Chapter 10 (The tenth chapter is about a cheap father and daughter)
Song Li knew about the Ice Toad.
She had read about it in an ancient book; the Frost Toad was a unique monster found only in the far north glaciers, and it was of great benefit to cultivators who practiced ice-attribute techniques.
However, the Frost Toad is adept at hiding, making it extremely difficult to capture. Furthermore, it is difficult to reproduce and its numbers are scarce, so only powerful cultivators or major forces can possess it.
If sold outside, a single Frost Toad could fetch a staggering price of at least a million spirit stones.
A glint of greed flashed in Song Li's eyes as she gazed at the precious ice toad.
Unexpectedly, the real Song Li had such a background. Her father had a very high level of cultivation and was clearly not an ordinary cultivator.
The other party seems to have mistaken me for his daughter. Should we just go with the flow?
More importantly, if he didn't do this, and if he knew what the real Song Li had gone through, she definitely wouldn't live to see tomorrow.
In the blink of an eye, Song Li made her decision.
“Li’er, when your mother and I separated, I didn’t know she was pregnant. If I had known, I would never have left her. It’s normal that you resent me.”
"I don't ask for your forgiveness, but let me make it up to you properly. This is your mother's last request, and it's what I should do."
Seeing that she stopped speaking after saying just one sentence, Qingxuzi couldn't help but smile wryly.
Song Li raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes, and choked out, "My mother often mentioned you, but you never showed up. I thought you had abandoned us."
"I didn't, really."
Qingxuzi hurriedly said, "I have feelings for your mother. If I had known of your existence, I would never have abandoned you and your mother."
However, this feeling was buried deep in their hearts after their separation, and they would only miss each other in the quiet of the night.
Song Li's tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, "If you have feelings for us, why haven't you come looking for us all these years? When I ask my mother where you are, she always avoids me."
Qingxuzi subconsciously raised his hand to wipe away her tears, but suddenly realized that it was not appropriate for him to do so.
They are father and daughter in name only, but this is actually their first meeting. Presumably, in the daughter's eyes, he is a complete stranger.
Qingxuzi lowered his hand and sighed: "Li'er, the reason your mother and I separated was because neither of us wanted to leave our sect."
"The Wendao Sect has nurtured me for many years. How can I easily leave the sect just to satisfy my personal desires? Your mother also can't let go of her sect, so let's part ways amicably."
Years later, he received such a big surprise.
Qingxuzi looked at Song Li with incredibly gentle eyes, as if he could see that vibrant and radiant woman through her.
Song Li's eyes were red from crying: "Wen Dao Sect?"
"She didn't tell you?"
Seeing the hesitation on her face, Qingxuzi immediately understood that Song Li's mother might hold a grudge against him, which was why she was unwilling to say more about him.
Qingxuzi said, "Wendao Sect is a sect in the northern part of the continent, while your mother's Qionghua Sect is in the southern part of the continent. It's normal that you haven't heard of it."
Song Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he didn't pursue the matter. She didn't want her identity to be exposed because of such a small thing.
Qingxuzi looked at Song Li and said softly, "Li'er, there's something I want to know. How did your mother die? Was it because of a magical battle?"
Song Li's mother was just as talented as him. Back then, they were both Golden Core cultivators. After so many years, she should have become a Nascent Soul cultivator, just like him.
Nascent Soul cultivators rarely perish because their nascent souls can use teleportation to escape after their physical bodies are destroyed. They can then reshape their bodies using secret techniques and be reborn.
However, she couldn't even escape with her nascent soul. Before she died, she hastily used her supernatural powers to send a letter that traveled across countless miles.
The letter didn't mention much information, only telling him to take his daughter back, and included an address in the southern mountains.
As Qingxuzi thought of this, her smiling face appeared in his mind, and he felt a dull pain in his heart. He hadn't even seen her one last time.
Song Li's mind raced, and she said, half-truthfully, "My mother and I were being chased by two Nascent Soul stage cultivators. My cultivation level is too low to help them at all. My mother stopped them and told me to run away quickly."
"I endured my grief and ran into the mountains, hiding for three days and three nights. Later, I couldn't bear it any longer and wanted to go find my mother, but I was targeted by a Golden Core stage fire beast."
Upon hearing this, Qingxuzi felt a surge of anger: "What are the Qionghua Sect doing, letting you and your daughter be hunted down on your own territory!"
To avoid frightening his daughter, he deliberately suppressed his emotions, but the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't be controlled and emanated from him.
Song Li groaned and clutched her chest in discomfort. With only the Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, how could she withstand the pressure from a high-level cultivator?
Upon seeing this scene, Qingxuzi regained his lost rationality, quickly withdrew his oppressive aura, pressed his large hand on Song Li's wrist, and channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into her.
The spiritual energy flowed through Song Li's entire body, instantly examining her physical condition.
Qingxuzi breathed a sigh of relief, a look of guilt in his eyes: "Fortunately, you are not seriously injured. You have just recovered from a serious illness and cannot endure any hardship, otherwise you will suffer from chronic illness."
"Um."
Song Li responded softly, her mind racing. As expected of a Nascent Soul cultivator, if he intended to kill her, she would definitely not be able to escape.
She must play the role of Song Li perfectly and cannot reveal the slightest flaw!
Song Li said bitterly, "Qionghua Sect can't save us. It was destroyed by a mysterious force many years ago, and all its members perished in that calamity."
Qingxuzi exclaimed in astonishment, "How is that possible?"
With over a dozen Nascent Soul stage cultivators residing within its ranks, the Qionghua Sect is among the top sects on the continent. Even sects stronger than it cannot guarantee the complete annihilation of it.
Could it be that several sects are attacking together?
Just as he was having several guesses, Song Li slowly spoke: "At that time, my mother had not yet advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. When the incident happened, she was taking me out to find medicine. When we returned to the sect, we only saw corpses scattered all over the ground and rivers of blood."
Song Li looked grief-stricken and said in a hoarse voice.
"In order to track down the real culprit, my mother has been traveling around for years. This time, she found a clue and went to a small town at the foot of the mountains, only to find that it was a trap set by the other party."
"My mother led me out of the encirclement, intending to go to a place we had hidden in the mountains to avoid trouble, but two Nascent Soul cultivators suddenly appeared on the way..."
Song Li's tears fell like broken pearls onto the cold jade bed, and she cried so hard she could barely speak.
Upon hearing this, Qingxuzi looked at Song Li with heartache, and at the same time, a surge of rage rose in his heart. He was determined to avenge Song Li's mother!
"Did your mother really send you a deathbed letter? Is she still alive?" Song Li suddenly asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Qingxuzi remained silent for a long time, unsure how to answer his daughter's question. He also hoped she was still alive, but he knew even more clearly that it was impossible.
“Li’er, the love shell around your neck is a token of love between your mother and me. We each have one. This item is infused with our life essence. If the shell breaks, the person dies.”
Song Li looked down at the concentric shell; it was brand new and white, without any signs of breakage.
My heart tightened instantly.
The fact that the Heart-Shaped Shell is intact means that Aunt Wen is still alive!
Song Li tried to deceive herself by grabbing the seashell and squeezing hard with her palm, trying to make a crack in it, but the seashell was very hard and showed no signs of cracking.
If Aunt Wen finds this place, she will have no chance of survival.
Just as Song Li was panicking, Qing Xuzi reached out and pushed forward, and a cracked concentric shell appeared in his palm.
"The love shell in your hand represents me, but the love shell in my hand represents her." Qingxuzi stroked the shell, a look of longing appearing in his eyes.
Song Li stared blankly at the broken seashell, seemingly unable to believe it, and remained in a daze for a long time.
Qingxuzi comforted her, "Li'er, you must cheer up. I know you don't want to accept the facts, but there are some things you have to deal with alone. She doesn't want to see you depressed."
"Waaaaah..."
His response was a heartbroken sob.
Song Li covered her face with her hands, buried her head in her knees, and her shoulders trembled as she cried.
Qingxuzi did not disturb her, but waited quietly for her to calm down before saying, "This is a letter your mother wrote to me. Take a look."
Song Li raised her head, her eyes as red as a rabbit's. She took the letter Qing Xuzi handed her; it contained only two short lines of writing, written in a very messy hand.
However, she recognized him at a glance.
This is Aunt Wen's handwriting!
"It's my mother's handwriting."
Song Li heard herself say this to Qing Xuzi.
Since we're going to impersonate Song Li, we absolutely must be careful about what we call her.
Qingxuzi had no doubts. With a wave of his sleeve, several bottles of pills appeared on the cold jade bed. He instructed, "Although your injuries have healed, you are still weak. These pills are for you to replenish your vital energy."
After saying that, he led Song Li to a cave dwelling that had been prepared.
"You'll live here from now on. Just let me know if you need anything," Qingxuzi promised. "Li'er, don't worry, I will definitely avenge your mother."
Song Li nodded.
Watching Qingxuzi's departing figure, she stood there in a daze for a long time, and then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
"Heaven has been kind to me. I was worried about how I, with my ordinary talent, could cultivate to the Golden Core stage. Now I have such a father who feels deeply guilty towards me. Isn't it like I can have whatever I want? Breaking through my cultivation level is just around the corner."
Of course, Song Li would try her best to act like a good girl, first gain Qing Xuzi's favor, and then make some outrageous requests once he truly accepted her as his daughter.
Song Li gazed at the vast sky, her heart filled with endless emotions.
She knew that she and Song Li looked alike, as if they were carved from the same mold, which was why Aunt Wen was able to take her in as her goddaughter.
Song Li's lips moved slightly.
At the same time, a barely audible sound came from the wind.
—Song Li, we're best friends, you should be happy that you helped me, right?
Your mother is my mother, and your father is naturally my father as well.
A note from the author:
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Let's lay the groundwork
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