Jun Changxiao killed the red-haired man, and Gongsun Ruoli’s state of mind was extremely complex. First, she definitely hated this heartless scoundrel who abandoned her and their infant son.
However.
Could this hatred truly extend to death?
For a very long time, Gongsun Ruoli kept thinking that if she ever found that bastard, she would personally cut him down with her own hands. But truly witnessing his death, she still felt a kind of heart-wrenching pain—after all, she had once loved him.
The pain was only temporary.
Upon realizing that Jun Changxiao had killed the heartless scoundrel, she quickly calmed down and made what she considered a very correct decision—to act as if nothing had happened and have Zhang San impersonate the mother.
That bastard was dead.
My son still has to live well, and cannot suffer the torment of ethical conflict.
It must be said, a woman’s heart is as delicate as a needle. After emotions surfaced that were difficult to control, when everyone was guessing the other person would be the sect master’s mother, she forcibly reversed the plot.
Indeed.
Jun Changxiao was kept in the dark.
He had no idea that the red-haired man killed by controlling Nezha was the heartless scoundrel. He merely defined him as Xiao Zuiji’s murderer, so—he deserved to die!
Dog Surplus felt no guilt, but what about Gongsun Ruoli?
You must know, she understood the truth, especially witnessing the scene of her son committing matricide—what must it feel like whenever she recalls it?
The taste of pain.
Gongsun Ruoli would choose to bear it alone, and she would forever guard this secret.
My son.
Above all else!
From traditional customs’ perspective, Gongsun Ruoli was a mother, and she achieved a mother’s greatness. From the Stone Statue Clan’s customs’ perspective, he as the father was still beyond reproach.
Jun Changxiao could deeply feel this, so he particularly cherished this kinship and worked hard to immerse himself in the role of ‘son.’
…
Medical Hall.
Sun Bukong walked out, removed his mask and said: “Sect Master, Junior Brother Ye is fine, he just fainted from exhaustion.”
“Phew!”
Jun Changxiao let out a long breath.
After confirming Ye Xingchen was unharmed, he returned to the great hall and invited Zhang San over, politely standing and cupping his hands: “Greetings, Mother.”
“Well…”
Zhang San said weakly: “Having a grown man like me called mother is really awkward.”
“This is Father’s clan custom.”
“This place isn’t the Stone Statue Clan, we can’t follow their customs.”
“Good point.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Then when we’re outside, I’ll address you as Father.”
“Alright.”
“Father.”
Hearing these two words, Zhang San immediately felt comfortable, and the readers also felt comfortable—after all, this parent-reversed form of address was truly awkward to hear.
“Xingchen once saw the future and also saw Zuiji. Does this mean he has the possibility of resurrection?” Jun Changxiao asked.
The parents’ reunion was a joyous occasion.
However, they definitely needed to find a way to save Xiao Zuiji. Even if the hope was only 0.001, they had to do everything possible, otherwise the hate mail would arrive immediately.
“Well…”
Zhang San paused briefly, then said: “Jun… son, your father has something to say but doesn’t know if it’s appropriate.”
“Please speak, Father.”
“Although the future has its predetermined course, often under the influence of various factors, it may gradually deviate from its set trajectory.”
“…”
Jun Changxiao frowned.
“Since Ye Xingchen saw the future and also saw Xiao Zuiji, yet the latter has now perished, there’s probably only one possibility, which is…” Zhang San didn’t dare continue.
“The future has been changed?”
“Most likely.”
“Pff!”
Jun Changxiao couldn’t help but spit blood again.
He had pinned his hopes on the future Ye Xingchen had once seen, but now he was told the trajectory had changed—that was equivalent to directly cutting off hope.
“If the future has changed, perhaps it’s not a bad thing,” the System said.
“What do you mean?”
“Ye Xingchen leaving the sect may not happen now.”
“…”
Jun Changxiao’s brow furrowed even tighter.
According to what it said, wouldn’t it mean Zuiji was sacrificed to save Ye Xingchen and help him change his future timeline?
“No choice.”
The System said: “This is a multiple choice question.”
“Bullshit!”
Jun Changxiao’s eyes blazed with fury: “Only children make choices. I want to change Xingchen’s future AND change Zuiji’s fate. If Heaven blocks me, I’ll defy Heaven!”
Defying Heaven again.
Does Heaven owe you money?
Honestly, at this stage, hearing it from Jun Changxiao’s mouth, rather than feeling juvenile, it emanated a surge of passionate spirit, instantly bringing many readers back to that unchanged boyhood era.
“So intense!” Zhang San was shocked.
Jun Changxiao was communicating with the System through telepathy, but the defiant will in his eyes deeply moved Zhang San, once again firmly believing this child would accomplish unprecedented feats!
Wanting to resurrect someone couldn’t be accomplished by momentum alone, so whether Xiao Zuiji could actually come back to life—at present, they could only rely on the System Store.
For this reason.
Jun Changxiao hurriedly began refreshing.
If it actually appeared, it would definitely be called too contrived, so after ten consecutive refreshes there was nothing.
Previously he had disliked the limit on attempts, but today he wanted to grab the chair beside him and smash the store.
As long as Xiao Zuiji wasn’t resurrected for one day, Jun Changxiao couldn’t eat or sleep peacefully.
The Wangu Sect disciples were the same.
The battle had ended, they should be celebrating, but after returning to the sect they couldn’t muster any spirit.
Especially the female disciples like Liu Wanshi and Yao Mengying, who cried most sorrowfully—if tears could be accumulated, they could probably flood all of Tiegu Mountain in just a few days.
Of course.
The Xuangui Clan was also in pain.
With Xiao Zuiji’s fall, their clan’s hope had also fallen, after all they had signed a life contract—sharing glory and sharing loss.
The next day.
Young Master Yuan came to the study, looking at Jun Changxiao’s haggard face, and said with difficulty: “When should we erect a cenotaph for Zuiji?”
“Now.”
Jun Changxiao’s voice was hoarse.
“I’ll arrange it immediately.” Young Master Yuan turned to leave.
Before leaving, Jun Changxiao raised his head and instructed: “Make sure to choose the best auspicious location!”
“Yes.”
“Also have Shangtian come see me.”
“Yes.”
Before long, Li Shangtian arrived at the study. From his slightly swollen eyes, he had clearly also cried over Senior Brother Xiao’s death.
“Bring out all of Zuiji’s photos,” Jun Changxiao said.
Though there were no remains, the tombstone must have a photo.
Li Shangtian quickly accessed his spatial ring and pulled out all the photos he’d taken over the years containing Senior Brother Xiao. There were quite a few—at least several hundred, showing he’d frequently tailed and snapped pictures.
“No good.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head: “None of them work.”
He needed to choose an extremely representative image, so that when people paid their respects, they could deeply feel that disciple’s spirit of overwhelming might and world-conquering presence.
“Sect Master, there are no more,” Li Shangtian said bitterly.
These photos were taken at industry-leading professional levels—if he wasn’t satisfied with these, there was truly no solution.
“Snap!”
Suddenly, Jun Changxiao slapped his forehead, realizing: “I almost forgot!”
“Whoosh—”
He pulled up the System interface and clicked on the Hall of Lingering Smoke.
Li Shangtian’s photos were professional, but regarding expression and temperament, the portraits hanging inside were most lifelike!
Right.
Turns out the Hall of Lingering Smoke also had the function of preserving portrait images for inducted disciples.
Jun Changxiao raised his trembling hand, his heart aching as he clicked on the scroll inscribed with Xiao Zuiji’s name. As it unfurled from top to bottom, he stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning.
The scroll.
Was completely blank!
At the very bottom were four prominent characters—Click to Resurrect!
—