She is merely protecting this world in her own way, in secret.

"And my mission is to infiltrate by the side of the Kui Dragon Ancestor."

Tang Zijing said softly, "Back then, after Old Gu and I came out of the Penglai Fairy Island, we encountered a terrifying entity, something that burned with terrifying flames, causing sudden gusts of wind and unexplained torrential rain and tides wherever it appeared. Old Gu said it was his nemesis, and led it away all by himself."

"I must also go and complete my task."

He paused, "Infiltrate by the side of the Kui Dragon Ancestor."

Gu Jianlin knew that every word he said was crucial, but for some reason, he just couldn't listen.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Tang Ling asked softly.

"With your temperament, if you knew I wasn't a traitor, how could you focus on your cultivation?"

Tang Zijing shook his head, eyes filled with longing, "Moreover, this matter is too dangerous. The fewer people who know, the better. Besides, after becoming a Divine Servant, I killed too many people and committed too many evils. Someone as sinful as I am, how could I ever be worthy of being your great-grandfather? My true intention was for you to kill me with your own hands, to cleanse the Tang family's disgrace."

Indeed, he was arranged as a spy within the Ancient God Clan.

But he did commit many evil deeds.

Like the corpses that appeared in the Tai Zhuo Temple.

All of them were innocents, he didn't know how many he had killed.

"My hands are stained with blood, full of sins, better to stay far away from you."

Tang Zijing's breathing gradually grew weak, almost inaudible, "I am unworthy of your love."

Tang Ling said nothing, thinking how could he be unworthy.

Because everything this man did was for her.

The whole world could blame him.

Except her, she could not.

In comparison, she was the true source of sinfulness.

She was the one who deserved to die.

"Why do you insist on saving me?"

She bit her vermilion lips, her voice choked, "Wouldn't it be better to just let me die?"

The cruel truth stabbed her heart like a knife, she would rather have died back then.

She didn't want her loved ones to endure such pain.

"Because you're my child."

Tang Zijing gazed at her, "To me, even dying a thousand, ten thousand times, I can't bear to see you hurt even a little. Besides, you were so small back then, so adorable. How could I bear to watch you die? I took you everywhere to seek medical help, traveled the whole world. When you got sick, you cried in agony, it broke my heart. It was still Old Gu who gave you his life-saving secret medicine, prolonging your life."

"Later, it was the benevolence of the President who was willing to save you, that I saw hope."

He said softly, "It's also thanks to my fondness for doing good deeds when I was young, that so many people helped me in my later years, many people made an effort for your sake back then. Seeing such a small child, their hearts couldn't bear it. But you forgot everything, because we erased your memories, helped you forget the pain."

Tang Ling suddenly felt a splitting headache, as if past events came rushing back with the storm.

Long-forgotten memories flashed in her mind, leaving her at a loss.

Gu Jianlin remained silent for a moment, reaching out to steady her frail shoulders.

"I'm telling you all this now, hoping you'll not harbor hatred, not hate anyone."

Tang Zijing managed a faint smile, "However you treat this world, that's how the world will repay you. You see, even someone like me with blood-stained hands, eventually found redemption."

He said, "To me, in my dying dreams, I wanted to speak with you, to plead with you not to hate me, and to tell you that I love you. And that dream, has come true."

Tang Ling remembered, it was a memory forgotten deep in her mind.

When she was young, she cried in agony, the man held her tight, took her on a plane, crossed the oceans. An uncle came in haste to give her medicine, teased her with a piece of chocolate, she liked sweets. Doctors in white coats sighed repeatedly, wrapped her in gentle Holy Light, curing her illness. And that woman at the Deep Space Building entrance, so majestic and cold, yet her eyes so warm.

The words in memory didn't seem like that.

"Child, you've suffered."

The voice sighed.

The man who disappeared in the snowstorm didn't leave without looking back.

But kept gazing into her eyes, retreating step by step.

He smiled, yet tears streamed down his face, eyes full of love and reluctance.

In those eyes, reflected her image, as if to remember her face forever.

Fourteen years passed in a flash.

Long-lost relatives reunited once more.

Only to face the most bitter of realities in this world.

The parting by death.

Rumble!

From the depths of the volcano came a terrifying roar.

In the sky, a fearsome, majestic face was reflected, overlooking the land!

"Go, quickly go!"

Tang Zijing's face slightly changed, he said in a deep voice.

Gu Jianlin pulled the girl away swiftly without hesitation, as he too sensed something amiss.

The snow melted, revealing hideous, terrifying blood vessels on the ground.

These bulging veins, as if living creatures, extended toward this man!

"This mountain is the body of the Kui Dragon Ancestor, the association's strategy group landed inside the volcano to fight it not long ago, but it has changed from before. The Kui Dragon Ancestor is undergoing a transformation, changing blood to that of the Vermilion Bird Clan, transforming into the Vermilion Bird rather than the Kui Dragon... but rather, the Kui Bird!"