CHAPTER 477: CHAPTER 477: YOU ARE SO HEARTLESS_1

The moment she awoke from her dream, Ruan Lan opened her eyes. She stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time, only to find her pillow was soaked with tears.

"What a strange, messy dream," she muttered.

Ruan Lan wiped the corners of her eyes, a profound sadness washing over her.

She took out her phone to call her sister, Ruan Tang, wanting to talk about it and relieve the oppressive feeling in her chest, but no one answered.

Ruan Lan then called Xu Lai.

When the call connected, she said with a sob, "Brother-in-law, I had a dream."

She then rambled on, telling him all about it.

Xu Lai’s initial resignation gave way to a raised eyebrow as he listened. "The Ancestor of the Star Origin Sect once became a Great Emperor and then severed his own Emperor Realm Dao Fruit?"

Is that stupid? Very stupid.

But Xu Lai could completely understand the loneliness and desolation of having no one before or behind you.

What’s more, the Star Origin Sect’s Ancestor was burdened with a certain woman’s Emperor Realm Dao Fruit, a weight so heavy she couldn’t possibly bear it herself.

Xu Lai understood even more clearly why cultivation emphasized wealth, companions, method, and location, and why a Dao companion ranked second among them. One needed enough resources to cultivate, but only with a kindred spirit could one truly walk the path further.

"Brother-in-law, if you were that old man, what would you do?" Ruan Lan asked.

Xu Lai didn’t answer.

He would never be the Star Origin Sect’s Ancestor, but he could be the Star Origin Emperor.

An Emperor Realm expert could hold all the rivers and mountains in the world, but it would all pass like fleeting clouds. No one could live for a million years alongside such a mighty being. Those in the Emperor Realm wrest Creation from heaven and earth. They possess prolonged lifespans and the terrifying power to suppress the Universe, but they are also destined to lose everything.

No one could say for certain whether becoming an Emperor was a blessing or a curse.

Since ancient times, no Emperor has ever met a good end.

This statement suddenly left a much deeper impression on Xu Lai.

If Ruan Lan hadn’t solved the puzzle on the Go board, even he would have never known that at the end of the era belonging to the Star Origin Empress, another person had become a Great Emperor.

One era. Two Great Emperors. Both severed their Dao Fruits for love.

It’s no use living a long life; a person needs something to hold on to. It could be a tree, a dog, a family member, a child, or even an impossible dream.

"Brother-in-law, my head feels full of all sorts of strange things. Something about a Starlight Array? And so many other formations..."

Ruan Lan’s head was spinning.

So the little sister-in-law really did receive the inheritance.

A headache began to form for Xu Lai. If the successive Sect Leaders of the Star Origin Sect ever found out about this, who knows if they’d be enraged enough to climb out of their coffins.

"It’s not a bad thing. If you’re interested, you could study them," Xu Lai said.

"It’s not as interesting as playing Go," Ruan Lan pouted.

"..."

Xu Lai suddenly lost the desire to continue the conversation.

After hanging up, he returned to the school infirmary.

Liu Nanwei had given up talking about children and had gone back to discussing Zhou Feng’s senior sister. As they were speaking, the senior sister herself arrived.

"It’s almost noon. Let’s have lunch together," the senior sister said.

"Okay." Zhou Feng, whose mouth was dry from talking so much, took a sip of water.

"My parents will be there too."

"Pfft—!"

Zhou Feng spat out his mouthful of water.

"M-Meeting the parents?" Zhou Feng panicked.

"Something like that." His senior sister was quite calm. "You don’t want to meet them?"

"Isn’t it a bit early?" Zhou Feng said weakly. "Besides, I’m afraid your parents won’t like me."

"That will depend on your performance. In any case, your parents seem to like me."

"...When did you meet my parents?" Zhou Feng was dumbfounded.

"Just now," his senior sister said with a sigh. "You knew your parents wanted to treat your instructor to a meal, right? I happened to be there asking him some questions, so I ran into them. Now, hurry up and come with me."

"..."

Zhou Feng scratched his head, feeling that something wasn’t quite right but unable to put his finger on it. He stood up and stammered, "Director Xu, I’d like to request the afternoon off."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Xu Lai waved his hand with a smile.

Liu Nanwei beamed. "This is great! Virgin Zhou finally has a taker!"

Zhou Feng, who had just closed the door, stumbled when he heard that. His senior sister, however, flashed a brilliant smile. "Really?"

"It’s not true!"

"We’ll find out tonight."

"..."

Xu Lai fell silent for a moment.

If the Sect Gate hadn’t suffered that calamity all those years ago, what kind of husband would his senior sister have found? And what wonderful spouses might his two senior brothers have found?

Lost in thought, Xu Lai grew somewhat distracted. He felt a deep sense of regret that his upcoming wedding with Ruan Tang wouldn’t have their blessings.

"Oh, right. I’m getting married in a few days. What all needs to be prepared?" Xu Lai asked Liu Nanwei, who had been through it before.

Liu Nanwei was startled. "Again? With who?"

"...With Ruan Tang."

Xu Lai was beginning to understand how Zhou Feng felt. Dr. Liu was sharp-tongued, quick with a crude joke or a scathing remark.

"You two aren’t already... oh, right, right! I forgot!" Liu Nanwei smacked her forehead. She blamed it on Director Xu and Ruan Tang being so sweet together that she’d completely forgotten about the farcical wedding in East Sea City six years ago.

After getting some advice from Liu Nanwei, Xu Lai contemplated what else was needed. The biggest problem now was the venue: should it be in East Sea City or the Immortal Domain? However, he had heard that the custom in Hua Country was to hold two ceremonies—one at the groom’s home and one at the bride’s. Of course, some people only held one.

"I’ll need to return to the Old Heavenly Court Sect Gate soon to deliver invitations to my Master and the others." Xu Lai knew they couldn’t attend, but he had to send them anyway.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

The door was knocked on.

"Come in."

Liu Nanwei found it strange. Today was student registration day; had someone fallen ill already?

A beautiful woman pushed the door open and entered. Her eyes swept across the room, sizing up Liu Nanwei. She offered a sweet smile. "Hello." Then, she turned her gaze to Xu Lai.

Xu Lai also looked up, a slight frown creasing his brow as he looked at her.

The Moon Clan. How dare she appear before me? Does she have a death wish?!

"I’d like to have a chat with Mr. Xu Lai. Could you please step out for a moment?" the woman asked, her infectious smile revealing bright eyes and pearly teeth.

The question was directed at Liu Nanwei.

She stood up, her expression growing odd. Could Director Xu really be marrying someone else? No, no, no. That’s impossible.

Lost in her jumbled thoughts, Liu Nanwei left the room.

"My name is Ji Jie. I’m sure you already know where I’m from." Ji Jie sat down next to Xu Lai, propping her chin on her hand as she smiled at him. If nothing else, her casual coquettishness was enough to make any man’s heart flutter.

Unfortunately, Xu Lai acted as if he hadn’t noticed. He said coolly, "You have three sentences. Then you die."

Not long ago, a Martial Ancestor from Sakura Country had attempted to assassinate him and naturally failed. However, a Void Butterfly had been spying on him then. The owner of that butterfly was the woman before him. Anyone who wanted to provoke an Emperor Realm expert had to first check if they had enough lives to spare.

"You’re so heartless," Ji Jie coquetted, pouting like a lover having a tiff.

"One," Xu Lai said, his face expressionless.

"Our Moon Clan could actually cooperate with you," Ji Jie stated.

Xu Lai’s voice was indifferent. "You have one sentence left to live. Think carefully about what you want to say."

Facing life and death, Ji Jie didn’t seem flustered at all. She stretched lazily and boldly leaned close to Xu Lai’s ear, saying with a laugh, "I know where to find Jing Ke."