Many houses were located within the small world. To prevent confusion, the names of the houses were the same as their courtyard names in the outside world.
Shende Tang was Ling Huayu's courtyard, and also Ling Huayu's residence in the small world.
Ling Luoyi could arrive here directly without relying on the teleportation array in the small world.
When Ling Luoyi arrived, Ling Huayu was discussing matters with the elders.
Upon seeing Ling Luoyi, Ling Huayu was delighted and said, "Lu'er, you're here. Is there something you need from Grandpa?"
Ling Luoyi took out the items and said, "Grandpa, before the genius selection began, I told the disciples that I would reward them based on their performance. However, I will be serving as a judge for the alchemy competition tomorrow, so I'll have to trouble you, the elders, and your uncles and aunts with this matter. The rewards are all here. Please distribute them according to the requirements. If there are any leftovers, please have the elders place them in the Weapon Pavilion or Pill Pavilion for future distribution."
Ling Huayu took them and said with concern, "Lu'er, will you still be in the outside world these past two days? In four days, you will be going to the Longqing Kingdom. With your talent, you are sure to be accepted into their sect. Grandpa might not see you for a long time."
As he spoke, his nose even turned sour.
His granddaughter, whom he hadn't seen in ten years, would be gone for a long time again in a few days.
Thinking of this, Ling Huayu couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with sadness.
The five elders beside him were also moved by Ling Huayu's emotions and began to shed tears.
Ling Luoyi's forehead was covered in black lines as she said, "Grandpa, have you forgotten? This is the small world, and I can enter it anytime."
The hands that were wiping away tears paused, and they looked at each other.
It seemed so. They could all enter the small world at any time, so separation didn't seem to apply to them.
The few of them chuckled sheepishly. They were truly getting old.
Ling Huayu coughed a few times, trying to pick up the shattered dignity of the family head from the floor, and said, "Lu'er, I've noted what you said. I will handle it properly. You still have to be a judge tomorrow, and it's getting late. Go and rest. After the genius selection ends, Grandpa will celebrate with you all."
Ling Luoyi looked at the sunset outside, which had not yet fallen, and did not expose them. She replied, "Then Grandpa, I'll go back and rest."
Ling Luoyi turned and left, and she could still hear a few people behind her quietly shifting the blame to each other.
"First Elder, why didn't you remind me? Now look, my dignity as the family head and as a grandfather has been completely lost in front of Lu'er!"
"Family Head, I didn't know you would say that either."
"Yes, Family Head, we also didn't react immediately, and you had already finished speaking."
...
Ling Luoyi shook her head. With a combined age of nearly four hundred and fifty years, how could they be so childish?
Ling Luoyi had the key to the small world, so she didn't need to pass through the city gates to leave.
*
In the Qingyin Pavilion of the Ling Mansion, Ling Luoyi was alone in her room. Because she had just said she was going into the small world, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Xue assumed she wouldn't be eating at the mansion and therefore hadn't prepared any meals for her.
Since the Ling family members were all in the small world, and there were kitchens and cooks there, the cooks in the Ling Mansion no longer had to be responsible for the meals of the family members. They only had to be responsible for the maids, servants, and guards within the mansion.
Ling Luoyi did not ask anyone to prepare meals for her, as she could abstain from eating.
Ling Luoyi was reading a book in her hand, while Gu Yuncheng was juicing fruits for her. With a gentle grasp of his small, furry paw, a plump fruit was squeezed dry. The extracted juice did not splash but instead stopped in mid-air, then slowly flowed into the cup on the table.
Ling Luoyi did not watch Gu Yuncheng's actions. She knew the situation without looking. To avoid being discouraged, she decided not to watch.
Xing Yu, who was hidden, watched his master use his difficult-to-cultivate spatial spiritual power to juice fruits for Ling Luoyi. His expression remained unchanged, clearly accustomed to it.
"Asu, is there any news from Liuying Water Pavilion yet?" Ling Luoyi asked without looking up.
As there had been no news from the Asura or Demonic tribes recently, and their purpose was unknown, Ling Luoyi was somewhat anxious.
"Luoluo, not yet. Don't worry too much. Didn't you say they were looking for something? They probably won't harm humans."
"Luoluo, I don't want to be like this, but not knowing their purpose makes me a little worried."
"Luoluo, I understand." They were both people in high positions, and they could understand this feeling. Allowing dangerous individuals to be within one's ranks, without knowing when they might erupt, was a very agonizing feeling.
Ling Luoyi looked at Gu Yuncheng. Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she knew he wasn't just placating her.
"But Luoluo, no matter how powerful the superiors are, they cannot protect everyone. Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish; you understand this principle."
"Asu, I understand."
Seeing Ling Luoyi's continued worry, Gu Yuncheng suddenly asked, "Luoluo, I wonder if this identity is good or bad for you?"
Ling Luoyi stared blankly at Gu Yuncheng, and after a long while, she said, "But Asu, you also know that it was this identity that chose me, not that I chose this identity."
"But Luoluo, when you were chosen, you didn't want it either. It's only been three years, and you've become like this."
Ling Luoyi knew that Gu Yuncheng was telling the truth. She also didn't want to become like this, and even disliked this version of herself. However, the words of her Saintess master constantly echoed in her ears.
If you inherit someone else's cause, you must bear their consequences.
The identity chose 'Ling Luoyi,' but 'Ling Luoyi' was already dead. She had occupied 'Ling Luoyi's' body and had to complete everything for 'Ling Luoyi.'
But why?!
She was 'Luoyi,' not 'Ling Luoyi'!
Why should 'Luoyi' complete 'Ling Luoyi's' unfinished business!
Why!
Ling Luoyi suddenly clutched her head, her face contorted in pain.
Seeing Ling Luoyi fall into confusion, Gu Yuncheng jumped over worriedly and injected spiritual energy into her.
Ling Luoyi felt two voices in her mind. One called her 'Luoyi,' and the other called her 'Ling Luoyi.' She gradually became unsure of who she was.
Was she 'Luoyi' or 'Ling Luoyi'?
A gentle voice said, "Who are you? You are Ling Luoyi. Have you forgotten? You are the eldest daughter of the Ling family, Ling Luoyi! Your family is still waiting for you. What are you waiting for? Hurry back!"
Another cold voice said, "What Ling Luoyi? You don't know her! Your name is Luoyi, the King of Assassins 'Luo'! Those who consider you their mortal enemy are all watching you make a fool of yourself. Aren't you going back?!"
"Your family is waiting for you, hurry back!"
"They are watching you make a fool of yourself, aren't you going back to deal with them!"
...
The two voices alternated, causing Ling Luoyi immense pain.
Ling Luoyi clutched her head, trying to shake off the voices in her mind.
Ling Luoyi suddenly felt someone embrace her. She instinctively looked up and her eyes widened. The person looked exactly like her, except her pupils were red.
Ling Luoyi detested red, even feared red, so upon seeing her eyes, she instinctively pushed her away and turned to flee.
She did not chase her but said sinisterly, "Don't you hate your current self? It's okay. As long as you release me, you'll start to like yourself. Trust me, you can't leave me! You need me!"
Ling Luoyi ran forward with all her might, but her voice did not fade. It kept echoing in her ears. Like a ghost, no matter where she went, she could hear it.
In the room of Qingyin Pavilion, Gu Yuncheng looked at Ling Luoyi with heartache, feeling extremely anxious.
Luoluo's condition seemed like a heart demon!