Chapter 220: Ning Xiaochuan's Sorrow

Chapter 220: Ning Xiaochuan's Sorrow

Ning Xiaochuan rubbed his temples in frustration. "It's a misunderstanding... She has nothing to do with me."

"If she has nothing to do with you, why is she in your room? And why is she undressed like this? Do you... have some twisted hobby? I’ve long heard rumors about nobles in the imperial court having a taste for children, but today I’ve seen it with my own eyes."

Duanmu Linger was furious. She grabbed Ning Xiaochuan by the collar and hissed, "Whose child did you kidnap and bring here? Let me warn you—don’t try anything funny on Nine Death Cliff. The people living here are all ruthless villains. If you step out of Ling Qi Pavilion, do you really think they won’t boil you alive and eat you?"

This was utterly ridiculous.

Ning Xiaochuan, however, remained unshaken and righteous. "I’ll say it again—I have nothing to do with her. The women of the Demon Sect have such impure thoughts."

Duanmu Linger sneered, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. "My thoughts are impure? Then explain to me how a two- or three-year-old girl ended up naked in your room. Don’t tell me she walked in here by herself."

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath. "Fine, I admit it—she does have a connection to me, but—"

"Hah! You finally admit it!" Duanmu Linger laughed triumphantly.

Just as the two were arguing, the little girl’s eyelashes fluttered as she woke up. Her small, delicate hands rubbed her eyes sleepily before she looked at Ning Xiaochuan and said softly, "Daddy, I’m hungry."

Both Ning Xiaochuan and Duanmu Linger froze as if struck by Lightning, their eyes snapping toward the little girl on the Ice Bed.

Duanmu Linger slowly released her grip on Ning Xiaochuan’s collar and narrowed her eyes. "What did she just call you?"

Ning Xiaochuan pressed his lips together. "You’re taking a child’s words seriously?"

"Daddy, I’m hungry!"

The little girl clumsily climbed down from the bed, wobbling unsteadily as she walked over and hugged Ning Xiaochuan’s leg, staring up at him with pitiful eyes.

Her gaze was exceptionally clear, her pupils round and dark, her lashes long and curled.

Duanmu Linger pinched Ning Xiaochuan’s waist hard. "A child’s words are the most honest. Who would’ve thought, Ning Xiaochuan? You’ve got quite the secret—such a big daughter already! Who’s the mother? Does she know what a beast you are?"

"Mommy, I’m hungry!" The little girl then hugged Duanmu Linger’s leg, tugging gently at her skirt.

Duanmu Linger stiffened in shock.

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled and shook his head. "So you’re her mother after all. Who would’ve guessed the young and beautiful Duanmu Linger is already a mother?"

"Don’t talk nonsense! You’re taking a child’s words seriously?"

"A child’s words are the most honest."

Duanmu Linger was nearly driven mad with frustration, but she suppressed her anger and picked up the little girl. "Little one, what’s your name?"

"Mommy, I don’t have a name." The girl blinked her big, round eyes, staring straight at Duanmu Linger.

"I’m not your mommy. Call me sister," Duanmu Linger said gently.

"Mommy!" The little girl seemed to have decided—she wasn’t changing her mind.

Ning Xiaochuan tossed this hot potato to Duanmu Linger and was about to slip away. Faced with such a situation, he was truly caught off guard and had no idea how to handle it.

Who knew if this Small Mystic Beast might suddenly bite someone?

"Ning Xiaochuan, come hold your daughter yourself!" Duanmu Linger gnashed her teeth, transforming into a gust of cold wind as she chased after him, blocking his path.

"She’s not my daughter," Ning Xiaochuan said calmly.

"Daddy!" The little girl blinked at Ning Xiaochuan, looking utterly adorable.

Ning Xiaochuan rubbed his temples, pondered for a moment, and said, "First, get her some clothes. It’s freezing—don’t let the child catch a cold."

"How would I have clothes for a little girl?" Duanmu Linger muttered under her breath.

Both of them spoke in hushed tones, afraid of being overheard by the Demon Sect Saintess living next door.

Ning Xiaochuan frowned. "How could you not have clothes for a little girl?"

"Why would I? I’ve never had a child… I—I’m not even married!" Duanmu Linger gritted her teeth.

Ning Xiaochuan replied coolly, "You’ve never been a little girl yourself?"

"That was ages ago! How would I still have clothes from back then… Wait, I don’t, but Duanmu Jishuang does."

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Who’s Duanmu Jishuang?"

Duanmu Linger smirked coldly. "My sister. But she’s a bitch."

"How so?" Ning Xiaochuan inquired.

"The father of her daughter is her father-in-law." After saying this, Duanmu Linger carried the little girl into the room.

Ning Xiaochuan prided himself on being sharp-witted, but it took him a long while to process Duanmu Linger’s words.

What did that even mean?

"The father of her daughter is her father-in-law…"

Suddenly, his brows twitched as the realization hit him. "Does her husband know?"

"Know? The whole family knows."

Duanmu Linger took off her outer robe and draped it over the little girl, settling her comfortably before stepping out again, her eyes icy. "If it weren’t for this, I’d never want to see that bitch again."

Ning Xiaochuan had thought the familial relations in the Jian Pavilion Marquis House were messy enough, but he never expected the Demon Sect’s to be even worse.

He also found such women rather detestable. "I won’t go. You go ahead and come back soon. I’ll wait for good news."

"You’re not coming?" Duanmu Linger asked.

Ning Xiaochuan shrugged. "It’s not a big deal. You can handle it alone."

"True, it’s not a big deal. How about we just kill the little girl and burn the body? That’d settle everything." She drew the Desperate Crescent Blade, its cold glint flickering in the air, before turning toward the room.

Though Ning Xiaochuan could be ruthless and decisive against enemies, he could never bring himself to kill a little girl.

"Fine, I’ll go with you," Ning Xiaochuan sighed. "Two Transcendent Realm martial experts, going to such lengths just to find clothes for a little girl… If word got out, no one would believe it."

Not long after Ning Xiaochuan and Duanmu Linger left Lingfeng Pavilion, the Demon Sect Saintess descended onto the snowy ground. She glanced toward the house, her expression puzzled. "Since when did Ning Xiaochuan have a daughter? Could it really be his illegitimate child with Duanmu Linger? Impossible. Ning Xiaochuan has always been in the Imperial City, while Duanmu Linger has been at Nine Death Cliff. How could they have such a grown daughter? Unless... it's Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian's child?"

With a flick of her sleeve, the Demon Sect Saintess pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The Blood Devouring Demon Sect Leader, Duanmu Linye, had three daughters.

The eldest was Duanmu Youlan, the second was Duanmu Jishuang, and the youngest was Duanmu Linger.

The eldest and second daughters were already married. Among them, the second daughter, Duanmu Jishuang, was wed to Lin Zhirong, the young master of the Lifeless Dao.

This Lin Zhirong could be considered a rising star among the Demonic Martial Artists. Despite his youth, he had already entered the Transcendent Realm, making him a prodigy with the talent and potential to inherit the Lifeless Dao.

However, practicing the techniques of the Lifeless Dao would render one infertile—unless one could cultivate the "Lifeless Art" to the ninth level, only then could fertility be restored.

Though Lin Zhirong's talent was exceptional, he was still too young to have mastered the "Lifeless Art" to the ninth level. Yet, his wife—Duanmu Linger's second sister, Duanmu Jishuang—had become pregnant and even given birth to a daughter.

Because of this, many whispered behind closed doors that Lin Zhirong was not the girl's biological father. Instead, they claimed the true father was Lin Tianyi, the leader of the Lifeless Dao.

Naturally, no one dared to discuss such a scandal openly, but in secret, many spread the rumor.

This was precisely why Duanmu Linger called Duanmu Jishuang a shameless woman, and the relationship between the two sisters was extremely strained.

After listening to Duanmu Linger's account, Ning Xiaochuan pondered carefully and said, "There are too many baseless rumors in this world. Don’t just follow what others say. I think there must be some misunderstanding here."

Duanmu Linger snorted coldly. "You’ll understand once you see her."

Though Duanmu Jishuang was married to the young master of the Lifeless Dao, she still resided at Nine Death Cliff.

She appeared remarkably youthful, wrapped in a snow-white fur coat, sitting by a vermilion railing. Her slender, fair arms cradled a book bound in iron sheets as she flipped through its pages with an air of grace and intelligence.

She exuded elegance and gentleness, nothing like a Demonic Martial Artist—instead, she resembled a noble young lady from a prestigious household.

Duanmu Jishuang's crimson lips curled slightly as she smiled teasingly at Duanmu Linger. "Clothes for a little girl? Linger, you’re not even married yet. How do you already have a child?"

"Will you lend them or not?" Duanmu Linger had no patience for her sister’s words, her voice icy.

Duanmu Jishuang glanced at Ning Xiaochuan, then gracefully rose to her feet, smiling. "This young gentleman is truly handsome, Linger. You have excellent taste—it even makes your sister a little jealous. How old is your daughter?"

"Shameless wench, stop spouting nonsense!" Duanmu Linger snapped.

Unfazed, Duanmu Jishuang's starry eyes shimmered with amusement. "What’s the shame in secretly having a child? Besides, the man you stole is so dashing, even I’m tempted."

"Swish—"

Duanmu Linger's eyes darkened as a golden ancient sword materialized between her fingers, slashing toward Duanmu Jishuang.

Duanmu Jishuang responded with a mocking smile, flicking her sleeve to release a flurry of white butterfly silver knives that traced eerie arcs, shattering the golden sword.

Her long skirt fluttered like a celestial maiden's as she unleashed a massive palm strike, crushing Duanmu Linger's Protective Profound Qi Armor.

Boom!

Duanmu Linger crashed through the railing and tumbled to the ground.

"Linger, if you want to challenge your elder sister, you'll need a few more years of training," Duanmu Jishuang said with a charming, tender smile. She turned her head slightly, fingers lightly smoothing her hair, her stunning eyes fixed on Ning Xiaochuan. "Young master, you're not one of those Demonic Martial Artists, are you? With such refined looks, how could you take a liking to her? This girl is as stubborn as a mule—nothing ladylike about her."

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath, finally understanding Duanmu Linger's earlier assessment—it was painfully accurate. He forced an awkward smile. "Actually, it's..."

"No need to explain. Didn't you need clothes for that little girl? My chamber is full of them—not just for little girls, but... for grown girls too. You can take whatever you like." With a playful grin, Duanmu Jishuang grabbed Ning Xiaochuan's hand and dragged him into her room.

Boom!

The door slammed shut.