Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!-Chapter 657: Protecting Your Path for You
For Wuxian, it might have been too soon, but that's how eras are—no one will wait for your growth. He needed tempering. He needed to walk a path that belonged to himself. He wanted to become a true Demon Emperor, achieving great deeds unparalleled in the world, awe-inspiring the Northern Border.
After sending Wuxian away, Guang Xiaoyu slowly withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, looked at her senior brother, and said teasingly, "Senior Brother, did you guess I was in danger and come to save me?"
Theoretically, that could be understood, she mused, her smile beaming.
If the White Emperor were here and saw her like this, he would certainly not believe his eyes. The mighty Demon Emperor, acting like such a demure woman?
"You guess!" Chen Pingping said with a smile.
"That's my guess," she replied, leaning in closer.
Damn it! Senior Brother actually cares about me so much. AAAAAH! In an instant, her heart was in turmoil, her cheeks flushed red. She tilted her head and began recounting the events of the Northern Border, from the end of the Dayan battlefield until now, including the terrible slaughters and her own speculations.
It took a good seven to eight minutes.
Guang Xiaoyu let out a turbid breath and said softly, "Cultivating Demon is so hard!" She felt helpless. But she had to walk this path, just like Wuxian's path to becoming a Demon Emperor. There was no choice. Because the path of demon cultivators has its limits; even if she practiced the Nine Revolutions Demon God Skill to its peak, she would inevitably become a puppet of those Demon Gods. She was very clear about this. Therefore, she needed to Cultivate Demon, to carve out a sliver of hope for herself and stride towards the legendary Supreme Path. Only then could she stand shoulder to shoulder with her senior brother.
"How hard is it?" Chen Pingping asked, turning around. He glanced at Jiang Ni'er, then slowly walked further away with Xiaoyu.
Jiang Ni'er understood tacitly, stepping forward to block Zhang Ziyu and the others who wanted to follow. "Senior Brother is having a private conversation with Senior Sister," she said.
Zhang Ziyu's eyes darted around. "Is she really the Demon Emperor?" he asked. She didn't seem like it. An Emperor Realm powerhouse, a lofty existence, was behaving like such a demure woman in front of Chen Pingping, completely lacking the demeanor of a Great Emperor. It was too unbelievable.
Jiang Ni'er chuckled. "You guess!"
"..."
Zhang Ziyu then asked, "What's your senior brother's background?" Just moments ago, a group of the Northern Border Demon Race had attacked, and he'd thought it was all over for them. But then... they had actually come to "pay respects." What was more terrifying was that while they verbally paid respects to both Demon Emperors, they ignored their words. Instead, they obeyed Chen Pingping. Zhang Ziyu had cultivated for many years and had never seen anything so outrageous. Who exactly is this Chen Pingping? The entire Demon Race of the Northern Border listens to him? Even the Demon Emperor is completely obedient, while a Demon Emperor can't even get a word in.
Jiang Ni'er did not explain, merely smiling without a word, her gaze fixed on the two figures in the distance.
...
"What did the Sword Saint tell you?" Chen Pingping asked.
"About Cultivating Demon," Guang Xiaoyu replied softly.
"How does one do it?"
"Sever the demon in one's heart..." She suddenly raised her head, noticing something that made her very happy: no one was following them. Before them lay vast lands and mountain ranges, lush and brimming with vitality. Under the blue sky and white clouds, only she and her senior brother were strolling. The two were very close; the sway of their walking caused their clothes to brush against each other. Her heart fluttered, and the hand near Chen Pingping's suddenly felt awkward, unsure of what to do.
This is an opportunity! she thought. Unfortunately, she didn't dare... The mighty Demon Emperor, usually fearless in heaven and on earth, yet at this moment, she lacked her usual courage and nonchalance. Instead, she seemed somewhat reserved, nervous, and anxious, yet also excited and full of anticipation.
So close, so close. Should I take his hand or not? What if Senior Brother refuses? Wouldn't that be terribly embarrassing? But what if Senior Brother doesn't refuse? Goodness, Xiaoyu, what on earth are you thinking? It's over; you're finished. You're the Demon Emperor, for heaven's sake! Why are you being so cowardly?
In the vast wilderness, countless flowers bloomed, their fragrance filling the air, as if constantly teasing something. The young woman's thoughts grew increasingly chaotic. Her small face flushed crimson, like a ripe red apple, radiating shyness and bashfulness. At this moment, she resembled not the lofty Demon Emperor, but rather a girl from next door, strolling through the countryside with her beloved. As for what her senior brother had said, she hadn't heard a single word.
Chen Pingping suddenly stopped, staring intently at her. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Guang Xiaoyu: "..."
Her expression was resentful as she exhaled another turbid breath. Why are you so dense? One moment she was scolding herself for her silly thoughts, and the next she was blaming Chen Pingping for his lack of emotional intelligence. With how I'm acting, isn't it obvious? Having been reborn and entered the Saint Realm, how could the Demon Emperor possibly feel unwell? But, if Senior Brother had even a shred of emotional intelligence, who knows which little vixen would have already spirited him away. As she pondered, she dismissed the thought.
She pursed her lips, casting a sidelong glance, a smile she couldn't suppress playing on them.
Chen Pingping was taken aback. "Why are you laughing?"
"Senior Brother, has anyone ever told you you're a bit dense?" Guang Xiaoyu asked, her eyes twinkling.
"No!" he replied honestly. "Though, some people do say that Little Junior Sister is a bit slow."
"She's just naive."
"Then I can't be dense. I'm not capable of something like that." Chen Pingping rolled his eyes. "Did you hear what I just said?"
"Oh...?" Guang Xiaoyu felt somewhat embarrassed. "What did you say?"
She really hadn't listened.
Chen Pingping said helplessly, "If Cultivating Demon is too difficult, then don't. Once I become invincible, I'll help you slay the great demon in your heart and be your Protector."
SNIFFLE! I'm so moved! That wretched Senior Brother, he knows how to say such sweet things, yet so often he pretends to be dumb. So, I really am the one he loves most deeply in his heart. Senior Brother actually wants to be my Protector and help me slay the great demon in my heart!
She looked at Chen Pingping, her expression touched. "Really?"
Chen Pingping nodded. "Yes. No matter how difficult the path you walk, as long as I am here, I will be your Protector. I will help you slay the great demon in your heart."
"Senior Brother?"
"Hmm?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Have you said these words to any other girl?" she asked.
He thought for a moment. "No!"
"Then... do you know what 'Protector' implies?" Guang Xiaoyu asked again.
"Of course. It means to protect you as you grow."
"There's another meaning to it."
Chen Pingping was baffled. Protector? Isn't it just to protect you as you grow? What else could there be?
Seeing his confused expression, Guang Xiaoyu suddenly felt an indescribable sense of loss deep within her. He really doesn't know, this clueless Senior Brother of mine. In the world of cultivation, there are generally two kinds of Protectors. The first is protection by an elder. The second is protection by a Tao Companion. Chen Pingping couldn't possibly be her elder; at best, he was her senior brother. So that only left the second kind. She had thought Chen Pingping knew. Her heart had even skipped a beat with anticipation. To be her Protector... Could it be that Senior Brother was implying something? But it turned out...
Guang Xiaoyu said resentfully, "It's a good thing you haven't said that to anyone else. Hmph!"
Chen Pingping: "..."
