"So you are the Linglong Empress," Dongfang Bubai said.
"How dare you!" Hei Yi's voice suddenly rang out from behind.
"Hei Yi, shut up!" Empress Linglong quickly scolded.
After speaking, Linglong looked at Dongfang Bubai.
"You actually know me."
"With such temperament, such demeanor, and these guards, I really can't think of anyone else," Dongfang Bubai said.
"You've come to see Zhuzhu, haven't you?" Xiaolongnu asked at this moment.
"Oh, are you Zhuzhu's mom?" Mengmeng asked happily.
This left Empress Linglong completely bewildered.
"Do you know Zhuzhu?" the Empress asked.
"Yes, yes, I'm Zhuzhu's aunt!" Mengmeng patted her chest, looking proud.
"Aunt?" Upon hearing this, the Empress couldn't help but look at Lin Xiaoxiao behind her. She saw that Lin Xiaoxiao also looked confused, as she had never had such a relative before.
"Hehehe, Zhuzhu is my brother's apprentice," Mengmeng continued with a grin.
"I didn't expect you to find me so quickly," Dongfang Bubai sighed.
“Come on, follow us,” Dongfang continued.
"Okay, thank you." The Empress nodded. Although she still had some doubts, she was certain that these people had a good relationship with Zhuzhu.
"Niu Er, let's go back!" Mengmeng shouted towards the river.
"Moo..."
The blue ox bellowed once, then reluctantly stood up from the river, while Little Black shook the water off its fur.
The enormous figure slowly approached the shore, and the Empress and the others were even more astonished by its massive size.
"Hissing..."
Suddenly, the four dragon horses cried out, their voices filled with fear. The Empress and the others turned around and saw that the dragon horses had actually knelt down on all fours and lowered their heads, as if they were paying homage to the king.
The green ox glanced at the dragon horses, a hint of disdain in its eyes.
"Huff..."
The blue ox snorted in the direction of the dragon horse, then nodded to them.
"Awoo..." Little Black also cried out, then leaped up and walked step by step toward the dragon horses.
"Little Black, don't do anything reckless," Dongfang scolded.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hei shook its head and leaped back onto Niu Er's head.
At this moment, the dragon horses slowly got up, but their eyes still held a trace of fear.
"Your Majesty, it's probably a top-tier magical beast," Lin Xiaoxiao whispered in the Empress's ear.
“I know.” Linglong nodded, looking thoughtfully at the green ox.
"Time to go back..."
With a cheer, Mengmeng jumped onto the cow's back, followed by Long'er and Dongfang.
Ignoring the Empress and the others, the Green Ox flicked its tail, lifted its four hooves off the ground, and stepped into the air.
"I'm afraid it's not an ordinary magical beast," the Empress murmured.
Soon, the Empress and her entourage boarded the carriage, and the rest of the group followed.
In the bamboo forest, Zhu Zhu continued to practice diligently, while Old Man Lin Xuan watched with great satisfaction.
"Ten years have passed, and finally, the hardship has come to an end. I'm sure Yu'er will be happy if she's watching over us from heaven," Lin Xuan thought to himself.
Suddenly, he seemed to sense something, and his figure vanished into the bamboo forest in an instant.
On the path outside the Taoist temple, the figure of old man Lin Xuan appeared. He saw Mengmeng and the others, as well as the caravan behind them. When he saw the carriage and the patterns on its exterior, Lin Xuan's face turned gloomy.
"Old man Lin, we're back! We have guests today!" Mengmeng called out cheerfully, waving her hand.
Soon, the group arrived in front of Lin Xuan. Several people jumped off the ox's back, and Niu Er turned around and lay down on the grass to the side.
The Empress's carriage also stopped at this moment, and both sides saw each other. There was no movement inside the carriage.
"The Emperor has actually come. Why isn't he coming out yet? Is he too ashamed to face this old man?" Lin Xuan said in a deep voice.
"Sigh..." A soft sigh came from the carriage.
Immediately afterwards, a hand lifted the curtain and came out; it was Lin Xiaoxiao.
Upon seeing Xiaoxiao, Lin Xuan's face revealed a complex expression, followed by Empress Linglong coming down as well.
The three locked eyes, remaining silent for a long time.
Mengmeng blinked her big eyes, looking around, not understanding what these people were doing.
"Father," Lin Xiaoxiao finally spoke.
"Duke Lin, it's been ten years since we last met. You're still in good health," the Empress said with a smile.
"Hmph, thanks to you all, I'm eating and sleeping well," Lin Xuan said coldly.
"Alright, let's talk inside," Dongfang Bubai said impatiently.
After saying that, he took Mengmeng's hand and walked into the Taoist temple.
Lin Xuan naturally dared not refuse, so he glanced at his daughter and the Empress and followed them inside.
The Empress then noticed that Lin Xuan seemed to have great respect for Dongfang Bubai and the others. Could it be because of Zhuzhu's master?
"Black One, you all stay outside and keep watch," the Empress said.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The two then followed him into the Taoist temple.
Looking at this place, the Empress couldn't help but feel a little sad. Zhu Zhu must have suffered a lot over the years.
"Hmm?" Upon entering, the Empress saw the Time Chamber, which seemed out of place compared to the other buildings. However, she didn't say anything.
"Where is Zhuzhu?" the Empress asked.
“Zhuzhu is practicing her kung fu!” Mengmeng said quickly.
"Practicing martial arts? Zhu Zhu can practice martial arts now?" The Empress was immediately surprised. She looked up at Lin Xuan.
"Of course, thanks to Zhuzhu's master, Zhuzhu can also practice martial arts now," Lin Xuan said with some pride.
"Father, is this true? But isn't Zhuzhu born with the Heavenly Vein of Destruction?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked hurriedly.
"What 'Heavenly Extinction Vein'? If you don't understand, don't spout nonsense. What the Venerable said is the Heavenly Blessing Vein, a physique that mortals cannot comprehend. It is the highest physique in the world. It's only because no one understands it that they call it an extinct vein," Lin Xuan immediately retorted.
The Empress and Lin Xiaoxiao looked at each other in disbelief.
“He’s right. Zhu Zhu’s aptitude is indeed extraordinary. She’s currently refining her body and will soon reach the Foundation Establishment stage.” Dongfang Bubai nodded.
"How is that possible? There's actually such a saying." The Empress was stunned for a moment and said. You have to know that she personally took Zhuzhu to the Xuan Nu Holy Land back then. The Martial Saint of the Holy Land, who was also her master, was the one who personally examined Zhuzhu and said that she was not destined for the path of martial arts.
"Hmph? What, are you regretting it? Regret abandoning Zhuzhu back then?" Lin Xuan sneered.
"Father, why are you so stubborn? Don't you know what happened back then?" Lin Xiaoxiao immediately retorted angrily.
"The Winged People are powerful, and they want to send hostages. His Majesty had no choice but to send Zhuzhu away from the palace."
"But you, His Majesty was supposed to bring Zhuzhu back to the palace after he finished preparing for the event, but you, instead, took Zhuzhu and disappeared, and ten years have passed since then." Lin Xiaoxiao's tone was tinged with resentment.
Lin Xuan felt embarrassed upon hearing this.
Dongfang Bubai and Xiaolongnu were speechless upon hearing this; it turned out that this family drama was so melodramatic.
"Of course I will take Zhuzhu away. I don't want Zhuzhu to end up like her father," Lin Xuan said.
"Sigh...you're still blaming me because of Lin Yu after all," the Empress sighed.
"Of course it's your fault. Yu'er died, died mysteriously on the battlefield of the Hundred Clans. And what about you? You did nothing, acting as if nothing happened. How can you be so cold-blooded and face my son?" Lin Xuan became somewhat agitated at this moment.
“Father…” Lin Xiaoxiao called out quickly.
"The war of a hundred races is far more complex than you see. I don't want to explain, nor is there any need to. He chose this path himself, and we are all doing this for Zhuzhu," the Empress said slowly.
Lin Xuan was about to say something when Dongfang Bubai interrupted him.
"Enough, stop talking. Mengmeng, go and bring Zhuzhu back," Dongfang Bubai said impatiently.
"Okay." The little guy was really into watching the fun. He instantly disappeared from the yard.
The Empress's pupils contracted sharply when she saw Mengmeng disappear.
"Teleportation ability..." The Empress was shocked. This was a spatial ability; she had just sensed a slight energy fluctuation. Here, only Martial Saints could use the ability to move quickly.
Lin Xiaoxiao, who was standing to the side, was also frightened. A little child could actually teleport.
Immediately afterwards, Mengmeng reappeared in the courtyard with Zhuzhu.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Mengmeng?" Zhuzhu asked as soon as she appeared.
Immediately afterwards, Zhu Zhu saw the Empress and Lin Xiaoxiao and looked at them curiously.
"Does Grandpa have any guests?" Zhu Zhu asked.
Seeing Zhu Zhu's somewhat dirty clothes and her body covered in sweat, the Empress became somewhat agitated.
She slowly approached Zhuzhu and, to the little girl's puzzled look, hugged her tightly.
Feeling the other person's warm embrace, Zhu Zhu suddenly felt something inside her being triggered, her eyes stung, and tears flowed involuntarily.
"Zhuzhu, my child, you've grown so much." The Empress said softly, holding Zhuzhu in her arms.
The little girl's eyes were full of tears, but she didn't know what had happened. She just looked at everyone with a questioning look in her eyes.
"Sigh..." Old Man Lin Xuan sighed deeply at this moment.
"Waaah... Grandpa... what's wrong with me?" Zhu Zhu asked, her voice trembling with sobs.
The Empress released Zhuzhu, put her hands on her shoulders, and looked at the tearful child. She couldn't help but shed tears as well, and gently wiped Zhuzhu's little face.
“Good child, I am your mother,” Linglong said gently.
"Mother?" Zhu Zhu was stunned. What a familiar yet unfamiliar word, one she had mentioned countless times over the past ten years.
"Are you my mother?" Zhu Zhu asked, wiping away her tears.
“Yes, Zhuzhu, I am your mother. Good child, it’s all my fault. You’ve suffered all these years.” Linglong nodded.
Zhu Zhu looked at Lin Xuan, hoping to get an answer from him.
Lin Xuan nodded helplessly.
"Wow……"
Zhu Zhu burst into tears, a loud, loud cry. Even when she was in excruciating pain from Li Daoyi's tendon-cleansing treatment, she hadn't cried like that. But at this moment, her young heart simply couldn't hold back.
Lin Xiaoxiao, who was standing to the side, was also saddened by this scene and secretly turned her head away.
"Waaah..." The little girl hugged the Empress tightly. No wonder she cried during that hug. This was her own mother, and her body naturally had a deep-rooted memory of such a mother's embrace.
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