"The Formless Tribulation-breaking Slash is a technique I only mastered on the Prison Suppression Platform. It’s cultivated through slaughter, using killing qi to nourish the spirit," Gu Qingyi said, then asked Chen Yan, "How many lives have you taken?"
Chen Yan replied softly, "When the old lady was still around, I killed two chickens in the countryside. And there was that Mountain Demon a few days ago, which I finished off with a stab."
Gu Qingyi said nothing more, just tilted her head to look at Chen Yan, her expression calm. "Stop dreaming about things that aren’t realistic."
Having said that, the woman slowly walked away.
Chen Yan opened his mouth... I’ve been looked down upon by this woman!
"Tsk, the Gu Family’s Formless Tribulation-breaking Slash is only barely in the Upper Grade. Its power is strong enough, but the risks are too great. It can’t reach the highest level. The Gu Family girl only thinks of it as an unparalleled technique. Young people are just too inexperienced."
Next door, an old man was reclining in a chair by the second-floor window, lazily crossing his legs, with one ear tuned in to the conversation between the man and woman in the opposite villa.
With his cultivation and senses, a distance of about a hundred meters posed no difficulty.
Straightening up, he took a sip from the teapot beside him, then lay back down, eyes narrowed in thought.
The Gu Family girl has decent talent, but this Formless Tribulation-breaking Slash involves too much killing intent. The Gu Family’s cultivation technique is already too extreme.
At its core, it relies on killing intent, which is a shortcut. Continuing to practice it, within a few years, the killing intent may condense into a Heart Demon, at best causing a loss of cultivation, at worst costing her life.
Unless... she cultivates the Supreme Forget Emotion!
Using Forget Emotion to sever the Heart Demon and dispel the killing intent could be a path.
But... those who practice Supreme Forget Emotion are all madmen. Who would willingly turn themselves into a cold, unfeeling stone if they weren’t mad?
Lu Sisi was sitting at her desk in her room, holding a copy of Dazai Osamu’s "No Longer Human."
She wasn’t actually reading much of it — though she used to enjoy this book quite a lot.
It’s not that she particularly liked this Japanese literary giant; it’s just that Lu Sisi used to feel so pessimistic and hopeless about her life that the cold detachment from humanity in Dazai Osamu’s writing resonated with her.
Dazai Osamu was a writer who committed suicide in his thirties, having attempted it numerous times before. This tendency towards self-destruction and loss of will to live aligned with Lu Sisi’s former state of mind.
But now... holding the book, she found she couldn’t get into it anymore.
Lu Sisi sighed, put the book back on the shelf, and picked up her phone to check WeChat.
These past few days, Lu Sisi sporadically chatted with Chen Yan on WeChat — inconsequential conversations.
Looking at the chat history, a smile played on Lu Sisi’s lips.
The conversations were indeed boring.
But... she remembered reading somewhere online: This is what being in love is like.
Even if you see two cats fighting on the street, you’d excitedly tell the other person — that’s how being in love should be.
As her thoughts drifted off to who knows where, the door suddenly opened.
Her father, Yang Jiaming, walked in.
Yang Jiaming was actually from Port City, and his name suited the customs there.
Lu Sisi’s father had a few brothers, named Jia Jin, Jia Ye, and Jia Wei...
If she weren’t excluded from the family register, Lu Sisi would also have the surname Yang.
According to the Yang Family’s genealogy, Lu Sisi would be of the Hui generation, and if included in the family register, her name might have been Yang Huixin or something similar.
But now, Lu Sisi thought her name was fine and didn’t want to change it.
"Sisi, doing homework?" Yang Jiaming sat beside his daughter, his tone mild but not particularly affectionate.
"Reading a novel," Lu Sisi shook her head. "It’s the holidays, no homework."
"I haven’t asked about your studies this year. Any failed subjects to retake this semester?"
"None this time, I passed them all," Lu Sisi answered cautiously.
Yang Jiaming was slightly surprised, then said, "Good, no failed subjects means you put in effort this semester."
Actually, I’ve always tried hard... the girl sighed inwardly.
Her father was clearly making small talk. He pulled out a small pendant from his pocket. "A few days ago, your mother and I took your brother on a trip, and your mom got this protective talisman for you at a temple. Wear it for safety."
Lu Sisi nodded, taking the talisman without putting it on, just holding it in her hand.
Seeing the alienation and unfamiliarity in his fair and lovely daughter’s eyes, Yang Jiaming sighed inwardly.
He wasn’t biased against having daughters, and he didn’t love her any less after having a son.
When she was born, he was overjoyed and doted on her like a treasure.
His daughter fell ill repeatedly, and worse, anyone close to her suffered misfortune too.
Not just his wife, even he had two car accidents — both times with his daughter in the car.
After consulting with a high-level practitioner in Port City and aligning events from those years with what was predicted, Yang Jiaming and his wife grew increasingly fearful, and gradually distanced themselves from their daughter.
Once they had a younger son, the distance only grew.
Part of their unspoken reason was a fear that their daughter’s misfortune might affect their son, leading them to keep the siblings from getting close.
"There’s something I need to tell you. During the Spring Festival, we’re going to Port City..." Yang Jiaming said softly.
"I understand. I’ll stay at home by myself and won’t cause trouble," Lu Sisi nodded and spoke softly.
"...Good, you’re the best." Yang Jiaming reached out, seemingly to pat his daughter’s hair, but left his hand suspended in midair, ultimately not letting it fall, then expressionlessly turned and left the room.
After her father left, Lu Sisi lay silent at her desk — strangely, she didn’t feel as heartbroken as expected.
She had gotten used to her family’s distancing over the years.
Especially since she turned eighteen, her parents took her brother to celebrate the New Year in Port City, often leaving her alone at home.
In previous years, this might have made her sad, but this year felt subtly different.
After sitting quietly for a while, Lu Sisi slowly took out her phone and sent Chen Yan a WeChat message.
"During Spring Festival, will you be in Jinling Prefecture?"
A moment later, Chen Yan replied, "I’m going back home to the countryside for the New Year."
Lu Sisi’s expression dimmed a bit; the disappointment she felt was even stronger than when her father told her she’d be alone for the holiday.
But then, Chen Yan sent another message.
"If you find staying in Jinling Prefecture boring, you can come to the countryside with me. It’s very lively during the New Year."
The girl’s eyes lit up instantly!
Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she quickly stood up, opening her wardrobe to carefully scrutinize her clothes.
Going to his countryside home for New Year, I’ll definitely meet his relatives, right? What should I wear?
Hmm, this one looks too childish... this one is too dull... oh dear, this outfit’s style is too old...
[Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve! Wishing everyone a happy Spring Festival and family joy!]
[Reminder: There will be no breaks in updates during the Spring Festival. Normal updates continue.]