"Your name is Chu Lingwei."
Meng Wanyang knew Chu Lingwei; everyone on the Xuan Tian Continent knew of her deeds. If her family did not have a rule against marrying outsiders, she would have gladly welcomed Chu Lingwei as her niece-in-law. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
"Yes." Chu Lingwei admitted.
"You should leave now." Meng Wanyang stated directly. She did not want Qinghe to have any further dealings with Chu Lingwei. Falling too deeply in love would only harm oneself.
Chu Lingwei looked at Meng Wanyang in surprise. Who was this woman, and why did she want her to leave?
"May I ask, are you Young Master Meng's..." For her to ask her to leave so readily, it must be related to Meng Qinghe. This suited her just fine.
"I am Qinghe's aunt." Meng Wanyang turned away. "From now on, I do not wish for you to be by Qinghe's side. You understand what I mean."
Chu Lingwei understood immediately. So, she was being rejected by Meng Qinghe's family.
"Alright, I will leave now." Chu Lingwei forced a smile. This feeling of being disliked was truly unpleasant. "Senior, please rest assured, Young Master Meng and I are merely acquaintances we met by chance. There is no romantic involvement, and there will not be in the future."
Meng Wanyang turned back in surprise, scrutinizing Chu Lingwei. "You don't like Qinghe?"
"Senior, Young Master Meng kindly gave me a ride. I am only grateful for his kindness, nothing more." Chu Lingwei answered truthfully. "Originally, I was going to bid Young Master Meng farewell tomorrow, but perhaps I should leave now."
"Please convey my thanks to Young Master Meng for me, Senior." Chu Lingwei, with the phantom cat in tow, left the restaurant. She was confident that with Meng Wanyang's words, her departure would be unimpeded.
Meng Wanyang watched Chu Lingwei leave and sighed softly. Qinghe would be heartbroken this time.
Chu Lingwei's heart was pounding. If anyone here had intended to stop her, the spiritual artifacts here would have surely detained her. This place was truly terrifying. Even ten peak cultivators would likely be defeated by the spiritual artifacts within this restaurant.
As Chu Lingwei stepped out of the final barrier of the restaurant, she let out a sigh of relief. She summoned her flying artifact and sped away. Unfamiliar with the area, Chu Lingwei chose a random direction and moved swiftly.
"Weiwei, there are several tails behind us." The phantom cat said without turning back. "These tails followed us out of the restaurant. I don't know whose people they are."
"Whoever they are, we'll shake them off first." Chu Lingwei spun around, casting several barriers to conceal her aura, and transformed with the phantom cat into a mother and child pair, walking slowly along the bustling street.
"Wow, it's so beautiful here!" The phantom cat, holding Chu Lingwei's hand, looked up at the sparkling objects and became delighted. "Mother, I want to eat this."
Chu Lingwei smiled at the phantom cat's address. It sounded so natural. "Alright, whatever you want to eat today, Mother will buy it for you. Eat to your heart's content."
"Mother is so good! I want to eat that spiritual cake too." The phantom cat was overjoyed. He hadn't realized that as long as he called her "Mother," Weiwei would buy him anything. It seemed he had learned a new way to act spoiled.
Chu Lingwei, hand in hand with the phantom cat, bought him whatever delicious food he liked. She also bought extra portions for Grandpa Yu in her spatial dimension, who was also a foodie, to satisfy his cravings.
They walked and stopped along the way, and the pursuers behind them had long since vanished.
"Those people are so stupid." The phantom cat laughed. He had thought they would be formidable, but a few barriers had completely blocked them. It seemed he had overestimated their abilities.
"Let's find a place to rest." It was already evening. Although the place was brightly lit and seemed peaceful, one never knew what it was like in private. No matter where they went, they would attract watchful eyes.
"Huh, Mother, can we stay here?" The phantom cat saw a familiar symbol on a restaurant ahead and excitedly pulled Chu Lingwei's hand, transmitting his thoughts. "Weiwei, that's Elder Brother's family's restaurant."
Chu Lingwei looked at the restaurant's entrance and indeed saw the Leng family's emblem. "Let's stay here." Chu Lingwei was out searching for someone, not pretending not to know acquaintances. Staying at the Leng family's restaurant would bring her some peace of mind.
As they entered the restaurant, the shopkeeper immediately greeted them. "Esteemed Daoist, our establishment is full."
The phantom cat's face fell, and he tugged Chu Lingwei's hand. "Mother, we're staying here today. I don't want to go to another restaurant."
"Little Master, our restaurant truly has no spare rooms." The shopkeeper said apologetically, looking at the child before him. He couldn't discern the child's cultivation level.
Chu Lingwei looked around the restaurant. There weren't many customers. They likely just didn't want to accommodate solitary guests like her, and the rooms were probably already booked. Perhaps they should go somewhere else.
"Mother, you still have the jade pendant." The phantom cat seemed to sense Chu Lingwei's thoughts and blurted it out in a hurry. He didn't want to be taken to the restaurant Meng Qinghe had brought them to; it had given him a bad feeling.
The shopkeeper's eyes flickered upon hearing the phantom cat's words. These two must have come specifically for their restaurant. "May I ask, esteemed Daoist, whose jade pendant do you have?"
Chu Lingwei glanced at the phantom cat helplessly and took out her Elder Brother's jade pendant from her storage bag. "Will this jade pendant do?"
The shopkeeper's expression changed to surprise upon seeing his young master's personal jade pendant. "Of course! Esteemed Daoist, please come in."
Chu Lingwei put away the jade pendant and followed the shopkeeper to the backyard. "Esteemed Daoist, you may stay here. This area is protected by barriers, making it impossible for even peak cultivators to enter and exit freely."
"Thank you." Chu Lingwei nodded, finding this arrangement ideal. She then entered with the phantom cat.
"Finally, I can relax." The phantom cat slumped onto the table, his earlier unease about that other restaurant lingering. "If Elder Brother were here, it would be great. He would definitely protect us."
Hearing "Elder Brother," Chu Lingwei's heart jolted. She surmised that her Elder Brother must have been severely injured and wondered how he was doing now.
"Weiwei, do you think Elder Brother will come here?" The phantom cat suddenly spoke. "I heard the auction here is very important. Perhaps we'll meet people from the Xiu Ling Academy."
"I don't think so." Chu Lingwei felt that her Elder Brother wouldn't come here. He lacked nothing, so his appearance here would surely signify a major event.
Disappointment flashed in the phantom cat's eyes. He was worried that Meng Qinghe might find them again. If that happened, what should they do?