Chapter 958: The Sword Saint’s Inner Struggle

Chapter 958: The Sword Saint’s Inner Struggle

“She told you?”

When it came to the topic of children, the Sword Saint immediately thought of the Immortal Fox, his former partner. On the surface, he appeared calm and indifferent, but inwardly, turmoil was brewing.

After all, this was his inner turmoil—a child of his own blood missing without a trace. It was his own mishap that led to her current unknown fate; whether she was alive or dead remained a mystery.

He seemed cold-hearted and detached from worldly matters, yet when it came to his own flesh and blood, his heart was inevitably stirred.

For Lin Nuo, it was quite amusing to witness—the Sword Saint’s expression had shifted ever so slightly. It was a sensitive matter indeed.

“I was present during the ruckus last time. It wasn’t just pure speculation, was it?”

Lin Nuo grumbled. Any normal person could see it; it was obviously a classic marital spat, all laid bare.

“Did she tell you that?”

The Sword Saint echoed Lin Nuo’s words, to which Lin Nuo shook his head.

“I figured it out myself; she didn’t say anything. So, you admit it?”

“And what of your understanding?”

“What’s it to you? I just find it interesting. A transcendent being like you, the Sword Saint, caught up in a love debt—isn’t that newsworthy?”

Lin Nuo teased. Though he feigned a carefree demeanor, he was actually trying to clarify one matter.

That child they spoke of—could it possibly be related to Ruo’er? Perhaps it was indeed Ruo’er.

It was hard to say for certain, seeing how Ruo’er matched several criteria: a white fox, potential for immortality, and close in age to the description given by the Immortal Fox.

Most crucially, Ruo’er bore a striking resemblance to the Immortal Fox. Now that he thought of it, her facial features seemed somewhat similar to that of this eerie Sword Saint. He had never noticed it before; perhaps it was just psychological.

“So? You came here just to mock me?”

“I have no interest in mocking you. I’m merely pointing out, with your abilities, how is it that after all these years there’s still no word from her? Do you think it’s still possible?”

“Whether it’s possible or not is not for you to judge.”

The Sword Saint shot back, though he had no intention of getting into a brawl with Lin Nuo. He didn’t want a fight, and having already clashed with Lin Nuo before, his own methods had been seen through, leaving him with little advantage.

He lifted his goblet and took a sip of wine. Recently, he had taken to drinking more often, constantly lost in thoughts of that child whose fate was uncertain.

He often dreamt of a vague child calling out for him, thinking that his solitary life dedicated to swordsmanship had severed all ties to emotions. Yet, those dreams rekindled his longing for familial bonds.

So he desperately wanted to find her, but it proved impossible. There were numerous white foxes in the world, and despite his experience, he had ultimately failed to recognize her.

Was she truly no longer in this world?

He was unwilling to accept it—even if he spent a lifetime searching, he couldn’t believe it.

“What if you do find her? After all these years, have you fulfilled any duties of a father? You must understand that your former partner was a demon. Even if she possesses your potential, she remains a type of demon. Do you know how prejudiced people are against demons?”

“If I knew anyone who had wronged her, I would take their head.”

“What use is that? Even if you took their head now, what good would it do? Ridiculous.”

Lin Nuo scoffed. When he thought of parental duties, he couldn’t help but recall his own father from the Lin family—a classic example of a man, one he would never admire.

However, if it were Ruo’er, perhaps she would forgive the Sword Saint. After all, she had a kind heart, a true little angel.

“If she is alive, perhaps she is living a stable, ordinary life, free from worries. And then, here you come, shattering all of that. You would be too ashamed to face her, and she wouldn’t want to recognize you. Ultimately, you would be the one struggling. Since it has been so many years, why not just pretend she doesn’t exist? That might be a good thing for her.”

“Please mind your own business. You know this matter should not remain in this world, yet you lecture me. The fact that I haven’t drawn my sword already shows the extent of my patience with you.”

The Sword Saint countered Lin Nuo. Lin Nuo was not intimidated; they had sparred before, and he wasn’t going to let this guy think he could have the upper hand.

Even if Lin Nuo couldn’t deal with him, he knew the Sword Saint couldn’t do anything to him either.

Forget it—talking to him was pointless. It was unlikely he would let go of his search for his lost child. After all, there was someone in this world he cared about, and his determination was unwavering.

Lin Nuo poured himself a drink without hesitation and downed it, not holding back.

“Forget it. Lecturing isn’t my style. However, I’m not afraid of you. If you want a fight, we can have it right here. Let me just say this: the chaos you’ve created—thinking you might find the child to make amends after all these years—what could you possibly make amend for? You’d only add more harm to her. The situation you are in right now hardly constitutes a complete family, does it? Ah, this wine is quite good, is it not homemade?”

Lin Nuo took a sip; it was quite nice. He continued pouring himself another cup without a hint of modesty.

The Sword Saint didn’t bother to stop him. Although he superficially rebuffed Lin Nuo’s words, he absorbed some of the message.

Indeed, he and the Immortal Fox could not be considered a family. They were merely partners for a fleeting moment, and the child was an accident.

Moreover, even if they recognized one another, having grown accustomed to a life of solitude, what could he offer the child?

Lost in thought, he sank into his own reflections…

…

Ruo’er was getting along well with the Fox People. Now she felt like a little leader.

This feeling of being a little leader was fresh to her; she once worried about not being up to the task, but gradually, she started achieving results and gained the trust of her kin. It felt quite fulfilling.

“Ruo’er, that young master of yours is so talented and inspiring—truly a role model for our kind.”

The Fox People listened daily as Ruo’er spoke of Lin Nuo, and he had become a figure of faith among them. After all, it was Lin Nuo who saved a large number of Demon Foxes, and they were now united because of him.

“Alas, I wonder how the leader is doing? There’s been no news. We can’t stay here for long; those immortals will probably come looking for us.”

“Don’t worry! As long as we stand united, we have nothing to fear. Besides, I believe that even if we encounter difficulties, our young master will surely come to our aid. After all, he is the greatest person in this world!”

Ruo’er smiled with confidence. She was optimistic and approachable, which made her kin willing to listen to her.

Truth be told, Ruo’er didn’t care much about the leader; she just wanted to see her young master.

But where could he be, and when would they meet again?

Sigh… He left right after she arrived. What a pity—she had been waiting for so long.

Yet, she still believed she would reunite with her young master one day.

“Miss Li, our scouts found some Demon Practitioners approaching nearby.”

A Fox Person reported. This mountain peak was secluded and currently occupied by their kin, but Demon Practitioners were drawing near.

“Everyone, do not be alarmed. Let’s remain hidden for now.”

Ruo’er assumed a leader’s demeanor and addressed her companions.