Chapter 197: You Have to Take Responsibility, Okay?

A few days later, at the Sang household.

A line of laborers were loading Sang Zhe’s furniture and luggage onto the carts, transporting them out of the house, one piece at a time.

Shi Qingyan held the ledger, checking items off with the foreman, while Si Jingzhu shouted orders for the moving.

Yan Rouwan and Tang Yubbing weaved through the moving carts, confirming the loading status of the luggage and furniture.

On the other side of the courtyard, Zhang Xiaoying held Gu Yingmian’s hand, reluctant as she said, “Sister Gu, when you have some time in a couple of days, come visit the new house.”

“Yeah. I will.”

Zhang Xiaoying poked Sang Zhe beside her, who cleared his throat awkwardly and said shyly, “Sister Gu, once I finish setting up the branch company, I’ll bring Little Ying to Sword Flower Palace to see you.”

“…mm.” Gu Yingmian’s face turned slightly red as she lowered her gaze and nodded.

“I’ll wait for you,” she said softly.

In reality, Sang Zhe’s words felt a bit like pie in the sky.

After all, the branch company had just been established, and a mountain of problems awaited—who knew how long it would take to stabilize?

But to Gu Yingmian, time was meaningless.

For her, hundreds of years were just a blink. She had long grown accustomed to waiting for such things over long periods.

As long as Sang Zhe said he would return, she would wait.

“By the way.”

Before leaving, Gu Yingmian turned back to add, “Sang Zhe, make sure to spend some time with Flower Master.”

“She’s quite pitiful alone…”

Sang Zhe agreed wholeheartedly, but felt a bit confused.

As the leader, it was his duty to care for her.

But when did Sister Gu get so close to the Master?

After seeing Gu Yingmian off, Sang Zhe looked at the already packed cart.

“Is everything ready?”

“Let’s go!” He waved his hands with enthusiasm, “To our new home!”

——

——

They called it a new home.

But the road was one they knew all too well.

As Sang Zhe viewed the surroundings—familiar yet foreign—he couldn’t help but reminisce about his days at the Water Moon Sect years ago.

After many years, returning to this old place, it was no longer the bustling Water Moon Sect of his memory.

And he was no longer the solitary boy who never fit in.

……

The house assigned by the Demon Cult was indeed large.

When Sang Zhe led everyone and the cart to the enormous estate, nearly spanning over a dozen acres, everyone’s jaws nearly dropped.

It was just too big.

If Sang Zhe’s previous courtyard was merely a small villa with a garden,

Then this new home was a bona fide noble estate.

From the grand entrance up to the main house, there were exquisitely designed corridors, with scenic gardens on both sides, pavilions, and towers.

The main house was magnificent and lavishly decorated—like an ostentatious nouveau riche, its high price tag obvious at a glance.

Even the tiles on the ground were high-end materials, warm to the touch; even walking on it barefoot didn’t feel cold but rather pleasantly warm.

“……Wow.”

Sang Zhe couldn’t help but exclaim softly, “The world of the rich is something ordinary folks can’t even imagine.”

He began to understand why those lavish mansion tours he had seen in his past life looked the way they did.

In his two lifetimes, he had rarely seen such a residence strictly belonging to the upper crust.

“This estate was formerly the home of an elder from the Water Moon Sect,” Yu Xia explained beside him, “During his tenure, he abused his power, gobbling up the sect’s assets, secretly buying land and mansions all in the names of his relatives.”

“It was only after the sect’s decline that this elder fled, and the matter came to light.”

Sang Zhe couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you know anything about such a big matter as the sect leader?”

Yu Xia’s expression darkened, her face showing hints of bitterness as she lowered her gaze.

She couldn’t refute that.

She indeed had not been a competent sect leader.

During her time as Master Yu Xia, she had been focused solely on the expansion of the sect and her own cultivation.

She was indifferent to whether disciples lived or died, let alone whether her elders were up to no good.

As long as these people were still useful to her and their actions didn’t cross the line into intolerable behavior, Yu Xia would turn a blind eye.

“Now, this estate has been seized by the branch company and awarded to Elder as part of his year-end bonus.”

Hearing this, Sang Zhe couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotions.

In his past life, he was just a slave to his mortgage, working tirelessly just to pay off his debts.

Not to mention such a grand estate; even a mere hundred square meter apartment would have felt like a lifetime sacrifice.

In this life, he finally got to experience the joys of being part of the landlord class.

“Aunt Yu, you take Little Ying and tidy up the house.”

“I still need to go with Yubbing and Sister Yan for a tour around the branch company.”

Yu Xia respectfully acknowledged.

Sang Zhe then followed Yan Rouwan and Tang Yubbing to what was once the Water Moon Sect’s grounds—now the Demon Cult’s Water Gate branch company.

The branch’s rebuilding largely followed the original structure of the Water Moon Sect, with no major changes.

Walking past the gate, Sang Zhe found himself lost in thought as he gazed at the familiar square, grand hall, cafeteria, and disciples’ dormitory.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Rouwan asked with concern.

“I just suddenly thought, wouldn’t Sister Yan feel that life in the sect was happier than now?”

Sang Zhe blinked and said, “After all, if it weren’t for me, maybe Sister Yan would still be in Water Moon Sect, the adored darling of everyone.”

Yan Rouwan pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

“But actually, I wasn’t happy at all in the Water Moon Sect.”

“Back then, though I was adored daily by a host of disciples, I felt like a walking corpse, not knowing what the meaning of my life was.”

“It felt like obeying the sect’s orders was everything; I was just born to cultivate and strengthen the sect.”

“I’ve never regretted coming to the Demon Cult with you.” She clasped her hands behind her back, her slender arms folding elegantly.

“This place is free; there aren’t so many rules, and everyone is honest and warm. I really enjoy being here.”

Especially—

To be able to see you every day.

No more convoluted excuses to get close to you, I can freely visit your home for meals.

Going to work together.

This is happier than any time I’ve spent in my first half of my life.

Those words remained unspoken, carefully hidden in her gaze.

Sang Zhe scratched his head: “Really?”

“That’s good. If Sister Yan is more comfortable in the Demon Cult than in the sect, I’d feel guilty.”

“So~”

Yan Rouwan suddenly flashed a sly smile: “Since you’ve brought me back, you must take responsibility, okay?”

Sang Zhe: “…? Responsibility for what?”

“I won’t tell you. Hehe.”

(Red bean paste is super confidential, no one can see it!!)

(I got dragged away due to some urgent matter and only returned home at eleven. I rushed to write this chapter.)

(I’ll definitely make up for the three chapters tomorrow, ugh ugh!)