Chapter 640: The History of Demon Cultivators Getting Cleansed
In the hall of the Sang family.
Compared to a few years ago, Zhang Xiaoying now exuded more of a mature and graceful beauty. Her status as the matriarch of the Sang family gave her an intimidating air even without her saying a word.
Right now, her beautiful eyes were glaring angrily at Sang Ruan You, and though she was silent, even Jiao Jiao and Hei Xia, who were watching from the sidelines, trembled in fear.
Also keeping silent were Sang Zhe beside Zhang Xiaoying, Yu Xia behind her, and Long Huan and Si Jingzhu peeking from behind the various screens and tables.
Sang Ruan You was obediently kneeling on the ground, head lowered and not making a peep.
“… Why did you put Old Zhuang in the pig trough?”
“He fills my ears with nonsense every day, wasting my time,” Sang Ruan You muttered softly in defense, “He tells on me for skipping class!”
“I told you, if you keep telling on me, I’m going to get back at you, and then…”
Crack! Sang Zhe heard the sound of his wife’s fist clenching next to him.
“Skipping class is clearly your fault. Old Zhuang is doing his job as a teacher, and you’re punishing him instead?”
As she spoke, Zhang Xiaoying rolled up her sleeves. “Today, I must teach you a lesson, you inconsiderate little brat!”
“Eh, eh, eh, calm down, dear!”
Sang Zhe quickly intervened, smiling nervously and trying to appease her. “Disciplining the child only serves as a temporary warning; education needs to touch the heart and make sense.”
“Why don’t you go cool off for a bit, and I’ll talk to our daughter?”
Zhang Xiaoying shot Sang Zhe a cold glare, making him break out in a sweat.
“Just keep protecting her.”
She spat out, “Before long, you’ll spoil her into a little demon!”
With that, she turned around and stormed off.
Sang Zhe sighed helplessly, turning back to find Sang Ruan You sticking her tongue out at Zhang Xiaoying, immediate laughter mixed with frustration bubbling inside him.
“Still not learning your lesson!”
Sang Ruan You playfully stuck out her tongue, got up from the floor, and happily threw herself into Sang Zhe’s arms. “It’s not like you’re home much, Dad, you’re always at work!”
“Who says I’m never home? I come back almost every night!”
“… Every night, but only after dark, then sneaking off to mom or the concubine’s place for… ahem,” the little girl stared at him with a strange tone, “Does that count as coming home?”
Sang Zhe: “… Ahem. Let’s get back on track.”
“Why did you bully Old Zhuang? Dad wants the truth.”
“Because he was talking bad about you.”
Sang Ruan You pouted, a hint of grievance in her voice. “He said you started off as a demon cultivator, not on the right path, and told me not to follow in your footsteps.”
Well.
It doesn’t sound too polite to speak poorly of someone’s parent in front of their kid.
But Old Zhuang wasn’t wrong.
He did start as a demon path interrogator, which isn’t exactly what you’d call “noble.”
During the years when the demon path had a bad reputation, almost everyone thought it was just a gathering of ruthless demon cultivators.
It was only after Sang Zhe successfully promoted the demon path that its reputation slowly changed.
Now, the demon path has become the top-tier workplace everyone dreams of joining. High salaries, excellent benefits, and they really make a show wherever they go.
The demon path’s business has expanded from a cultivation sect to a comprehensive force incorporating cultivation, business, tech research, and public affairs.
All employees are officially registered, undergo strict background checks, and the corporate culture is deeply ingrained—a clear undisputed number one sacred ground.
In a way, his journey could be called the “history of a notorious force getting cleansed.” Quite disgraceful.
“Sweet daughter, you haven’t seen the times I went through.”
Sang Zhe held her in his arms, sighed leisurely, “Do you think Dad’s accomplishments came easily? It’s all a bloody history filled with ups and downs!”
“Starting from scratch is hard, but it’s harder to clean up the criminal path and wash your hands of it!”
“If you listen to Old Zhuang and honestly walk the proper path, think of all the unnecessary detours you could avoid.”
Sang Ruan You looked at him oddly, pouting. “But I heard from Aunt Yan that Dad got rich by… selling his body—”
Sang Zhe: “… Don’t listen to Aunt Yan’s nonsense.”
“Anyways, Dad knows you’re not a bad child, just a bit mischievous. In a bit, go apologize to Old Zhuang properly. No more antics like this, or Dad will be angry. Understand?”
“Got it.” Sang Ruan You hugged Sang Zhe’s neck, sweetly cuddling up against his cheek.
Sang Zhe was helpless.
With such a lovely little rugrat, who could ever bring themselves to punish her?
——
——
After playing with his daughter for a bit, Sang Zhe took Sang Ruan You to apologize to Old Zhuang.
The crowd watching in the hall saw the fun was gone, and they began to disperse.
“Ah, Sang Zhe really spoils his daughter.”
Si Jingzhu expressed her dissatisfaction. “Not a bad nature… Does that count as not a bad nature? Shouldn’t that mean I’m a good person too?”
“And also, has anyone noticed?” Long Huan pondered, “Doesn’t it seem like Little Ruan You is a bit too clingy to Dad?”
Upon hearing this, Hua Jianglian couldn’t help but thoughtfully pinch her chin.
“True. Why does it seem so intimate between them that I’m feeling a bit jealous?”
Hearing that, Yan Rouwan, who had been petting her cat, suddenly blinked her beautiful eyes.
“… Hey.” Next to her, Nian Nian popped up unexpectedly, “You felt it too, right?”
“Hard to say.”
Yan Rouwan gently rubbed the cat while murmuring, “At least for now, there’s no evidence proving Little Ruan You’s character is related to Xu Hongyi’s original spirit.”
“Too bad Xu Hongyi has restored the karma with everyone.”
Nian Nian shrugged. “If it weren’t for Sang Zhe remembering her, we would’ve completely forgotten what she used to be like.”
“Exactly.” Yan Rouwan sighed, “If Little Ruan You really becomes more and more like Xu Hongyi…”
“The only one who might realize it, probably… would be Sang Zhe himself.”
She gazed off towards Sang Zhe and Sang Ruan You gradually walking away down the corridor.
Sang Ruan You was nestled in Sang Zhe’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, looking like an adorable little teddy bear.
Her young, delicate face was glowing with happiness as it pressed against Sang Zhe’s cheek, nuzzling like a little kitten.
Anyone who saw it would just think it was a heartwarming father-daughter scene.
Perfectly positioned, her face was facing the crowd in the hall.
Whether it was Yan Rouwan’s imagination or not.
When she opened her eyes to look at them, there seemed to be a hint of otherworldly charm and mischief in her gaze that didn’t quite belong to her age.
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