A piece of good news and bad news.
Lu Li, Lu Ling and Lu Feixue all felt awful, especially when Lu Ling had deep feelings of her mother. In her memory, mother was beautiful, kind and caring. Lu Ling had been missing her for over a decade and the outcome was not something she was aspiring for.
Of course, Lu Ling had prepared herself for this. After all, her mother was barely alive and could pass away at any moment. But for all those years, Lu Ling had been hoping that Lu Renhuang had saved her mother.
Lu Ling felt she had lost all hope. She closed herself in her room. She wouldn't eat or talk. She was only half conscious and always confused.
She had been living a hard life and under high pressure. She had been planning and scheming all the time and had to protect herself from other's plots. Finally, she unsealed her memory and came back to the Northern Desert. But the piece of news she received wrecked her.
She had always been eager to excel. Back in the Di Long Tribe, when she almost was raped, she spent days in the mountains by herself and crawled back home. She didn't shed one tear and didn't say anything to Lu Li. She had licked her wound all by herself.
Therefore, at this moment, she chose to close herself in the room. She didn't want others to see her vulnerable side and her depression and misery.
Lu Li felt downhearted as well. If Lu Renhuang was here, they would all feel better. Now, Lu Renhuang was a no-show and mother had passed away. Lu Li, who was so full of hope, felt disappointed and lost.
But he had a theory of Lu Renhuang's choice. He must have his reasons not to meet everyone. Maybe he had gone back to the Central Plains by himself to visit Lu Zhengyang. Or, he had gone to his old enemies to avenge for his wife.
Anyway, now that he had come out, there would come a day when they shall meet.
Lu Li forced himself to pull himself together. Lu Ling must be sick and Lu Feixue was feeling lost. He had to put the family together. He was used to power through and to be everyone's support.
Lu Li went to Madam Yan but he didn't tell her who Lu Ling was. He merely said that his appearance at the Northern Desert must be kept confidential. He also asked Ming Yu to mobilize his scouts to look for spies and capture anyone suspicious.
Lu Li didn't speak of Lu Renhuang's matter. Since he didn't show up, Lu Li wouldn't be so silly as to notify the world that Lu Renhuang had freed himself.
Lu Li told a patriarch to find God of Meng in the Deserted World and had him to hide Hu Lang and the others in the Snow Mountain of Dragons. No information could be leaked. Lu Li also told Ye Cha to seal off the entrances and exits of the Deserted World and that nobody was allowed to go in or out without his order.
Lu Li himself stayed at the Ling Empress City. He didn't even leave the imperial palace. He was with Lu Ling all the time. She must be under the weather. She was unconscious and would wake up from nightmares.
Lu Li took care of her day and night. Lu Feixue paid several visits as well. Both Lu Li and Lu Feixue felt heartbroken, looking at how pale Lu Ling was.
Lu Ling finally recovered after resting for 10 days. She still looked bleached but her emotions were better.
"Lu Li, don't send anyone to father. When he has finished what he wants to do, he will come to us. Don't leak anything about father."
Lu Ling said. Lu Li nodded. This was his thought precisely. Lu Ling bringing it up herself showed that she had recovered from her sorrow, which relieved Lu Li.
Lu Ling remained absent-minded for a bit before she said, "Let's go and visit grandpa's tomb in a couple of days."
"Sure!"
Lu Li nodded. He continued after some consideration, "Grandpa and Uncle Five's tombs are in the Thousand-island Lake. Back in the days…"
Lu Li told her what had happened. She was enraged at first but calmed down when she learned that the Family Patriarch of the Bu Family and all the warriors that involved in digging their grandpa's tomb were executed.
"Such a pity."
Lu Ling sighed, "Mother's grave is at the bottom of the abyss. We are too weak to even go and visit her grave."
"Sis!"
Lu Li said, "Don't worry. We will cultivate hard and we will be able to go down sooner or later."
Lu Ling closed her eyes, feeling tired. Lu Li stood up and said, "Sis, rest for several days. I will take you to the Thousand-island Lake in a couple of days."
Five days later, Lu Li and Lu Ling secretly went to the Dragon and Elephant Mountain at the Thousand-island Lake where their grandpa and Uncle Five were buried.
"Squeak, squeak~"
Little White was delighted to be back. It ran off by itself. Lu Li and Lu Ling knelt in respect. Liu Yi, who was there with them, did the same.
The nearby lands all belonged to the Liu Family now. The Dragon and Elephant Mountain had always been guarded by Liu Family warriors. In order not to alarm the warriors, Lu Li had to send a secret message to Liu Yi for her to make arrangements.
Liu Yi's realm was still low. She was only at the initial stage of the Fate Wheel Realm. She had reached the current realm by using many resources. She even failed to build a Fate Wheel once.
With a strong connection that was Lu Li, the Liu Family had been living comfortable lives. Not only did the Liu Family have the God-down Island, they were controlling some fourth-rank islands nearby as well. Madam Yan had given them to Liu Yi, of course, on account of Lu Li.
Liu Yi met Lu Ling before but she found Lu Ling quite unfamiliar. It was not only because Lu Ling's leg was fixed and she had reached the Noble Lord Realm. The regal feeling of her made Liu Yi feel intimidated.
After they finished their ritual, Lu Ling looked at Liu Yi and noticed that the later was still a virgin. Lu Ling looked at Lu Li but said nothing.
Back in the days, Liu Yi had attempted to pursue Lu Li. Lu Ling even joked that he could take Liu Yi as a concubine but not a wife.
"Sis, I once lived here for some time. Do you want to stay for a bit to relax?"
Lu Li said, pointing to a palace in the distance. Liu Yi had someone guarding the palace and it was cleaned all the time. Sometimes, she would stay here for a couple of days herself. It was still in good shape
"Sure~"
Ling Empress City was a crowded place. It was not convenient for them to walk around. Lu Ling went to the castle at the peak with Lu Li. Liu Yi had come in advance. She told the guards to step away, leaving behind only two maids and a cook.
In the pavilion outside the castle, the go board was still ready. Lu Li noticed that it was the same one he used to play before. He said to Lu Ling with a smile, "Sis, let's play. I have improved. I wonder if I can beat you."
"Ha, ha~"
It was the first time Lu Ling ever smiled. She shook her head and said, "Same as before, you get a head start of 13 moves."
They walked into the pavilion. Liu Yi served them tea in person and then stayed to watch them play.
The game lasted for an hour. Finally, Lu Li gave in and said, "Okay now. I am asking for shame to play with you…"
"Ha!"
Liu Yi laughed. She was about to ask them about dinner plans when someone came over. Lu Li frowned and noticed that it was Ye Cha. He asked, "What is it that needs you to come in person?"
Ye Cha stood in front of Lu Li, cupped his fists and said, "A couple of days ago, a volcano at the southeastern border of the Deserted World erupted. Some strange creatures have appeared. God of Meng went to kill them and found a passage. He brought someone with him in and found another small world, boundless. We don't know the size yet. But there are more strange creatures there, different from Xuan Beasts…"
"Eh?"
Lu Li and Lu Ling looked at each other. They stood up, ready to leave. Lu Li called for Little White in the distance, "Little White, come back. We must go and find out!"