Chapter 7: with translation of chapter title

Shen Qingli carefully recalled it, but she still couldn't determine.

The attacks bombarding her at that time were too many; everything before her eyes was a riot of color, she was already at death's door, her vision was blurry—only Zhao Yue's cold, disappointed eyes were the clearest.

"Come with me." Shen Kuo spoke slowly, his gaze finally moving away from her blood-stained clothes.

Unaware, Shen Qingli felt a little cold; it seemed her constitution had declined—she used to not fear the cold.

She was sighing inwardly, but when she looked up she discovered Shen Kuo had actually brought her into the main hall?

"I'm to live inside?" Shen Qingli asked, reminding him.

Shen Kuo's steps hesitated slightly, and Shen Jin, who had caught up, blurted out, "Isn't that a pointless question?"

A pointless question?

Shen Qingli lowered her eyelids.

Realizing something, Shen Jin asked again, "You don't live in the main hall on Saint Maiden Peak?"

Shen Qingli didn't answer, and she didn't know how to answer.

Before Su Chacha entered Saint Maiden Peak, she could still say Zhao Yue liked solitude.

She used to deceive herself that way, but after Su Chacha joined Saint Maiden Peak, she had always lived in the Saint Maiden Hall, by Zhao Yue's side.

At first, she was truly upset, digesting it for a long time before consoling herself with the thought: "Mother just thinks I'm smart, so she doesn't need to teach me personally. After all, the junior sister is young and her comprehension is a bit lacking."

In fact, Zhao Yue never regarded her as a daughter.

Zhao Yue's attitude was actually quite obvious, yet she still gazed longingly, constantly edging closer to Zhao Yue.

She cultivated with all her might, shone brilliantly with all her might…

She only wanted Zhao Yue's praise, she only wanted Zhao Yue to glance at her one more time.

Truly laughable.

From now on, she would cultivate only for herself, and shine only for herself!

Yet Shen Kuo, who had sensed her emotional fluctuation, apologized, "Sorry."

He obviously thought Zhao Yue was taking out her anger on Shen Qingli because of him.

But Shen Qingli knew very well that this was only a small part of the reason: "It has nothing to do with you; she simply loves her saintly halo more."

Anything that could make her halo shine brighter, Zhao Yue would do.

Including personally purifying her own demonic offspring!

Including watching helplessly as Bai Ren Shan and others beat her until her soul scattered.

If it weren't for the fact that slaughtering kin is unforgivable by heaven and earth, Zhao Yue would surely have killed her with her own hands.

"Actually, you don't need to shield me; she won't kill me, for she seeks to accomplish the boundless love of all beings' Dao, and cannot slaughter kin." Shen Qingli stated lightly, "So, whether you're there or not, she treats me the same."

The hand hidden in Shen Kuo's wide sleeve instantly clenched, veins bulging.

"Since you know, why are you still staying with her!" Shen Jin exclaimed, not understanding.

Shen Qingli, however, gave a light laugh, "My former self didn't know."

After all, who in the world doesn't love their daughter?

If it weren't for having her bones ripped out alive and dying once!

How could she give up?

"Did she really tear out your phoenix bone alive?" Shen Kuo asked hoarsely.

"You didn't see? On that sniveling, dirty thing on Saint Maiden Peak just now, there was her phoenix bone!" Shen Jin said angrily, then glared fiercely at Shen Qingli, "You didn't voluntarily offer your phoenix bone, did you!?"

"How could it be voluntary?" Shen Qingli sneered, "That phoenix bone of mine was forged after nine nirvanas, nine times nine deaths to one life."

No one knows how much blood and tears she shed to cultivate that phoenix bone!

However, it's not surprising that Shen Jin would ask that.

Outwardly, they'd certainly have to claim she volunteered; otherwise, how could they demonstrate the harmony and fraternal love of the Jadeite Sect?

Bing Xue Feng has long been independent of the other peaks, hardly differing from the outer sect, so naturally the only thing heard would be that story of her voluntarily offering her phoenix bone.

Shen Kuo's clear eyes instantly reddened, "Why didn't you come to me?"

If he hadn't received the news and rushed over, would he not have come to him even if cast into an endless abyss?

Heartbroken to the point of breathlessness, Shen Kuo instinctively reached out to check Shen Qingli's injuries, but she also instinctively dodged.

Their hands froze simultaneously; Shen Kuo exhaled slowly, "Sorry, I was abrupt."

Shen Qingli opened her mouth, but not knowing how to explain, she simply remained silent.

"Whether you believe it or not," Shen Kuo said solemnly, "I have never thought of abandoning you."

Shen Qingli heard the sincerity in his tone, but she felt no joy, nor much turbulence.

"Sorry," Shen Kuo apologized again, "I shouldn't have just left like that back then."

No matter how many reasons he had, at this moment he realized he was wrong, terribly wrong.

"It's all in the past," Shen Qingli said softly.

Yet Shen Kuo did not feel relieved by those words; instead, his heart grew heavier and more painful!

Her daughter is only sixteen!

How could she be so resigned?

Yet her gaze truly held no hatred or resentment toward this father.

This could only be because, having suffered endless torment at her mother's hands, she no longer harbored any expectations of him—or anyone else.

That's right.

After all, her birth mother, who bore and gave birth to her, personally tore out all her bones.

They ripped her bones out alive!

Two hundred and six bones, not just one or two…

How could Zhao Yue bring herself to do that!

Even if it's toward strangers, this kind of ruthlessness is not something an ordinary person could manage.

Shen Kuo's eyes were moist.

Before hearing Shen Qingli confirm it herself, he actually didn't believe it; even if Little White told him personally, he still couldn't believe it.

What kind of mother is this!

To be able to go this far……

He really was wrong.

Wrong to an absurd degree.

Shen Kuo, suppressing the dense sharp ache in his heart, slowly said, "Yes, it's all in the past. Stay here for now; if you need anything, just tell Father."

Having said that, he grabbed Shen Jin and pulled him away, giving Shen Qingli some private space.

After they left, Shen Qingli pushed open the door, her gaze instantly froze.

Everything in the room had been arranged according to her preferences.

Hiss—

The little white snake that poked its head out of Shen Qingli's sleeve had curved eyes and a fawning expression, as if seeking credit.

But when had it coiled around her wrist? Shen Qingli had no idea.

She, her pupils faintly purple, examined the little snake again and discovered it actually possessed the cultivation of a Profound King Realm!

Moreover, this is still its condition before it has fully recovered?

"What breed are you?"

Judging by its bone age, it's not old.

Such a tiny mystical beast, yet possessing such a high realm—its bloodline is extraordinary.

Hiss hiss—

The little white snake smugly shook its head, as if letting Shen Qingli guess.

Shen Qingli, however, paid it no more attention; with such a strong cultivation yet unable to speak, it likely had divine beast bloodline.

It seems her adoptive father's background is not ordinary.

I just don't know whether the Jadeite Sect knows or not; they probably don't, otherwise they wouldn't treat him this way.

However, this has nothing to do with her; she who directly entered the Demonic Healing Space did not bring the little white snake inside.

She will no longer wholeheartedly devote herself to anyone; naturally she will also hide her trump card.

But she had just vanished! A figure flashed outside the door……