Chapter 520 - 312: Bai Ling’s Return
Night was approaching, and Xiaobai hadn’t woken up yet when Lin Chen saw the Great Elder return. Liu Gu hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "How was it?"
The Great Elder recounted the situation in full detail, and both Liu Gu and Lin Chen were taken aback upon hearing it.
The other party just let him go so easily?
"Could they be deceiving us?" Liu Gu asked skeptically.
"After all, Gu Ning is the National Preceptor; he probably wouldn’t." The Great Elder shook his head and said.
"Seems so." Liu Gu nodded. The Great Elder added, "Let’s observe for now."
.....
Gu Family
When Gu Ning walked in, the disciples of the Gu Family all cupped their hands in greeting.
Gu Ning’s status now spoke for itself.
Once inside, Gu Ning saw Gu An waiting for him.
Gu Ning glanced around and said, "Such a big matter, yet the ancestor of the Gu Family didn’t step forward personally. It seems your status in the Gu Family is quite high now."
Gu An remained unmoved, looking at Gu Ning and saying, "The waters of the Celestial Capital aren’t for anyone to stir."
"This matter doesn’t necessitate disturbing the ancestor."
Gu Ning couldn’t help but smile upon hearing this, saying, "The Immortal Binding Skill requires several great powers to work together. I fear those people aren’t in good condition right now, are they?"
Gu An showed no change in expression and instead led Gu Ning into the room, saying, "Some things can be known but not spoken. You’re overstepping a bit."
Gu An also knew what Gu Ning was resentful about.
Originally, Gu Ning planned to use the Demon Beasts to force a compromise from the forces of the Celestial Capital, but later the Dubhe Pavilion didn’t relent.
Instead, it was Gu Ning who had to compromise due to the current situation.
Otherwise, the chaos caused by these Demon Beasts would be unmanageable.
When the door opened, Gu Ning saw Bai Ling, who at that moment, seemed to have fallen into a sleep-like state.
"What’s this Immortal Binding Skill like?" Gu Ning asked.
"Her memory remains intact, but there’s an obsession in her heart."
"What kind of obsession?"
"To save the Cangling Ancient Country."
"And the reason?"
"Because her mentor, Zhong Nan, is the kind of person willing to fight for the Cangling Ancient Country. She was moved by Zhong Nan’s spirit, so she chose to join in," Gu An said with an increasingly brilliant smile.
Gu Ning took a breath; this Immortal Binding Skill was indeed terrifying.
Outsiders couldn’t see through it at all.
Gu An looked at the time and said, "She’s about to wake up; the script has been laid out for you. It’s your turn now."
Gu Ning nodded.
After Gu An finished speaking, he left. Nearly half an hour later, Bai Ling finally woke up. She initially looked around in confusion, eventually locking her gaze on Gu Ning.
"Gu... Gu Ning?"
Bai Ling regained her senses and said, "Greetings to National Preceptor Gu Ning."
"Don’t be nervous." Gu Ning’s demeanor remained calm and indifferent, as usual. He even said somewhat impatiently, "I’m here to take you back."
"Where is this place?" Bai Ling asked, looking around.
Gu Ning replied naturally, "You were attacked by Demon Beasts outside the city, luckily rescued by the Gu Family."
"I was attacked by Demon Beasts?" Bai Ling tried to recall and soon remembered she indeed encountered an attack.
"Now that you’re healed, they notified me to pick you up," Gu Ning said calmly, "Let’s go."
"Oh... okay."
Bai Ling stood up quickly. Her body showed no signs of discomfort and followed Gu Ning, seeing that this was indeed the Gu Family.
Gu An was waiting at the door. Bai Ling thought for a moment and still cupped her hands, saying, "Bai Ling... thanks the Gu Family for the life-saving grace."
"It’s wartime now; the Human Race should be united. Miss Bai Ling need not be so courteous."
Gu An added, "The Demon Beasts are attacking the Celestial Capital, and the National Preceptor’s duties are busy, so I won’t hold you back."
Gu Ning nodded and left with Bai Ling.
After walking a distance from the door, Bai Ling noticed something amiss with the Celestial Capital and quickly asked, "The Celestial Capital was attacked by Demon Beasts?"
"Not just the Celestial Capital; other places in the Cangling Ancient Country have also encountered chaos, including your hometown, South City," Gu Ning said.
Bai Ling grew anxious upon hearing this.
Gu Ning didn’t continue but instead changed the topic, asking, "Do you want to return to the National Master’s Institute, or somewhere else?"
"I...."
"The Great Elder of the Spirit Academy and your mentor have already arrived in the Celestial Capital; they’re at the Wu Family now. If you wish to find them, you can leave on your own," Gu Ning said.
"The mentor’s here?!"
Bai Ling’s eyes lit up upon hearing that Liu Gu was there.
Gu Ning nodded, understanding what choice Bai Ling would make, and finally left.
After Gu Ning’s departure, Bai Ling eagerly headed towards the direction of the Wu Family.
.....
The next morning, Xiaobai finally woke up.
Lin Chen checked thoroughly; the bloodline was fine.
"After a few days of rest, it’ll be time to purify again...."
Lin Chen had already formulated a plan.
At level fifty-two, Xiaobai would awaken a new skill, and Lin Chen hoped Xiaobai could evolve a better skill.
"I just don’t know when the Cow Communication Skill can be used..."
Lin Chen also maintained the cultivation of the mental method regularly.
Although the Cow Communication Skill had been successfully contracted, it still required persistent cultivation.
As Lin Chen pondered, a voice suddenly rang out like an elf from behind:
"Lin Chen!"
Lin Chen heard the call, turned around, and saw Bai Ling.
It had been nearly three years since he last saw Bai Ling, and now she seemed more mature and composed, with an improved aura.
However, upon seeing Lin Chen, she still acted without formality, jogging up with a smile, saying, "You really came. Are you here to take me back?"
Lin Chen was taken aback, scanning Bai Ling, unsure of how to respond at the moment.
At this time, the Great Elder and the others heard of Bai Ling’s return and arrived quickly.
Bai Ling immediately stood upright and cupped her hands, saying:
"Greetings to the Great Elder!"
"Greetings to Mentor!"
The Great Elder and Liu Gu nodded slightly, sizing up Bai Ling.
Both of them glanced at Lin Chen, hoping to get some information from him, but Lin Chen gently shook his head, indicating he had just met her as well.
"What’s wrong?" Bai Ling noticed them scrutinizing her and grew puzzled.
"How did you return?" the Great Elder asked.
Bai Ling recounted everything in detail, including how Gu Ning picked her up from the Gu Family.
"Do you remember being attacked by Demon Beasts?" Liu Gu asked.
"I remember. I indeed was attacked by a Demon Beast and passed out." Bai Ling recalled, even able to remember the image of the Demon Beast, "It should have been a spider demon."
The three elders exchanged glances.
This didn’t match the report from their spies.
Wasn’t Bai Ling supposed to be attacked by the Gu Family?
However....
The Gu Family wouldn’t expose themselves as the attackers of Bai Ling.
But the reason for attacking Bai Ling needed further contemplation.
Yet it was wartime, and the priority was ensuring safety, so Bai Ling’s safe return was what mattered.
"Liu Gu, tomorrow, take Lin Chen and Bai Ling back to the Celestial Capital. Staying here, you can’t be of much help." The Great Elder looked at Liu Gu and said.
"Understood."
Liu Gu and Lin Chen nodded, while Bai Ling was a beat slow to react, finally managing to say yes.
This scene didn’t escape Lin Chen’s notice.