Yuan Lian was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to bring this up: “Hmm?”
But Cang Hai only said that one sentence before naturally changing the topic: “The Hundred Sect Assembly is coming up soon. The competition is always worth watching. You never seemed interested before, but this time I’ll try to come back in time to watch it with you.”
Yuan Lian responded nonchalantly, her lips slightly pursed, resting her chin on her wrist, her expression carrying a hint of confusion, clearly still pondering the dream she just had.
A green leaf returned to her hair, silently, as a slightly ethereal and transparent figure appeared behind her.
Although the shadow made no sound, Yuan Lian still sensed it. She didn’t turn around but instead leaned back, falling into that person’s slightly cool embrace.
Cang Hai’s true form was too far away from Yuan Lian. Although he left a wisp of his primordial spirit to accompany her, the connection with his main body was too weak, making it difficult to absorb spiritual energy freely. Therefore, Cang Hai was usually very frugal, preferring to attach to lifeless objects rather than manifesting in human form.
…But Yuan Lian was just too adorable.
These days, Cang Hai’s primordial spirit stayed by her side without leaving, but he didn’t want to disturb her interactions with her friends, so he refrained from speaking to her.
Compared to before, his junior sister had grown up, developed her own emotions, and made close friends.
In the future, she would have more companions, perhaps traveling the world and seeking adventures like he did in his youth, or maybe immersing herself in cultivation, seeking opportunities.
But no matter what, she shouldn’t be trapped in Buzhou Mountain, ignorant of both love and hate.
Cang Hai remembered the first time he met Yuan Lian when she was only in her teens, her temperament much colder than now. But this coldness was pitiable and regrettable.
Because Yuan Lian was also learning to change, but fate played tricks on her. As the saying goes, “A clever housewife cannot cook without rice,” she lacked emotional threads, and no amount of effort could change that.
Once, Cang Hai secretly took Yuan Lian to the western sea shore, where they lay on the branches of a tall palm tree, quietly enjoying the sunset.
At that time, Cang Hai told Yuan Lian a story he had heard in the Middle Thousand World many years ago—a story he had since forgotten the details of, only remembering it was a tragedy where the protagonist experienced separation from his wife and children, and eventually died in solitude.
He was deeply moved by the story, as cultivation is a lonely journey. He had lived so long that the royal power in his world had changed hands several times, and his parents and friends had long passed away, reincarnated countless times.
Cang Hai already liked his little junior sister very much, but he also understood her shortcomings. Telling that story was just a way to express his feelings and talk to her more, without any intention of educating her or hoping she would gain any insight.
But after he finished the story and sighed, he looked down at his junior sister leaning against his arm and was stunned.
He still vividly remembers Yuan Lian’s expression at that moment, unforgettable.
On that beautiful, youthful face was a look of confusion mixed with a hint of anxiety.
He asked, “Xiao Lian, what’s wrong?”
Then, he heard his junior sister, who was supposed to be carefree and have everything, apologizing to him. Her voice was as gentle as ever, but the worry within it was so evident: “I’m sorry… Senior Brother, I’m sorry, I can’t feel it…”
Her fingers unconsciously pinched Cang Hai’s clothes, and it took him a long time to react.
A flood of pity and inexplicable sadness, mixed with undeniable affection, overflowed from his heart. Cang Hai was a bit flustered, clumsily wiping Yuan Lian’s face with his fingers: “It’s okay, Junior Sister, it’s okay, we’ll be fine in the future…”
Yuan Lian quietly looked at him, calming him down. He cupped her face, softly saying, “The fact that you can think and say this is already very good… I’m very happy, Xiao Lian…”
She had no feelings for the story he told, but she was anxious and worried about disappointing him… At that time, Cang Hai didn’t know what was happening to him, only that his heart was churning with nameless emotions, making it impossible for him to maintain a calm and composed demeanor in front of his junior sister.
Yuan Lian looked at him for a long time, then reached out to hug his neck, nestling into his embrace.
Back then, Cang Hai and Yuan Lian were not as close as they are now, and Cang Hai always took extra care to maintain the proper distance between men and women.
This was the first time.
Cang Hai knew Yuan Lian’s actions had no ambiguous meaning. She was like a child in front of Dao Ji Shenwang, hugging her father. This was the only way she knew to express closeness.
He hesitated for a moment but eventually reached out to embrace this slender body.
Everyone knew Yuan Lian was the daughter of Dao Ji Shenwang, but there were many speculations about her mother, with no definitive conclusion.
Some said she was a mortal woman Dao Ji Shenwang met while traveling incognito, who died from exhaustion after giving birth to a Jade Immortal. Others said she was a high-ranking female cultivator from a prestigious family, forced to leave her daughter with the God King due to an arranged marriage.
…Of course, the latter theory was the least credible—after all, if one could marry Dao Ji Shenwang, it wouldn’t matter if she had a fiancé or even ten children; she would have to leave them.
The most widely believed theory now was that Yuan Lian’s mother was Miao Chang Shenwang, as she was the most suitable female immortal for Dao Ji’s status. People even rumored that due to some well-known… quirks of Miao Chang Shenwang, they couldn’t stay together long and parted ways after having a daughter.
Cang Hai, as Dao Ji Shenwang’s disciple, had seen Miao Chang Shenwang occasionally visit the Supreme Heavenly Palace. He knew people’s speculations were baseless; the two were not even in the same generation, and calling them friends was a stretch. Miao Chang was more like a junior and subordinate to Dao Ji Shenwang, with not a hint of ambiguity.
Cang Hai vaguely felt that Yuan Lian might not be a child conceived in the traditional way of father and mother’s blood, and he secretly speculated that Dao Ji Shenwang might have used some secret method, like extracting the essence of the sun and moon to create a child.
Although Dao Ji’s doting on Yuan Lian didn’t seem like he casually created a child to love as a daughter, Yuan Lian’s special origin was undeniable.
Cang Hai’s long-held certainty wavered during their close contact.
The girl pressed against him, her heartbeat was so natural.
The Heavenly Dao is a master craftsman, its creations are naturally exquisite and lively. Although a supreme God King can create life, it always feels somewhat mechanical.
Whether human or animal, they carry a deliberate vitality, their hearts beating in a rigid rhythm.
But Yuan Lian was different. Her heart beat in her chest, fast and slow, tightly pressed against his body.
She was a normal child, Cang Hai thought. Even if her emotions weren’t as rich and sensitive as ordinary people, she indeed had feelings.
It’s just that her emotional threads were few, so the emotions they brought were naturally limited. Her limited emotions were only enough for her closest person, her father.
Every time Cang Hai saw Yuan Lian with Dao Ji, he saw her occasionally delighted by the endless love her family gave her, or displeased when her requests weren’t immediately met. Not much different from ordinary children.
At this moment, Cang Hai quietly held Yuan Lian, feeling her naturally resting her chin on his shoulder, her steady breathing gently brushing against his neck.
—Could he really have a place in such a precious emotion?
*
Back to the present, Yuan Lian seemed to sense his thoughtful state and sat up straight, looking up:
“What are you thinking about?”
Cang Hai snapped back to reality, looking at Yuan Lian’s face that seemed both changed and unchanged, unable to resist lowering his head slightly.
Yuan Lian was a bit puzzled but accepted this closeness, allowing his cheek to press against hers.
“Senior Brother?”
She would slowly grow up, her emotions becoming richer. The more she had, the more she would give, and gradually have the capacity to care for others.
As her senior brother, he should feel gratified and happy for her.
Cang Hai held Yuan Lian, like holding a little girl, then reached out, gently covering her eyes: “Do you want to sleep?”
Yuan Lian indeed felt a bit sleepy. In her senior brother’s gentle voice, she gradually closed her eyes, leaning her head against Cang Hai’s chest, half-asleep, half-awake, asking: “Is this what people in the lower world do every day?”
Cang Hai replied warmly: “Yes… They need sleep every night. At this time, family members would bless them… wishing them sweet dreams.”
“Xiao Lian, have a good dream.”
A mortal’s blessing is just a wish, but words from a supreme being naturally resonate with the Heavenly Dao.
Yuan Lian fell asleep in this slightly cool embrace, and as the God King blessed, she indeed dreamed of beautiful scenes.
In her dream, there were no collapsing mountains and rivers, no falling stars.
Instead, there was a calm sea, a gentle sunset breeze, and a loving embrace with soft whispers by her ear.