Is It Okay?

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

In the very last second, Jiang Lin hurriedly made his choice; otherwise, who knew what kind of melodramatic nonsense the system's forced takeover would pull.

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

"Fairy Lin! Please stop crying! I am Jiang Lin!"

This sudden "shrill cry" made the Spectators in the tea house all pause mid-motion, and Qin Xiao turned to Jiang Lin with a "Huh?"

Lin Qingwan was also startled, clutching the letter as she turned sideways. The little girl, still kneeling on the ground, looked so heartbroken that it kept piercing Jiang Lin's psychological defenses.

"Sister Jiang, what did you just say..."

"I..." Jiang Lin broke out in a cold sweat, "I mean, I am Jiang Lin! And I won't forgive you for crying and sniveling like this anymore!"

"Sister Jiang Xin..."

"Fairy Lin! Look at what you've become! Crying and wailing here—what are you crying for? What's there to cry about? If you want to cry, go cry at home! Cry yourself to death! My elder brother Jiang Lin wants you to live happily and joyfully! Then to prove the Great Dao! But look at you now!

How can you live up to me, Jiang Lin... my elder brother! You villain! Big Bad Egg! Villain!"

As he spoke, Jiang Lin covered his face with his sleeve, secretly wiped two drops of onion juice, and with reddened eyes threw himself at Lin Qingwan, raising Small Fists to pound her chest.

"Sister Jiang... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... it's my fault... I should have woken up long ago. I shouldn't have let Jiang Lin worry about me even from the Yellow Springs. I'm sorry..."

Lin Qingwan's tears fell drop by drop as she tightly hugged Jiang Lin to her chest.

Inside the tea house, whether cultivators or common folk, everyone put down the snacks in their hands and silently wiped their faces.

"Grandpa, you're crying..." a little girl tugged at her grandfather's sleeve.

"No, no, it's just the wind and sand getting in Grandpa's eyes." He couldn't help but think of that person from his sect back in the day...

[Ding...]

[Acknowledged oneself as Jiang Lin, √]

[Publicly humiliated Lin Qingwan, √]

[Took advantage of Lin Qingwan, √]

[Congratulations Host, mission complete. Reward: 1000 Notoriety Points, one portion of Body Tempering Fluid. When Notoriety Points accumulate to 10,000, the Villain Shop will unlock, along with a system upgrade. Hope Host continues to strive and become the world's big boss.]

"System! I f*** ****"

Even though he had fooled the system and gotten the reward, Jiang Lin still wanted to grind the system into the dirt.

"Fairy Lin, I hope you cultivate well. Since the letter has been delivered, I'll take my leave. You'll definitely meet a better junior brother."

Jiang Lin stood up, planning to make a quick escape.

But just as he rose, the corner of his robe was tugged by the tearful little girl.

"Fairy Lin, is there something else?"

Lin Qingwan gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, folded the envelope neatly, and placed it in her bosom like a treasure: "Don't call me Fairy Lin anymore. Call me elder sister."

"???"

"So, you still won't..." Lin Qingwan lowered her Beautiful Head, her Pearly Teeth lightly biting her red lips in a way that nearly gave Jiang Lin a heart attack.

"No... Lin... Elder Sister Lin..."

"Mm... Sister Jiang, have you been cultivating the Dao?"

"Yes."

"What sect are you from?"

"Uh... well... Jiang Xin has no sect or school. My elder brother sometimes comes home and teaches me a bit, so I'm just a Wild Cultivator."

"That won't do. A girl being a wild cultivator is very dangerous. Would Sister Jiang be willing to come to my Dragon Gate Sect? I want to take care of you."

"No, no, no. Elder Sister Lin, I appreciate the kindness, but I'm used to being alone..."

"But if Sister Jiang doesn't come to my Dragon Gate Sect, then I won't be able to make it up to Jiang Lin, my Dao heart won't heal, and I'll always carry guilt in my heart—let alone proving the Great Dao to let Jiang Lin rest easy in the Yellow Springs.

This is also my selfish wish, Sister Jiang. Can you agree to it? Then we sisters can prove the Dao together, so that the him in our hearts has no regrets."

"I..."

"Is it possible?"

Lin Qingwan's soft, boneless little hand held Jiang Lin's large palm, trembling nervously as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

"It's not possi..."

[Ding...]

[System warm reminder: If Host refuses Lin Qingwan, Lin Qingwan's Dao heart will be damaged. She will still break her Inner Demon at this Sect Tournament, then challenge all sects and Demon Sects with her sword, until she kills Host N times and grinds his bones to dust.]

"So Sister Jiang was just comforting me. Deep down, you still hate me, don't you?" As she spoke, Lin Qingwan's delicate hand holding Jiang Lin's began to let go.

"No! That's not it!" Jiang Lin grabbed Lin Qingwan's slender hand, and this time his tears really fell drop by drop—no onion juice involved. "Elder Sister Lin, what I meant was, nothing is impossible..."

"You're back?"

"Mm, I'm back."

After agreeing to pack his things and move to the inn where the Dragon Gate Sect was staying, Jiang Lin finally managed to extricate himself.

"What's wrong? You don't look so good?"

Chen Jia poured Jiang Lin a cup of tea and sat primly before him.

To be honest, looking at Chen Jia's demure and innocent appearance, if it weren't for how flat as a board he was, Jiang Lin would never believe he was a man!

"Brother Chen, I have some matters to handle. It looks like we'll need to go our separate ways."

"That's no big deal. Our team-up was just a formality anyway. Even if you didn't say it, once the Sect Grand Tournament starts, I'd part ways with you. It's just that..." Chen Jia glanced at Nan Xiaoman, who was napping on the bed.

"I've already informed the Dragon Gate Sect about Xiaoman's situation. She might be able to become a disciple there."

"Dragon Gate Sect? But what if Xiaoman gets bullied? I've heard those so-called Famous Righteous Sects scheme openly and stab each other in the back with honeyed words! They're practically demons!"

Jiang Lin shot Chen Jia a look. "First of all, we're the Demon Sect. If anyone's closer to demons, it's us. It's just that... our Sun Moon Sect has a more honest culture. Secondly, the Dragon Gate Sect has a decent atmosphere. Xiaoman won't get bullied."

"Really?"

"Really. Otherwise, should Xiaoman follow you around challenging everyone to fistfights? She'd die from the shockwaves of your punches without even knowing how."

Chen Jia glanced at the sleeping Nan Xiaoman, then back at Jiang Lin. This man liked wearing women's clothing and looked damn good in it, but along the way, he'd been decent enough—at least a good person.

"Since that's the case, I'll go with you to send Xiaoman off."

"No."

"Why?"

"Xiaoman is most attached to you. What if you two start bawling your eyes out? People will think I'm kidnapping a child. Besides, I heard the Unrivaled Overlord Fist Sect has already entered the city. Don't you want to go ask for a fight, Brother Chen?"

"But..." Chen Jia stood up, wanting to go challenge them, yet reluctant to leave the girl.

"Please rest assured, Brother Chen. I'll take good care of Xiaoman. Warriors under heaven are decisive and straightforward. I don't think Brother Chen will dawdle like a woman, right?"

"Of course not! I'm a real man!" Chen Jia's beautiful eyes narrowed, and he pouted his small lips, looking even cuter. "Fine then. I'll entrust Xiaoman to you, Brother Jiang. I'll come visit her at the Dragon Gate Sect later."

"Then I'll go with you, Brother Chen."

Chen Jia nodded, stripped off his long dress to reveal men's clothing underneath—not bothered by the heat—and strode out of the inn.

The door clicked shut. Jiang Lin let out a soft sigh, looked at the adorable little girl lying on the bed, and suddenly shouted:

"Master, the ice cream cake is ready."

"Ice cream cake? Where, where?"