Chapter 608: Chapter 608: Strength

Baili Le Yao was stunned for a moment. Clearly, she hadn’t expected Zhong Niangyao to respond like that. Originally, she had wanted to say more, but looking at Zhong Niangyao’s demeanor, she thought better of it and didn’t continue speaking.

However, there was still a faint, lingering worry in her heart.

All these years, she had never fulfilled her duties as a mother. So, naturally, she had no right to demand that Zhong Niangyao listen to her now.

Moreover, she had never wanted Zhong Niangyao to break up with Lu Yichen. She just hoped that Zhong Niangyao would be cautious.

Yet, she couldn’t help but think of her husband when she saw how Zhong Niangyao and Lu Yichen were together–her own husband, whose fate remained unknown.

She had learned of her husband’s plight two days ago. When she heard that her husband had fallen off a cliff, she almost couldn’t breathe.

If it hadn’t been for Zhong Niangyao by her side, she might have had some serious health issues.

Sighing, she took Zhong Niangyao’s hand and continued to speak, “You’ve always been a girl with your own mind, and I’m sure you know what you’re doing. I won’t say much more, as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

Then, as if she had just thought of something, her face showing a bit of nervousness, she looked up at Zhong Niangyao and finally mustered the courage to speak. “Nianyao, do you… do you blame your father and me at all? For the past twenty-odd years, we’ve been absent from your life.”

Caught off guard by such a question, Zhong Niangyao was momentarily stunned before she regained her composure and shook her head. “No, I’ve never blamed you. I understand that sometimes, some things are beyond our control. Both you and Dad had your own insurmountable difficulties. Moreover–”

As she spoke, a warm smile appeared on her face, “Although you both were absent, the love that Grandpa and Grandma gave me was not a bit less. So, even though you weren’t with me, I still lived well.”

Seeing the smile on Zhong Niangyao’s face made Baili Le Yao feel both happy and bittersweet.

She could see that Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong truly cherished Zhong Niangyao very much. Without them, Zhong Niangyao could not have grown up so simply and happily. This made her content that her choice back then was not wrong. If Zhong Niangyao had remained with the Baili Family, she certainly wouldn’t have had such a good life.

At the same time, she felt an endless sorrow that she had missed her daughter’s growth entirely. Both she and her husband had neglected their parental duties toward their daughter.

“Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong are good people.” Baili Le Yao nodded. “Leaving you in their care was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

“Uh-huh,” Zhong Niangyao nodded, then, changing the subject, she suddenly spoke, “Then, Mom, what are your plans for the future?”

Caught off guard by such an abrupt question, Baili Le Yao was almost too slow to react. “Nianyao, what do you mean–”

“Mom, you’ve woken up now,” Zhong Niangyao said. “After I bring back Dad, what are your plans?”

Hearing Zhong Niangyao say she was going to bring back Zhong Mingxin, a flash of surprise crossed Baili Le Yao’s eyes, but then she looked somewhat downhearted. “Nianyao, I know you’re a dutiful child. But this is really too dangerous. I hope you won’t act recklessly.”

Indeed, she missed her husband greatly. But she absolutely did not want her child to take such a risk. For all these years, she and her husband had not fulfilled their duties as parents, and now they had to rely on their child to save them–it just didn’t seem right.

If something happened to Nianyao while trying to save her husband, neither she nor her husband could rest easy. And certainly, if her husband knew that Zhong Niangyao was risking her life to save him, he would not agree to it either.

Of course, this didn’t mean she was giving up on her husband. She planned to look for her husband herself once she was a bit healthier. No matter what dangers she might face, she was determined to be with her husband through life and death.

As if seeing through Baili Le Yao’s intentions, Zhong Niangyao quietly observed her for a while before averting her gaze and speaking indifferently, “Mom, if Dad really is in trouble or danger, I have a much better advantage in saving him. I guess, Grandpa hasn’t told you about my abilities yet!”

Having said that, Zhong Niangyao stretched out her hand and snapped her fingers in the empty air.

Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped several degrees, as if plunging into the depths of winter. But in an instant, a flame appeared in the room. However, this flame did not bring any warmth; instead, it carried a chilling presence, making the atmosphere in the room incredibly oppressive.

Seeing the dark flame, Baili Le Yao instinctively felt a strong threat. Although she couldn’t discern what kind of flame it was, she felt that if she were touched by it, she might not die, but she would be severely injured.

As Baili Le Yao’s gaze fixed on the flame, Zhong Niangyao explained softly, “That is the Netherworld Fire from hell; it can burn all ghosts. If a person is touched by it, their soul will be scorched, a fate worse than death.”

“Nianyao, you–how can you summon the Netherworld Fire?” Baili Le Yao finally found her voice, speaking with some difficulty. “And the power you used, is it witchcraft?”

She wasn’t sure, even though she had been unconscious for over two decades, she had been learning witchcraft since she was young. Her father had also said she had a great talent for witchcraft.

But she had never seen witchcraft like this. If it truly was witchcraft, it only meant one thing–her daughter’s abilities far surpassed her own.

Thinking this, she looked at Zhong Niangyao, her eyes filled with shock.

“Oh, you’re talking about the Netherworld Fire!” Zhong Niangyao gestured, and the room’s temperature instantly rose, and the dangerous-looking Netherworld Fire also vanished from the room.

She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, “I just borrowed it from hell! The people from hell are pretty generous–borrowing it once or twice, they tend to oblige.”

She didn’t know how she could summon the Netherworld Fire, but she was very clear that if the beings in hell weren’t willing, she definitely couldn’t have conjured it.