Ling Tian's soul injuries had finally healed. Although he had yet to finish comprehending everything he needed to, the date of Zi Tiandu's succession ceremony was drawing near, so he had no choice but to pause his meditation—at last, he emerged from seclusion.
Old Man Ling and the others were overjoyed to see Ling Tian emerge. But the next moment, they were left laughing and crying at once: Ling Yue had been chasing Huangfu Qiye and happened to appear right there. By a stroke of coincidence, she was hurling one jade talisman after another at Ling Tian.
"I'm done for. This little girl really knows how to get me into trouble. Father's only just come out of seclusion, and she's already attacked him." Ling Lin wore a mournful expression and muttered to himself, "I hope Father doesn't take his anger out on me. But it seems he wouldn't punish a little girl... So in the end, am I still the one responsible?"
"Of course he won't punish Ling Yue. He might even praise her. After all, she's the only one in Lingxiao Pavilion bold enough to launch a sneak attack on him." Hu Yao's pretty face was full of amusement as she teased, "Lin Er, you'd better think up an excuse. Or you could follow your master's example and run away—far, far away."
"Great-grandfather Ling, you see..." Ling Lin looked at Old Man Ling with pleading eyes.
"Don't worry. It shouldn't be a big deal." Old Man Ling appeared unconcerned, but when he saw Ling Lin breathe a sigh of relief, his tone changed and he flashed a teasing smile. "Your father won't beat you to death. At most, you'll be confined for a thousand years."
"Uh, Great-grandfather Ling, you..." Ling Lin felt like crying.
There were many kinds of