Love Travels through Time (My father who traveled through time and space to cultivate immortality came back to pick me up) - Chapter 41
Chapter 41: Entering the Game Together
Xiang Haikui curled the corners of her mouth into a sinister, dark smile. She hadn’t played any tricks—it was he himself who insisted on throwing himself at her.
Oh, sleeping with him wasn’t enough.
After sleeping with him, she’d put an extra-thick green hat on his head, and then kick him to the curb!
Tian kuang’s progress bar would definitely explode.
She would also gain the capital to run away, and who knows—maybe during the process of being hunted down by him, she would be honed to grow stronger and stronger.
Hehehe.
With her head lowered, picturing all sorts of ways to torment him, Xiang Haikui felt not a shred of shame in her heart; she was even a little excited.
If Tian kuang were by her side right now, it would definitely break out of its case to perform a victory dance.
On the other hand, Yin Changli had truly never pondered this question.
Catching sight of Xiang Haikui’s current expression, a few rather unpleasant thoughts suddenly sprouted in his mind.
Indeed, guarding against external thieves day and night made it hard to guard against the thief within the house.
What if she harbored evil intentions, thinking of taking advantage of proximity to seduce him? This…
Yin Changli wanted to write a couple of warning sentences to her, but he genuinely felt it was unnecessary.
Cross that bridge when they came to it.
During the silence, Xiang Haikui inadvertently caught sight of his finger tapping on her palm—it flickered like a TV losing its signal, giving off a few static speckles.
Her heart tightened instinctively.
Time was almost up; this thread of his consciousness was on the verge of dissipating.
Something that could have been said in fifteen minutes took a full hour just because it was written down.
Proper business came first, so she urged: “Do you have any other instructions to pass down?”
Yin Changli also snapped back to reality, shook his head, and wrote: “None of it is difficult, right?”
Xiang Haikui shook her head as well: “Not difficult!”
Yin Changli went silent for a brief moment: “In truth, given my current state, I can no longer offer you much help and will instead become your burden. If you…”
“Alright, Senior.”
What was the point of all these empty formalities? Xiang Haikui cut him off, forcefully slapping her chest with a thwack, making a firm commitment: “You defied heaven to alter fate for us father and daughter; I am willing to hack through thorns and brambles for you!”
Looking at her heroic, ready-to-die expression, Yin Changli found it truly hilarious, yet he couldn’t laugh.
Instead, a layer of gravity gathered deep within his eyes.
“Trust me, this will be the final dark hour before dawn.”
He wrote stroke by stroke, slowly and filled with power: “Today, you protect my safety with your life. I also promise you that once I recover, with me by your side, you will never again have to worry about the sky collapsing over your head.”
If anyone else said this, Xiang Haikui would think they were boasting. The Boss was different—if the Boss said he would hold up a sky for her, he would definitely hold it up.
Just as she was moved, Yin Changli added another line: “After all, given your tiny stature, if the sky falls, it will crush me first anyway.”
Xiang Haikui: …
Sure enough, being moved never lasted past three seconds.
Yet Xiang Haikui wasn’t disappointed. She knew that jokes aside, the Boss’s attitude was serious.
Besides.
She still had Tian kuang.
She had already arrived at a clear realization.
The sword was her greatest reliance for the future.
Any other thick thigh to lean on was nothing more than icing on the cake.
“During these past days, you truly have grown quite a lot.” Yin Changli nodded in satisfaction, though it was hard to tell what he had picked up from her expression, and he began to smile silently once more.
His time was up.
Suddenly, his fair, delicate skin cracked open like an eggshell, crumbling piece by piece into dots of starlight.
Xiang Haikui raised her head, staring blankly as those specks of light floated above her, hovering like a swarm of fireflies to condense into two final words.
—”Wait for me.”
…
After this thread of Yin Changli’s consciousness vanished, Xiang Haikui didn’t rush to exit.
She stayed inside the jade slip to observe the shadows spar, leaving only when her concentration waned and efficiency dropped.
Lying in bed with the jade slip in hand, her posture was identical to how it had been before entering the space.
She almost suspected she had fallen asleep just now and it had all been a dream.
Reaching up to touch her hair bun, she felt three jade hairpins inserted diagonally in a fan shape, only then confirming that it was real.
What about that night-luminescent pearl used for identifying demon power?
The moment the thought crossed her mind, the pearl suddenly dropped out of the jade slip, hitting her right on the bridge of her nose.
Xiang Haikui sucked in a sharp breath, sat up, and rubbed her nose, thinking this was definitely the boss doing it on purpose.
She curled her lip, sweeping both the jade slip and the pearl into her storage ring.
When she opened the door and stepped outside, she was surprised to discover that it was already the dusk of the second day.
According to her father, Jingwen would wait for Xiang Tianqing at the Buddha Cave right up until this evening’s dusk.
She was a bit curious, wondering whether Xiang Tianqing had actually left or not.
“Little Junior Sister.”
Ye Qianzhi’s voice came from outside the courtyard.
Xiang Haikui knitted her brows and walked out.
“Second Senior Brother, is there something you need me for?”
The moment she unlocked the door restriction, he appeared.
There were no such coincidences; he had likely been waiting outside the courtyard for a long time.
Ye Qianzhi bowed with cupped hands.
“I am leaving Silver sand now. Before setting off, I wanted to come and offer Little Junior Sister my apologies once more.”
“Did my dad drive you away?”
Ye Qianzhi let out a bitter smile.
“Even if Master didn’t drive me away, I no longer have the face to remain in the City Lord Mansion. Besides, with Tianqing leaving now, my mind is at ease.”
Xiang Haikui was slightly taken aback.
“She really left with Jingwen?”
“Last night, Master and I explained things to her the entire night, but she refused to believe the truth from start to finish. She stubbornly insisted that everything was manipulated by you alone, even turning around to advise Master to beware of the high-level expert behind you, suspecting whether that person had ulterior motives toward Silver Sand, and…”
He didn’t continue, but Xiang Haikui had already guessed it—presumably believing she had sold her soul to a “demon” just to reclaim everything.
She and Meng Xilou truly were biological siblings; their mental logic was weirder than the other.
“Regarding whether to send Tianqing away, Master was originally extremely hesitant.”
Pausing for a moment, “Little Junior Sister, please do not blame Master for protecting Tianqing. Master has always valued affection and righteousness while maintaining a clear sense of gratitude and resentment. Tianqing was completely oblivious to all of this after all, and having depended on each other for so many years, Master truly viewed her as his own biological daughter. Tianqing likewise deeply respects and loves Master. Master couldn’t switch his identity right away, so when considering problems, it was easy for him to stand in the shoes of a father protecting his daughter…”
Xiang Haikui understood all of this.
That was why after dealing with Meng Xilou, regardless of what she held in her heart, she hadn’t mentioned a single word about Xiang Tianqing to her father.
“Then why did my dad suddenly change his mind?”
Given Xiang Tianqing’s personality, if her father didn’t take a stand and simply let her make up her own mind, she definitely wouldn’t leave.
“Perhaps Master has come to understand that Tianqing doesn’t need his protection. Or perhaps through last night, Master realized that Tianqing is far too stubborn and immature in mindset, truly needing the growth that comes from experience. Of course, it could also be that for the peace of Silver Sand and Little Junior Sister, he had no choice but to steel his heart.”
Ye Qianzhi let out a sigh, “Master didn’t force her to go with Jingwen, giving her plenty of options while putting his words very tactfully, telling her to go out and gain experience. Tianqing made a fuss and cried for a long time—I was even worried Master would soften his heart. Fortunately…”
Xiang Haikui sighed along with him.
As one could imagine, Xiang Tianqing choosing to go with Jingwen was also done out of spite.
She herself had likely become the number one person on her blacklist.
Xiang Haikui asked, “Where is my dad?”
Ye Qianzhi pointed in the direction of the city wall tower.
“Master is standing on the city wall tower; he has been standing there for a long time. If Little Junior Sister has time, why not go over and keep him company?”
Xiang Haikui nodded.
“Alright.”
Just as she was about to head toward the city wall tower, Ye Qianzhi added, “Right, a little over an hour ago, that fellow townsman of yours came looking for you. Your door restriction was locked tight, so he waited outside for a bit before leaving again.”
“Oh, I see.”
Xiang Haikui stroked her chin.
Senior Brother was truly heading off to the Royal Capital this time, so he had come over to say goodbye.
Stepping around Ye Qianzhi, she took a few steps forward before turning her head back, “Second Senior Brother…”
A trace of expectation seemed to linger in Ye Qianzhi’s gaze.
“Hmm?”
“Have a safe journey.”
Xiang Haikui offered a smile, turned around, and walked away.
Ye Qianzhi coming over to apologize meant he wanted to seek her forgiveness.
However, she had nearly been killed by him, making forgiveness impossible.
Nor would she go plead with her father on his behalf.
At his age, if he dared to act, he had to possess the awareness to bear the responsibility.
Offering him a smile was to thank him for not dying, preventing her father from suffering heartbreak.
With these thoughts in mind, Xiang Haikui walked all the way to the city gates and flew up to the outer city wall.
Xiang Heng stood alone in the setting sun.
As Xiang Haikui arrived behind him, he spoke first, “Little Kui, do you know what the biggest difference is between how I treat you and Tianqing?”
Xiang Haikui stepped forward, standing side-by-side with him.
“In Dad’s eyes, there shouldn’t be much difference, right?”
Even though she was the biological daughter and Xiang Tianqing was merely an adopted one.
However, she and her father had only been together for nine years; they didn’t share that extremely deep emotional foundation built over a lifetime.
Xiang Heng shook his head, letting out a sigh.
“The biggest difference between the two of you is that you’ve been beaten by me—beaten many times—whereas Tianqing has never once taken a blow from me.”
Xiang Haikui didn’t like hearing that.
“Because I was too naughty as a child, while sister was well-behaved and sensible, right?”
Seeing her pout in dissatisfaction, Xiang Heng raised a hand to ruffle her hair and chuckled.
“It’s because I knew that even if I hit you, no rift would form between us. But Tianqing was different. She was very mischievous as a child too, but after I told her the truth, she seemed to grow up overnight. She became well-behaved and sensible, never making another mistake.”
Xiang Haikui remained silent.
“It was also from that point onward that I never said another harsh word to her, spoiling and loving her a thousandfold. In truth, I regret it deeply. I shouldn’t have told her the truth back then; it felt as though I had stripped away her carefree childhood, yet I couldn’t bear the thought of her ‘mistaking a foe for a father’ either.”
Xiang Haikui pondered.
“Is Dad trying to tell me that her obsession with competing against me stems from a lack of security since childhood?”
Xiang Heng didn’t answer directly.
“Whether in the past or the present, I’ve never been a smart man. That’s why I’ve stayed in Silver Sand all these years—a borderland where monsters and demons dance in wild frenzy suited my survival much better. I’ve always steered clear of the intrigues and deceit out there.”
Xiang Haikui nodded.
She wasn’t particularly smart either and disliked scheming.
Her way of solving problems had always been simple, direct, and brutal—which was likely why the Boss took a fancy to her, deeming her suited to cultivate Tian kuang.
“But now I understand that running away isn’t a good strategy. Just like the storms of Silver Sand, disaster either doesn’t come, or it brings utter ruin.”
Wrapping his arm around his daughter’s shoulder, Xiang Heng gazed at the desert sunset before them.
“It’s time I shifted my mindset as well.”
In the Upper Realm.
Inside the Star-Gathering Palace.
Star Slave entered the hall in haste, standing outside the astrological disk to bow with cupped hands.
“Master, the eldest young master of the Meng Family has returned. Word is his injuries are quite severe—he spat up a great deal of blood and went overnight to Little Qiuming Mountain to visit the Medicine Lord.”
Seated cross-legged inside the astrological disk, Han Qi knitted his brows slightly.
“The Meng Family’s protective divine artifact is by no means weak. How could he be injured so severely?”
Normally, when a clone was killed, damaging the main body required merely a dozen years or so of secluded cultivation to recover.
Star Slave said, “According to the messages sent back, the eldest young master of the Meng Family spat blood out of sheer rage. He wants to recover as quickly as possible to descend to the mortal realm once more.”
Star Slave was also quite surprised upon hearing it. The protective divine artifact could only guard Meng Xilou once—did he no longer value his life, daring to descend again?
She knew he doted on his younger sister, but the Meng Family still had Meng Three staying in the mortal world; what was his rush?
Yet on second thought, it was understandable. Eldest Young Master Meng had always been arrogant and impolite. Returning empty-handed from this trip below, beaten black and blue by mortals, and dying his way back in utter disgrace—anyone would find that unbearable.
“Indeed. If this vengeance goes unpaid, it easily becomes a heart demon.”
Han Qi pressed a palm against the ground to stand up, his gaze continuously locked onto the astrological disk suspended at the top of the hall.
The chaotic movement of the stars had gradually quieted down.
By now, it had entered a relatively stable state.
“Otherwise, one ends up pitiful and tragic just like me.”
Star Slave went quiet.
Her master had lost this round entirely, looking somewhat defeated overall.
She offered comfort, “Master, Lord Changli broke out of the game with a surprise move; his strategy was indeed superior. However, now that he has exposed himself and run out of tricks, you may simply continue with your deductions.”
“Though I laid out the board with twelve-tenths confidence, I never once believed I could easily capture Brother Changli,” Han Qi said flatly, raising a hand to gather his sprawling, frost-white hair into a Daoist topknot.
“Therefore, I have also prepared numerous contingency plans in case of failure.”
Star Slave knitted her brows.
“Then why do you look so utterly at a loss?”
“How did Brother Changli beat me this time? Because he could guess that I guessed that he guessed—so he simply refrained from playing chess with me altogether. He went all-in, turning himself into a chess piece and drifting with the current…”
In this way, Han Qi could no longer calculate his moves.
If he were still to lay out the board using his original logic, could Yin Changli really fail to guess his subsequent contingency measures?
Then those contingency measures would not only waste time, but might even play right into his hands.
Once Star Slave realized this, she agreed wholeheartedly.
“Then what does Master plan to do now?”
Could it be that simply because Lord Changli would guess it, they would do nothing at all?
Han Qi pointed toward a single star on the heavenly canopy.
“Look.”
Star Slave had long noticed that star.
Aside from the mad dog Lord Changli threw into the game, an extra star had actually emerged; it was just rather dim and didn’t attract much attention.
They had already investigated: this person was dragged into the fray completely by accident, seemingly a fellow townsman of that mad female dog, named Jing Ran.
Star Slave understood.
“Master is quite interested in this person and plans to take him as a chess piece?”
“I don’t plan to keep playing chess.”
Han Qi adjusted his robes and stepped down from the astrology platform.
“I’ve decided to follow Brother Changli’s lead and enter the game in person.”
Star Slave froze.
“You also intend to split off a clone to descend to the mortal realm, and you’ve chosen Jing Ran’s physical body?”
“Yes. He is a rare talent, and his physical body possesses good spiritual resonance. I would like to borrow it temporarily.”
Star Slave nodded.
Being close to them would make it easier to monitor their movements.
However, there was one thing…
She offered an awkward reminder.
“Master, although Jing Ran is an outsider, that mad dog… that master of the Tian kuang Sword is an old acquaintance of his. If she happens to see through it…”
Her master’s cultivation and intellect were top-tier.
Yet he was severely stone-faced.
It was truly hard to imagine her master’s acting skills; he’d likely be exposed within two days.
Even if according to the gathered intelligence, Jing Ran’s personality was rather cold and distant—bearing a slight resemblance to her master—the overall difference was still far too vast.
“Still, that master of the Tian kuang Sword doesn’t seem all that sharp anyway, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
