Chapter 78: Li Qingyun's Discovery

“Gu Tingzhou, stop for a moment.” Ever since she’d left the house that morning, Li Qingyun hadn’t found a chance to relieve herself. She’d thought she could wait a few more steps until she got home, but now she simply couldn’t hold it any longer.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nature calls, you know.”

Li Qingyun shoved their second child into his father’s arms and hurried into a stand of autumn corn by the roadside. To avoid being seen, she made sure to go deeper into the field.

When she’d finally dealt with her urgent need, she felt immeasurably more comfortable. Just then, she faintly heard voices nearby and quietly edged closer to the source.

“Alright.” Xuan Mo’s eyes darkened as he cleared the table, then wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

However, Ye Baci had been warned by the Medicine Sage not to expose the truth before he obtained concrete evidence. Doing so would protect not only himself but also his parents. So Ye Baci simply let things proceed as they always had—no deliberate concealment, but no forced confrontation either.

When the bandages were lifted, a faint ring of bruises could be seen on the pale chest, with three arrows from the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion embedded in the midst of the purple marks. The central wound was still raw and bloody, and although medicine had been applied, tiny beads of blood continued to seep out.

After another half hour or so, Ye Baci finally began to feel somewhat recovered. He didn’t leave the world within the Celestial Palace’s artifact shards, though. He planned to wait until dawn to be safe. Rather than rest, he decided to use the time for cultivation, seeking to improve his abilities.

Madam Chen recounted things she’d heard from others, though she no longer remembered exactly who had told her. Still, the words themselves she recalled clearly.

It seemed the other party was unable to reply at the moment. In that case, he would have to wait until he returned from the Starry Sky Formation to discuss things further.

Lin Yile was caught off guard by the question. Upon thinking it over carefully, she realized she truly had been worrying for nothing. Perhaps the old saying was true—that motherhood dulls the mind for three years after giving birth. Was she still in that muddled state?

But speaking of it, it was simply because Ye Baci’s cultivation realm was too low. As a mere Nascent Soul cultivator who hadn’t even reached the Formless or Primordial Spirit stages, how could he possibly comprehend the great laws of heaven and earth?

Ye Lancao’s beautiful eyes widened as she gazed at Li Jingyi’s handsome face, which wore an expression tinged with what seemed genuine distress. In that moment, she believed his words.

The giant serpent reared up, fixing its gaze on the monkey. After a moment’s pause, it launched a ferocious attack.

The horrifying scene made the young student couple scream and then retch. When there was nothing left in their stomachs to vomit, they stumbled out of the woods and called the police.

“It’s not comfort, it’s a promise.” His voice was soft yet firm, his determination expressed in the simplest words and calmest tone.

Once her thoughts had cleared, she found peace. With contingency plans and the worst-case scenario already considered, there was nothing left to fear.

It seemed the two groups could not communicate directly and required interpreters in long robes to relay messages. Judging by their appearance, Zhao Lei doubted these men in bamboo hats were locals. Which faction could they belong to? This question only deepened his confusion.

“Oh, even the elders don’t dare approach?” The old dean of the Sea College was puzzled. He was well aware of Elder Nai’s strength. For there to be something on this continent that could keep him at bay was exceedingly rare—and for a mass of demonic energy to do so? Could it truly be the aura of a Holy Demon?

The family gathered to chat for a while before the third uncle and Lin Xin arrived. They still looked as harmonious as ever, though Lin Xi could clearly see the coldness beneath their brows. By the time Shen Zheng’s last hour approached, the uncle and Lin Lan also arrived. When they entered, however, something about them seemed odd.

To her surprise, Mu Wanqiu merely frowned and said, “Alright, I’ll accept on behalf of Lord Hei…” All she cared about was seeing Li Jun. Whether it was at Supreme Taste Pavilion or Juxiang House didn’t matter to her.

Gu Yu took in the surrounding scenery, feeling more at ease than ever. After washing her hands, she set a stool in the courtyard. Madam Wang came out, supporting her waist, while Gu Yu carried a bamboo basket filled with embroidery hoops and other things belonging to Madam Wang.