Chapter 124 - Guilt
As they entered the office, Bai Rouyun leaned against the wall and looked at the big stone basin in the middle.
This stone basin was the most common communication device on the continent. It was full of water, and one would pour a specific mixture of herbs and ground-up ores into it, which had previously been infused with a person's soul imprint.
It was the soul imprint that made it so that you contacted the right person; the ingredients alone could not connect the two communication devices with one another.
This had one downside. They would have to get the powder from the person, and when it had been used up, they would once more have to meet the person they wanted to contact to stock up on the powder that was infused with their soul imprint.
It was also because of this that Bai Mulan had barely contacted his friend throughout the many years he had been on the prison continent.
However, now that he had found Bai Rouyun, he fished out a small golden embroidered bag out from his robes.
He opened it, pouring out around a teaspoon of powder, which he then dropped into the water.
His heart was beating rapidly as he thought about what he was going to announce, and his hands were slightly clenched.
The seconds felt like hours, and the water that had been completely clear began twirling and turning murky.
It went from clear to murky, and from then, a room was suddenly noticeable.
It was a sizable study, and from what Bai Rouyun could see there were walls full of books and a grand ceiling. This had to be her so-called father's study.
It did not take long before a young man appeared in front of the stone basin. He looked young, not youthful, but not old either. When looking at him, he seemed to be around thirty years old, and Bai Rouyun could not help but frown.
Who was this man?
It had been quite some years since she had died, and even longer since she had been dumped on this continent. If she genuinely had a father, he should look old, with white strands of hair, and eyes that were full of the tribulations of life.
He looked exhausted, as he was gazing into the water, but when his eyes landed on Bai Mulan's face, a tremor ran through his body.
"Mulan!" he said agitatedly. "You have not contacted me in many years, are there any news?"
Bai Mulan nodded his head solemnly. "I have found your daughter; however, the situation is quite difficult to explain in a word or two; you will have to listen to it from the beginning to end."
Bai Rouyun glanced at Bai Mulan. She had not told him what had happened to her from beginning to end, so how did he have the guts to claim that he could tell this father of hers what had happened?
Was he just assuming? Her brows furrowed in annoyance. This Bai family was too presumptuous.
However, she did not interrupt, and just stayed leaning against the wall to see what Bai Mulan was going to say.
"She was left on this continent and was struggling for a long time on her own. She was then taken in by a cultivator who became her master; however, she abandoned her after a short few years. She was an independant cultivator.
"She found some treasure in an ancient tomb, and it caused her to be chased by many factions and sects.
"Ten years back, she was hunted down and killed, but somehow she has managed to resurrect using a dead body."
"When she was resurrected, ten years had already passed. She was in the body of a mentally challenged girl who had certain difficulties. She was also married.
"She is rather fond of her husband and has come to this institute as a student. I have introduced her to her background, but as her soul has been in hibernation in the body for ten years, she could not begin cultivating before recently.
"This means that she is new to the cultivation world, and thus it will take some time before she will be able to exit this continent and come home."
Bai Mulan explained the things he had investigated, and Bai Rouyun had no interest in explaining anything else. Had her soul really been in hibernation for ten years in the body, or had the remnants been floating around, waiting for a moment to be able to merge together to form a complete soul?
She was not sure; she only knew that as long as they did not know of the secret that was the Primal Chaos Pagoda, it was fine.
Bai Rouyun kept an eye on the stone basin throughout. She observed the expressions on the man inside the pool of water, and she instantly noticed his disbelief and relief.
She knew that this man, who was supposed to be her father in her previous life, felt relief because he blamed himself for harming her.
He was likely spending so many resources and people for the sake of finding her, not because he loved her as a daughter, but because she was his flesh and blood, and he had a feeling of guilt in his heart that he wished to get rid of.
There was no actual family affection, which was quite evident since they had never met each other before, and Bai Rouyun instantly guessed his feelings.
He was gentle and considerate towards her because of his guilt. He would look after her for the rest of his life to make up for losing her, but he would never really value her.
She would become nothing but a vase if she returned to the Bai Family.