65. Betting on Both Sides?
Although Gong Yiling had a backup plan in case this guy tried to trick her—she had two teleportation talismans ready to use at a moment’s notice…
She didn’t end up using them. Shortly after, they emerged from the passage, back outside.
The exit of the passage led to a bustling area, and reaching it meant they were out of danger.
Of course, Miss Gong was ruthless.
She didn’t just run away. Instead, she circled back to the Xifeng Teahouse and observed the situation.
Mmm… the commotion she caused earlier should have been audible from the outside.
But now, everything was quiet. People were still calmly walking around.
“So… Youyuan.” Leng Yuli couldn’t help but tug at her clothes. “Do you think what he said was true?”
“Hmm?”
“About the Baiyao Dynasty.” Leng Yuli said, “If what he said is true, then the current Baili family… aren’t they usurpers?”
“What’s so strange about that?”
Miss Gong wasn’t surprised at all.
Why? Because she had just done something similar.
In a sense, her putting Lu Xinyao on the throne of the Heartflame Empire was also a form of usurpation, since Lu Xinyao had no connection to the Shangguan family.
But her actions were for justice, while the Baili family’s were for their own selfish desires.
“It’s been so long. Who even knows that the Baiyao family was the true royal family of the Baiyao Dynasty?” She looked away and chuckled. “Even if it’s true, what’s the point?”
“But then…” Leng Yuli bit her lip, unable to continue.
Gong Yiling, seeing her expression, understood her thoughts.
She didn’t know much about the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance, and according to the legends, the alliance and the Sword Master were two sides of the same coin, neither good nor evil.
But now…
“We’re not from the Mo family.” Gong Yiling gently patted her head and smiled. “Remember what I told you before? No one has the right to decide what you want to do.”
“Youyuan…”
“I don’t think I’ve ever told you my purpose for coming to the Mo family, have I?” Gong Yiling pulled her into the crowd. “I’m looking for my father.”
“Your father?”
“My father, after being forced to leave my mother and me at Qian Yue Academy, the only clues I have lead me here.”
“And…” Gong Yiling looked at the information she had obtained from the side quest and sighed. “I feel like I’ve become a part of this story.”
Yes.
To distinguish whether Yue Huasheng’s story was true or not, she just needed to follow the system’s hints.
The side quest she had accepted earlier, after listening to his story, was now marked as “completed.”
As for the information it provided—
“After multiple encirclements, the Sword Emperor’s lineage was almost wiped out. To prevent their complete annihilation and preserve the remaining hope of the Baiyao royal family and the Sword Emperor’s lineage, they had no choice but to rely on the power of the Youhan Dynasty, accepting their proposal.”
“After that, some of the clan members entered the Youcang Court, while others hid within the Hundred Paths Mountain, waiting for a powerful Sword Emperor to rise, and for the day the Baiyao royal family would reclaim their glory.”
Although there were only two pieces of information, when combined with the earlier quest about the Eight Desolations Sword Master…
“Although it’s just my guess…” Gong Yiling said, “But I have a feeling that the Eight Desolations Sword Master, the so-called descendant of the Sword Emperor, is my father.”
“What!?”
This news almost made Leng Yuli’s jaw drop.
“Youyuan… are you serious?”
“Although I can’t give you a specific reason (how could she? She couldn’t just say the system hinted at it, right?), just listen, Yuli. Don’t take it too seriously.”
Leng Yuli, after this conversation, felt much better.
“So.” After finishing her own story, Gong Yiling continued to comfort her. “Compared to me, you’re much more carefree. Since you’re so carefree, why not just follow your heart? Do what you think is right.”
“Mmm… Mmm!”
Now, Leng Yuli’s mood had been completely lifted by Miss Gong.
However, even with all her efforts, the system still hadn’t prompted her with the disciple situation.
Strange. Based on her previous actions, this disciple should have been recruited by now. But the system was silent.
This was quite concerning.
But this was just a side story in her adventure. Chuyue and her mother should be on their way now. She had to find her father quickly. The longer she waited, the more danger he would be in.
As for how to find her elusive father…
Suddenly, Gong Yiling thought of someone.
Although she didn’t know their stance or their thoughts…
One thing was certain: this person would probably help her, as long as there was a profit to be made.
“But… Youyuan.” Leng Yuli looked at her direction and asked, puzzled, “Can we still go back to the Sword Alliance’s inn?”
“Mmm…”
Miss Gong understood her concern.
Although they both had special identities, a young lady from the Leng family and a closed-door disciple of a high-ranking member of the Returning Heaven Sect, it didn’t mean they were safe.
And the most puzzling thing was, why did they attack them?
Before Yue Huasheng told them these things, they only knew a little about the matter. Was it necessary for them to risk offending such powerful factions just to silence them?
Or… was this all Yue Huasheng’s personal doing, and the Baili royal family didn’t know what was happening?
There was only one way to find out.
