Out of fear of death, Invest Everything into Health

He once again realized just how special his status was in Luo Qingyao’s heart.

Fan Wubing smiled and said,

"Sorry, I almost disappointed you."

He bucked up and said,

"Although you didn’t give me any substantial advice, after listening to you, I feel much better. As expected of you, little junior sister."

"Annoying!" Luo Qingyao pouted, "Isn’t that saying I’m dumb and couldn’t be of any help? Even if it’s true... couldn’t you just lie to me?"

Fan Wubing chuckled softly.

Luo Qingyao felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, got up reluctantly, and left,

"I came to comfort senior brother, only to be treated like this by him, how awful!"

She stormed out, but then turned back, her face blossoming with a smile, making a heart shape with her hands, she cheerfully said,

"I’ll always support you, senior brother!"

Fan Wubing smiled and nodded.

He looked up at the sun in the sky and told himself in his heart,

"I must take a step forward."

...

In April, Changning City was in full bloom. The aromatic scent wafted through the streets and alleys.

Fan Wubing and An An, after more than a year, once again returned to the quiet and peaceful manor.

After breaking the "curse of thirteen," An An began to grow up.

Now, she had grown taller than before, her body had developed a lot, and her chest had become rounded. Her delicate little face was beginning to show the beauty of her bone structure.

She no longer had the same close relationship with Fan Wubing, as her physical and mental growth, like every daughter and sister growing up, gradually distanced her from father and brother.

An An also started to throw tantrums and do some rebellious things.

This time coming back, she was very reluctant.

Arriving at the doorstep, she stubbornly stood outside, unwilling to enter.

Fan Wubing asked,

"What’s wrong with you? Isn’t this place supposed to be like home to you?"

An An cradled her dangling left hand with her right hand, slightly twisting her head,

"Anyway, every time you come back, your eyes are only on her, you won’t even look at me."

"What?" Fan Wubing was a bit at a loss, not quite understanding.

An An said, "Elsewhere, you’ll care about me, but here, all you think about are things related to her."

Fan Wubing rubbed his forehead, "What are you thinking about? Isn’t Jiang Sha your idol? Why would you be jealous of your idol? You were so close to her before, and when you saw her close to me, you’d be jealous of me instead."

An An said softly, "It’s not that I dislike her. It’s just... that I feel inadequate next to her."

"Then why aren’t you jealous of Qingyao or Gu Lan?"

"They won’t take you away, but she will!" An An said loudly.

"What kind of talk is that."

"That’s just how I feel!"

"Did Zhuge Hong lead you astray or something?"

An An tugged at Fan Wubing, "Anyway, don’t go inside, okay."

Fan Wubing said helplessly, "An An, you’ve been like this lately, opposing me everywhere. Is it to attract my attention, or what? If it’s the former, I take you everywhere, how can I pay more attention to you?"

"Is that how you see me?" An An asked sadly.

"No..."

An An shook off Fan Wubing’s hand, "I don’t care about you anymore! If you want to see her, go ahead! I won’t go!"

With that, she ran off on her own.

"An An!" Fan Wubing didn’t chase after her, sighing, "Ah, the rebellious phase..."

He walked into the manor.

...

"In any case, don’t worry about her, she’s just at the age for throwing tantrums."

Fan Wubing said to Jiang Sha.

Jiang Sha laughed, "An An is actually a smart and sensitive child. She probably really noticed something. Think carefully, did you do anything to upset her?"

Fan Wubing shook his head, "No. I’ve been as good to her as I possibly can, if she’s still dissatisfied, then I have no choice."

"I see." Jiang Sha casually arranged her hair, "So, are you back this time to fulfill the twenty-year promise?"

Fan Wubing felt a little guilty,

"Sorry, I may not be able to do that."

"It’s alright. I’m happy if you occasionally come here and sit for a while." Jiang Sha asked, "Then what’s this visit about?"

Fan Wubing looked directly at Jiang Sha,

"You did all this to defy the Heavenly Dao, didn’t you!"

Jiang Sha didn’t immediately answer the question. She turned away, slowly speaking,

"There are many people doing such things around the world. Since the collapse of the Immortal Path, there’s never been a shortage of heroes and extraordinary wise men with schemes spanning tens of thousands of years. Among them are the Dao Ancestor, Confucian Ancestor, Buddha, Li Yuan that you know, your master... and I am merely a part of it. Everyone is looking for ways to confront and defy the Heavenly Dao. Cross the other side of the starry sky, open Heaven’s Gate, seek the Destiny Dao, and rebuild the Path to Immortality... Various methods have been attempted."

"Did they all fail?"

"Yes." Jiang Sha smiled, "But we didn’t gain nothing. The three great pioneers smashed a hole in the fortress wall of the Heavenly Dao with their lives, allowing people to learn the truth; however faint, there was, after all, a way. But... would the Heavenly Dao just sit back and watch such a thing happen?"

"So, the punishment from the Heavenly Dao is?"

Jiang Sha said, "When one person errs, the whole world must bear the consequences. This is the approach of the Heavenly Dao. The three ancestors tried to rebuild the Path to Immortality, so the Heavenly Dao sent the Heaven Man War, making the whole world spend five thousand years atoning. Anashiduo Buddha passed away, the master reincarnated."

"Heaven Man War... was created by Heavenly Dao?"

Jiang Sha smiled beautifully, "Otherwise? Those initially wanting to conquer the universe and stars have long been conquered. Ten thousand years ago, the Dao Ancestor left the Mortal World, wanting to gather the will of the world, and with their obsession with heaven and earth, reopen the Immortal Path. Thus, the Heavenly Dao used its obsession with heaven and earth to create the True Demon, presenting an insoluble threat to the world.

"Eight thousand years ago, the Jade Ancestor confronted the Heavenly Dao with literature, though intentionally restrained, it still inevitably led to scholars being unable to appreciate the true essence of literature, with many classics lost to the world. It took Wenxin Heaven over a thousand years to reconstruct these works.

"Seven thousand years ago, Li Yuan’s Sword Opening Celestial Gate, and the cost was a reduction in the fortune of all sword cultivators by three percent. So the sword cultivators you see now are weakened. In earlier years, Sword Dao was the undisputed foremost Dao.

"Everyone has come to realize that the cost of an individual’s rebellion against fate is inevitably borne collectively by many innocents. Gradually, no one attempts such things anymore. Because the more that is done, the more errors there are."

Fan Wubing asked, "What about you? Why do you continue to strive?"

Jiang Sha gave a charming smile,

"Because I found a way for a single person to bear the consequences."

Fan Wubing’s heart trembled. He suddenly recalled his previous conversation with Li Yuan about Jiang Sha, knowing she was a demon cultivator, yet Li Yuan held her in such high regard.

Fan Wubing stared blankly at her, and after returning to his senses he said,

"I really can’t figure out what kind of person you are."

"No need to understand." Even now, Jiang Sha was still accommodating him.

Fan Wubing asked,

"Then what do you intend to do this time? In what way do you plan to confront the Heavenly Dao."

Jiang Sha shook her head,

"This time it’s not me; I don’t have the capacity anymore. It’s you. From the moment I met you, I knew it had to be you."

"What exactly?"

Jiang Sha appeared slightly worried, "Before that, I want to know if you are truly ready." Her eyes flickered with an uneasy color, "I only have this one chance, so... I want to do my best. If you’re not prepared, I won’t tell you no matter what."

Fan Wubing laughed,

"I’ve had this awareness for a long time."

Jiang Sha asked nervously,

"Truly?"

"That doesn’t seem like you."

Jiang Sha said helplessly, "I’m afraid you’ll set a trap for me like before."

"Do you distrust me that much?"

"I trust you!" Jiang Sha’s tone became more emphatic.

Fan Wubing was taken aback. He hadn’t seen Jiang Sha like this before.

She then said quietly, "I just don’t want to fail a second time."

At this moment, she truly seemed like a young girl, lacking that feeling of reassurance and credibility.

Fan Wubing said seriously,

"Trust me, I am prepared."

"I see." Jiang Sha laughed and, taking Fan Wubing’s hand, said, "Then let’s move that mountain together."

Fan Wubing looked at her smiling face, feeling the whirlwind-like attraction between them, not knowing if it was nervousness or anticipation, his heart beat rapidly.

But indeed, as An An had said, at this moment, he only had eyes for this person.