Neither Betraying My Heart nor You

Even if she faces utter ruin, even if she can never reach the sun at the edge of the sky, she will still live in the sunlight and tell him that she longs for him.

So she took a deep breath and said frankly, "Chen Nianzhi, you are like the sun in the sky, dazzling and radiant, so high that people dare not look directly at you or touch you."

"The thing I fear most in my life is that one day you will still be full of life, while I will have turned into a frail old woman, only able to hide in a corner and silently watch you ascend to heaven."

"That's why I dare not touch you, or even express my longing for you in front of you."

"But today I want to tell you that even if a tree cannot reach the sun, it should still yearn for sunlight."

"Whether you like me or not, my love for you should be as clear and unambiguous as a tree growing in the sunlight, telling you clearly under the sun that I like you."

Jiang Linglong fell silent, her heart filled with a complex mix of sympathy, resentment, and helplessness.

She softened, but couldn't say anything. She just looked at Chen Nianzhi, waiting for his reply.

Chen Nianzhi frowned. He was a normal man. Although he wasn't exactly a Linglong, he was still quite perceptive, and he could certainly understand the feelings in the woman's heart.

However, his feelings were not cheap, and he had his own sense of propriety; his will was difficult for others to sway.

He is not someone who easily falls in love with someone, but when he does, he gives his heartfelt feelings.

More importantly, he found it hard to accept the thought of one day witnessing his beloved turn into withered bones, and he was unwilling to experience the feeling of someone close to him passing away peacefully.

Over the years, the passing of his seventh Old Granduncle, Chen Changyan, and Chen Qinghe, among others, had caused him immense pain, and he was unwilling to experience that feeling again.

His tireless support for Chen Changxuan, Chen Qinghao, and others over the years stemmed from his unwillingness to see his old friends grow old.

If one day, all those close to him, even his dearest loved ones, pass away, then even if he becomes a high and mighty Immortal, what meaning would it have for him to Eternal Life alone in the Nine Heavens?

Immortality is a solitary thing, but absolute solitude in immortality may just be a Curse.

Therefore, he has always been unwilling to have children because he fears he will not be able to help his children become immortals.

Unless he is certain that he can help his children ascend to immortality one day, he is unwilling to have children, because watching his beloved children eventually turn into bones, or even personally sending them off at their funeral, would be such a painful thing.

He maintained the same distance from Ya Ya and Xian Yan, even though their admiration had stirred some emotions within him, he always managed to suppress any fleeting thoughts.

People have different degrees of closeness; the pain of losing a beloved person is completely different from the pain of losing a member of one's own clan.

For him, who aspired to the path of immortality, it was better to sever the idea from the beginning than to watch his beloved grow old slowly in his arms.

However, at this moment, Chen Nianzhi remained silent, caught in a dilemma.

Ya Ya's words touched his heartstrings. That feeling was like a tree that sprouted from the soil, growing towards the sun even in the face of wind and sun.

On one hand, there's the affection that stirs his heart; on the other, the unseen end of the path to immortality. Watching her grow old and frail, what should he choose?

Is there a way in this world to have it all, to be true to both my heart and my love?

Chen Nianzhi murmured to himself, his gaze finally hardening. "So be it. If one day I ascend to immortality, then even if I bear unprecedented karma, I will take you with me."

Given Ya Ya's background, it would be almost impossible for her to ascend to immortality in the Purple Yin Realm while she is still in the mortal world. Perhaps if she becomes stronger after going to the Immortal Realm, she might have a chance to change her fate.

Jiang Linglong knew Chen Nianzhi best, and seeing his expression, her heart trembled slightly.

She felt both soft-hearted and angry, but couldn't vent her anger. She just felt that she shouldn't have come along in the first place; this way, out of sight, out of mind would have been better.

She turned around, her eyes fixed on the Six Desires Red Dust Banner in her hand, and she grew angrier the more she thought about it, "The Desire Demon Spirit Treasure, it's all your fault!"

Enraged, Jiang Linglong unleashed her full power, intending to destroy this special Spirit Treasure.

That Desire Demon Spirit Treasure was, after all, Spirit Treasure, and it was difficult for her to destroy it. However, Jiang Linglong, with her sharp temper, couldn't tolerate it when she got angry. With a clang, Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword and slashed at it.

This Desire Demon Spirit Treasure is a special Spirit Treasure. Although its effects are extremely powerful, its material is the most fragile among Spirit Treasure. It was immediately cut in two by the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword.

"Buzz--"

However, after the Six Desires Red Dust Banner was destroyed, a pinkish Qi of the Six Desires and Mortal Dust instantly spread out, completely enveloping the three of them.

Chen Nianzhi: "..."

Jiang Linglong: "..."

Ya Ya: "..."

After the Demon Treasure was destroyed, all the accumulated Qi of the Six Desires and Mortal Dust were released, making it hundreds of times stronger than the colorless and odorless Qi of the Six Desires and Mortal Dust.

The three of them fell silent for a moment, but they all felt an endless heat emanating from within, igniting all the desires within them.

In an instant, Chen Nianzhi noticed that the two women's alabaster skin turned pink, their alluring figures seemed to drip with moisture, and their eyes were filled with ambiguous feelings.

"Oh, this..."

Jiang Linglong's mind went blank for a moment, then she thought about what she had done and couldn't help but blush with embarrassment.

Overwhelmed with shame and indignation, she used the burning passion to mask her embarrassment and was the first to pounce on him. "You're mine!"

Chen Nianzhi was stunned for a moment before realizing that Jiang Linglong had already kissed him. Then he felt a chill in his lower body and realized that Ya Ya's beautiful face was raised, looking at him with seductive eyes.

"Hiss..."

"That's enough!"

Although Chen Nianzhi's Dao heart was firm, he also felt that the past three months had been as blissful as those of an immortal, and he couldn't help but become somewhat immersed in it.

"Eek--"

Just then, Jiang Linglong woke up.

She leaned closer to Chen Nianzhi, finally snapping out of her daze, and then fell silent.

Recalling her actions over the past few days, a blush crept onto her face. However, realizing that she was the one who had caused it, she felt somewhat embarrassed.

Seeing Chen Nianzhi's ambiguous smile, she simply pushed Chen Nianzhi down and then lowered her head.

Chen Nianzhi gasped, now it was his turn to be taken aback. "Don't be ridiculous, she should be sober by now."

"What's there to be afraid of? Just let her watch."