Chapter 21: Hua, Knowing the Future, Still Chooses to Take Them as Disciples

"In the future I saw, you would die at the hands of your disciples, and Lin Zhaoyu would be your first disciple. It seems this is coming true now."

"...Could it be a mistake? Chaoyu doesn't seem like that kind of person."

After a moment of hesitation, Hua spoke with disbelief.

"Never mind, I'll tell you how things originally unfolded. It was like this..."

It took about ten minutes for Chang Yuan to explain the entire sequence of events to Hua.

After hearing this, Hua fell into silence.

If history truly unfolded as Chang Yuan described, then she might indeed have become that deranged version of herself.

Loneliness is humanity's greatest fear.

Back then, her friends were dead, her comrades gone, and her mind was burdened with ideological imprints.

Just thinking about it could drive anyone to madness.

"But they haven't done anything wrong yet, have they?"

After a long silence, Hua finally shook her head lightly.

Since these were events that hadn't happened yet, she couldn't hold them accountable.

She couldn't blame her disciples for things that hadn't occurred.

"...I knew you'd say that. Anyway, you still have everyone here now, so those things probably won't happen again. It's up to you to decide."

Hearing this unsurprising answer, Chang Yuan shook his head slightly and took a sip of tea.

Since it was Hua's decision, they had no right to interfere. After all, it was Hua who would suffer, and only she had the right to decide how to handle it.

"But as a friend, if any of them truly harbor such thoughts, I'll help you cut them off. After all, you might hesitate due to emotions, but I won't."

Looking at Hua's stubbornness, whether as the Captain in his past life or as a comrade in this one, Chang Yuan couldn't truly stand by and do nothing.

However, as long as those seven disciples showed no signs of betrayal, he would remain uninvolved.

But if even one of them showed the slightest hint of treachery, and Hua couldn't make the decision, then he would step in.

Killing wasn't something he hadn't done before.

"..."

Hua neither agreed nor refused.

She knew that when the time came, she would indeed be indecisive.

"Master, who are they?"

Standing at the doorway, Lin Zhaoyu looked at Chang Yuan and Elysia with curiosity.

"...They're my friends. You can call them... Senior Chang Yuan and Senior Elysia."

"No, no, that makes me sound old. Call me Sister Elysia."

"...Whatever."

Hearing Elysia's typical response, Hua didn't bother correcting her.

Even if she did, Elysia wouldn't change her behavior anyway.

"Um, Senior Chang Yuan, and Sister Elysia."

Although it felt a bit awkward, Lin Zhaoyu greeted them as instructed.

Chang Yuan simply nodded, while Elysia went over and pinched Lin Zhaoyu's cheeks.

Due to the difference in seniority, Lin Zhaoyu didn't dare resist and could only look to her master for help.

"Elysia, that's enough. If you keep going, Chaoyu will cry."

Hua, feeling protective of her disciple, quickly stopped Elysia from tormenting her.

Even if such things happened in the future, they hadn't happened yet, right?

And this time, with Nuwa, Fuxi, and other comrades by her side, she believed her disciples wouldn't repeat those actions.

"Fine, fine. So stingy. It's just pinching your disciple's cheeks. Can't take a joke?"

Reluctantly withdrawing her hand, Elysia pouted as if she were jealous.

"If you like pinching so much, go pinch your Chang Yuan."

"That's true. Yuan won't resist, hehe~."

Elysia ran behind Chang Yuan and pinched his cheeks, making funny faces.

Chang Yuan didn't resist at all, letting her do as she pleased.

"By the way, Hua, do you have enough rooms here?"

"...Yes. Are you planning to stay long?"

Hearing Chang Yuan's question, Hua already had an idea of their intentions.

"Of course. At least until I'm sure you're safe, then Elysia and I will return."

"...Chaoyu, take them to find a room."

"Understood, Master. Please follow me."

Nodding, Lin Zhaoyu led the two to a room.

The fact that they shared a room made Lin Zhaoyu realize the nature of their relationship.

Though she was young, she understood quite a bit.

Nuwa and Fuxi had taught her many things.

"Master's friends are all married. What about Master's partner?"

Time passed, and a few years later, Lin Zhaoyu came of age. Hua also brought back a red-haired girl from the foot of the mountain.

Chang Yuan could tell that this girl's feelings toward Hua were complex.

There was both killing intent and respect in her eyes.

Unsurprisingly, this girl was Su Mei.

It made Chang Yuan marvel at the strangeness of fate.

"Hua, you still made the decision."

"...I believe in them."

Hearing Chang Yuan's voice, Hua paused, then replied calmly.

Chang Yuan shook his head.

Unlike Hua, who was indecisive and emotional, he knew that some people were born ungrateful.

No matter how well you treated them, they would stab you in the back when you were in trouble.

Su Mei and Ma Yanqing were such people.

The former was saved but chose to kill her savior due to her mother's death.

The latter was a blatant follower, easily manipulated by Su Mei to kill his own master.

Of course, Su Mei was the most despicable.

She was the mastermind behind the seven disciples' betrayal. Without her instigation, it might never have happened.

"Chaoyu, from now on, she's your second junior sister. Take good care of her."

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zhaoyu nodded and then looked at her future junior sister.

She couldn't shake the feeling that while she was observing Su Mei, Su Mei was also observing her.

This junior sister seemed far more cunning than her age suggested.

"Senior Sister Chaoyu, you must be very strong, right?"

Hearing that Lin Zhaoyu would be guiding her, Su Mei immediately tried to get close.

Lin Zhaoyu didn't notice anything amiss, thinking the child was just naturally friendly.

After all, how much malice could such a young child have?

Lin Zhaoyu didn't believe a child could harbor such ill intentions.