Volume 1, Chapter 160: The Past of Mu Ling

When Lu Jinyuan entered, he sensed that the atmosphere in the room was off, especially given the way Lu Hualing was looking at him.

Under their mutual gaze, Lu Hualing hurriedly looked away, causing Lu Jinyuan’s brows to knit together imperceptibly. However, he had no interest in deciphering what was going on in Lu Hualing’s head and strode directly toward the bed. Although Qin Yu had been asleep for seven full days and nights, her complexion still looked quite good.

"How are you feeling now? Is there any discomfort?" Lu Jinyuan’s voice was cool, and his eyes were cold.

Qin Yu stretched slightly in bed. "I'm fine. No discomfort."

Lu Jinyuan’s expression remained grim. He stood by the bed, staring at Qin Yu for a full minute, seemingly hesitant to speak.

"You want to ask what happened, don't you?"

Lu Jinyuan didn't answer, but Lu Hualing, lurking behind him, nodded like a woodpecker. "I want to know! I really want to know!"

Qin Yu gave him a light, disdainful glance. "I went to the River of Oblivion."

Lu Hualing gasped, "No way! Don't tell me it's the River of Oblivion I'm thinking of?"

Two sharp gazes immediately snapped toward him, causing him to quickly mime zipping his lips. Internally, however, he wondered: *How did the Master become so in sync with my uncle?*

Qin Yu continued, "If Lu Qihua’s soul does not return to its proper place, she will never have a good outcome in any of her future lives." Of course, she also had a bit of selfishness in this. Although Lu Fu was unforgivable, one matter must be separated from another. He was, indeed, a pitiable man.

Lu Jinyuan pursed his lips in displeasure. There were some things he hadn't wanted to spell out, but judging by Qin Yu’s demeanor, if he didn't say it clearly, she would likely never figure it out in her entire life.

"Qin Yu," he called her name. "If you encounter danger next time, don't push me away, okay?"

Qin Yu rubbed her forehead, sounding somewhat helpless. "It's not that I don't want you to stay. It’s that the baleful aura you carry is too overbearing; it exerts absolute suppression on ordinary spirits. I have a contracted ghost; if you are present, he cannot manifest."

Hearing this explanation, Lu Jinyuan felt a weight lift from his chest. The dense, impenetrable gloom on his face vanished in an instant. So, she wasn't annoyed because he was in the way?

"Is there no way around it?" he asked, looking down at himself. If possible, he still hoped to remain by Qin Yu's side. Even if it meant risking another lapse into demonic obsession, it would be worth it if it meant he could help her.

Thinking of Mu Ling, Qin Yu replied, "There is. But you have to wait." She immediately changed the subject, "This isn't urgent. There is a very important matter right now that I need your help with."

Qin Yu’s sudden seriousness made Lu Jinyuan’s back stiffen. "As long as it's something I can do, just name it."

"I'm hungry. Could you arrange some food? Of course, I won't eat for free—I can trade a Talisman of Suppressed Evil for it."

Seeing her being so formal with him, Lu Jinyuan was left feeling a mix of amusement and frustration. He suppressed the urge to smile. "Wait here, I'll go arrange it."

Lu Jinyuan had always maintained a calm and prestigious image, showing his eager, impatient side only in front of Qin Yu. Lu Hualing watched as his billionaire uncle transformed into a man who looked like he’d do anything for her, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.

***

Are those two really not dating? Why does he feel the sour, pungent scent of love floating in the air?

Knowing that Qin Yu disliked waste, Lu Jinyuan arranged over a dozen dishes, but each portion was very small. This allowed Qin Yu to have a little bit of everything without being extravagant.

Qin Yu had been starving, and her beautiful deer-like eyes sparkled at the sight of the food. As she tucked in, Lu Jinyuan watched her quietly from the side, the slight curve of his lips suggesting he was even happier than if he were the one eating. Lu Jinyuan watched Qin Yu, while Lu Hualing watched them both.

***

Because of Qin Yu’s coma, Lu Jinyuan had been frantic, and a backlog of company documents had piled up. As soon as Qin Yu woke up, he was summoned back by a barrage of phone calls.

Once satisfied, Qin Yu picked up her phone. Her last livestream had cut off abruptly, and following her week-long coma, she had expected rumors of her death to circulate again. Surprisingly, however, there was nothing.

Confused, the dark little ball (Mu Ling) appeared to enlighten her. "Xingqiao did all this."

Mu Ling hadn't originally liked Xingqiao, feeling her existence was a threat to his position. But after seeing how she had kept the livestream backend in perfect order—and knowing she had worked behind the scenes while Qin Yu was "out of it"—his attitude had gradually changed.

At the same time, Qin Yu saw a pinned post on her account: *The matters regarding Jia Village involve legal issues and have been handed over to the police. The host will continue to follow up on the aftermath but will be on a break for a period of time. Upon her return, she will certainly provide everyone with a satisfactory answer.*

Qin Yu raised her eyebrows in surprise, unable to hide her delight. She hadn't expected to stumble upon such a treasure. This public relations ability was simply top-tier!

Feeling her shoulder tapped lightly, Qin Yu looked up to meet Mu Ling’s dark face. "Xiao Yu, give me the truth—what exactly is Xingqiao’s identity?"

Qin Yu laughed it off. "Can't you tell? Isn't she just a slightly unusual little child?"

Mu Ling rolled his eyes at her. "Are you taking me for a fool?"

Qin Yu stuck her tongue out playfully. "Oops, caught me."

This response nearly made Mu Ling cough up blood. He shoved his little hands into his pockets, looking as if he were ready to hold a grudge. "Xiao Yu, if you don't tell me the truth today! I! I will!! I will..." He stammered for a long time before squeezing out, "I will ignore you!"

His tone was fierce, but paired with his fluffy appearance, Qin Yu finally understood what the internet meant by "milky-fierce."

Seeing she couldn't fool him anymore, Qin Yu confessed, "She is indeed not an ordinary child. She is a Spirit Child."

"A Spirit Child?!?" Mu Ling shrieked.

Qin Yu nodded. Spirit Children only descend in times of chaos. According to the *Secret History of the Xuanmen*, the Spirit Child, also known as the Crimson Spirit, is born only in chaotic times and is a crucial link in saving the world...

"How do you know she’s a Spirit Child?" Mu Ling’s expression was odd; he seemed extremely concerned about the topic.

Qin Yu was puzzled but didn't press the issue. "The Buddha told me before she passed away."

"And you believe her?" Mu Ling was even more agitated.

Qin Yu stared at his face, finally asking the question that had been bothering her: "Why do you seem so sensitive to the term 'Spirit Child'?"

Mu Ling’s eyes darted around as he tried to make his voice sound normal. "You’re mistaken. I just think the matter of a Spirit Child is of great importance and shouldn't be decided so rashly. Besides, you know the fate of Spirit Children. Xingqiao... she’s not suited for it."

Qin Yu knew this all too well, but... she sighed. "Regardless of whether she is a Spirit Child or not, I will keep her by my side."

Mu Ling understood what she meant and stopped talking. He stood there, dazed for a moment, not even hearing Qin Yu call his name.

"Mu Ling, you are really strange today." Qin Yu frowned. "When I saved you, I didn't know your past; I only acted because I sensed you had no malicious intent in your heart."

"Whether human or ghost, everyone has a past. You’ve been by my side for so many years, and I’ve long considered you a close friend. But what about you? What do you consider me? If you encountered a problem you couldn't solve, would I be your first choice?"

Qin Yu’s gaze was sincere and intense, making Mu Ling feel so flustered that he didn't know what to say. He hurriedly looked away. "O-of course!"

When Mu Ling said those words, Qin Yu felt a great sense of relief.

"So, can you tell me now where your 'thing' went?"

Only then did Mu Ling realize that everything she had said before was a lead-up to this moment. He felt as though he had fallen into one of Qin Yu’s traps, but he had already given his word. His face twisted in conflict.

Qin Yu waited quietly. Whether Mu Ling chose to speak or not, she would respect his decision. Just as she thought he would stay silent, Mu Ling cradled his head and let out a heavy sigh, looking thoroughly defeated. "Xiao Yu, you are truly wicked!"

Once those words were out, Qin Yu knew his choice. She smiled, her white teeth looking cute and obedient.

Mu Ling let out a long, weary breath. "I believe I lost a segment of my memory."

"I only vaguely remember that I should have had a wife, but I have forgotten everything about her."

"For all these years, I haven't given up looking for her, but I’ve had no leads."

"Until five years ago, I had my first connection with her."

"Due to the effect of a Love Gu, our souls were linked."

"That day, I sensed the fluctuation of her soul. To save her, I exhausted all my ghost power and my core of cultivation."

Genuine ghost cultivators possessed a cultivation core. Losing it meant they could never cultivate again. Gradually, as time passed, they would dissipate. It was while he was waiting to die that he met Qin Yu and signed a soul contract, allowing him to linger on. Ever since that day, he had been unable to sense her existence again. But the only thing to be thankful for was that she was still alive.

As long as she was alive, meeting her again was only a matter of time. With this thought, hope returned to Mu Ling’s face.