Second Round of the Family Hierarch Evaluation, part 15 (after battle)
Dang~ Now that's a big fish!
Thanks for the coins, my guy~
I... I refuse to let that bastard take my coins...
I... I forfeit! I'm gonna forfeit!
Aha~ A candidate from the Shi family has just announced that he will forfeit from the game!
Oh, by the way - the number of coins he had at the time of his forfeiture will be reflected in his final ranking!
What? What the heck, that wasn't a rule! You just made that up!
Looks like they're taking measures just in case the number of contestants drops under ten.
We should've knocked him out. Sly bastard.
Father... Please forgive me... I should've done better than this...
Stop crying, you embarrassing milksop!
…….
Ugh, you're embarrassing me, big brother!
Did you know that you've gone from sulking all day to looking like you're about to cry all the time?!
Just what happened to you?
I know why he's like that.
…!
How... do you know?
That's 'cuz big sis Daiyu kicked his butt in the archery game yesterday~
So go easy on him today, big sis!
Nope~ Game's gotta be fair and square!
I... I think I'm gonna go now. Grandma'll look for me.
…….
Must be nice.
If I was in brother Baoyu's shoes, I woulda thought of it as a huge honor to be able to witness those super cool experiments myself.
Grandma...
This experiment... is it really an experiment to create a new Heishou branch...?
You're asking me a meaningful question for once.
I heard that only the Heishou-Xianren knows the recipe to make the Bolus used to create their branch... and that they don't share that secret even with the Family Hierarch.
Your suspicions are correct. Making a thirteenth branch of Heishou was... always a foregone failure.
They could have figured that out themselves merely by patiently ruminating upon it for but a moment.
Instead, they elected to give me their full trust. Though it was I who laid the trap, it was the festering greed in their hearts that made my lure irresistible to them.
How utterly gormless of them. Did they truly believe that a task so grand as the creation of a new branch of the Heishou could be achieved so easily, without sacrifice?
If it's all impossible, then... why...? What are you even... doing down here...?
Little Baoyu, they are but pretenders. Nothing but dishonest charlatans who behave as though this purloined power they wield was gained by their own noble qualities.
Hongyuan used to be... different. Not a place for those ilks to wield and shape as they see fit.
If they refuse to relinquish it to its rightful lord, then I have no choice but to pry it from their hands.
Grandma...
I'm... scared. I can't... I don't want to watch anymore. Someone help, help me, anyone...
Little Baoyu, you are a precious, peerless treasure, a necessary element of this sacred plan.
Thus, it is imperative that you do not speak so lightly around the foolish masses of the secular world.
…….
That girl, Xiren, was always a smart one.
But it seems that she was quite naive to the way this world works.
Wha... what are you... what...
Know that this was all for your own good.
Welcome back, young master.
Xiren...!
Oh, thank goodness. Grandma really worried me, she said...
She said...
Young master.
... Xiren?
Did something... happen to you?
A Heishou visited me.
I was beaten, for I did not know my place. My head was removed, for I did not know my place.
What...? What are you saying?
But with venerable Jia Mu's mercy, I was rebuilt. It is of no concern to you anymore.
You are trembling. Would you like a cup of tea?
Xiren... I'm... I'm... I'm scared... so scared... It never ends... it never ends...
It cannot be helped, young master.
Then... what should I do?
Young master...
The prudent option would be to witness it all in silence.
…….
Young master, it is time for you to visit the revered Xianren.
Neatly comb your hair, and dress yourself in the most elegant outfit. Do not forget to carry yourself in a reverent manner.
... Okay.
Forgive us, forgive us...
I will never sin again... I will never covet the room of another again. I will never covet the food of another again. I will never covet the fortune of another again.
How many times are you going to make me ask you?! What! Happened?!
... Tell me.
If it's some sort of secret, then whisper it in my ear.
... It's...
It's... nothing. Dai...yu.
The people, I...
... I can still hear them fall...