Chapter 190: I’m Your Half-Brother!
To be honest.
If it hadn’t been for Young Master Sang bringing it up, Hua Jianglian wouldn’t have even realized it herself.
She hadn’t realized that what she feared the most was actually loneliness.
She didn’t know when it started, but she had become someone who only wanted to stay indoors, binge on comics, and munch on snacks, not wanting to step outside even once.
She liked the cramped and closed-off space.
It was a place where she could stuff herself and not worry about anyone barging in.
She really hated it when others entered her room. Even when Tang Yubbing came looking for her, she mostly just knocked on the door and called out; if anyone tried to just waltz in, she would throw a fit.
But somehow, out of nowhere, there was another person in her room.
This person had barged in somehow and had found a pretty lame excuse to stay put.
And yet.
She couldn’t feel even a hint of dislike for them.
It was just like when she faced the woman known as her mother.
Hua Jianglian couldn’t really say whether she loved or hated her mother.
She clearly detested the things her mother did, hated how she forced her to live a life like a freak.
But if she had to say how much she hated that woman,
it seemed like there wasn’t much.
Sometimes, she would even dream about that woman holding her in her arms with a gentle face.
Today, Hua Jianglian vaguely understood. Perhaps Young Master Sang was right.
What she feared the most was, in fact, loneliness.
She had been so lonely for so long that she instinctively avoided the kindness of others.
But when yesterday, Young Master Sang called Master Yu Xia, Si Jingzhu, and Shi Qingyan to help her act,
Hua Jianglian felt joy for the first time.
A joy of being treated like a treasure, cradled in someone’s hands.
A joy of being acknowledged and surrounded by others.
That feeling, she never felt even when she first established the Demon Cult.
Back then, she always thought the cult wouldn’t last long. Perhaps when the blood worm in her body matured, it would fall apart naturally.
So she never dared to tell anyone about it.
But ever since this somewhat reckless subordinate barged into her room,
everything seemed different.
She was no longer trapped in that small, cluttered room.
She wasn’t afraid of others intruding on her space anymore.
She even got used to him cleaning her place at set times and accompanying her while she read comics.
Whenever he was away on business, she would feel inexplicably lonely.
The Demon Cult seemed to have gradually turned from a refuge for the homeless to a genuine superpower.
Everything seemed to be on track.
Hua Jianglian hadn’t expected that at such a critical moment of breaking through to the Great Ascension stage, her mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of a subordinate.
But it was at this moment that she finally sensed it.
He not only saved the Demon Cult.
But he also saved her.
He patiently stood in front of the locked door, knocking again and again without losing enthusiasm.
It finally woke up a little girl who was curled up and hiding in a dim room.
“…Sect Leader?”
Coming back to her senses, Hua Jianglian saw Young Master Sang looking at her with concern.
“You scared me.” Young Master Sang patted his chest, “I thought when you suddenly stopped speaking, you had gone berserk and your breakthrough had failed.”
Hua Jianglian blinked and softly said, “I’ve successfully broken through.”
“Already? That was fast?”
“Or else? Did you think it would cause a huge ruckus and attract the energies of heaven and earth, sucking away all the spiritual energy within tens of miles?”
Young Master Sang had actually thought that.
After all, didn’t novels always write it that way? The higher the cultivation, the more spectacular the breakthrough.
“That’s just for those who love to show off,” Hua Jianglian pouted. “Stepping into the Great Ascension stage is just transforming the spiritual energy in your body into a higher existence.”
“As long as you want, you can do it quietly.”
“Once you step into the Great Ascension stage, your aura will no longer be that of a mundane cultivator but of the primal essence of heaven and earth.”
“If you want, you could be any flower or grass, mountains or rivers.”
“Of course,” Hua Jianglian blinked again, “if you want to see flashy lightning tribulations, I can summon those for you too.”
“…Forget it.”
But upon seeing Hua Jianglian truly step into the Great Ascension stage, Young Master Sang finally felt relieved.
Now, the Demon Cult could finally be a genuine holy place.
His position as the head of the Punishment Department could finally be established.
Just thinking about the upcoming promotion and raise made Young Master Sang’s face beam with joy.
“…Oh.”
Just as Young Master Sang was about to rise, he was suddenly stopped by Hua Jianglian’s hesitant voice.
“Um, can I ask you a question?”
“Hm?”
“What… what do you think of me?” Hua Jianglian’s face seemed a bit odd, and her gaze was evasive as if she was embarrassed.
Young Master Sang, while somewhat puzzled as to why his boss suddenly asked such a question, thought a good employee wouldn’t need to think twice about this.
“The Sect Leader is definitely my life goal!”
Hua Jianglian froze for a moment: “Ah?”
“I’m not exaggerating! Among everyone I’ve met, no one has treated me like you do, Sect Leader, with such warmth and care. You’re the perfect boss!”
Young Master Sang spoke earnestly, “My admiration and affection for you flow like the endless Yangtze River; you are my sun and stars, my daydreams and absolutely everything!”
“Wait… what are you saying?!”
Hua Jianglian’s face instantaneously flushed, her eyes becoming a bit dazed.
She was still just a girl who loved to fantasize. The last time she heard something similar was in the shoujo manga she read, where the male lead confessed to the female lead.
No, I just wanted to ask how I appeared to my employee.
Why are you suddenly…
“I know, Sect Leader, you are naturally independent and strong, powerful and inclusive,” Young Master Sang continued, undeterred, “You dedicate yourself tirelessly to the cult’s development, providing shade like a towering tree to all of us.”
“But I know, you are just a young girl too, you will have troubles and sadness, loneliness and solitude.”
“Whenever I think of the fearless Sect Leader, my heart feels bitter with no one to share it with, and I can’t help but feel frustrated with my own helplessness.”
He spoke with passion, “That day, I vowed that if I could, I would always protect the Sect Leader!”
Hua Jianglian’s beautiful eyes slightly lost focus.
By then, she was almost staring blankly at Young Master Sang, to the point where she didn’t even register what he was saying.
It was the first time she received such an impactful confession.
The key was that he seemed so serious about it.
His focused gaze seemed to consist solely of her.
That feeling of being surrounded by someone’s affection made Hua Jianglian’s heart race.
He, he’s serious?
No… it couldn’t be, right?
I’m just a slender girl who’s still undeveloped!
Isn’t it typical for a man to like someone cool like Shi Qingyan or voluptuous like Master Yu Xia?
Besides, didn’t he already have concubines?
Could it be, could it be that guys actually find me somewhat likable?
Ugh, how bothersome! I’m not prepared for this…
In an instant, countless wild thoughts flooded Hua Jianglian’s mind.
She finally experienced, first-hand, the feelings of those female leads who got confessed to in the shoujo manga she had always fantasized about.
That excitement, anxiety, random thoughts, and complex emotions all rushed to her cheeks.
Her face turned as red as if it had been steamed.
Even her brain seemed to have given up on thinking, her eyes starting to spin, as if steam were rising from her head.
What should I do?
Should I agree to him?
But, but ever since I cultivated this technique, my body has remained in that of a child’s.
Will I be unable to have children in this form?
If he finds out, will he be disappointed and abandon me?
But… what if I don’t agree? Will he be upset?
What if he gets unhappy?
Yet Young Master Sang seemed completely oblivious to Hua Jianglian’s chaotic thoughts, kneeled down passionately before her, looking up with fervent eyes.
“As long as you, Sect Leader, agree, I am willing to be the one you can rely on for a lifetime—”
As Young Master Sang’s tone grew increasingly agitated,
Hua Jianglian also nervously swallowed hard.
“—your half-brother.”
Hua Jianglian: “…Huh?”
“To be honest.”
Young Master Sang wore a serious expression, “I understand that you’ve always lacked familial love and have been so lonely.”
“So, I’ve always treated you like my little sister, wishing to be a big brother you can rely on.”
“As long as you trust me, I pledge my life to you; I would go through fire and water for you!”
Young Master Sang was quite happy with this declaration.
Sincere and heartfelt, anyone who heard it would undoubtedly be confused.
Especially since the Sect Leader had just broken through; it was the perfect time to show loyalty and curry favor. Surely the head of the Punishment Department position wouldn’t be his apex.
Who knows, he might even climb higher and snag a deputy leader position like Tang Yubbing…
The more he thought about it, the more pleased he became, envisioning a bright future.
But he didn’t notice, after a brief period of dazedness, Hua Jianglian’s gaze gradually shifted to one of exasperation.
“…You idiot.”
Young Master Sang: “Huh?”
“Hmph.” Hua Jianglian suddenly huffed, “Are you trying to overstep your boundaries?”
“I am the mighty Sect Leader, the invincible Demon Lord, Hua Jianglian.”
“Do I need your pity? Do you look down on me? Huh?”
Seeing her suddenly hands on hips, glaring at him fiercely, Young Master Sang felt a bit dumbfounded. He had no idea which of his words went wrong or how he had upset her.
But the next instant, she turned around and hopped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I’m tired after my breakthrough; carry me back to the Demon Cult.” She said angrily.
Young Master Sang’s face fell.
It was a long way back to the Demon Cult; he’d be exhausted carrying her all that way.
Fortunately, Hua Jianglian wasn’t heavy; she felt soft on his back like a well-behaved little animal.
He could only sigh and agree, “Sure…”
Sigh.
Looks like a working man can never escape being exploited by his boss.
Meanwhile, behind him, Hua Jianglian gently rested her small head against his broad back.
Enjoying the reassuring scent coming from him.
…A faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
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