96 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 95: Endurance After another day of travel, they could finally see Yucang Mountain from afar. The disciples of Lishan suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of safety. Whether it was the dangers within the secret realm over the past month or the turmoil stirred by the arrogant Tai Xu Sect upon their exit, everyone had been in a state of anxiety. Now, finally seeing the path back to their mountain gates, they could begin to calm their minds. However, the atmosphere aboard the flying boat remained somewhat subdued. Many events had unfolded over the past month. Besides the usual exploration of the secret realm, certain unknown incidents had left some people quietly depressed. Zheng Yi Wen felt a restlessness within him ever since failing to achieve his goals in the secret realm. His impulsive actions that night had been a reckless move—a gamble that didn't pay off and could even lead to great disaster. Despite his lingering desire for Huai Ye, he no longer dared to act rashly. Equally dejected was Qin Miao. In his past life, he had gained considerably from the Hunyuan Secret Realm—not only did he have a beauty by his side, but he also acquired a rare treasure. However, in this life, he exited the secret realm empty-handed. Not only had his senior sister grown increasingly distant, but he also unexpectedly sustained a disabling leg injury. Strangely, Huai Ye, who should have been unaware of the miraculous nature of the cloaking robe without any guidance, had somehow come to understand its value and silently claimed it for herself. He regretted his misstep, feeling both frustration and helplessness over the things he had missed. Simultaneously, he couldn't suppress the thought that if Xiang Shi Yan weren't so partial towards her junior sister, perhaps he would've fared better in the secret realm. Qin Miao hadn't seen Xiang Shi Yan for a month. He both missed her and harbored a subtle resentment, reluctant to let his master see him in this state. After some internal struggle, he realized that his injured leg needed Xiang Shi Yan's attention. His leg injury was critical; everything else he could endure. While he was wrestling with this internal conflict, He He returned from speaking with Qian Dani. Seeing Qin Miao about to seek out Xiang Shi Yan, she playfully intercepted him. "Are you, senior brother, going to find Master?" Lately, Qin Miao had come to regard her as a harbinger of misfortune. In many ways, she seemed to be the downfall of his current life's plans. Seeing her approach, he couldn't help but have a bad feeling. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain composure. "Has Junior Sister He already passed the message to Senior Sister Huai Ye?" "Yes," she replied with a bright smile. "And I found an unexpected surprise with Master." "Did Master reward you with something after seeing how much you've improved through this secret realm training?" Qin Miao sneered. This junior sister, possibly because her talents resembled Xiang Shi Yan's own, seemed to draw special attention from their master. Despite being busy, Master often inquired about He He's progress, frequently rewarding her with useful or clever artifacts. Even though Qin Miao now possessed the Dragon Bone Saber and didn't care much for those trifles, he couldn't help but envy the attention. He He's amused by his envious expression. Xiang Shi Yan was never a nurturing figure; she remained distant, only showing affection for very young or weak children. By now, Qin Miao was fifteen or sixteen—practically an adult in her eyes, capable of handling his affairs—and she naturally wasn't particularly attentive to him. Her words struck a chord with He He, who feigned innocence to provoke further. "Your reminder is timely, senior brother. I was so impressed by the two junior sisters' matter that I forgot to ask Master for any rewards." At this, Qin Miao inhaled sharply, his mind hazy under the broad daylight. Stumbling slightly, he blurted out, "Wasn’t Master staying back at Beiwuzhen waiting for our return? How could there be two new disciples?" There were two more strangers... in addition to Zhu Yu, who would join Xiang Shi Yan's fold years later. In total, Xiang Shi Yan now had five direct disciples! She went from being the least inclined to take in disciples to having the most in the entire sect. What is happening?! Qin Miao felt his anger rising. Why did Xiang Shi Yan behave so unpredictably in this life? Couldn’t she just support his path to glory as she did in the previous life? Where he had always felt resentment towards her inaction before, now he was filled with frustration. With many thoughts swirling in his mind, he sighed with a pained expression, forcing a smile. "Really? I should go take a look. Have you seen the new junior sisters? What are they like?" "They are twins." He He maintained her usual sweet smile, though it contained a hint of truth, finding Qin Miao's stunned expression particularly entertaining. Her eyes sparkled with a cold light. For Qin Miao, it wasn't just about Xiang Shi Yan taking in two new disciples, but more about the shock of hearing "twins." Before, Fu Zhi had also found it peculiar, but what surprised both her and Qin Miao wasn’t Xiang Shi Yan accepting the Zhu sisters as disciples, but that "she brought both of them back." Fu Zhi, someone who had glimpses of the heavenly Dao, could somehow foresee future events—not surprising if they had determined that Qin Miao was a person of destiny, potentially leading to connections with people who would become entangled with him, such as the two Zhu sisters. Hence, Fu Zhi's knowledge wasn't shocking. But Qin Miao seemed particularly suspicious in He He's eyes, marking more than one occasion where he seemed to predict the future. He He pondered on this frequently, recalling a time in Xinyang City when she had fainted and saw memories that differed from her own experiences. Initially believing these memories to be figments of her imagination—since, at the time, she had sealed away her identity as Lin Pandai, vastly different from her essence known as "Yuan Jiu"—but as she mulled over Qin Miao's strange behavior, her suspicions deepened. What if those were events meant to be part of her life? Continuing, He He explained to Qin Miao, "They are said to be the daughters of Aunt Qi Wei and used to live in Huaihai City." Qin Miao's face turned ashen. Everything was in disarray now. Zhu Yu was supposed to learn under Xiang Shi Yan four years later, and Zhu Yun had never left Huaihai City before the outbreak of war between the two clans. His eyes fixated on the girl in front of him, who was still enthusiastically describing the newcomers' appearances and personalities, seemingly welcoming their presence. Xiang Shi Yan had surely been mindful of her friendship with Qi Wei's daughter, thus deciding to take in He He as a disciple, which was understandable. In his past life, Qin Miao had known of the Zhu family's sordid underbelly; it was beneficial that his master rescued them early from their predicament. The fact that Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu bore special constitutions could be advantageous if used wisely. Staying on Yucang Mountain shielded them from prying eyes. Everything seemed good, but... Qin Miao couldn't help but feel agitated. Why couldn't it be like before? He hadn't managed to obtain either Huai Ye or the cloaking robe. While the robe may be lost, his senior sister was a more distant thought. Now with newcomers, at this rate, something would soon go awry with Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu too. Why couldn't it be like his previous life? Zhu Yu had been charming and spirited, their bond cemented only after he harshly scolded her for some misdeeds. Despite being aware of her unique constitution, which, unlike typical furnace constitutions, depleted her cultivation when harvested by someone else, she remained silent, wishing only to support him as best she could. Zhu Yun remained aloof and dignified, unwilling to express her affections due to her family's burdens and her "broken" state. Though often crossing him and acting recklessly, when she sacrificed herself to aid his breakthrough, his feelings for her were genuine and full of pity and love. Why couldn't it be like before!? Qin Miao's expression contorted, jaw clenched tightly, his anger built over time bursting forth at the sight of the naïve-looking girl. He was gripped by a rush of impulse, a fleeting desire to stretch his hand forward and snap her neck. He He's smile remained unfazed as she observed Qin Miao's sudden anger, finding satisfaction in his reaction. In fact, she almost hoped he would make a move against her right now. They were aboard the flying boat, and if she defended herself and pushed him off in self-defense, the position they were in would land him right into the spiritual power vortex at the stern. The elders might not react quickly enough to prevent him from being seriously harmed, perhaps even leaving him permanently disabled. After all, He He was just ten years old—a sweet, endearing, seemingly innocent girl. Why would she need to lie? Attacked by a senior brother, Yin Mu, consumed by jealousy over their master's favor—it would be terrifying for a young, fragile girl like her! Go ahead and make a move; the senior brothers and sisters up front aren't paying attention to us now, it's a perfect opportunity. The girl, sporting a dazzling smile, said, "Oh dear, I forgot to return this jade pendant to Master earlier. It's not proper for me to keep such a personal item for long." She took the crane-etched jade off her waist, caressing it tenderly before reluctantly saying, "It’s truly worthy of Master’s fondness; I've only had it for a little over a month, yet I find it hard to part with... Do you think Master would be willing to let it go?" For the past month in the secret realm, aside from wallowing in self-pity and impotent rage, Qin Miao had often stared at the jade pendant belonging solely to Xiang Shi Yan with a mix of jealousy and resentment, his eyes pooling with a touch of envy and yearning. The boy, stripped of everything and laden with the mission of avenging his family, craved warmth desperately enough to seize it all if he could. How he longed for his master's recognition, hoping that ethereal woman would give him a glance. A fifteen or sixteen-year-old, no matter how calculating and strategic, couldn't help but feel wronged when confronted with a junior sister flaunting their master's favoritism. The fierce wind outside the flying boat shattered against an invisible spiritual shield, strands of it teasing He He's hair, as she, appearing innocent and unknowing, plotted sinister acts, provoking her brother's fragile nerves. A tense atmosphere lingered between the two at the concealed end of the boat, every silent second ticking like a countdown. Qin Miao finally spoke, his voice hoarse with anger, as if every word was painfully extracted, "I'll first see Master to have my leg checked, then... we can talk." The young man, face shifting between shades of green and red, brushed past He He. She responded warmly, yet as their shoulders merely grazed, her expression turned icy cold. A flicker of golden flame extinguished in her right eye, snuffing out the illusion that had stirred and pried into emotions. She watched Qin Miao's retreating back, seemingly gazing past him at someone else. For Qin Miao to suppress his negative feelings within her illusion spoke of his mental resilience, yet it was more about the inherent difference between a pure-hearted youth and an adult's "heart." A person's desires often change with growth—like a once pure-hearted young man, who, after gaining everything, finds parting with any of it impossibly hard, warping his actions to secure what he perceives as his possession. Mere anger isn’t enough to spur action. She had etched the spatial maze from the pot into her eye, allowing her to freely utilize it to an extent. Earlier, she sensed Qin Miao's emotions, laden with unsatisfied desires and unfulfilled expectations, as though he had lost something he once had. Amused, He He mused, if all that you had was once in your grasp, how much of it can you reclaim in this life? Complexity and endurance are adult failings, my brother. Your future self bears strong resemblance to you—even the vile act of coveting those you shouldn't desire is nauseatingly similar.