Outside the Imperial City, Zhao Shanshan was bidding farewell to her Imperial Father while asking him to help Mu Qingling inquire into Mom's whereabouts.
Since she had promised Mu Qingling that she would help her find Mom, Zhao Shanshan naturally would not go back on her word. Besides, Mu Qingling was so innocent that she could not rest easy letting her go to Medicine King Valley alone.
"Shan'er, you must be careful. Those are all old foxes who have lived for hundreds or even thousands of years. Be wary of whatever motives they may have."
"Rest assured, Imperial Father. I know what to do, so you needn't worry about me. You should hurry back and tend to your injuries instead!"
"Yingying, remember to take care of Imperial Father."
"Don't worry, Elder Sister. I'll take care of Imperial Father."
This time, Zhao Yingying did not follow them. Zhao Shanshan had left her behind, since having one more Zhao Yingying along would not have been of much use.
After saying their farewells, Zhao Shanshan took Mu Qingling and followed Medicine Spirit's group toward Medicine King Valley.
Since Medicine King Valley was filled with ancestral figures, flying with two people and a dog was no difficult task. They returned to Medicine King Valley in less than a day.
"Tianxing, personally lead all the elders of the sect out to hunt demon beasts. The higher their level, the better. I'll have the Tenth and Eleventh Ancestors assist you."
After the group returned to Medicine King Valley, Medicine Spirit immediately ordered Yao Tianxing to lead the sect's elders out to hunt demon beasts. To curry favor with Mu Qingling, Medicine Spirit had truly gone all out, even dispatching the Medicine King Valley's sect master.
"Ancestor, what is going on?"
"Don't worry about what's going on. Hurry and complete the task I gave you. Remember, the higher the level of the demon beasts, the better. And you must return before dawn tomorrow."
"All right!"
Though Yao Tianxing did not understand why Medicine Spirit was acting this way, he could only agree. He would have to ask the other ancestors about it later.
Yao Tianxing left with two ancestors, intending to gather the sect elders before setting out. Once Medicine Spirit saw him leave, he hurriedly attended to Mu Qingling.
"Little senior, I have already ordered them to hunt demon beasts. They will be delivered to you tomorrow morning."
"How about little senior rests here for the night first?"
"All right!"
Upon hearing that she would have lots of meat tomorrow, the little girl did not fuss with Medicine Spirit and readily agreed.
"Then I'll take little senior to where you'll be resting."
Medicine Spirit was about to head outside after saying that, but Zhao Shanshan called out to him. Medicine Spirit turned back in puzzlement, not knowing what else Zhao Shanshan wanted.
"Princess Zhao, is there anything else?"
"Senior, Ling'er came out this time mainly to find her mother. I would like to ask Senior about her, and I hope Senior can tell us anything you know."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Princess Zhao, please tell me. If I know anything, I will certainly tell you."
Medicine Spirit gave Mu Qingling a surprised look. He had not expected this little girl to be searching for her mother. Yet even with her strength and background, she did not know where her mother had gone, so Medicine Spirit did not dare guarantee that he would know either.
Still, Medicine Spirit wanted to hear what Zhao Shanshan had to say. What if he really did know?
"Ling'er's mother is named Mu Qianxue. Have you heard of her, Senior?"
"Yes, yes! My mom is called Mu Qianxue. Do you know where my mom went?"
Mu Qingling looked at Medicine Spirit nervously. This old man looked incredibly formidable, and so many people had to obey him. He should know where Mom had gone, right?
"Mu Qianxue?"
After hearing the two of them, Medicine Spirit fell into deep thought and began searching his memories for that name. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he thought, he could not find any recollection of it.
Not only had he never heard that name, he had not even heard of the surname Mu. He could only shake his head apologetically at them.
"You don't know where my mom went either?"
"Little senior, I have not heard your mother's name before. Do you have a portrait of your mother? I can ask others to help look for her."
Although Medicine Spirit had never heard the name Mu Qianxue, Medicine King Valley held considerable standing in the Xiling Empire. If they had a portrait, plenty of people would be willing to help search.
"I don't have a portrait of Mom."
"Then, little senior, do you remember what your mother looks like? I can have someone draw a portrait of her. It would make the search more convenient."
"I've never even seen Mom, so how would I know what she looks like? But Mom must be just as pretty as me."
Medicine Spirit: ...
Medicine Spirit suddenly did not know what to say. She did not even know what her own mother looked like, so how was he supposed to help find her?
At the same time, Medicine Spirit grew curious about Mu Qingling's identity. Yet he did not dare ask too much. After all, the more one knew, the faster one died.
"Little senior, if that is the case, then this will be rather troublesome. Though our Xiling Empire is not some great empire, without knowing someone's appearance, trying to find them based on a name alone is still quite difficult."
Medicine Spirit had actually put it very tactfully. Trying to find someone with only a name was not merely quite difficult—it was simply impossible.
Even if they found someone with the same name, she might not be the same person. Besides, the Xiling Empire was merely a mid-grade empire, and there were more than ten thousand such empires in the True Spirit Realm.
That showed just how vast the True Spirit Realm was. What if the little girl's mother was not even in the Xiling Empire?
"Ling'er, don't be sad. As long as we keep at it, I believe Ling'er will definitely be able to find Mom."
Seeing that the little girl was somewhat upset, Zhao Shanshan could only comfort her like this. Even if they had to search the entire continent, as long as the little girl did not give up, she would accompany her until the end.
"Little senior, if you have no clues, why not visit Tianji Sect? Their ancestor is said to know everything under heaven; there is nothing he cannot calculate."
"It just so happens that I have some friendship with their ancestor. We might as well go to Tianji Sect and give it a try."
Tianji Sect was likewise one of the ten great sects of the Xiling Empire. Though its strength was not the greatest, because it could calculate all matters under heaven, no one would be bored enough to provoke Tianji Sect.
Moreover, Medicine Spirit knew something that most people did not: Tianji Sect in the Xiling Empire was merely a branch of a holy land.
The Tianji Sect ancestor had happened to be injured before and had sought Medicine Spirit for pills, owing him a favor. Medicine Spirit could make use of that favor now.
Otherwise, it would not be easy for an ordinary person to invite Tianji Sect's ancestor to act.
"Mm, then we'll go to Tianji Sect tomorrow."
Mu Qingling agreed at once. So long as she could find Mom, it did not matter where she had to go.
Seeing Mu Qingling agree, Medicine Spirit led the two of them away to rest, preparing to make a trip to Tianji Sect the next day.
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