Chapter 647: Mother

Translated by Jouissance of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Ling Xiao soon got wind of this.

XiaoJi had Ji Feng helping him now, so he didn't need to do everything personally, nor did he have to hide and sneak about. Ji Feng was his greatest helper. His clansmen wouldn't be suspicious even if Ji Feng was sent out.

After he finished reading, Ling Xiao handed the jade drive over to the anxious You XiaoMo, who was barely holding himself back from snatching the Jade Drive.

You XiaoMo glanced at the silent Ling Xiao beside him after looking over the contents of the jade drive. From XiaoJi's description, Ling Xiao's mother's attitude seemed rather off, different from what he expected.

XiaoJi had brought up Ling Xiao in their conversation, but she didn't have any reaction, not even asking after Ling Xiao at all. Was she happy but pretending to be calm and composed, or...

You XiaoMo didn't understand. Ling Xiao had told him in the past that his father and mother were together despite their clans' objections out of love for one another. If they could do that, then they should be deeply in love with one another, and a child of their own flesh and blood wouldn't go unloved either. However, now it didn't seem that way.

"Perhaps someone already told her about how you're doing?" You XiaoMo stared at Ling Xiao, terrified that he would be upset. He knew what it felt like to have parents that didn't care. It wasn't good at all.

Ling Xiao's expression was blank. Hearing his words, the hint of a smile appeared on Ling Xiao's face, "Perhaps."

Seeing him smile just made You XiaoMo even more worried.

Though his parents didn't care much for him either, he at least had them at his side from when he was young and would occasionally get a few words of parental love. However, Ling Xiao had been apart from his parents for many years. He had once said that he wanted to save them. It was clear that he missed them dearly.

To know now that his mother didn't seem to like him much, if it was him, he definitely wouldn't be feeling very happy.

Just as he was thinking about that, Ling Xiao stood and went outside.

You XiaoMo hurried after him, "Where are you going?"

"To find Uncle Gu," Ling Xiao replied without looking back at him.

You XiaoMo's heart thumped. As expected, he couldn't just let this go and had to question Uncle Gu. It was Uncle Gu that had told him of his parents in the first place.

Lin Gu hadn't been a at Weeping Ghost Shores recently. As the bossman, he often played hooky, but only TianDao knew that each time he left, he was out to gather intel on the Qilin clan. However, he had come back these few days, and was currently at Weeping Ghost Shores.

Lin Gu had gotten wind of their visit beforehand, so he had them come and find him in the tea room. Speaking of the tea room, rumor had it that Lin Gu was also a tea lover. When You XiaoMo heard of this, he suspected that Ling Xiao had gotten his love of tea from Lin Gu.

Lin Gu's tea room was decorated with elegant simplicity, not gaudy or flashy, but the furniture and equipment were made of high-quality wood. They could smell the fragrance of the tea as soon as they stepped inside, and a lighter aroma of trees.

"You've arrived at just the right time. These are the top-quality tea leaves I just brought back." Lin Gu stood beside the tea table preparing the tea leaves and greeted them, motioning for them to make themselves comfortable upon seeing them.

Ling Xiao didn't speak, like usual.

You XiaoMo, worried about Ling Xiao, also stayed silent unlike usual, and thus drawing Lin Gu's attention.

"How come you're so quiet today? Did you guys get into a fight?" Seeing You XiaoMo carefully sneak glances at Ling Xiao, Lin Gu couldn't help but smile.

These two had been together for all these years, and their relationship had never been strained before. For them, fighting was something new to their dynamic, because one of them had a rather hard personality, while the other was much more softer, so they were often able to complement one another.

Just as he finished speaking, You XiaoMo looked over at him with sympathy in his gaze.

Lin Gu paused, trying to process this and figure out what was going on.

That was when Ling Xiao took a seat in front of him and got straight to the point. "Uncle Gu, I came over because I have something I want to ask you. Please answer me honestly."

Seeing this uncharacteristic solemnity, Lin Gu stopped with the teasing and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Back then... Back then, what really happened between them? You didn't tell me the truth before, did you?" Ling Xiao didn't beat around the bush at all, his expression calm and words so blunt that Lin Gu froze in shock.

Lin Gu's hands stopped, and he placed the teapot on the table, looking up at Ling Xiao. Though the word didn't name anyone specific, he knew what Ling Xiao was talking about. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Did someone say something to make you think that?"

"I have people in the Demon Phoenix Clan, and they've engaged her, telling her of me, but her reactions didn't match up with what you told me. She doesn't seem to like her son much. Uncle Gu, you know why that is, don't you?" Ling Xiao's gaze was sharp, gaze baring into Lin Gu.

You XiaoMo sat to the side with his head cocked, looking at him with confusion.

Seeing his certainty. Lin Gu realized that he wouldn't be able to trick the other and could only say, "Some things happened between your parents back then, but I can't tell you now. You can ask your father when he comes."

"Isn't it the same if you tell me?"

Lin Gu shook his head. "Xiao'er, I have my reasons, but I can say this. Your mother... she does have something against your father, but she wants to be free. Once you're stronger, I still hope you can free her from the Demon Phoenix Clan."

Ling Xiao stared at him for a moment. "I understand."

Ling Xiao understood what Lin Gu was like. If he wasn't willing to say something, then no matter how much you bugged him, you would get anything out of him.

Lin Gu didn't seem relieved by this. He was no longer in the mood for tea.

Ling Xiao calmly took the teapot and made a few cups of tea, giving one to You XiaoMo, who was looking at him with wide eyes. He only left with You XiaoMo after finishing their tea, not at all feeling as if he had ruined Lin Gu's mood.

Once they got back to the palace, You XiaoMo couldn't hold it in anymore and asked, "Are you really alright?"

Ling Xiao looked at him with a slight smile and continued walking inside as he replied, "Why wouldn't I be?" He even seemed rather satisfied for some reason.

You XiaoMo felt like he didn't have enough brain power to process this.

"What do you mean by that?" You XiaoMo ran over and grabbed his arm. His mood sure swung quick, making You XiaoMo feel like he had been hallucinating.

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" Ling Xiao turned, looking at him rather helplessly.

You XiaoMo felt that he was feigning ignorance and said, "I feel like your attitude is weird. Do you really want to know about your parents or not? How come it seems like you don't care now?"

Ling Xiao shrugged, spreading his hands out to the side in a 'what can I do' gesture. "If Uncle Gu doesn't want to say, then what's the use in me worrying over it? Or do you expect me to throw a temper tantrum and cry until he's willing to tell me?"

You XiaoMo's mouth twitched. "That's not what I meant..." He just thought Ling Xiao to be behaving a little strangely, but he wasn't really sure how to explain it with words.

"Alright, we'll leave this like that for now. Like Uncle Gu said, after I get my dad out, then I'll be able to find out what happened. I've waited so many years already, what's a little while more?" Ling Xiao cut him off, walking over and wrapping an arm around his shoulders so that they could head inside together.

"But..." You XiaoMo still found this a little odd.

Ling Xiao didn't give him any chance to continue worrying. Was there a need for further consideration? Not to him there wasn't. It was as it was.

Thus, he successfully distracted You XiaoMo from the topic.

This was the tragedy of having a low IQ!

In the Demon Phoenix Clan, XiaoJi went and talked some more with Ji SuXin after receiving word back from the Boss, however, he made no progress. Ji SuXin remained as she was before, not seeming to desire freedom at all.

However, using Ji Feng, XiaoJi figured out what kind of position Ji SuXin had in the Demon Phoenix Clan. After she got with Ling Xiao's father, the Demon Phoenix Clan basically gave up on her. Only her father, Ji WuFeng, was still trying to persuade her, refusing to give up.

Ji WuFeng was an ambitious man. His goal was the position of valley leader, but it was impossible for him to reach it himself, so he treated Ji SuXin as his only hope. Back then, if Ji SuXin hadn't gotten involved with Ling Xiao's father, then she could definitely take the place of valley leader, but this dream shattered without mercy.

Thus, he hated Ling Xiao and his father. If he knew that XiaoJi was one of Ling Xiao's, then he would certainly become XiaoJi's biggest obstacle. Though Ji WuFeng had laid low for all these years, he had many loyal and powerful followers on his side.

In response to this, Ling Xiao's reply was very simple; he told XiaoJi to become valley leader as soon as possible.

Once he became valley leader, then Ji SuXin's freedom could be gained with just a single order from him. Plus, it wasn't as if the Demon Phoenix Clan cared about her.

However, Ling Xiao still had XiaoJi ask if Ji SuXin wanted to be free or not.

You XiaoMo felt that this was almost like harassment, and he doubted Ling Xiao was really trying to win the affections of this mother of his. It was more like it was an obligatory duty to him.

Thus, the whole thing with Ling Xiao's mother was resolved just like that. Then they set their sights on the Qilin Clan. It was still his mysterious father that was the key, in the end.