Chapter Seventy-Nine: Congratulation, You’ve Dropped a Tier
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.
Although the deadline was only seven days, Sang Zhe didn’t really go out of his way to create any events to boost affection levels. He simply played the role of a father and led an ordinary life.
Shi Qingyan seemed oblivious to the unusualness of the situation. For these days, she acted like a well-behaved little girl, quietly waiting at home for Sang Zhe’s early comings and late goings. She even occasionally helped Zhang Xiaoying with grocery shopping in town.
As the end of the seven days approached, Nian Nian even popped out to remind Sang Zhe about the time.
“There’s not much time left! Shi Qingyan’s affection progress hasn’t changed!”
“What’s the big deal?” Sang Zhe calmly shook his head, “Didn’t I say it from the start? If I fail, I fail.”
“After all, it seems like it’s not just Shi Qingyan who’s benefited.”
First was Si Jingzhu. Si Jingzhu really enjoyed playing with Shi Qingyan. While Sang Zhe was at work, Si Jingzhu usually dragged Shi Qingyan around the yard, playing all sorts of games. Sometimes they even ran around the streets with a couple of cats, bouncing like playful rabbits.
She was enjoying her days with a family, different from her past when she was imprisoned in the Water Moon Sect as the Original Immortal. From the moment she gained awareness, she was locked up by Master Yu Xia, just like Shi Qingyan, a child lacking the concept of family.
This time spent together was truly precious for her.
Next was Zhang Xiaoying. Zhang Xiaoying had started smiling more during this time. When they were alone, she would occasionally show a gentle and happy expression, like a newlywed wife.
Normally, she maintained a neutral expression, indifferent to everything around her. But since she began to see Shi Qingyan as a daughter, she seemed a bit more cheerful lately. She put extra effort into preparing meals and even scolded Si Jingzhu for dragging Shi Qingyan around.
And when she braided Shi Qingyan’s hair, a gentle yet wistful expression sometimes crossed her face. Seeing her daydreaming about Shi Qingyan made Sang Zhe feel a bit emotional.
…She must really want a child. A real, her own child.
Looks like he had quite the daunting task ahead.
Lastly, he included himself in the mix.
To be honest, having a well-behaved, adorable, lively daughter was something only a man could truly appreciate.
“All in all, this five thousand points weren’t spent in vain.” Sang Zhe lazily stretched, “If it fails in the end, then so be it—let Senior Sister Shi be free.”
“As long as this experience can make her change her approach to life a bit, that’ll count as a success.”
“I got to enjoy being a dad for a while; we’ve done our best.”
Seeing Sang Zhe say this, Nian Nian quietly disappeared. Sometimes, she really didn’t understand her host.
One moment he was stingy, and the next, he was generous. Occasionally, she felt a pang of regret over spending points to solidify herself just to knock him around.
Five thousand points? He’d say whatever, and move on.
Humans were truly strange beings.
——
——
In stark contrast to the leisurely and mundane life at Shi Qingyan’s side, things were progressing much faster than Sang Zhe expected over at Master Yu Xia’s place.
On the fifth day after taking the Dissolution Pill, when Sang Zhe once again arrived at Master Yu Xia’s cell, he opened the door to find her, who had been sitting dazed on the floor, jolted as if shocked by electricity.
“Y-You! Why are you back again…”
“Ahem, what do you mean, back again? What else would I do if I’m not working?”
Sang Zhe took out another Dissolution Pill as he approached her. Master Yu Xia’s eyes noticeably narrowed at the sight of the pill, and her previously calm and dignified demeanor was replaced by evident panic and anxiety.
“You’re going to feed me that pill again?”
“What else?”
Sang Zhe sighed with a look of pity, “There’s no helping it; I’m just a working man. Whether you take the pill or not isn’t up to me.”
“Master, time for your medicine.”
Watching Sang Zhe cheerfully approach, Master Yu Xia instinctively recoiled a bit, yet still found herself with her chin pinched.
“D-Don’t come any closer; no—mmph!”
No matter how hard she struggled, Sang Zhe still managed to feed her the pill.
Though she initially wanted to spit it out, even making an effort to induce vomiting, the Dissolution Pill melted in her mouth almost instantly, and within moments, she could hear the sound of her cultivation dissipating.
“Y-You bastard…”
Master Yu Xia bit her lip hard. Though her dantian was locked, she could still feel everything inside her clearly. In what used to be an ocean of pure and rich spiritual energy, it now started to boil and evaporate, dissipating bit by bit.
While the speed wasn’t quick, over four or five days, a visible portion had already evaporated, leaving a small patch of dryness in her dantian.
She clearly felt her cultivation had dropped below the critical line, officially falling from the Crossing Tribulation Stage back to the peak of the Integration Stage.
“Oh dear, you’ve dropped a tier.”
Sang Zhe suddenly clicked his tongue in pity, “You worked so hard to reach the Crossing Tribulation Stage, and now you’re right back where you started.”
“Sigh. I get it; it’s like when I got demoted from diamond in the rank match after going through my own ninth rebirth. Must be a tough pill for Master Yu Xia to swallow, huh?”
Master Yu Xia stared blankly for a moment.
Finally, she whipped her head around and glared fiercely at Sang Zhe: “I will definitely kill you… in the most painful way possible!”
Sang Zhe totally understood the rage in her eyes.
He thought the same way when watching his teammates who played lazily, ending up 0-9 in ranked matches. He wanted nothing more than to take out his frustration on them.
To invest so much effort and end up failing, all because of people like that? Who wouldn’t be furious?
“Don’t be hasty,” Sang Zhe smiled and said, “This is just a big tier drop.”
“In a month, you’ll personally experience the feeling of dropping from a king to black iron.”
“At that time, I’ll patiently listen to your thoughts.”
Saying this, he ignored Master Yu Xia’s venomous cursing behind him and cheerfully strolled out the door.
Master Yu Xia continued to curse until he left the room, and then fumed at the air, angrily roaring for quite a while.
Finally, she slumped down on the ground, feeling a bit lost.
…Is this just the beginning?
Could it be that I will lose all my cultivation bit by bit?
And even… become a mortal?
This thought surfaced in Master Yu Xia’s mind for the first time, and as soon as it did, she felt an overwhelming terror.
No… that can’t happen.
My cultivation, my talent, everything I have now was earned through tireless effort.
So many years of focused cultivation and sleepless nights.
I cannot lose it all.
I really can’t… as she bit her lip deep, she gently trembled on the ground.
(Third update at twelve o’clock.)
(Don’t ask me why it’s so late; the editor required it. This should be a regular update time from now on, around twelve o’clock for three updates.)
(And if anyone asks for my group number, I’ll conveniently mention it here: 635188391. If you have questions, feel free to join the group and ask me. I’ll announce if anything comes up.)
