Xiang Ning looked at Ye Lingling’s longing gaze, then at everyone around who was spectating. “Do you think I can?” 

Ye Lingling paused, then looked at him. “Uh… we don’t really have high requirements, tier three is enough. Also… the minimum for registration is tier three anyway.” 

Xiang Ning looked at Ye Lingling, his eyes shifting around. Was she scamming him? He remembered the reminders he had heard before leaving home, that he must protect himself and always think before making any decision. There were just too many scammers out there if you weren’t vigilant. 

However, he noticed something strange so he thought for a moment. “I have a matter to attend to on the second floor, wait for me here.” 

“But… alright.” Ye Lingling hesitated, then nodded. 

Xiang Ning went straight upstairs without a word, found the door the lady mentioned, and knocked. When he entered, he found that the room was a little small. There was a tier eight Sect Master sitting inside. 

“You’re here.” The informality in his tone confused Xiang Ning.

Xiang Ning didn’t beat around the bush either, directly asking, “Good morning, may I ask why you were looking for me? Do we… know each other?” 

“Have a seat first.” The man stood up and came to a sofa on the side while Xiang Ning took a seat. 

“You must be Xiang Ning, right?” 

“Yes.” 

“I’m Bo Yan, you can call me Uncle Bo.” The tier eight sect master gazed at him softly, even his voice was filled with kindness. 

Xiang Ning thought that was strange since he was sure they hadn’t met. 

“Come, have some tea.” He pushed a cup in front of Xiang Ning, then stood up to take a photo from his desk. Xiang Ning looked at the tea, then at Bo Yan. 

“Look at this.” As he spoke, he passed Xiang Ning the photo with three people in it. One woman, two men. 

One of them was a young Bo Yan, and the other two.… The harder he looked at the picture, the stranger it was… why did one of them look like him? 

“You and your mother look so much alike.” 

Xiang Ning felt like he had been struck by lightning. Mother? What a foreign word. 

“To be honest, if it wasn’t for the fact that you look so similar.… Because you’re the right age and come from Marsh City, I didn’t dare come collect you. Thankfully, you made a name for yourself on your own. I can’t believe you have the Broken Blade Knight badge at such a young age. I saw it in the background check. People of your status are treated very highly everywhere they go.” 

Xiang Ning didn’t speak. He quietly looked at the laughing woman in the photo. Was this his mother? Her eyes and facial shape were similar to his. 

“Uncle Bo, were you friends with my mother?’ 

“Yes, we were comrades.” 

“Comrades?” 

“Yes, comrades. Your mom was the lady boss of her time.” Uncle Bo looked up, reminiscing. 

“Where is she now?” 

“I don’t know.” Uncle Bo shook his head while Xiang Ning squinted, unable to tell if that was the truth. His tone was too direct. 

But if Uncle Bo didn’t want to tell him, he didn’t ask again. “Is she still alive?” 

“She should be.” Bo Yan shook his head. 

Xiang Ning smiled, though not out of the joy of hearing his mother was alive, but rather out of rage. He shot up, turning to leave. 

Bo Yan smiled bitterly and stopped him. “I… all I can say is that you’ll definitely meet her in the future.” 

Xiang Ning stood his ground and looked at him. “An empty promise? You’ve already chosen to tell me about her, now you’re toying with me?” Although the man was a tier eight Sect Master, Xiang Ning had no fear. It didn’t mean he must know the truth straight away, but it was all still too unbelievable. They looked alike, she was from Marsh City, and his age matched. Was that enough to be so sure that she was his mother? 

He had never heard anything about her in his life, and now Bo Yan could only offer uncertain information followed by a sudden declaration that Xiang Ning would meet her in the future when he wanted to leave. “You previously said that she should be alive, so I don’t know if I’m going to see her dead or alive, right? And how do you know what I’ll do in the future? What if I die on a hunt tomorrow?” Xiang Ning coldly chuckled. 

Bo Yan was momentarily speechless. If anyone saw him now, they would be in shock. He was the pillar of Kunlun City, after all. Seeing as Xiang Ning was already opening the door, he sighed. “Wait a moment, take this. Your mother mailed this to me.” He approached and passed him a photo. 

Xiang Ning took it, but didn’t look. “Thank you.” Then he pushed the door open and left. 

Bo Yan watched him leave, wanting to say something but the words wouldn’t leave his lips. He returned to his seat, silently staring at the woman in the picture. 

Xiang Ning only looked at the photo after leaving the room. It was a woman carrying a child with a man next to her. He didn’t know him but he and the man looked similar, too. He shook his head, then tossed it into his dimensional ring and walked downstairs. 

He had just taken a few steps when a girl made a run for him. “Hey… you’re back.” 

The bold, straight-talking Ye Lingling was now suddenly hesitant. After some thought he said, “You’ve got to tell me what your objective is.” With Xiang Ning’s great Mental Power and Keen Observation, based on her behavior, she was hiding something. She looked at him in shock while he smiled without the anger from before. Then he said, “If you can’t tell me here, we can go somewhere else.” 

“Alright, follow me.” She clenched her jaw, then left. 

They walked out of the guild to a cafe next door. 

“What would you two like to drink?” 

“One Blue Mountain, please.” Xiang Ning read the menu, and since he wasn’t familiar with coffee types, he picked one that sounded nice. 

“One cup of water, iced,” Ye Lingling said without reading. 

Xiang Ning’s mouth twitched. 

When the waiter left, she finally carefully said, “There’s an objective.” 

Hold up. I was not expecting MC's mother first mention this early into the novel