Ji Jinmo spoke of that period of history.
In brief, it was a rather cliché love story.
Zi Ling, surnamed Yuan, was rumored to have once been a purple ling flower that bloomed on a solitary mountain cliff. Born into a chaotic world, she transformed into a human to aid the destined one in conquering the realm.
Nan Shiying thought it was utter nonsense, believing Zi Ling was more likely the first generation of anomalies.
Meteorites could influence bloodlines, and not just for the next generation. If a person lived among meteorites for a long time, it was highly probable they would undergo mutations due to meteorite radiation.
The probability was low, but not zero.
Going by the historical records’ description of Zi Ling.
Her appearance was exquisite, her skin exceptionally fair, her pupils slightly blue!
What did “exceptionally fair” mean? It meant impossibly pale, devoid of color, frighteningly white.
And slightly blue pupils… Apart from foreigners, whose normal eyes were blue?
Zi Ling was born in Ganyu County and raised on Jiming Mountain; she was definitely not a foreigner. Combined with the mythical descriptions in historical records, her status as an anomaly was almost a certainty. However, that wasn't the main point. The crux of the matter was: if the first Valley Master of Medicine King Valley and the ancestor of Linyuan had such a passionate love story, why was Linyuan now so distant from Medicine King Valley?
After Nan Shiying asked this question, a brief silence fell upon the room, the atmosphere becoming somewhat stagnant. She distinctly felt an awkwardness in the air.
Poison Elder looked at Ji Jinmo, remaining silent.
Ji Jinmo pondered for a moment before speaking, "Our ancestor once promised to have only one love in his lifetime."
Nan Shiying uttered an "oh," understanding immediately. So, he was a scumbag.
There were two things in this world that were most untrustworthy: men's mouths, and the promises men made with their mouths. They were essentially the same thing. Thus, it meant that anyone who believed a man was a fool.
Nan Shiying chuckled and couldn't resist teasing, "Our Medicine King Valley's first Valley Master was truly devoted, to have believed a man's lies."
The radiating effect of this statement was too broad for Poison Elder to respond, as he was also a man.
He cleared his throat, attempting a rebuttal: "Well, there are no absolutes."
Nan Shiying looked at him, as if prompting – please provide an example!
Poison Elder rubbed his nose, his palms sweating slightly. Catching Ji Jinmo’s eye, and adhering to the noble principle of sacrificing a comrade to save oneself, he unhesitatingly pulled Ji Jinmo into the fray: "Like him."
Ji Jinmo’s tea-drinking paused slightly. His phoenix eyes swept towards Poison Elder, and the frost emanating from the corners of his eyes made Poison Elder shiver instantly. He quickly stood up, leaving behind a hurried statement: "Uh, I have something to attend to, so I'll be going now!" Then, he rapidly departed the place of contention as if being chased by a dog.
Nan Shiying burst into laughter, "Look how you scared my master!"
Ji Jinmo set down his teacup, the corner of his lips lifting slightly, "Poison Elder must have had something urgent to attend to."
Nan Shiying looked at him, thinking this man was utterly fabricating the truth. Men were indeed untrustworthy.
Ji Jinmo's smile faltered; he couldn't force a smile. He decided not to continue this topic, lest it lead to further complications. He had come to talk about the Ghost Fiend Sect, yet the conversation had devolved into ancestral romantic affairs. He raised his teacup to moisten his throat, and after a brief silence, he began, "If I'm not mistaken, Qin Xiaorong's child should be a medicinal offering to replace Gouzi."
Nan Shiying: "..."
Wasn't this topic transition a bit abrupt?
However, mentioning Gouzi, Nan Shiying glanced outside. Well, the old man had missed the crucial information again!
"So, the child's father is really not Zou Yunming?" Nan Shiying's thoughts were now focused on this.
Ji Jinmo nodded.
Nan Shiying then asked, "Then why aren't you interrogating Qin Xiaorong?"
Ji Jinmo said, "Based on the timing of Qin Xiaorong's pregnancy, the child's father should be among those who died in Wei Lang Alley."
"You mean, the group we apprehended for poisoning Hui An?" Nan Shiying thought for a moment before recalling this matter. It wasn't that she was forgetful, but Ji Jinmo insisted on mentioning the people who died in Wei Lang Alley. So many people had died recently, she had to sort out who died where to connect the dots.
Ji Jinmo nodded, "Actually, even if the people were still alive, interrogating Qin Xiaorong would be of little use. After all, to them, she was merely a vessel for procreation."
Nan Shiying understood Ji Jinmo's implication. That person, when interacting with Qin Xiaorong, might have used a false name, false life story, or even a disguised voice and appearance.
It was better not to ask!
Besides, the Ghost Fiend Sect had been unearthed through that child. This martial arts sect was far more important than the man who had seduced Qin Xiaorong.
…
Xiling Commandery, atop Chongshan Mountain.
The Ghost Fiend Sect was located here.
The Ghost Fiend Sect emerged thirteen years ago. In its first year, the Sect Master of the Ghost Fiend Sect swept through and defeated the leaders of the five prestigious martial arts factions. In the same year, he slaughtered all three hundred members of the Yuqing Sect, thus establishing its fearsome reputation.
In the following years, due to their brutal methods and ruthless actions, the Ghost Fiend Sect was regarded as heretical by many martial artists.
The Ghost Fiend Sect had Ten Fiends.
Apart from the Sect Master, Ghost Fiend, the other nine were: Mei Sha, Xie Sha, Chi Sha, Wang Sha, Yi Sha, Li Sha, Mo Sha, Yao Sha, and Luo Sha!
The woman who took the child was Mei Sha, one of the Ten Fiends!
At a tea stall near the city gate outside Xiling Commandery, a woman dressed in coarse cotton clothes sat on a long wooden bench. In broad daylight, in front of everyone, she opened her collar and placed grape-like food into the infant's mouth.
The sound of the infant suckling the milk was a gulping sound. Accompanying this gulping, it seemed as if the surroundings also responded with gulping, swallowing sounds.
Originally, not many people stopped at the tea stall located near the city gate. But now, inexplicably, all five tables at the tea stall were occupied.
People's gazes were fixed in one direction, the flames burning in their pupils potent enough to ignite a fiery lust within them.
The afterglow of the setting sun seemed to cast a golden sheen on the woman's fair skin, emitting a delicious aroma and an indescribable fragrance. The scent, carried by the wind, entered everyone's nostrils, stirring up an inner yearning. Everyone felt dry-mouthed and thirsty, downing cup after cup of tea, yet their throats remained parched.
The tea stall owner watched, his throat bobbing. Under the guise of refilling the tea, he leaned closer. As he poured the scalding hot water into the pot, he accidentally spilled it.
The woman let out a series of giggles. As she laughed, her ample bosom heaved up and down, so much so that it made people dizzy.
Everyone's eyes widened.