FRGNM -Chapter 148 Choosing Between Two

“So, Mother will do everything she can to take you to see your grandparents. For that, Mother needs to leave for a while. During this time, Yizhui and Yimeng must also become stronger and behave yourselves, okay?” Ling Ruoxi extended her little finger toward the children.

The tiny fingers hooked together. That had always been their way of making a vow—once they linked fingers, no one was allowed to lie. At the very least, they had to stay alive.

A gentle breeze rose, carrying with it the sorrowful breath of autumn, stirring an inexplicable sadness in one’s heart.

A land of ice and cold stretched endlessly, devoid of even the slightest warmth. Even droplets of water froze into ice beads midair before falling to the ground with a sharp crack, shattering and merging with the steel-like surface below.

The temperature here was so low that anyone who entered had to protect themselves with Dou Qi; those whose strength was insufficient simply could not step inside.

At the center floated an enormous sphere. Pale purple light completely sealed it, leaving no trace of aura to escape. Inside the transparent sphere, a woman in white robes floated quietly, while faint purple Dou Qi, like creeping vines, bound her tightly.

Her fair skin was like finely carved jade, her stunning beauty enough to arouse envy. Between her brows lingered a trace of dominance rarely seen in others. A single red mark rested on her brow, making her look like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens—yet such beauty lay hidden behind closed eyes, cold and indifferent.

“Hahaha, Senior Sister, it’s been a long time.” A wild laugh echoed through the narrow space. A woman strolled up and stopped outside the sphere, admiring her handiwork. “Being trapped in the formation left behind by generations of patriarchs doesn’t feel good, does it? No matter how powerful you once were, you can only submit now.”

“What do you want to say?” The woman floating inside the sphere spoke calmly, her eyes still closed, her hands resting casually over her abdomen. She was already accustomed to this—she didn’t need to open her eyes to know what the woman outside looked like.

The woman outside suddenly spread her fingers and sneered. “What a pity—my senior sister is still so cold. You were once the one chosen to inherit the position of Island Master. But you ruined yourself for a man. I may have rebelled against you, but I never obtained the approval of the past Island Masters!”

Her voice grew sharp. She pressed a hand to her brow. “Why did you gain their recognition, while I was destined to be like this forever? The Blazing Flame Totem—haha, I want it too. It holds the power of all the past Island Masters.”

“If all you want is to know how to obtain the Blazing Flame Totem,” the woman inside said indifferently, “then my answer remains the same—please leave.”

The woman outside shook her head with a smile. “No, that’s not it. Senior Sister, I came today to talk to you about the totem—but what comes next is the real point.”

Her tone shifted, turning cold. “Senior Sister, you consorted with an outsider and gave birth to a daughter. It’s been over twenty years now—don’t you want to know where she is?”

“What did you say?!” The woman inside the sphere abruptly opened her eyes and turned her head. Bloodthirsty killing intent flared within her gaze. Her child—her child!

Curling her lips upward, Baili Wushuang laughed coldly. “See, Senior Sister? You lose your composure the moment your daughter is mentioned. All you ever think about is that child. We of the Baili clan shouldn’t be like you—marrying just any man so casually.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Her emotions wavered. Baili Yan stared at the woman before her, her hands clenching slightly, causing even the Dou Qi binding her to distort.

Baili Wushuang giggled, brushing back the hair by her ear. Her seductive smile bloomed as her graceful body turned lightly before Baili Yan. “I’ve already found your child—thanks to Ling’er. Your daughter, Ling Ruoxi, doesn’t seem to be living very well.”

“How is she? Xi’er, she—” The woman inside the sphere abruptly stood upright in midair. The Dou Qi binding her crackled loudly, and her face turned deathly pale as she struggled to control the energy around her.

“Her? Not very well.” With a light clap, a streak of red light flashed, and a small crimson token appeared in Baili Wushuang’s hand. “Senior Sister, do you still remember? Over twenty years ago, when you became pregnant, you feared Master would find out. So the two of us worked together and cast the Three Talents Formation on that child. You said you only wanted her to live her life as an ordinary person. Do you remember?”

“So what!” Cold light flashed in Baili Yan’s eyes as she clenched her fists, staring at the woman before her.

Laughing loudly, Baili Wushuang spun around and sat on the icy ground, covering her mouth with one hand. “That’s where you were wrong. Now she has no Dou Qi, spends her whole life being looked down upon, and has only a few decades to live. Perhaps before you even leave this place, she’ll already be dead.”

“But don’t worry, Senior Sister. Your daughter is currently with Luo Mingyu—the traitor of Qiongyu Immortal Island, the child you once favored so much. Recently, though, they separated. Your daughter even bore him two children. Now she’s within the borders of the Eastern Capital Kingdom—and the King of Eastern Capital happens to be my man. Tell me, what do you think will happen?”

The woman trapped inside the sphere changed expression dramatically. She slammed her palm against the sphere, the crackling sound growing louder—yet she felt nothing. She roared furiously, “Baili Wushuang! What do you want to do to Xi’er? She’s just a child! Can’t you let her live an ordinary, peaceful life?”

“Ordinary? Hahaha! I let her be ordinary, but she won’t let me be ordinary!” Baili Wushuang struck the ground and sprang to her feet, sneering coldly. “I knew long ago she was your daughter. Out of respect for being her godmother, I let her go. But now she’s gone to the Eastern Capital Kingdom, searching for Hetian jade, trying to regain her Dou Qi to oppose me. Tell me—should I spare her?”

“What?!” Baili Yan sucked in a sharp breath. The Three Talents Formation had been set by her and Baili Wushuang together. In this entire continent, aside from that man, almost no one could undo it. And given her relationship with Baili Wushuang now—this woman had personally imprisoned her here—how could she possibly help undo the formation in Xi’er’s body?

Her breath grew unsteady as she clenched her fists. “Did she choose to break the Three Talents Formation through external stimulation?”

“Yes. King Li Yi of the Eastern Capital has already sent word. Unfortunately—it failed. Your daughter, barely of age, was taken by that boy who betrayed Qiongyu Immortal Island. Even when he left, he abused her terribly. I hear she slept for a long time afterward. Do you regret sealing her powers now? Hahaha, Senior Sister!”

Her voice paused as Baili Wushuang raised two fingers. “I’ll give you two choices. First—tell me how to obtain the Blazing Flame Totem. Once I get it, I’ll let you and your daughter reunite. Second—kill your daughter, including your two grandchildren.”

“You dare!” Baili Yan roared. The sphere trembled violently, bulging outward where she struck it. Even the air froze solid, and the ice spikes that hadn’t yet fallen shattered instantly.

Her black hair flew wildly. Baili Wushuang merely laughed coldly, twirling her long hair in her fingers. “Whether I dare or not is for me to decide. Senior Sister, I’ll give you time to think—but not much. If you don’t hand over the method to obtain the totem, I’ll bring her corpse here!”

Icy winds swept across the land. Salty seawater crashed against the shore, spraying countless droplets. Ahead lay an endless desert—strange terrain that the Eastern Capital Kingdom had long grown accustomed to.

A lone figure, back to the sea and the rising sun, gripped a long sword and walked step by step into the golden sands.

“Are we really letting her go alone?” A standing figure watched as the silhouette gradually disappeared, letting out a helpless sigh.

“She must go alone. You’ll need to act together with her in the Hundred Caves once she returns, comprehending the mental techniques. Ideally, you’ll help her break the Three Talents Formation in her body. Remember—my time is only three years. After three years, I will return to Qiongyu Immortal Island and become your enemy.”

A faint smile curved the lips of the lofty man. That inscrutable smile only deepened the mystery.

“Why are you doing this? And now you say you’ll be our enemy—Li Yi, what are you really thinking?” Fang Xu clasped his hands behind his back. Even he couldn’t understand the man before him.

Lightly pinching the bridge of his nose, the King of Eastern Capital smiled faintly. “There’s a saying in this world—the unpredictability of fate. I’m merely acting in accordance with the natural cycle. Besides, I was originally from Qiongyu Immortal Island. Helping you is simply following the will of heaven; returning there later is repaying karma. Once everything settles, won’t it all be fine?”

“What do you mean?” The others frowned, unable to understand. All they knew was that in three years, the man before them would switch sides and join Qiongyu Immortal Island.

“That’s all there is to it—half-understanding is enough.” The King of Eastern Capital smiled calmly. One day, they would understand why. There was no need for him to explain now.

A crisp autumn breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of lotus blossoms—so enticing. Lotus leaves danced in the wind like the skirts of dancers, swaying gently. The pure white, sacred lotus flowers resembled beauties fresh from a bath, intoxicating to behold.

Three years passed. The Eastern Capital Kingdom remained unchanged. The sea continued to roar, anxiously slapping against the shore. Even the sky darkened in an instant, making it hard to breathe.

Boom!

Lightning struck mercilessly into the sea, sending fish fleeing in panic. Some were struck dead, floating lifeless on the surface.

Bolts as thick as arms continued to fall. Lightning tore through the sky, gales howled, and countless dead fish were hurled onto the shore by the raging sea.

Boom!

A massive bolt of lightning descended once more. At the same time, the sea split apart, water surging violently to both sides. At the center, the seawater twisted into enormous whirlpools, spiraling upward without end.