Chapter 1336, Ling Yuling Baring Her Heart; A Familiar Uninvited Guest

Translator: Fate

Translation Checker: Silavin

 

Night had descended and the valley was in dead silence. Only a weak candlelight was seen from Ling Yuling’s courtyard.

 

The candlelight was swaying with the wind, casting a flickering shadow on her face as she was seated by her bed.

 

Suddenly, she let out a sigh. Then, she walked towards the window and looked out of it. It was dead silent under the night sky. Not even the sounds of insects were heard.

 

Unlike the luxuriously built palaces, this valley was simple and tranquil, just like the residence of any Mortal. It was difficult to associate this place with the Heavenslayers Alliance Leader.

 

“Is that what he makes of me?” Ling Yuling looked inside the room and the bronze mirror reflected her alluring yet thin figure. She started spacing out. When she recalled what had happened in the valley that day, she was bitter and helpless.

 

As her grievances dissipated, her calmness was restored. She had betrayed Gu Changge’s trust many times, so she did not have a right to feel aggrieved.

 

At that moment, she thought of many things.

 

Many years ago, she and her Younger Sister were born into a wealthy family. They had never worried about money since a young age. When she was four years old, a Female Daoist who claimed to come from Xiantai Mountain came to her house and took her Younger Sister and her away. She said that they were fortunate that they could learn how to extend their lives. It was also said that they would be some of the most powerful cultivators in the future.

 

Later, she and her Younger Sister went to Xiantai Mountain and started learning how to cultivate from the Female Daoist.

 

When they reached a certain realm and could leave the mountain, they discovered that a thousand years had passed.

 

Their Parents were long dead. After they were taken away by the Female Daoist, their Mother gave birth to a Son. After a thousand years, their family members were wealthy and held important positions at the royal court.

 

In the following years, she and her Younger Sister stayed in Xiantai Mountain to cultivate. They never interfered in worldly affairs and had severed ties with the outside world.

 

It was not until a long time later that they discovered Xiantai Mountain was a Forbidden Area in the eyes of other cultivators. It was independent from the world and had a transcendent status.

 

When the Black Disaster spread across different universes and devastated the Boundless Expanse, they were asked to join the army, which aimed to go against the Black Disaster and destroy its Master, who was also the Master of the Heaven’s Proxy Group.

 

Many thoughts turned over in Ling Yuling’s mind as memories of the distant past sprang into her head. Back then, the allies who were responsible for protecting the Boundless Expanse were fearless and determined. They had collaborated to stop the calamity and seal off its Master, thus ending the Black Disaster Era.

 

Only those who had gone through that era could understand her feelings and convictions. That was the reason she took a huge risk to establish the Primary Hope Covenant.

 

She sighed as she thought about many things. Suddenly, the aroma of wine entered her room through the gap in the window.

 

She was startled for a moment.

 

Outside, the moon was high up in the sky. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped out of her room and pushed open the door of the courtyard before heading to the valley.

 

The peach blossoms had bloomed. The flowers fell from the trees and they were beautiful under the moonlight. Gu Changge was seated there on his own while drinking wine. He was clad in simple white clothes and his hair hung loose around his shoulders. He rested against a peach tree, looking languid. He was like a slightly tipsy nobleman.

 

Ling Yuling was startled when she saw that. Although she had expected it, she was still surprised.

 

She knew that Gu Changge was drinking wine because she had caught a whiff of the smell. However, it was her first time seeing him so tipsy and languid.

 

Whenever it was, at least when she saw him, Gu Changge was always perfect in front of everyone. He was like a flawless figure who had stepped out of a painting, so he appeared slightly surreal.

 

The scene that showed his true self was visually impactful to her.

 

Still, she did not keep looking at him. She looked away while her face blushed. Fortunately, her face could not be seen clearly under the night sky.

 

“Why are you still awake in the middle of the night? I thought you’ve gotten used to the life of a Mortal.” Gu Changge continued drinking wine. He wasn’t surprised by Ling Yuling’s arrival.

 

“Is there something on your mind?” After some hesitation, Ling Yuling decided to go over. Although the shackles around her ankles were heavy, she had gotten used to them. They wouldn’t affect her mobility.

 

“I’m just drinking some wine since I have nothing to do.” Gu Changge took a look at her. “Would you like to drink with me? I’m actually a light drinker.”

 

Ling Yuling quickly shook her head. Worried that Gu Changge might be displeased, she hesitated for a moment before saying, “Well, I can drink a little with you.”

 

Suddenly, she recalled how cruel Gu Changge had been during the day. Worried that he might get her wrong, she said, “I don’t have other intentions. It’s just…”

 

“What’s wrong? Are you worried I’ll be displeased?” Gu Changge cut her off in an impassive voice. It was as though he knew what was on her mind.

 

Ling Yuling was speechless, not knowing what to say.

 

“Why can’t you be as frank as your Younger Sister? She always says whatever is on her mind. Do you think things will be simpler when you beat around the bush?” Gu Changge picked up a cup and swayed it before gulping the liquid down.

 

Ling Yuling felt embarrassed upon hearing that. She picked up the wine jar and filled Gu Changge’s cup.

 

“I can see you’re on good terms with Yuxian, Young Master Gu.” Initially, she had told her Younger Sister to stay away from Gu Changge. It would be best for her to sever ties with him. She was worried that Ling Yuxian would come across any danger.

 

In the end, she was the one who was in the wrong.

 

“Well, we’re not just on good terms.” Gu Changge suddenly smiled upon hearing that. He rubbed the cup with his fingers and said, “What will you think of it if I tell you that your Younger Sister’s Love Tribulation has something to do with me?”

 

Ling Yuling was not surprised by that. She filled up the empty cup and said gently, “I had expected it. She started showing signs of this early on. There’s a telepathic connection between us. I can feel some of her thoughts and emotions…”

 

“In that case, why didn’t you stop her?” Gu Changge lifted his gaze and looked at her.

 

Ling Yuling did not expect him to ask her this kind of question. Was the Love Tribulation giving him a headache as well? It seemed that it was merely unrequited love though. Gu Changge clearly did not love Ling Yuxian at all.

 

“I can’t stop her from doing whatever she wants. Moreover, I did try to stop her but it failed,” she said honestly.

 

Gu Changge suddenly guffawed and gulped down his wine. “I’m surprised by how frank you are tonight.”

 

Ling Yuling imitated him and tipped her head back, trying to chug down the wine. Since she could not circulate her Qi, she choked on the wine and started coughing.

 

The liquid streamed down her neck and dampened her clothes.

 

“Since you can’t drink, what’s the point of you imitating me?” Gu Changge shook his head. He felt helpless when he saw how awkward it was for her.

 

Then, he took out a handkerchief from his clothes and passed it to her.

 

Ling Yuling was still coughing as her fair face had reddened. When she finally regained composure, she still felt embarrassed.

 

“I’m sorry to let you see this embarrassing side of me, Young Master Gu.” She took the handkerchief from Gu Changge and wiped the wine off her neck and clothes, trying to restore her elegance.

 

“Don’t drink so much if you can’t drink. It’s likewise unwise to pretend to be strong. Being frail is not necessarily a bad thing.” Gu Changge swayed the cup while glancing at Ling Yuling.

 

After what just happened, Ling Yuling was careful with drinking wine. She slowly sipped her wine and finally understood the fun of it.

 

Moreover, she had to acknowledge that Gu Changge’s wine was extraordinary. Although her cultivation had been sealed, she could still feel the immense Principles and power of Source within it.

 

Her Source, which was damaged by Gu Changge on the day the Primary Hope Covenant, was signed was starting to heal.

 

Although she had mostly recovered, the damage to her Source could not be so easily heal. Moreover, she could not circulate her Qi, so how was she supposed to recuperate?

 

The damage in her Source would cause her tremendous pain at this hour every night. Even the person with the strongest willpower would groan in pain.

 

Ling Yuling could nonchalantly deal with this kind of pain. It showed that she had a strong state of mind. But now, she wondered if Gu Changge had intentionally prepared the wine for her.

 

His words were cruel and hurtful during the day. Was this the way he had come up with to help heal her injury?

 

The sky became darker. Ling Yuling did not expect that the two of them would become closer when they talked about her Younger Sister. He was no longer so unfeeling, unlike how he acted during the day.

 

He even thoughtfully passed her a handkerchief and laughed at how awkward she felt.

 

All these showed that it was possible for their relationship to be mended.

 

After drinking some wine, she mustered her courage and explained to Gu Changge what had happened during the day. She did not want Gu Changge to misunderstand.

 

Although Gu Changge never said anything, Ling Yuling could feel that he believed her.

 

This made her relieved and cheerful.

 

On the other hand, Gu Changge was surprised by her sudden frankness. Seizing the chance, he asked her some questions about how the Primary Hope Covenant came about.

 

To prove her innocence, Ling Yuling never hid anything from him. Until now, she still had no idea who left behind that trap in the Golden Book of Covenant to kill Gu Changge.

 

Previously, she had decided to stop the Heavenslayers Alliance’s expansion because she was worried the Primary Hope Civilisation would walk down the same path as those Civilisations and Kingdoms during the Era of the Black Disaster. That was because she had seen the terror of that era.

 

After resolving the prejudices and misunderstandings between them, Ling Yuling was no longer so restrained when conversing with Gu Changge.

 

She took the initiative to bring up some topics and incidents.

 

Also, she had a feeling that Gu Changge did not establish the Heavenslayers Alliance to rule over the entire Boundless Expanse and take control of the Heavenly Dao Authority. His true intention seemed to be to slay Heaven.

 

She was shocked by this discovery.

 

Perhaps Ling Yuxian was already aware of this, which was why she firmly believed that the existence of the Heavenslayers Alliance would not bring a calamity to the Primary Hope Civilisation.

 

His goals were simple and straightforward.

 

Compared with the inconceivable feat of slaying Heaven, ruling over the entire Boundless Expanse and taking control of the Heavenly Dao Authority looked laughable and short-sighted.

 

In the end, Ling Yuling could not remember how much wine she had drunk. She only remembered that she had a long talk with Gu Changge. She told him many things about her Younger Sister and her. When they were four years old, they were taken away by a Female Daoist and they learned how to cultivate from her. A thousand years had passed when they eventually left the mountain. Their Parents were long dead and everything had changed. Then, they collaborated with others to deal with Heaven’s Proxy Group.

 

Then, she was so inebriated that she blacked out.

 

…

 

The Sun was up in the sky when she awakened.

 

The sunlight coming from the outside was glaring. She could not even open her eyes. As such, she could only place her hands above her eyes.

 

Her vision was initially blurry, but it slowly regained clarity and her gaze fell upon the clothes on the bed.

 

The room reeked of alcohol. There was also some strange smell in the air.

 

She was suffering from a headache. She placed a hand on her head and tried to recall what had happened the day before. It was the first time she was intoxicated even though she had been alive for a long time.

 

However, her mind was in a state of chaos like some battered flour.

 

“My cultivation… has been restored…” She discovered that she had regained her strength. What was more, the shackles around her ankles had also disappeared. It was just that she found it difficult to get out of bed.

 

She suddenly fell into a dazed state as her eyes widened. She was unable to come to her senses.

 

After her cultivation was restored, the images of what happened when she was drunk sprang into her mind.

 

She was rooted to the spot for a long time before she came to her senses with difficulty. She looked at the clothes on the bed while feeling dizzy.

 

“Why did I even do such a thing last night?” She muttered while pressing her hands against her forehead. She looked at the blood on the bed with a conflicted expression.

 

…

 

It was serene in the empty valley. The fragrance of peach blossoms permeated the place. The sight of the flowers falling to the ground was beautiful. Mu Yan went to see Luo Xiangjun as planned while Yao Yao was refining the Fortuitous Furnace.

 

Ling Yuling put on her clothes and adjusted her hair. She had to ensure that she did not look so different from her usual self. Then, she tottered out of her room.

 

However, she was surprised to see a familiar uninvited guest in the valley. The person was the Primary Hope Saintess’ Senior Sister, Xi Yin.