After Changing To The Ruthless Way The Brothers Cried And Begged For Forgiveness Chapter 28

[ … words ]

Fang Cheng Lang stood hesitantly outside a room, his hand raised but then slowly lowering again. His clean, handsome face showed rare signs of inner turmoil.

Remembering Lan Zi Yu and Ye Cong Xin waiting downstairs, he summoned his courage again and was about to knock on the door when it suddenly opened.

“Senior Brother,” Yu Zhao greeted him.

Standing less than a foot apart, separated only by a low threshold, the two locked eyes. Yet the indifference on Yu Zhao’s face was so pronounced that Fang Cheng Lang felt as if an insurmountable chasm stretched between them.

Caught off guard, Fang Cheng Lang didn’t know what to say and could only silently gaze at her.

Yu Zhao frowned briefly. “Senior Brother, is there anything else? If not, I’ll return to my room to cultivate.”

Jolted back to reality, Fang Cheng Lang pushed his thoughts aside and forced a smile. “Little Six, Junior Sister suggested we go see the lantern festival. Lan Zi Yu and I both agreed. We’re just waiting on you.”

“Oh, then you all go. I’m not interested in lanterns,” Yu Zhao replied curtly, ready to close the door.

Yu Zhao released her hold on the door and raised an eyebrow. “But Senior Brother, that’s not what you used to say.”

Fang Cheng Lang froze.

What had he said before?

“‘Cultivation is like rowing upstream; if you don’t advance, you retreat. Rest breeds laziness, and indulgence is merely an excuse for idleness. Only those lacking ambition would seek enjoyment.’

“I haven’t misremembered, have I, Senior Brother?” she emphasized, her words laced with bitterness.

Fang Cheng Lang felt as though lightning had struck him.

Yu Zhao’s words dragged him back to a past he had tried to forget. He could now clearly recall how he had harshly rebuked her, listing her flaws with righteous indignation, treating her as if she were irredeemable. All this because she had been exhausted from prolonged cultivation and playfully asked for a break.

At that moment, Fang Cheng Lang understood.

Yu Zhao’s distance wasn’t something that had happened overnight. It was the culmination of countless grievances and frustrations, finally reaching a breaking point. The Black Prison incident was simply the last straw.

“Little Six…” His voice cracked, and his eyes reddened.

Unmoved by Fang Cheng Lang’s visible emotion, Yu Zhao shut the door heavily.

Left standing outside, Fang Cheng Lang lingered for a long while before leaving, his steps heavy with desolation.

Downstairs, Lan Zi Yu and Ye Cong Xin were growing restless when Fang Cheng Lang finally appeared, alone.

“Senior Brother, where’s Sixth Senior Sister? Is she not in her room?” Ye Cong Xin asked, barely able to hide her delight.

Lan Zi Yu’s face darkened instantly. “What does she mean by this? Does she expect us to beg her? Ridiculous!”

Ye Cong Xin pursed her lips. “Second Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Sister probably doesn’t mean it that way. Maybe she’s unwell or preoccupied.”

“What could she possibly be busy with? This is deliberate! She’s just trying to stir trouble and show off!”

“Second Senior Brother, please stop. Let’s hear what Senior Brother has to say first,” Ye Cong Xin interjected gently.

Lan Zi Yu snorted but reluctantly fell silent, though his anger was evident.

Fang Cheng Lang’s chest tightened. Lan Zi Yu’s hostility toward Yu Zhao felt chillingly unwarranted. They had no serious enmity, yet Lan Zi Yu spoke of her as though she were an enemy, always seeking to discredit her. And Fang Cheng Lang had allowed this behavior to pass unchallenged, as if it were normal.

Fixing Lan Zi Yu with a sharp gaze, Fang Cheng Lang asked, “Lan Zi Yu, Yu Zhao is your Junior Sister. Why must you judge her with such malice?”

Both Lan Zi Yu and Ye Cong Xin were stunned by the sudden question.

After a moment, Lan Zi Yu scoffed. “Malice? This is just her true nature!”

Fang Cheng Lang pressed further. “Her true nature? I raised her myself. How is it that I’ve never seen this nature you speak of?”

Lan Zi Yu sneered. “Yu Zhao has been jealous of Junior Sister Ye for a long time, resorting to underhanded tactics. During their sparring match, she even intentionally injured her severely! I saw it all with my own eyes. Are you saying it’s not true?”

Fang Cheng Lang remained silent for a long moment before turning to Ye Cong Xin. “Junior Sister, do you think the same?”

“No, no! I think there must be a misunderstanding. Sixth Senior Sister isn’t like that,” Ye Cong Xin replied quickly, shaking her head.

Ever the epitome of kindness and understanding, Ye Cong Xin portrayed herself as incapable of speaking ill of others, even when they erred.

Fang Cheng Lang nodded thoughtfully and then looked back at Lan Zi Yu, who stiffened with defiance. Meanwhile, Ye Cong Xin exhaled quietly in relief.

Despite Fang Cheng Lang’s efforts to reason with Lan Zi Yu and clear Yu Zhao’s name, Lan Zi Yu refused to budge. The disagreement escalated, leaving their outing to Lantern City soured and lifeless. Not even Ye Cong Xin’s attempts to mediate could salvage the mood.

In the end, the outing concluded with both men buying lanterns for Ye Cong Xin and leaving hurriedly.

…

The next day, after a night of rest, the Five Elements Dao Sect group resumed their journey. Traveling in a large and formidable group, they encountered no trouble.

Several days later, by dusk, they arrived at Dragon Head Mountain. Dragon Roar Valley lay beyond, connecting Dragon Head Mountain to Dragon Tail Mountain.

Zhou Jin Yue surveyed the sky and addressed the disciples. “We’ll camp at the foot of Dragon Head Mountain tonight and proceed to Dragon Roar Valley tomorrow.”

With numerous cultivators converging along their path, it was clear that Dragon Roar Valley was far from peaceful. Tomorrow would likely bring their first battle. Rest tonight was critical.

The disciples quickly found spots to settle, and Yu Zhao chose a patch of grass to sit and meditate. Before long, Zhou Jin Yue approached and sat beside her.

“Senior Sister Zhou.”

“Yu Zhao, we may face cultivators tomorrow. Are you nervous?” Zhou Jin Yue asked warmly.

Yu Zhao hesitated, then nodded slightly.

Zhou Jin Yue chuckled. “Now I’m confused. Are you nervous or not?”

Yu Zhao pondered and replied, “A little, I suppose.”

Her concerns, however, were not what Zhou Jin Yue imagined.

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation