After dinner, Jiang Yantian and Luo Xingcai were already on the roof.
The two sat on the roof, gazing at the star-studded night sky.
"I rarely get the chance to enjoy the night scenery in such peace and quiet!" Luo Xingcai said with feeling, a smile on her face.
All this time, she had cultivated without rest, and it was precisely that diligence and effort that had made her who she was today.
In a world where the weak were prey to the strong and strength reigned supreme, one could not stop moving forward.
But ultimately, she was only a woman. How could she not long to enjoy a beautiful life in peace?
"The night scenery may be beautiful, but it can't compare to even a hundredth or two of the beauty beside me!" Jiang Yantian replied with a smile.
Luo Xingcai's heart skipped a beat, and a blush rose to her face.
She hesitated, but still asked, "Yantian, do you still blame your master?"
Jiang Yantian looked at Luo Xingcai. "Master, are my earlier words still weighing on your mind?"
Luo Xingcai did not respond, tacitly admitting it.
It was not that she harbored resentment, but that she was somewhat worried Jiang Yantian did.
Some things really were better talked out.
Jiang Yantian took a sip of wine and said mildly, "That time, I deliberately wanted to anger you, so I said those things on purpose."
"I've never resented you, Master. Besides, you weren't wrong. Any master would value disciples with exceptional talent!"
"Words like 'everyone is equal' exist only in a world of dreams. That's simply how human hearts work."
Hearing this, Luo Xingcai sighed softly.
Even with Jiang Yantian saying this, she still felt somewhat guilty.
Seeing this, Jiang Yantian continued, "Master, I really have never resented you. In fact, I'm deeply grateful to you."
"I've never known who my parents were. Fishermen pulled me out of the river by the bank. Before I turned eight, I never had a single full meal. I lived on the streets of towns, swindling and cheating."
"Master, you might not know this, but back then, there was a bit of doggerel going around the streets. It was about me!"
Jiang Yantian had transmigrated here in his own body, but his memories were still very complete, so there were many things he could not forget.
"Doggerel?" Luo Xingcai looked at Jiang Yantian.
"That's right!" Jiang Yantian said with a smile.
"He swindles, cheats, and steals as well!"
"Not money, but bellybands are what he steals!"
"To bachelors he sells them for silver ingots!"
"In brothels and pleasure houses, he's the biggest badass!"
"Hahahaha! I really never imagined anyone would spare a thought for me."
Watching Jiang Yantian laugh loudly in apparent self-mockery, Luo Xingcai felt an ache in her heart.
Jiang Yantian continued, "Perhaps my luck was bad. I happened to live through a year of great disaster. The common people harvested not a single grain and had too little to fill their stomachs."
"The officials were utterly inhuman. Even in a year of great disaster, there was no shortage of crushing taxes and forced labor."
"I personally saw a hundred li of desolation, without a single tree root or scrap of grass. People exchanged their children to eat, and the starved dead littered the ground."
"So, compared to my old life, I'm fortunate."
"After you brought me to the Mysterious Spirit Sect, I really should have been content."
"At the very least, I had enough to eat, warm clothes, and someone to back me up. I no longer had to fight until my head split and blood flowed for a mouthful of food."
Luo Xingcai said nothing, recalling some events from those years herself.
With disaster sweeping the world, even as Dao cultivators and immortal cultivators, they could not save everyone under heaven.
They could only do what lay within their power.
And Jiang Yantian's group had been among those they selected and brought to the Mysterious Spirit Sect.
"Ding. Emotional fluctuations detected in the host. Side quest triggered. The host may choose whether to accept."
*???*
Suddenly hearing the system's voice, Jiang Yantian was still somewhat bewildered. What the hell? What side quest?
"Throw the course of the world into chaos, overthrow the Blazing Yang Royal Court, and enjoy the tribute Qi of hundreds of millions of subjects!"
Speak human!
"Rebel! Establish a religious sect with yourself as the man behind the scenes. Choose a puppet emperor, overthrow the Blazing Yang Empire, build a grand hall of worship, and enjoy the incense offerings, converting them into Demonic Qi to strengthen yourself!" "Once war breaks out, the fittest survive. When you rule the lower realm's Nine Provinces in the future, the battlefields will provide more than enough baleful Qi, Death Qi, and souls for you to devour!"
That sounds interesting. Once I meet a suitable puppet, I'll go stir up a great war. In this world, people are worth less than dogs. There are plenty willing to raise a banner in revolt!
Once it begins, no matter how extreme or evil my actions are, on the surface I'll still be the faith of all living beings under heaven. Interesting!
"Yep! I've even thought up the slogans for you!"
*?*
"Blue Heaven is dead; now is the time for Yantian to rise. The jiazi year honors water, heralding the Blazing Yang's demise. Establish the Son of Heaven anew, lead the Great Dao to bow its head. Talents of heaven and earth, bear profound virtue to drive out demons. Unite the common people of the Nine Provinces and shake the royal court beneath heaven!" "The course of the world lies in my grasp. With my True Qi, unite the workings of heaven and earth. Blue Heaven is dead, Yantian shall rise. In the jiazi year, great fortune shall bless all under heaven!!!" "If you want to have it both ways, host, you can publicly proclaim: 'I offer this body as medicine to heal the ills of all under heaven!'"
Why don't I just establish a Way of Great Peace?
"Sure, but I think 'Heaven-Serving Divine Sect' sounds better and more imposing!"
Get lost. I'm trying to woo my master right now. Scram. I'll accept the quest later, once I find a suitable puppet!
"Boo-hoo-hoo..."
Jiang Yantian truly had not expected something so entertaining.
Perhaps he would even encounter new sons of fortune along the way.
If he was going to provoke a war across the world and dominate the Nine Provinces, there would surely be protagonists opposing him under the banner of "protecting the nation and saving the people."
Hehe, I'll toy with him to death!
Because their earlier topic had been somewhat heavy, Luo Xingcai had remained silent.
And now, this also marked the beginning of Jiang Yantian's confession.
"Master..."
"Hmm?" Luo Xingcai came back to her senses and only then looked at Jiang Yantian.
Jiang Yantian did not rush to speak, instead meeting her eyes.
The night was quiet, and their gazes met as though striking additional sparks.
Luo Xingcai's eyes held an intense shyness, and she hurriedly looked away.
"Master, do you remember the woman I loved, whom I mentioned at your residence last time?"
Luo Xingcai naturally remembered and nodded.
The person Jiang Yantian had spoken of that time was her, but Jiang Yantian thought she did not know.
But judging by the situation now, is this fellow going to confess? How mortifying.
"Actually... actually, I made all that up. The person I've always loved is you..."
Jiang Yantian spoke slowly.
Luo Xingcai seemed to have prepared herself long ago and did not appear all that surprised.
But in this situation, she had to pretend to be surprised.
"What... you... the person you like is your master?"
Jiang Yantian nodded, a trace of bitterness appearing on his face. "Yes. I know it's somewhat contrary to all propriety, but those are my heartfelt words."
"Of course, I only wanted to make my feelings clear today. I have no intention of forcing you to give me an answer."
"I don't want to put you in a difficult position, Master. This matter ends here. No third person will know."
"I know I'm indulging in a wild fantasy, but if I don't make this clear, I fear I won't be able to sleep at night."
"All right, Master. I've said what I needed to say. Just pretend you don't know anything, and I can bring these feelings of secret admiration to a close."
Jiang Yantian laughed inwardly. On the surface, he made it sound as though he was simply baring his heart, but in truth, it was still a disguised form of coercion.
The implication was something like, "If you don't give me an answer today, I won't fucking pursue you anymore."