Heaven Official’s Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu Vol. 7

“Does it matter if it’s me or gege?” Hua Cheng said with a wide smile. “Besides, sir, I respect you very much, so of course I don’t mind helping. This is nothing.”
The state preceptor was speechless for a moment, then said, “If you really respect me, wipe that fake smile off your face. That fake attitude is too much.”
Hua Cheng immediately wiped said smile away. “Oh.”

Pei Ming looked back at her. In the end, he only said, “Xuan Ji, it’s time to wake up.”
“Wake up what?” Xuan Ji was confused.
“I’m part of the reason you became like this, but the rest was all your own decisions. You’re the only one who could be moved by all the things you’ve done. I’m a steel-hearted man. Don’t love me—love yourself.”

Quan Yizhen was sprawled inside its jaw, roasted and charred completely black. Perhaps it was because of the fire, but his hair seemed even curlier than usual. Thankfully, the bone dragon skull had acted as a protective shield—he wasn’t burnt too badly and, given time and quiet care, he would heal from this. After all, Quan Yizhen was resilient.

“Move! Your dad is possessed! And he’s not even your dad!” Lang Qianqiu shouted back at him.
Seizing the opportunity, Qi Rong flipped out of his grip and leapt away, catching Guzi as he did. “DON’T COME ANY CLOSER! I’m warning you, don’t come near me! Do it and I’ll chomp this kid to death! I’ll rip him open and devour his guts right in front of you!”
Lang Qianqiu stopped, then yelled angrily, “Isn’t he your son? He protected you, and you still treat him as nothing but a shield? You despicable, dirty ghost trash!”

“WAH HA HA HA HA HA, THE HEAVENLY REALM IS NOTHING! In the end, it still submits to the heel of this ancestor’s boot!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
All three were struck speechless at the sound of that voice

The state preceptor was utterly gobsmacked. He slapped the back of his right hand into his left palm a few dozen times. It was a moment before he could finally speak.
“You see! You see, you see, you see, I told you so! I told you Supreme Ghost Kings shouldn’t be so carelessly provoked. He’s been coming on to you from such a young age—such ghastly persistence! It’s been, what, eight hundred years? Eight hundred years! He’s been stalking you for eight hundred years! Scary, too scary! My fortune-telling is just too accurate!”

The state preceptor puffed out a sigh. “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I’m not going to lecture you. I won’t guide you on a topic in which I myself am not an expert. Besides, you’ve already been through so much and gotten through it in one piece, so what’s there left to worry about? Men or women, it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re happy.”
Xie Lian rubbed his forehead until it turned red, and he said in a small voice, “Yes…I’m very happy.”
Still, the state preceptor added with glum confusion, “But…after being single for eight hundred years, how did you end up with a Supreme Ghost King?”

“I’ve traveled to the heavens, and I’ve also cultivated on my own, so I have some achievements to my name. I maintained the state of my body and drifted aimlessly throughout the Mortal Realm. I had served His Highness since we were both young, and I didn’t know what to do now that I couldn’t any longer. His Highness was gone, and my three friends were dead. I created three empty-shelled fakes and made them speak in my friends’ voices to keep me company—and to play cards sometimes.”

“His expression turned savage, and he seized me by the neck with one hand and began to strangle me. He stared at me unblinkingly as he mumbled to himself over and over, ‘I can manage on my own. All alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone. I don’t need anyone, I don’t need anyone, I don’t need anyone, I don’t need anyone…’

“Did that thought only cross your mind at that point?” Hua Cheng interrupted, voice flat. “You should’ve known from the beginning. If you slice off a piece of your flesh to save one person, that one person will be grateful. But the more you slice, the more that person will demand of you. Even if you cut yourself down to nothing but bones, they will still not be satisfied.”