Chapter 17: A Mother’s Deep Love

Because his physical condition had greatly improved, and he was wearing the Divine Blood Jade Marrow, Mu Xian’s period of unconsciousness was very short.

Just as Mu Xian woke up, he heard his mother firmly tell Ling Tian that he was a Spiritual Pharmacist, and that his attainments in Spiritual Medicine were not low. This made Mu Xian’s heart immediately race, his face instantly turned pale, and beads of sweat the size of beans broke out on his forehead.

Mu Xian had long known that his mother in this life was an extremely shrewd person. Nothing could escape her eyes. But Mu Xian hadn’t expected his mother to be this formidable.

“How did she see through my identity? What will she do next?”

After his mother saw through his identity as a Spiritual Pharmacist, Mu Xian’s mind was in turmoil, and his hands and feet turned cold. This was because he didn’t know how many of his secrets his mother had uncovered, how she had uncovered them, or what he should do next.

“Xian’er, did you have a nightmare?” Noticing Mu Xian’s breathing had suddenly become rapid and his face was covered in cold sweat, Tang Qiluo was startled. She then picked up the hot towel she had prepared earlier and began carefully wiping Mu Xian’s forehead.

Hearing his mother’s extremely gentle voice and feeling her patient movements, it was as if a miraculous power had suddenly descended, making the unease in Mu Xian’s heart vanish without a trace.

“Mother, don’t… don’t leave me. Never leave me.” Almost without thinking, these words spilled from Mu Xian’s mouth, and his body slumped into the arms of Tang Qiluo, who was sitting upright on the edge of the bed.

Only after doing this did Mu Xian suddenly awaken with a start. How had that cry of “Mother” come so naturally from his mouth? How was the action of throwing himself into his mother’s embrace also so natural?

“Silly child, how could Mother ever leave you? You are Mother’s flesh and blood. Mother would never abandon you in this lifetime.” Tang Qiluo gently patted Mu Xian’s head and said with heartache.

Tang Qiluo had originally been worried that after not seeing each other for a while, the child might have grown distant from her. It was only when Mu Xian showed extreme dependence on her that she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Recalling the circumstances Ling Tian had described earlier, a trace of worry couldn’t help but flash across Tang Qiluo’s face. Was sending her child to Yunyang Academy right or wrong?

The reason Tang Qiluo had sent Mu Xian to Yunyang Academy was because Mu Xian had suffered too many scornful looks within the family, causing his personality to become increasingly withdrawn. He lacked friends his own age, which worried Tang Qiluo greatly about his growth. Now, it seemed that although there were many people Mu Xian’s age at Yunyang Academy, the grievances Mu Xian suffered appeared to be even greater.

Of course, that little girl Xiao Yuerou was an exception.

“Xian’er, do you like life at the academy? How about, since you’ve returned this time, you don’t go back?” Hesitating for a moment, Tang Qiluo cautiously sought Mu Xian’s opinion.

“Mother, your child has already learned to take care of himself now.” Mu Xian glanced at Tang Qiluo and found her gaze towards him was completely filled with concern and doting affection. Warmth filled his heart, and he chuckled softly.

Upon hearing this, Tang Qiluo couldn’t help but be taken aback. She then remembered Mu Xian’s performance at Shenduan Mountain and the way he had turned the tide within the family earlier. She couldn’t help but lightly pat her own forehead, silently scolding herself for being muddle-headed. Judging from his previous actions, her son had clearly grown a great deal during these three years at the academy.

“Child, you’ve suffered all these years.” Remembering how she had hardened her heart to send Mu Xian into Yunyang Academy, effectively confining him there for three years, Tang Qiluo’s eyes began to turn red.

Tang Qiluo could almost imagine the feeling of being alone and helpless in a completely unfamiliar environment when Mu Xian first entered, as well as the various hardships and pains he must have endured while adapting to the new surroundings.

But thinking of her son’s growth, Tang Qiluo felt it was all worth it.

“Mother, fighting and killing are forbidden within the academy. There was no life-threatening danger at all. You also gave me more money than I could ever spend, so I had no worries holding me back. What grievances could I possibly have suffered? It’s Father and Mother who truly worked hard. Before, your child always thought everything you did for me was your duty, and that my enjoyment of your care was only natural. After staying at the academy for three years, I realized how despicable I was before…”

Mu Xian’s words came entirely from genuine feeling. As he spoke, he couldn’t help but inwardly criticize the former owner of this body for being despicable and ignorant. This was because Mu Yuanshan and Tang Qiluo had exhausted their minds and efforts for the sake of the former owner, practically willing to dig out their own hearts, yet the former owner had frequently vented his anger at Mu Yuanshan and Tang Qiluo, all based on baseless complaints and abusive outbursts.

As Mu Xian continued speaking, he found his own emotions had been unconsciously affected. In the end, an infinite sense of guilt actually arose in his heart. He felt terribly frustrated. Those despicable things were done by the former owner of the body, not by him. So why was he feeling this self-reproach?

While Mu Xian sank into contemplation, Tang Qiluo was moved to tears. Her exquisitely beautiful face was streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain, and her lovely willow-leaf-shaped eyes were red and swollen. Her gaze towards Mu Xian was full of gratification and deep affection.

Over all these years, although Tang Qiluo had given ungrudgingly and tirelessly for Mu Xian and never felt wronged or weary, sometimes, facing her son’s resentful gaze and accusatory words, and seeing her son endure various insults and pains again and again, her heart felt as if slashed by a knife, and the pain was unbearable.

Tang Qiluo felt everything was her fault. If she hadn’t been so competitive and stubborn, fighting with others even while pregnant, which led to harming the fetus, Mu Xian would not have had to face so much suffering.

For so many years, only her husband Mu Yuanshan had silently stayed by her side, sharing her various pains and patiently comforting her.

Now, suddenly hearing her son’s understanding words, Tang Qiluo felt her heart instantly melt. She felt everything she had given over these years was completely worth it.

Mu Xian soon noticed his mother’s emotional state. He hesitated for a moment, but finally reached out his hand. It gently landed on his mother’s cool cheek, helping her wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. He said softly, “Mother, please stop crying. If Father comes back and sees you crying, he’ll think I bullied you. What if he slaps me?”

Feeling Mu Xian’s gentle action, Tang Qiluo stopped sobbing. Upon hearing Mu Xian’s words, she couldn’t help but let out a “pfft” laugh. “Silly boy, when has your father ever been willing to slap you? You’re just talking nonsense!”

Seeing Tang Qiluo smile, Mu Xian felt as if a hundred flowers had suddenly bloomed, filling the room with fragrance. He stared blankly at his mother’s exquisite face, momentarily spellbound.

After this exchange, Mu Xian had already accepted this beautiful and kind mother from the bottom of his heart. The bond between mother and son quickly grew closer.

Just as mother and son were talking affectionately, a strange “gurgling” sound suddenly and inopportunely rang out in the room. When Mu Xian identified the source of the sound, he couldn’t help but look very embarrassed, because that “gurgling” sound was coming from his own stomach.

“Ah… Mother is so foolish! I was so focused on chatting with you that I forgot you need to eat. I’ll go heat up the porridge for you right away…” Discovering the sound came from Mu Xian’s stomach, Tang Qiluo let out a small cry and then quickly ran out of the east wing room, heading straight for the kitchen.

Watching his mother’s rapidly departing figure, Mu Xian’s face couldn’t help but show a satisfied and happy smile. The feeling of having a mother to care for him was truly wonderful.

“My Divine Soul has completely merged with the former owner’s seven spirits. The two are now indivisible. As long as I don’t actively reveal the secret of my rebirth, there’s no need to worry about anyone uncovering the fact that I possessed this body and was reborn. Just now, I was scaring myself.”

Remembering his own reaction upon suddenly hearing his mother declare he was a Spiritual Pharmacist, a bitter smile appeared on Mu Xian’s face.

“Xian’er, is it true, as your mother said, that you are already a Spiritual Pharmacist, and a very formidable one at that?” Just as Mu Xian was still feeling relieved about his narrow escape, Ling Tian’s excited voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

It was also at this moment that Mu Xian noticed Ling Tian was also in his room.

When Mu Xian’s gaze fell upon Ling Tian, he saw that Ling Tian’s wounds had not received any treatment. His intestines were simply stuffed back into his abdomen, and his half-severed arm was still dangling precariously. Mu Xian’s heart instantly contracted painfully. A surge of emotion and guilt suddenly welled up from deep within him.

“Uncle Ling, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept this matter hidden from you…” Mu Xian’s lips moved for a long moment, and finally he bowed his head sincerely.

“You are a Spiritual Pharmacist! So you really are a Spiritual Pharmacist! I knew it! A tiger father does not beget a dog son. Your Elder Brother is so outstanding, so how could our Xian’er be a good-for-nothing?” Getting a definite confirmation from Mu Xian’s mouth, Ling Tian couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh heartily.

Soon, Ling Tian noticed the look of guilt on Mu Xian’s face. He waved his hand and said, completely unconcerned, “Xian’er, you keeping your identity as a Spiritual Pharmacist hidden from me was right. Your father once told me this: he dares to entrust his back to me, but he doesn’t dare to entrust secrets to me. I am a person whose emotions show on his face. I truly am not good at keeping secrets.”

Hearing Ling Tian’s words, the look of guilt on Mu Xian’s face deepened even more.

Mu Xian naturally knew about the life-and-death friendship between Ling Tian and his father Mu Yuanshan. He also knew of Ling Tian’s loyalty to the family. However, Ling Tian was just as he described himself; he was not good at concealing his emotions.

“Uncle Ling, lie down on the bed. I’ll treat your wounds.” Seeing Ling Tian, in his excitement, waving his arms and dancing about, accidentally reopening some of his wounds, Mu Xian quickly rolled off the bed. He then helped Ling Tian over to the bedside.

Ling Tian glanced at the clean and tidy bed, then looked at his own bloodstained body. He opened his mouth, intending to refuse Mu Xian.

“Uncle Ling, your injuries this time are far too severe. If you don’t receive timely treatment, it could affect your future combat ability. You might even never advance in rank again for the rest of your life. At a time like this, why bother with minor formalities?” Mu Xian’s eyes had been fixed on Ling Tian, so he naturally saw through Ling Tian’s thoughts easily and quickly spoke up before Ling Tian could voice his refusal.

“Second Brother, you watched over Xian’er for so long on the journey. Now let Xian’er take care of you for once. The privilege of being attended to by a Spiritual Pharmacist isn’t something just anyone gets to enjoy.” Right at that moment, Tang Qiluo’s voice also sounded from outside the door.