Chapter 73 A Just Cause
"You didn't want to be my..." disciple before, the warning from the Heavenly Dao penetrated into Hongjun's true spirit, and even before he had merged with the Dao, it briefly restricted Hongjun's words and actions.
The situation was hopeless. Heaven was so wary of him taking Chang Hao as his disciple that it went so far as to warn him. Hongjun was truly regretful at this moment. If he had known that Chang Hao was already being watched by Heaven, he should have agreed when Chang Hao mentioned it.
Hongjun's aura changed for a moment, and Chang Hao, who was close by, naturally noticed it. He felt a chill run down his spine, which went straight to his heart.
"Don't be afraid," Hongjun said softly, seeing Chang Hao's pale lips after regaining his freedom. "It will be alright. When I'm sober, you must come to Zixiao Palace to keep me company often."
There's always a way to have the best of both worlds.
Chang Hao reluctantly agreed, lacking any enthusiasm. No one knew better than Chang Hao what it felt like to be a puppet. Having experienced it firsthand, his anger had long since dissipated.
"Regarding the matter of severing the three corpses, you can consider it yourself. I know you have always been intelligent and will surely make a choice." Hongjun spoke slowly, and the usually indifferent man suddenly became warm and affectionate, which was most touching.
“I know,” Chang Hao said softly, “If one day I am truly manipulated, I will cut off my own arm, but it’s not that time yet. I have my own plans.”
"I'm giving you the Qiankun Cauldron. If you need anything that doesn't suit you in the future, you'll have to refine it yourself. Consider it a return gift for the gourd you gave me. If you want any gadgets in the future, you can refine them yourself." All the high-grade magic treasures on Hongjun's body were marked with other people's names, leaving only the Qiankun Cauldron, the God-Slaying Spear, the Creation Jade Disc, and the incense gourd given by Chang Hao.
Hongjun's gaze fell on the folding fan in Chang Hao's hand. The item was nice, but the person who made it was an eyesore. Hongjun didn't know why, but he always felt that Yuanshi's attitude was different, so he couldn't help but want to separate the two of them.
The incense gourd was of great use to him, the God-Slaying Spear was incompatible with Chang Hao's attributes, and the Creation Jade Disc could only be bound to him. The only thing he could give away was the Qiankun Cauldron. Even if all the other magic treasures were piled up together, they would not be as good as the Qiankun Cauldron. However, it was better than nothing.
Chang Hao listened silently, holding the Qiankun Cauldron, still unable to muster any enthusiasm.
"Stop looking so gloomy, go and have some fun at Yaochi, okay?" Hongjun patted Chang Hao on the back, soothingly. "I'm returning the Black Lotus of Annihilation to you. You can go to the Primordial World to relax if you want, but I'll be watching you. If anything goes wrong, I'll bring you back. Don't turn against me then."
Chang Hao twitched his lips. "I'm no longer a cub." He didn't dare to delve into what image he had in Hongjun's eyes. What was he playing at? He had never played that game before.
Hongjun smiled but remained silent.
Needless to say, in Hongjun's eyes, no matter what Chang Hao becomes, he has never forgotten the young Chang Hao who used to wear two buns and looked at him with anger but dared not speak out, yet was full of vitality.
……………………
"Senior brother..." Yaochi was on tenterhooks. As soon as she saw Chang Hao appear, she rushed up to him and looked him up and down.
"Senior brother, why are you so stubborn? Why are you arguing with the master?" Yaochi was exasperated. He had come first, but the one who came later had overtaken him. He was so disappointing. "Are you deliberately making me worry to death? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No, it was just a minor injury, I'm all better now." Chang Hao smiled bitterly. He knew that Yaochi wanted him to become Hongjun's disciple as well, but how could Yaochi know that he hadn't tried? Things weren't as simple as Yaochi thought. There's never a right or wrong in this world.
"Senior brother, don't be impulsive next time. A saint is supreme, how can you offend him so easily?" Yaochi herself was still resentful, but she didn't want Chang Hao to be resentful as well. "Since we can't get a title, let's not force it. Lishan is very good, really very good."
This time it was all bark and no bite, but Yaochi didn't dare gamble on being so lucky every time. What if... Well, if she couldn't have it, she wouldn't ask for it anymore. The primordial world was vast and boundless. The two of them could rely on each other for survival. Why would they be afraid of not finding a place to settle down?
"Alright, it will be as Yaochi says." Chang Hao casually agreed, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes. Zixiao Palace, will he still be able to come and go as he pleases in the future?
Chang Hao was well-versed in intrigue and scheming, and had even personally participated in such schemes. He was by no means a purely virtuous person. As astute as Chang Hao was, how could he not have noticed Hongjun's unfinished words?
Now that things have come to this, even if Hongjun wanted to take him as a disciple, Chang Hao wouldn't mind being of the same ilk as Hongjun, sharing his fortune and misfortune, but Heaven would not allow it.
Yes, Chang Hao had already realized that the Heavenly Dao had been working to sever the karmic ties between him and Hongjun. His repeated attempts to become a disciple were interrupted, clearly demonstrating the Heavenly Dao's unwillingness.
"Is the matter resolved?" Yuan Shi frowned. "You are not a fool, so why are you so impatient?"
“It’s resolved,” Chang Hao said with a bitter smile. “You should know that the closer someone is to you, the harder it is to treat them with a mask of hypocrisy and indifference, and even harder to be evasive. Every action comes from the heart, and unknowingly, it hurts people the most.”
Closeness? Yuan Shi's eyes darkened. "Even if you are close, you should consider whether you are a match for your master. You shouldn't act rashly; what if you make a mistake..."
As soon as Yuanshi uttered what sounded like a reprimand, he realized his mistake and immediately stopped talking, filled with regret. Chang Hao was different from Tongtian; he shouldn't have acted this way. But why they were different, and in what ways, Yuanshi had no idea.
“You’re right. It was my fault this time. I was spoiled and arrogant. Fortunately, Hongjun didn’t hold it against me.” Chang Hao humbly accepted Yuanshi’s admonition.
Yuanshi is right. He should indeed restrain his temper. There are always people more powerful than him. If he were to encounter an opponent with the same cultivation level as Hongjun, he would probably not be able to escape unscathed.
Seeing that Chang Hao was not as unruly as Tongtian had feared, Yuanshi was relieved.
Tongtian suddenly realized, "So, Second Brother, the reason you often pick on me is because we're too close?" So much so that his usually taciturn, aloof, and stern Second Brother would constantly interfere in his affairs and reprimand him at every turn.
“Indeed,” Chang Hao smiled. “The deeper the love, the greater the responsibility. Tongtian, you must not betray Yuanshi’s deep brotherly affection. Others would beg for such a thing.”
Tongtian was overcome with grief. Was it a display of brotherly affection, or perhaps a violent clash?
Unable to bear the truth, Tongtian, his eyes filled with panic and his voice filled with grief and indignation, asked, "Second Brother, tell me, what Chang Hao said isn't true?"
Caught off guard, Yuanshi was exposed by Chang Hao, who had revealed part of the truth. Staring at Chang Hao's teasing gaze, he awkwardly avoided Chang Hao's smiling eyes and Tongtian's accusations, but his heart was warm. He was not angry or embarrassed that Chang Hao had exposed his thoughts.
Laozi smiled and nodded, "Chang Hao's summary is spot on, that's indeed the case. Tongtian, you must not be willful again in the future."
Tongtian found it hard to accept. If that was the case, then his second brother would be constantly keeping an eye on him and disciplining him in every way. There was no hope for him at all.
"How about I share half of this 'good thing' that no one else can ask for?" Tongtian looked at Chang Hao with eager anticipation, as if he wouldn't give up until Chang Hao agreed.
"Chang Hao, you are a good brother whom I, Tongtian, have recognized. You would definitely be willing to help me share the burden, right?" Better to sacrifice a friend than myself. Don't think that just because Tongtian acts so elegantly and magnanimously, he doesn't know what his second brother is thinking.
Even after failing to take Chang Hao as his disciple, Mingming still kept an eye on Chang Hao and was eager to keep him by his side to discipline him. However, his second brother stubbornly refused to say anything, and Chang Hao was always treated with more affection and flattery.
Why is he the one suffering the beatings while Chang Hao receives all the care and concern? They're brothers, yet the difference is so vast that even Tongtian would be jealous.
Since his second brother has no legitimate reason for his actions, why doesn't Tongtian just give him a legitimate reason?
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