In Ling Mansion's Qingyin Pavilion, Ling Luoyi was already in bed, preparing to sleep. Gu Yuncheng was gently coaxing her to sleep. After sensing that Ling Luoyi's breathing had stabilized, he left the room and returned to the Demon Realm to handle affairs.
"Master, do you believe the Great Demon King?" Guanyue asked, jumping onto Ling Luoyi's bed after sensing Gu Yuncheng had left.
Ling Luoyi, who had appeared to be asleep, opened her eyes and said, "Of course, I believe him. I've never believed anyone as much as I believe him."
"But Master, do you trust him?" Guanyue posed another question.
Ling Luoyi didn't know the answer to this question.
She had seen the flicker of disappointment on Gu Yuncheng's face, but the thought of revealing her secret made Ling Luoyi afraid, so she retreated.
Guanyue couldn't understand why Master could trust the Demon Emperor Venerable but not tell him about her own matters. Whether it was the Fengxi Realm or the curse, apart from what the Demon Emperor Venerable himself discovered, Master seemed to have told him nothing about herself. Yet, the Demon Emperor Venerable had told her everything about himself. Guanyue felt it was unfair.
After a long silence, Ling Luoyi stared blankly at the canopy in front of her and said, "I don't even trust myself."
Ling Luoyi's voice was so soft that Guanyue wouldn't have heard it without using spiritual power.
This answer also answered Guanyue's question. How could someone who couldn't trust herself trust others?
"Master..." Guanyue opened her mouth to speak, but heard Ling Luoyi muttering to herself.
"I don't trust anyone because I'm afraid. I'm actually afraid?" Ling Luoyi said, as if discovering something new, "Why am I afraid when I'm not even afraid of death?"
Guanyue looked at her worriedly, answering her question in its heart.
Master, it's because you care. Once you care, you're afraid of losing.
Ling Luoyi couldn't find an answer, and the room fell into a strange silence again.
"Guanyue, I know I'm very contradictory. On one hand, I wish someone could understand me, and on the other hand, I push away those who get close to me. There are many other things too. What I think in my heart and what I do with my hands are often not the same. For example, I really want to tell him, but the words just won't come out when they reach my lips."
"Master..."
"I know I'm sick, but I can't help it. Sometimes I miss my past self. It's strange, my past self wouldn't consider these things at all, just doing whatever I pleased. Guanyue, if it were my past self, would I have done better?"
"Master." Guanyue looked at Ling Luoyi, whose eyes were turning red, and couldn't help but worry. Seeing the red light quickly disappear, it breathed a sigh of relief, as it wasn't sure if it could control a master who had lost control.
Before Guanyue could answer, Ling Luoyi continued on her own, "Forget it, I'll talk about it after I go into seclusion."
Upon hearing this, Guanyue complained, "Master, you're going into seclusion again? How long will it be this time? Did the Domain Lord and the Grand Elder even agree?"
Ling Luoyi didn't want to answer and swatted it away, saying, "Alright, go back and rest."
Guanyue, caught off guard, was swatted away, drawing a graceful arc before immediately regaining its senses and landing steadily. It first felt lucky that it wasn't flattened, then pointed its little rabbit paws at Ling Luoyi, listing her "crimes."
Ling Luoyi ignored the dramatic rabbit and turned over to lie down again, but she couldn't sleep.
Seeing that her master was ignoring it and sensing the low pressure emanating from her, Guanyue didn't dare to approach. It returned to its little nest and drew a circle to curse her.
The next day, before the gates of Ling Mansion were even open, the outside world knew that the Ling family would not be receiving guests today, so they waited patiently. There was nothing else they could do.
On this day, Ling Luoyi did not go out but received a letter from Chairman Lin, stating that he had something to discuss with her and invited her to meet at Mingyue Tower.
Ling Luoyi remembered that Xuanhe had revealed its true form, even if only for a moment and as a phantom. It was likely seen by Chairman Lin.
Thinking of the situation at the time, Ling Luoyi touched her forehead. She really had to go.
Ling Luoyi asked a maid to reply and then took out a teleportation talisman. The next moment, her figure appeared in a deserted alley near Mingyue Tower. Not wanting to attract attention, Ling Luoyi changed her appearance with a thought, becoming an ordinary woman, the kind that wouldn't be remembered even if seen.
Ling Luoyi entered Mingyue Tower and showed her token to the steward. Although the steward was curious, he thought she was Ling Luoyi's maid and didn't suspect anything.
The steward led her to the private room booked by Chairman Lin. The agreed time had not yet arrived, so no one was in the room.
After the steward left, Ling Luoyi dispelled her術法 and returned to her original appearance.
After waiting for about two quarters of an hour, Chairman Lin arrived. Upon opening the private room door, he saw Ling Luoyi sitting inside, looking somewhat surprised that Ling Luoyi had arrived so quickly.
Ling Luoyi heard the sound and looked up. Not only Chairman Lin had arrived, but two middle-aged men were behind him. One was Vice Chairman Duan, whom she had met at the Alchemist Guild, and the other was someone she hadn't seen before.
Chairman Lin and the other two entered the private room, quickly ordered dishes, and then asked the waiter to leave.
The waiter was also surprised to see Ling Luoyi in the private room. If Ling Luoyi had come, they should have known, but no one knew when she had arrived. However, the waiter was smart and left as Chairman Lin instructed.
After the waiter left, Ling Luoyi took out a barrier sphere, activated it, and said, "May I ask why Chairman Lin invited me here?"
Chairman Lin was stunned. Knowing that Ling Luoyi asked this meant it was safe now, so he said, "Miss Ling, let me introduce you. This is Vice Chairman Duan, whom you've met before. This is Chairman Li of the Mercenary Guild. Chairman Li, this is Miss Ling."
Ling Luoyi nodded at him as a greeting.
Chairman Li also nodded at her.
Seeing that the greetings were exchanged, Chairman Lin said, "I believe Miss Ling knows why the three of us were so eager to meet her. We won't play coy."
Ling Luoyi smiled faintly and said, "Is it because of the mysterious man that the Wei family brought to Ling Mansion a few days ago?"
"Yes. Although it was only for a moment, we all saw the phantom that suddenly appeared behind the man when you captured him. We all confirmed it, and it was exactly the same as the foreign race recorded in that ancient painting. According to Miss Ling's explanation, that man is..."
"That man is indeed from the Asura race."
Ling Luoyi's words did not reassure them, but only confirmed one point. Another point needed confirmation.
"Since that man can come to the Ancient Spirit Continent, can other Asura races also come? Are they going to start a war against the human race again? Is the target this time the Ancient Spirit Continent?" This time, the question was asked by Vice Chairman Duan.
Ling Luoyi didn't answer immediately but glanced at the three chairmen.
The three chairmen had dark circles under their eyes, a result of not resting well for days. Their gazes towards Ling Luoyi were filled with worry, not for Ling Luoyi, but for their fears to come true.
Ling Luoyi thought for a moment and decided not to lie to them. She said, "Indeed, there is more than one Asura race on this continent now."
Upon hearing this, the three chairmen were not particularly surprised; everything was within their expectations. However, what Ling Luoyi said next made them unable to remain calm.