The silhouette of Yue Wu Mei almost merged with the darkness, but Zi Lin Ling still recognized her mother at a glance.
Zi Lin Ling's body trembled slightly, tears welling up and spilling over, tracing paths down her cheeks, then her chin, before falling to the ground and shattering like pearls.
Her lips quivered, and a current of air in her throat struggled to break free, as if blocked by something, heavy and suppressed.
Yue Wu Mei seemed to sense something amiss and slowly turned her head.
Accustomed to discerning things in the dark, Zi Lin Ling's appearance was clearly reflected in her eyes.
Mother and daughter shared a connection; though they had never met, the familiarity and affection deep within their hearts were ingrained in their very bones since birth.
Yue Wu Mei leaped up abruptly, a flash of movement, and she was already standing before Zi Lin Ling.
Only an arm's length separated them.
Tears flowed before words could be spoken.
Their eyes met, and tears, like a breached dam, streamed down Yue Wu Mei's peerless face.
Yue Wu Mei's hand trembled as she reached out, intending to touch Zi Lin Ling's cheek.
Suddenly, a barrier appeared, forcefully stopping her hand a foot away from Zi Lin Ling.
"Child, is that you?" Yue Wu Mei choked out.
Zi Lin Ling nodded, placing her hand against the barrier, her palm meeting Yue Wu Mei's through the barrier.
"Mother!"
The airflow finally broke through the obstruction, and the tearful cry struck Yue Wu Mei's heart directly.
Yue Wu Mei's entire body trembled violently.
At this moment, she felt as if she were in a dream, filled with disbelief.
She was so afraid that everything before her was merely a dream.
"Lin... Lin'er!"
Yue Wu Mei wept uncontrollably, "Child, is it really you? Mother isn't dreaming, is she?"
"Mother!"
Zi Lin Ling's tears streamed down, and with a thud, she knelt on the ground.
The cold, white bones of her knees hit the ground, but she felt no pain.
"Lin'er! Wuwuwu..."
Yue Wu Mei cried out loud, her body going limp.
Upon seeing her child, whom she hadn't seen for so many years, her so-called strength crumbled in that instant.
"Mother..."
Zi Lin Ling also sobbed, unable to distinguish whether this was an involuntary outpouring of her own emotions or the genuine feelings of the original soul flowing through her.
But no matter what, it did not diminish the blood-bound, inseparable affection between mother and daughter.
"Mother, you step back first. I'll break this barrier and save you!"
Zi Lin Ling stopped crying, stood up abruptly, and said.
"No!"
Yue Wu Mei quickly stopped her, "Child, don't move. Let Mother look at you properly first!"
"Mother, once I save you, I'll let you look at me every day, all the time."
Zi Lin Ling said, taking out the Dragon Scale Dagger, preparing to break the barrier by force and escape with Yue Wu Mei.
"Lin'er, don't! This barrier is connected to the Demon Clan's main hall. Any disturbance will be detected by them. In at most thirty breaths, they can arrive here, and you will be in danger then."
Yue Wu Mei did not want Zi Lin Ling to be in danger while trying to save her.
"Mother, I'm not afraid of danger! At worst, we'll just fight our way out!"
Zi Lin Ling's gaze was firm, and spiritual energy began to gather on the Dragon Scale Dagger.
"No, child! The Demon Clan's nine elders are all at the Divine Lord realm. Doing this will be very dangerous for you. Be good, Mother is already very gratified to see you. Let Mother look at you a little longer, alright?" Su Dan Novel Network
Yue Wu Mei pleaded.
Zi Lin Ling's heart softened abruptly, and the spiritual energy on the Dragon Scale Dagger dimmed.
Yue Wu Mei pressed her entire body against the barrier. If Zi Lin Ling forcefully broke it, Yue Wu Mei would also be affected.
Zi Lin Ling knew that Yue Wu Mei was protecting her.
Although this protection was somewhat foolish, the love it contained was profound.
"Mother..."
Zi Lin Ling's tears fell again.
"Good, Lin'er, don't take any more risks, okay?"
Yue Wu Mei's voice was gentle and doting, like warm sunlight shining into Zi Lin Ling's heart, making her unable to refuse.
"Mm!"
Zi Lin Ling nodded, but her mind was racing.
Since Yue Wu Mei did not allow her to break the barrier by force, she had to find a foolproof plan, preferably one that would allow her to take Yue Wu Mei away without alarming the Demon Clan.
Zi Lin Ling smiled obediently and said, "Mother, I'll listen to you!"
She stood before the barrier, feeling the warmth emanating from Yue Wu Mei across the distance.
"Lin'er, how did you get in?"
A moment later, Yue Wu Mei asked gently.
Zi Lin Ling smiled slightly and told Yue Wu Mei how she had snuck in using the magic cube.
After listening, Yue Wu Mei frowned and said, "Lin'er, you should leave quickly. If they discover you, you won't be able to escape!"
Zi Lin Ling shook her head, "Mother, I won't be harmed. With the Heaven and Earth Demonic Pearl by my side, they won't be able to find me."
"Mother, I heard from the people outside that they plan to execute you in three days. Is that true?"
Yue Wu Mei smiled, "What is there to fear in death? In this life, meeting your father and having you is enough for me."
"No, Mother! I won't let them hurt you, and my father certainly won't." Zi Lin Ling shook her head.
Yue Wu Mei shook her head and said, "Child, seeing you safe and sound is enough for Mother's wish. Mother doesn't want you to take risks for me, do you understand?"
"No! I must save you and take you to see my father!"
Zi Lin Ling said, then once again took out the Dragon Scale Dagger, preparing to forcefully break the barrier.
"No! Mother forbids you to do this!"
Yue Wu Mei said, pressing her body against the barrier again.
"Mother!"
Zi Lin Ling stomped her feet anxiously.
"Master, do you remember how you entered the Mirror Flower Secret Realm of the Cao family last time?"
The Heaven and Earth Demonic Pearl reminded her at the opportune moment.
Mirror Flower Secret Realm?!
A flash of inspiration struck Zi Lin Ling's mind. "That's right! I was so focused on the problem, how could I forget this!"
She exclaimed with joy, "Mother, I have a way! I have a way to take you out of here without breaking the barrier or alarming the Demon Clan's nine elders!"
Yue Wu Mei asked in surprise, "What way?"
Zi Lin Ling smiled, "I can create a spatial formation that resonates with this barrier and take you out!"
She acted immediately, carefully observing the barrier, and while observing, she deduced its composition, quickly deriving its structure.
"Mother, wait for me for a moment!"
Zi Lin Ling said, then dived into the Goddess Hall to deduce the resonant formation.
Seeing Zi Lin Ling suddenly disappear before her eyes, Yue Wu Mei was startled.
But she quickly realized that Zi Lin Ling must have a spatial artifact, one capable of holding living beings.
Yue Wu Mei knew that Zi Lin Ling was now in the spatial artifact, and would not be discovered.