All Heavens: A Role-Playing System Starting from Tianlong

Zhong Ling wrote very quickly, each stroke crooked and awkward. Fortunately, Zhang Cheng's brain had been enhanced, so he could barely understand it.

She wrote: "I saw that Sister Mu looked preoccupied after entering the city, so I wanted to go and keep her company. When I was halfway there, I saw the second brother sneaking this way, so I followed him to see what was going on."

After explaining why she was there, she quickly wrote:

"The second brother just sent the fool out to find his father and tell him that there might be unpleasant guests at the mansion. He told his father to call all the Dali masters, such as the fool's uncles and elders, and preferably bring a thousand or eight hundred men to surround the mansion."

The fool asked him who the unwelcome guest was, but he wouldn't say. When asked if he knew anything, he only said he couldn't. He just kept telling the fool to go out and get help. And so the two of them remained stuck there.

Zhang Cheng didn't react much after reading it.

Yue Laosan was probably just worried that they might harm Duan Yu, so he reminded them to be careful. After all, from their perspective, "Duan Laoda" did indeed have a grudge against the Dali Duan family.

Zhang Cheng didn't intend to stop him. He had recently mastered his "divine skills" and was quite arrogant. It was even better that Yue Laosan had brought an audience; it would be a good opportunity for him to see if he could put on a big show.

He stood up, turned around, and prepared to leave, but Zhong Ling grabbed his clothes.

The little girl quickly wrote in his palm again: "Aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Looking at her nervous little face, Zhang Cheng suddenly felt like laughing.

This girl has a kind heart.

He bent down, leaned close to her ear, and whispered using his inner strength, "What do you care? Let him go call for help. Alright, I'm going to find your Sister Mu now."

After saying this, Zhang Cheng turned and left.

He hadn't gone far when he suddenly heard light footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Zhong Ling using her lightness skill to catch up.

Now that they are far enough away from the pavilion, Zhong Ling no longer needs to worry about being discovered if she speaks.

"Brother Zhang, wait for me!" She caught up with him in a few steps, walking alongside him, tilting her head to look him up and down. "You blockhead, what's gotten into you today?"

Zhang Cheng glanced at her: "What do you mean?"

"It's just—" Zhong Ling drawled, her eyes curving into crescents, "you and Sister Mu. Ever since we came up from the bottom of the cliff, you two have been like that. I thought you'd be waiting forever before you took the initiative to go find her."

Zhang Cheng ignored her and continued walking forward.

Zhong Ling jogged a couple of steps to catch up, then smiled and leaned closer again: "Brother Zhang, tell me honestly, aren't you a little panicked too?"

Zhang Cheng paused, turned to look at her, and asked, "Why should I panic?"

"This must be the first time you've taken the initiative to go see Sister Mu, right, Brother Zhang? But she's in a bad mood—what if she gets angry and kicks you out? You'd lose face like that."

Zhang Cheng thought about it for a moment, and then nodded seriously.

"That makes sense." He looked at Zhong Ling. "Then why don't you go scout ahead for me?"

"Dream on!" Zhong Ling made a face at him. "You have to coax your own wife. I'll keep watch outside for you. If you get kicked out, I promise I won't tell anyone."

Zhang Cheng chuckled and flicked her forehead.

"Ouch!" Zhong Ling clutched her forehead, took two steps back, and glared at him. "What are you doing?!"

Zhang Cheng withdrew his hand and continued walking forward: "Alright, then I'll trouble Miss Zhong to keep watch."

Zhong Ling rubbed her forehead and followed, muttering to herself.

The two walked all the way to Mu Wanqing's house.

A figure was projected onto the window paper, sitting quietly at the table, motionless, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhang Cheng turned around and glanced at Zhong Ling.

Zhong Ling immediately understood, waved to him to indicate that she was not far away, and then quietly retreated to the corridor, pretending to admire the scenery with her hands behind her back.

I have to say, it feels pretty good to have this little lackey around when I go out.

Zhang Cheng suddenly understood how those spoiled brats felt.

He looked away and knocked on the door.

"Who?"

"I."

There was a moment of silence in the room.

Then, footsteps sounded. The door creaked open, revealing Mu Wanqing's face.

She looked at Zhang Cheng, stepped slightly to the side, and opened the door: "Come in."

Zhang Cheng walked in, glanced around the room casually, and then naturally sat down at the table.

Mu Wanqing followed behind him, closed the door, but did not move forward; she simply stood leaning against the door frame.

Zhang Cheng poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then looked up at her.

"Why are you standing so far away? Come and sit down."

Mu Wanqing didn't move. Zhang Cheng didn't urge her either, just held his teacup and slowly drank.

After a while, Mu Wanqing finally came over and sat down opposite him. She lowered her head, staring at the teapot on the table, without saying a word.

Zhang Cheng put down his teacup and broke the silence: "Zhong Ling said that you've been preoccupied ever since you came to the city."

Mu Wanqing looked up at him but didn't reply.

"She cares about you too." Zhang Cheng paused, "But she doesn't know what you're thinking—I do."

Mu Wanqing's body trembled slightly.

Zhang Cheng leaned back in his chair. "We're about to meet that Prince Duan. Aren't you feeling uneasy?"

Mu Wanqing pursed her lips and remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

"It's normal." Zhang Cheng nodded. "Anyone would panic. After all, you've always thought you didn't have a father, and then suddenly one appears—a high-ranking official who's also a playboy."

Mu Wanqing looked up at him: "Zhang Lang, tell me, should I acknowledge him as my father or not?"

Zhang Cheng looked at her and said seriously, "Whether you admit it or not is your business. I'm just here to beat people up."

Mu Wanqing looked at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't. She lowered her eyes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress.

After a long pause, she finally spoke softly, "I don't know how to face him."

She stared at the table with her head down, her eyes somewhat vacant: "I grew up with my master since I was little, and I always thought I was an orphan. Sometimes I think, how wonderful it would be if I could find my biological parents and ask them why they didn't want me."

"But now I know, it's not that he didn't want me, it's that he didn't even know I existed. My mother didn't abandon me either, she just..."

She didn't continue. Zhang Cheng didn't respond either, just listened quietly.

After a moment of silence, Mu Wanqing continued, "I should hate him. But I don't know what to hate. He's a womanizer and he wronged my mother, so that debt should be settled. But he really didn't know I existed as his daughter..."

She turned to look at Zhang Cheng, a hint of confusion in her eyes: "Tell me, what should I do about him?"

Zhang Cheng thought for a moment and said seriously, "Do it the way it should be done."

Mu Wanqing frowned: "What are you saying?"

"It means exactly what it says." Zhang Cheng shrugged. "If you want to acknowledge him, then acknowledge him; if you don't want to, then don't. There's no need to overthink it. Anyway, you've been doing just fine all these years without him."

He paused, then added:

"Besides, you still have me, don't you? If you really don't know how to face this, just come with me for now—two taels of silver a month, food and lodging included, conditions as before."

Mu Wanqing stared at him blankly, her eyes suddenly stinging with tears.

She turned her head away and took a deep breath to keep her tears from falling.

"You..." her voice was a little hoarse, "you still speak so rudely."

Zhang Cheng grinned: "You're used to being unruly, it's not like you just met me yesterday."

Mu Wanqing didn't reply, but just lowered her head, twisting her fingers around her sleeve.

After a long while, she said softly:

"I want to... meet him first. See what kind of person he is."

Zhang Cheng nodded: "Of course."

"You'll come with me then." Mu Wanqing looked up at him.

"Okay," Zhang Cheng agreed readily. "Your question is unnecessary—we saved his son; when he comes back, surely he'll want to see us, right?"

Mu Wanqing looked at him, and the corners of her mouth finally curved slightly.

The two sat there in silence. A gentle breeze blew in from outside the window, and soft footsteps echoed from the corridor; it was probably Zhong Ling pacing back and forth, getting impatient.

Zhang Cheng suddenly stood up.

He walked over to Mu Wanqing and, under her puzzled gaze, reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Alright, I just wanted to tell you not to overthink it. I'm here for you."

He withdrew his hand, turned and walked towards the door: "I should go. If I don't go out soon, 'Eunuch Zhong' who's keeping watch outside will be worried sick."

Mu Wanqing was taken aback, but then she understood what "Eunuch Zhong" meant and couldn't help but smile.

"Go."

Zhang Cheng opened the door and went out.

Under the eaves, Zhong Ling was indeed tiptoeing, peering in their direction. Seeing him emerge, her eyes lit up, and she immediately jogged over, lowering her voice to ask:

"How are you? Is Sister Mu feeling better?"

Zhang Cheng glanced at her: "Guess."

Zhong Ling blinked, moved closer to him, and whispered, "I bet you got scolded."

Zhang Cheng ignored her and walked away.

Zhong Ling quickly followed, chasing after him and asking, "Hey, don't go! Tell me about it..."