A maid entered with a tray, and Li Shu picked up three crystal cards and a storage bag from it, handing them to Ling Luo Yi. "The crystal coins have been prepared as per Eldest Miss Ling's request. Do you need to inspect them?"
"No need. The most important thing in business is integrity. I believe the Young Pavilion Master is not a petty person." Ling Luo Yi took the crystal cards and storage bag, stuffing them all into her storage ring. "Young Pavilion Master, we have other matters to attend to, so we will take our leave."
"Where is your storage ring?" Li Shu asked, holding up the storage ring in his hand.
"It's yours."
With that, she left with her stunned sisters.
Li Shu watched the four figures depart and said softly, "The Ling family is no longer the Ling family that could be bullied by anyone."
***
After leaving the Flowing Cloud Pavilion, the four sisters went nowhere else but directly back to the Ling Manor.
Upon their return, they found Ling Qi, Bai Jingzhi, Li Ziya, Yao Yuxin, and Ling Jin in the main hall discussing matters. Seeing them arrive, they all smiled and said, "You're all back. You must be tired. Go back and rest first."
"Father (Second Uncle, Second Uncle), Mother (Second Aunt, Third Aunt), Fourth Aunt, Little Uncle, we're back."
After paying their respects, Ling Luo Yi brought out all the results of their trip to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion. She handed the storage bag to Bai Jingzhi and the three crystal cards to Ling Qi, saying, "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, this is what we gained today. Distribute it as we discussed yesterday."
The numbers on the three cards made everyone's eyes widen in shock.
As the former head of the five great families, they naturally knew what crystal cards represented, which only amplified their shock.
Ling Qi stammered, "Luo... Luo'er, how... how did you get all this?"
"Hmm? I just sold some elixirs. Is there a problem?" Ling Luo Yi said indifferently, not finding anything unusual.
"No... nothing. Let... let Second Uncle... recover... recover." Ling Qi was so flustered he could barely speak.
"It's alright, Second Uncle. I have no shortage of elixirs, so don't feel bad. You should go and pay off the debts first. Only by clearing the debts can the Ling family truly stand up again."
"Okay... okay, Second Uncle will go now, right now."
"Second Aunt, remember to distribute the monthly stipends to the household servants. Distribute them as I mentioned yesterday. If there's any shortage, come back to me, and I'll think of a way."
"Okay... okay." Ling Qi, Bai Jingzhi, Li Ziya, and Yao Yuxin were all so shocked they hadn't recovered, leaving with the items in a daze.
After the four left, Ling Luo Qian respectfully said, "Little Uncle, Qian'er will go to the training grounds first."
"Mm, go ahead," Ling Jin nodded in agreement.
"Then, Little Uncle, I'll go to the training grounds to take a look too. I've never been before and I'm a bit curious," Ling Luo Yi said with some curiosity.
"Alright, go ahead. There should be many people there at this time."
"Little Uncle, I'll go to the training grounds with my sisters too," Ling Luo Ran also said, then, as if remembering something, she cautiously asked Ling Luo Fu, "Third Sister, do you want to come with us?"
"I..." Ling Luo Fu stammered, "I'll go too."
"Does Little Uncle want to go?" Ling Luo Yi asked.
"No, Little Uncle will go see your eldest brother shortly."
"Then, Little Uncle, we'll be going now," Ling Luo Ran said happily.
"Go ahead."
***
At the Ling family's training grounds, all the Ling family disciples were cultivating.
When Ling Luo Yi arrived, she saw children meditating in a pavilion, attempting to guide spiritual energy into their bodies. Faint spiritual energy circled the children slowly, with an elder guarding them nearby. Young men and women practiced spiritual techniques in the courtyard, with colorful spiritual energies blooming in the air, creating a lively and bustling scene.
Looking at this, Ling Luo Yi thought to herself: It seems the elders of the Ling family have protected these children very well. Even though the Ling family has fallen into decline, these children are unaffected and remain childlike.
But is this really for the best?
Ling Luo Qian entered the training grounds and picked up a wooden sword to practice.
Ling Luo Ran watched and also picked up a wooden sword to practice.
Ling Luo Fu stood about fifty meters away from the training grounds, not coming closer.
At this point, only Ling Luo Yi remained at the entrance of the training grounds.
She didn't mind and watched with great interest.
A short while later, Ling Luo Fan, the second young master of the Ling family, and Ling Luo Yu, the third young master, saw her and walked over.
"Eldest Sister, you're back. Was the journey smooth?"
Ling Luo Yi did not bow and replied, "Second Brother, Third Brother, everything went smoothly. I've given the crystal coins I sold to Second Uncle and Second Aunt. Second Uncle and Grandpa Liang have gone to repay debts. Second Aunt should be distributing monthly stipends to the servants with Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt right now."
The brothers were somewhat surprised and asked, "What did you sell to get so many crystal coins?"
The debts owed by the Ling family and the monthly stipends for the household servants were not a small sum!
"Nothing much, just some surplus elixirs," Ling Luo Yi waved her hand, as if unaware of what she had said.
"Surplus elixirs can sell for so many crystal coins? Are you kidding me?" Ling Luo Yu exclaimed, "And where did you get the elixirs?"
Ling Luo Fan, however, seemed to have guessed something and said with certainty, "Luo'er, you are an alchemist!"
"You're an alchemist?!" Ling Luo Yu was astonished.
Ling Luo Yi nodded, "Is there a problem?"
"No... nothing. Let Third Brother... recover... recover." Ling Luo Yu patted his chest, trying to calm himself.
Ling Luo Fan was also somewhat surprised, but he didn't show it on his face.
Ling Luo Yi looked strangely at Ling Luo Yu, who was patting his chest. Were all the Ling family members so easily startled? Perhaps some things shouldn't be told to them, to avoid them reacting like this again.
"Luo'er, you've gained quite a lot these past few years," Ling Luo Fan said meaningfully.
Ling Luo Yi chuckled lightly, "It's alright."
Seeing that she didn't want to discuss it, Ling Luo Fan changed the subject and asked about their trip to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion today. "Is everything really alright today? In the past, we always encountered unpleasant incidents when we went out. Did you not?"
Ling Luo Yi paused, as if thinking, and then shook her head with certainty after a moment. "There really wasn't."
Ling Luo Yi's memory was always excellent, but her memory for unimportant people or events was zero. Therefore, the conflict with Yin Yurou today had long been forgotten, let alone Ye Beiyao's threats.
Looking at Ling Luo Qian and Ling Luo Ran practicing their swordsmanship in the training grounds, Ling Luo Yu asked, "Did any conflicts arise between you sisters?"
Speaking of this, Ling Luo Yi recounted the situations of the past two days. "In the two days since I've returned, Qian'er hasn't spoken much to me. Fu'er is too timid and a bit insecure. Ran'er, on the other hand, keeps sticking to me, as if to confirm if I'm real, or perhaps afraid I'll suddenly leave."
As Ling Luo Yi spoke, she sighed deeply again.
Ling Luo Fan and Ling Luo Yu exchanged glances. As the legitimate elder brothers of the people mentioned by Ling Luo Yi, they felt obligated to explain.
"Luo'er, don't blame Qian'er. She probably doesn't know how to face you yet."
"Yes, Luo'er, Qian'er has been trying very hard to act like an elder sister these past few years," Ling Luo Yu also advised. "Ran'er is probably trying to confirm if you've truly returned, after all..."
Ling Luo Yi finished his sentence for him, "After all, in your hearts, I was already dead."
And indeed, she was dead.
Ling Luo Yi added that sentence in her heart.
Ling Luo Fan and Ling Luo Yu lowered their heads uncomfortably. Ling Luo Yu added, "As for Fu'er, she doesn't have a spiritual root and cannot cultivate, so..."
Mentioning this, the three fell silent.