"Mother, look up at me, touch me, and you'll know I'm Shuning, your daughter," Zhao Shuning said softly, as if soothing a frightened kitten.
But Lin Min'er just lay in Zhao Shuning's arms, shedding tears non - stop and shaking her head.
"No, I don't want to. If I touch you, you'll disappear."
"I know it's you. I know you're my daughter. I know you're Shuning. You must have come to see me tonight because you know mother is about to leave. Don't be afraid, Shuning. Mother will soon go down to accompany you. I'm not a good mother. My Shuning was still so young, and I didn't even have the chance to dote on her properly before I let her take on the burden of this family. Shuning, you were so young. How could you bear the burden of a family? It's mother's fault. It's mother's fault."
Lin Min'er's voice was choked with sobs. Maybe she really regarded Zhao Shuning's appearance as the last illusion of her dying days. She felt that she was sorry for this child. She and Brother Zheng only had this one child. Shuning became a spiritual pharmacist at a young age when she didn't understand anything and went to the Rain and Smoke Tower, a place that devoured people without spitting out bones. Brother Zheng was already a teenager in his teens when he went to the Rain and Smoke Tower, and even the powerful Brother Zheng came out of the Rain and Smoke Tower limping.
"Shuning, Shuning, mother really, really misses you."
Lin Min'er cried aggrievedly in Zhao Shuning's arms. She didn't dare to cry out loud.
Zhao Shuning's eyes suddenly became wet and swollen. During the decades of her disappearance, she was loved by Ye Qingluan in that five - hundred - year - ago world. She had another kind of life in those decades. But she never really thought about how the weak mother in this plane had been looking forward to her return day and night, counting the days with bated breath.
Those decades were an extremely long time for Lin Min'er, and it was such a torment for her.
"Mother, don't be afraid. Shuning is here. From now on, Shuning will protect you."
Zhao Shuning helped her mother sit on the bed. She squatted down and held Lin Min'er's hands with both hands.
"Mother, look at me. I have body temperature. I'm not dead. I'm back. It's the child who is unfilial and made mother suffer."
Lin Min'er stopped crying out, but her tears still fell one by one.
Yes, she could feel it. She could feel Shuning's body temperature. So was the person squatting in front of her really her Shuning?
"Drip - drip -" The blood on Zhao Shuning's hand was still slowly dripping down. Drop by drop, it fell to the ground, like blooming plum blossoms in the snow.
Lin Min'er looked up and saw the daughter she had been longing for day and night. It was her daughter. She hadn't changed at all. In the candlelight, her daughter was still as beautiful as ever. Although the candlelight was dim, her daughter's smile was so bright.
The two looked at each other and smiled. Zhao Shuning reached out her hand and gently wiped away the tears on Lin Min'er's face. Lin Min'er gently grabbed Zhao Shuning's hand and said with heartache, "Mother bit you too hard."
Zhao Shuning shook her head.
"It doesn't hurt. It's just like a kitten scratching. It's nothing."
Lin Min'er took out a handkerchief from her sleeve with heartache and gently wiped the wound on Zhao Shuning's hand. As she wiped, her tears fell again.
Zhao Shuning knew that her mother was soft - hearted. She had always protected her since she was a child, afraid that she would get hurt. Not to mention this time, it was her mother who hurt her. Her mother must be extremely guilty.
"Shuning, I'm sorry. Mother is useless."
"Mother is the best mother in the world."
Zhao Shuning took out some medicinal powder from her Qiankun bag. After sprinkling it on the wound, the bleeding stopped immediately.
"Shuning, your father -" Lin Min'er frowned. Obviously, she was thinking about Zhao Zheng's situation again.
"Mother, I've found father. He's in a very safe place now. You don't have to worry."
Lin Min'er was so shocked that she stood up. But she hadn't eaten for many days and was really weak. As soon as she stood up, she felt dizzy. She had cried so hard before, and now she was physically exhausted. Even standing up made her feel unsteady.
"Mother, don't be in a hurry. Eat something first to fill your stomach. I'll take you out."
Lin Min'er naturally obeyed whatever Zhao Shuning said. As she ate, she said, "Shuning, you don't understand the situation of this manor. That bastard is an alchemist. Maybe you don't know much about him."
"Mother, don't worry. I'm not that reckless little girl anymore. Since I've come to this manor, I have the ability to take you out."
Moreover, she would make Yang Hun, the Heavenly Master Lu, and all those who had spoken rudely pay the price.
"Shuning, he's a seventh - rank alchemist. You -"
"Mother, after you finish eating, I'll take you out."
The smile on Zhao Shuning's face was so convincing.
"Shuning, mother is worried. You don't know. This is Cangwu Country. That bastard Heavenly Master and Yang Hun from the Governor's Mansion rule with an iron fist. There are even more powerful forces behind them. If you offend them, you may never have a peaceful life in the future."
In the candlelight, Zhao Shuning smiled enchantingly. Every move of hers showed tenderness. Even her tone of voice was as soft as possible, but the words she said made people shiver.
"Mother, this Nine - Dragon Manor will be destroyed."
"The Governor's Mansion will be finished."
"I'll also uproot the forces behind them."
Lin Min'er looked at Zhao Shuning. There was a bottomless chill in her daughter's eyes.
Zhao Shuning knew that Lin Min'er was kind - hearted and timid. If she showed too much anger in front of her mother, her mother would be restless. But no one knew how angry Zhao Shuning was when she saw Lin Min'er's tear - stained face, the wounds on her mother that had just healed and the shocking bruises on her arms.
However, Zhao Shuning was holding back her anger. She was determined to get rid of Yang Hun and that lecherous old man. Zhao Shuning had lived in this world for a long time. She was now an eighth - rank top - level alchemist, and her spiritual power was above the Eight - Phase Realm. If she couldn't even protect her loved ones, then her life would be in vain.
They must die. Even the forces hidden behind them, Zhao Shuning was determined to get rid of them.
"Shuning, you -" Her mother's worried eyes just fell on Zhao Shuning. Zhao Shuning just smiled brightly. She reached out her hand to tidy up her mother's hair, which was a bit messy because of the fight before. She whispered softly, "Mother's hair is messy. I'll tie it up for you. This dress is so eye - catching. I have the dress that mother likes here. Mother, change it first. I'll take you out."
Lin Min'er nodded.
"Okay."
Mother, don't worry. As long as your daughter is here, no matter how many thorns there are on the way ahead, I'll smooth them out for you.