Heavenly Illusions

Chapter 40: Chapter 40- Oh

When Xai Lin had read this part in the novel, she didn’t know how many times she had shed tears. Several times, when the two brothers clashed did she hoped some miracle would happen where Sikong realized the abnormality in his brother, and used the Chaos Tower, which was especially a bane to Demonic Beasts, Spirit Beasts, and Divine Beasts alike, to destroy that wicked white dragon’s soul.

However, that idiot Sikong was too useless in the end, thinking that what the Chaos Tower sensed in his brother was not the remnant soul of a malevolent white dragon, but that his brother had cultivated some Demonic Technique to supplement his ‘poor talent’.

Thinking up to here, Xai Lin scoffed. It was obvious Sikong at that time had been influenced by the whispers around him that claimed his brother was trash and actually forgetting that despite being almost two years younger than him, Su Jin’s cultivation base was always a minor realm or two behind him before entering that Crescent Moon Secret Realm.

It was because of Sikong’s unconscious actions of pitying his brother’s supposed poor cultivation, while constantly strutting around in front of him claiming he would train with him, did the white dragon even find an opening in Su Jin’s heart and successfully distorted his thoughts.

Xai Lin’s inner thoughts were long, but only a second or two had passed by in the outside world.

Gazing at Su Jin, Xai Lin unconsciously showed a worried expression as she looked him up and down. Only after making sure that ominous black ring was nowhere on his body, did she breathe a sigh of relief.

It seemed due to her interference; Su Jin hadn’t had the time to pick up that ring. As for whether someone else would obtain it and released that corrupted white dragon, Xai Lin was not worried because the circumstances in which Su Jin found that ring were quite unique.

The ring itself was embedded inside the outer rock wall of a mountain. Su Jin found it while he was carving out an immortal cave for his brother and sister-in-law to rest. Thinking that it was just a damaged storage ring, he just picked it up and put it away before continuing; never telling anyone and forgetting about it until the white dragon’s consciousness awakened while he was cultivating after returning to the Sect.

Upon confirming that she had changed this tragic outcome, Xai Lin didn’t know why but she felt exceptionally good. Perhaps, it was because of her experiences of reading this arc in her past life.

At that time, Sikong’s arc was the third installment of the series, and having already enjoyed the previous two, she was extremely invested in the story, hoping to be introduced to new characters. However, the previous story arcs seemed to be a trap intentionally set-up by the author, as they were very lighthearted. But from Sikong’s arc onward, the amount of angst was almost enough to drown her. Several times did she have to stop reading that book in order to calm down.

The shortest period she had to put the book down for was two days, while the longest was three years!

The cause of that three-year avoidance was not because of one specific story in the multiple story arc series, but rather because she read too much and her emotions accumulated. After all, at that time, she read nothing else but that book, constantly waiting on uploads. Even after she took breaks, and come back to it, she never truly left. Always lurking in the comments and forums, being completely consumed by it for the last five years of her short sixteen years alive in her past life.

Looking at Su Jin, who had his head lowered, Xai Lin asked.

“What do you want to ask?”

Hearing Xai Lin’s tone, which was even more softer than before, Su Jin’s nervousness and hesitation lessen significantly. After a moment, he finally plucked up the courage to lift his head and make his request.

“Uhm... I want to follow you guys from now on. Can I?”

Upon hearing this, An Mo, who had been ignoring Su Jin’s existence, suddenly snapped his head up and glared at him while growling out.

“No, absolutely not! Don’t even think about it!”

Startled, Su Jin shrank back his neck and didn’t say a word. Instead, he avoided An Mo’s terrifying gaze and looked at Xai Lin.

Xai Lin paused for a moment, then asked.

“Why do you want to follow us?”

An Mo’s body went stiff upon hearing that Xai Lin didn’t immediately refuse. He wanted to turn around to act spoiled to Xai Lin, but before he could, Xai Lin gently patted his back as if to sooth him.

An Mo paused and then pursed his lips. It seemed Xai Lin had thoughts of her own regarding this human. He had promised to follow Xai Lin’s lead while in the Human Realm, so he decided not to make a fuss. However, that didn’t mean he would stay silent in his heart.

While glaring at Su Jin, An Mo cursed up a storm in his heart; wishing he could go back in time to slap himself for bringing this homewrecker with them.

Su Jin felt a chill go down his spine under An Mo’s gaze, but he still swallowed nervously and then answered Xai Lin’s question.

“I don’t really have a particular good reason to give. I just think that you guys have a good relationship as Dao Companions, so, perhaps I can, um... I can learn from you how to find someone I love.”

Hearing this, An Mo’s expression couldn’t help but freeze, but then, a brilliant smile bloomed on his face as he looked at Su Jin in approval. It was as if those warm golden eyes weren’t just glaring at him coldly.

Xai Lin, meanwhile, showed a puzzled expression. She tried to recall Su Jin’s character profile from her past life in order to understand his current mindset, but before being taken over by the white dragon, the author had only described how much he admired his older brother. It never mentioned he was a romantic, who desired to find a Dao Companion.

But then again, it could be that the author left that detail out and only highlighted his admiration for Sikong in order to add emotional weight to his descent into darkness.

Thinking up to here, Xai Lin looked at Su Jin and asked.

“What about Hong Mei? Are you not going to marry her?”

Su Jin’s body stiffen at the mentioned of Hong Mei. Then after a moment of struggle, he said weakly.

“Elder Hong Mei, she... uh... she’s a bit too domineering. Plus... she... uhm...”

Su Jin’s face turned bright red, and after hesitating for a moment he finally said vaguely.

“...She’s not my type, even if she dresses like that.”

An Mo, who had turned back to hug Xai Lin while sparing some attention to listen to Su Jin, was a bit confused when he heard that, though he didn’t dwell on it.

Xai Lin also tilted her head in confusion at first, however, after carefully thinking over Su Jin’s words, she came to a sudden realization.

“Oh.”

Xai Lin said with raised eyebrows.

Su Jin’s red face turned even redder, when he realized Xai Lin might have understood what he meant. But he didn’t mind. After all, from what he saw previously, they didn’t seem to mind her disguise.

Xai Lin also thought of this fact and wondered if that was the reason for this Su Jin’s request, or at least part of it. But she also thought of the fact that she had kissed An Mo while forgetting she was in this disguise.

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but looked at An Mo, who didn’t seem to care.

After a moment, she put this thought to the back of her mind and looked at Su Jin. Smiling, she said.

“Alright, since you want to follow us, then you can. However, you still have to swear a Dao Oath.”