53. Bringing Mom In
“Um, well,”
Gong Yiling rubbed the large bump on her head and pointed at the woman who was also rubbing her face. “This is my mother.”
The others were stunned, but Yan Chuyue, who was sipping tea, reacted differently.
She spat out her tea, aiming it directly at Gong Yiling’s face.
Fortunately, Miss Gong, having been hit once before, had developed a reflex and quickly dodged, making Yan Chuyue miss.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing… ahem!” Yan Chuyue coughed several times before finally processing the news. “You said Auntie Mu is who? Your mom?”
“Yes.”
“Then isn’t Auntie Mu…”
Who else could Gong Yiling’s mother be but Gong Muzhi?
Gong Muzhi, Auntie Mu, holy crap!
She had been wondering if there was anyone in her novel with the character “Mu” in their name.
It really was Gong Muzhi…
“My mom is what?” Gong Yiling looked at Yan Chuyue suspiciously.
These clues were… a bit too obvious for this mercenary queen. She wondered if she had figured it out.
Yan Chuyue, quick-witted, blurted out, “Isn’t your mom… my aunt?”
“Huh? Is that what you wanted to say?”
“Yes!” Gong Muzhi stepped forward and smiled, rubbing Yan Chuyue’s head just as Gong Yiling had done to her earlier.
“I didn’t expect Miss Yan to know our Ling’er…”
Gong Yiling: “Ahem.”
Gong Muzhi quickly corrected herself. “…Our Yuan’er. What a coincidence!”
Yan Chuyue raised an eyebrow.
Although… but.
“Yuan’er” was the nickname her mother often used for her before she transmigrated.
When Gong Muzhi said it, Yan Chuyue felt like she was being called…
“As for you two,”
Gong Muzhi then turned to the speechless Qiu Shui and Chun Lian.
In this situation, they couldn’t possibly say, “Greetings, Palace Master.” So, what should they call her…? This was a serious problem.
Seeing them unable to look at her, their lips pursed, nervously fiddling with their clothes, Gong Muzhi sighed and bent down, embracing them.
“Eh?”
“You two can call me Auntie too,” she said softly. “Not just now, but in the future as well.”
“The future?” Qiu Shui and Chun Lian were stunned.
“Yes, the future.” Gong Muzhi smiled and patted their shoulders, then glanced at her own precious daughter. “As for your problems, I’ll ask Yuan’er about them later.”
“It’s not a big deal…” Gong Yiling looked away, scratching her chin awkwardly.
Just the Cloud Rainbow Sect…
“That thing about the Cloud Rainbow Sect you mentioned to Uncle… Nine, isn’t that a big deal?”
Of course, Ghost Lord Nine would tell his mother everything that happened in Yanlie City. Perhaps that was why she came here?
“Uh… about that…”
“Alright.” Gong Muzhi waved her hand. “Let’s not talk about our matters for now. This is your celebration. It can’t be delayed because of me.”
“Don’t Yuan’er and Miss Yan still have to cook? I’ll help.”
“…Okay!”
—
—
Honestly, the three of them cooking together looked like a real family.
Provided that—
“Mom, I need scallions, not garlic… not that, that’s celery.”
“Auntie, let me cut the vegetables. You can… wash them. Yes, wash the fish.”
“Mom, you have to gut the fish. No, no, I don’t mean remove the meat, or the bones.”
“Auntie, please pluck the chicken feathers. If it’s too much trouble, you can singe them with fire and then scrape them—no, I don’t mean cook it directly!”
After five minutes of chaos, Gong Yiling and Yan Chuyue made a decision.
They kicked Gong Muzhi out of the team and brought in Qiu Shui.
Finally, Gong Muzhi could only sit on the floor, hugging Chun Lian, pouting, and watching them intently, hoping she could be as skilled as them next time.
The celebration was a success.
Even though Ruohuai Daoist Mountain only achieved a mediocre result in the final round, combined with their first-place finishes in the first two rounds, they were guaranteed to retain their sixth-tier status.
If they were lucky, they might even squeeze into the third tier.
After the celebration, Lan Suqin gestured to Xi Chongyue.
He understood and, under the pretext of cleaning up, took many of the others with him.
Only Gong Yiling’s group of five, plus Gong Muzhi, Xi Chongshan, Lan Suqin, and two other Ruohuai Daoist Mountain elders, a total of ten people, remained at the table.
“Is something wrong?” Gong Muzhi immediately asked, turning around. “Yuan’er, should I leave?”
“Stay, Mother.” Gong Yiling shook her head. “Since you’re here, I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know about the Mingjue Sect?”
“The Mingjue Sect!?” Gong Muzhi frowned, surprised. “Why do you ask?”
“The Mingjue Sect is here.” Gong Yiling said seriously, “I don’t know their plan, but they have infiltrated many sects and have already made their move.”
“What!?”
Gong Muzhi immediately stood up and grabbed Gong Yiling’s hand. “Yuan’er, come back with me now.”
“Huh?” Gong Yiling, caught off guard, was pulled a few steps before struggling slightly. “What’s wrong, Mother?”
“Do you know how dangerous the Mingjue Sect is?”
Gong Muzhi puffed out her cheeks, lecturing her sternly. “Even all the Five Demonic Abysses combined were no match for them in their prime.”
“The Mingjue Sect was destroyed because they angered everyone and were opposed by the Great One Engineering Sect. Now that the old sect has fallen, you shouldn’t get involved in their resurgence.”
Gong Yiling gently pulled on Gong Muzhi’s sleeve. “Mother…”
“What?”
Gong Yiling took a deep breath and whispered in her ear, “Actually… I have the Heavenly Saint Technique of the Myriad Paths.”
“You have what—what!?”
Gong Muzhi paused, replaying the words in her mind, then… she froze. “Yuan’er, that Immortal Master… was you?”
