Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Harder than Enlightenment

"Or to put it another way, you’re the sole reason for my existence in this life."

Jiang Zuo’s expression was blank as he said this, but his voice carried an unwavering conviction.

Jiang Zuo wasn’t exaggerating; he was stating a fact.

Without Su Qi, the world would become drab and dull.

Su Qi heard him, of course. She snuggled deeper into Jiang Zuo’s embrace and murmured dreamily, "You always know just what to say to me. But I’m not some little girl, you know. I’m not that easy to please."

As she spoke, she stroked his right hand, asking with concern, "Does it still hurt?"

The question proved that Su Qi was no longer angry at all. She was acting just like a young girl in love.

Jiang Zuo shook his head. "It doesn’t hurt."

It was true that it didn’t hurt. The hand was completely numb, so of course there was no pain to speak of.

Then, Su Qi added, "Tell me you love me."

Jiang Zuo was speechless. ’I just said all that... even if it was subconscious, it’s definitely more profound than just ’I love you,’ right?’

’Why does Su Qi insist on hearing those words?’

Still, Jiang Zuo wasn’t about to be stingy. As long as Su Qi was happy, that was all that mattered.

******

While Su Qi and Jiang Zuo were lost in their own world, putting on a public display of affection, a small crowd had naturally gathered to watch.

Among them was Jian Shisan, a look of admiration on his face.

He had only come here by chance. After being in seclusion for several hundred years, there were many things he didn’t quite understand. He needed to observe and learn so he wouldn’t make a fool of himself when he returned.

And as soon as he sat down, he spotted Jiang Zuo.

He ended up hearing their entire conversation. It wasn’t intentional; many people in the vicinity had heard it.

After listening, however, Jian Shisan was truly impressed with Jiang Zuo.

’As expected. Anyone who can win over a Saintess has a few tricks up his sleeve.’

He then sighed. ’Unfortunately, even if I memorized those words, I would never dare to say them aloud.’

’I could never learn to be like that, no matter how hard I tried.’

’This is so much harder than Enlightenment. Enlightenment is a simple matter by comparison.’

Just then, Su Qi sat up straight, wanting to check on Jiang Zuo’s hand. But as she raised her head, she noticed many people staring in their direction.

Her face instantly flushed red, and she sat up primly.

When she saw that her martial uncle was also watching, she completely panicked.

Su Qi immediately shot to her feet and bowed respectfully toward Jian Shisan. "Mar-Martial Uncle? You’re here, too?"

Jiang Zuo turned to look at Jian Shisan as well, his face impassive. He wasn’t sure what expression he was supposed to be making.

Jian Shisan nodded at Su Qi, then turned his gaze to Jiang Zuo.

Su Qi quickly pulled Jiang Zuo to his feet and said to Jian Shisan, "This is my... my Dual Cultivation Companion."

"A very fine young man," Jian Shisan nodded.

Jian Shisan showed no disdain for Jiang Zuo, which let Su Qi breathe a sigh of relief. She then smiled shyly. "I... I think so, too."

Then Jian Shisan added, "May I have a word with this young friend alone?"

Su Qi glanced at Jiang Zuo worriedly. She was afraid her martial uncle might upset him.

Jiang Zuo reassured her, "It’s fine. Your martial uncle isn’t going to eat me."

"Then be careful what you say," Su Qi whispered.

Su Qi then obediently moved aside, and Jian Shisan led Jiang Zuo away from the area.

When they reappeared, they were on the summit of a small hill, where a pavilion stood.

Jiang Zuo walked into the pavilion and sat down. "Did you need something from me?" he asked.

Jian Shisan sat down as well. "Not really," he said. "I just don’t know how I’m going to face my junior sister when I return." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Jiang Zuo looked at Jian Shisan. "Your injuries haven’t fully healed yet, have they?"

"It’s just a minor wound. Nothing to worry about," Jian Shisan said casually.

"My point is, you could go show Aunty your wound. Or, after you rescue her, you could pretend to be gravely injured..."

"Impossible," Jian Shisan said resolutely. "No matter how badly I’m hurt, I would never show it in front of her. My injuries are nothing to me, and I certainly won’t make her worry."

Jiang Zuo said nothing. He was the same way now, really. It was only when he was a student that he’d been so childish.

After all, back then he was always trying to act cool, getting lost in cringey fantasies, and putting on a melancholic air.

’It’s a miracle he managed to win Su Qi over.’

’He’d probably used up a decade’s worth of luck just to be with Su Qi. If she had never appeared, would he have started on the path of Cultivation much sooner?’

Jiang Zuo didn’t know.

But after their divorce, he had immediately set foot on the path of Cultivation, even succeeding in Entering Dao in a remarkably short time.

He had fought and killed his way to the very peak. Whenever a crisis arose, a fortuitous encounter was sure to follow.

It had truly been a strange life.

The only flaw was the absence of Su Qi, and in her place, the disgusting Jiu Xi.

But in this life, he had not only embarked on Cultivation, but Su Qi was still by his side.

This was an even greater fortune.

’It seems the price for being with Su Qi was, first and foremost, a heavy toll on his luck.’

But Jiang Zuo no longer cared about such things. He would hold Su Qi in his own hands, not leave her to the whims of so-called luck.

He would never let anything happen to Su Qi, and he certainly wouldn’t let her become that Jiu Xi.

Finally, Jiang Zuo said, "Perhaps this really is harder than Enlightenment. I can answer any of your questions about the Dao, but I can’t answer this."

Jian Shisan was a little disappointed, but it was what he had expected.

"However, there is one thing I do know," Jiang Zuo added.

Jian Shisan looked at Jiang Zuo, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"Just be sincere. You don’t need to get caught up in grand gestures. Aunty should be able to understand."

’If she didn’t understand, why would she have stepped down at the appointed time? Why would she be carrying the Dao Bead that Jian Shisan left her?’

’As for Jian Shisan... others might not know it, but Jiang Zuo knew he was truly a remarkable man.’

’As long as he seizes this opportunity, Aunty should be safe.’

’As for relying on Jiang Zuo to protect them, that was impossible. His entire focus was on Su Qi; he didn’t have time to constantly watch over others.’

’Unless, of course, someone came to Su Qi for help, and she dragged him along to save the day.’

Jian Shisan was silent for a long while before finally shaking his head with a faint chuckle.

It was impossible to tell what he had just figured out.

Not long after, he sent Jiang Zuo back and then departed alone, leaving Jiang Zuo and Su Qi to themselves.

The moment Jian Shisan was gone, Su Qi asked curiously, "What did Martial Uncle talk to you about?"

Jiang Zuo smiled. "He asked me how I managed to win you over. He wanted advice on how to pursue a Saintess."

Su Qi looked utterly dumbfounded. "Martial Uncle has a crush on my senior sister?"

Jiang Zuo shot Su Qi a shocked look, then sighed. "A Candidacy Saintess is a Saintess, the current Saintess is a Saintess, and a former Saintess is also a Saintess.

I married a Candidacy Saintess, so he was asking me for advice on how to pursue, or win the favor of, a former Saintess."

Now it was Su Qi’s turn to be shocked. "Martial Uncle really likes Master? Then does that mean they can get married? Master is getting married? Does that mean she’ll make me call her Mom in the future?"

Jiang Zuo felt exasperated. ’What on earth is going through her head?’

Then, he took her hand. "Let’s go back."

"Okay," Su Qi replied happily.

Her smile was just like the one she’d had as a young girl, on the day Jiang Zuo confessed his love and walked her home.