Chapter 138

In the room.

Having finally comforted two-year-old Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong felt like he was going to collapse.

Taking advantage of Ning Zhuo leaving the room, he swallowed hard, spat out the medicine he had just drunk, and put it into his storage bag.

He tasted the medicine with the tip of his tongue, distinguishing some of the medicinal herbs in it.

"Twenty-year-old ginseng, angelica, donkey-hide gelatin, astragalus, atractylodes..."

"Indeed, they are all things to replenish blood and qi."

But Sun Lingtong still collected them in his storage bag without drinking them.

He considered his alchemy attainments insufficient, knowing that sometimes a great tonic is a great poison, and sometimes mixing medicinal herbs can create a mixed poison.

Sun Lingtong joined the evil sect, the Un-Empty Gate, and followed his master across the country; his worldly experience was far richer than his appearance suggested.

"There's something strange..."

"This Ning Zhuo is only two years old; why is he so smart?"

He couldn't help but think of himself; he appeared to be three years old, but in reality, he was already thirteen.

"I was seriously injured at the time, covered in blood, my wounds hideous; he saved me and brought me home; is he not afraid of causing trouble?"

"Is he too skilled at brewing medicine?"

Sun Lingtong suspected this was a trap.

But then he thought: "I am only in the middle stage of Qi Refining; what could he be plotting?"

"Although I come from the Un-Empty Gate, I practice the Boy Technique, not the orthodox techniques of the Un-Empty Gate. What is there to plot against me?"

Sun Lingtong lacked enough information to make an accurate judgment, so he decided to observe first.

After a few days of recuperation, his magic power recovered to its peak, and he gradually saw Ning Zhuo's genuine intentions.

This day, Sun Lingtong was lying on the bed when his ears suddenly twitched, revealing a strange look.

Soon, Ning Zhuo pushed the door open and trotted in, panting, and said hurriedly: "Someone from my family is here! Quick, little brother, I'll help you to my mother's bedroom. There is an underground secret room there where you can hide."

Sun Lingtong had expected this and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I have a way; look!"

Saying this, he disappeared from the bed out of thin air.

Ning Zhuo was stunned, hurriedly ran to the bed, reached out to touch the empty bedding, and looked around in surprise.

Sun Lingtong transmitted his voice: "Go and deal with your family's people."

Ning Zhuo said "oh," and with a look of wonder, ran into the courtyard and saw Wang Lan.

"Auntie." Two-year-old Ning Zhuo took the initiative to bow and greet her.

Wang Lan squeezed a smile at him, nodded, and then waved her hand, letting the servants behind her enter the house.

"Little Zhuo, I came this time to move things for you."

"You can't live here alone; you have to move to your uncle's house."

Ning Zhuo said "ah," his face full of surprise.

After Wang Lan finished explaining, she ignored him and went into the house to direct things.

"Move all these tables and chairs away and take them back."

"Hmm, the vase is nice, take it too."

"This talisman-making table is quite valuable; be careful when moving it, don't damage the array patterns on the surface."

Soon, Wang Lan had almost emptied Ning Zhuo's house.

Before leaving, she said to Ning Zhuo: "Your uncle and I will help you keep these things for now."

"You are just a child; it's too easy for things to be stolen."

"When the affairs at the Ancestral Hall are handled, we will pick you up to live with us."

Ning Zhuo opened his big eyes, shook his head incessantly, and said anxiously: "I, I'm not moving!"

"Mother lives here..."

"But your mother is already dead!" Wang Lan immediately shook her head, refusing decisively, "This is not a discussion with you. You are too young and cannot protect yourself at all."

Wang Lan walked to Ning Zhuo, dragged him to a corner, leaned down, stared at Ning Zhuo's face, and lowered her voice: "By the way."

"Little Zhuo, before your mother left, did she specifically give you some things for you to keep separately?"

"These things might be very important; you are just a child, and if you don't keep them well and they get lost, it will be a big trouble."

"Be good, take them out and let Auntie keep them well for you! When you grow up and the time is right, Auntie will return them to you."

Ning Zhuo shook his head hurriedly, denying it flatly: "No, there are no such things."

"Really not?" Wang Lan was suspicious.

Ning Zhuo continued to shake his head: "Really not!"

"Hmm." Seeing servants moving items, Wang Lan was not in a hurry to pursue the question and temporarily let Ning Zhuo go, "When the Ancestral Hall finishes modifying your household registration, we will come to pick you up to live there."

Before leaving, Wang Lan lowered her voice and said in Ning Zhuo's ear: "Little Zhuo, if you are afraid and want to move over earlier, that's fine too!"

"Remember to keep the things your mother gave you privately well, carry them on your person, don't leave them here to be stolen!"

Ning Zhuo said: "Auntie, don't worry, I have Big General and Little General to protect me."

Wang Lan sneered: "Those two puppet automatons have at most the combat power of the middle stage of Qi Refining. They consume spirit stones just to guard the house on a daily basis."

After the group left, Ning Zhuo stood blankly in the main hall.

Many pieces of furniture and items had been moved away, and as a two-year-old child, he appeared so small in the empty house.

Sun Lingtong witnessed the whole process, and looking at Ning Zhuo, ripples stirred in his heart.

At this moment, he discovered the reason he was saved—

"He saw that I was also a child, so he came to help."

"He treated my wounds and brewed medicine because he had done the same for his mother; for him, this was a very familiar thing."

"He saw himself in me, didn't he."

"Equally lonely and helpless, so he naturally felt close."

"His mother had passed away less than half a month ago; he just wanted to find a companion, a reliance, in this world that had suddenly become bigger, colder, and stranger."

Thinking of this, Sun Lingtong deliberately circled behind Ning Zhuo and patted his shoulder lightly.

Ning Zhuo was startled.

Sun Lingtong revealed his figure: "Hehe, don't be afraid, it's me!"

The disappointment on Ning Zhuo's face disappeared, replaced by surprise and anticipation: "Little brother, are, are you a cultivator?"

"You are so small, yet you are so powerful!"

"Was that an invisibility spell you just used?"

Sun Lingtong raised his head proudly: "That's not an ordinary invisibility spell; wait, don't call me little brother; I am much taller and much older than you."

"You should call me big brother!"

Only until this moment did Sun Lingtong truly reveal his identity to Ning Zhuo, and at the same time, he began to correct Ning Zhuo's address.

Ning Zhuo retorted: "But my mother told me that some children just have big frames and their age may not be older than mine. There is one in our family..."

Sun Lingtong waved his hand: "Alright, alright. From now on, just call me brother."

"Speaking of which, you were pretending to be stupid just now, right?"

"Your mother must have given you some very important things before she left!"

Ning Zhuo said "ah," his gaze turning to the wall, not daring to look at Sun Lingtong: "I don't know what you are talking about!"

Sun Lingtong chuckled: "I'm just telling you, your acting is not convincing at all."

"Next time, when your aunt asks you, just say you don't know; don't deny it flatly."

"The more determined your denial, the more it proves that you acknowledge your mother gave you a legacy."

Ning Zhuo said "ah" again and couldn't help but ask: "Why?"

Sun Lingtong's gaze seemed to be able to pierce through the heart: "You have talent, don't you?"

Ning Zhuo said "ah" again, his face showing panic, and he couldn't help but take a step back, shaking his head constantly: "No, no. Absolutely not!"

"What are you saying, I don't understand at all."

"I don't know, I don't know at all!"

He denied it flatly, but his little face flushed red, and his expression was full of guilt and panic, which already explained everything.

This amused Sun Lingtong; he laughed and patted Ning Zhuo's shoulder: "Little brother, although you have talent and a kind of cleverness that exceeds your age."

"But you are still too green!"

"It was fake at a glance."

"However, you are lucky to have met me!"

"There is no one who knows better than me how to play the role of a normal child."

"I will teach you how to disguise yourself as a two-year-old child!"

What Sun Lingtong said was really not bragging.

He appeared to be only a three-year-old child, but his soul was already that of a thirteen-year-old youth.

He joined the Un-Empty Gate and was specifically trained in various abilities to steal, deceive, and swindle. His master adopted him from a young age, taught him by example, took him traveling everywhere, and taught him to observe others and mix in the world.

Many times, Sun Lingtong would act according to his appearance, fully utilizing the advantages of his appearance to commit fraud.

Under his guidance, two-year-old Ning Zhuo made rapid progress.

"Hey, what kind of talent do you actually have? This cleverness is unusual."

"Didn't your mother tell you?" Sun Lingtong asked curiously.

Ning Zhuo glanced to the side, then quickly moved back to look at Sun Lingtong, his expression natural: "Little Brother Sun, my mother didn't tell me."

Sun Lingtong chuckled and gave a thumbs up: "Okay, when lying, you have improved a lot compared to before."

"But there is still a small movement of shifting your gaze."

"Remember, you must change it!"

Ning Zhuo was a bit ashamed: "Little Brother Sun, aren't you angry that I hid it from you?"

Sun Lingtong shrugged and said indifferently: "What does that matter? Everyone should have their own secrets, and one should also allow others to have their own secrets."

"I was just thinking, perhaps, you should reveal your talent to your family? This might greatly improve your living conditions."

Ning Zhuo shook his head hurriedly, his expression serious: "My mother said before she left, she told me to hide it, to hide my talent."

"She said the family is unreliable, and my uncle is also unreliable."

"Let me hide as deep as possible, the better to protect myself!"

"Hmm, your mother must have been thinking for your sake." Sun Lingtong said perfunctorily.

He had stayed at Ning Zhuo's place for more than half a month, his wounds had long healed, and now that Ning Zhuo could disguise himself as a normal two-year-old child, Sun Lingtong's intention to leave became increasingly strong.

But how to settle Ning Zhuo?

Although Wang Lan had said before that she would pick Ning Zhuo up to live with them, she never did; she only sent servants to look after him every one or two days, sending daily food and clothing.

Sun Lingtong visited the Ning family territory at night repeatedly.

Although he was only in the middle stage of Qi Refining, the excellent spells of the Un-Empty Gate allowed him to infiltrate successfully.

He gradually figured out the situation of the Ning family, knew that the main branch of the Ning family suppressed the branch family's household affairs, and inquired about Ning Xiaoren's reputation.

One day, he overheard a discussion between Ning Ze and Wang Lan.

Ning Ze urged Wang Lan to let Ning Zhuo move over to live.

Wang Lan said: "Head of the house, the people at the Ancestral Hall are deliberately blocking this point and are extorting a bribe of two hundred spirit stones from me!"

"We have to raise another child, and we have to pay two hundred spirit stones first? What kind of logic is this!?"

Ning Ze stroked his beard and said: "The family system has its logic. It must be reviewed by the elders of the Ancestral Hall to determine that we have no ulterior motives in adopting the orphan of a close relative. Only after this passes can we formally adopt him."

"Before this system came out, it was indeed chaotic, and many human tragedies occurred."

"Little Zhuo has been living alone for so many days; it's not right. If this spreads, as his own uncle, where would my face be?"

Wang Lan complained: "But these two hundred spirit stones are not a small amount!"

Ning Ze sighed: "Sigh, let's do this; my younger brother once saved the life of the Young Clan Leader. I will go to seek an audience with the Young Clan Leader tomorrow and ask him to come out and take a look."

Sun Lingtong went to explore the Ancestral Hall again and found the Ning family elder who was blocking Ning Zhuo's household registration.

One night, he heard the elder talking secretly with a visitor.

The visiting guest said: "The land deed for Ning Zhong's house has not been found by Ning Ze to this day. I offer four hundred spirit stones; this is a deposit of one hundred and eighty, and I hope the elder will accommodate me."

The Ning family elder laughed: "Easy to say. That Ning Ze doesn't understand the rules and refuses to pay even two hundred spirit stones; he deserves to suffer a loss."

"Just don't make a scene."

"After all, that Ning Zhong gave his life to save the Young Clan Leader."

The guest said: "Elder, rest assured; Ning Zhong and his wife have both passed away, and the child left behind is only two years old; with a little coaxing, he can sign the contract."

"This matter is as easy as turning over one's hand!"

Hearing this, Sun Lingtong rolled his eyes and sneered at the Ning family in his heart.

Returning to Ning Zhuo's residence, little Ning Zhuo was sleeping soundly.

Sun Lingtong watched for a while and thought: "Although this little guy is smart and has learned to disguise himself, he has only practiced a layer of skin."

"He has no experience, does not know the dangers of the world, and has no real reliance; it is very easy for him to be swallowed up by the people around him."

Sun Lingtong shook his head secretly, feeling that he could not just leave.

"Must teach him to see through the treacherous human heart."

Sun Lingtong's residence.

Han Ming and the other two were quickly repairing the courtyard, clearing away the various traces left by the fierce battle just now.

Inside the main room.

The Investigating Judge's eyes shot divine light, covering Sun Lingtong's soul.

Sun Lingtong's soul closed its eyes tightly, his face hideous with pain, his body trembling violently, yet he did not let out a single cry of pain.

"He's a tough nut to crack!" Blind Judge Qi Bai praised sincerely upon seeing this.

He whispered something, activated the spell, and looked at the results of the soul search.

A blank space!

"Hmm?" Qi Bai was surprised, "Empty-Empty Seal?"

He knew this information.

The Empty-Empty Seal, one of the Un-Empty Gate's house-protecting treasures, could imprint a heart seal and provide protection for sect members.

The Empty-Empty Seal could guard against soul searching, preventing sect secrets, classics, etc., from being leaked after a disciple fell into enemy hands and was soul-searched.

"The Empty-Empty Seal often protects sect secrets; I was only searching for information about the Chui Tiao Ke this time, and it was actually linked?"

"Isn't this Sun Lingtong an outer disciple? How could the Empty-Empty Seal protect him so thoroughly?"

At this time, Han Ming entered the room: "Lord Qi, I wonder if you have found any news about the Chui Tiao Ke?"

Qi Bai snorted coldly: "This matter is a bit troublesome; no wonder Sun Lingtong was fearless before and didn't fear soul searching."

"However, if it were an ordinary fellow sect member, they would be at a loss."

"Meeting me, the Blind Judge, is his bad luck!"

"Give me another day, and I will give you the answer."

Qi Bai waved his hand, his expression displeased.

Han Ming hurriedly lowered her head, retreated from the room sensibly, and respectfully closed the door.