Chapter Fifty-Nine: I Know How to Break Her Defense
It’s funny, really.
Yan Rouwan was abandoned by Master Yu Xia because she was captured by Demon Cultivators.
Keeping her around would only tarnish the sect’s reputation.
And now, Master Yu Xia herself had been taken.
One wonders if she’s in the prison, thinking about Yan Rouwan at all.
But Young Master Sang guessed, probably not.
Master Yu Xia is a thorough egoist.
In her eyes, her disciples are nothing more than tools.
And she possesses a fierce sense of ownership over these tools.
“You disciples are the ones I painstakingly cultivated; when it’s time for you to contribute to the sect, you should march forth without fear of death.”
Including the sect itself. This is what I’ve worked so hard to manage; if He Hongyi wants to interfere, it’s my life on the line.
That’s all there is to it.
So when Young Master Sang saw Master Yu Xia fighting to the death for the sect against He Hongyi, there wasn’t much stirring in his heart.
She had no affection for the sect.
She was merely like a wild dog guarding its food.
With such a person, expecting any feelings of guilt or nostalgia towards her disciples?
Might as well wait for America to eradicate school shootings.
Of course, Young Master Sang knew.
Yan Rouwan wouldn’t be as breezy as she appeared on the surface.
She was, after all, someone she once admired deeply.
Perhaps the memories of the past made her feel even more heartbroken about the present.
“When are you planning to start working?”
Young Master Sang thought for a moment and said, “No rush.”
“Before I meet her, I still need to see someone else.”
——
——
Since the last time Young Master Sang came to see her, Si Jingzhu had been left in play for several days.
Although it wasn’t Young Master Sang’s intention, with all the racket outside, he had no time to complete business with Si Jingzhu.
But these past few days had been somewhat boring for Si Jingzhu.
Every day, she just stared at the empty room, chewing on her fingers in sheer boredom.
It felt as if she had returned to the time before she had taken shape.
She still remembered.
Back then, her intelligence was just awakening, but she hadn’t taken shape; she was merely an immortal herb hanging from a branch.
Unable to see, unable to hear, her faint intelligence could only sense endless darkness and silence.
She didn’t even realize the passage of time.
Not knowing how many years had passed, one day suddenly, she felt an intense pain of flesh being torn away.
That was the first time she experienced the concept of “pain” in her life.
It was later that she realized she had been plucked off.
And nurtured into taking shape with blood essence.
When she finally opened her eyes again, she had successfully transformed into a little girl with long black hair and bright eyes.
The first thing she saw was a dignified woman with deep-set eyes and a hint of authority.
“From today onwards, I will be your mother,” she told herself.
At that moment, Si Jingzhu didn’t know what that statement meant.
But looking back, she felt that it would have been better not to know at all.
Just being a carefree, innocent little girl, who one day, unbeknownst to her, got eaten and left this world.
That didn’t sound too bad.
She had no ties to the world, no one and nothing she yearned for.
All the people she had interacted with were either hypocritical classmates or that supposedly gentle and modest “mother” who was actually selfish and cold-hearted.
Si Jingzhu thought for a long time and realized she didn’t have even one friend.
The only one who could be remembered was that silly little boy she accidentally bumped into around a corner.
……
With the creak of the door, all of Si Jingzhu’s thoughts coalesced.
When she saw a familiar figure walk in at the entrance, a glimmer of joy flashed in her eyes.
But the next moment, she cleverly masked it.
What replaced it was a slightly displeased snort.
“Hmph, weren’t you always claiming to be an excellent employee, punctual and never late?”
“Where have you been for the past few days? Skipping work openly, huh?”
“If you ask me, lazy pests like you shouldn’t pretend to be hardworking. Just beg me, and maybe out of kindness, I’ll help you cover up your absence—”
“I caught Master Yu Xia.” Young Master Sang said.
Si Jingzhu was proudly saying something when she suddenly turned her head, looking dazed.
“…Huh?”
“I said, I caught Master Yu Xia.”
Young Master Sang repeated, seriously, “Your dream just came true.”
Si Jingzhu stared at him blankly.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was serious or just joking with her.
While Si Jingzhu’s head was still spinning, Young Master Sang asked again:
“I’m going to interrogate her soon.”
“Do you want to come along?”
“Um? I… can I?” Si Jingzhu lowered her head awkwardly, “Is that okay?”
Young Master Sang walked over and unlocked her handcuffs and shackles.
Si Jingzhu was silent for a long time, looking somewhat lost.
“I thought you would be happy to hear this news,” Young Master Sang said.
“I am happy.” She said softly, “But it feels surreal.”
“I don’t even know how to face her.”
Young Master Sang shrugged: “You don’t have to pretend to be anything. Just be yourself.”
“Even if you feel a little lost and uneasy now.”
“But when you truly stand in front of her.”
“Your body will remind you how to act.”
Si Jingzhu thought for a moment and felt that made sense.
“How is she now?”
Young Master Sang thought for a moment: “I don’t know.”
He truly had no idea.
He hadn’t seen Master Yu Xia since she was locked up.
She might still be the same as when he first brought her back.
Or she might have already been thoroughly beaten up by some extremely vengeful little girl.
From what he knew, Hua Jianglian had a tendency to repay grudges. By the time he went over, Master Yu Xia might have already been wrecked by her.
Thinking about it was a bit exciting.
As they reached the door, Si Jingzhu suddenly called out to him:
“Why did you think of taking me to see her?”
“Because it’s work.”
Young Master Sang looked at her strangely: “I’m still an interrogator after all. Questioning a Crossing Tribulation Stage is my first experience in this career.”
“She cares the most about you, doesn’t she? I thought it’d be nice to see if you could break her down.”
Si Jingzhu suddenly lowered her head. She seemed lost in thought.
After a moment, she raised her head seriously and said:
“I’ll help you.”
“…Huh?” Young Master Sang was a bit dazed.
“I said, I know how to break her defense.”
Si Jingzhu gazed deeply into Young Master Sang’s eyes: “I’ll help you make her fall to darkness.”
(First update)
—
Chapter Sixty: You’re Right, But I Forgot the Rest
Master Yu Xia didn’t know how long she had been unconscious.
Long enough that the concept of time became fuzzy.
All she knew was that it seemed she had been in a coma for so long that when she woke up, her mind was blank, unable to think.
She moved her hands and feet only to find she was already wearing shackles.
All her meridians were sealed, and her spiritual power was frozen.
…Am I imprisoned? She gradually realized something.
Whose hands have I fallen into? He Hongyi?
Suddenly, Master Yu Xia heard a clear voice ringing softly in front of her:
“Hello, Master Yu Xia.”
She lifted her head, her expression suddenly becoming serious.
Behind a square table sat a handsome young man, his hands crossed, chin resting on them as he gazed at her.
Next to the man leaned a delicate and familiar-looking young girl.
She shot Master Yu Xia a disdainful glance with an indifferent air.
“Welcome to the Demon Cult’s Punishment Department.”
“I’m the interrogator in charge of questioning you, Young Master Sang.” Young Master Sang chuckled lightly.
Young Master Sang?
Master Yu Xia remembered this name.
“Oh, that traitor?”
Her tone was surprisingly calm, as if she were not a pitiful captive at all.
Even her gaze was cold and dismissive, similar to that of the sect leader.
“The Demon Cult’s cultivators are quite brave, aren’t they?”
“Daring to harbor a traitor like you… Aren’t they afraid you’ll betray them like you did the sect?” Master Yu Xia spoke sarcastically.
Young Master Sang was not angry at all, just shaking his head.
“Maybe.”
“I’m just a dispensable nobody, a nonchalant little interrogator.”
“In the Punishment Department, there are many such interrogators like me. One more doesn’t matter, one less also doesn’t matter.”
“Even if I betrayed the Demon Cult, they might not notice I’m gone.” Young Master Sang chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Master Yu Xia sneered: “Then the management of the Demon Cult is quite lax.”
“Likewise.”
Young Master Sang stretched his arms lazily: “After all, how many innocent disciples in the Water Moon Sect have mysteriously become traitors, vanishing without a trace, just like me?”
“…Don’t you know?”
Master Yu Xia shot him a cold glance.
In truth, she had noticed suspicious signs.
Occasionally, noticing the personnel changes reported by the disciples, she would pay attention to some clues.
But Master Yu Xia always considered this kind of thing as apprentice squabbles.
Being the sect leader and a noble Crossing Tribulation Stage cultivator.
Naturally, she had no spare time to daydream about the petty grievances among the disciples.
“So what?”
Master Yu Xia suddenly smiled coldly, looking at him with indifference, “You also think I wronged you, harboring resentment?”
“So now that I’ve fallen into your hands, you plan to torture me as revenge, right?”
To her surprise, Young Master Sang tsked and shook his finger:
“No, no, no, you misunderstood.”
“I, Young Master Sang, have never engaged in such inefficient behavior as an interrogator.”
“Instead of tormenting you, there are probably much more interesting ways of interrogation.”
He turned to look at the girl beside him.
Master Yu Xia looked at her as well.
A complex emotion briefly flashed in her eyes but returned to indifference.
“Surprised to see me unharmed, are you?”
“Mother, dear?” Si Jingzhu grinned eerily.
Master Yu Xia shook her head: “What’s so surprising? I didn’t expect you to obey me obediently.”
“But for you, believing me or believing them, what’s the difference?”
She suddenly smiled disdainfully: “You think that by believing these ruthless Demon Cultists, they will let you go?”
“You are the Original Immortal. No matter where you go, you will only be an object of everyone’s competition.”
“No matter who lured you with sweet words, the ending will always be the same.”
Young Master Sang noticed Si Jingzhu’s fists clenching tightly.
“So… I was born to be eaten, right?”
“Otherwise?” Master Yu Xia looked at her mockingly, “You think you deserve to talk about having rights to choices like everyone else?”
“Everyone is out to devour you. I have made every effort to let you enjoy a happy life in your short life.”
“I acknowledged you as my daughter, allowing you to indulge in all the pampering and care as a young lady of the Water Moon Sect.”
“Everyone listens to you, dares not defy you, and within the sect you can do whatever you please; I could even ignore it!”
Her voice grew harsher, colder, as if genuinely scolding her daughter.
“And you?!”
“Every day you bite the hand that feeds you, wallowing in luxury without gratitude, always thinking about running around, treating my good intentions as mere whimsy!”
“She lamented: “Do you know what a price I paid for you?”
“The expenditure of my life’s essence for your nurturing has taken years to recover. Now, I’m even willing to mobilize the entire sect to attack the Demon Cult for you!”
“You say! Where have I wronged you? What more do you want?”
Si Jingzhu trembled with rage.
She gazed deeply at Master Yu Xia, her eyes filled with resentment and grievance.
But she was at a loss for words.
Fortunately, beside her, Young Master Sang finally spoke.
“You’re right.”
“But ‘you are my daughter’ is a new type of emotional manipulation independently developed by Master Yu Xia, set in a fantastical world referred to as ‘Water Moon Sect,’ where those chosen by her are granted the title ‘You Deserve to Be Eaten.’ You’ll play a character named ‘Original Immortal,’ who has the misfortune of this fate.”
“Master Yu Xia has made it very clear. If I consider you my daughter, why won’t you let me eat you? Are you a ingrate?”
“Moreover, she doesn’t even see anything wrong with her way of thinking.”
Young Master Sang shrugged: “Since she thinks this, why don’t you just comply?”
“Sometimes, it’s pointless to argue with fools. You can’t win against her not because she’s right, but because she’s truly a dumbass.”
Master Yu Xia frowned and glared at Young Master Sang.
Si Jingzhu didn’t comprehend much of what Young Master Sang was saying.
But Young Master Sang’s relaxed tone gradually calmed her down.
After taking a deep breath, she slowly turned cold, overlooking her former “mother” from above.
“You’re right; perhaps I indeed can’t escape the fate of being eaten.”
“But I think what Young Master Sang said is right too.”
A cruel smile suddenly appeared in her eyes: “Even if I am to be eaten.”
“I want to choose who eats me.”
“I have the right to choose.”
“Don’t even think of taking that away from me,” Si Jingzhu said coldly.
With that, in front of Young Master Sang’s astonished gaze, she suddenly turned to wrap her arms around Young Master Sang’s neck.
Taking him completely off guard.
She fiercely pressed her lips against his.
(Second update)
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