“Master.”
Zongzheng Huangyue composed her expression, replacing it with a smile, and rushed over to Wen Li, sharing her joy. “I’ve now reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, just like Master. Although I’m still not even one ten-thousandth as strong as you, with Master here, I’ll surely grow to a stage where I can protect you.”
She affectionately linked arms with Wen Li’s other hand, casually glancing at the child who only reached her waist. A useless creature without a shred of spiritual energy, he could only be a burden to Master.
Hua Cishu, whose hand Wen Li held with her right, darkened his eyes. She had kicked him, and he had laid hands on her; their score wasn't settled yet.
“Your past talent wasn’t insufficient; your opportunities were lacking. Now that your opportunities have arrived, your efforts won’t be wasted. You can absorb the excess Yin energy to advance. Should you cultivate to Golden Core in the future, you may return to this place if the opportunity arises.”
Wen Li praised her as usual, intending to reach out with her right hand to pat Huangyue’s head, but Hua Cishu unconsciously tugged on her palm, stepping forward to speak first.
He curved his brows and grinned, “Wow, Eldest Senior Sister is so amazing! Master, if I can cultivate someday, can I be as amazing as her? My talent definitely won’t be as good as Eldest Senior Sister’s, so Master can’t dislike me for being clumsy just because Eldest Senior Sister is so powerful.”
He furrowed his brows, pursed his lips, and scrunched up his features, making an incredibly adorable expression with his beautiful, angelic face.
Zongzheng Huangyue, “...”
That brat! If he’s so capable, he should take that dead mouse out of his throat and speak with a normal voice.
Wen Li: “...”
Wait, wasn’t the Fifth Disciple supposed to be eccentric and crazy? Why is he acting like a white lotus? No, he’ll kill countless people in the future, so he’s a black lotus, that’s right. System, come out.
As an experienced person who had lived for ten thousand years, she understood everything. She subtly caught a whiff of gunpowder in the air. Oh no, she had only thought about what to do if all six disciples fought among themselves, letting them sort it out.
But now, only two were bickering, one on each side. One had spiritual energy, the other didn’t. If she didn’t protect either, or only protected one, it would seem like she was playing favorites.
“Alright, both of you stop talking for now.”
Wen Li had a headache and quickly pulled her hands free from both of them, pinching their mouths shut, one on the left and one on the right.
She first looked at Hua Cishu and quickly, earnestly replied, “You are, and will be, very powerful. Talent cannot be compared; just compare yourself to your past self. As long as you cultivate diligently, I won’t dislike you for anything else, unless you fall into a dung pit.”
Hua Cishu’s expression froze. Fall into a dung pit? Never.
Knowing Wen Li didn’t want them to argue, he let out a soft huff and turned his head away, refusing to look at Zongzheng Huangyue.
Wen Li then turned to Zongzheng Huangyue, not to persuade her, but to instruct her. “You are my smartest disciple, always knowing your limits and never causing trouble arbitrarily. Although you are the elder, I’ve told you that with me, you don’t need to manage anyone, nor will you suffer any injustice. You are also forbidden from self-harm to gain my attention. If you are bullied, fight back. Punch them all, big or small; let your fists do the talking.”
“As long as it doesn’t involve life or death, I won’t interfere with any grievances between disciples.”
This last sentence reached Hua Cishu’s ears. His eyes subtly moved as he understood she was secretly mediating. He pursed his lips in silence, temporarily setting aside his grievances with Zongzheng Huangyue.
It definitely wasn’t because he couldn’t beat her right now.
“...”
Zongzheng Huangyue, who had always been forced to grow up, always told to protect and give in to her younger sister, felt her pupils tremble. It was as if an unknown, long-standing scar in her heart was being treated with medicine for the first time. Although it was late, the pain from touching the wound reminded her of her last shred of injustice, yet it still had a healing effect.
Master hadn’t told her, the elder, that she absolutely had to give way to the younger, nor had she said the strong must take care of the weak. Instead, she told her not to concern herself with anyone, and to fight back if bullied...
No one had ever said such words to her, and no one had ever cared.
“Master...”
Zongzheng Huangyue’s eyes involuntarily warmed. She instinctively turned away, raising a hand to cover her eyes, unwilling for anyone to see.
The last time she shed tears was when she was thrown into a blood pool of ten thousand people, nearly dying from agonizing resentment. Even when she possessed her biological sister, she hadn't shed a tear, because she simply didn't care anymore.
Zongzheng Huangyue understood that Master was mediating. As long as she stayed calm, that spiritual energy-less black nugget wouldn’t be able to stir up much. Yet, Master's words had unexpectedly struck a tender spot deep within her, beneath her many defenses, making her willing to temporarily make peace with him.
She wouldn’t make things difficult for Master.
Seeing Hua Cishu about to walk over to look at Zongzheng Huangyue’s expression, a mischievous look on his face as if he was holding back a fart, Wen Li quickly covered his eyes and held him still by her side.
“Mmmph...” Hua Cishu pouted and settled down obediently.
He couldn't help but recall Wen Li's words to Zongzheng Huangyue. Those words, while protecting her, weren't they also protecting him? After all, he had no cultivation. This person seemed different from all the others he had encountered...
But why this kindness?
Was it also for his identity?
Wen Li remained silent. After a moment, she gently patted Zongzheng Huangyue’s shoulder with one hand.
“It’s getting windy here. Once the sand in your eyes is clear, we’ll head back to the inner hall.”
She perfectly allowed Zongzheng Huangyue, who greatly valued her dignity, time to compose herself, her words carrying both a sense of measure and a hint of protection.
It made the person who had just reined in her emotions waver again.
What 'person defying fate,' what 'Princess Huangyue'—she was still just fifteen years old.
Zongzheng Huangyue couldn't help but turn around instantly, impulsively embracing Wen Li, wrapping her arms tightly around her. She was a head shorter, her cheek resting perfectly on Wen Li’s neck.
A burning drop fell onto Wen Li's collar, tilted to reveal her clavicle, slowly tracing a path down. Zongzheng Huangyue closed her eyes and whispered hoarsely.
“Master, no matter what you want me to do, as long as I don’t betray you, please don’t give up on me, okay?”
Her voice, though faint, carried a hint of obsession; it was a plea, a wish, a greedy longing.
This Master was too good, so good that even knowing there were schemes and calculations, Huangyue found herself lost.
Under the pale red, gradient painted sky, Wen Li, whose body swayed slightly from the sudden embrace, instinctively reached out to steady Huangyue. Hearing her words, her hands paused in mid-air. The two of them were silhouetted against the desolate city wall, embracing.
Her eyes moved slightly. She raised a hand and patted Huangyue's back.
“...Alright.”
Some people are too clever, clever enough to escape the chessboard and see through everything.
But even the cleverest person, faced with the weaknesses of the human heart, what does it matter if they know there are schemes? To say they’ve escaped the chessboard, but being within the game, with sincerity mixed with falsehood, the truth and lies are no longer distinguishable, and it no longer matters.
What matters is willingness.
...
Rate on N.U.
