52. Soothing
Gong Yiling: “Huh?”
Gu Falie: “Hmm?”
Gong Muzhi: “>_<!”
This sudden turn of events stunned the two men.
Especially Gong Yiling, held aloft like a kitten, her mind a blank slate, completely unable to comprehend what this woman was doing.
“This…” Gu Falie, unaware of their relationship, but seeing that the four words didn’t come from Gong Yiling’s mouth, continued, “How can you speak for Miss Lü?”
“Are you qualified to call her ‘miss’?”
Gong Muzhi’s eyes filled with a dangerous glint. “I said she refuses, so she refuses!”
Gu Falie wasn’t one to back down. Provoked, his anger flared. “Ridiculous! And who are you to her?”
“She’s my daughter!!!”
Gu Falie froze, then finally understood. “You also want to be her master?”
Gong Muzhi: “…”
What to do, what to do, what to do? I really want to rip this man’s mouth off.
Aaaaaaah, but if I attack him now, and he’s not the one who kidnapped my daughter, wouldn’t that alert the real culprit? And who knows what that Immortal Master has done to my daughter.
No, no!
Gong Muzhi, you have to calm down. For your lovely Ling’er, even if you get a pimple from the stress—it’s completely fine!
“Hah… hoo… hah… hoo…”
The enraged mother used deep breathing to quell her inner fire.
Inhaling cold wind, exhaling steam from a pressure cooker.
This method was somewhat effective, as long as this man didn’t provoke her further—
“She hasn’t acknowledged your words yet, so I still have a chance.” Gu Falie said seriously, “I, Gu Falie, have roamed the martial world for decades. I can pave the way for Miss Lü in the Daoist sects, allowing her to eventually reach my level.”
“What can you offer her?”
“Hoo—damn it!”
She couldn’t take it anymore!
Kidnapping her daughter, and now wanting her daughter to rejoin the Daoist sects.
After what happened back then, how dare they even mention this!
This time, Gong Muzhi was truly enraged.
Her daughter was her only weakness. Even if it meant exposing her identity and causing chaos in Qian Yue Academy, so what?
But just as the demonic energy was about to erupt from her, Miss Gong, held high in the air, suddenly jumped down and hugged the woman tightly.
Because of her words, “She’s my daughter,” Gong Yiling finally understood.
“Mother,” she whispered in Gong Muzhi’s ear, “he means no harm. I’ll explain everything to you later.”
“I’m fine, so I don’t want you to be in trouble. Please, calm down.”
The girl’s voice was soft, only audible to the two of them.
Gong Muzhi’s rage dissipated with the hug and her daughter’s words. She asked, stunned, “Are you really alright?”
“Don’t you trust me?” Gong Yiling gently stroked her mother’s head. “Leave the rest to me, okay?”
Her daughter’s gentle touch was incredibly soothing. Like a ruffled cat finally being petted, her anger subsided, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. She nodded vigorously.
“Mmm!”
“So…” Gong Yiling turned to Gu Falie and smiled sheepishly. “Elder Gu, this is my mother, and also my master. I was surprised to see her here, so I didn’t have a chance to explain.”
“So…” she bowed slightly. “Thank you for your generous offer, but I cannot be your disciple. I apologize.”
Gu Falie, although disappointed, was relieved. “I see.”
Being a straightforward man, he added,
“Please forgive my earlier offense.”
“Not at all. It was my fault for not explaining things clearly.” Gong Yiling quickly shook her head.
But Gong Muzhi couldn’t help but mutter, “Who asked you to say you wanted her as your daughter?”
Gong Yiling turned to her with an amused expression, and her mother made a funny face in return. They both burst out laughing.
Although laughing so heartily at this moment seemed inappropriate, who cared?
“I was indeed inconsiderate.” Gu Falie didn’t mind their interaction and sighed. “It’s been decades since I’ve met such a brilliant young woman. Now I see she has a mother and master like you to thank.”
“You flatter me, Elder Gu.”
“He’s not flattering you at all! My daughter is that amazing!” Gong Muzhi puffed out her chest.
Hearing this, Gong Muzhi was incredibly pleased.
Praising her daughter, and by extension, praising her.
Well, the earlier incident was forgiven.
“Hahahaha…” Gu Falie finally chuckled, then said to Gong Yiling, “Since you already have a good master, I won’t bother you further. If you have any difficulties in your cultivation, feel free to find me in the East Courtyard.”
“Farewell.”
“Take care, Elder.”
After a brief farewell, Gu Falie left.
As he walked away, he felt that the woman’s mother, so straightforward and simple, with a childlike yet not childish nature, reminded him of someone he once knew.
But he couldn’t quite place who it was, and after a while, he gave up.
As for Gong Yiling…
Before she could even sigh in relief, her mother hugged her from behind.
“Mother?”
Gong Muzhi rested her head on her shoulder and said in a low voice, “I think I just figured something out.”
“Huh?”
“If Ling’er is alright,” Gong Muzhi turned her head, her eyes narrowing slightly, “then it means… Ling’er didn’t even think to contact me for over two months, not even sending a single letter home?”
“Uh…” Gong Yiling instinctively sensed danger and stuck out her tongue, trying to look cute. “Actually… I didn’t know if you would receive my letter…”
“Really?” Gong Muzhi’s face was a mask of disbelief.
“No, I’m sorry, Mother.” Gong Yiling immediately stood at attention and apologized.
The real reason was that she had been too busy, causing chaos in Yanlie City and searching for people in Qian Yue Academy.
Even if she had wanted to write, she couldn’t bring herself to lie and say everything was fine.
So… she just didn’t write.
And so, for telling the truth, Miss Gong was rewarded with a “Earth Throw.”
“Ling’er, you’re a big dummy!”
