In the courtyard, Yang Jian clenched his fists tightly.
Endless fury surged in his eyes. Haotian, the Heavenly Emperor, had destroyed his family and left it in ruins. How could Yang Jian not want revenge?
But...
"Second Brother Yang, if you want revenge, say it. You don't need to suppress it like this!"
Qin Hong patted Yang Jian's back with his little hand and said calmly:
"Since someone has committed such an outrage against both gods and men, they cannot blame others for speaking of it!"
Though Qin Hong was trying to comfort him, Yang Jian still helplessly loosened his fists, and the anger around him slowly faded.
He, Yang Jian, was the illegitimate child of an immortal and a mortal who had secretly coupled. He was a bastard. It was only natural that he would not be accepted.
The real mistake was that his mother had met and fallen in love with his father, and that they had borne the three siblings.
His uncle?
Heh heh!
As the Heavenly Emperor, how could Yang Jian dare seek revenge? He did not even have the right to hate him!
"Second Brother Yang, do you think..."
Qin Hong said in an unreadable tone:
"Was what your uncle... did right?"
Right?
He did not know!
Yang Jian shook his head, his voice sorrowful.
"Perhaps... it was right!"
"Mother secretly descended to the mortal world, disregarded the difference between immortals and mortals, secretly married Father, and gave birth to the three of us!"
"Since she broke the rules, she should be punished!"
"She should atone for her sins!"
"But the people of Guangjiang Pass... they were all innocent!"
"Bullshit!"
Qin Hong's little face instantly filled with anger as he looked at Yang Jian and roared:
"Your mother and father married because they loved each other!"
"Is love a crime too?"
"Why can't immortals marry mortals?"
"All beings under heaven and earth, all things in the primordial world, have their own destinies. Each is a complete individual!"
"No one is another's slave, and no one is another's accessory!"
"You and Yang Chan are both one-of-a-kind living beings between heaven and earth. What right do you have to look down on yourselves?"
"What right do you have to decide for your father and mother? What right do you have to judge whether they were right or wrong?"
"Think about your mother and father. Did they regret being together?"
"Did they regret having the three of you siblings?"
"The Heavenly Emperor? What fucking Heavenly Emperor!"
"Haotian merely relied on the little authority he had to dispose of you as he pleased. What kind of Heavenly Emperor was that?"
"As the Heavenly Emperor, he acted without care or restraint, doing only as he pleased and dragging the people of Guangjiang Pass into it for no reason. Was there any mercy in his heart?"
"How were his actions any different from those of demons and fiends?"
"He was utterly detestable!"
"This..."
Hearing Qin Hong's furious words, Yang Jian's heart was once again filled with suppressed rage. It really was so.
Haotian relied on being the Heavenly Emperor to act this way. He was truly detestable.
Although he agreed with Qin Hong in his heart, Yang Jian did not dare say anything...
Love was the most beautiful thing.
His father and mother had never regretted falling in love with each other, nor had they regretted having the three of them.
The three siblings were only children. What right did Haotian have to decide whether they lived or died?
And what had the people of Guangjiang Pass done? Why should they be forced to live lives lacking food and clothing?
Just because you were the Heavenly Emperor?
"Still, immortals descending to the mortal world without permission and marrying mortals is not permitted."
"Having love is a mistake!"
Yang Jian hated it in his heart, yet he could only helplessly console himself.
"Wrong..." Qin Hong rose to his feet and looked up at the sky, his voice solemn.
"All things between heaven and earth possess spirituality!"
"Love is merely one aspect of nature. It is the Heavenly Dao!"
"Haotian does not uphold the Heavenly Dao. Instead, he has established flawed heavenly laws!"
"It is clearly his own mistake, so why must he use the punishment of others to conceal it?"
"The Heavenly Emperor? Heh heh, was he worthy?"
Boom!
Qin Hong's words were like a clap of thunder exploding beside Yang Jian's ears, striking straight into his soul!
That was right!
What kind of Heavenly Emperor was he? Was he worthy?
But even if he was unwilling, even if he refused to accept it, what could he do?
He, Yang Jian, was not like Qin Hong. He did not have the status of a saint's son and could not fear no one.
The Heavenly Emperor was an existence he would have to look up to for the rest of his life. His life and death were both held in Haotian's hands.
"He... is the Heavenly Emperor. I... am only a mortal!"
Tears filled Yang Jian's eyes. "We can only obey!"
"His every word and action is the rule!"
"Heh heh..." Qin Hong smiled brilliantly. "His every word and action is the rule!"
"That is right. If one day you stand above him, then you will be the rule!"
"Hm?"
"Me?"
Yang Jian stared at Qin Hong in disbelief and waved his hand.
"How could that be possible?"
"I am merely the descendant of an immortal and a mortal who secretly coupled. How could I possibly stand higher than him?"
"Do not joke with me."
"If you have never tried, how would you know it is impossible?" Qin Hong said casually.
"Our Interception Sect advocates teaching without distinction!"
"All things under heaven and earth, all beings are equal. All beings may seek the Dao!"
"The Heavenly Dao has fifty, yet the heavenly evolution has forty-nine, with one escaping!"
"That one is vitality, and it is also a sliver of change. Even the Heavenly Dao cannot complete that one!"
"All things and all beings possess a sliver of vitality, a chance to become saints and achieve immortality!"
"You, Yang Jian, why do you think it is impossible for you?"
Qin Hong's words made Yang Jian's ears buzz, as though a new gate had been opened before him.
"Me?"
"Can I do it?" A confused light appeared in Yang Jian's eyes, then gradually hardened into an unyielding gleam.
Since all things had a sliver of hope, why could he, Yang Jian, not fight back and prove it to himself?
For himself, for his younger sister, for his mother, for his dead father and elder brother, and for the countless suffering people of Guangjiang Pass!
Nothing had yet been decided. He, Yang Jian, would not be controlled by anyone!
Yang Jian immediately looked at Qin Hong solemnly.
"Young Sect Master, may I, Yang Jian, join the Interception Sect?"
Yang Jian's change in address represented a heart as firm as stone, a heart that had found conviction.
"Heh heh, if Second Brother Yang is willing, of course I would be delighted!" Qin Hong, too, became solemn.
"I, Qin Hong, in the name of the Young Sect Master of the Interception Sect and son of Saint Tongtian, hereby proclaim to heaven and earth that Yang Jian of the Yang family is a member of the Interception Sect!"
After speaking, Qin Hong discarded his solemnity and returned to his earlier casual manner.
"Second Brother, I have accepted you on Father's behalf. From now on, you are a disciple of our Interception Sect!"
Qin Hong felt a burst of secret delight. He had so easily talked Yang Jian, an immensely important part of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, into joining the ranks of the Interception Sect's disciples. It felt unbelievably good!
As for the Sect of Enlightenment and Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning? Fuck them!
Strike first for the advantage!
"Thank you, Second Brother!" Yang Jian saluted Qin Hong. Then his expression shifted. He clearly wanted to say something, but was too embarrassed to do so.
Seeing Yang Jian's awkward manner, how could Qin Hong fail to guess what he was thinking?
"Second Brother, are you thinking about Sister Chan?"
Qin Hong had exposed his thoughts in a single sentence, and Yang Jian nodded awkwardly.
"Yes, Chan'er is still too..."
"Second Brother, there is no need to say more. Have you forgotten? Chan'er calls me Little Brother. How could I ignore her?"
"Chan'er is too young, so there is no rush for her to take a master. Rest assured, Second Brother. I will definitely keep Chan'er safe!"
Seeing that Qin Hong had understood his concerns and even made thorough arrangements, Yang Jian thought no further.
"Then, thank you, Second Brother."
"Don't be so distant!" Qin Hong said unhappily.
"Haha, Second Brother!"
Before you continue