Dog

Gong Ning had seen many people like her. In her previous world, almost everyone was like this.
Some words needed to be carefully considered for their meaning, while others were simply not to be listened to.
Because the purpose of her saying them was to make you unable to think it through, to figure it out.
The more you struggled, the happier she would be.
Tang Qiaohuan lowered her head and slowly moved towards Gong Ning.
“Elder, was I wrong? I know she’s very important to you. I shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly…”
Gong Ning scrutinized Tang Qiaohuan, trying to determine the reason for her actions.
Was it a lack of affection?
A desire for attention?
Or was it simply for fun?
“Where were you wrong?”
“I was wrong… wrong for trying to sow discord, for speaking ill of her behind her back.”
Tang Qiaohuan couldn’t be bothered with fanning the flames now.
The most important thing was to coax her master.
Once she had a good impression, she could act however she wanted, but right now, she didn’t even have a foundation, so it was easy to leave a bad impression.
“Her matter, I will hand over to the Heart-Sword Hall, and let the elders of the Heart-Sword Hall decide together.”
Gong Ning took a sip of her tea.
She was worried that Tang Qiaohuan was the last type of person, the kind who did things just for fun.
As the Sect Master’s daughter, she should lack for nothing.
But there was one thing in the Mystic Sky Sword Sect that couldn’t be obtained even with resources, and that was innate talent.
She was probably influenced by her mother; her talent was not good, yet she was born into a high position.
Her level of thinking far exceeded what she possessed, making it easier for her to go astray.
This kind of person didn’t care about gains or losses.
To her, all things were meaningless.
After death, she would be nothing but a pile of yellow earth.
Only the time she was alive belonged to her, so spiritual pleasure was greater than everything else.
It was obvious that Gong Ning had seen through her.
This wasn’t some powerful skill, but simply the result of being well-read and experienced, of understanding all aspects of life and comprehending the faces of all living beings.
But people were ultimately social animals, and this world was not like the internet of her previous life, where one’s true identity was unknown and one could speak freely.
Here, any words or actions could cause substantial harm to others.
This would not do.
Gong Ning was not only angry but also a little worried.
How could a child of this age have such a personality?
Tang Qiaohuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, while at the same time feeling a little disappointed.
Her master still decided to let the Heart-Sword Hall decide her fate, rather than covering for her out of personal feelings.
But fortunately, with her The Forsaken Immortal as a foundation, plus Tao Lingling’s first victory, it probably wouldn’t cause too much of a stir.
She again clung to Gong Ning’s arm.
She didn’t know where she had learned it, but she leaned against her naturally, as if she had done it countless times.
“Elder, I really did make up that rumor. I was jealous that her talent was lower than mine, yet her cultivation was higher… Please forgive me.”
Seeing her clinging to her again, Gong Ning was about to scold her when her dripping wet disciple immediately rushed over.
Her hair wasn’t even dry, and her clothes were hastily put on, still damp with water vapor.
“Vile wench! Get away from my master!”
Still before Tang Qiaohuan could react, she was lifted up by the ethereal spirits.
This time, Gong Ning didn’t stop her.
The Sect Master was a kind man.
Since he understood that a hero should not be left to freeze in the snow, he would naturally understand her education of Tang Qiaohuan.
Perhaps some things were better left for outsiders to do.
But she still had to discipline Lingling later; some words were too vulgar to be said.
However, what Gong Ning didn’t expect was that her disciple also came closer, bringing the lingering warmth and water vapor from her body with her.
“Master, did this little wench do anything to you?”
“No, no… you go eat first. You still have to cultivate later. If you encounter anything you can’t figure out, just knock on my door. Your master will answer it for you.”
Gong Ning returned to her own room, no longer minding the two little girls’ bickering and glaring.
She also had to cultivate.
During her free time, she would stay in her boudoir and cultivate the Pure Goddess Nine Luminaries True Art.
‘No, not a boudoir, a bedroom.’
However, this time, Gong Ning was in no mood for introspection; she couldn’t calm down.
Although Tang Qiaohuan’s words were provocative, they had indeed succeeded.
Gong Ning was now completely invested in her disciple, and it was hard for her to intentionally not think about it.
‘Where did Lingling come from? Why was her sect destroyed by the righteous path? If Tang Qiaohuan wasn’t lying, then why did my disciple prevent the Heart-Sword Hall from recruiting people?’
The most logical and intuitive guess… she had deliberately infiltrated.
If the Heart-Sword Hall had no disciples, she would receive attention and the most resources and training.
Coupled with her skilled swordsmanship, the killing intent she always couldn’t suppress, and her perseverance as if she had been tempered a thousand times… she was a living member of a demonic cult.
Thinking of this, Gong Ning felt suffocated, to the point that she couldn’t even perform introspection.
Lingling was her first disciple, the one who acknowledged her when she was at her lowest, the disciple who allowed her to display her abilities.
To Gong Ning, Lingling always had a bit of redemption in her.
The figure that had resolutely pressed down on the contract, the figure that had fought hard to win on the arena, and the figure that cultivated tirelessly every day.
The words Tang Qiaohuan had said were just a trivial provocation, yet Gong Ning’s heart was already filled with anxiety.
‘Should I ask my disciple? Ask her why she did such a thing? Ask about her family, where she came from? If the answer is unsatisfactory, will I be able to accept it?’
A knock suddenly came from the door, pulling Gong Ning out of her thoughts.
She deepened her voice, trying her best not to let it tremble, “Come in.”
Tao Lingling walked into the room and closed the door behind her.
“Did you encounter a problem in your cultivation?”
“No, my cultivation is going smoothly.”
“Then why did you come to find me?”
“Your disciple wishes to accept a commission.”
Tao Lingling said, getting straight to the point.
Gong Ning sized up her disciple and said, “You are only at the third level of Qi Refinement.”
“The Spirit Refinement Art requires souls. By accepting a commission, I can legally kill those who deserve to die.”
This was a lie.
Her souls were endless; she didn’t need to commit more killings.
The reason she proposed it was for another matter.
She couldn’t guarantee that the people in the Heart-Sword Hall weren’t just superficial friends, that they wouldn’t turn on her.
To keep her master from harm, it was best to stay away from the Mystic Sky Sword Sect until Jiang Yuyao returned.
“And, I must go. Among this commission’s targets is an enemy of mine.”
Tao Lingling said this to draw her master’s attention, to make her master think this matter was serious and that she had to accompany her.
But Gong Ning’s focus at this moment was not on that.
‘What I see with my own eyes is real. I might as well take this good opportunity to get to know my disciple better. In the end, whether my disciple is innocent or guilty, it won’t come so suddenly.’
“Then take it. Your master will personally escort you.”
Although their thoughts were different, and master and disciple each had their own motives, at least the result was the same.
“And me!”
A sudden voice sounded.
The bedroom door was opened again, and Tang Qiaohuan stood at the entrance, her hands on her hips.