Chapter 65: A Mother’s Love, Corrupted

“Liuer, are you trying to drive me away?”

Yan Bingling’s body trembled.

Her brows drooped, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Silently, she turned around and walked away in sorrow.

Her progress bar was still stuck at before her business trip.

She understood well how high Xiao Xinran stood in Yun Liu’s heart.

She herself was just an old woman without even a blood tie.

Some people, once they have a wife, they don’t want their mother anymore…

Watching the woman’s lonely figure fade into the distance, the little princess and the Guardians exchanged bewildered glances, unable to understand.

“Isn’t the moon-white cloud robe from Celestial Phenomena Peak? So young and beautiful—could she be the Junior Sister who never showed her face beside Senior Brother Yun?”

The woman in white looked like an ice sculpture.

Beautiful, yes, but far too cold.

Jing Tan’er’s eyes sparkled.

“Then that’s Second Senior Sister! You should have said so earlier. I already saved her a room right next to the palace!”

“Dormitory is dormitory. What palace.”

“Mind your own business!”

Xiao Xinran poked out her head, grumbling.

But then she thought about it and couldn’t help feeling smug, dropping the ancient formula and slipping away.

Trying to babble nonsense before the Head Seat and still dreaming of being Young Yun’s Junior Sister?

That woman wasn’t a disciple of Celestial Phenomena Peak at all, but the future ‘mother-in-law,’ the Unmarried Former Master that even Miss Xiao herself didn’t dare offend!

The lost Yan Bingling was dragged back to Qingxia Hall by Ge Lan.

She sat motionless on the bed, clutching the Letter, muttering to herself.

In the eyes of Five Peaks disciples, the Junior Aunt Master was a stunning beauty—cold, pure, untouchable—just with a strange temper.

In the world’s eyes, Ice Fairy Bingling was even more untouchable—a famous sword immortal, the Celestial Phenomena Head Seat of the Divine Splendor Cloud Estate, renowned across the Nine Provinces.

But when it came to her precious foster son, Yan Bingling became a completely different person, utterly flustered.

“You don’t have to hide it from me. I know. He must not want to see me anymore. Going down the mountain for a break is just an excuse. In the past, he would have rushed out happily to welcome me…”

Thinking about her little secret being exposed, Yan Bingling covered her face, despair etched across her features, her body trembling so violently that all of Qingxia Hall shook.

So embarrassing.

I want to die…

The grand and lofty image of Master was now completely ruined.

In Liuer’s mind, she had likely become a perverted, suspicious, creepy aunt.

It made her sick.

Bang!

The silver-haired woman slammed her head against the cold jade bed, leaving a huge dent.

Tree core jade essence spilled everywhere, but her smooth forehead remained unscathed.

“N-no way. Maybe… he was just in a bad mood? Go easy, sis!”

Or maybe he was in too good a mood?

Ge Lan winced in pain, hurriedly consoling the unpredictable Junior Aunt Master.

That brat might be living it up somewhere right now.

“I have a friend. She adopted a child and raised him as her own. Since he was little, she collected some… um, personal items. Do you think that’s a problem?”

Friend out of thin air?

“That depends on how personal. Protecting personal privacy is important. That friend of yours isn’t… “

A chilling killing intent flashed and vanished.

Ge Lan instantly switched tones.

“No problem at all! Every significant moment in life deserves to be remembered—just like milestones on the Sword way!”

Yan Bingling bit her lip, raising a helpless face.

Her icy, jade-like beauty shone ethereally.

“Then why would that child hide from me… I mean, that friend?”

“Could it be he’s not hiding from you… I mean, that friend?”

The conversation between Aunt and Second Mother was getting stranger, but it didn’t hinder their discussion of symptoms.

“What do you mean?”

“Um, I mean—children grow up and eventually leave home to forge their own path. They can’t stay by their parents’ side forever. Don’t you agree?”

Just a few probing words triggered a massive backlash.

Yan Bingling hugged her shoulders.

Even just imagining Liuer saying goodbye was unbearable.

She panicked.

“No. He can’t go anywhere. He has to stay by my side!”

What’s wrong with raising a child to keep you company in old age?

Say something!

Ge Lan sighed deeply.

“All right. At this point, there’s no point hiding anything. It’s better you hear it from me than from rumors. But promise me—don’t act impulsively after you listen.”

“Is it about Liuer?”

“Yes.”

Yan Bingling pricked up her ears, her limp body slowly straightening as she sat up properly.

“I promise.”

“Too fast!

That’s not sincere at all!

Swear it!”

“I swear.

Now speak.”

Ge Lan hesitated a long while before laying everything out.

***

Halfway through, Yan Bingling suddenly rose.

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them a sliver, revealing a hint of icy blue magic in her gaze.

It made the Head of Qingxia Peak freeze.

The whole hall was instantly encased in ice.

The Junior Aunt Master didn’t utter any harsh words, just tightened the sword case and prepared to set out, exuding the unyielding aura of the Demonic Sect’s Eight Banners.

“Mm? What did you just say?!”

Ge Lan raised an eyebrow.

Yan Bingling clenched her teeth, sat back down, and mentally noted this grudge.

“…….Continue.”

Upon hearing of the broken engagement between Yun Liu and Xiao Xinran, the Junior Aunt Master, shocked, leapt up, caught some sudden illness, and rushed toward the door.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to kill her.”

Ge Lan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Someone must have been waiting for this day for a long time.

The Celestial Phenomena Chief bullying an outer disciple?

How disgraceful.

“Stop right there!

Liuer is the one who broke off the engagement.

Don’t get it wrong.”

Ice Fairy Bingling’s body paused.

She backed up step by step, sat down, and tidied her clothes.

Her illness visibly improved.

The killing intent vanished, replaced by peace.

“Oh.

Then never mind.”

“May I ask—are you secretly happy?”

“Impossible!

My beloved disciple suffered a grievous blow.

As Master and Foster Mother, my heart is broken.

What are you waiting for? Continue.

My mental state is perfectly fine, as you can see.

I won’t act rashly.”

Yan Bingling shook her head, seemingly emotionless, but her slender fingers fiddled nervously with her skirt hem.

Upon hearing this massive ‘good’ news, the Junior Aunt Master bloomed with delight, the joy even surpassing the devastating news of her disciple’s damaged Qi Sea.

As long as he was safe, revenge could wait.

Ice Fairy Bingling would pay any price to heal her beloved son, but an Engagement couldn’t be dissolved so easily.

By order of parents and the Words of Matchmakers, a Heaven’s Mandate could be wiped away by the chaos of Demonic Sect Fiends.

How (tragic) (joyful) (overwhelming) (crazy) she felt!

It was precisely because she feared something would go wrong that Ge Lan had pulled Yan Bingling into her bedroom for this secret talk.

The Junior Aunt Master was the type who meant every word she said—and could do anything.

Fine…as if!

“The sect will get to the bottom of this and bring justice for Liuer. But don’t worry too much. Where there’s life, there’s hope. That brat’s abilities might surprise even the two of us. You’ll understand when he returns.”

“Mm-mm.”

As long as it’s not discovered, it’s fine.

Yan Bingling secretly rejoiced.

No wonder the Letter only had eight words—it fit Liuer’s style perfectly.

But…

If all was well, then what was good about it?