Chapter 148 Searching for Someone, Hug a Little Bit

"Okay," Gu Tongguang agreed. It was thanks to Song Yin and Shi Heming that he was there; otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to hold on.

"We promised to help, so we'll help you find out more."

"Thank you." Gu Tongguang was still holding the small box, reluctant to put it into his storage bag. "Thank you..."

Seeing this, Shi Heming was reminded of his childhood memories, and he turned around and sighed softly.

A chilling joke: These three people can't even make a complete family.

"How many Gu family members live in this town?"

"Hello, are there any members of the Gu family in town who moved here two hundred years ago?"

"The Gu family, yes, they moved to Xunxian Town two hundred years ago... didn't you know? Well, sorry to bother you."

"Surname Gu, member of the Gu family..."

"Hello, may I ask if there are any families in town with the surname Gu? The Gu as in rice?" Song Yin asked a woman carrying a vegetable basket and wearing a cloth headscarf.

The woman was also leading a little girl, who had two braids and big, dark eyes that stared timidly at Song Yin.

"There are plenty of families with the surname Gu in town. What do you want to know about people with the surname Gu?" The woman held the child in her arms.

Song Yin: "We mainly want to find out about the Gu family who moved to Xunxian Town two hundred years ago, in order to find our relatives."

"Looking for relatives? What kind of relatives are you looking for, relatives from two hundred years ago?" The woman found it strange and pointed to a street on the left. "Coincidentally, I do know it. Go straight down this street, don't mind the dilapidated houses, at the end there is a family surnamed Gu. They moved here two hundred years ago, saying they wanted to find an immortal."

"Xunxian Town, the name comes from the fact that many people here seek immortality and enlightenment. They believe that they can find the immortals they are looking for here, so they have lived here ever since."

"Thank you." Song Yin bent down and gently pinched the little girl's cheek. "If a sect in the immortal realm is testing spiritual roots and recruiting disciples, you can send her to try it out."

After saying that, he got up and went to call the other two.

The woman looked down at her daughter and laughed, "That pretty lady just now said you have a connection to the divine. My Xiaoxiao is so cute, of course she has a connection to the divine."

The woman led her daughter away to go home and cook dinner. The little girl remained silent, glancing back in the direction Song Yin and the others were.

Song Yin: "I found out about one place."

Gu Tongguang hurriedly asked, "Where is it?"

Song Yin pointed in the direction: "Keep walking along this street until you reach the end. There's a family that moved here two hundred years ago, and their surname is Gu."

Gu Tongguang hurriedly walked in the direction Song Yin pointed.

Shi Heming reminded him from behind, "Remember to check people's bloodlines when you meet them, so as not to mistake one for another."

Gu Tongguang walked ahead, leaving the two behind, and said, "I know."

Song Yin whispered to Shi Heming from behind, "Do you think it might be fake?"

Shi Heming: "I don't know, it would be more reassuring to get tested."

The two strolled in the twilight.

Song Yin looked at Shi Heming, who was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun: "Will you regret coming with me? We are currently trapped in the Nine Spirit Realm, a place where spiritual energy is not abundant, so our cultivation speed will be much slower."

Shi Heming took Song Yin's hand and intertwined their fingers. "With you here, I will never regret it."

Song Yin felt her heart suddenly racing, and she quickly blinked away from his sight. "Well, as long as you don't regret it, let's hurry up and leave, or we won't be able to catch up with Gu Tongguang."

Shi Heming was a step behind Song Yin and said, "Yinyin."

Song Yin turned around: "What is it?"

Shi Heming quickly bent down and kissed him, "It's alright."

Song Yin: "You've changed."

Since that incident at Daowen Peak, Shi Heming has completely changed. He started kissing her frequently and became more clingy, wanting to follow her wherever she went.

Song Yin didn't mind his clinginess; it was better than those who, after confirming a relationship, would dictate what she could and couldn't do or go anywhere. Whatever she did, wherever she went, he was always the first to unconditionally support her.

Gu Tongguang rushed to the end of the street as fast as he could. The family was crammed into a dilapidated house with broken windows. One could imagine how cold it would be inside when the cold wind blew in during the winter.

The little boy, with freckles on his face, stood barefoot on the ground, squatting in the corner counting ants, while the adults were all busy with their own things.

"Who are you looking for?" The little boy's mother was the first to see people standing at the door. She stood up awkwardly and casually wiped her hands on her dirty apron.

Gu Tongguang: "Your family name is Gu. Did your ancestors move to Xunxian Town two hundred years ago?"

The little boy's mother: "Yes, yes, I've heard them say that."

"Who's outside?" A man in a t-shirt came out of the house.

The little boy's mother turned around and said, "I don't know the child's father."

Gu Tongguang looked at the barefoot little boy and asked, "Is he your child?"

The man picked his nose. "If it's not my seed, is it yours?"

Gu Tongguang calmed down, his brows furrowing slightly. He reached out his hand to the little boy and asked, "Can you put your hand in mine?"

The little boy stood up from the corner, ran to his mother, and shouted, "Who are you?"

Gu Tongguang: "I also have the surname Gu, so we might be from the same family."

The man's eyes greedily swept over Gu Tongguang's clothes, then he grabbed his son and placed his son's hand in Gu Tongguang's palm.

Song Yin and Shi Heming, who were walking not far away, stopped and waited quietly for the result.

Soon, they saw Gu Tongguang get up, turn around and leave decisively.

The man was still shouting from behind, "Didn't we say we were family? Don't go! If all else fails, I'll give you this kid as your son."

Gu Tongguang shook his head at Song Yin and the others, "It wasn't them."

Song Yin: "Ah...it's okay, we'll keep looking, we'll find it eventually."

Shi Heming: "Yinyin is right. It's getting late, so let's find an inn first, so we'll have a place to stay."

The three of them found an inn and asked for three superior rooms.

Gu Tongguang was still in low spirits, but he had calmed down considerably.

He now has only two goals: to find the descendants of the Gu family and to find out the reason for the massacre of the Gu family and take revenge.

Song Yin set her sights on the elderly innkeeper and took out a silver ingot, placing it on the table.

"Shopkeeper, I have something to ask you."

The shopkeeper quickly took the money, saying, "Miss, just tell me. As long as it's something I know, I'll definitely tell you."

Song Yin: "Do you know which families in the town have the surname Gu and moved here two hundred years ago? Gu is the same as the character for rice."

Shopkeeper: "This... it's been a long time. We'd have to ask the cultivators living in town. But cultivators are all eccentric and might not tell us."

Song Yin added another ingot of silver, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, shopkeeper."

Shopkeeper: "No problem, no problem. There aren't many people with the surname Gu in Xunxian Town. There are even fewer who moved here two hundred years ago, only two families. One family's descendants squandered their fortune and are now living in poverty; the other family changed their surname to Gu, the Gu of 'learned and knowledgeable.'"

Where does the family that changed their surname live now?

"Those living near the city gate may not be wealthy, but they are still much better off than others."

Song Yin leaned against the door of Gu Tongguang's room and briefly explained the information she had received from the shopkeeper.

"These are the new questions I've received. I'll go ask around near the city gate first thing tomorrow morning."

After getting the information from Xiao Er, Shi Heming went upstairs.

"Everyone, I heard from the waiter that tomorrow is the time when various sects are recruiting disciples, and many disciples from immortal sects will come to Seeking Immortal Town. So tomorrow will definitely be crowded and chaotic."

Song Yin: "Why don't we go take a look now? It's not too late yet, the sun has just set."

Song Yin's suggestion was approved, and the three of them headed towards the vicinity of the city gate.

With the scope narrowed down and specific surnames identified, it became easy to find out the exact location of the Gu family's residence.

Three people were standing in front of a house, and voices could be heard coming from inside.

"Xiaoxiao, remember to wipe your mouth after you've eaten, and go to bed early. We're taking you to have your spiritual root tested tomorrow."

"Xiaoxiao won't go to have her spiritual root tested."

"Why? Don't you want your child to embark on the path of immortality?"

"Yes, Father, why?"

"Good child, you should trust your father."

Hearing the familiar voice, Song Yin's ears twitched, and after listening carefully for a while, "Is it her?"

"Do you know him?" Gu Tongguang asked.

Song Yin: "The first place that was told to me was this child's mother. This child also has spiritual roots, and should be a dual spiritual root. At the time of contact, I did not detect her spiritual root attributes."

Knock knock knock.

There was a knock on the door, and Gu Tongguang went to ask someone again.

Song Yin: "Let's walk to the side and wait."

Soon, someone came out. Gu Tongguang stood motionless, staring into the newcomer's eyes. The resemblance was striking; the eyebrows and eyes were very similar, and one could vaguely see the shadow of his elder brother.

"Who are you?" asked the man who came out. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties.

Gu Tongguang: "Your surname is Gu, the Gu of 'learned and knowledgeable,' but your ancestors' surname was Gu, the Gu of 'rice,' right?"

Gu Hongxin immediately became alert. "You've mistaken me for someone else. Our family name has always been Gu, the first one. Let's go, let's go, let's go quickly."

Gu Tongguang had no intention of explaining to him; the spiritual energy he channeled into the man's body rendered him immobile.

Gu Hongxin struggled, but couldn't move. "Who are you? I've already told you my surname isn't 'Gu' (谷) like 'rice grain'. You've got the wrong person."

Gu Tongguang grabbed Gu Hongxin's hand to check if he was of the Gu family bloodline.

In the end, he still managed to find it.

Song Yin whispered, "Judging from Gu Tongguang's expression, it seems to be this place."

Shi Heming: "This is the place. Yinyin, didn't you notice? That man and Gu Tongguang have a slight resemblance in their eyes and eyebrows. Not much, just a little bit."

Song Yin observed carefully and noticed that both of them had droopy eyes and thick eyebrows. "Oh, right."

Gu Hongxin's commotion attracted the attention of the people inside the house. The woman Song Yin saw hurriedly came out, leading her child.

The little girl looked at Gu Tongguang without saying a word; she was always somewhat introverted in front of strangers.

"Who are you? What do you want to do to my husband?"

Gu Hongxin couldn't turn back, so he could only anxiously say, "Take Xiaoxiao inside, quick!"

Gu Tongguang: "I am Gu Tongguang, who disappeared from the Gu family two hundred years ago. Was your ancestor named Gu Tongyang?"

The scene fell silent for a moment. Gu Hongxin stared wide-eyed at Gu Tongguang in disbelief. It was obvious that he knew the name.

Song Yin stared intently: "We've recognized each other! We've recognized each other!"

Gu Tongguang dispelled the spell on Gu Hongxin.

Gu Hongxin tentatively asked, "Ancestor?"

Song Yin, watching from the sidelines: Wow! Super seniority increase!

Finally, they were all invited inside.

The woman Song Yin had met earlier was named Yang Qiaowen, and the little girl's nickname was Xiaoxiao, her full name was Gu Changle, or perhaps she should be called Gu Changle.

Yang Qiaowen: "Immortal Master, please accept this cup of coarse tea."

Song Yin softened her tone: "I didn't expect that the people asking you questions today would be you. But don't you even know about your family's affairs?"

Yang Qiaowen also learned for the first time that her husband's family had ancestors who were cultivators: "I have been married to my husband for less than ten years, and there are many things he has never told me. But I can usually tell that he has something on his mind."

Gu Tongguang had already discussed the Gu family's affairs with Gu Hongxin.

Gu Hongxin: "I only learned about my family's situation when my father passed away. He told me about it. We changed our surname to avoid the enemies who wiped out the Gu family back then. That person was already at the Golden Core stage back then, and now I hear he's at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage..."

Gu Hongxin recounted the events from the Gu family's perspective. Back then, the Gu family produced a gifted child named Gu Tongguang, whose cultivation speed was also rapid, bringing the Gu family many resources. Wealth can be tempting, and the Lü family, who had some friction with the Gu family, learned that Gu Tongguang had been away for a long time and began to covet the various cultivation resources he had brought to the Gu family.

Although the other members of the Gu family at that time also had cultivation, they were only at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stage. Faced with the killing intent of the Golden Core stage cultivators, they were powerless to resist, and in the end, the Gu family was completely plundered.

Song Yin, who was standing nearby, heard everything. The story of the Gu family back then was truly heartbreaking. They coveted someone else's property, so they wiped out the entire family and looted their home.

From Gu Hongxin, we also learned that Gu Tongguang's most beloved sister and her child were all killed by the Lü family, fulfilling the old woman's words that even infants were not spared.

Upon learning the full picture, Gu Tongguang changed.

Song Yin could tell that he had suppressed his optimistic and cheerful side, and his whole demeanor had become heavy. Several times she saw his eyes redden but he didn't shed a tear, probably because he was in front of his descendants and was holding back.

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have gone out back then." Gu Tongguang took the blame upon himself. At that time, he also had the cultivation of the Golden Core stage. If he had stayed at home, the Lü family would have been afraid of him and dared not act rashly, and the Gu family would not have suffered this calamity.

His parents and sister may have been thinking, at the moment of their deaths, why their son (brother) hadn't come home to protect them.

Gu Tongguang: "I will avenge the Gu family."

Gu Hongxin: "Ancestor, please don't be too impulsive. Now that a descendant of the Lü family has become a disciple of a Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Taiqing Sect, if they find out that the Gu family still has members, they will definitely come again."

Yang Qiaowen stood frozen in place, as if under a spell: "Is this why you don't want Xiaoxiao to have her spiritual root tested tomorrow?"

Song Yin then chimed in, "Don't worry, Gu Tongguang is also a Nascent Soul cultivator, and a Nascent Soul cultivator at that, quite powerful one at that." How could someone who can fight his way to the later stages of the Xuan Tian Tournament be weak?

"The Nascent Soul stage?!" Gu Hongxin stammered. Was their Gu family going to have a Nascent Soul ancestor to oversee things?

“Your daughter has good talent; she should have dual spiritual roots. We haven’t tested her, so we don’t know exactly what kind of spiritual root she has.” Song Yin asked Gu Tongguang, “Do you need me to test your descendant’s spiritual roots? I happen to have a magical artifact for testing spiritual roots.”

Gu Tongguang needed to shift his attention, so Song Yin steered the conversation toward Xiaoxiao.

"Thank you." Gu Tongguang regained his senses and abruptly pulled himself out of his memories.

When Song Yin tested Xiaoxiao's spiritual root, Gu Hongxin and his wife became nervous. Gu Hongxin was just afraid that Xiaoxiao's spiritual root would be exposed to the Lü family after the test, not that he didn't care about his daughter's talent.

In this world, having the talent to embark on the path of immortality is the best path, even better than being an official under the emperor.

Song Yin: "Congratulations on your Golden Spiritual Root and Ice Spiritual Root."

"That's great! Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master!" Yang Qiaowen's tense heart settled down, and she no longer needed to risk taking Xiaoxiao to have her spiritual root tested tomorrow.

Gu Hongxin also showed a genuine smile.

Gu Tongguang: "Golden Ice Spiritual Root? If you're not comfortable with her joining a sect, then let her cultivate with me."

Gu Hongxin gently pulled his daughter over, "Quickly kowtow to the Ancestor, and from now on Xiaoxiao can cultivate with the Ancestor. Doesn't Xiaoxiao love flying in the sky on a sword? The Ancestor is more powerful than those who can fly."

Xiaoxiao obediently knelt down and whispered, "Greetings, Ancestor."

Gu Tongguang's hand, hidden under his sleeve, twitched. Finally, he raised his hand and touched Xiaoxiao's head, just as he had gently rubbed his two younger sisters' heads back then.

"Once the Lü family matter is settled, I will return. At that time, you can change your surname back to Gu." Gu Tongguang then said to Song Yin and the others, "Let's go."

Song Yin lowered her voice and said to the little girl, "Smile and goodbye."

After leaving, Gu Tongguang completely broke down, overwhelmed with endless regret, and tears streamed down his face. The child who had been hoping to return home for two hundred years was now homeless.

"It's all my fault, it's all my fault... If only I hadn't left home to go to that damn secret realm... It's all my fault..."

Shi Heming transmitted his voice to Song Yin: "How about... you try to comfort her using your method?"

Song Yin was stunned and asked telepathically, "What method do you mean?"

Shi Heming transmitted his voice: "I still remember the first time we met on the flying boat. Thanks to your words, otherwise I would have ended up like Gu Tongguang. My parents had a very good relationship back then, and then I witnessed them being murdered."

Ah, this... Now that I think about it, she forgot that her situation was different from Shi Heming's. Shi Heming originally had loving parents and a happy family, while the six-year-old was immersed in the joy of escaping her suffering and not having to seek revenge, thinking that God was so kind to her and even took revenge for her.

Song Yin felt awkward and whispered, "Give me a hug!"

Shi Heming transmitted his voice: "Hmm?"

Song Yin transmitted her voice: "I forgot that our situations were different back then, sorry."

Shi Heming transmitted his voice: "Why apologize? The result is good, isn't it?"

During the short time they chatted, Gu Tongguang had vented a lot of his emotions and gradually calmed down.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh. I know about the Lü family and the Taiqing Sect. I will be going to take my revenge, but I'm more worried about Xiaoxiao and the others. Could you please take care of them while I'm away taking my revenge?"

Gu Tongguang was afraid. He was afraid that during his absence, the Lü family would find the Gu family again and wipe them out.

Song Yin: "Sure, we don't have anything else to do in the Nine Spirit Realm for the time being, so staying in Xunxian Town and experiencing the slow pace of life here is a good idea." Xunxian Town isn't big, but it has beautiful scenery, fresh air, and a pleasant temperature.

"Also, you don't have to blame everything on the Gu family. The fault lies with the Lü family, not you. I guess when you went to the secret realm, you wanted to bring back more cultivation resources for your family, right?"

That's true. He thought that since his family members weren't very talented, he would find more cultivation resources for them.

Gu Tongguang: "Thank you, thank you... I really don't know what to do without you..." He could either go on a killing spree and kill everyone he saw, or he could completely fall into madness. More likely, he would develop new inner demons.

Gu Tongguang left without causing any disturbance in Xunxian Town.

The sect's spiritual root testing and disciple recruitment ceremony took place as scheduled on the second day, and many people from surrounding villages also came to Xunxian Town.

The inn where Song Yin was staying had a view of the largest square in Xunxian Town, where there was also an unidentified statue of a cultivator. It should be a high-level cultivator who came from Xunxian Town or someone who had helped Xunxian Town.

Many disciples from sects of the Nine Spirit Realms arrived at the square. Song Yin glanced at them and saw that they were all at the Qi Refining stage, with a few at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Many people crowded into the square, chattering noisily. It became much quieter after a barrier was set up.

Song Yin separated a wisp of her divine sense to listen to what the people in the square were saying.

"You're here to have your spiritual roots tested this year, so where's Junior Sister Hao?"

"Now we should call her Senior Sister Hao. She went to the Youluo Black Corner Region with the other senior brothers and sisters and elders of the sect."

“The Dark Corner Region of Youluo? There have been rumors of treasures appearing in that place since last year. Cultivators have gone there wave after wave, but no one has found any treasures.”

"Even the elders have been mobilized, so perhaps they have really discovered something? In any case, that place is now crowded with people from many sects, it's quite complicated."

...

"Have you heard about Lü Junxuan from the Taiqing Sect? The one who became a disciple of the Nascent Soul Ancestor?"

"What's wrong with him now?"

"It is said that he took a fancy to the daughter of a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Taiqing Sect and wanted to forcibly take her as a concubine. Now that Foundation Establishment disciple is unwilling, he has directly requested to leave the sect."

"Doesn't he have a fiancée? She's also the daughter of a prominent family of cultivators."

"There's nothing we can do about it. He has a Nascent Soul stage master, who is also the patriarch of the Taiqing Sect. The entire Taiqing Sect, including the sect leader, treats him with utmost respect and grants his every request. Now he has countless concubines in his harem, more than the emperor's imperial concubines."

"The difference between people, I really envy it. I wish I had a Heavenly Spiritual Root, could become a disciple of a Nascent Soul Ancestor, and then live a life of power and tyranny."

Song Yin leaned against the window, listening to the disciples of these sects chatting. Could Lü Junxuan be a member of the Lü family? If so, then his good days are coming to an end.

But what kind of place is the Netherworld Black Corner Region? Perhaps we can go there to join in the fun after Gu Tongguang finishes his revenge and also look for the spacetime turbulence in the Nine Spirits Realm.

Song Yin left the window and knocked on the door next door. "I'm going out for a walk. Do you want to come?"

Shi Heming opened the door and, without asking where they were going, said, "Let's go."

As soon as the two stepped onto the street, a familiar feeling arose, and they quickly approached each other.

Song Yin's gaze sharpened, and she and Shi Heming quickly dodged.

"Hey? Where's my purse? Who stole my purse? It was just in my hand, and now it's gone!" A teenager grabbed the people around him to stop them from leaving. "You must have taken my purse. Don't go!"

"Are you crazy?! Don't get in our way of testing your spiritual roots."

"That's right, that's right. Mortals' wallets are just filled with gold and silver, not spirit stones."

The boy vehemently argued, "The purse was right in my hand, and it disappeared in the blink of an eye. I was paying the shop owner, and it was gone in a flash. The shop owner can vouch for me."

The vendor also found it strange, "Yes, I saw him take out his money bag to pay."

Only Song Yin and Shi Heming could see clearly that the money bag in the boy's hand was not taken away, but disappeared into thin air.

If they are touched, they will be teleported away immediately.

Because the tiny spacetime turbulence just appeared and then disappeared.

Spacetime turbulence appeared on the crowded streets of the Nine Spirit Realm!

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Author's Note: Nine Spirit Realms: Attempting to use spacetime turbulence to send the two great gods away.

Song Yin: I haven't finished what I promised, I'm going to hide~

Nine Spirit Realms: [Fear][Angry]

Song Yin: [Glasses]

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[Empty bowl]