Chapter Sixty-Nine: Can We... Choose Someone Else...?

Atop the Twin Pearl Peaks, Jiang Yu-ni and Lin Qingwan sat face to face, while Jiang Lin sat to the side. Little Nian Nian, beside Jiang Lin, raised her tiny hand and began to knead her father’s lower back...

Though her little hands held no real strength and her touch was more ticklish than soothing, it was the gesture that counted. Jiang Lin was deeply moved by his daughter’s thoughtfulness.

Yet, that odd feeling from before lingered—strange and familiar at once, as if he’d been utterly drained. He remembered having a similar sensation once in the Maze Secret Realm.

Of course, in a place like that, being drained by mountain spirits, demons, or witches was nothing unusual. But why was his back aching now, here atop the Twin Pearl Peaks?

Had he overdone his training yesterday?

Could practicing martial arts even lead to such exhaustion? That didn’t sound right… Or maybe his stance had been off when sparring with Diao Da and the others last night?

“Papa, are you feeling better? Nian Nian will keep massaging you,” the little girl said earnestly, her palm moving in circles on Jiang Lin’s lower back.

“Much better, thank you, Nian Nian.” He scooped her onto his lap and gently ruffled her hair, then turned to the two women who were locked in a silent contest of wills across from him. “All right, everything’s been explained. There shouldn’t be any more problems, right?”

Starting from the events in the Maze Secret Realm, it had taken Jiang Lin half an hour to recount everything to his master and to clarify the morning’s misunderstandings to Chen Jia.

When it came to the crucial parts of his tale, Jiang Lin had intentionally shielded Nian Nian from the details by using mind-voice transmission. She was still too young, and it wouldn’t do for her to learn of her origins so soon.

What if she suddenly announced she wanted to find her real father and mother?

What then? Should he help her or not? But if he didn’t and she was heartbroken, how could he bear to see his beloved daughter sad?

But if he did help… and she eventually learned that her true parents had been slain by him, countless lifetimes ago… Would she not turn on him there and then?

So Jiang Lin did his best to preserve her innocent worldview and even took the opportunity to teach her that “a scolding or a fight is sometimes a sign of affection—sometimes parents argue, but it’s just a different way of expressing love.”

As for the plan to act out a warm, happy family in front of Nian Nian, complete with syrupy endearments—Jiang Lin had abandoned that idea long ago.

What a joke! A loving, happy household didn’t need an act; it should come from the heart!

The real reason, though, was that Jiang Lin had realized he couldn’t lie to Nian Nian. After all, he and Chen Jia weren’t actually married. And what if Senior Sister Lin or Miss Xiao ever showed up? Would he be expected to keep up the charade with all of them?

Utterly unrealistic. Better to let Nian Nian slowly adapt to the truth in her own time. But Jiang Lin was certain that his love for her would never waver.

Still, why was it that whenever he imagined Chen Jia, Senior Sister Lin, and Miss Xiao together, he seemed to glimpse a kitchen knife flashing before his eyes?

...

Even after all the explanations, the tension between Jiang Yu-ni and Chen Jia remained. The two women eyed each other warily, as if fated to be at odds.

His master reminded him of a squirrel guarding her precious chestnut, eyes fixed intently on Chen Jia, while Chen Jia herself was like a kitten, eyes blazing, ready to snatch back her fish.

“All right, Master, please stop looking at Miss Chen like that. She isn’t an enemy.” Jiang Lin gave his master’s head a gentle flick.

“Ow…” Jiang Yu-ni covered her forehead, gazing at Jiang Lin with wounded eyes. “But…”

“But what?”

Her lips puckered in a pout. “But… she wants to steal Little Lin Lin from Master…”

Looking at his master, Jiang Lin couldn’t explain why—he felt the urge to be annoyed, but simply couldn’t bring himself to it.

“Don’t worry, Master. I’ll always be by your side. Why would Miss Chen want to steal me away? Isn’t that right, Miss Chen?”

“I—hmpf! Who would want to steal you! Even if every man on earth died, I’d still have no interest in you!”

The words had barely left her lips when Chen Jia herself froze in disbelief.

Heavens, what am I saying…

This only widens the rift between us, doesn’t it? But how could she blame herself—who asked such blunt questions, anyway…

Ugh, infuriating! It’s all his fault! Idiot! Complete fool!

Chen Jia took deep breaths, her chest rising only slightly.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, yet she couldn’t punch someone’s master in front of everyone…

Still, watching him coax that sweet, pretty woman before him made her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

She knew very well that this beast’s master had lost her wits defending him and was truly grateful for her protection. Jiang Lin, for all his faults, felt nothing but filial devotion toward his master.

But why was she so unsettled? What was it about this Senior Jiang that set her nerves on edge?

...

“All right, Master, you heard Miss Chen. No need to be upset.” Jiang Lin stroked his master’s hair, comforting her with practiced ease.

“Mm,” Jiang Yu-ni nodded, reaching out to entwine her fingers with his, then cast a sidelong glance at Chen Jia.

[Hmph! Compete with me for him, will you? Little girl, you’re far too green!]

Chen Jia caught the glance, but being the simple soul she was, failed to grasp its meaning. She only thought that this beastly Jiang Lin certainly had an adorable master, and…

She glanced at Jiang Yu-ni’s neckline, then at her own.

A trace of disappointment crept into her expression, her delicate brows furrowing, her lips forming a cute pout.

“Papa, Mama seems a little sad…” whispered Nian Nian, tugging at Jiang Lin’s collar from his lap.

Jiang Lin glanced at her, his brow twitching as he noticed the little girl gesturing across her chest. No amount of miming would help there…

He gently set Nian Nian in his master’s arms, walked over to Chen Jia, and patted her on the shoulder. After a moment’s thought, he said lightly,

“It’s all right. Grasslands are a rare resource, too.”

Chen Jia’s martial spirit surged, her eyes narrowing. “Jiang the Beast, what did you just say?”

“Ahem… I said… Miss Chen, shall we train today? I feel my clay-body stage is coming along well—on the grasslands, I could run all day without getting winded.”

Chen Jia shot him a glare, brushing his hand off her shoulder. “Taking the first step as a martial artist isn’t hard, and it seems you’ve nearly mastered the clay-body stage. But the final shaping is the most important part. I don’t dare help you with that.”

“Hm? Then who will help me? Your father?”

“My mother!”

“What?!”

Cold sweat broke out on Jiang Lin’s forehead.

“Can’t we… have someone else do it…?”