Chapter 42

"Miss, where are you? I told you to wait for me, where did you run off to?"

Ling Ying called out softly, rustling as she put on her clothes. Her bright eyes looked around in confusion, muttering to herself, "Strange, she was just here a moment ago, how could she suddenly disappear?"

As she spoke, her petite and delicate figure was already covered in a light blue gauze dress. She shook her head repeatedly, looking around for Ling Yushi's figure.

Behind a large tree that required two people to embrace, Qin Lie and Ling Yushi had to press their bodies together to avoid being seen by her...

Ling Yushi's alluring figure was only clad in a thin silk undergarment. Her long hair, dripping wet, had soaked through the undergarment, making the thin fabric cling tightly to her graceful body. This half-hidden allure was even more tantalizing than being completely naked.

Qin Lie didn't dare to move, his body becoming incredibly stiff, his breathing gradually becoming heavy.

That infinitely alluring body, pressed so closely against him, the scent of orchids wafting, he could feel the smoothness of her skin, the fullness and elasticity of her breasts, and hear her heart rate quicken...

"Thump! Thump!"

In Ling Ying's soft calls, both their heartbeats quickened, feeling each other's body temperature rise, and hearing each other's increasingly heavy breathing.

In the midst of this intimate and dangerous atmosphere, both were unable to think, their minds blank, just tightly leaning against each other, almost forgetting Ling Ying's existence.

After an unknown amount of time, Ling Ying's calls faded away, but the two still maintained their position, their breathing becoming heavier and heavier.

Qin Lie felt a raging fire burning inside him, making him lose his senses, wanting to tightly embrace that graceful body, as if it could slightly alleviate the burning within him.

He subconsciously did just that...

His stiff hands suddenly exerted force, tightly hugging Ling Yushi, getting tighter and tighter!

Feeling her full breasts deform, the burning inside him did not subside but became even more intense, making him want to press Ling Yushi into his body!

At just fifteen years old, he had been training day after day, focusing only on accumulating spiritual energy and advancing his realm, never experiencing such a situation before, and not knowing how to release the inner heat.

His actions were just a physical instinct...

"Ouch... you're hurting me."

Ling Yushi's breathing became increasingly difficult as Qin Lie tightened his grip. She felt as if she would suffocate in the next second, so she quickly called out and pushed Qin Lie away with force.

The two finally separated.

"I... I've been practicing here all along, I didn't know when you two came over, I didn't mean to... really! I really didn't mean to..."

As soon as they separated, Qin Lie suddenly came to his senses, feeling anxious and stammering to explain, his expression somewhat nervous.

Ling Yushi's face was flushed with embarrassment, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a flirtatious glow. She bit her lower lip slightly and huffed, scolding, "Wasn't it intentional to peek? And suddenly hugging me... what do you have to say for that?"

Qin Lie was speechless, standing there awkwardly, unable to utter a word.

Ling Yushi suddenly looked up, giving him a flirtatious glance and a low laugh, "Silly..."

With that, without waiting for Qin Lie to explain, she lifted her straight, beautiful legs and walked gracefully in the direction of the clan's resting place. From her graceful and happy steps, it seemed... she wasn't really angry.

Qin Lie watched her walk away with a graceful posture, his mind still lingering on the previous delightful sensation, suddenly feeling that continuing to practice was somewhat tasteless.

He sat down, looking up at the bright, flawless moon, his mind in turmoil, unable to calm down.

For the next two days, whenever Qin Lie and Ling Yushi met, they both avoided looking into each other's eyes, as if they had done something shameful, worried that someone might notice something.

In front of the Ling clan members, Ling Yushi was still the considerate young mistress, discussing the gains of the trip and sharing cultivation insights during rest stops.

Qin Lie, as usual, did not actively participate in the Ling clan's conversations. Even during rest times, he mostly sat there woodenly, his eyes often appearing vacant, as if his soul had left his body...

Through Ling Yushi's explanation, everyone knew that Qin Lie's state was due to practicing a certain technique, and they gradually got used to it. Whenever they saw his vacant eyes, they would show respect.

They all admired Qin Lie's diligent practice, and gradually reduced their talking time. As soon as they saw Qin Lie's vacant eyes, they would quietly stop talking and find suitable places to refine their spiritual energy, tempering their bodies and meridians.

— Qin Lie's hard practice put pressure on them and indirectly inspired and encouraged them.

"Only two more days until we're home!" One evening, everyone gathered to eat dried meat and drink wine. Ling Xiao's face was excited as he laughed, "This trip to the Ice Shattered Manor was a heavy loss, but we also made significant contributions and obtained many spoils. It's truly a perfect outcome!"

"I wonder if Feng Yi is dead. If that guy is still alive, he will always be a threat. If he survives, I will definitely kill him with my own hands!" Ling Xin said coldly.

Of the Ling clan members who came out, only Ling Yang did not return alive, killed by the Feng family. Ling Yang was his cousin, which made Ling Xin hate the Feng family to the core.

"The Feng family is closer to the Nebula Pavilion, while our Ling family and the Gao family are farther away. The detour through the Cold Fog Mountain has extended our journey... If Feng Yi is still alive, he can return to the Feng family much faster from the Tianlang Mountain direction. If he wants to cause trouble, he can smear us to the Nebula Pavilion in advance," Ling Feng said with a serious face.

"Smear us?" Ling Xiao was taken aback, "With Liu Yan there, how can he smear us? Besides, the Gao family can also vouch for us. Can the Feng family really turn the tables?"

"If he wants to smear us, he might involve Liu Yan and the Gao family as well. This can't be hidden for long, but I think it's very likely," Ling Feng said.

"How so?" Ling Xin was also curious.

"The Feng family needs time. While the Nebula Pavilion is suspicious of the Ling family and the Gao family, they will quickly transfer their clan's strength to the Ice Shattered Manor. After this incident, the Feng family will definitely break away from the Nebula Pavilion. One of the Feng family members left first, and that person should have informed the Feng family's patriarch. They will make preparations on two fronts," Ling Yushi also frowned and interjected.

"Miss is right," Ling Feng nodded. "After the Feng family informs the Ice Shattered Manor, they should start preparing. They will definitely move all their forces to the Ice Shattered Manor's territory and won't wait for the Nebula Pavilion to come and destroy them. Before Liu Yan returns to the Nebula Pavilion and clarifies the situation, the Feng family's patriarch will make many preparations..."

"What's there to fear? The truth will eventually come to light, and the Nebula Pavilion can deal with the aftermath," Ling Xin said.

"At the Nebula Pavilion, someone has always been worried about not finding a handle on the Ling family. He might take advantage of the situation and cause trouble before the truth is revealed," Ling Feng sighed, looking at Ling Yushi beside him, his expression somewhat worried.

Hearing this, Ling Yushi's beautiful face also turned serious. Thinking of Du Haitian and the Du family, she felt a surge of hatred. She knew that Ling Feng's concerns were not unfounded. Du Haitian, who had long planned to deal with the Ling family, would surely take advantage of any opportunity.

"Starting from tomorrow, everyone should speed up and return to Ling Family Town as soon as possible!" After thinking for a while, Ling Yushi suddenly called out.

Everyone, thinking of Du Haitian, felt heavy-hearted and silently nodded in understanding.

"Qin Lie is practicing again, he's really a monster!" Ling Xiao suddenly called out.

Everyone looked at Qin Lie and saw that he was in a soulless state again. They all felt immense pressure and quickly ended their conversation, each finding a place to practice.

Only Ling Yushi remained in place, seemingly unaware of everyone's departure, sitting there in a daze, as if recalling something sad. A faint sorrow and melancholy appeared on her beautiful face...

"What's wrong?"

Qin Lie emerged from his state of no thoughts, seeing that no one was around except her, and noticing her red, moist eyes, he suddenly felt a pang of sympathy and couldn't help but ask softly.

"Nothing," Ling Yushi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, forcing a smile, and said softly, "I just thought of my mother..."

Qin Lie looked at her with a questioning gaze.

"My mother was killed by Du Haitian," Ling Yushi lowered her head, her mood low. "That year, I was only ten. The Nebula Pavilion and the Ice Shattered Manor were in a serious conflict, even more so than now. The Nebula Pavilion gave the Ling family an order to destroy the Ice Shattered Manor's medicinal garden, saying that there were no experts stationed there..."

At this point, she looked on the verge of tears again, "Then my father and mother led some clan members over. Upon arrival, they found that there was a middle-stage Kaiyuan realm expert stationed in the medicinal garden. At that time, my father was only at the early-stage Kaiyuan realm. As a result, most of the clan members who went died, and my mother... didn't return."

She looked up, her bright eyes filled with deep hatred, and said through gritted teeth, "Later, we found out that the order was given by Du Haitian, and he deliberately had the messenger hide the true situation of the medicinal garden!"

Qin Lie was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Live well, and avenge your mother in the future. You can definitely do it!"

After comforting Ling Yushi, he suddenly felt a dull pain in his chest, his face turning pale. Qin Lie pressed his chest, his eyes showing signs of pain and struggle.

"Qin Lie, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ling Yushi, still with tear marks on her face, was startled by Qin Lie's appearance and quickly came over to support him, asking anxiously.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Qin Lie's face turned red, he shook his head, and after taking several deep breaths, he finally calmed down. He took another deep breath and said, "I don't know why, but hearing about your mother's fate, I feel very uncomfortable, as if my heart is being torn apart."

"Qin Lie, thank you, really, thank you!" Ling Yushi, moved by his words, was on the verge of tears and suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, and said excitedly, "Thank you for comforting me like this, I feel much better."

Qin Lie's body was slightly stiff, but he let her hug him tightly, his face unusually calm this time.

Those words were not just to comfort Ling Yushi, but his deepest and most genuine feelings. Even at this moment, his chest still ached.

"Mother, Father, I can't remember you anymore. I don't know what happened in the past, but thinking of you... makes my heart ache." Qin Lie, hugging Ling Yushi, thought silently, and before he knew it, his eyes were also moist.

...

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