearable, leading to a suicide attempt, yet saving her in time. But what could prompt a young lady of standing to forsake her life, her status, her future? It baffled Fu Ling entirely. The maid departed after briefing Ruan Xiu's condition, leaving the hall to the original four. Fu Ling intended to follow the maid to check on Ruan Xiu but was halted by shocking revelations— "Mother, why pressure my sister again after she narrowly survived?!" "Even if Madam Si is a dear friend of yours, forcing her to marry a dying man like Si Qi isn't something you should do!" The second son, unable to contain his anger, disregarded his brother's restraint and voiced his grievances. Before he finished, a loud slap echoed in the hall. None reacted until the mother's hand struck his face. In this household, nobody dared question Ruan Yuzi's authority. Not even her own sons. "Si Qi will not die. Never let me hear that again." "Han Yan saved my life; I bore Xiu Xiu hoping she would care for Si Qi once grown." "Her union with Si Qi is her blessing, a fate decided before her birth." Fate? Such absurdity. Fu Ling stood rooted, disbelief etched across her face— Ruan Yuzi intended to repay a debt by forcing Ruan Xiu to marry Si Qi, and even after Ruan Xiu's despair led her to suicide, she remained steadfast in her decision. Could such a person truly be called 'mother'?