4528

Chapter 4528: 5.0280 Confession

Long Xinghua glanced back at Qiao Mu and suddenly said, "Little... Young Miss, perhaps you've misunderstood. The chieftain... she definitely didn't know."

"If she had known from the beginning that you carried the ten-thousand-year-old mermaid pearl within you, she would certainly have gone to the lower star domains to find you and bring you back..."

Long Xinghua suddenly didn't know what to say to comfort her.

She felt that by saying so, it was as if she was implying that the chieftain would certainly bring her back to Wangchuan out of consideration for the mermaid pearl.

"You're right, she didn't know at all. Perhaps she simply didn't want to know of my existence."

"She only recently sensed that the mermaid pearl's power was about to break its seal, which is why she sent people to contact me."

[If I were still that helpless, pitiful little thing as before, then in this life, I would never receive an ounce of her pity or attention.]

[The most interesting thing is, in my previous life, I truly died. Died without a trace, not even knowing my own origins.]

"No, no, that can't be," Long Xinghua stammered, still trying to offer comfort. "You, you are, after all, the chieftain's granddaughter. If she, if she knew you were adrift in the lower star domains, she..."

"She certainly didn't know!" Qiao Mu sharply interrupted Long Xinghua. "Because the ten-thousand-year-old mermaid pearl on me was sealed by my mother! From beginning to end, the Dragon Chieftain, whose eyes were only fixed on the mermaid pearl, didn't care about my life or death, or my existence! And she didn't care about my mother's life or death either."

"So back then, when she received news of my mother's death, she probably... just said 'oh,' right?"

"Dead, huh? Heh heh, what a disobedient daughter. She wouldn't hand over the ten-thousand-year-old mermaid pearl before she died, and even after death, she continues to give me such a headache."

"How many people do you think she's sent out over the years to inquire about the mermaid pearl's whereabouts?"

Qiao Mu suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Isn't it laughable? Isn't it?"

"My mother and I, combined, aren't worth a ten-thousand-year-old mermaid pearl."

"Young Miss," Long Xinghua's eyes reddened, and she tremblingly took a few steps forward.

"Before this, I held a tiny bit of hope."

"After this, there is nothing left."

"I don't know what kind of mood my mother was in when she sealed the ten-thousand-year-old mermaid pearl inside me. I also don't know what kind of feeling it was for her, alone, waiting to die in that secret realm."

"But do you know? Whenever I think of this, my heart aches unbearably, and my face is drenched in tears."

"This ten-thousand-year-old mermaid pearl is my mother's relic given to me," Qiao Mu turned to Long Xinghua and said softly, "I won't give it back."

"If they want to come and snatch it, I'd rather destroy it than give it to them."

"It's the same no matter who comes." The little stoic gritted her teeth, her gaze sharp as she stared at Long Xinghua. "Granny, don't disappoint me."

Long Xinghua abruptly knelt down, kowtowing twice with a thud. "I dare not deceive Young Miss. This old woman truly does not know who the mysterious person is, but I vaguely suspect they are from Heaven's Will."

"The mysterious person used us as bait, deliberately sending us to the desolate island to approach you."

"But please rest assured. This old woman, from the very beginning, never intended to harm Young Miss."

"Having drifted alone for so long, and knowing death is near, I especially wanted to return to my birthplace."

"This old woman has reached the end of her lifespan. To be able to see Young Miss before I die is an immense blessing."

Long Xinghua bowed her head again. When she looked up, her eyes were filled with determination.