CHAPTER 176
Farewell, Mother
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"Qinghan, your master saw the ice flowers you left behind."
Ye Qinghan was already on edge. Just as her emotions had stabilized somewhat, her master’s words shattered her composure.
She buried her face in Su Cheng's chest again, unable to speak.
She feared her master would discover her ability to read minds, but Su Cheng clearly misunderstood, thinking Ye Qinghan had recalled the events of the past once more.
"I have gathered the remnants of your mother's soul. I can arrange for you to see her once more."
Ye Qinghan truly couldn't hold back any longer. She wanted to rise and perform the grand bow of respect for her master. For this kindness, Ye Qinghan felt she would have to repay it with her life.
Perhaps, like the ever-indebted Daiyao, she too would never be able to repay it…
But this time, Su Cheng foresaw it and pressed his First Disciple back down before she could rise.
One arm cradled the beauty, while the other conjured a jade bottle from thin air. Within it lay the sealed remnant soul of the Demon Emperor.
"The remnant soul of your mother is extremely fragile. Even with my immortal arts sustaining it within this jade bottle, it can only last half an incense stick's worth of time."
With that, he pressed the palm-sized jade bottle into Ye Qinghan's hands, gently wiping away her tears before setting her down.
With that, Su Cheng turned and departed, leaving the remaining time to the mother and daughter.
Ye Qinghan stood rooted to the spot, watching her master's departing figure before hastily kneeling to perform a deep bow.
She remained kneeling for a long time, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions.
Countless days and nights, Ye Qinghan had yearned beyond measure to see her mother once more!
She harbored resentment toward her mother, yet also wanted to act like a child and seek affection. She longed for her mother's praise.
She wanted to tell her mother about her life now—about her beloved master, her clumsy junior sister, the elder who always tried to sneak snacks, and the two-faced sycophant.
She wanted to nestle freely in her mother's embrace, remembering how her mother could lift her—still a little fox cub—with just two tails…
Gratitude toward her master, longing for her mother, and the flustered anticipation of their impending reunion—countless emotions tangled together, leaving Ye Qinghan momentarily dazed.
Kneeling on the ground, she stared at the translucent jade bottle in her hands, watching the shimmering light swim inside like tiny fish.
She had longed for this day, yet now that it had arrived, Ye Qinghan felt a sudden wave of stage fright.
She didn't know how to face her mother. She felt she should prepare something first—perhaps write a speech she could read aloud.
Her trembling hands cradled the bottle, yet she lacked the courage to open it.
Ye Qinghan doubted whether she was worthy to see her mother. Was her current state what her mother wished to see?
She had just received a lesson from her master—she was still far from mature, and her blood feud remained unavenged!
Should she wait until she had avenged her blood debt before seeing her mother?
No. Ye Qinghan couldn't wait any longer. She wanted to see her mother.
Her fingers gently lifted the lid, which seemed to rest lightly atop the bottle. Her heart pounded so fiercely it threatened to leap from her throat. Ye Qinghan had waited far too long for this day.
A shimmering remnant of soul coalesced into a human form, hazy and indistinct. It twisted and warped like smoke, flickering intermittently like a television signal with poor reception.
Seeming somewhat weak, it took some time for the shadowy figure to take on Mother's form.
There it stood across from him—nothing more than a purple phantom, merely the outline of his mother.
Yet Ye Qinghan recognized every detail.
She wore the Snow-Covered Cloud-Reaching Demon Emperor Robe, her usual attire. The nine-pleated skirt was embroidered with golden threads depicting a prosperous world. The cloud-shouldered collar was embroidered on all four sides with the Four Mountains of the Northern Realm. Fastened to the collar was a snow-white fur cape—Ye Qinghan didn't know its name, only that it was lined with a totem symbolizing the bloodline of the Fox Demon King.
Her expression remained unchanged—neither warm nor cold, neither joyful nor angry. Her face betrayed no emotion, her voice no sound. She was utterly inscrutable.
The two gazed at each other, speechless. Though Ye Qinghan had a thousand words to say, she found herself at a loss for how to begin.
Yet one must admit, Mother Ye Qinghan was truly worldly and knowledgeable.
"Oh my, just a few days gone by~ and already growing distant from your mother? What sort of man has stolen my daughter's very soul?"
Ye Qinghan's mother chuckled, her sleeves half-concealing her peerless beauty. Though her tone carried a hint of teasing, her demeanor remained entirely proper.
"Mother! That is my master!" Ye Qinghan didn't know why, but the word "master" slipped out effortlessly.
Ye Qinghan's mother smiled like a fox, feeling her daughter had truly grown up.
"I see. So my little treasure has taken a master? Might he be quite handsome? To have my daughter so utterly smitten?"
"He is quite handsome, but Mother, don't you have anything else to say?"
Ye Qinghan felt a pang of disappointment. She had missed her mother so deeply, yet on this rare occasion, her mother only teased her.
Ye Qinghan pouted, her face full of reproach. Truthfully, she rarely showed such an expression.
She'd been alone for so long. Ever since escaping the Northern Realm, she could only blame her own lack of strength—there was no one else to blame.
After becoming a disciple of Lingxian Hall, her master treated her like his own flesh and blood. She simply couldn't bring herself to complain.
A child without a mother is like a blade of grass—what good does blaming heaven and earth do?
"Not at all," her mother replied. "Seeing you thrive is enough for me."
Ye Qinghan couldn't understand why her mother didn't seem to miss her at all, always wearing that cheerful smile instead!
It was she who struggled to suppress her emotions, expending every ounce of strength!
"Mother, don't you miss Qinghan?"
"Hm? Qinghan?"
"Master knew Qinghan's destiny and bestowed a name to alter it. This is the name Master gave Qinghan—Ye Qinghan."
Ye's mother nodded thoughtfully, seemingly unconcerned.
"I see. Then what about your Master? Why didn't you bring him to meet me? Afraid I'd steal your man?"
"Mother, you're talking nonsense again! Master chose to stay away precisely to avoid disturbing us—us mother and daughter."
Ye's mother smiled, glancing at the bottle in Ye Qinghan's hand and roughly grasping the situation.
"My dear child, how old are you this year?"
"Sixteen."
"How many children have you borne for your master?"
"…
Ye Qinghan was speechless. While she was actually quite interested in such topics, discussing them with her mother still made her feel a bit shy.
She couldn't help but think her mother was being completely inappropriate!
"This doesn't make sense! My daughter is naturally beautiful. With such looks, how could he not fancy you?"
"Master has no feelings for this child…"
Ye's mother also frowned slightly, thinking to herself that this Master was indeed quite extraordinary…
Looking at her daughter, now sixteen years old, it would be a lie to say Ye's mother felt no stirrings within her heart.
As a mother, to claim she felt no guilt would be a lie.
But she also knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—likely the only chance, and the last.
She didn't want a tearful farewell between mother and daughter. She simply wished to hear how her daughter was faring, so she could rest in peace.
"Sweetheart, tell me about your master. How is he?"
"Sure, Mother. What would you like to know?"
Just by observing Ye Qinghan's expression when mentioning her master, Ye's mother could easily tell how much her daughter adored that "dog of a man."
She was genuinely curious—what kind of man could captivate her daughter so completely?
"Anything. How does she treat my daughter?"
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