Inside the room.

After finally soothing the two-year-old Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong felt utterly drained.

As soon as Ning Zhuo left the room, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he regurgitated the medicinal concoction he had just swallowed, storing it within his storage pouch.

He savored the aftertaste on his tongue, identifying some of the ingredients.

“Twenty-year-old Vigorous Ginseng, Chinese Angelica Root, Donkey-hide Gelatin, Astragalus, White Atractylodes…”

“Indeed, all substances to replenish blood and qi.”

However, Sun Lingtong still collected it in his storage pouch, refraining from drinking it.

He was acutely aware that his alchemy skills were insufficient, knowing that sometimes excessive nourishment could be potent poison. At times, combining medicinal ingredients could create a mixed venom.

Sun Lingtong, having immersed himself in the sinister Unburdened Sect and traveled extensively with his master, possessed a wealth of worldly experience far exceeding his youthful appearance.

“Something is amiss!”

“This Ning Zhuo is only two years old, yet why is he so astute?”

He couldn’t help but draw a parallel to himself – his exterior was that of a three-year-old, but in reality, he was thirteen!

“I was severely wounded at the time, covered in blood, my wounds gruesome. He took me into his home; wasn’t he afraid of inviting trouble?”

“Is his decoction-making too skillful?”

Sun Lingtong was starting to suspect a setup!

But upon further reflection, “I am merely a Qi Refining stage cultivator; what could he possibly gain?”

“Although I hail from the Unburdened Sect, I cultivate the Virgin Boy Skill, not the sect’s orthodox techniques. What reason would he have to scheme against me?”

Sun Lingtong lacked sufficient information to make an accurate judgment.

He decided to observe first.

After several days of recuperation, his magical power had returned to its peak. He gradually began to discern Ning Zhuo’s genuine intentions.

On this particular day, Sun Lingtong lay on the bed, when suddenly his ears twitched, revealing a hint of surprise.

Soon, Ning Zhuo pushed open the door, ran in, panting, and urgently said, “My family members are here! Quick, little brother, I’ll help you to my mother’s bedroom. There’s a secret underground chamber there where you can hide!”

Sun Lingtong had anticipated this. He smiled slightly, “Don’t worry, I have a way. Look!”

As he spoke, he vanished from the bed into thin air!

Ning Zhuo was stunned and hurried to the bedside, reaching out to touch the empty blankets. He looked around in surprise.

Sun Lingtong’s voice transmission resounded, “Quickly go deal with your family members!”

Ning Zhuo gave an “oh” sound, wearing an expression of amazement as he ran to the courtyard, where he saw Wang Lan.

“Aunt!”

The two-year-old Ning Zhuo proactively greeted her with a respectful bow.

Wang Lan forced a smile at him, nodded, and then waved her hand, signaling the several servants behind her to enter the house.

“Xiao Zhuo, I’ve come to move your belongings.”

“It won’t do for you to live here alone; you must move to your uncle’s house!”

Ning Zhuo exclaimed, his face full of surprise!

After Wang Lan finished explaining, she ignored him and entered the house, directing everyone.

“Move all this furniture and take it back!”

“Hmm, the vase is nice, take it too.”

“That talisman crafting table is quite valuable; be careful when carrying it, don’t damage the array patterns on the surface!”

Soon, Wang Lan had almost emptied Ning Zhuo’s house.

Before leaving, she said to Ning Zhuo, “Your uncle and I will help you safeguard these items for now.”

“You’re just a child; it’s too easy for you to be robbed!”

“Once the matters at the ancestral hall are settled, we’ll bring you over to live with us!”

Ning Zhuo opened his wide eyes, shaking his head repeatedly, and said anxiously, “I…I don’t want to move.”

“Mother lives here…”

“But your mother is already dead!”

Wang Lan immediately shook her head, refusing firmly. “This is not a discussion. You’re too young; you can’t protect yourself at all.”

Wang Lan walked up to Ning Zhuo, dragged him into a corner, leaned down, stared at Ning Zhuo’s face, and lowered her voice, “By the way.”

“Xiao Zhuo, did your mother specifically give you anything before she left, something for you to keep separately!”

“These things may be very important. You’re just a child; if you don’t keep them safe and lose them, it’ll be a big problem!”

“Be a good boy, take them out, and let your aunt keep them safe for you. When you grow up and the time is right, your aunt will return them to you!”

Ning Zhuo quickly shook his head, denying it vehemently, “No, there are no such things!”

“Really nothing?”

Wang Lan was suspicious.

Ning Zhuo continued to shake his head, “Really nothing!”

“Hmm.”

Seeing a servant carrying objects, Wang Lan was not in a hurry to question him further, temporarily letting Ning Zhuo go. “Once the ancestral hall has amended your household registration, we’ll come to pick you up to live with us.”

Before leaving, Wang Lan whispered in Ning Zhuo’s ear, “Xiao Zhuo, if you’re afraid and want to move over sooner, that’s fine too.”

“Remember to keep the things your mother secretly gave you safe, carry them with you, don’t leave them here for someone to steal.”

Ning Zhuo said, “Aunt, don’t worry, I have General Big and General Small to protect me!”

Wang Lan scoffed, “Those two mechanical puppets only have Qi Refining mid-stage combat power at most; they cost spirit stones to maintain just for guarding the house!”

After the group left, many of the furniture and objects were moved away.

He, a two-year-old child, seemed so small in the empty house.

Sun Lingtong witnessed the entire process, looking at Ning Zhuo, and his heart could not help but stir.

At that moment, he discovered the reason why he had been rescued – “He saw that I was also a child, so he came to save me!”

“He treated my wounds and made medicine for me because he had done so for his mother. It’s something he’s quite familiar with.”

“He saw himself in me!”

“Just as alone and helpless, so naturally he felt close!”

“His mother had just passed away less than half a month ago. In this suddenly large, cold, and unfamiliar world, he wanted to find a companion, someone to rely on!”

Thinking of this, Sun Lingtong deliberately went behind Ning Zhuo and gently patted his shoulder.

Ning Zhuo was startled.

Sun Lingtong revealed his figure, “Hehe, don’t be afraid, it’s me!”

The disappointment on Ning Zhuo’s face disappeared, replaced by surprise and anticipation, “Little brother, are you…are you a cultivator?”

“You’re so young, yet so powerful.”

“Was that invisibility art you used just now?”

Sun Lingtong proudly raised his head, “This is no ordinary invisibility art! Wait, don’t call me little brother, I’m much taller and older than you!”

“You have to call me big brother!”

Only now did Sun Lingtong truly reveal his identity to Ning Zhuo, and he also began to correct Ning Zhuo’s address.
Ning Zhuo retorted, “But my mother told me that some children just have larger frames and might not be older than me. We even have one in our clan.”

Sun Lingtong waved his hand, “Alright, alright, from now on, you can just call me Brother!”

“Speaking of which, you were just pretending to be dumb, right?”

“Before she left, your mother must have entrusted you with something very important.”

Ning Zhuo let out a gasp, his gaze darting to the wall, avoiding Sun Lingtong’s eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sun Lingtong chuckled, “I’m just telling you, you’re not very convincing!”

“Next time, if your aunt asks you about it, just say you don’t know, don’t vehemently deny it!”

“The more resolutely you deny it, the more you’re admitting your mother gave you a legacy!”

Ning Zhuo gasped again, unable to resist asking, “Why?”

Sun Lingtong’s gaze seemed to pierce through his heart, “You have talent, don’t you?”

Ning Zhuo gasped yet again, a look of panic spreading across his face as he took a step back, shaking his head repeatedly, “No, no, absolutely not.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying, I don’t understand at all!”

“I don’t know, I don’t know anything!”

He vehemently denied it, but his small face was flushed, filled with a mixture of guilt and panic, revealing everything.

This amused Sun Lingtong, who laughed heartily and patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder, “Little brother, even though you have a shrewdness, a cleverness beyond your years…”

“You’re still too green!”

“It’s so obvious!”

“But you’re in luck, you’ve met me!”

“No one knows better than me how to act like a normal child!”

“I’ll teach you how to feign being a two-year-old!”

Sun Lingtong wasn’t boasting.

He may have looked like a three-year-old, but his soul was already that of a thirteen-year-old youth.

He had joined the Bukong Sect, specializing in all sorts of deception and trickery.

His master had adopted him from a young age, imparting knowledge and experience, taking him on travels, teaching him to observe others and navigate the world.

Often, Sun Lingtong would use his appearance to his advantage, exploiting his youthful looks for deception.

Under his guidance, the two-year-old Ning Zhuo improved rapidly.

“Hey, what kind of talent do you have? This cleverness isn’t ordinary!”

“Didn’t your mother tell you?”

Sun Lingtong asked curiously!

Ning Zhuo glanced to the side, then quickly back, meeting Sun Lingtong’s gaze with a natural expression, “Little Brother Sun, my mother didn’t tell me anything.”

Sun Lingtong grinned and gave a thumbs up, “Not bad, your lying has improved a lot!

“But there’s still that little eye-shifting tic!”

“Remember to get rid of it!”

Ning Zhuo was somewhat ashamed, “Little Brother Sun, don’t you blame me for hiding it from you?”

Sun Lingtong shrugged indifferently, “What does it matter? Everyone should have their own secrets, and should be allowed to have their own…”

“I’m just thinking, perhaps you should reveal your talent to your clan, it might greatly improve your living conditions!”

Ning Zhuo quickly shook his head, his face earnest and serious, “Before she left, my mother told me to hide it, to conceal my abilities!”

“She said the clan is unreliable, and my uncle isn’t trustworthy either!”

“She told me to hide as deeply as possible, the better to protect myself!”

“Hmm, hmm, your mother must have been thinking of you!” Sun Lingtong said dismissively.

He had stayed with Ning Zhuo for over half a month, and his injuries had long healed.

Now that Ning Zhuo could convincingly pretend to be a normal two-year-old, Sun Lingtong’s desire to leave grew stronger.

But how to settle Ning Zhuo?

Even though Wang Lan had said she would take Ning Zhuo in, she hadn’t done so, only sending servants every other day to look after him and provide daily necessities.

Sun Lingtong repeatedly scouted the Ning clan’s territory at night.

Although he was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, the Bukong Sect’s excellent techniques allowed him to sneak in easily.

He gradually learned about the Ning clan’s situation, understood the clan’s policy of suppressing branch families, and learned about Ning Xiaoren’s reputation.

One day, he overheard a conversation between Ning Ze and Wang Lan.

Ning Ze was urging Wang Lan to bring Ning Zhuo over to live with them.

Wang Lan said, “Darling, those people at the Ancestral Hall are deliberately holding this up, demanding a bribe of two hundred spirit stones!”

“Are we supposed to pay two hundred spirit stones just to raise another child? What kind of logic is that?”

Ning Ze stroked his beard and said, “The clan’s system has its reasons. It must be reviewed by the elders of the Ancestral Hall to determine whether we have any ulterior motives in adopting a close relative’s orphan. Only after passing this can we formally adopt him.”

“Before this system was in place, there was indeed chaos, and many human tragedies occurred!”

“Little Zhuo has been living alone for so many days, it’s not right. If word gets out, what will happen to my face as his uncle?”

Wang Lan complained, “But two hundred spirit stones is not a small amount!”

Ning Ze sighed, “Alas, let’s do this, my brother once saved the young clan leader’s life. I’ll go see the young clan leader tomorrow and ask him to intervene.”

Sun Lingtong then went to the Ancestral Hall and found the Ning clan elder who was holding up Ning Zhuo’s registration.

One night, he overheard the elder in secret conversation with a visitor.

The visitor said, “The deed to Ning Zhong’s house has not yet been found by Ning Ze. I’ll offer four hundred spirit stones, here’s a deposit of one hundred and eighty, I hope the elder will accommodate me.”

The Ning clan elder smiled, “That’s easy to say. Ning Ze doesn’t understand the rules and isn’t willing to pay even two hundred spirit stones, he deserves to suffer!”

“Just don’t make too much noise!”

“After all, Ning Zhong sacrificed his life to save the young clan leader!”

The visitor said, “Don’t worry, elder. Ning Zhong and his wife are both dead, and the child they left behind is only two years old. A little coaxing will be enough to get him to sign the contract.”

“This matter is as easy as turning over one’s hand!”

Hearing this, Sun Lingtong rolled his eyes and sneered at the Ning clan in his heart.

Returning to Ning Zhuo’s residence, little Ning Zhuo was sleeping soundly.

Sun Lingtong looked at him for a while, thinking, “This little fellow is smart, and he can even pretend, but he’s only learned the surface.”

“He has no experience, doesn’t understand the dangers of the world, and has no real support. He could easily be devoured by those around him!”

Sun Lingtong secretly shook his head, feeling that he couldn’t just leave.

“I have to teach him to see through treacherous hearts!”

Sun Lingtong’s residence.

Han Ming and the other two were quickly repairing the small courtyard, clearing away the traces of the recent battle.

Inside the main room.
Judge Cha, his eyes gleaming with divine light, enveloped Sun Lingtong’s soul.

Sun Lingtong’s spirit kept its eyes tightly shut, its bronze-hued face contorted in pain, its body trembling violently, yet it stubbornly refused to utter a single cry of agony.

“A tough nut to crack.”

Upon witnessing this, Blind Judge Qi Bai sincerely praised.

He muttered a string of incantations, urging his magic forward, eager to see the results of the soul search.

A complete blank!

“Hmm?”

Qi Bai was taken aback. The Emptiness Seal?

He was aware of this intelligence.

One of the prized treasures of the Non-Emptiness Sect, the Emptiness Seal could be inscribed with a heart-imprint, granting protective assurance to the sect’s members.

The Emptiness Seal could defend against soul-searching, preventing disciples from having sect secrets, scriptures, and such leaked after falling into enemy hands.

“The Emptiness Seal typically protects vital sect secrets. I was merely searching for information related to the Hanging-Temple Guest; to think it would be triggered as well?”

“Isn’t this Sun Lingtong an outer sect disciple? The Emptiness Seal guards him so thoroughly?”

At this moment, Han Ming entered the room: “Lord Qi, I wonder if you have been able to discover any news regarding the Hanging-Temple Guest?”

Qi Bai coldly snorted: “This matter is somewhat troublesome. No wonder Sun Lingtong was so fearless and unafraid of the soul search earlier.”

“However, an ordinary fellow sect member would be helpless against this!”

“But encountering me, the Blind Judge, is his misfortune!”

“Give me another day, and I will give you your answer!”

Qi Bai waved his hand, his expression displeased.

Han Ming hastily lowered his head, tactfully retreated out of the room, and respectfully closed the door behind him.

End of Chapter…