Chapter Eight: Is It Possible?

"The second option, I choose the second option!"

At the very last second, Jiang Lin hurriedly made his choice. Who knew what ridiculous thing the system’s forced control would make him do otherwise?

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Lin stopped in his tracks, spun around suddenly, and shouted loudly:

“Lady Lin! Please, don’t cry! I am Jiang Lin!”

This unexpected, clear shout caused everyone in the teahouse to stop whatever they were doing. Qin Xiao gave a questioning “Hm?” and looked at Jiang Lin.

Lin Qingwan was also stunned. Still clutching the letter, she turned slightly to the side, kneeling on the ground, her sorrowful appearance continually battering Jiang Lin’s psychological defenses.

“Jiang, what did you just say…”

“I…” Cold sweat beaded on Jiang Lin’s forehead. “I said, I am Jiang Lin! And I won’t forgive you if you keep on sobbing like this!”

“Jiangxin…”

“Lady Lin! Look at yourself right now! Crying and weeping here—what are you crying for? If you must cry, go home and cry! Cry your heart out if you must! My brother, Jiang Lin, wanted you to live happily and joyfully, to prove yourself on the path of the Dao! And now look at you!

How are you honoring my Jiang Lin… my brother! You’re such a scoundrel! A terrible person! A bad egg!”

As she spoke, Jiang Lin pulled her sleeves over her face, quietly wiped away two tears squeezed out with the help of some onion juice, and, eyes red, threw herself into Lin Qingwan’s arms, raising her small fists to beat against Lin Qingwan’s chest.

“Jiang… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… It’s my fault… I should have realized sooner. I shouldn’t let Jiang Lin worry about me from the underworld… I’m sorry…”

Lin Qingwan’s tears fell one after another as she held Jiang Lin tightly in her arms.

Inside the teahouse, whether cultivators or commoners, everyone put down what they were doing and quietly wiped their faces.

“Grandpa, are you crying?” a little girl tugged at her grandfather’s sleeve.

“No, no, it’s just the wind and sand getting in my eyes,” he said, unable to help remembering that old fellow from his own sect back then…

[Ding…]

[Admit that you are Jiang Lin, √]

[Humiliate Lin Qingwan in public, √]

[Take advantage of Lin Qingwan, √]

[Congratulations to the host, mission complete. You are rewarded with 1,000 notoriety points and a bottle of Body Tempering Elixir. When notoriety reaches 10,000 points, the Villain Shop will be unlocked. System upgrade awarded. Host, keep up the good work and become the world’s ultimate boss.]

“System! Damn you—!”

Even though he had tricked the system and gotten his rewards, Jiang Lin still wanted nothing more than to pin the system down and give it a good beating.

“Lady Lin, I hope you will cultivate well. Since I’ve delivered the letter, I’ll take my leave. Surely a better junior brother awaits you.”

Jiang Lin stood up, ready to make his escape.

But just as he got up, the hem of his robe was tugged by the teary-eyed girl.

“Lady Lin, is there something else?”

Lin Qingwan gently wiped her tears, folded the letter as if it were a treasure and tucked it into her breast. “Don’t call me Lady Lin anymore. Call me ‘Sister’.”

“???”

“So you’re still unwilling…” Lin Qingwan lowered her head, biting her lip in a way that nearly gave Jiang Lin a heart attack.

“No… Lin… Sister Lin…”

“Good… Jiang, have you started cultivating?”

“Yes.”

“Which sect are you from?”

“Well… um… Jiangxin belongs to no sect. My brother would sometimes return home and teach me a little, so I suppose you could call me a wild cultivator.”

“That won’t do. It’s very dangerous for a girl to cultivate on her own. Would you like to join my Longmen Sect? I’d like to look after you.”

“No, no, Sister Lin, your kindness is appreciated, but I’m just—”

“But if you don’t come to Longmen Sect, then I’ll never be able to make it up to Jiang Lin, and my Dao heart will never recover. I’ll always feel guilty, and there will be no talk of attaining enlightenment or bringing peace to Jiang Lin’s spirit in the afterlife.

This is also my selfish wish. Jiang, will you promise me? Let us attain the Dao together, so that he will have no regrets.”

“I…”

“Will you?”

Lin Qingwan’s delicate, boneless hand grasped Jiang Lin’s larger hand, trembling with nervousness, her gaze wavering as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

“I can’t…”

[Ding…]

[System prompt: If the host refuses Lin Qingwan, her Dao heart will suffer. Later, during the sect tournament, she will break through her inner demon, challenge each sect and the demon cult, and kill the host multiple times, grinding their bones to dust.]

“So, you were just comforting me. Deep down you still hate me, don’t you?” With that, Lin Qingwan began to withdraw her slender hand from Jiang Lin’s grasp.

“No! It’s not like that!” Jiang Lin held her hand tightly, real tears rolling down his cheeks now, without the help of onions. “Sister Lin, what I mean is… there’s nothing that can’t be done…”

…

“Back already?”

“Yes, I’m back.”

After agreeing to pack up and move to Longmen Sect’s residence at the inn, Jiang Lin finally extricated himself.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look so well.”

Chen Jia poured Jiang Lin a cup of tea, sitting elegantly across from him. To be honest, looking at Chen Jia’s demure, pure expression, if it weren’t for that utterly flat chest, Jiang Lin would never have believed he was a man!

“Brother Chen, there are some things I need to deal with. We’ll have to act separately for a while.”

“That’s no problem. Our partnership was always just for show. Even if you didn’t say so, when the sect tournament begins, we’d be on our own anyway. It’s just that…” Chen Jia glanced at Nan Xiaoman, who was napping on the bed.

“I’ve already told Longmen Sect about Xiaoman. Maybe she could become a disciple there.”

“Longmen Sect? But what if Xiaoman gets bullied? I’ve heard that these so-called righteous sects are full of infighting and backstabbing—wolves in sheep’s clothing! They’re devils in disguise!”

Jiang Lin rolled his eyes at Chen Jia. “First, we’re from the demon cult. If anyone’s a devil, it’s us. But our Sun and Moon Cult is rather honest, all things considered. Besides, the ethos of Longmen Sect is decent. Xiaoman won’t be bullied.”

“Really?”

“Really. Or would you rather take Xiaoman along, wandering from place to place, and risk her getting caught up in some stray punch? She might die before you even realize it.”

Chen Jia looked at the sleeping Nan Xiaoman, then at Jiang Lin. This man liked to cross-dress, and did it remarkably well, but along the journey he’d proven decent enough—a good person, at least.

“If that’s the case, then let me go with you to deliver Xiaoman there.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Xiaoman can’t bear to leave you. What if you both end up crying your eyes out? People might think I’m trafficking children. Besides, I’ve heard the Unrivaled Tyrant Fist Sect is already in town. Don’t you want to go test your skills?”

“But…” Chen Jia rose, wanting to go, but was reluctant to leave the girl.

“Don’t worry, Brother Chen. I’ll take good care of Xiaoman. Heroes act decisively—I’m sure you won’t dawdle like a woman, right?”

“Of course not! I’m a real man!” Chen Jia frowned prettily and pouted, looking even more adorable. “Then, Brother Jiang, I’ll entrust Xiaoman to you. I’ll visit her at Longmen Sect.”

“I’ll go with you when the time comes.”

Chen Jia nodded, took off his long skirt to reveal men’s clothing underneath, seemingly unfazed by the heat, and strode out of the inn.

As the door closed, Jiang Lin heaved a quiet sigh, looked at the lovely little girl lying on the bed, and suddenly shouted,

“Master, the ice cream cake is ready!”

“Ice cream cake? Where, where?”