Ling Kong seemed to have aged more than a decade. He hunched his back and was no longer the high - spirited man he used to be.
After this incident, he had let go of many things. However, he couldn't forgive himself for failing to protect the Ling family members as the head of the Ling family, allowing the younger generations of his family to suffer torture.
"Shen Qing, I...唉... I won't say much. I just want to ask you for one thing," Ling Kong hesitated. The teacup in his hand was like a hot potato. He picked it up and put it down, then picked it up again.
Shen Qing motioned for Hong Chaoyang to leave the room first. Then, only she and Ling Kong were left in the tea - room.
Originally, she, Hong Chaoyang, Li Xian, and Xue Ling planned to leave today. But just as they were about to go, they saw Ling Kong pacing back and forth in front of Li Tianyun's mansion gate.
Ling Kong seemed to have something to say to her, but seeing so many people around, he stammered and didn't speak.
Shen Qing then took Ling Kong to the tea - room and sent the other three away. Only then did Ling Kong seem to let out a sigh of relief and say his first words of the day.
Shen Qing put down the teacup. "Please speak your mind, Head Ling."
Ling Kong gave a bitter smile. "Don't call me Head Ling anymore... I know I'm incompetent. I tend to panic in times of trouble. I was just pushed to the position of the head because of my seniority in the family."
"If it weren't for the great disaster that befell the Ling family, I could still sit on the position of the head shamelessly. But when the Ling family was in trouble, I could only watch helplessly as the younger generations of my family suffered. I was unable to turn the tide. Do you know how regretful I am..."
Ling Kong's eyes welled up with tears, and his voice choked with sobs.
Ling Kong was truly terrified. He saw those younger generations who were tortured every day. The wounds of all sizes on their bodies and the chains through their shoulder blades all told him how incompetent he, the head of the family, was.
Shen Qing also felt bad. As a cultivator, she couldn't interfere too much. Now that the Ling family's innocence had been restored, she could only return to the Nine Desolate Continent.
Shen Qing comforted him. "Head Ling, I know you have a kind heart. But the eldest and the second sons of your family are tough - minded and capable. With their assistance, I believe the Ling family will rise again soon."
"You have a high prestige in the Ling family and are recognized by the clan members. This proves that you are a talented person. Why do you belittle yourself?"
Although Head Ling heard Shen Qing's comfort, he obviously didn't take it to heart. His face was still full of bitterness. "Forget it. Let's not discuss this. For the following matter... please help us for the sake of Grandpa Ling Zhou."
Shen Qing nodded and made a gesture of asking him to speak.
Ling Kong took a deep breath and slowly said, "Our family has stayed in the mortal world for generations to protect the common people and has been blessed by the merits from the heavens..."
"But when the trouble came, these merits were of no use. Some of the younger generations in the family have lost heart and proposed the idea of moving the Ling family to the Nine Desolate Continent."
"Monks should have their own place. I didn't object. So I'm going to let Yun Chuan lead some clan members to pack their luggage and prepare to return to our ancestral home on the Nine Desolate Continent."
"Shen Qing, you are from a great sect. When half of the younger generations of the Ling family move back to the Nine Desolate Continent, they will surely encounter provocations and targeting from scattered cultivators or other monks. I just want to ask you to give them a little help in times of danger."
Ling Kong spoke sincerely and lowered his head slightly, showing a sincere attitude of asking for help.
The Ling family was originally a noble family on the Nine Desolate Continent. If their ancestors hadn't settled in the mortal world to protect the common people during the great war against the demons ten thousand years ago, they would have lived on the Nine Desolate Continent.
Now that some of the younger generations in the family wanted to go back, how could he refuse?
Moreover, the Ling family was only sending some of the younger generations back to the Nine Desolate Continent first. Ling Kong and some other Ling family members with higher cultivation levels and senior status still stayed in the mortal world.
But Shen Qing was thinking that the Main God's Temple was now active on the Nine Desolate Continent. She didn't know what Han Ze would do next. If we talked about safety, the Nine Desolate Continent might not be better than the mortal world.
Shen Qing thought so and said so to Ling Kong.
Ling Kong also learned from Shen Qing that the mastermind behind the Ling family's trouble was someone from the Main God's Temple.
But Ling Kong just sighed, shook his head, and didn't continue discussing this topic. Instead, he talked about something else.
"Shen Qing, do you still remember the jade stone, the Merit Stone, that our Ling family has enshrined in the ancestral hall for generations?"
"Half of the Ling family members will move back this time, and they will also take the Merit Stone back to the Nine Desolate Continent. I've discussed it with the clan members, and we've decided to give the Merit Stone to you."
"Moreover, half of the wealth accumulated by the Ling family over the generations will also be given to you."
This really took Shen Qing by surprise.
Her first reaction was to refuse. "This won't do! Leaving aside the property, the Merit Stone was passed down to you by your ancestors of the Ling family. How can you give it to me?"
Ling Kong waved his hands repeatedly and shook his head slightly. "We've only been enshrining this stone, but it doesn't belong to the Ling family."
"The princess has shown you the stone. It glowed in your hand, which proves that you are a person with great merits."
"Now that the Ling family enshrines this jade stone, it won't shine to bless the Ling family anymore. So, I'll give it to the person who is fated to have it."
Ling Kong took out a very familiar box from his storage bag. Shen Qing had seen it with Yuan Zhao. It was the box that contained the Merit Stone.
Ling Kong solemnly placed the box in front of Shen Qing. His eyes were a bit cloudy and full of complexity.
"The Merit Stone is now in your hands..."
Ling Kong's hoarse and aged voice carried a trace of reluctance, but he still firmly pushed the box forward.
Shen Qing knew that the Ling family was seeking protection, using the Merit Stone and half of their wealth in exchange for her promise.
Shen Qing sighed. Unable to resist, she had to agree first. "Head Ling, why do you have to do this... Let's just say this stone will be kept with me for now. If the Ling family needs it in the future, you can take it back at any time. As for the property you mentioned, I definitely can't accept it."
"But I promise that if the Ling family asks me for help, I will do my best."
Hearing this, Ling Kong stood up, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply to Shen Qing. Shen Qing was startled and quickly supported Ling Kong's hands.
"Head Ling!"
Although Ling Kong's hands were supported by Shen Qing, he still bent down. A few hot tears dropped on the floor. His voice was hoarse. "Our younger generations of the Ling family... are in your hands!"
It was more like they were entrusted to the Qingyun Sword Sect behind Shen Qing.
After seeing Ling Kong off, Shen Qing returned to her seat and opened the box.
Last time with Yuan Zhao, because it was already dark and time was pressing, Shen Qing only took a rough look at this jade stone.
Now, looking at it carefully, Shen Qing felt that this jade stone was a bit familiar, like the Moonstone in the Merman Palace.
Almost instinctively, Shen Qing picked up the Merit Stone. As before, the Merit Stone emitted a great light in Shen Qing's hand.
Shen Qing seemed to think of something. She tried to inject a stream of her spiritual power into the Merit Stone. Suddenly, this Merit Stone resonated with the space in Shen Qing's sea of consciousness.
The next moment, Shen Qing disappeared into thin air, and even the Merit Stone was nowhere to be seen.