So that’s how it was. That’s how it was!
The truth finally dawned on Lin Jiu. If everything went according to the plot, Liu Qingyin would be in her position now. She must have ordered Wang Weizhi to devote himself to her, to never leave her side in life or death—thus creating the perfect, unwaveringly devoted second male lead who would sacrifice everything for her!
Wang Weizhi’s face turned even ashen, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.
Lin Jiu steadied herself, cleared her throat, and said, “Do what you want to do!” Her voice was firm. “Everyone should have their own freedom. I would never force my will upon you!”
For a moment, Wang Weizhi’s expression was absolutely priceless.
“You… you’re serious?”
“Of course!” She then looked at Huang Chuan. “I’m serious.”
Wang Weizhi bit his lip hard. After a long silence, this proud and arrogant youth suddenly covered his face and burst into tears.
“Excellent!” Huang Chuan sighed deeply, beaming with joy. “Child, you truly haven’t disappointed me! At last, I have found the right person!”
He reached out a wrinkled hand and gently patted Lin Jiu’s head.
Lin Jiu: “…”
“You are worthy of becoming the master of the True Illusion Mirror—no, you deserve even more. Child, when you leave this realm, I will have a surprise for you.”
Lin Jiu: “…”
‘Am I… am I hitting the jackpot?!’
Huang Chuan smiled and gave her a nod. When he turned to look at Wang Weizhi, his gaze suddenly sharpened.
At that moment, Wang Weizhi was curled slightly inward, hands covering his face, his tall, lean frame trembling as he sobbed like a child.
Huang Chuan’s eyelid twitched twice. He hesitated, reaching out a thin, trembling hand toward the back of the youth’s head, but after a brief pause, he withdrew it.
“Oh, my…” He shook his head and murmured, “So all children look the same when they cry.” His eyes drifted toward the sky beyond the thatched cottage, staring blankly at the massive, drifting clouds, his expression filled with nostalgia.
Lin Jiu silently took note—she had never heard of Huang Chuan leaving behind any descendants. If he did have regrets tied to this, it was likely an old wound that should not be touched.
So, she simply stood to the side without saying a word.
Gradually, Wang Weizhi’s wailing subsided. He was, at his core, a free-spirited person. With a swipe of his sleeve, he wiped away his tears and snot, then flashed a bright grin.
“Lin Qiu, I’ve decided—I’m keeping you as a friend!” He then stood up and gave Huang Chuan a deep bow. “Senior, I lost to Lin Qiu fair and square, so I won’t overstay my welcome… Farewell!”
“Wait, my boy, wait. There’s no need to rush.” Huang Chuan suddenly turned around, his sharp eyes filled with mirth as he motioned for Wang Weizhi to sit back down.
“What is it, Senior?”
Huang Chuan leisurely poured three cups of tea, flicked his long sleeves, and swept the chessboard and pieces onto the ground. His skinny hand wiped the table a few times before carefully placing the tea in front of his two guests.
“Sit, sit, keep this old man company a little longer.”
“But…” Wang Weizhi’s brows furrowed slightly, urgency flashing in his expression. “I won’t hide it from you, Senior—my mother—”
Huang Chuan waved his wrinkled hand dismissively. “This old man already heard everything. Relax, relax. That little snake’s body language alone made it obvious he was lying. Such petty tricks don’t work on me, hmph!”
Lin Jiu and Wang Weizhi exchanged glances, equally surprised and impressed. Truly, the older you are, the wiser you become.
“Still…” Huang Chuan twitched his sparse eyebrows. “When it comes to the affairs of the world, fortune and misfortune often intertwine… Good things are not necessarily good, and bad things are not necessarily bad. Who can tell for sure? Ah, but enough of that. You young ones don’t need to be so weary of life.”
He took a sip of tea and continued, “Back in my day, I pursued the Dao through the sword. By attuning my sword intent to the natural laws of the world, I transcended the Great Ascension stage and stepped into the Immortal Realm. My legacy is, therefore, the sword intent I comprehended along the way.”
Wang Weizhi’s eyes widened slightly, his lips parting in subtle tremors—his excitement palpable. Yet, despite the eagerness nearly spilling from his gaze, he still remembered that he had lost to Lin Jiu.
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms to restrain himself.
“But this little girl… when it comes to swordsmanship… tsk, tsk!!” Huang Chuan clicked his tongue twice, his face contorted as if in physical pain. “Such abysmal talent! A level of mediocrity so rare, I’d wager it only appears once every ten thousand years! Truly, a precious, once-in-a-lifetime sight!”
“Pfft!” Wang Weizhi burst out laughing.
“…” Lin Jiu was expressionless. ‘Should I at least pretend to feel honored?’
To speak the truth, this arrangement kind of suits her. She wasn’t interested in Huang Chuan’s sword legacy. To her, profound sword techniques were overly intricate and complex—like dumping a mountain of advanced calculus into an elementary schooler’s brain. Sure, she understood it was powerful, but it was utterly useless to her. Even if she ever decided to walk the sword path in the future, she’d rather progress at her own pace, step by step.
“Senior, giving your sword legacy to me would be an absolute waste.” Lin Jiu showed a magnanimous smile. “I can’t even say for certain whether I’ll ever take up the sword. Instead of entrusting such a valuable legacy to someone uncertain, wouldn’t it be better to give it to Wang Weizhi? He may not be the best person, but he has principles, acts decisively, and doesn’t confine himself to rigid norms. He is destined for great things.”
Wang Weizhi sucked in a sharp breath and stared at Lin Jiu in shock. “Are you an idiot…?! Even if you can’t comprehend it now, this legacy would be invaluable for your future cultivation! You’re insane to give it up! I refuse to take it!”
Lin Jiu waved a hand dismissively. “What suits you best is what’s truly valuable.”
‘Like the True Illusion Mirror, for instance,’ she added silently.
“Good! Good!” Their host nearly wept with joy. “Neither of you is greedy, both of you are good children! This old man won’t let either of you suffer a loss!”
Without further delay, he casually formed a hand seal, and soon, a crystalline, translucent little sword emerged from the center of his forehead.
“Go!”
Wang Weizhi’s pupils shrank, his dark eyes reflecting the rapidly approaching sword. He clenched his teeth but did not dodge, watching as the sword plunged directly into his forehead.
A thunderous roar exploded in his mind, and countless flickering sword aura danced before his eyes. Layer upon layer of Huang Chuan’s projections appeared, demonstrating an endless variety of sword techniques, ceaselessly striking, slashing, and thrusting. All the while, they shouted, “Ha! Hoo!” with every move.
“…Senior, may I ask a question?”
“Of course, of course.” Huang Chuan looked at him with a warm smile.
Wang Weizhi’s lips twitched. He lifted a finger and pointed at his own forehead. “These tiny, buzzing, chirping little men in my head—how long will they stay?”
“Hmm,” Huang Chuan’s eyes curved with amusement. “Once you fully comprehend my swordsmanship, they will stop bothering you.”
Wang Weizhi: “…” Suddenly, life seemed a lot less appealing.
Slowly, he turned his head toward Lin Jiu, his gaze carrying a hint of menace. “Did you already know what’s going to happen?”
Lin Jiu sat upright, looking utterly proper and innocent. “I didn’t, I swear, don’t make baseless accusations.”
“Good person, huh?” Wang Weizhi narrowed his eyes, half amused, half exasperated. “I really must’ve been bewitched to trust you.”
After a moment, he sighed and said solemnly, “Regardless… this favor, Youran will remember for a lifetime.”
Lin Jiu blinked in surprise before realization dawned—Youran was Wang Weizhi’s given name.
‘Great. New achievement unlocked,’ she mused silently.
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