With a single thought, the Heart Slaughter Sword suspended above the Saturn in his sea of consciousness trembled slightly, and its icy Sword Intent exuded, causing the piercing pain between his brows to become more distinct.
Chen Ye concentrated inwardly, cautiously separating a wisp of Divine Sense to envelop the sword’s body.
Attempting to nurture it using the method recorded in the Heart Slaughter Sword Technique.
The Heart Slaughter Sword glinted faintly, carefully absorbing, not enough to restore it but alleviating the needle-like pain between Chen Ye’s brows.
"It indeed works."
Chen Ye felt slightly reassured.
The source of his headache was the unconscious absorption of his Divine Soul by the Heart Slaughter Sword.
Initially, it was fine, but accumulated over time, it inevitably damaged his Divine Soul.
He calmed his mind, then circulated the Withering and Prosperous Mystic Light Sutra, repairing the subtle dark injuries left by the forced extraction of Spiritual Power, while also consolidating the 2nd layer of Foundation Establishment.
"As expected, though months of cultivation were devoured, recovery is indeed faster than past cultivation..."
Chen Ye sighed in relief.
The process of his cultivation seemed like digging a pool and then storing water.
The Heart Slaughter Sword merely consumed the water in the pool.
And now he only needed to store water again, saving the effort of digging the pool all over.
...
In the depths of the bamboo forest, in front of a wooden house.
Mao Qingzhu had long been waiting.
She changed into an elegant moon-white ru skirt, with her hair simply coiled up, adorned with only a jade hairpin, appearing more gentle and beautiful than usual.
From a distance, she saw Qing Jun’s figure.
The gentle beauty nervously clenched her sleeves and quickly stepped forward:
"Qing Jun!"
Qing Jun looked at the gentle smile and eager eyes of Aunt Mao in front of her, hesitated for a moment, and the trace of reluctance in her heart inexplicably dissipated significantly.
She recalled her master’s words of "genuine heart." The little girl unusually did not cause trouble, solemnly gave a bow: "Aunt Mao."
"Come in quickly, it’s cold outside with the mist."
Mao Qingzhu took Qing Jun’s hand, feeling it slightly cool, and immediately wrapped it in her warm palm, leading her into the wooden house.
The interior was simply and elegantly arranged, the table full of exquisite snacks and Spirit Fruits, all favorites of Qing Jun.
Xiaoli whispered with a smile: "Miss has been busy for a long time, preparing a lot of tasty treats for Young Miss!"
Qing Jun’s ahoge stood up, she rolled her eyes slightly and squinted:
"Aunt Mao, did you... already know I was coming?"
Xiaoli was stunned, but Mao Qingzhu didn’t doubt, gently pulling Qing Jun to sit down, her gaze unwilling to leave the little face:
"Your master told me before... Did you suffer in Calm Hall? Aunt Yanyu... has a rather strict nature."
How infuriating...
The little girl sulkily sat down, biting into the pastry.
That annoying big dumpling!
Surely there’s some contact with the master!
But she had to restrain herself!
Qing Jun took a deep breath, grabbed another piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into her mouth, murmuring:
"It’s alright, just a bit stifling, with a few more rules."
As she ate, her eyes secretly observed Mao Qingzhu and suddenly asked: "Aunt Mao, are you... my mother?"
The smile on Mao Qingzhu’s face froze, her fingers holding the tea cup tightened slightly.
Even Xiaoli beside her held her breath.
This issue.
Both sides had always avoided it, but today Qing Jun directly exposed it.
Xiaoli thought to herself, "Could it be, Young Miss is returning to the Mao Family? But this Divine Mist Valley, it might not be as free as the outside. Yet recognition is a good thing for Miss."
Mao Qingzhu lowered her gaze, silent for a breath before softly responding with a "hmm."
Qing Jun tilted her head, straightforwardly stating:
"Aunt Mao, you’ve misunderstood. You’re not my mother! I came from a stone!"
"Boo hoo..."
Mao Qingzhu hadn’t responded yet, Xiaoli’s eyes reddened, sobbing,
"Young Miss, all these years, you have truly been aggrieved..."
Xiaoli was tearful.
How could there be a child coming from a stone in this world?
Surely it was a pity for little Qing Jun, seeing other kids with mothers, unlike her.
That’s why she asked the master about her mother!
The master, having no choice, said she was from a stone or picked from the trash.
Yet little Qing Jun truly believed it.
Utterly pitiful!
She quietly glanced at Miss, who seemed sad too, softly saying:
"Indeed, you came from the stone, but I..."
At this point.
Mao Qingzhu, with countless words in her heart, didn’t know how to speak.
Is she really Xu Qingjun’s mother?
If not, then what were those ten months?
If she was, then who was Xu Qingjun’s father...
"Master said, past matters are hard to clarify in right or wrong."
Qing Jun swallowed the cake and gently patted Mao Qingzhu’s hand,
"Master also said, Aunt Mao is very kind to Qing Jun now, and that’s enough."
Mao Qingzhu’s eyes were misted with tears.
She knew very well,
The words of Qing Jun meant she wanted to draw a clear line with her.
But inherently timid, she could only hold Qing Jun’s small hand, choking, "Alright."
Xiaoli remained silent, genuinely feeling aggrieved for Miss.
Miss’s past actions were indeed compelled.
But in places unknown to Qing Jun, she had no idea how much youth and wonderful years were given.
If it wasn’t to protect Qing Jun, being the eldest lady of the Mao Family, why would she spend half her life confined?
It’s just a pity.
The wicked little Qing Jun, always carefree, how would she comprehend the sadness of others?
She tried to pull her hand away but couldn’t, so she let Aunt Mao hold it.
Fortunately.
Although Qing Jun was an extremely naughty child, she was not foolish.
The little girl rolled her eyes and chattered away about how she "outwitted" Mao Yanyu in Calm Hall, how utterly boring it was, and rambled about the "oblivious" broken gourd in the Heart Slaughter Cave...but deliberately skipped the part about Zhiwei receiving a legacy and the Heart Slaughter Sword going to find the master.