Ling Qingqiu
"Smash him to death! You fatherless bastard!"
The stone hit Ling Qingqiu's back, leaving a small dirt mark on his clothes.
Ling Qingqiu paused, turned around, and stared at the child who hit him.
When he was seven years old, war broke out in the imperial court and Ling's father was conscripted and sent to the battlefield.
Unexpectedly, he did not return until Ling Qingqiu was nine years old and the war was over.
Ling's mother worked during the day to earn money to support Ling Qingqiu, and sat on the couch crying at night. Her eyesight gradually deteriorated and she could only do some simple manual work.
There were footsteps not far away, and a slap landed heavily on the back of the child who had hit someone.
"Asshole! If it weren't for your Uncle Ling, you would have become a fatherless bastard!"
After beating the child, the man smiled apologetically at Ling Qingqiu, "Qiu'er, uncle beat him. It's all uncle's fault for not teaching him well."
As he spoke, the man's eyes turned red.
Ling Qingqiu looked an awful lot like his father, especially now with his stern expression and silence. Looking at the son of an old friend, he couldn't help but think of his old friend who had died on the battlefield.
Ling Qingqiu looked at the father and son coldly, without saying a word, and turned to walk away. Behind him could be heard the ghostly howling of a child, accompanied by the man's angry curses.
When she got home, Ling's mother had just finished cooking. When she heard the noise outside, she wiped her hands on her apron and came out:
"Qiu'er is back? Come on, it's time for dinner."
Ling Qingqiu nodded, and looking at his mother's hunched back, he couldn't help but sniff.
He couldn't help but feel resentment towards his father.
Why would he save someone else's father when he already has a weak wife and young children at home?
After washing his hands, Ling Qingqiu helped Ling's mother serve the food. While Ling's mother was picking up some food for him, she said:
"The school in town will soon be accepting students. I'll take you to see it tomorrow."
She looked at her son lovingly. Even if her husband died, she would not let her son suffer any injustice. What others had, her son would also have.
Ling Qingqiu bit the coarse flour bun, his cheeks puffed up, and nodded vigorously.
He wanted to study hard and make a name for himself, to see who dared to look down on them, mother and son.
The enrollment process went smoothly. When the school heard that I was an orphan of a martyr, they immediately agreed to accept me. They waived the tuition and only charged accommodation and food expenses.
In the middle of the night, Ling's mother packed Ling Qingqiu's bag and couldn't help crying. Her son was only nine years old, but he had to live in the school and only come home once a month.
If there weren't only orphans and a widow left in their family, how could she bear to let her son live in the school.
Ling Qingqiu couldn't fall asleep either. He listened as the noises from Ling's mother next door gradually died down. After confirming that she was asleep, he climbed out the window and left the house.
He walked with ease and familiarity, and soon reached a grave. He took out the cloth he had prepared long ago, spread it on the ground, and sat down.
"Dad, Mom is going to send me to school tomorrow."
He lay on his knees, looked at the moon, thought for a long time, and only said this sentence.
He didn't know what to say, nor did he know why he came here. He just felt like coming, so he came.
————
After studying in the school for several years, Ling Qingqiu's name was always written at the top of the list.
The children in the academy were all well-read, and few bullied him because he had lost his father. For Ling Qingqiu, his days in the academy were quite pleasant.
When Ling Qingqiu returned home this month, he noticed the aroma of medicine wafting through the air. His heart instantly leaped into his throat, fearing something had happened to his mother.
Ling's mother laughed at him for making such a fuss: "What's the matter? It's just a cold. Mother knows what's going on."
Ling Qingqiu was still worried. He understood his mother, and to save money, he only sought medical treatment from the barefoot doctor at the village entrance.
While his mother was in the kitchen cooking, he slipped to the village entrance and stopped the old man who was going home for dinner.
When he heard his purpose, the old man raised his eyelids and stroked his beard:
"Your mother? Boy, let me tell you right up front, your mother's eyes are going to go blind if she doesn't get treatment. My mediocre skills alone won't cut it."
After helping his mother clean up the house, Ling Qingqiu returned to his room, and the old man's words rang in his ears again.
When Ling's father died in the war, Ling's mother cried all day long. She had to support Ling Qingqiu and often embroidered things by the light of a kerosene lamp.
Her eye disease has been with her for a long time, but it is getting worse now. However, she still refuses to rest. She said that she still has a son.
Ling Qingqiu didn't sleep all night.
At noon the next day, after lunch, he left home and returned to school.
He asked for leave from school without telling his mother and did some capable work in town, hoping to earn money to treat his mother's illness.
As time went by, he went to school less and less.
But the truth cannot be hidden, and he was finally discovered by Ling's mother.
Ling Qingqiu followed Ling's mother back home. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he was slapped in the face.
Ling Qingqiu froze and did not move.
This was the first time Ling's mother hit him.
Ling's mother's hands were shaking with anger. She felt bad for giving him that slap. But how could he give up studying and go do odd jobs for others?
"Do you know you are wrong?" Ling's mother asked him in a trembling voice.
Ling Qingqiu lowered his eyelids and knelt on the ground in silence.
If he continued to go back to school, his mother would have to continue working for his studies, but her eyes could not bear the hardship.
Ling's mother's chest heaved violently, and her body swayed. Ling Qingqiu subconsciously tried to help her, but she dodged him.
Ling's mother looked at him and said, "Okay, since you have to kneel, then kneel!" After that, she turned and went into the house.
It was just the beginning of spring, so the sun wasn't too harsh, and there was even some snow left on the ground. Ling Qingqiu knelt in silence, his clothes quickly soaking wet.
People who got up early in the morning and went to the fields returned home in groups of three or four. When they saw Ling Qingqiu kneeling in the yard, they started to discuss something.
The sister-in-law of the Chen family, who lived next door to the Ling family, heard the gossip and went out. She glanced at the kneeling Ling Qingqiu, put her hands on her hips, and scolded the gossipers away.
She went back to the house, took off her apron, and went next door.
"Auntie, what's going on?" Sister Chen went over to pull Ling Qingqiu over. "Why are you letting the child kneel in the yard? It's cold out, don't let him get frozen."
Ling's mother came out of the house, bloodshot eyes still visible. "Make him kneel down! What is he planning to do if he doesn't study? He's really grown up, isn't he?"
Ling Qingqiu looked at his mother's reddened eyes, and a wave of guilt washed over him. He pushed Sister Chen's hand away and said in a hoarse voice:
"Mom, please stop working. I'll go earn money to treat your eyes."
Ling's mother turned her back and went into the house, as if she didn't want to listen to him.
Mrs. Chen understood. She sighed, patted Ling Qingqiu on the shoulder, and pointed toward the room, nodding, "Kneel where you want to go. Kneeling here doesn't look good."
Ling Qingqiu stood up obediently, walked into the house and knelt down.
Mrs. Chen took Ling's mother to sit in the bedroom and comforted her.
Ling's mother knew very well that her son was worried about her, but in today's world, how could he have a stable life if he didn't take the imperial examination?
She doesn't ask for wealth and honor, she just wants her son to have a stable life.
Mrs. Chen comforted her for a few words, and when she saw that she had calmed down, she changed the subject and said, "Speaking of which, Auntie, do you know about the big events in town recently?"
Ling's mother was puzzled: "Big news?"
"Yes! Auntie, do you know that the immortal who exorcises demons and monsters is coming to our town to recruit disciples?"
Mrs. Chen intentionally led the topic to the Xuanxiao Sect's disciple election. If Qingqiu understood her hint, she would probably not be so stubborn anymore.
Ling Qingqiu had indeed heard it; Sister Chen had deliberately amplified the sound considerably. He lowered his head, pondering carefully.
I heard that if you become a disciple of the immortal sect, you will receive a monthly allowance, and if you complete a mission, you will also receive rewards.
If he became an outer disciple, he could secretly go home when he was on a mission, and the money he earned could be used to treat his mother's illness.
The two people in the room were still discussing. Ling Qingqiu stood up and walked to the door with some staggering.
"Mom. I'll go."
————
Ling Qingqiu and his mother had agreed that if he couldn't get into Xuanxiao Sect, he would go back to study. Ling Qingqiu had inquired about the Xuanxiao Sect's criteria for selecting disciples, and he was confident he could get into the outer sect.
On the day of the disciple election, Ling Qingqiu went up the mountain alone.
There were several people sitting on the high platform. Ling Qingqiu couldn't see their faces clearly, so he didn't care too much. He just followed everyone to test their spiritual roots.
Soon, Ling Qingqiu stood on the platform, closed his eyes and touched the crystal ball.
The light grew brighter and brighter, and the people sitting on the platform couldn't help but stand up.
With a loud bang, the crystal ball exploded. Ling Qingqiu was startled and opened his eyes, but the fragments of the crystal ball did not hurt them.
Canghe lowered his raised hand, and the fragments of the crystal ball fell to the ground.
"Child, come here, come forward." Wan Wuji waved at Ling Qingqiu.
The people below continued to test their spiritual roots. Ling Qingqiu stepped onto the platform and bowed.
"Your name is Qingqiu? What a nice name." Wan Wuji said gently.
He didn't expect to meet such a talented child today. He seemed to be a good kid. Such a seedling must be left to Canghe.
Cang He saw his intention and frowned. Before he could speak, the sword at his side began to buzz.
Cang He had no time to stop it, the Wuxia Sword had already flown in front of Ling Qingqiu, lowered the hilt, and wanted to hand itself over to him.
Ling Qingqiu glanced at the immortals in front of him and didn't dare to take it rashly.
Chu Xiao, who was sitting next to him, laughed out loud: "Someone's plan is probably going to fail. This sword has taken the initiative to recognize its master."
Cang He: ...
Wan Wuji clapped his folding fan and said with a smile, "Qingqiu, are you willing to worship under the master and become the master's personal disciple?"
Ling Qingqiu understood. He lowered his head to glance at the sword, frowned, and said coldly, "I don't want to."
"I don't want to, I don't want to... I don't want to!" Wan Wuji was shocked. How could anyone be unwilling? Their Xuanxiao Sect was a major sect after all.
Cang He leaned back in his chair. Well, he was willing, but the other party was not. Now let's see what his senior brother can say.
Hua Fangyi: "Qingqiu, is there any reason why you don't want to do this?"
Ling Qingqiu pursed his lips. Immortals usually ask their disciples to reduce their interactions with mortals after joining the sect. But he still had a mother, so he was destined not to do so.
He didn't reveal it, fearing he wouldn't even be able to enter the outer gate, so he knelt down and kowtowed: "Junior has no hardship, I beg the immortals to allow me to enter the outer gate."
Jing Qi took his information from the side, but it was snatched away by Cang He again. Cang He was also a little curious at this time. He flipped through Ling Qing Qiu's information and asked him, "Do you have a widowed mother?"
"……yes."
"Are you unwilling to accept me as your master because you are worried that your mother will be left without anyone to take care of her?"
Ling Qingqiu pursed her lips and said nothing.
When Wan Wuji heard this, he sighed in his heart and thought about fulfilling the child's wish and letting him enter the outer sect first, and then letting Canghe accept him in later.
The outer sect does not strictly control the worldly ties of its disciples, and just considers it as a way to fulfill the child's filial piety.
"What if I say that if you accept me as your master, I will also allow you to come home often?"
When Cang He said this, everyone was stunned. Wan Wuji turned his head in disbelief, and began to wonder if Cang He had any leverage over this kid.
Ling Qingqiu was also stunned. He didn't dare to agree, worried that it was a lie.
Cang He saw through his doubts and reassured him, "Don't worry, I will keep my word. Besides, as your personal disciple, your monthly allowance will be even greater."
He was indeed reluctant to accept a disciple at first, but when he saw the child kneeling there, he suddenly thought of the year when his master brought him back.
Same position, same problem, he was still unwilling to do it because of the fear of the unknown.
Now, he wanted to learn from his master and treat this child well.
————
Ling Qingqiu successfully became a disciple of Canghe Sect. Under the protection of his master, he successfully accompanied his mother through the last stage of her life.
The night his mother passed away, Ling Qingqiu sat alone at home, as if he had suddenly lost all his energy.
Cang He didn't say any words of comfort, nor did he know how to say anything. He just sat beside him and stayed with him all night.
Cang He really treated him as his own child.
After Lin Zhao and Xie Zhitiao entered the bridal chamber, Ling Qingqiu and his peers drank wedding wine, turned around, and met Cang He's face.
Cang He rarely smiled so brightly and patted his shoulder: "Qingqiu, when are you planning to get married?"
Ling Qingqiu:......
After having his drunken master taken back to rest, he lowered his head and smiled.
There is no rush to get married. The master has always been eager to unload the burden of being the head of the sect. He must first inherit the master's mantle.
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