Chapter 232: The Departed Are Gone, the Living Grieve

Outside the room, screams followed one after another, shrieks were endless to the ear, and the roaring of Witchcraft was continuous and unceasing.

Hanyang did not know why things had turned out this way; a moment ago, the years were still peaceful, but in an instant, the entire sect had become a living hell, and with only a door between them, he dared not even let out a breath.

Yet even so, he still held tightly to the child in his arms to protect her.

No matter how turbulent the world outside was, the child remained fast asleep, as if the chaos of the world had nothing to do with her.

During the chaos, the Grandmaster had entrusted little Lingxiang to him, and he absolutely could not let her suffer even the slightest bit of harm!

His chest pounded like a drum, but Hanyang tried his best to restrain his aura, as if fearing that a heavy breath would attract the monsters outside, or perhaps fearing that his own fear would disturb the little one in his arms.

However, just as Hanyang was staring fixedly at the door with red eyes, the door was suddenly kicked open with a "Bang!"

Hanyang was greatly alarmed; he could not care that he was still huddled in the corner, nor could he care if he would disturb the sleeping Lingxiang, and despite his low cultivation, he exhausted everything he had learned, casting all kinds of Witchcraft at the doorway.

Yet he was, after all, still just a child, and the person who entered dispelled those dense spells with a mere wave of their hand.

Just at this moment of chaos, the person at the door suddenly spoke, which immediately made Hanyang calm down.

"Hanyang! Stay calm! It's me!"

It was Tumi Xianzi.

"Grand... Grandmistress..." Tears shimmered in Hanyang's eyes as he looked at Tumi, choking with sobs.

Seeing this, Tumi Xianzi felt heartbroken; the boy before her was only seven years old, yet he had to experience such a tragic and inhuman event...

"Child, do not be afraid, everything is about to end." Tumi Xianzi comforted Hanyang while reaching out to take Lingxiang from his arms.

But Hanyang held the sleeping little Lingxiang tightly, refusing to let go no matter what.

Tumi Xianzi was very helpless; she could see the fear in Hanyang's eyes, but within that fear, there was also a trace of stubbornness. But now that life and death hung in the balance, there was no time to explain more to this child!

"If you still want to save Yuanqing, give Lingxiang to me!" Tumi had no choice but to shout loudly.

Hanyang was stunned by the shout; in his impression, the Grandmistress had always been soft-spoken and had never been so fierce to anyone.

Looking at the anxious Tumi Xianzi, Hanyang hesitated and froze. Tumi did not wait for him to recover; in the moment of Hanyang's hesitation, she snatched the still-sleeping Lingxiang from his arms.

Little Lingxiang, whose sweet dream had been disturbed, seemed very dissatisfied; she pouted as if about to cry. Tumi Xianzi felt heartbroken watching this, but she still pressed Lingxiang onto the armchair nearby.

Afterwards, Tumi Xianzi placed one finger on little Lingxiang's Divine Court point, hesitated for a long time on her face, and only after making up her mind did she close her eyes, raise her other hand, and pinch a seal.

Only to see a flash of spiritual light from Tumi Xianzi's two fingers, and a strand of Spirit Silk drifted out, searching through the air for a long time before finally connecting.

That Spirit Silk was like silk or spider thread, flowing with light, dreamlike and illusory. Hanyang did not know what Tumi Xianzi was doing, but Lingxiang looked very pained, her little face wrinkled and her body twisting, yet she could not break free.

"Mother..." little Lingxiang wailed, "Mother... it hurts..."

Hearing Lingxiang's crying, Tumi felt heartbroken, but she still kept her eyes closed and gritted her teeth, forcing herself not to stop.

"Grandmistress!" Hanyang did not know what to do for a moment; he did not know what this Grandmistress was doing, but Lingxiang's wailing made him anxious and burning with impatience, and he struggled to get up to stop her.

Just at this moment, the Spirit Silk suddenly exploded like a firecracker, and the bursting airflow knocked Tumi Xianzi and Hanyang away; the room was instantly in a mess, with the sounds of broken porcelain and collisions following one after another.

"My child! My child!" Tumi Xianzi ignored the blood streaming from her forehead and the sharp broken porcelain on the floor, hurriedly getting up and crawling toward Lingxiang, holding little Lingxiang and wailing!

Looking at Tumi Xianzi, who was covered in blood and tears, Hanyang did not understand what had happened, but seeing little Lingxiang's drooping, motionless little face, his expression was one of extreme shock.

He walked up numbly and pulled that soft, glutinous little hand, but that hand no longer gripped him back with strength as it had before.

Did the Grandmistress kill Lingxiang?!

"Grandmistress..." Hanyang opened his mouth with red eyes and a hoarse voice: "Lingxiang, she... Lingxiang, she..."

He really could not believe what he was seeing, but Lingxiang's lifeless little face forced him to believe it.

Tumi Xianzi suddenly came to her senses, enduring the grief to wipe the corner of her eye, which was blurred by blood, and said with forced composure:

"It's okay... she will be okay..."

Tumi Xianzi pressed a finger to Lingxiang's Hundred Meetings point, pinched a seal, and strands of Spirit Qi were infused from her fingers into Lingxiang's body.

Hanyang was greatly alarmed at the sight; Tumi Xianzi was transferring her own cultivation to Lingxiang! But Lingxiang was already...

Even if Lingxiang were still alive, at her young age, how could she withstand Tumi Xianzi's cultivation?

"Grandmistress!" Hanyang wanted to speak to stop her, but Tumi Xianzi shook her head at him; the tears and blood on her face made it hard for Hanyang to interrupt.

Tumi Xianzi naturally knew that Lingxiang could not withstand it, but if she wanted to save her child, this was the only way! It was just that...

Her child! From now on, she would have no chance to practice cultivation!

Tumi Xianzi felt heartbroken, but she had to do this.

What if she could not practice? Even if she blamed or hated her in the future, as long as she could make this child come back to life, even for a short lifetime, it would be enough!

After only a moment, Tumi Xianzi withdrew her finger seal and took a Pill from her bosom. Hanyang only had time to smell a burst of fragrance, and before he could see it clearly, the Pill was stuffed into little Lingxiang's mouth.

Afterwards, Tumi Xianzi pinched a seal to urge the Pill to circulate within little Lingxiang's body while gripping Lingxiang's pulse point. After the Pill merged with Lingxiang, Tumi Xianzi performed complex hand seals.

Hanyang had never seen such a technique, but he could see a seven-colored light flowing from Tumi's fingers into Lingxiang's body, like a gurgling spring, flowing unceasingly.

And just at this moment, a roar suddenly came from outside the door.

"No!"

Hanyang looked back, and it was actually the Sect Leader, the Grandmaster.

Only now, the Grandmaster had disheveled hair and was completely devoid of his usual demeanor, and Hanyang always felt that the Grandmaster before him gave him a very strange feeling, yet he could not say exactly what was strange about it for a moment.

But that face was clearly the once high-spirited Sect Leader Yuanqing!

But for some reason, the Sect Leader True Person could never get close, as if an invisible array was isolating him outside, and no matter how he shouted or knocked, it was of no use.

Just when Hanyang did not know why, Tumi Xianzi suddenly spoke, though the voice sounded extremely weak.

"Hanyang... in the future... you must take good care of Lingxiang for Grandmistress..."

As soon as the words fell, Tumi Xianzi fell backward. Before Hanyang could recover, he was knocked away by a gust of wind and hit the cabinet behind him.

This collision made Hanyang see stars, and he felt dizzy for a long time. When he came to his senses, only he and little Lingxiang were left in the room.

At this time, Lingxiang had a rosy complexion, her round belly rising and falling, and she was whimpering and muttering in her mouth, as if she were having a nightmare.

But the figures of the Sect Leader and Tumi Xianzi were gone from the room, as if they had never been there, leaving only a mess. At the same time, it became quiet outside, and the terrifying roars and miserable shrieks could no longer be heard.

Chirps of birds came from outside, twittering, as if nothing had ever happened, and as if announcing the end of the catastrophe.

……

Ever since meeting Yaoji Xianzi, although Lingxiang said nothing, Long Qi could see her melancholy.

In the past, no matter what happened or how she acted, Lingxiang was always genuine. She was like the warm sun in winter, or the spring breeze brushing against one's face.

But now……

Watching the lonely figure sitting alone on the edge of the cliff, Long Qi felt that she would never again be that Lingxiang who laughed, scolded, and lived with unbridled personality.

"What are you thinking about? Why are you so gloomy?" Long Qi sat down beside Lingxiang.

Lingxiang was lost in thought and, caught off guard by Long Qi's sudden appearance, hurriedly pretended to rub her nose to hide the tears on her face.

"I was just watching the clouds. Yunzhongjun truly lives up to his reputation, to be able to arrange the Yunmeng, which has neither sun nor moon, so exquisitely."

Long Qi naturally saw that Lingxiang was crying; her butterfly-wing-like eyelashes were still glistening, but since she did not want him to know, he would not speak of it.

He looked with Lingxiang at the seven-colored clouds constantly shifting in the "sky," but his heart felt a sharp pain—he had never seen Lingxiang shed tears before.

What on earth could have happened to make that Lingxiang, who was usually so fierce and uninhibited, sad to this extent?

Long Qi pondered for a long time, but could not think of anything, so he simply reached out and put his arm around Lingxiang.

If it were any other day, Lingxiang would surely have pushed Long Qi away and clamored to fight him, but now she let Long Qi hold her like this, like a docile rabbit.

After a long while, Lingxiang finally spoke.

"If someone extremely important to you died, and you could save her, but it required your own life in exchange, would you save her?"

Hearing these words, Long Qi suddenly pulled Lingxiang up, looking her over with a panicked expression: "What is wrong with you? Why do you say such things?"

Looking at the incredibly nervous Long Qi, Lingxiang hurriedly smiled to soothe him: "I am fine, it is just a metaphor."

Long Qi looked at Lingxiang suspiciously for a long time, and seeing her look of composure, he said solemnly: "I would never let you fall into such danger; even if I had to risk my life, I would certainly protect you well."

The determination in those eyes moved Lingxiang.

After a long while, Lingxiang smiled and shook her head, then gently leaned on Long Qi's shoulder.

"Look, we have experienced so many dangers along this journey, so I was just speaking from feeling; you really don't need to be like this." Lingxiang sighed as she spoke.

"But if that day truly comes, you must never do such a thing, after all……"

"After all, if I were left alone, all that would accompany me would be loneliness……"

Sorrow never belongs to the dead, but to those who are still alive……

And after hearing what Lingxiang said, although Long Qi did not reply, he secretly made a resolution in his heart—

"I will definitely not let that happen!"

Definitely not!