36. Qiu Shui
After leaving, Gong Yiling made her way to the back kitchen of a beef noodle shop. Accompanied by a man dressed as a cook, who actually had some culinary skills, she descended into the basement.
As soon as the door closed, Gong Yiling got straight to the point. “Old Mo, I have a task for you.”
The cook was Mo Ke.
He had been bored to death lately. Used to fighting and killing, he was now stuck in Yanlie City, acting as the mastermind behind Gong Yiling’s operations, forced to maintain a low profile.
And his cover was—a cook.
After all these days, he felt he could actually open a restaurant!
Finally given a task by Gong Yiling, he almost knelt down in gratitude.
“Tell me!!!”
“I’m not deaf!!!” Gong Yiling snapped, but her voice lacked force.
“Shenqi Daoist Mountain, do you have any connections there?”
“Shenqi Daoist Mountain of the Hundred Paths Mountain?” Mo Ke frowned in thought. “Yes, one of their guest elders is actually our man. But they have many guest elders. What does Immortal Master intend to do?”
“Contact him and send a few people there. I’ll give you the address later. Bring me someone back, at all costs.”
“Yes!” Mo Ke’s eyes lit up, and he flexed his bicep. “Let me go too! I’ll definitely—”
“You stay here.” Gong Yiling interrupted him. “Many demonic cultivators have infiltrated Yanlie City. Take some men and investigate their hideouts and identities. Report everything you find in four days.”
“This… works too. Yes, Ma’am!”
“Strange.”
Gong Yiling couldn’t understand his sudden enthusiasm. In her opinion, slacking off was the greatest joy in life. Wasn’t being a restaurant owner good enough?
After leaving Mo Ke, Gong Yiling searched the market for the items she needed, then hurried back to the manor.
As she reached Qiu Shui’s door, about to knock, the girl’s voice called out from behind her.
“Master?”
“Ah?” Gong Yiling turned around reflexively, averting her gaze. “I was just strolling outside and stumbled upon something interesting. Guess what it is?”
After venting her emotions, Qiu Shui seemed much calmer now.
She curiously tried to look behind Gong Yiling, but Miss Gong turned with her.
After spinning around for a while, Qiu Shui stopped and chuckled. “What is it?”
“Come inside first.”
Gong Yiling pulled her into the room.
As Qiu Shui turned around after entering, she saw two “Spicy Cry” pancakes in Gong Yiling’s hands.
Qiu Shui froze, looking up at her, puzzled. “These are…”
“These are your favorite childhood snack, aren’t they?” Gong Yiling picked up one of the pancakes and said in a commanding tone, “Open your mouth.”
“Ah.”
“Close your mouth.”
Qiu Shui bit into the soft, flaky crust.
A salty, spicy, and savory flavor exploded on her tongue.
Besides the initial spiciness, it evoked a sense of nostalgia.
When Qiu Shui was young, she and her mother wandered around, homeless and destitute.
Summer wasn’t so bad, but in winter, they often couldn’t find shelter, huddling together in discarded clothes and blankets.
During the coldest days, they relied on spicy food to keep warm.
And their most frequent meal was Spicy Cry Pancakes.
The spice was a stimulant, a source of warmth, and the shop owner was kind enough to often give them free pancakes and rice.
Without this food, they wouldn’t have survived those harsh winters.
And when she left on her dangerous mission, a bag of Spicy Cry Pancakes was her mother’s last gift.
“Why…?”
Qiu Shui asked, her voice trembling. “How did Master know…?”
“You’ll see your mother soon,” Gong Yiling said, gently stroking her head. “I promise.”
“What…?” Qiu Shui didn’t understand. “My mother?”
“Do you think you can hide your little secret from me?” Gong Yiling smiled. “Elder Yin Tianchou of Shenqi Daoist Mountain is your grandfather, and your father married into the family. You weren’t rescued by me by chance. It was all a setup.”
Qiu Shui’s heart sank, and she trembled uncontrollably. “Master… you know everything?”
Her voice was filled with panic, the shock and fear of having her secret exposed by the one she least wanted to. Gong Yiling understood.
“I not only know, but I also know that you don’t want to do this anymore. You just want to be Little Qiu Shui by my side.” Gong Yiling gently hugged her, stroking her back until she calmed down.
“I…”
Qiu Shui looked at the half-eaten pancake in her hand, tears welling up in her eyes, unable to speak.
“When you took that sword blow for me, I knew your true feelings,” Gong Yiling said. “But I’m sorry. I knew all along but pretended not to, making you worry.”
“How could this be Master’s fault?” Qiu Shui whispered. “It’s Qiu Shui’s fault… my own problem…”
“I didn’t say all this to make us argue about who’s right or wrong.”
Gong Yiling released her and gently pinched her cheeks. “I just want you to know, from now on, you’re just Qiu Shui. You don’t have to live for that pointless mission. Those who hurt you, who abandoned you and your mother, if you want revenge, I’ll help you.”
“That’s what I, as your master, should do.”
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