Shen Qing was unaware of the conversation between Wang Wang and Li Tianyun. Her focus was entirely on the members of the Ling family.
After about a quarter of an hour, the members of the Ling family, who had been in a state of confusion, finally regained their senses.
Ling Kong murmured Shen Qing's name. The moment the fog in his mind cleared, he immediately remembered Shen Qing's identity.
He raised his head, and his originally numb and aged eyes instantly lit up. "Shen Qing, I remember. You're Ling Zhou's disciple."
"When you were in the Beast Taming Sect, I even sent some junior members of the family to give you gifts. How did you end up here? The prison is heavily guarded, and there are the formations set up by the national teacher. Even if you're highly skilled in magic, you're bound to alert him. You should leave quickly!!"
Ling Kong's speech was a bit slurred at first, but when he remembered his and Shen Qing's situation, he quickly urged Shen Qing to leave.
Shen Qing crouched back in front of Ling Kong, shook her head, and explained to him, "I kidnapped the national teacher's disciple. He brought us here. I want to know what exactly happened to the Ling family. I'm here to rescue you all."
Ling Kong's eyes grew warm as he recalled the sudden misfortune that had befallen the family. The junior members of the family who hadn't started their cultivation had all been beheaded, and those with some cultivation were being tortured day and night by the national teacher.
It was his incompetence as the family head that had caused the Ling family to suffer such a disaster, and he was powerless to turn the tide.
Just thinking about these things made Ling Kong wish he could die to atone for his sins.
Seeing Ling Kong immersed in grief and unable to speak coherently, Shen Qing grew a bit anxious. After all, she had only managed to get in with the help of Li Tianyun and couldn't stay for long. If they delayed any longer, they might be discovered.
So, Shen Qing spoke again, "Family Head Ling, please explain the situation quickly. We can't stay here for long."
Ling Xiu Zhu, Ling Kong's eldest son, felt sorry for his father's dejected state. He had also heard the conversation between Shen Qing and his father. Although he didn't think Shen Qing alone could rescue the Ling family, he still took over the conversation.
"Fairy Shen, you're the disciple of Grand - Ancestor Ling Zhou. According to seniority, you're even higher in rank than my father. The Ling family has suffered a sudden misfortune, and my father has been extremely worried day and night and is exhausted. If you have any questions, you can ask me."
Ling Xiu Zhu's voice was also tired, but his eyes still showed determination. He resembled Ling Kong, with a square face, clearly a man of integrity.
Shen Qing sighed and shifted her attention to Ling Xiu Zhu. Due to the urgency of time, Shen Qing didn't bother to correct Ling Xiu Zhu's address and eagerly asked, "Eldest Young Master Ling, please tell me in detail. The more detailed, the better."
Ling Xiu Zhu nodded and began to recall what had happened during this period.
Since six years ago, the number of demons in the mortal world had been increasing, and natural and man - made disasters had occurred frequently.
The Ling family had never been very populous. Most of the family members were cultivators, with an average lifespan of two or three hundred years, which made the Ling family seem quite large.
But after the number of demons increased, the Ling family continuously sent their junior members to provide assistance and fight against the demons to protect the common people.
As a result, many junior members of the family were seriously injured or died. At the same time, a strange thing happened in the Ling family's ancestral shrine.
In addition to the memorial tablets of the Ling family's ancestors, there was also a jade stone called the Merit Stone in the shrine.
The origin of this jade was that an ancestor of the Ling family had saved the descendants of a powerful cultivator who had ascended to the immortal realm. In gratitude, the powerful cultivator had given this precious treasure from the immortal realm.
The Merit Stone could nourish the generations of the Ling family. The greater the family's merit, the brighter the Merit Stone would shine, and the more the Ling family would be nourished.
This was also the important reason why the Ling family, living in a place with scarce spiritual energy in the mortal world, didn't experience a decline in their cultivation.
But strangely, as the number of sacrificed junior members of the Ling family increased, the light of the Merit Stone became dimmer. Now, the Merit Stone had completely turned into an ordinary stone.
The national teacher somehow got wind of this news and took action against the Ling family when the Merit Stone had completely become an ordinary stone.
The national teacher fabricated 81 charges against the Ling family. He also built a secret chamber in the private residence of the main branch of the Ling family. Inside the chamber were the corpses of several young girls and pills refined from these girls.
This secret chamber was opened in full view of everyone, and many common people and officials saw it.
The national teacher also used secret methods to bewitch some junior members of the Ling family with lower cultivation levels, making them use common people to resist the demons.
These things gradually fanned the emotions of the common people. In the end, the common people began to doubt the Ling family and completely negated the Ling family's achievements in protecting them over the thousands of years.
As Ling Xiu Zhu was speaking, the other members of the Ling family around him also added many details. Only then did Shen Qing understand the reason why the Ling family had been arrested and imprisoned.
However, the origin of this national teacher was very suspicious. Shen Qing's expression turned solemn, and she asked, "Do you know the origin of this national teacher?"
Ling Xiu Zhu looked at his family members. Seeing them shake their heads, he sighed and then shook his head too. "Fairy Shen, please forgive us. We really don't know the origin of that national teacher. We only know that he is colluding with the main temple. Although his cultivation is not very high, he has many valuable magic treasures. He is highly regarded by the emperor and loved by the common people. Now, he has virtually become the most powerful person in the palace."
Then his eyes shifted to behind Shen Qing and landed on Li Tianyun. He lowered his voice and said to Shen Qing, "Fairy Shen, do you know that Li Tianyun behind you is the national teacher's favorite disciple? He has no fewer magic treasures than the national teacher."
"Fairy Shen, think carefully. Is Li Tianyun really willing to be kidnapped here by you?"
There was a strong sense of distrust in Ling Xiu Zhu's eyes, even tinged with a hint of hatred.
Shen Qing recalled Li Tianyun's every move just now and really didn't notice anything amiss.
But since Ling Xiu Zhu had said so, Shen Qing would be more vigilant. Anyway, she had never fully trusted Li Tianyun. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left the formation stone at the entrance.
"I've fully understood what you've said, Eldest Young Master Ling. I'll be careful of Li Tianyun."
"It's not suitable to stay here for long. Since the matter is clear, we'll leave first. I'll definitely do my best to rescue you all and clear the Ling family's name!"
Ling Kong had been silent for a long time. Seeing Shen Qing about to leave, he finally spoke, "Fairy Shen, our Ling family has taken it as our responsibility to protect the common people for generations and has never done anything that goes against our conscience. But after this incident, the hearts of the Ling family members have turned cold. If you really can't rescue us, the Ling family will still remember your kindness."
"Fairy Shen, the fortune of the Ling family has come to an end. Please take good care of yourself. Don't get involved for the sake of the Ling family."
Ling Kong's words were a bit discouraging, but Shen Qing understood that this wasn't the time to preach great truths. No matter how much she tried to persuade, Ling Kong would still be immersed in self - pity.
So Shen Qing just told Ling Xiu Zhu to comfort Ling Kong more and then turned around to leave.
But just as she was about to leave, a voice stopped Shen Qing.
"Fairy Shen, the first person you meet after you go out might be able to help you!"