Chapter 298-299 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 298-299 |
When Chen Yin returned, it was already afternoon. Shen Shuanglian and Xiang’er were chatting in the living room. Xiang’er was about to greet him cheerfully,
“Senior—”
But she stopped, noticing his weary expression and the deep sadness in his eyes.
He simply ruffled their hair gently as he passed by, then sat down silently, pouring himself a cup of tea, his gaze distant and unfocused.
Xiang’er and Shen Shuanglian exchanged worried glances.
“What’s wrong with him?” Shen Shuanglian whispered.
“I don’t know. He looks like a wilted flower.”
After a moment of hesitation, Xiang’er approached him cautiously.
“Senior Brother, what’s wrong? Are you unhappy?”
“Master and I had a fight.”
—
“You fought with that brat?” Qing Mei Niang looked at Yu Ling, surprised. “I was only gone for a little while! What happened?”
“It wasn’t really a fight,” Yu Ling sighed, her head resting on her hand, a pout on her lips. “We just… disagree about the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation. I want to involve as many Dao Comprehending cultivators as possible, but he’s worried about unnecessary casualties.”
Qing Mei Niang’s lips twitched. “Typical man. Always trying to be the hero. Little Ling’er, you should dump him!”
Yu Ling ignored her and continued, her voice filled with a quiet sadness. “He rarely disagrees with me. He’s so stubborn! He thinks I should always give in to him! I wonder if Xiang’er can talk some sense into him.”
“Why bother? Just dump him!”
“Is that all you ever say?” Yu Ling glared at her.
Qing Mei Niang pouted and looked at her with a pleading expression. “But why him? There are so many other men who would treat you better…”
…Like me!
She winked at Yu Ling, who just flicked her forehead playfully.
“It’s not that easy to let go of someone you love,” Yu Ling said, her head resting on the table, her voice muffled. “And… I understand how he feels. I don’t want him to get hurt either.”
“If you’re so worried, just do it behind his back,” Qing Mei Niang suggested. “Gather the cultivators, including his little harem, and by the time the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation arrives, it’ll be too late for him to protest.”
“It’s not that simple,” Yu Ling’s eyes lowered slightly. “He’ll be angry.” Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.
Qing Mei Niang didn’t care if Chen Yin was angry, but Yu Ling’s words infuriated her.
“I don’t understand! What’s so special about that brat?! If I were his Master, I would have beaten him to a pulp! He wouldn’t dare talk back to me!”
“You are his Master. You can do whatever you want. Why do you even care about his opinion?”
“Because I care about him.”
Yu Ling blinked at her innocently.
Qing Mei Niang was speechless. She took a deep breath, then said, her voice tight with frustration, “Fine! Just keep spoiling him! He’s clearly more concerned about his harem than you! You silly girl! You’ll end up with nothing!”
“Stop it,” Yu Ling said, her voice gentle but firm. “It’s not going to work. I’ve waited for him for a thousand years… I can’t leave him.”
Qing Mei Niang pouted, a silent I waited for you for five hundred years echoing in her heart.
“But what if he doesn’t listen to you?”
“Then I’ll listen to him. We faced the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation together a thousand years ago. Even if something goes wrong… with my Dao of Time, it won’t be the worst-case scenario.”
“Why?! Is your life less valuable than theirs?! Don’t give me that ‘sacrificing one person to save the world’ bullshit! You’re strong enough to survive! You don’t have to risk your life for them! We can hide in the Void! Let them all die! It has nothing to do with us!”
Yu Ling looked at her outburst and chuckled softly, making Qing Mei Niang even angrier.
“You’re laughing at me?!”
“No…” Yu Ling smiled. “I just realized… we’re all the same. If I said Luo Luo had to join us for the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation, would you agree?”
“Of course not! She’s too young! And she needs to control the Void!”
“Exactly. We’re all selfish and hypocritical. I am, you are, and so is Chen Yin. I would sacrifice the entire world for him, and he would sacrifice himself to save everyone. Neither of us is wrong. We just make different choices. So, Mei Niang,” she said softly, her hand gently massaging Qing Mei Niang’s shoulder, “I know you’re doing this for my own good, but… let me handle this myself.”
Qing Mei Niang glared at her for a moment, then sighed, a sense of defeat washing over her.
…So this is what it means to love someone.
She had waited five hundred years, but it had been for nothing.
Perhaps even another five hundred years…
…wouldn’t change a thing.
“…So,” Shen Shuanglian and Xiang’er said after hearing Chen Yin’s explanation, “that’s why you and Master had a fight?”
Chen Yin nodded. “It wasn’t really a fight. We just… couldn’t agree. The Triennial Heavenly Tribulation is too dangerous. I’m not sure I can protect all of you.”
…Especially now that the Eternal Light Sword was damaged.
He had to be more cautious.
But Xiang’er and Shen Shuanglian just stared at him, their gazes intense.
Even Chen Yin felt a little uneasy. “What… what’s wrong?”
“Senior… Brother…” Xiang’er bit his finger playfully, her voice a low growl. “Go and apologize to Master!”
Chen Yin winced, trying to pull his finger away. “Why are you so angry?”
“Because you’re looking down on us!” Xiang’er’s eyes were slightly red. “Do you really think we’ll just sit here and wait for you to come back? What was the point of us cultivating so hard, reaching Grand Clarity and comprehending the Dao?!”
Chen Yin was taken aback by her reaction.
“I… I just wanted to—”
“No excuses!”
Xiang’er pouted. “We’re on Master’s side! If you don’t apologize, you’re not allowed to sleep with us tonight! Or ever!” She turned and stormed off.
Chen Yin watched her go, speechless, then turned to Shen Shuanglian awkwardly. “So, Senior Sister…”
Shen Shuanglian didn’t say anything, just looked at him, her eyes clear and bright, her gaze firm and unwavering.
Even without words, he understood.
He sighed. “It’s really dangerous. You’ll be facing pseudo-Immortals, maybe even true Immortals. I don’t want you to risk your lives—”
Shen Shuanglian drew her sword.
Its azure blade, shimmering with the light of the sun and moon, pointed at him, a silent challenge.
Chen Yin looked at her, his heart sinking. “Why? This won’t prove anything. I know you’re strong, but you haven’t faced a true Immortal. They’re far more powerful than pseudo-Immortals. If something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Shen Shuanglian didn’t reply, her gaze unwavering.
He knew she wouldn’t back down. She rarely spoke, but her actions always spoke louder than words.
“…You really want to fight?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Chen Yin nodded.
Shen Shuanglian attacked, her movements swift and graceful, her sword a blur of motion, each strike infused with the power of the sun and moon, the boundless energy of heaven and earth at her command.
Her swordsmanship had become even more powerful after comprehending the Dao.
But Chen Yin didn’t even draw his sword.
He simply deflected her attacks with his bare hands, his movements effortless, his mastery of the Sword Dao allowing him to see through her every move, to pinpoint the weaknesses in her technique.
They danced around each other, Shen Shuanglian’s attacks relentless, her determination unwavering, yet she couldn’t even touch him.
But she didn’t give up.
One strike after another, even though she knew it was futile.
Chen Yin’s gaze softened as he watched her.
He could feel not only the power of her sword, but also the unwavering resolve behind it.
…She was truly determined.
Her movements were fluid and precise, her attacks relentless.
Finally, he stopped deflecting her attacks and gently grasped her hand, stopping her sword inches from his chest.
Shen Shuanglian froze, then he pulled her closer, his gaze meeting hers.
She sheathed her sword and lowered her head.
Chen Yin sighed. “You really want to go?”
She nodded seriously.
Chen Yin rubbed his temples, a headache forming. “You’re all so stubborn.”
But then Shen Shuanglian spoke, her voice soft but firm.
“Because we love you.”
“And we want you to love us back.”
“…Not just see us as… possessions.” She blinked at him, her eyes clear and bright.
Chen Yin paused, her words striking a chord within him.
“I know we might not be much help. But we want to contribute. This isn’t just your fight, it’s everyone’s fight. We won’t be reckless. We’ll take care of ourselves. We just want to help, to ease your burden, so you can focus on the strongest enemies.”
Her voice was soft and gentle, like a plea.
“Give us a chance… to be there for you… please?”
Chen Yin was silent for a long moment, then he pulled her into his arms, his embrace warm and comforting.
“Alright.”
“Thank you.”
Shen Shuanglian blushed and nodded.
“And… don’t forget to apologize to Master Yu Ling. She’s just worried about you.”
Chen Yin’s eyes flickered, and he nodded slowly.
—
That evening, in Qing Mei Niang’s luxurious bathhouse…
Yu Ling was soaking in the hot spring, her small body submerged in the fragrant water.
A figure appeared beside her.
“You’re back?” she said softly, without turning around. “I’ve been thinking… if you insist on going alone, then we’ll just have to find another way. We can set up formations in the dimensional passage—”
“I agree,” Chen Yin said.
Yu Ling paused, then chuckled softly.
“Did Xiang’er and the others convince you?”
“They threatened to withhold… certain privileges,” Chen Yin admitted.
“I should have used that tactic from the beginning,” Yu Ling said, a playful glint in her eyes.
“Even if you did, you wouldn’t be able to resist me. Just give up.”
“What?! You underestimate me? Do you think I haven’t been… lonely these past thousand years? I can handle a little… abstinence.”
“Or is it because you’ve waited so long that you can’t bear to… deny me now?”
Yu Ling glared at him, then her gaze softened, and she lowered her head.
“Fine, do what you want. But no funny business,” she added.
“I’m not that much of a beast. I wouldn’t take advantage of a child.”
Chen Yin sat down beside the bath, and they chatted, just like they used to on Mount Yu.
“How many people are you taking to the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation?”
“…Everyone,” Yu Ling said quietly. “Anyone who has reached Grand Clarity and comprehended the Dao. I’ll convince them to join us.”
“What if they refuse?”
“They won’t have a choice,” she grinned mischievously.
Chen Yin looked at her, a silent prayer for the sect leaders echoing in his heart.
…This little devil… she was known as the ‘Chaos Demon’ for a reason. It’s time for them to learn what fear truly means.
“But I need you to run a few errands.”
“Where to?”
“First, go to the Heavenly Net Sect and convince Luo Qiaoqiao’s parents to let her join us. Then, go to the Wu Xuan Cave and bring the Grand Witch. She’s also a Chosen One. And lastly…” she paused, her voice lowering slightly, “…go to the Demonic Path.”
Chen Yin was surprised. “The Demonic Path? Their leader will join us?”
“The Immortal Venerable mentioned something about the Demon Venerable and the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation. Apparently, the Demonic Path was created to fight against it. But they’ve become… decadent. Obsessed with power, willing to do anything to achieve it. If it weren’t for their current leader, they would have caused chaos throughout the cultivation world.”
Her words answered a question that had been lingering in Chen Yin’s mind.
“You… you knew about the Demonic Path all along? You even knew about Xiang’er being their Saint?”
“Of course. I even practiced their techniques. I almost became their Saint. But their techniques didn’t suit me, and they kept pestering me to become their leader, so I just stole their manuals and left.”
Chen Yin: “…”