Chapter 182: Even if You’re a God, I’ll Fool You Anyway
How long ago was it?
It seemed like someone had once gently placed warm hands on her head.
She said she was her mother.
Said she was the hope for all of them.
Said she would give everything for her.
But only asked her to do one thing.
Cultivate.
Shut away in a windowless room, starting when she was barely able to speak.
Apart from cultivating, she had never stepped out of that door even once.
At that time, Hua Jianglian hadn’t thought about whether to go outside and take a look.
To live a life she had dreamed of.
For her, that dark, tiny room was her entire world.
It felt like the world was just this small.
Her whole life was just cultivation, cultivation.
Open her eyes to cultivate.
Cultivate until bedtime.
She didn’t even know what level her cultivation had reached; she just followed her instincts.
In the dungeon beneath Li Xue Dian.
In a carriage escaping in the freezing cold.
Then in some nameless cellar of a house.
The ones guarding her went from that woman called mother to several old-looking figures.
But then, one day, she suddenly realized that she seemed to be stronger than those who had her cultivate.
So, she killed them all.
And for the first time, stepped out from that cramped little world.
At that moment, Hua Jianglian wouldn’t know.
Many years later, someone would spoil her similarly, rubbing her little head.
But what they would say was, “Do you want to watch some comics together?”
Looking at Sang Zhe’s face, Hua Jianglian suddenly really wanted to punch him.
…So annoying.
What was with the hero act?
Did he have to do this after she had already made up her mind…?
Seeing Hua Jianglian bow her head as if desperately holding back, Sang Zhe thought for a moment and said:
“Great Sect Leader, I’ve been having some trouble with my eyes and ears recently. I often can’t hear sounds or see images, you know.”
“…How long will it last?”
“Until the Great Sect Leader finishes crying.”
Hua Jianglian glared at him with anger.
But she still mumbled softly, “No peeking,” and gently leaned her small head against his chest.
Sang Zhe obediently closed his eyes.
Feeling the little girl tightly gripping his clothes, soaking his chest.
He let her cry for a long time.
When Hua Jianglian’s sobs began to settle, Sang Zhe suddenly spoke up:
“How much longer?”
“…Ten days.”
Hua Jianglian slowly revealed her teary eyes, her little head drooping as she spoke: “My cultivation is progressing too quickly; the blood worm is about to mature.”
“I actually thought about finding a deserted place to let the blood worm mature.”
“But I don’t want to let this disgusting thing harm others.”
Sang Zhe pondered for a moment and asked, “Actually, this blood worm was a gift prepared for you by your mother, right?”
“Let all the disciples plant blood worms, and you’ll kill them one by one for their cultivation.”
Hua Jianglian bit her lip, pouting unhappily: “I don’t want such a gift.”
“I really hate the smell of blood.”
“I’ve been smelling this since I was small. It’s really stinky and unbearable.”
“That woman seems to think I’d like this smell.”
Her quiet muttering, combined with her red face after crying, made Sang Zhe find her especially cute.
So, Sang Zhe asked, “What flavors does the Great Sect Leader like?”
“Um… Snacks? Pastries, dried fruit, candy—uh.”
Suddenly, a piece of candy was stuffed into Hua Jianglian’s mouth.
It was hard, sweet, and softened after a couple of bites.
Hua Jianglian wanted to glare at Sang Zhe in irritation but found it quite tasty, so while chewing, she asked, “What did you give me?”
“Da Bai Tu Milk Candy.”
Sang Zhe smiled: “It was my favorite candy when I was a kid.”
Hua Jianglian had never heard of it.
But who wouldn’t be happy about something delicious?
After swallowing one, she licked her lips reluctantly, then boldly stretched her hand towards him.
“Is there more?”
Sang Zhe had to call Nian Nian to redeem some more from the system store.
Seeing that candy had made Hua Jianglian happy, Sang Zhe’s anxious heart finally relaxed.
Sitting on a stone stool by the roadside, Sang Zhe looked at the sky eagerly while Hua Jianglian, head down, indulged in her Da Bai Tu Milk Candy.
“I say, Sect Leader.”
“Mm?”
“Do we really have to attack the Fierce Tiger Sect?”
“What else can we do?” Hua Jianglian said while eating candy. “That Evil Old Demon has been hiding in the Fierce Tiger Sect; what can I do?”
“That old man is very cautious. Everything he’d done in the past has been erased. Now the only evidence—the disciple he deceived into cultivating demonic arts—has been silenced.”
“And I can’t prove he’s an evil cultivator.”
Sang Zhe frowned slightly.
That wasn’t even the most troublesome part.
From Sect Leader Ke Qinhux accepting the Zhaohun Bell, it was highly likely that he knew the identity of the Evil Old Demon.
He clearly didn’t care whether this person used to be a demonic cultivator.
As long as he could shelter a fleeing demonic cultivator and gain treasures like the Zhaohun Bell, he definitely wouldn’t mind.
This meant that as long as the Evil Old Demon remained tucked away in the Fierce Tiger Sect for life, they had no choice but to attack the mountain gate to kill him.
“Anyway, the blood worm is maturing fast. Might as well go confront that old beast.”
Hua Jianglian’s beautiful eyes lowered slightly: “After all, the matters of Li Xue Dian have to be ended by my own hands.”
Sang Zhe pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked:
“But actually, our goal isn’t to create enmity with the Fierce Tiger Sect, but to kill the Evil Old Demon, right?”
“In other words, if there’s a way to lure the Evil Old Demon out, or to trick Ke Qinhux away.”
“And if we kill him and leave, that would be the best choice, right?”
Hua Jianglian shot him a disdainful glare: “Why don’t you say that the other side suddenly has an epiphany, runs to me, kneels, cries, and begs me to kill him?”
“Who would have such luck? With that old turtle’s character, if he finds out I’m investigating his identity, he’ll definitely hide in the Fierce Tiger Sect for life.”
“That’s why we need to trick him.” Sang Zhe smiled cheerfully.
“Fighting and killing only damages relationships; the martial world values human emotions and social etiquette.”
Hua Jianglian eyed him with suspicion.
“You… have a way?”
“Sorry, when it comes to tricking and deceiving, that’s precisely my area of expertise!” Sang Zhe said with a grin.
You might not believe it, but last time, there really was a fool who was tricked into enlightenment, kneeling and crying.
However, that same method wouldn’t work on everyone.
For an Evil Old Demon like him, who had killed his entire family, tricking him would certainly be much more challenging.
But as long as you’re human…
I, Sang Zhe, will definitely have him fooled!
