Chapter 189: Father-Daughter Conversation, Blocked in Front of the Shop

After Qin Xiao stepped out, he happened to run into Ling Ruoxue and Yun Man returning.

“Qin Xiao, how did it go? My father didn’t give you a hard time, did he?”

Ling Ruoxue hurried forward to ask.

“Not at all. President Ling is actually quite reasonable. You two go on in; I’m going to take a look around the Inner City.”

Since Qin Xiao had given his word to President Ling, he naturally could not act too familiar anymore. His expression turned icy, and with a single brief sentence, he walked off alone.

“What’s wrong with Qin Xiao? Why is he so cold? Did Father give him a hard time?”

Ling Ruoxue was baffled. He had been perfectly fine when he went in. Why was he so cold now?

“Forget it, never mind him. Man’er, let’s go see Father.”

Unable to make sense of it, Ling Ruoxue set the thought aside. Ever since Yun Man had vanished three years ago, this was her first time back at the Ling Family estate. They hadn’t had a chance to speak earlier, and her father would surely be glad to see that Man’er was safe.

The two of them entered the study.

“Have a seat.”

Ling Hongwen said nothing else, merely motioning for them both to sit.

“Father, aren’t you at all surprised to see Man’er?”

Ling Ruoxue did not understand her father’s unusual calm. Yun Man had disappeared after leaving Central Province more than three years ago, and Ling Ruoxue had not known whether she was alive. Yet now that he saw her, her father barely reacted.

“Why should I be surprised? How else do you think Man’er managed to escape safely to Qingzhou? Do you take the people of the Yun Family for fools?”

Ling Hongwen replied, at a loss for what else to say.

“What? Father, was it you who secretly helped Man’er escape? Why didn’t you tell me? You had me believing all this time that she had met with misfortune.”

Only then did Ling Ruoxue realize that her father had known all along that Yun Man was alive, and that he had orchestrated her escape to Qingzhou.

“Man’er has always wanted to come and express her gratitude in person, but never found the right opportunity. Thank you, Uncle Ling.”

In truth, Yun Man had known all along that the Ling Family was helping her in secret. Several crises had inexplicably been resolved; who else would care about someone being hunted by the Yun Family? Only the Ling Family.

“There is no need for thanks. Our families have always been friends. Your father and I only wished we had met sooner. There really was nothing we could do back then. I’m glad you understand.”

Ling Hongwen did not expect Yun Man to thank him. The events back then had involved too much, and there was only so much he could do. When he learned she had been away from home and escaped the disaster, he had secretly helped her flee.

“I understand, Uncle Ling, and I am still grateful. Your family suffered because of me too. I am ashamed of that.” This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.

Yun Man had heard some of what happened later, and she was grateful for everything the Ling Family had done. That was why, even when she was in such danger in the Abyss Secret Realm, she had asked Qin Xiao to bring Ling Wushuang along.

“Enough, let’s leave the past behind. Man’er, Qin Xiao offers you both opportunity and danger. If you truly want revenge, he may be your only chance.”

Ling Hongwen held a remarkably high opinion of Qin Xiao.

“Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Ling. I understand. Master will surely reach the pinnacle of this world, but I do not want to trouble him with my revenge. I will take it myself.”

Yun Man had never intended to ask Qin Xiao to help her take revenge. She had her own principles. At first, she had followed him for resources, but as she got to know him, she came to feel he was a good master. Now he was her only family. She did not want to draw him into her troubles.

“That is your decision. By the way, Ruoxue, you are to stop managing the association in the Eastern District. Business in the Western District hasn’t been doing well lately. Go there for a while and gain some experience.”

Skipping past Yun Man’s affairs entirely, Ling Hongwen turned his gaze to his daughter.

“Why, Father? I’ve been doing well in the Eastern District, and I’ve brought in plenty of profit for the association. Why must I go to the Western District? I won’t go.”

Ling Ruoxue balked instantly upon hearing the reassignment.

“There is no why. You will go because I say so. What you must eventually take over is not just the Eastern District, but the entirety of Qingzhou. Naturally, you need to understand every district from the ground up. It is decided.”

Unable to voice the true reason, Ling Hongwen adopted a stern, uncompromising tone.

“I won’t go.”

Ling Ruoxue did not know what had gotten into her father. Why was he suddenly transferring her to the Western District? She did not want to go. How would she swindle Qin Xiao from there?

“Do you still intend to take over the Immortal Dao Merchant Association or not?”

Ling Hongwen never expected that his usually compliant daughter would openly defy him today.

“I said I won’t go, and that’s final. I can give up taking over the association! I’ll undergo a second awakening and focus on cultivation. I won’t go to the Western District!”

Ling Ruoxue dug in her heels. She wouldn’t yield, even if he used the succession as a threat.

“Fine, fine, fine! Your elder brother is disobedient and obsessed with cultivation, your younger sister went off to an immortal sect while still a child, and now even you refuse to listen. You’ll drive me to an early grave between the three of you!”

Ling Hongwen was at a loss. He might look stern, but he was a loving father. He had never truly punished any of his three children.

“Father, I don’t understand. What is the meaning of all this?”

Seeing her father like this, Ling Ruoxue softened her tone, but she still did not understand. Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.

“Since you insist on asking, I’ll tell you. It is because of Qin Xiao. You must keep your distance from him. His future is full of danger, and I cannot let you get too close to him.”

Cornered by her relentless questioning, Ling Hongwen laid his cards on the table. It was entirely because of Qin Xiao. She had already overstepped boundaries on multiple occasions; did she really think he was blind to it?

“What is that supposed to mean? We’re just friends! How is that ‘too close’? What does any of this have to do with danger?”

Ling Ruoxue was puzzled. Why was this because of Qin Xiao?

“My daughter, what you have done for Qin Xiao goes well beyond ordinary friendship. You may not realize it, but I can see it clearly. To help him, you even invited Master Ji Ci and went with him to Spirit Medicine Valley. To save him, you used the intelligence network without permission to investigate Heavenly Dynasty officials, and even went to the Governor-General’s residence to plead for him. Did you think I knew nothing of this?”

Left with no other choice, Ling Hongwen spelled it out directly.

“He has plenty of good things! We’ve already made a lot from trading with him.”

Ling Ruoxue had not expected her father to bring this up, but she still tried to explain.

Her reasons were sound, but even she was beginning to wonder. Was this still an ordinary investment?

“I am not denying Qin Xiao’s value. I have already agreed with him that future business dealings will go through your elder brother. You will go to the Western District.”

Deaf to her rationalizations, Ling Hongwen had made up his mind. His daughter was going to the Western District, far away from any dangerous entanglements with Qin Xiao.

“So that’s why Qin Xiao’s attitude suddenly changed-you two had already hashed this out behind my back! Fine, fine, fine! I’ll leave, I’m leaving right now!”

Furious, Ling Ruoxue felt a bitter sense of betrayal. Her father didn’t understand her, and Qin Xiao had stabbed her in the back after all the help she had given him. Ungrateful wolf! Fine, she would go. Who cared about having anything to do with him anyway?

Ling Ruoxue stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Yun Man hurried out in pursuit.

“Ah, my daughter. I hope you will understand.”

Watching his daughter slam the door and leave, Ling Hongwen could only sigh and murmur to himself.

Meanwhile, Qin Xiao was wandering around the Inner City. It was indeed much better than elsewhere. Almost everyone he met was a cultivator, and their cultivation was far from low: even the weakest were at Foundation Establishment.

As a foodie, Qin Xiao naturally looked first for a restaurant serving Spiritual Food.

He finally found a restaurant, but before he could enter, a group of people blocked his way.

“Qin Xiao, you are not welcome here.”