Chapter 294 - Returning to Rightful Place?
Chapter 294: Returning to Rightful Place?
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ling Hao did not miss the change in their expressions. He mirrored their excitement effortlessly even though hatred filled his heart. “Grandpa, Third Uncle, I am absolutely sure this time!”
Ling Xiao’s face would flush a strange redness as long as he was excited. It was a souvenir from the wretched battle. “Hao Er, where is your younger brother Ling Yun? Have you brought him along with you?” Ling Xiao quivered.
Ling Hao’s eyes showed a smear of shamefulness as he bowed his head slightly.
“Grandpa, Third Uncle, don’t fret. I only managed to get hold of Ling Yun’s whereabouts at noon today. I didn’t want to disappoint you again, so I cross referenced with the information given by Third Uncle and came to you only after I verified that he is the one,” Ling Hao answered with what he had prepared.
Ling Lie had been observing Ling Hao carefully. He sat down slowly after calming the loud thumping of his heartbeat. “Hao Er, where is your younger brother now? How is he doing?”
“Grandpa, Ling Yun is currently in Qingshui City of Jiangnan Province. He is a student at Qingshui High. He’s currently in Grade 12 Class Six,” Ling Hao replied excitedly.
“Qingshui City in Jiangnan Province?!”
The three elders could not help but to look at each other again when they heard the location.
Experience hurts. Ling Lie took his eyes off Ling Hao for just a tenth of a second before questioning him again. “Hao Er, how can you be sure that this person is your younger brother Ling Yun if you have not done a DNA test?”
Ling Hao was prepared for these questions before he came. He smiled easily and replied, “Grandpa, it is different this time. You will know with just one look at his photo.”
Ling Hao took out his phone and handed it to Ling Lie respectfully. The large screen displayed Ling Yun’s photo.
Ling Lie took Ling Hao’s phone with trembling hands. He glanced up at Ling Xiao as if to confirm something and started tearing up.
At this critical moment, Ling Xiao forgot all about respect and filial piety. He just snatched the phone from the hands of Ling Lie.
One look was more than enough to determine their relationship!
Ling Yun had a wide forehead and handsome eyebrows. He had a straight nose and distinct lips. He looked like a model carved out from a younger Ling Xiao!
The saying that blood was thicker than water was not fabricated. Ling Xiao knew with just one look that the handsome youth was unmistakably his son!
Ling Yun had a pair of raised, proud eyes that looked exactly like Ling Yun’s biological mother!
“Heaven does have mercy!” the aged Ling Lie bellowed. He lifted his head up towards the sky, allowing tears to flow freely from his eyes.
Cui Lao was fighting back his tears as well. He had been beside Ling Lie the whole time and had naturally seen Ling Yun’s appearance from the screen. His fist tightened in excitement as he exclaimed, “Master, t-there is no need for DNA test. He is just a younger Third Master!”
Ling Xiao stared hard at Ling Yun on the screen. His adam’s apple shook violently, blocking all the things he wanted to say.
Ling Xiao wiped away his tears with the back of his hand. “Hao Er, what… what does your younger brother go by now?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Third Uncle, his name is Ling Yun. It has always been Ling Yun on the registry,” Ling Hao said cheerfully.
“Ling Yun?! Great, that’s really great!” Ling Xiao nodded his head elatedly.
Ling Lie finally wiped away the tears on his face. He turned toward Ling Hao and asked, “Did you mention that Ling Yun is currently a student at Qingshui High of Qingshui City in Jiangnan Province?”
“Yes, Grandpa!” Ling Hao acknowledged.
Ling Lie nodded and continued his line of questioning. “Did you investigate the current situation of your brother Ling Yun’s family? What kind of people adopted him?”
“Grandpa, I have investigated all of these through various means. That’s why I am sure that this is my brother, Ling Yun,” Ling Hao answered immediately.
“First, of course, is his appearance, which you have seen as well. Secondly, this person was definitely adopted. There are official records with the police. Lastly, the person who adopted my brother is a woman called Qin Qiuyue. She runs an ordinary clinic and has a biological daughter called Ning Lingyu…”
Ling Lie suddenly raised his hand and stopped Ling Hao from continuing. He twisted his head to look at Cui Lao with horror and suspicion in both of their eyes. Ling Lie shook his head and turned back to Ling Hao. “So… who is Ling Yun’s adopted father?”
That puzzled Ling Hao. Why did Grandpa care about Ling Yun’s adopted father?
“Grandpa, according to the information I managed to gather, that woman was not married. I have not verified the rest,” Ling Hao replied.
Ling Lie frowned and sat back slowly into his chair. He recited repeatedly in his heart, “Qin… Ning… impossible, there is definitely no such coincidence in the world… impossible, that is absolutely impossible…”
He couldn’t care so much anymore anyways. Ling Lie looked up and asked Ling Hao, this time in a grave tone. “Hao Er, how many people know that you have found Ling Yun?”
Ling Hao beamed with confidence as he replied, “Grandpa, I came to you immediately after I verified that it is him. You have cautioned me time and again that this operation should be done in secret. I haven’t even informed my father yet.”
Ling Lie’s eyes showed gratitude. “Good kid! You have done well and have made a great contribution to our Ling Family!” Ling Lie outwardly expressed his satisfaction with Ling Hao.
Ling Hao was beside himself with joy, but he remained expressionless. “Grandpa, I am merely carrying out my duty as the eldest grandson of the Ling Family. I don’t deserve any credit.”
“Yes!” Ling Lie acknowledged. “Remember, this is top secret. No else outside of the Ling Family should know about this. Do you understand, Hao Er?”
Ling Hao gave his promise and retreated to the sidelines.
Ling Lie meditated for a while before making a series of arrangements. “What do you think is the most suitable method to get Ling Yun back into our family?” Ling Lie opened the question to the floor.
Ling Xiao offered himself up immediately. He wanted nothing less than to teleport to Qingshui City immediately and bring his son home. “Dad, please let me go, I…”
Ling Lie shook his head slowly before delivering the blow. “Xiao Er, I understand your feelings as a father, but you are the last person who should go! You should know better than me that many eyes are still on you!”
Ling Xiao stepped forward anxiously to rebut. “But…”
Ling Lie dismissed Ling Xiao’s whimpers with his hand and lowered his voice. “Not only you, but no one from the Ling Family can go personally. Let me see…”
Ling Lie looked at Cui Lao pointedly.
Cui Lao and Ling Lie had been together for so long, and they understood each other perfectly. Cui Lao nodded with a smile and addressed Ling Xiao, “Third Master, Master is right. No one from the Ling Family is suitable for this task. What do you say if I represent you?”
“Cui Lao, erm… this is actually just a minor matter. Now that we have found Ling Yun, we are just bringing Ling Yun home. I can’t possibly trouble you to make the trip personally.” Ling Xiao grimaced.
It was indeed a small matter to the Ling Family now since they had already ascertained his safety.
“Bringing Ling Yun home is definitely not a small matter. He’ll probably be just like you eighteen years ago. I’ll get along with him instantly. Just let me represent you on this matter.” Cui Lao laughed.
Ling Xiao could only look on helplessly at Ling Lie.
Ling Lie nodded his head in agreement to the proposal by Cui Lao. That was his intention anyway. “Xiao Er, let’s just settle on this. I should be the one to bring my grandson home personally. However, all eyes would be on me if I made any move now. Let’s trouble our trusted Cui Lao to make the trip for us.”
“Yes, Father!” Ling Xiao shone with excitement at the prospect of seeing his own flesh and blood.
Everyone was in high spirits. Cui Lao was smiling as though spring was here. “Master, I will get going now if you have no further instructions!”
Ling Lie shook his head as he burst out laughing. “You are more anxious than I am even though you aren’t any younger than I! What is a few more hours after eighteen years? I will bring Hao Er’s father here so that we can do some detailed planning. It won’t be too late even if you were to head over then!”
“Hao Er, bring your father here for a secret family meeting now!” Ling Lie directed Ling Hao.