"Oh! It's the physician... But our family... has no extra money... cough, cough..." The old woman seemed hard of hearing. Only when Ling Xiao stood before her did a bitter smile appear on her face.
"It's alright, Granny. Rather than living in suffering, it's better to depart sooner. Your memories are the most precious treasure to me." Ling Xiao grinned, a glint of soul light flashing in his eyes.
The bitter smile on the old woman's face froze before it could even fade, her eyes wide open in a truly... startling sight.
"So that's how it is..." Ling Xiao stood before the bed, looking at the now lifeless old woman, a sinister curve lifting his lips.
He had anticipated Ning'er's origins wouldn't be simple, but he hadn't expected them to be so convoluted and bizarre.
As for how convoluted and bizarre...
Her biological father was named... Ning Tiance, and her mother was actually the legitimate eldest princess of one of the Eight Great Imperial Dynasties, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty!
Understand now?
Interesting. It seemed her father was quite extraordinary!
How could a man capable of siring a daughter with such Luck Points be anything ordinary?
Even if he himself lacked Luck Points, he was undoubtedly a figure who commanded respect in his region.
Ning Tiance, just listen to that name!
With a name like that, if he wasn't a War God, would it live up to that level of prestige?
As for her ruthless mother... Heh.
Only when Ling Xiao walked out of the thatched hut with a sorrowful expression did Ning'er's small face first show excitement, which then quickly dimmed. From the look on Ling Xiao's face, she seemed to guess something, her little face suddenly turning deathly pale.
"Young master... my grandmother, she..."
"Alas... I did my best, but she waited too long. If she hadn't been worried about you being left alone and helpless, she probably would have passed sooner. It was the power of love that allowed Granny to hold on until now, to entrust you to me, Ning'er!!" Ling Xiao looked up at the sky, his tone carrying an indescribable heaviness.
Even Ye Qingchan covered her red lips tightly at this moment, tears seemingly glistening in her eyes. She seemed to envision a grandmother on the brink of death, grasping Ling Xiao's hand with a pitiful expression, entrusting her granddaughter to him with tear-filled eyes.
And from her understanding of Ling Xiao, he would never refuse.
Although the young master appeared cruel and murderous, his actions walked the line between righteousness and villainy. Only those who truly knew him understood that his heart was actually incredibly warm.
The young master was warm, from head to toe, inside and out!!
No rebuttals accepted!!
Anyone who rebuts, I'll kill them!
Then all the living would believe the young master was a warm person! Hmph!
"How... how could this be... How could grandmother..." Ning'er stood rooted, tears silently streaming down. Despair filled her heart, as if the entire world had suddenly plunged into darkness.
Although she was only twelve, having suffered hardships with her grandmother since childhood, her heart was far more mature than her peers. But no matter how mature, she was still a child.
At this moment, she wasn't thinking about how she would live in the future; she just wanted to cry, to be with her grandmother forever.
"Grandmother!!" Finally, Ning'er's composure shattered, and she cried heart-wrenchingly.
Ling Xiao simply walked to her side, held her tightly in his arms, and gently patted her shoulder. "Be good, Ning'er. Although Granny is gone, I will take care of you from now on. I will definitely help you find your parents..."
"No! I want Grandmother, I want Grandmother..." Ning'er didn't even register Ling Xiao's words, just cried helplessly.
After a long while, she suddenly looked at Ling Xiao with fright. "What... what did you say just now, young master? Ning'er has parents?"
"Of course. If you didn't have parents, did you jump out of a rock crevice?" Ling Xiao shook his head with a bitter smile, wiping the tears from her small face.
"But... grandmother said she found Ning'er by the river..."
"She was boasting. Granny just told me about your origins. Don't worry, Ning'er, I will take you to find them." A cold glint flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes, and Ye Qingchan gave him a meaningful look.
Every time the young master had that expression, someone was bound to... be in for misfortune.
But... two people who could abandon their own daughter truly deserved death!
"Young master... can I go in and see grandmother one last time?" Ning'er was already weak from crying, lying limply in Ling Xiao's arms.
"Better not. Granny was infected with a very severe illness. Your body is so weak; if you catch it, it would be very troublesome." Ling Xiao shook his head, patiently comforting the little girl in his arms.
His reason for coming to the Western Frontier wasn't just for leisure.
Currently, the Western Frontier was embroiled in constant warfare, but the rule of the Eight Great Imperial Dynasties was remarkably stable, making major conflicts unlikely. If the eight dynasties remained undisturbed, the remaining kingdoms and smaller dynasties couldn't stir up much trouble.
So, how could he profit from this?
Whether it was the Primordial Demon Blade or the Soul-Devouring Ghost Pearl, both were supreme treasures that thrived on killing and cultivation.
Using countless dead souls to forge his Soul Palace, using a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses to awaken the Demon Blade.
Thus, the Holy Church could be targeted!
"Waaah!" Hearing Ling Xiao's words, Ning'er began crying sorrowfully again.
Only when she was utterly exhausted and fell into a deep sleep did Ling Xiao hand her over to Ye Qingchan. "Qingchan, take her to wash up, change her clothes, and give her something to eat when she wakes up."
Ling Xiao looked up at the distant ancient stone hall, a sinister smile curling his lips. "Yes! Young master!" Ye Qingchan didn't ask further and left, carrying Ning'er.
Ling Xiao casually flicked his hand, and the thatched hut behind him instantly burst into flames, reduced to ashes.
But...
Just as he stepped towards the distant ancient hall, his expression suddenly froze!
That youth who appeared on the street earlier... Could he be the Great Xia Ninth Prince whose Luck Points were devoured? Otherwise, why would his timing be so perfect?
Did I kick him to death just now?!
Then the hidden opportunity on him...
Dammit!!
That was rash!
If Ling Xiao hadn't interfered, the plot for this segment... would probably have gone like this: The Ninth Prince saves Ning'er, gains her gratitude, and she becomes his little childhood friend. Then, by chance, the little childhood friend reunites with her parents, becoming the catalyst for the Ninth Prince's resurgence.
After all, a War God! Even if his cultivation wasn't top-tier in the Western Frontier, his mastery of strategy and the soldiers loyal to him would surely number in the millions.
Quite suddenly, Ling Xiao felt... he was truly wicked!
At the same time.
In the central ancient hall of Xuyun City.
"Chuan'er, what happened to you? Did you get into another fight with the young master of Marquis Shuoyuan's household?" On the dais of the ancient hall, a middle-aged man in golden robes, missing one leg and one arm, frowned slightly. He stepped forward and instantly appeared beside a white-robed youth standing below the dais, then reached out and tenderly touched his face.
"Father Emperor..." The white-robed youth shook his head, pursed his lips, but remained silent for a long time.
"Alas... Chuan'er... It is your father's incompetence." The golden-robed man was naturally the youth's father, the former Great Xia Emperor, now the emperor of the minor Xia Dynasty—Xia Yong!
Originally, he too had stood at the pinnacle of the Western Frontier. But... ever since he was ambushed fifteen years ago, nearly losing his life, and only surviving thanks to a treasure on his person, his cultivation had fallen to the third grade of the Divine Emperor Realm. For fifteen years, he had made no progress.
Moreover!! If it weren't for the measures left behind by the ancient Emperor of the Xia Clan within this ancient Xuyun City, that villain would have surely come long ago to completely eradicate his lineage.
"Father Emperor, it's not your fault. The blame lies solely with that Xia Sheng and his son for their wolfish ambition and sinister schemes." A trace of hatred flashed across Xia Chuan's young face.
Xia Sheng, Xia Feng, just you wait!
One day, I, Xia Chuan, will lead the Xia Clan back to the imperial capital and kill you with my own hands!!
However...
One thing had always perplexed Xia Chuan and his father: How did Xia Sheng and his son know the exact day and moment he would be born?