Chapter 277: After the Explanation, It’s Time to Go All Out

This is the memory of the figure in the yellow robe.

However, these memories are somewhat fragmented and incomplete…

In his recollections, Shui Miao was the Black冥 God, while he himself was the Black Dragon God. There was also a Yellow-Brow God, and the three of them had once sworn brotherhood.

But who exactly was the Yellow-Brow God? There was absolutely no information about him in the memories!

Besides these scattered memories, there was nothing else.

Still, after a moment’s contemplation, Shui Miao inwardly concluded that this might be a deception—a carefully orchestrated scheme by the Old Ancestor of Yellow Springs. He couldn’t fully trust it and must be extra cautious, always on guard against being tricked.

“Brother Shui, that move you used just now was incredible! Could it be that you really are the reincarnation of a God King?” Old Cai was extremely shocked. He and Old Qin had both overheard Ye Xian’s words.

Old Qin laughed heartily in his deep, muffled voice, “That’s great! I always thought Brother Shui must be the reincarnation of a God King. Now that we have him with us, we’re definitely going to succeed when we go to the Yellow Springs Sect.”

“I wish I were!” Shui Miao replied with a bitter smile, then turned to Xiaohei, “Why isn’t Bai Feng here?”

“I couldn’t find her. The Fox Demon Seventh Sister said that someone took Bai Feng away, but she didn’t say where,” Xiaohei quickly responded.

Shui Miao was puzzled—whom could Bai Feng possibly know here?

“Hehe, things from past lives are always unpredictable,” Cai said, noticing Shui Miao’s concern. “Brother Shui, what do you think? If you’d like, I can personally go to the Underworld to investigate your past life for you.”

“Would that really be possible?” Naturally, Shui Miao was eager to know who he had been in his previous life, so he quickly looked at Old Cai, whose expression was sincere, not at all like he was joking.

“Hehe!” Old Cai smiled and waved his hand, “What’s so difficult about that? We’re old friends, after all. It’s only natural that I help you with something small. Oh, by the way, Brother Shui, where did those ghost officers and ghost horses I assigned to you go?”

Old Cai was clearly trying to flatter Shui Miao—no other reason than the impressive display Shui Miao had just shown.

“I’m not exactly sure either. They just suddenly disappeared,” Shui Miao really didn’t know what had happened to Wu Ai and Bai Lan.

Old Cai blinked, thought for a moment, then shrugged, “I guess something must have happened to them. But no worries—I’ll have Old Qin protect you now. If anything happens, just let him know. His abilities are absolutely reliable. I’ll head to the Underworld right away to look into your past life.”

Without hesitation, Cai immediately took his leave with a bow.

Ghost officers naturally respect the strong, and Old Qin was no exception. He chuckled at Shui Miao, “Brother Shui, you go ahead and meditate. I won’t disturb you. If anything happens, I’ll be there immediately. You can rest assured.”

With a bow, Old Qin vanished.

Shui Miao turned to the Black Snake Demon, “Xiaohei, help me look for Bai Feng again. I don’t know why, but I have a vague sense of foreboding.”

“Alright, I’ll go right away,” Xiaohei nodded and flew off.

※※※

Meanwhile, Grandpa Lin was sitting on the ground, chatting with Lin Qing’er and the others.

He looked at Lin Qing’er in astonishment, “What? You’re Qing’er? Are you joking with me?”

Lin Qing’er was puzzled, “Dad, why don’t you recognize me all of a sudden?”

“I’m not your father. My daughter is only ten years old. I just celebrated her birthday.”

“Dad, stop scaring me, okay? I’m almost thirty already!” Lin Qing’er started to feel uneasy.

“No, you’re definitely not my daughter. I’m not senile. You can’t fool me. Who are you people, and why are you deceiving me? Where am I?” Grandpa Lin tried to stand up, but his body was weak and powerless. “How strange! Why am I so weak? Did you drug me?”

“Dad, what’s wrong with you!” Lin Qing’er tried to take her father’s hand, but he pushed her away.

Could it be that his soul had been sealed all this time?

Did he not remember anything that had happened over the years?

Shui Miao, overhearing part of the conversation, grew more and more suspicious. He squatted down and asked Grandpa Lin, “Uncle Lin, do you remember what year and date it was yesterday?”

“Young man, if you’re after money, just say so. If you let me go, I’ll give you some,” Grandpa Lin replied fearfully, mistaking Shui Miao and the others for kidnappers. He thought Shui Miao was asking about the date to threaten him with death.

Sighing, Shui Miao looked at Lin Qing’er, “Sister Lin, it seems your father has lost many years of memory. May I ask you—before and after your tenth birthday, did your father’s attitude toward you change?”

“Hmm…”

Lin Qing’er thought for a moment and suddenly exclaimed, “Yes! On my tenth birthday, my father got drunk and was hospitalized for several days. When he woke up, he had completely changed—he became cold and heartless.”

“That settles it then,” Shui Miao said, glancing at Grandpa Lin. “Uncle Lin, you don’t have to say anything. Let Sister Lin take you downstairs to meet the management at your company. I think that will clear things up for you.”

“Fine, I’ll meet them. I don’t believe this nonsense.”

Grandpa Lin tried to stand up with effort.

Lin Qing’er quickly helped him up and led him downstairs.

“Sister Lin, can I talk to Shui Miao for a moment? I’ll come right away,” Da Shuang said to Lin Qing’er and quickly pulled Shui Miao aside. “Shui Miao, what was that all about? Why did you suddenly start calling her Sister Lin?”

“What else should I call her?” Shui Miao shook his head unhappily, then sighed deeply. “The truth is, she never loved me. I was just fooling myself. Since she loves that man from her past so deeply, let her keep loving him.”

“But…”

Before Da Shuang could continue, Shui Miao raised his hand to stop her. “There’s no ‘but.’ Don’t be so selfish. Why should I be the only one to give? I’m human too. I need love too. She never loved me, yet you want me to chase after her shamelessly. Is that fair? Alright, you go on. As a friend, I’ll help whenever I can, but I’m tired of this game of love.”

“Since you feel that way, I guess there’s nothing I can say. Thank you, on her behalf, for everything you’ve done.”

With that, Da Shuang turned and walked away.

Shui Miao could tell she was upset.

Sighing again, he thought to himself, *Qing’er, I hope you can understand my dilemma. I have too many enemies now. Elder Bai Feng may even have been captured by the Yellow Springs Ancestor. They’re all scheming against me in secret. I can’t protect you, so I must create this illusion of being cold-hearted and indifferent. Once I defeat them all, I’ll stay by your side forever, cultivate together with you. We’ll never, ever be separated again!*

Shui Miao had grown wiser.

He knew he couldn’t keep charging ahead blindly anymore. He had to use strategy against the Yellow Springs Ancestor and the thousand-year-old female ghost. Otherwise, his loved ones and friends would all be dragged into danger.

Therefore, he had to now act as if he were heartless and unfeeling.

※※※

Thus, Shui Miao left Linhai Hotel.

Returning to the headquarters of Chen Group, Shui Miao found his elder sister Chen Meiling and younger sister Chen Xiang.

Previously, they had worked overtime every day.

Now, they were practicing cultivation during those hours.

When they saw Shui Miao return, both Chen Xiang and Chen Meiling were delighted.

Chen Xiang hurriedly went to prepare coffee.

Sitting comfortably on the sofa, chatting casually with his sister for a while, Shui Miao then deliberately asked about everyone’s well-being.

“Overall, everything is fine. We’ve cleared out a few suites in the building, and everyone has moved in. We’ve also brought Mother here and arranged for professional care, with Auntie Yang accompanying her. Everything is well taken care of. Although she hasn’t mentioned you, I know she still wants to see you. Also, the construction in Jing Shui Village is progressing smoothly and orderly. Everyone misses you, especially Sister Tang. She asks about you every day, very devotedly. Maybe you should find time to see her?” Chen Meiling looked at Shui Miao with a sisterly gaze. Her heart had long since changed from what it once was.

Shui Miao didn’t immediately respond but lowered his head in thought.

When Chen Xiang returned, Shui Miao used his immortal powers to send a telepathic message to both Chen Meiling and Chen Xiang simultaneously: “There’s something I must tell you both. Due to cultivation-related matters, I plan to depart for an extended period, and I don’t know when I will return. Therefore, I’d like to ask you both to take care of Mother and do your utmost to assist my friends. Additionally, don’t focus exclusively on cultivation—try to live a more normal life. If I’m fortunate and my cultivation proves successful, upon my return, I will be able to advance both of you by decades in your cultivation. Lastly, I need you both to help me stage a conflict—quarrel with me publicly, for the benefit of my concealed enemies…”

Shui Miao spoke with deep thought and genuine intentions.

Chen Meiling and Chen Xiang were both intelligent women and immediately understood his meaning.

Shui Miao did this all for their protection.

Therefore, the sharp-tongued Chen Meiling found a bunch of excuses and had a loud argument with Shui Miao.

Chen Xiang also chimed in with a few critical words.

Finally, Shui Miao was scolded out of the place!

And strangely, being scolded felt quite good. Shui Miao inwardly sighed in relief and hurriedly made his way to Jing Shui Village, determined to see Sister Tang, who had been thinking of him all along. After settling all his affairs, he would head to the Yellow Springs Sect for a final showdown—either succeed, obtain the Nine Tripod Cauldron, enhance his powers, and venture into the Immortal Realm, or fail and return to a quiet life as a Feng Shui master, avoiding all enemies, living peacefully with his family for decades, and making plans only after death.