Arriving at the village, many of the villagers were surprised to see the appearance of Xiao Ling and the others, with messy and tattered clothes and some seriously injured members. However, Xiao Ling ignored all of that, and focused on the other members.

"For those who are injured, you can go to Ju Hei's pharmacy for more thorough treatment, and the others can return to their respective places."

"Alright, I'll go with the injured over there. What are you going to do, Xiao Ling?" Su Han whispered.

"I'll go to Zhongzhi's house to check on Linsu."

Xiao Ling and the others parted ways before he quickly moved towards Mo Zhongzhi's house. Upon arrival, he immediately knocked on the door and waited for Xiao Ning to open it.

"Xiao Ling?!"

Xiao Ning was surprised at Xiao Ling's state and quickly brought him in.

"What about Linsu's condition?"

"Put that aside first, it's more important for us to check on your condition."

Xiao Ling, who had just returned looked very tired in his shabby clothes.

He immediately inquired about Mo Linsu's condition without pause. Although only one day had passed since his journey to Misty Mountain, there was a look of anxiety on his face.

"I'm fine, really. I'm just a little tired, nothing serious."

Xiao Ling wasn't too worried about himself, instead there was currently something he wanted to check on right now.

"That's good to hear. Linsu is resting now, she just gave birth last night."

"Then what about her condition?"

Xiao Ling became impatient as he heard the news that was both shocking and relieving.

"Linsu did well, and the child was born healthy."

Xiao Ling was so relieved that they had both survived, it felt like a weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders. His entire body felt weak, and he immediately sat down to rest his body.

And now there was only my part, how should I tell her...

"Ling, what about you?"

Xiao Ling realized that Xiao Ning probably already knew how things had turned out since he had returned from Misty Mountain alone, but it seemed like Xiao Ning was more curious about what had happened.

"I want to hear it, too."

Unexpectedly, it seemed like Xiao Ling's arrival had woken up Mo Linsu who had just come out of her room.

"Linsu! You shouldn't move too much." Xiao Ning quickly helped Mo Linsu.

"It's alright. I've rested a lot since last night, I feel much better now." Mo Linsu said, looking like she had just woken up.

"Xiao Ling. To be honest, ever since you said that you decided to go look for Zhongzhi, I actually had a little hope that you would manage to bring him back. But seeing you here alone, I know that's just my wishful thinking...but even so, I still want to hear it from you. I have already prepared myself for that."

Xiao Ling saw that earnestness, speechless.

"Very well. I also had no intention of hiding it from you two in the first place, and the result is probably as you expected."

Xiao Ling took a deep breath, knowing that both Mo Linsu and Xiao Ning had probably realized how things were going. But, he still explained everything and recounted what had happened from the time he first traveled until he returned.

Both Mo Linsu and Xiao Ning closed their mouths simultaneously with widened eyes, unable to believe what they had just heard.

As Xiao Ling began to recount what had happened, both Mo Linsu and Xiao Ning showed changes in expression, including surprise, fear, anxiety, gloom, and regret.

Although Xiao Ning and Mo Linsu's expressions changed during the course of listening to Xiao Ling's story, there was a slight difference between the two: unlike Xiao Ning, Mo Linsu had a much more intense expression.

Mo Linsu may have been waiting expectantly for Xiao Ling's return, hoping that Xiao Ling could find and bring back Mo Zhongzhi. This was probably also an important factor that helped her in giving birth, hoping that Mo Zhongzhi would return with a gift for her newborn child.

However, what awaited her was a harsh reality, a tragedy.

What happened the day before yesterday was repeated again, now it was Xiao Ning's turn to swiftly catch Mo Linsu who had fallen on the spot.

But unlike before, Mo Linsu was still conscious except for her entire body going limp.

"Linsu! Are you okay?!" Xiao Ning said, showing her concern.

"I still hope... but, reality is still too much for me even though I've tried to prepare myself for whatever happens. And after hearing what you've been through, there's no other choice for me but to accept it, even if it's difficult and painful."

Realizing that Xiao Ling and the others returned in a very bad state after Mo Zhongzhi's search that ended in vain, and had even lost some lives and some were injured.

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It seemed that Mo Linsu had already given up on Mo Zhongzhi's return, her expression showing an expression full of sadness as well as regret.

"Maybe there's still a possibility for Zhongzhi to—"

"—Xiao Ling, it's okay. I know you've given your best to look for him. But I don't want you and the others to sacrifice any further than this, I'm sure Zhongzhi also expects the same." She said, in a weak tone. "I'm sure he did it of his own free will without coercion or demands, he probably didn't want to involve or burden anyone of his own free will."

Yes. that kind of person was Mo Zhongzhi, he was the kind of person who disliked depending on others and chose to always try to do everything himself.

If Mo Linsu—wife and probably the person who most expected Mo Zhongzhi's return—had gone that far, then Xiao Ling had no choice but to accept it.

"I understand..."

"Thank you, for giving everything you could for Zhongzhi." Mo Linsu said, smiling weakly.

Xiao Ling could see the emotion behind that smile, although Mo Linsu tried to keep her face straight, there was a subtle change in her expression.

"Xiao Ling..."

It seemed like there was something Xiao Ning wanted to say, Xiao Ling decided to wait for her, but not a single word was spoken after a while except for her face which showed her concern.

At this point Xiao Ling didn't even know what expression he was wearing until Xiao Ning and Mo Linsu showed the same expression upon seeing him. Was it regret? Sadness? Or perhaps mourning?

Xiao Ling took a deep breath and did so several times, trying to calm himself down. As he did so, there was silence for a while. Not a single sound could be heard except for everyone's breathing.

As time passed, Xiao Ling realized that he couldn't let this continue, so he tried to change the mood, wondering something else important. "Xiao Ning told me that you had a healthy birth. Congratulations, I'm happy to hear that."

Mo Linsu gasped at the completely different words before finally smiling. "Thank you. It's a great joy at a time like this."

"Um, can I take a look?" Xiao Ling asked in a slightly worried tone.

"Sure. I want you to meet him. I'm sure Zhongzhi will be happy about this."

Mo Linsu then escorted Xiao Ling followed by Xiao Ning into the room. There was a cradle where a sleeping baby was covered with a blanket.

Xiao Ling approached slowly, hoping not to wake him up.

"Mo Shatian," Mo Linsu said. "That's the name his father gave him."

Ah, right... If I'm not mistaken, that was the name I heard faintly back then. This time Xiao Ling could hear the name clearly without any interference.

Something occurred to him, then he became curious and asked, "Can I touch him?"

"Sure."

A quick reply came as if knowing what was on Xiao Ling's mind.

"Alright..."

Xiao Ling very slowly moved his right hand to touch the sleeping baby's forehead with his fingertips. When the two had touched, he poured a bit of his Spiritual Essence into the baby—trying to probe what happened.

Suddenly in a flash as he began to flow his spiritual essence, he felt something stinging him from the baby and began to connect the two.

It felt like an electric shock.

Xiao Ling smiled at the reaction he had just felt.

Of course the baby, or Mo Shatian, could not feel the same as Xiao Ling, as only those who had experienced spiritual energy could feel it.

"Mo Linsu! Your child was born with Spiritual Root!"

Xiao Ling immediately turned to Mo Linsu with a smiling and beaming face. However, the response he saw from her was far different from what he expected.

"Yes, I already knew that, it was your wife who told me earlier." Mo Linsu replied, expecting the same answer from Xiao Ling.

"Ah... so you already knew about it, huh?" Xiao Ling replied, his smile fading.

His expression changed instantly, the excitement he felt earlier vanishing in an instant. Like a firecracker that ran out of light.

Xiao Ling became a little awkward after he said the previous thing with excitement. But then came the sound of giggling from the two women who saw his expression just now.

But this did not make Xiao Ling feel awkward anymore—in fact, he felt happy that the atmosphere had completely changed from before. After all, the important thing was that he had managed to change the gloomy atmosphere.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh... but seeing your face just now, I couldn't help it."

"Yeah that's right, your expression was really silly just now."

Xiao Ling smiled and replied, "I don't mind. Since you already know about it, do you want to make him a Cultivator?"

Mo Linsu was silent for a moment before replying, "That... I want him to decide that for himself."

***

Time passed quickly, and Xiao Ling's long story finally came to an end. Xiao Ling downed several glasses of water as he spoke to clear his throat.

Mo Shatian knew that this was not something that could be talked about easily. He saw many expressions that he would never see from Xiao Ling in his lifetime. Perhaps this was also one of the reasons why he didn't want his own daughter to sit and listen.

Mo Shatian still couldn't understand what he was feeling at the moment, even after hearing all of this. This was the first time he had heard stories about his own father, but not a single emotion arose in him. His mother had never once told him about his father, whenever he asked, his mother would always smile and be evasive—just saying that he not only had his father's eyes and looks, but also his personality.

"I'm sure this is something you already know, your mother's body condition has been steadily deteriorating since then. But your mother was unfortunately not endowed with Spiritual Root. So it's impossible for her to become a Cultivator who might be able to make her body condition much better."

Xiao Ling's words brought Mo Shatian—who was lost in thought— back to himself again.

"At the time, I didn't understand what she was trying to say at all, but looking back on it—I think—I'm starting to understand why. Perhaps your mother was always thinking about your father, and I could see the sadness and pain on her face whenever she talked about him. "

They say that the first thing needed for a healthy body is to have a healthy mind. Perhaps this is true, because it is very difficult to have a healthy body if the mind is always filled with negative things, such as sadness and loneliness.

"I think your mother knows this more than anyone, and because of that, she asked me not to tell you anything except when you are older and can take all the responsibility for yourself, or when you come to me and ask me all this on your own."

Mo Shatian, who had been listening, began to sink into his musings. Although there were many things he wanted to know, but for now, it was not important at all, right now what was on his mind was to digest all the information he received.

I wonder... If I had known all this, I probably never would have chosen to become a cultivator. I couldn't bear to see my mother fall sick and her body began weaken all day long, while I was the one born with the talent of being a cultivator.

Maybe my nature was also the reason why mom never told me about dad. Maybe she didn't want me to worry unnecessarily.

But why...? Why did my mother feel so guilty that her body became weak and sick, why did she always avoid me and sometimes look very sad and sick whenever I asked about dad. Could this be related to the reason why dad wanted to find a gift for my birth?

His thoughts and face became darker and darker as he sank deeper into his thoughts—and finally, he chose to ignore them, deciding there was no point in thinking about them anymore.

He also began to understand the reason why Xiao Ling had never told him until now—perhaps if the so-called Heavenly Tribulation had not happened, he might still find out one day. That event only led him to find out of his own free will.

"But to be clear, it was my own decision not to tell you all this time."

Mo Shatian understood very well that Xiao Ling would fulfill her mother's request—even though Xiao Ling tried to reproach himself by saying that it was his own decision—Xiao Ling would never refuse after knowing that it was her only request to him.

He probably also understood the reason behind it—no, he must have already figured it out. Mo Shatian thought after hearing that.

"So after hearing everything, do you have anything to say?"

Xiao Ling said it with an expression that Mo Shatian had never seen before—an expression that seemed to be mocking himself.