Can You?

"Second option—I choose the second option!"

At the very last second, Jiang Lin hurriedly made his choice. Otherwise, who knew what ridiculous thing the system's forced takeover would do?

After taking a deep breath, Jiang Lin, who had stopped walking, suddenly spun around and shouted:

"Fairy Lin! Please stop crying! I'm Jiang Lin!"

The sudden delicate cry made everyone in the teahouse stop what they were doing. Qin Xiao also turned toward Jiang Lin with a puzzled "Huh?"

Lin Qingwan froze as well. Clutching the letter, she turned sideways. The girl's sorrowful appearance as she knelt on the floor continued to punch straight through Jiang Lin's psychological defenses.

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

"I..." Cold sweat broke out on Jiang Lin's forehead. "I mean, I'm Jiang Lin! I also won't forgive you for crying and sobbing like this!"

"Sister Jiang Xin..."

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

"How dare you treat my elder brother Jiang Lin like this... You bad egg! Big Bad Egg! Bad egg!"

As he spoke, Jiang Lin gathered his sleeves over his face and silently wiped away two drops of onion juice. With reddened eyes, he threw himself at Lin Qingwan and raised his little fists to pound her chest.

"Sister Jiang Xin... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... It's my fault... I should have come to my senses sooner. I shouldn't have made Jiang Lin worry about me even from beneath the Nine Springs. I'm sorry..."

Tears dripped down Lin Qingwan's face as she hugged Jiang Lin tightly in her arms.

Inside the teahouse, whether they were cultivators or ordinary commoners, everyone put down the melons in their hands and silently wiped their faces.

"Grandpa, are you crying...?" A little girl tugged at her grandfather's sleeve.

"No, no. The wind and sand got in Grandpa's eyes." He couldn't help remembering that person from his fellow disciples back then...

[Ding...]

[Admitted that he was Jiang Lin, √]

[Humiliated Lin Qingwan in public, √]

[Took advantage of Lin Qingwan, √]

[Congratulations, Host. The mission has been completed. Reward: 1,000 Notoriety Points and one portion of Body Tempering Fluid. The Villain Shop will open when Notoriety Points reach 10,000. The system will also be upgraded at that time. We hope the Host will continue striving and become the world's Big BOSS.]

"System! I'll f*** your—"

Although he had fooled the system and even received rewards, Jiang Lin still wanted to press it to the ground and rub it back and forth.

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

Jiang Lin rose to his feet, intending to flee as quickly as possible.

But just as Jiang Lin stood up, the corner of his robe was seized by the tearful girl.

"Fairy Lin, is there something else?"

Lin Qingwan gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, folded the letter, and placed it in her arms like a treasure. "Don't call me Fairy Lin anymore. Call me Sister."

"???"

"Sure enough, you still don't want to...?" Lin Qingwan lowered her delicate head and lightly bit her red lips. The sight nearly gave Jiang Lin a myocardial infarction.

"No... Sis... Sister Lin..."

"Mm... Sister Jiang Xin, you cultivate the Dao, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Which sect are you from?"

"Uh... that... Jiang Xin has no sect or school. My elder brother occasionally teaches me a little when he returns home. I suppose I'm a Wild Cultivator."

"That won't do. It's very dangerous for a girl to cultivate alone in the wild. Would Sister Jiang Xin be willing to come to Dragon Gate Sect? I want to take care of you."

"No, no, Sister Lin, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm alone..."

"But if Sister Jiang Xin doesn't come to Dragon Gate Sect, then I won't be able to make amends to Jiang Lin. My Dao heart won't be repaired either, and I'll carry this guilt forever. Let alone proving the Great Dao and letting Jiang Lin rest easy beneath the Yellow Springs.

"This is also a little selfishness on my part. Sister Jiang Xin, can you agree? When the time comes, we sisters can prove the Dao together and let the one in our hearts leave without regrets."

"I..."

"Can you?"

Lin Qingwan's soft, boneless hand clasped Jiang Lin's large palm. It trembled nervously, and her wavering eyes seemed as though they might burst into tears at any moment.

"No..."

[Ding...]

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

"Sure enough, Sister Jiang Xin was only comforting me. Deep down, you still hate me, don't you?" With that, Lin Qingwan began lowering the slender hand that held Jiang Lin's.

"No! That's not it!" Jiang Lin seized Lin Qingwan's delicate hand. Tears truly rolled down his face this time—without any onion juice. "Sister Lin, what I mean is... there's nothing I can't agree to..."

"You're back?"

"Mm, I'm back."

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

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

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

Honestly, seeing Chen Jia's dignified and pure appearance, if not for the perfectly flat chest, Jiang Lin absolutely wouldn't have believed he was a man!

"Brother Chen, I have some matters to deal with. We'll probably have to split up."

"That's nothing. Our team was only nominal to begin with. Even if you didn't say anything, once the Sect Grand Tournament began, I would have separated from you. It's just that..." Chen Jia looked toward Nan Xiaoman, who was napping on the bed.

"As for Xiao Man, I've already informed Dragon Gate Sect. She might even become a disciple of Dragon Gate Sect."

"Dragon Gate Sect? But what if Xiao Man gets bullied? I've heard that those so-called Famous Righteous Sects scheme against each other in the open and in secret, wield honeyed words while hiding swords, and stab people in the back! They're simply devils!"

Jiang Lin rolled his eyes at Chen Jia. "First of all, we're the Demon Sect. If anyone resembles devils more, it should be us. It's just that our Sun Moon Sect has relatively simple customs. Besides, Dragon Gate Sect has a good atmosphere. Xiao Man won't be bullied."

"Really?"

"Really. Otherwise, should we let Xiao Man follow you around challenging people with your fists? By then, she might die from being caught in the shockwaves of your punches without even knowing how it happened."

Chen Jia glanced at the sleeping Nan Xiaoman, then at Jiang Lin. Although this man liked dressing as a woman—and looked very good in women's clothes—he had been decent enough along the way. At least, he was a good person.

"In that case, I'll go with you to deliver Xiao Man."

"No."

"Why?"

"Xiao Man is most reluctant to part with you. What if the two of you end up crying your eyes out? Other people might think I'm trafficking children. Besides, I heard the Unrivaled Overlord Fist Sect has already entered the city. Doesn't Brother Chen want to go challenge them?"

"But..." Chen Jia stood up, wanting to go challenge them, yet unable to bear leaving the girl.

"Please rest assured, Brother Chen. I'll take good care of Xiao Man. Martial Warriors across the world are straightforward and decisive. I don't think Brother Chen would dither like some sissy, would you?"

"Of course not! I'm a real man!" Chen Jia's beautiful eyes narrowed as he puckered his little mouth, looking even cuter. "In that case, I'll leave Xiao Man in Brother Jiang's care. I'll visit her at Dragon Gate Sect when the time comes."

"I'll go with Brother Chen when you do."

Chen Jia nodded, removed his long skirt to reveal men's clothing underneath, and strode out of the inn without even seeming to feel hot...

The door closed. Jiang Lin sighed softly and looked at the adorable little girl lying on the bed. Then he suddenly shouted:

"Master, the Ice Cream Cake is ready."

"Ice Cream Cake? Where? Where?"