69. Departure for the Heartflame Capital!
At the city gate, a large crowd had gathered.
However, they completely ignored Shangguan Lingyue as she passed through.
Instead, when Gong Yiling and her disciples appeared, the crowd surrounded them.
What was this? Were they seeking revenge?
Before Gong Yiling could ask, Elder Yan emerged from the crowd, followed by several Dongyang Sect members holding a banner.
“Sect Master Yan, what is this?”
“Knowing that Immortal Master is leaving, these people came to see you off.” Elder Yan gestured to the teary-eyed crowd.
“Thank you, Immortal Master, for eliminating the monster in our city!”
Why were they still talking about this? She still didn’t know which “monster” she had supposedly gotten rid of.
“Thank you, Immortal Master, for eradicating the city’s bullies!”
Oh, that… Chun Lian deserved most of the credit for that.
“Thank you, Immortal Master, for dealing with the Hehuan Sect!”
The Hehuan Sect… Speaking of which, not finding Wu Shijie meant the danger wasn’t completely over.
But he shouldn’t be stupid enough to come here alone seeking revenge. What could one person do?
But for the city’s residents, it was indeed a great relief.
“All these are great deeds benefiting the people.”
Elder Yan bowed deeply to Gong Yiling. “If Immortal Master could stay longer, we would extend our hospitality further. But since you’re in a hurry, we can only express our gratitude in a different way.”
He waved his hand, and his men unfurled the banner.
It read: “Living Bodhisattva.”
“Pfft…”
Gong Yiling almost spat out blood.
This banner… was truly something.
“This banner also bears the names of everyone present. Although it’s not worth much, we know you don’t lack money, Immortal Master. Please accept this as a token of our gratitude.”
Well…
Gong Yiling muttered inwardly.
She was actually quite short on money, but she couldn’t act like a beggar.
“Qiu Ming, take it.”
She had Qiu Shui accept the banner and said calmly, “I’m just a passing Kamen Rider.”
Elder Yan was taken aback. “How did you know I wanted to ask for your name?”
Gong Yiling: “…Huh?”
“You see, you’ve done so many good deeds, and the city’s residents want to erect a monument in your honor. So, we wanted to know your name.”
A monument… were they serious?
Although she knew about commemorative monuments, erecting one for a living person felt strange.
“Does it have to be my real name?”
“This is one of the few things the people can do for you, Immortal Master, if you’ll allow it.”
“Fine.” Gong Yiling stood with her hands behind her back, a mischievous thought crossing her mind. “Just write ‘Gong Youyuan.’”
—Much later, when someone happened to pass by and saw the name on the monument, they were stunned.
But that was a story for another time. Now, besides the grateful citizens and the Dongyang Sect members, one other person also remembered this name.
“Gong Youyuan…”
A mysterious woman in a black cloak gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
“When I have the chance, I will avenge my ruined breakthrough! I swear!”
Her eerie blue eyes had vertical pupils, unlike a human’s, and a few strands of rare silver hair peeked out from under her hood.
Gong Yiling suddenly felt a hostile gaze upon her.
But when she tried to find its source, it vanished without a trace.
Was it just her imagination?
She frowned.
But before she could think further, Shangguan Lingyue’s voice called out from afar.
“Miss Gong, let’s go.”
Did she hear the name too?
Gong Yiling didn’t think much of it. As the “creator” of this world, her sister wouldn’t include her own name.
She walked over to Shangguan Ziyuan, who had slipped away due to her fear of crowds, and patted the girl’s head gently.
“Big Sister…” Shangguan Ziyuan looked at her with worried green eyes.
“Why are you calling me Big Sister like Little Heehee?”
Shangguan Ziyuan paused, lowering her gaze. “Is it not allowed?”
“If you want to call me that, I don’t mind.” Gong Yiling smiled. “Are you ready?”
“Ready… for what?”
“Since I dared to tell Shangguan Lingyue about curing your master, it means I’ve made this information public. Those with ulterior motives will surely act.”
“Shangguan Qingyun…”
Gong Yiling sneered. “In his faction, he’s just a pawn.”
She knew this quite well.
Shangguan Qingyun was the apparent mastermind, Prince Changning Shangguan Yaochang was the instigator and liaison, and the true mastermind was the Young Palace Master of the Myriad Demons Palace, one of the Five Demonic Abysses, Tian Shangque.
That guy was a true lunatic, whose greatest desire was to kill his own father. He should try using the anti-father weapon.
He was essentially trying to build a force to rival his father, which was why he reached out to the Heartflame Empire.
“As long as you have the will to fight back, I’ll help you as much as I can.”
Although…
Gong Yiling still didn’t know how to turn things around.
“Why… would you help me so much, Big Sister?” Shangguan Ziyuan couldn’t help but ask. “We barely know each other…”
Because of that damned system.
Ahem, Gong Yiling wouldn’t say that.
In fact, it wasn’t entirely because of the system. The quest, and her desire to change the novel’s tragic ending, were also factors.
And among these reasons, one held more weight.
“I used to have a younger sister, but I treated her badly and resented her for a long time. If I could, I would apologize to her.”
Gong Yiling sighed softly.
“Now, I don’t want anyone who treats me well, or calls me ‘Big Sister’ (‘Brother’) sincerely, to suffer. Is that reason enough?”
Shangguan Ziyuan’s heart was warmed, yet also felt a pang of… something.
—Just sisterly affection?
However, she didn’t express these emotions, simply smiling and nodding at Gong Yiling.
Then, she placed her hands behind her back, slightly bowing, a fluffy something peeking out from under her hat.
Her voice was soft and sweet.
“Thank you, Big Sister.”
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