Chapter 86 — TVF Chapter 86

Dog-Blooded Love Story 9

Looking at the two couples kissing and hugging in the first-floor hall, Ling Jing’s attention remained fixed on Yuan Lingmei. “I thought she was a gentle, understanding flower.”

Qin Jingzhou added, “I didn’t expect it, either.” That Yuan Lingmei would have this kind of personality.

Meanwhile, Yuan Lingmei’s chin was still resting firmly on Xuan Qing’s shoulder. “Do you know what makes me happiest? You don’t have to be a sacrifice anymore!”

Xuan Qing patted his girlfriend’s back gently, his tone oozing with pride. “Because my dad is here.”

Yuan Lingyi mumbled quietly, “I never thought you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes... would have a day when you relied on your dad.”

Xuan Qing repeated himself, “I used up all my luck when I was born into this family.”

The two looked at each other and laughed.

When Yuan Lingyi saw her sister “come back from the dead,” she was overwhelmed with excitement. Even if they had reclaimed her sister’s other half soul from Xuan Qing, both she and Gu Lingfan had only been grasping at straws. Before Senior Ying showed up, no one in the entire Extraordinaries’ world had any confidence doing a successful Soul Gathering Art... Without the Soul Gathering Art, the two soul halves could not become one. Her sister might not have made it through the year.

Yet after awakening, her sister gave her nothing but a joyful, reassuring glance, then spent all her time talking to Xuan Qing... Yuan Lingyi, both happy and a little aggrieved, couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “Hmph, blinded by love, forgot your own sister!” The words had barely left her lips before she remembered she was herself nestled in her boyfriend’s embrace... making such a complaint herself didn’t sound convincing at all. Her face instantly flushed bright red.

Gu Lingfan couldn’t hold back anymore and burst out laughing, quickly earning a playful punch from his girlfriend.

Seeing this unfold, Qin Jingzhou and Ling Jing retreated to the study to tend to their own business.

Qin Jingzhou needed to prepare his curriculum. If this world was to change its doomed ending, it would depend on its people’s perseverance and self-rescue. What he had to teach, of course, was the proper method of self-salvation.

Ling Jing, after her last mission, had successfully cultivated her spirit to the Golden Core stage. Though the inheritances in this world were fragmented, they could at least maintain the Nascent Soul stage. For her, these inheritances weren’t useless.

Which was why, every day, she insisted on spending eight hours studying diligently.

Meanwhile, downstairs, the two little couples, still riding high on excitement, gathered together and quickly broadcasted the news that “Yuan Lingmei has recovered.”

Xuan Qing had broken ties with his stepfather and birth mother. Of the two people he cared about most in this world, one was leaning on his shoulder, and the other was upstairs working on a syllabus.

The Yuan sisters were a bit different. Though they, too, were almost cut off from the parents who’d sold them off, they still had a few trustworthy friends.

Gu Lingfan had it even better. Not only did he have reliable friends, but none of his family members dragged him down, either!

So, no more than an hour after Yuan Lingmei woke up, the news had spread to every respectable sect, powerhouse, and official in the Extraordinaries’ world.

All the major forces, who had long been quietly evaluating Qin Jingzhou’s cultivation and the inheritances he possessed, finally made up their minds. They were willing to grovel, to pretend filial piety, to pay any price for protection and instruction.

Yet, among the Extraordinaries who had surpassed the Foundation Establishment Stage in the whole world, there were only a hundred thousand at most. Clearly, no one could guarantee that these hundred thousand would all be of one mind.

Take the Yuan sisters’ parents for example. The two of them were distinctly uneasy.

There was no denying it: in this world, there would always be parents like the Yuan couple, who didn’t love their children and, shamelessly, treated them as resources.

They didn’t think “making use of useless children” was wrong, but it was clear the twins they’d sent off to cultivate since childhood now deeply resented them... And though the twins had only average natural talent, they had a real knack for attracting men. Their boyfriends listened to every word. Worse, both boyfriends had fiercely protective fathers.

The couple were convinced that even if their daughters hesitated to retaliate, the Extraordinaries scrambling to please Xuan Qing’s father and Gu Lingfan’s grandfather would at least take a shot at the two of them.

So, that night, the couple packed up all their assets — mainly cultivation resources — and fled into hiding. Yet they still managed to set up a decoy scapegoat with expert haste. After all, when it came to inciting hatred, how could they compete with Zhong Dewen and Xuan Helin?

After Yuan Lingmei woke, she needed to be observed for a while, so for convenience, she would be staying at the Ying family residence.

Although she never said so explicitly, she very much hoped her sister would stay with her. The two really did have lots of secrets to share.

Xuan Qing sensed what his girlfriend was thinking and immediately went to ask his father. Qin Jingzhou replied, “You are my only son and the master of this house.”

Delighted, Xuan Qing decided right away and let Yuan Lingyi and Gu Lingfan keep staying in their home. For his wife’s little sister’s sake, he had to treat Gu Lingfan a bit better. Not to mention, he hadn’t forgotten how, when he’d been crazed and out of his mind, he’d beaten Gu Lingfan up.

The next day, four Extraordinaries from the Hua Country government arrived, including Chief Advisor Gu Jing.

After exchanging pleasantries, Ling Jing propped her chin and remarked to Qin Jingzhou, “Big Boss, those people had all sorts of worries before. On one hand, they couldn’t gauge your strength, so they didn’t dare gamble on you. On the other, they were afraid you’d ask exorbitant prices. That’s the main reason. Besides, you don’t look like someone who’s easy to talk down: you don’t seem like you’d just give something away for a tearful plea.”

The four government Extraordinaries present all looked slightly embarrassed.

Still, even if it was awkward, they were grateful for Ling Jing’s willingness to play the bad cop.

From the start, Qin Jingzhou never planned to agree to each request from the Extraordinaries. If they got things too easily, they’d never learn to cherish them.

Who had been locked into the Sealing Array for a hundred years? They were all prodigies from among the Extraordinaries, used to sacrificing geniuses, and convinced the sky would never fall on them because someone taller would hold it up. The entire Extraordinaries’ community reeked of complacency and lassitude.

He patted Ling Jing on the shoulder. Catching a somewhat complicated look from his son Xuan Qing, he used the same hand to gently brush his son’s nose. “So what good does it do young people with outstanding talent and diligence? Like my son, they’re reserved early, just to be stuffed into a spiritual coffin?”

Chin still propped on her hand, Ling Jing picked up the thread: “Why has the Extraordinaries’ world stagnated for so many years? Any resources they managed to get would be used for life extension. In case you were morally blackmailed and thrown into a spiritual coffin, at least you could eke out a few more years, right?”

Their teamwork left the four government Extraordinaries so embarrassed their faces turned red.

Qin Jingzhou went on, “Unless this atmosphere changes, unless I see your determination and concrete action, I won’t teach you a thing. Of course, you can try and see what happens if you attempt to coerce me with ‘the greater good.’”

And what would happen?

Wasn’t it obvious? A single stroke would split any troublemaker in half, and the big shot would simply leave with his son and daughter-in-law, walking away like it didn’t matter at all.

The four Extraordinaries were not unmoved. They exchanged glances. It was clear this big shot was not only standing up for his own son, and the possibility of leaving empty-handed was something they’d all already considered.

Just as they were preparing to bid their farewells and have a proper discussion, Zhong Dewen and Xuan Helin... showed up uninvited.

Xuan Helin strode in boldly. She glanced straight at Qin Jingzhou and said, “It’s true what they say. You really should look at a person with fresh eyes after you’ve been apart for a few days.” She chuckled, then turned to Xuan Qing. “Mom has been looking for you. You just keep ignoring me... How can a mother and son bear a grudge overnight? Flesh on the palm or the back of my hand, all the same to me. What was I supposed to do?”

Xuan Qing turned his head away with difficulty.

Ling Jing was so stunned, she asked on purpose, “My god! Wait... can someone at Golden Core still be this... dumb?”

Some mortals could accidentally eat spiritual plants and become Foundation Establishment cultivators, so clueless Foundation Establishment cultivators certainly existed. But anyone at Golden Core had to have cultivated up themselves — pure idiots just didn’t happen.

That Xuan Qing’s birth mother and stepfather had manipulated his feelings was an open secret among the Extraordinaries. But for Xuan Helin to publicly manipulate her own son... Ling Jing pressed, “What is it that you people really want!”

Gu Jing replied smoothly, “Senior Ying saved Yuan Lingmei, so Zhong Dewen and Xuan Helin are convinced he can also save their younger son... Xuan Helin deliberately created tension between the brothers, wanting to make herself the heart’s knot for both. But at this point, why keep secrets? No matter how biased you might be, would you really risk your lives for your youngest son? What’s so special about him?”

This was something he’d never understood, no matter how he thought about it.

Xuan Helin glanced at her husband. “Darling?”

Zhong Dewen nodded gravely. “Xiao Bao is the key.” He was deadly serious. “If Xiao Bao absorbs the power gathered in the Sealing Array, he can open a door to the Spiritual Realm at the domain passage. We had it all planned out, but he managed to break free early and was captured by Su Jinxi... We can’t find Su Jinxi, so we’ve come to seek Senior’s help...”

Ling Jing started laughing. “If big boss won’t help you, you use Xuan Helin as Xuan Qing’s heart tribulation to threaten him, right?”

Zhong Dewen and Xuan Helin simply smiled in silence.

Which, of course, was as good as admitting it.