The crisp sound outside the door made Lin Wanyin tremble violently.
She hurriedly raised her sleeve, forcefully wiping away the tears on her cheeks, and took a few deep breaths to calm her disordered breathing.
She quickly walked to the bronze mirror, glanced at it, and only after confirming that there were no obvious flaws did she open the door.
Outside the door, Situ Shuang'er stood gracefully, dressed in the white gown of a holy maiden of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Her skirt was embroidered with silver phoenix patterns, her waist was slender, and she had a cool and otherworldly air about her, like a fairy descended from the heavens.
Lin Wanyin forced a smile.
" Shuang'er, why did you suddenly come back? Didn't you say this morning that you were going to the sect's headquarters to discuss the competition with Sect Master Meng and the others?"
Situ Shuang'er stood in front of the door, but did not answer immediately.
She slightly furrowed her brows, her clear, almond-shaped eyes, as bright as autumn water, fixedly scrutinizing her mother before her.
Something's not right.
Something's really wrong.
On the flying boat that clearly came to the capital, there was always a certain gleam in my mother's eyes that she couldn't hide, and she even talked a lot more than usual.
But from the second day after I stepped into the capital, my mother completely changed.
Not only did they insist on moving out of the prestigious villa arranged by the Heavenly Sword Sect, but they also rented this cramped little house in the western part of the city.
He would often avoid her and go out alone in a mysterious manner.
Every time he comes back, he looks so absent-minded.
Today it's even worse.
Her eyes were red and swollen, her face was as pale as a sheet, and her lips trembled slightly; she clearly had just been crying.
Situ Shuang'er felt a surge of indescribable anxiety and confusion.
She simply couldn't understand it. In this Great Qian Imperial City, her mother had no relatives or friends; what could have possibly caused her to become so heartbroken and haggard?
Could it be... that Mother has some hidden illness?
Situ Shuang'er could no longer hold back, took a step forward, and reached out to grab Lin Wanyin's icy hand.
"Mother, what's wrong? Please tell Shuang'er."
The girl's eyes were filled with anxiety and heartache, and her voice was choked with sobs.
"Are you hiding something from me? If you're not feeling well, the sect has top-tier elixirs; Shuang'er can ask the sect leader for them."
Lin Wanyin a pang of sadness and quickly shook her head.
She patted her daughter's hand gently and said softly, "Mother is fine, silly girl. It's just that the capital has been too noisy these past few days, and I haven't been sleeping well because of the change in environment. Don't overthink it."
Situ Shuang'er pursed her red lips tightly.
She opened her mouth, knowing her mother was just giving her a perfunctory answer.
But seeing her mother's utterly exhausted face, she swallowed back the question she was about to ask.
Situ Shuang'er stepped forward, gently stretched out her arms, and hugged Lin Wanyin's slender waist, burying her head in her mother's warm embrace.
"Mother, I know you have a strong personality and don't want Shuang'er to be distracted."
The girl's voice was muffled, carrying an almost pleading longing.
" Shuang'er won't force you to ask anymore."
"But you must promise our daughter that you'll take me with you next time you go out, okay?"
Lin Wanyin's body stiffened slightly.
Feeling the dependence and warmth in her daughter's arms, her thoughts drifted irrevocably back to that night of parting at Drunken Moon Tower in Qingyang City.
She had once secretly and tightly embraced that domineering man when he fell asleep exhausted on the bed.
But now, she can't find any trace of that man—where is he? Is he alive or dead?
Lin Wanyin a lump in her throat, raised her hand to gently stroke Situ Shuang'er's hair, concealing the sorrow in her eyes.
"Okay, Mother promises you."
She sighed softly, calmed herself, and casually asked, as if speaking in a nonchalant tone:
"By the way, Shuang'er... you went to the Heavenly Sword Sect Sect's headquarters today, did you hear anyone in the sect mention... Chu Yunfei?"
Situ Shuang'er paused slightly and stepped out of Lin Wanyin's embrace.
Mentioning that name, her delicate eyebrows furrowed unconsciously.
It's Chu Yunfei again.
Why has Mother been subtly inquiring about that guy lately?
But then I remembered that my mother had told me on the edge of the cliff that Uncle Chu had done our family a great favor back then.
Now that the royal family has suddenly turned against her, it's only natural that her mother would be worried, considering their past relationship.
Situ Shuang'er shook her head.
"No."
"That guy has always loved to show off since he was a child. Relying on his skills, he has offended many powerful forces in the capital."
"Now that the royal family has publicly denied his identity, he has lost his backing and is probably terrified, hiding somewhere, too scared to show his face."
Situ Shuang'er spoke arrogantly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.
In her eyes, Chu Yunfei was still that scoundrel who couldn't be brought to the table.
He flaunted his power by relying on women, but once the Princess of Great Qian stopped caring about him, he would be nothing.
However, Lin Wanyin listened to her daughter's nonchalant words, her heart ached as if it were being pricked by needles.
She remained silent for a long time, finally unable to hold back her trembling voice as she asked the question that pierced her deepest fear:
" Shuang'er... do you think he... might have already been secretly killed by those forces?"
Situ Shuang'er was taken aback. Seeing the undisguised panic in her mother's eyes, her heart sank as well.
Dead?
For some reason, the moment this thought popped into her head, she felt a slight tightness in her chest.
Even though she hated that scoundrel who always made fun of her, even though she broke off the engagement, she... never really wanted him to die.
But the proud Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sword Sect would never admit to outsiders that she had been momentarily flustered.
Situ Shuang'er turned her head away and said coldly:
"It's hard to say."
"He severed Qin Hao's arm, and he also smashed the Puppet Sect's battle puppet. Shen Yuezhou is also known for his vindictive nature."
"Furthermore, I heard that a few days ago, Li Tianxing, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Evil Devil Sect, also fought with him on the street."
At this point, Situ Shuang'er took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
"Having offended the holy sons of three top-tier sects, in this imperial city teeming with powerful figures... his chances of survival were already extremely slim."
Every word was like a heavy hammer blow, striking Lin Wanyin's heart.
Insignificant.
Lin Wanyin's face was ashen, and she swayed, nearly falling over.
Cangyun Sect... Puppet Sect... Demonic Sect...
Those are all behemoths with profound foundations.
No matter how extraordinary Chu Yunfei is, he is still just a young man who came from Qingyang City.
A piercing pain spread through her meridians. Lin Wanyin clenched her palms tightly, her nails piercing her skin and drawing out specks of scarlet blood.
no.
After Shuang'er rests tonight, she must go to the east of the city and the vicinity of the major sects' residences to investigate.
I need to be seen alive.
He won't die... He won't die.
Just as Lin Wanyin with grief and on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Buzz!
A warm, smooth jade slip pressed against the depths of her bodice suddenly began to tremble violently.
The vibration was extremely fast, with a familiar frequency.
That is...
That was a jade talisman she used back in the Azure Mystic Sect to allow Chu Yunfei to contact her.
Lin Wanyin felt as if she had been electrocuted, her delicate body suddenly stiffening.
Those once lifeless autumn eyes suddenly burst forth with unprecedented ecstasy and dazzling light.
He's still alive?!
He's really alive!!
Overwhelmed by joy, Lin Wanyin lost all reason and didn't even have time to maintain the dignity of an elder in front of her daughter.
She suddenly raised her hand and pushed Situ Shuang'er out of the room.
" Shuang'er, Mother suddenly feels dizzy and unwell!"
"Go back next door and cultivate by yourself. Mother needs to rest, so please don't disturb me."
The words hadn't even finished being spoken.
Bang!
Lin Wanyin slammed the wooden door of the side room shut from the inside, even jamming the latch shut in the chaos.
In the courtyard, only Situ Shuang'er remained, standing frozen in place with a blank expression.
A mountain breeze blows.
Situ Shuang'er stared at the tightly closed door, then at her own hands that had been pushed open, completely dumbfounded.
Just a moment ago, my mother was heartbroken and on the verge of fainting, but suddenly... her movements became even more agile than a martial artist at the Divine Sea Realm?
"Mother... what's wrong?"
Situ Shuang'er bit her lower lip, muttering to herself with a blank expression.
And at this very moment.
In the dimly lit room, Lin Wanyin's back was pressed tightly against the cold door panel, her chest heaving violently in a breathtaking arc.
With trembling hands, she reached into the depths of her undergarments and pulled out the hot, silvery-white jade talisman.
Tears welled up again, but this time, they were all from the overwhelming joy of finding what was lost.
She joined her trembling fingertips together and impatiently poured her spiritual power into it.
The next moment, that familiar young man's voice, tinged with a hint of teasing and flippancy, rang clearly in her mind:
" Aunt Lin, have you missed me?"
(P. S.: As the Daughter of Heavenly Mandate, Lin Wanyin will break free from the suppression of the Heavenly Dao and reveal her original talent in the final battle in the Eastern Continent.)