It was already unknown how many times Song Yao had quarreled with her father. Since Zhao Zhao was taken away by the Chongming Bird last time, Song Yao had been clamoring to find her.
Of course, Song Changyang would not let his daughter go out to confront an ancient divine bird. As the person who had personally made a deal with Chongming back then, he could somewhat detect Chongming's schemes against Zhao Zhao.
But in the end, they were just ordinary humans after all.
Zhao Zhao's arrival was just a deal he had agreed upon with Chongming. He didn't want to sacrifice his daughter because of it.
Maybe occasionally when he thought of that innocent and lovely girl who used to call him uncle, he would still feel a bit lost and sad, but that was all.
"You made some deal with the people on Wutong Mountain back then. Tell me what it was!"
Song Yao looked at her father, the man she had looked up to since childhood. At this moment, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"This is not something you should be concerned about."
Crash!
Hearing her father try to fob her off with such an excuse again, Song Yao finally couldn't hold back. She overturned the table with a single sweep of her hand. The teacups and water glasses on the table shattered with a clatter, lying between the two of them.
"Dad! I'm not a child anymore. I have the right to know."
Song Changyang quietly looked at his daughter, the girl he had cherished since childhood. She used to be willful and domineering, but now she had grown into an adult. Her stubborn look and unyielding spirit were exactly the same as her mother's.
"From the day you asked me to bring Zhao Zhao back, I've regarded her as my own younger sister. Even if you tell me now that she's just an imposter, all the love I've shown her is genuine. Do you think I can just act like I know nothing and watch her get into trouble with my own eyes?"
A series of questions made Song Changyang feel a bit ashamed.
He knew he was sorry to his daughter and that innocent child. He had dragged her into this because of his own selfishness. Although he wasn't the one who started all this, he had provided a way for Chongming, leading Zhao Zhao into a huge conspiracy.
But even so, if given another chance, he would still make the same choice.
"Do you still remember how your mother died?" Song Changyang turned his back and looked at the occasional birds flying by outside the window. His thoughts gradually drifted away.
She didn't know why he was bringing up her mother at this moment, but Song Yao still subconsciously replied, "Yes, I do."
Since she could remember, her father and mother had been very much in love. Her mother was a very beautiful woman who always spoke to her gently.
But such a gentle person was burned alive in a fire when she was young, and the culprit was Song Changming.
When she was a child, she didn't understand. Uncle Song was so kind to her, and their family seemed so harmonious. Why would he be so cruel to her mother?
Song Changyang's next words answered her question. "Your mother was born with a rare bone. This thing is of great benefit to a mortal's cultivation. After learning about this, Song Changming, that crazy man, wanted to refine your mother's bone into a powerful weapon. So that day, while I was out, he set a fire."
"In order to make the most of your mother's rare bone, he chose the most painful karma fire in the world for the cremation. He wanted your mother to be soaked in hatred and her soul to be imprisoned forever, and he really did it."
At this point, Song Yao could already guess what her father was going to say next. "So you did this for mother?"
Song Changyang turned to look at her and said, "Yes."
"Do you still remember the bow in your hand? I never told you where that bow and arrow came from because it was refined from human bone, your mother's bone."
"What..."
"Her soul was imprisoned and couldn't be freed. She would never be reincarnated, and the people in the mysterious sect were helpless. So when the Chongming Bird came to me, he promised me that he could help your mother's soul be freed, and I agreed to him."
"Father... Why have you never told me these things?"
Song Changyang walked closer and stroked Song Yao's head. He smiled bitterly. "Silly girl, your mother cared most about you when she was alive. Later, when I saw her soul through the soul - summoning method, she told me to keep the bone that was taken out from her by your side to protect you forever."
Parents who love their children will plan far ahead for them.
Knowing her father's difficulties, Song Yao couldn't say a single word of blame to her father at this moment.
But what about Zhao Zhao...
"Cousin," the door was pushed open, and a familiar voice came from outside. Zhao Zhao stood there, her eyes clear. "Can I still call you that?"
Tears came out before her concerned words. Song Yao rushed over and hugged Zhao Zhao. Her voice trembled violently. "Yes, of course you can. What silly things are you saying?"
As she was speaking, she suddenly remembered something. She pulled Zhao Zhao and looked at her carefully from head to toe. Touching her face, she asked, "Are you okay?"
Zhao Zhao shook her head with a smile and told her, "I'm fine. Look, I'm perfectly okay."
Actually, she came here today to say goodbye.
Since she came down the mountain, the first human she had contacted was her cousin.
Although her cousin always seemed fierce, Zhao Zhao knew that she had a soft heart under her tough words. In fact, she really loved her.
She didn't know if she could come back after this trip, and the situation when they separated was so bad. So before leaving, she wanted to say goodbye properly so that Song Yao wouldn't worry about her all the time.
Song Changyang knew that the two sisters had things they wanted to say to each other, so he silently stepped out and closed the door for them.
However, Zhao Zhao didn't plan to stay for long. She took out a porcelain bottle and placed it on the table. She told Song Yao, "There are pills in here that can improve one's spiritual power, but you can't take too many. Take one pill before your daily cultivation. In the long run, your skills will surely increase greatly. It will be good for you."
Hearing what she said, Song Yao always had a very strange feeling in her heart. "You seem to have grown up."
Zhao Zhao blinked with a smile and leaned her head on Song Yao's shoulder. She asked, "Isn't it good to grow up? I've grown up. You should be happy, cousin."
"No... " Song Yao couldn't really explain it. She had indeed hoped that Zhao Zhao would grow up and become more sensible, but not like this.
Suddenly giving her a bottle of pills for no reason and saying these things, it seemed more like she was making final arrangements.
This feeling made Song Yao feel uneasy. Just then, Zhao Zhao stood up and waved to her. "Okay, it's time for me to go!"
Song Yao subconsciously reached out and grabbed her. She stared fixedly at Zhao Zhao and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Um..." Zhao Zhao rolled her eyes. Then she said to her with a very happy smile, "I've made an appointment with Su Yuan. We're going to live in seclusion in the mountains!"
"What's all this?"
"Okay, I'm not teasing you anymore. Cousin, actually we just want to go out and have a look. We'll be back in a while. I'll come to see you when I'm back. Don't miss me too much."
If it had been in the past, when she said such joking words, Song Yao would surely have given a haughty cold snort, saying that she wouldn't miss her.
However, now Song Yao held her hand and lowered her head. Her words were soft and gentle. "I will miss you, so you have to come back soon. You haven't finished your homework yet..."
Zhao Zhao was stunned for a moment. Then she pulled out her hand. "I'll be as fast as I can."
After leaving Song Yao's room, Zhao Zhao turned to look at the pillar behind her and whispered, "Come out."
A tall and straight young man walked out from behind the pillar. It was the Taotie in human form.
"I know what you're going to do. I'm going with you." Taotie walked up to Zhao Zhao, his tone firm.
Seeing his current appearance, Zhao Zhao was obviously startled for a moment. Then she happily wanted to pat his shoulder. "You've grown so tall all of a sudden."
"I'm talking to you about something serious!" Taotie angrily dodged her hand. He was very dissatisfied with her non -chalant attitude.
This was clearly a matter of life and death!
The smile on her lips faded. Zhao Zhao shook her head at Taotie. "You can't go with me."
"Why!"
"Because I have an even more important task for you."
Hearing that there was another task, Taotie's expression softened a bit. He asked, "What is it?"
"You have to stay here and help me protect the Song family. The Song family was targeted by all the major families in the mysterious sect because of me. So if you really want to help me, I hope you can stay here and guard the Song family. After everything is over, there will be no more Resurrection Tree in this world, and all those with greedy hearts should stop here."
Was she planning to sacrifice herself alone? Taotie was so angry that he laughed. "You're really noble - minded and self - sacrificing."
"Taotie," Zhao Zhao sighed helplessly. "Don't be angry with me. Just promise me."
Actually, Taotie understood everything in his heart. He also knew very well that even if he went with her, he wouldn't be of any help. Facing the power of the Resurrection Tree, even he, an ancient fierce beast, was no match.
But he still couldn't accept Zhao Zhao's approach. How could she be so cruel as to leave everyone behind?
Probably seeing what Taotie was thinking, Zhao Zhao raised her hand and pointed at the center of Taotie's eyebrows. With the spiritual beast contract they had made, Taotie couldn't refuse any of her orders at all.
"Hey! How could you do this!" Taotie was extremely angry. He had forgotten about this.
Now that he had been given an order by Zhao Zhao, he was fixed in place and could only watch that thin figure gradually go away.
"Taotie, don't be angry with me." This was the last thing Zhao Zhao said to Taotie.