The Great Dao Pen was undeniably frustrated at this moment!
As the Lady of Destiny had said, all beings and spirits in the world have their destinies. These destinies aren’t entirely fixed, but they do have good and bad phases. A person experiences both highs and lows.
Ye Xuan was no exception!
Yet, the Lady of Destiny suppressed the Pen, preventing it from enacting Ye Xuan’s bad fate!
It was as if a blooming flower, due to wilt, refused to wither—defying the Great Dao!
But the Pen had nowhere to voice its grievances, and it was made to seem like the villain. The injustice was suffocating!
By the seaside, Qing’er stood quietly, sea breeze gently swaying her plain skirt, outshining the heavens and earth.
She spoke softly, “I’ve suppressed it, but in doing so, I’ve altered the fate you were meant to have. That’s not ideal. A person’s life, after tasting bitterness, learns to cherish sweetness… but this life, I don’t want you to suffer too much.”
Ye Xuan’s heart warmed. Qing’er’s care for him was beyond words.
A thought struck him, and he asked, “If you hadn’t intervened, would my fate have been set by the Great Dao Pen from the start?”
Qing’er shook her head, “No. The destinies of all beings have processes, not fixed outcomes. Within that process, you have countless choices. Each choice shapes your future fate.”
She hesitated, then added, “Do you understand? If not, I can explain further!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Qing’er continued, “Like two students in the mortal world: one studies hard, the other slacks off, idling all day. Their futures will differ vastly.”
Ye Xuan frowned, “But you said flowers wilt. Isn’t a flower destined to wilt from birth, meaning its end is predetermined?”
Qing’er thought, then said, “We’re discussing the process of destiny. What you’re raising now is the outcome, a matter beyond destiny.”
Ye Xuan was curious, “Beyond destiny? What’s that?”
Qing’er hesitated, “Let’s stick to destiny for now!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Dao Ling suddenly piped up, “I have a question, I—”
Qing’er shot him a cold glance. Dao Ling’s face paled, his hair standing on end!
What the hell?
It felt like death staring at him!
Terrified, he stammered, “I… I’ve got no questions!”
Qing’er looked back at Ye Xuan, her voice gentle, “Anything else you don’t understand?”
Dao Ling’s expression froze. The difference in treatment was glaring!
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “I think destiny’s unfair. Some are born with what others can’t achieve in a lifetime!”
Qing’er nodded, “That’s not just destiny—it’s also about the Destiny of the Great Dao.”
Ye Xuan frowned, “The Destiny of the Great Dao?”
Qing’er nodded slightly, “Simply put, nothing’s absolutely fair. For an ordinary person to succeed, effort is key, but a bit of luck helps. Some are born with a silver spoon—that’s their Great Dao Destiny.”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then asked, “Qing’er, being your brother from birth… is that Great Dao Destiny?”
Qing’er nodded, “Yes!”
She looked at him, smiling, “And it’s my Great Dao Destiny too.”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “So, the Great Dao Pen’s been pretty good to us siblings!”
Somewhere, in a room, the Great Dao Pen roared, “You only realize that now?! Argh!”
Qing’er continued, “Destiny is elusive, real but invisible. I don’t kill the Pen because it only runs your fate’s path and gave you Great Dao Destiny. Most importantly, it bears no malice toward you. It just wants you to face hardship, to struggle.”
Ye Xuan hesitated, “It thinks I’ve had it too easy?”
Qing’er nodded.
Ye Xuan grumbled, “I’ve had it rough before!”
Qing’er thought, then said, “Not… *that* rough!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Qing’er said softly, “Without great hardship, it’s hard to achieve the Great Dao. Cultivation is about tempering the heart, like forging a sword. Without countless strikes, how does iron become steel?”
Ye Xuan looked at her, serious, “Qing’er, to reach where you are, you must’ve endured a lot, right?”
Qing’er gazed at him, “My hardest days were without you. Each one was hell.”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Dao Ling suddenly felt envious.
Damn it!
Why didn’t he have a sister like that?
Qing’er added, “That Yang guy says you’re too flashy, but I disagree. Brother, ignore his nonsense. In cultivation, he and that sword cultivator are idiots—complete idiots!”
Her tone grew icy, clearly displeased with the man in the green shirt.
Ye Xuan: “…”
Qing’er continued, “Cultivation is about the true self. What’s the true self? It’s being authentic! Your personality is yours. When you have a choice, why change? So many live for others’ expectations—like in the Milky Way, where parents dictate from birth what their child must become…”
She shook her head, “Many live by others’ wills, losing their true selves. It’s like being a puppet, busy yet empty, devoid of their own nature!”
Dao Ling said gravely, “Senior, I disagree. Sometimes, parents’ expectations aren’t bad. From birth, mine told me to strive, to become the Dao Clan’s next leader, to avenge our clan. It’s a burden, but also a duty!”
Qing’er glanced at him, “You were forced into that life because you had no choice. My brother does, understand?”
Dao Ling’s expression froze, his mind racing with a stampede of thoughts.
He decided to shut up!
Another word, and he might die of frustration!
Qing’er looked at Ye Xuan, “You’re not that Yang guy. No need to live by his ideas. He suffered, so he wants you to suffer too. That’s perverse, unhealthy!”
Ye Xuan sweated, sensing Qing’er’s strong resentment toward their father!
Qing’er continued, “He endured great hardship to achieve his Dao, so he thinks you should too. But not all paths require that! Cultivation is about the heart. Hardship tempers it, but it’s not the only way. Other methods work too.”
Ye Xuan asked eagerly, “What other methods?”
Qing’er thought, then said, “Haven’t found any yet!”
Ye Xuan’s expression stiffened, then he chuckled. Qing’er could be playful too!
Qing’er added, “Just be yourself.”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Got it!”
He smiled at her, “Qing’er, you don’t need to suppress the Great Dao Pen anymore. I want to see what happens without your interference!”
Qing’er looked at him, “You sure?”
Ye Xuan nodded earnestly, “I’ll live my way, but I also want to face great hardship. I want to see if, without your help, I can still walk this path well!”
Qing’er was silent for a long while, then said, “Alright!”
She opened her palm, and somewhere, the Xingdao Sword flew away.
In a room, a pen sighed in relief!
Since that sword arrived, it had lived in fear, dreading a single slash if it displeased her!
Qing’er looked at Ye Xuan, asking again, “Brother, you’re really sure?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, “You’ve asked twice… I’m starting to panic!”
Qing’er said, “You can still back out!”
Ye Xuan laughed, “No need!”
Qing’er nodded, “I believe in you.”
As she began to fade, she suddenly opened her palm. Ye Xuan’s Qingxuan Sword and the small tower within him appeared in her hand.
Ye Xuan’s face changed, “Qing’er, you’re taking back my Qingxuan Sword and Small Tower?”
Qing’er nodded, “Yes. But if you don’t want me to, I won’t.”
Ye Xuan was silent for a long while, then said, “Take them.”
He agreed!
Qing’er nodded slightly, “Brother, take care!”
Her form grew ethereal, the seaside blurring.
Ye Xuan asked curiously, “Qing’er, what’re you doing now?”
Qing’er replied, “Going to talk with that other one.”
Ye Xuan asked quickly, “The one stronger than the Great Dao Pen?”
Qing’er nodded.
Ye Xuan hesitated, “Can you beat them?”
Qing’er smiled, “Brother, do you know how strong your sister is now?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Qing’er winked, “Calling myself invincible is almost humble!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
