A quarter of an hour later, Gu Yuncheng was suddenly awakened by a nightmare, gasping for breath. He looked at the ornaments around him. This was Ling Luo's Qingyin Pavilion in the Ling Mansion. But where was Ling Luo?
Gu Yuncheng turned his head and saw Ling Luo Yi sitting beside him, looking at him with a confused expression. He suddenly hugged her tightly. Feeling her presence, Gu Yuncheng's heart slowly settled.
Ling Luo Yi was bewildered by the hug. Although she didn't know what he had dreamed, she could feel his fear, his panic, and his unease.
Ling Luo Yi gently stroked his head and asked softly, "A Su, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Gu Yuncheng held Ling Luo Yi tightly, as if only by doing so could he feel her presence.
Not hearing a reply, Ling Luo Yi didn't press further and continued to gently stroke his head.
After a while, Gu Yuncheng finally calmed down and let go of Ling Luo Yi. Looking at her worried eyes, Gu Yuncheng didn't know what to say. After a moment, Gu Yuncheng said, "Luo Luo, I had a nightmare, a very real dream."
Ling Luo Yi blinked and comforted him with a smile, "A Su, didn't you always say that dreams are fake? Why do you forget now?"
Gu Yuncheng looked at the smiling Ling Luo Yi, but his mind was filled with the dream. The dream was too real, so real that he couldn't believe it was fake!
Because the dream was related to Ling Luo Yi, Gu Yuncheng couldn't remain calm about anything concerning her.
Seeing the lingering fear in his eyes, Ling Luo Yi gently hugged him and said softly, "A Su, no matter what you dreamed, I am here, I have always been here. So, don't worry, it's just a dream, it doesn't mean anything."
Although he had Ling Luo Yi's comfort, Gu Yuncheng was not reassured. He did not reveal the content of the nightmare, but made a decision to protect her well and prevent the events in the dream from coming true.
After thinking it through, Gu Yuncheng said, "Luo Luo, I'm fine now, don't worry. By the way, how is your spiritual power recovery going?"
Seeing that he was truly alright, Ling Luo Yi also relaxed. She rubbed her temples and said, "Only fifty percent recovered. It will take some more time to fully recover, but it's fine."
Ling Luo Yi waved her hand, indicating that it was not a big deal.
Gu Yuncheng raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Luo Luo's sea of consciousness was vast, as even the Immortal Dew Sacred Fruit, a divine product in medicine, could only restore fifty percent.
Ling Luo Yi said seriously, "Counting the time, I've been back for four months, and the earliest news also took four months to travel. With the old man's speed, he should arrive in some time. Before the old man arrives, we need to deal with the Wei family. I don't have the habit of nurturing enemies."
When it came to serious matters, Gu Yuncheng also became serious and said, "Luo Luo, you can go ahead and make arrangements. I'll take care of the fishing."
"Mm," Ling Luo Yi nodded in agreement. Anyway, the Asura King knew their identities, so it wasn't going too far.
While the Ling family was filled with joy, the Wei family was gloomy.
In the Wei family's council hall, Wei Wensong and other elders of the Wei family were deliberating, each with an expression of despair.
Someone couldn't help but accuse, "If you ask me, the Wei family is in this state because of the Patriarch's mistake. If the Patriarch hadn't instigated the former Patriarch to deal with the Ling family back then, the Wei family wouldn't have fallen to this point!"
Once someone spoke, the accusations followed.
"Exactly! If the Wei family hadn't attacked the Ling family back then, even if the Wei family wasn't the head of the five great families, it would still be one of the five great families. How could it be like this now?"
"Head of the five great families! Our Wei family is now worse than a small, insignificant family. We are nominally a first-class family, but in reality? Who in the Tianwu Kingdom doesn't know the Wei family's current status."
"Exactly! Haven't I said it many times not to offend the royal family? But the Patriarch just ignored it and put on airs in front of the royal family! No matter how capable you are, the Wei family still has to survive in the Tianwu Kingdom. Offending the country is truly brainless!"
The last sentence was spoken in a hushed tone.
"In my opinion, the Ling family will never let the Wei family go. With Ling Luo Yi's status, the destruction of the Wei family is only a matter of time. It's all the Patriarch's fault! He ruined the Wei family!"
When Ling Luo Yi's identity as a seventh-grade alchemist was revealed, the Wei family knew they were doomed. During this time, the Wei family had been filled with such accusations. Wei Wensong listened but could do nothing, as his position as Patriarch was already precarious.
Seeing Wei Wensong's lack of reaction, the Wei family's second master became even more arrogant. He directly and impolitely accused Wei Wensong, "Brother, when Father chose you as his successor, the elders disagreed. It was Father who valued your ability and pushed you to be the Patriarch. But now the facts are here, you are indeed not suitable to be the Patriarch. Why don't you abdicate and let a more capable person take over?"
Others present had the same idea but dared not speak it. Now that the Wei family's second master had spoken, everyone else also unceremoniously shouted for Wei Wensong to abdicate.
Wei Wensong stared fiercely at the Wei family's second master. He knew that his brother had always been dissatisfied with him being the Patriarch and was constantly waiting for him to step down, but he didn't expect him to not let go even at this time!
The Wei family's second master was not afraid of Wei Wensong's fierce gaze and said, "Brother, don't look at me like that. What I'm saying is the truth. You have brought the Wei family to this point, and you are already a sinner of the Wei family. If the matter from ten years ago is not handled properly, the Wei family might really be ruined in your hands. If you are still the Patriarch, the Ling family will never let the Wei family go, so you should make a sacrifice."
Wei Wensong's killing intent intensified, but the people around him seemed to be inspired and echoed, "Yes, Patriarch, it was your fault that caused this disaster. Why shouldn't you bear it yourself and make us bear it?!"
"Right, it was your idea back then. Since you wanted to deal with the Ling family, why didn't you finish them off? This is why the Wei family is in such a predicament! Don't you understand the simple principle of cutting the grass and removing the roots?!"
"What's the point of talking about these things? The urgent matter is how to get through the current crisis. What's the use of bringing up these old matters?!"
"Exactly," said the Wei family's second master. "Brother, do you want the Wei family to die with you? Patriarch, what do you think?"
The white-haired old man sitting in the main seat was the current Patriarch of the Wei family. He was nearing seventy and was the younger brother of the Wei family's old ancestor.
The Wei family had a rule that the Patriarch and the Patriarch could not be the same person. This was to prevent anyone from daring to criticize the Patriarch or the Patriarch when they made mistakes, leading to wrong decisions.
The Wei family Patriarch stroked his beard and, under everyone's expectant gaze, slowly said, "What Wen Rong said is not unreasonable. Back then, Wen Song did not finish off the Wei family, which led to the current crisis. This crisis cannot be overcome at the moment."
"Patriarch, is there really no way?" Hearing that even the Patriarch had no solution, someone became anxious.
The Wei family Patriarch shook his head helplessly.
What else could be done?
They could not act against the Ling family in their current situation, otherwise, they would incur the wrath of the public and might not survive for a few more days. Then, only seeking peace remained, but would the Ling family let them go?
The Wei family Patriarch's thoughts were guessed by everyone else. Someone, as if grasping a lifeline, asked the Wei family's second master, "Second Master, you want the Patriarch to abdicate, but do you have a way to overcome this crisis?"
Hearing someone ask this, others also looked at the Wei family's second master.
The Wei family's second master greatly enjoyed this kind of savior treatment and said, "As for a way, I naturally have one, but I don't know if Brother is willing to make a sacrifice for the Wei family?"