109: Chapter 109 Entrusting the Orphan
Entrance of the Island Lord's Residence
"Brother Ning, please stay your steps, no need to see me out!" Looking at Ning Yuan before him, Hu Hai smiled and cupped his hands.
"Then take care, Brother Hu!" Ning Yuan returned the gesture with a face full of smiles, cupping his hands in return.
Whoosh!
Immediately, Hu Hai transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the horizon, turning into a black speck and disappearing into the high sky in the blink of an eye.
Gazing in the direction where Hu Hai had disappeared, Ning Yuan stood still for a long time, the smile on his face darkening slightly.
"Tao Yao, you heard everything! Do you think I should go?" After a long while, Ning Yuan's voice rang out at the entrance. His expression had returned to normal, neither happy nor sad, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
"Up to you! Regardless, I won't be showing my face!" Tao Yao's charming and seductive voice rang out, though she remained unseen.
"Sigh, it's truly a headache!"
Ning Yuan shook his head and sighed. The news brought by Hu Hai had completely disrupted his life, leaving him in a dilemma.
Aside from delivering Yao Beasts and Spirit Medicine this time, Hu Hai had brought a piece of news that shocked Ning Yuan: Li Fenglei was actually going to become the Island Lord of Yaoguang Island, and he was inviting all the island lords to attend his inauguration ceremony in three months.
As for his relationship with Li Fenglei... it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a grudge over a stolen wife!
Based on the news from Hu Hai and his own deductions, Ning Yuan now had a rough understanding of the reasons why Li Fenglei had appeared in the Seven Star Sea Region.
The three-way chaotic battle back then had been earth-shattering, with blood flowing like rivers, and the Human Race of Nanzhou in particular had suffered heavy losses.
Soul Land and Li Yunlei had both fallen. Rumor had it they perished together, but Ning Yuan felt the Hundred Poisons King might have had a hand in it. Otherwise, how could Li Yunlei, a Concept Cultivator, die so suspiciously when he could have run if he couldn't win?
However, none of that was important. What mattered was that after that battle, the Human Race of Nanzhou no longer had the strength to counterattack. Caught between the Yao Race and the Yin Souls, even self-preservation was difficult!
At that critical moment of life and death, the faction led by Venerable Baiyun proposed seeking help from other provinces, but it resulted in inviting a wolf into the house.
The target for help was naturally the Ming Dao Sword Sect. As the number one Sect in the Eastern Region, their strength went without saying. They did indeed successfully reclaim Nanzhou, forcing the Yao Race and Yin Souls into hiding.
But the Ming Dao Sword Sect wanted to take the opportunity to occupy Nanzhou. That wasn't even the key point; the key point was that the Heavenly Demon Cult also wanted a piece of the pie. To occupy Nanzhou, the two sides inevitably came to blows.
War broke out in Nanzhou once again!
After years of war, the local forces of Nanzhou had long since lost their original strength and couldn't even survive in the cracks. Thus, Li Fenglei led a group of Cultivators who were unwilling to fight further across the sea to the Seven Star Sea Region!
After several years of war, Li Fenglei had successfully achieved a Void Refining Breakthrough, becoming a Void Refining Cultivator who had comprehended a Concept.
With such strength, he would be an honored guest anywhere. To win Li Fenglei over, the original Yaoguang Island Lord was forced to step down, and Li Fenglei became the new Yaoguang Island Lord.
This was what had happened in Nanzhou over the past few years!
"Senior, please wait!"
Just as Ning Yuan turned to leave, an aged voice called out, causing him to pause and look back.
He saw Xu Liming's elderly figure flying through the air toward him, trembling. Compared to a normal Golden Core, his speed was like that of a child.
Compared to when they first met three years ago, Xu Liming looked even older now. His face was covered in age spots, and the Death Qi surrounding him was incredibly dense; his end was near.
"Heh, so it's Fellow Daoist Xu! I wonder what brings you..." Ning Yuan said with a smile, though he was puzzled as to what the man wanted. The man was about to die; instead of preparing for his passing, he was wandering around!
Xu Liming smiled and said, "Junior has a request. I beg Senior to grant it!"
A request for help?
He wouldn't be asking me to save his life, would he?
I don't have that kind of ability!
Though full of doubt, Ning Yuan still spoke politely, "Then let's go inside first. Talking at the entrance is unseemly! Fellow Daoist Xu, please!"
"Senior, after you!" Xu Liming said.
After some pleasantries, Ning Yuan took the lead into the residence, with Xu Liming following closely behind.
After a while, the two took their respective seats in the main hall. After a few opening remarks, Ning Yuan asked:
"I wonder what request Fellow Daoist has? If I can help, I certainly will, but if not..."
"Senior surely knows my current situation. My only worry now is Little Ye'er, so I wish to entrust her to Senior!" After a moment of hesitation, Xu Liming finally stated his purpose directly, without any beating around the bush.
Entrusting Little Ye'er to me?
This... Hearing this, Ning Yuan was momentarily stunned. Even if you are dying, entrusting your disciple to me seems a bit out of place, doesn't it?
He and Little Ye'er had only met a few times. Their relationship couldn't be called great, only average!
While he had a good impression of this girl who was like a little sister next door, it wasn't to the point where she should be entrusted to him out of the blue, right?
"Fellow Daoist Xu, what do you mean by this?" Ning Yuan asked in return.
"Sigh!"
At the thought of Little Ye'er, Xu Liming couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. A hint of pleading appeared in his eyes as he looked at Ning Yuan:
"If there were any other way, I wouldn't trouble Senior. I beg Senior to..."
"Sigh, tell me the situation first. I'll make a decision afterward," Ning Yuan said, raising his hand to interrupt him.
"Alright then! Little Ye'er, she..."
Over the next fifteen minutes, Ning Yuan learned why he wanted to entrust Little Ye'er to him, and also learned of her background.
Little Ye'er was originally a child from a poor family in Diecui Town. Her parents died early, and she spent several years as a beggar. One could imagine how difficult her life had been; her short stature was a result of not having enough food or warm clothes in her early years.
By chance, Xu Liming met Little Ye'er. Seeing her pitiable state, he felt compassion and brought her back to Cuiyun Valley to teach her cultivation... This should have been a good thing, but he didn't expect that Little Ye'er's life in Cuiyun Valley was unhappy, even somewhat miserable!
Coming from a beggar background, Little Ye'er was inevitably somewhat self-deprecating and timid. Furthermore, among the Disciples of Cuiyun Valley, there were always those with a habit of bullying the weak, making her situation precarious.
Even though Xu Liming protected her many times and even punished the offenders, it had little effect; instead, it made things even harder for Little Ye'er.
It was like this even while Xu Liming was still around. Once he was gone, it was uncertain if Little Ye'er would even keep her life!
As for why he chose Ning Yuan, first, Xu Liming had no other choice. Second, after three years of acquaintance, he felt Ning Yuan's character was trustworthy.
And so, this scene came to be.
After understanding the cause and effect, Ning Yuan couldn't help but feel emotional. Misfortune truly seeks out the miserable; the rope always breaks at its thinnest point!
Little Ye'er's life was already bitter, and now her only relative, Xu Liming, was near death. It wasn't hard to imagine how much despair and fear she felt in her heart...