The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 864: Motherliness!

Motherliness! . . .

Jun Yinglian found herself enveloped in frustration and hopelessness, making it an arduous task to respond to Yue Gongxue's inquiries.

Yet Yue Gongxue's eyes gleamed with fervor, her face radiant with anticipation. "But your previous questions..." she began, "they pertain to my son. If you have any information about my dear child, please share it with me..."

Jun Yinglian, her voice feeble, gently clarified, "There's been a misunderstanding... My questions did not concern your son."

Yue Gongxue entertained a glimmer of hope, her thoughts racing. "Could it be... is my son now in the Qing-Yun Realm?" she pondered. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

[If he resides in the Land of Han-Yang, there's no way Jun Yinglian would have any knowledge of him!]

Jun Yinglian's voice softened. A tenderness filled her heart as she regarded Yue Gongxue. "Your son... he may well be a hidden young talent," she confessed. "A friend of mine mentioned him earlier. Perhaps your son has arrived in the Qing-Yun Realm... But I don't know his whereabouts."

Tears flowed from Yue Gongxue's eyes. She struggled to contain her emotions but ultimately couldn't. She sobbed uncontrollably, nearly fainting from the overwhelming sorrow. Her grip on Jun Yinglian's hand was vice-like.

In her eyes, there was a longing so intense that it threatened to consume her. Even the tiniest, incoherent details about her son would provide immense solace. For years, she had yearned for news of her child, and it had torn her heart asunder.

Jun Yinglian sighed deeply, her gaze locked onto Yue Gongxue's face, where a profound yearning was etched.

She knew that, if she fabricated a story, this desperate mother might one day succumb to disappointment and heartbreak.

[I... I genuinely have no knowledge...]

The only information Jun Yinglian possessed was gleaned from Bing Xinyue's account. She had no firsthand knowledge of the matter.

Yet, she couldn't bear the anguished expression on Yue Gongxue's face any longer. She resolved to share what she had learned from Bing Xinyue regarding Cha Eun Xiao.

As she recounted the tale, Yue Gongxue incessantly probed for more information. She was no longer cold and aloof. Regardless of Jun Yinglian's explanations, new questions continually arose.

Each detail mentioned by Jun Yinglian prompted fresh inquiries from Yue Gongxue. She was intrigued by the description of her son as a gifted young man and yearned to know more.

Her eyes remained fixed on Jun Yinglian, her curiosity insatiable. Jun Yinglian, however, was ill-prepared for the barrage of questions.

[What is happening here?]

She felt herself teetering on the edge of losing her composure.

"Let me offer my conjecture," Jun Yinglian proceeded cautiously. "Your son has grown up in isolation within the Land of Han-Yang. He should be no older than seventeen. I heard from a friend that he now has the potential to ascend to the Qing-Yun Realm at seventeen, which suggests he might be a prodigy. However, as I've never met him in person, I can't provide further details."

Yue Gongxue was deeply engrossed. "Seventeen years old, ascending to our realm. He might have reached the top level of the Sky Origin Stage, but that alone doesn't classify him as a genius. Even if he reached the Spirit Origin Stage, it doesn't guarantee his genius status."

Jun Yinglian found herself at a loss.

[Yue Gongxue evidently wants me to praise her son a bit more. She's an accomplished cultivator herself; how could she not grasp the reality?]

"A child who grows up in the impoverished Land of Han-Yang, reaching the top level of the Sky Origin Stage and ascending to an upper realm... isn't that the hallmark of a prodigy?" Jun Yinglian thought. Yet she sensed that Yue Gongxue wanted to hear more praise, and the relentless stream of questions demonstrated it.

In truth, Jun Yinglian was finding it incredibly challenging. She suddenly stood up and said, "Time waits for no one. I have other matters to attend to. It's time for me to depart. Until next time."

"Why must you leave so soon? Can't you stay just a little longer?" Yue Gongxue's reluctance was evident.

"No," thought Jun Yinglian.

[I can't remain here any longer. I'm concerned I might be driven to slap you and cause immediate harm, or worse, lose my composure and become unhinged, possibly harming myself. This is unbearable.]

Jun Yinglian was resolute about her departure. Nevertheless, she attempted to provide some consolation to Yue Gongxue. "Stay here and take good care of yourself. In due time, your brilliant son may come for you and resolve your situation. A genius such as him would not permit his mother to suffer. A conflict between Qiong-Hua Palace and your son may not be far off."

Yue Gongxue muttered, "Is it truly possible?"

Lost in thought, she muttered once more, "I don't want him to risk his life for my sake. I hope he can live a peaceful and joyful existence. If he is not a prodigy, and if he cannot ascend to the Qing-Yun Realm, he might have a better chance of living contentedly."

Jun Yinglian sighed, then turned to leave. However, before she had walked far, she overheard Yue Gongxue's plea.

"Master Jun, may I request a favor?" she implored. "I am unable to leave this place. Can you transport something to my son on my behalf?"

Jun Yinglian was conflicted. "I fear you've chosen the wrong person to help. Once I depart from here, I am heading into a massacre. Death will be shadowing me, and I cannot predict how long I'll survive or how far I will go. I'm apprehensive that whatever you want me to carry will..."

Yue Gongxue implored, "Please, I've been confined for seventeen years. You're the only person I've seen in all that time. I know I can only entrust this to you. I have no one else to turn to."

Jun Yinglian's heart softened, and she conceded, "Very well, what would you like me to convey?"

However, Yue Gongxue appeared uncertain. Having been imprisoned for seventeen years, she had nothing left. As a mother, she had not seen her son during those long years. She felt she was the world's worst mother. Now that she had finally encountered someone she could trust, she wished to offer her son something. Regrettably, she realized she had nothing to give him, and her heart ached as tears flowed uncontrollably.