Chapter Thirty-Seven: Sorrow Follows Excessive Joy

The sky was utterly clear, not a single cloud in sight. Overhead, the blazing sun had barely risen, yet it already felt as if the earth itself was aflame. The wind that greeted the two figures flying through the air was like waves of heat, surging at them relentlessly, drenching them both in sweat within moments...

At this moment, Tianming felt none of the pleasure one might expect from holding a beauty in his arms; instead, he was consumed by torment.

Perhaps it was because his body was so large that most of the searing sunlight fell upon him, but there was not a trace of complaint on Tianming's face. He silently continued to shield her from the burning rays, flying steadily onward.

“Xiao Tian?” Wang Shangshang called softly.

Her small head, nestled against his chest, peeked out quietly. She gazed up sweetly at the resolute face above her.

“Hm?”

Sensing her gaze, Tianming lowered his head in wonder, looking at Wang Shangshang in his arms. But before he could speak, a cool, refreshing sensation spread across his face, so soothing it nearly made him cry out.

“Thank you.” Startled, Tianming found his breath quickening.

At that moment, Tianming nodded to himself. He had truly chosen his friends well—even in something as simple as wiping his sweat, she was so careful and attentive it nearly brought tears to his eyes. Why was she so kind to him? He wasn't sure he could bear it.

But friends ought to help each other. Just as Tianming was about to free a hand to wipe away Wang Shangshang’s sweat, she withdrew her head again...

“...Mm.”

With a faint blush, Wang Shangshang responded softly, as if she had guessed his intention. She shot him a mischievous glance before burying her rosy face back against him.

Seeing this, Tianming couldn’t help but shake his head. Such selfless spirit was truly something he should learn from.

“By the way, Xiao Tian, what is that on your head? Does it run on vital energy? Why have I never seen it before?” As if recalling something, Wang Shangshang suddenly looked up, curiosity shining in her eyes.

Her puzzled gaze lingered on the bamboo dragonfly atop his head. She simply couldn’t understand how such a small contraption could let the two of them fly. As the granddaughter of the Third Elder, she was born with a silver spoon, yet she had never seen such a strange artifact.

A flurry of questions left Tianming utterly dumbfounded.

“...It’s a bamboo dragonfly.”

After a moment’s thought, and under Wang Shangshang’s hopeful gaze, Tianming reluctantly spoke the words. As for how the bamboo dragonfly actually flew—he had no idea himself. It defied all logic, as if mocking the very laws of nature.

Wang Shangshang’s lips twitched faintly, her eyes dimming for a moment. But then, as if something occurred to her, she broke into a sly smile.

“You’re teasing me—I’ll tell my grandfather and have him teach you a lesson!” Her pretty eyes sparkled with mock tears, her lips pouting as if she might burst into tears any second.

Uh-oh!

Hearing this, Tianming was taken aback. Truly, a woman's heart is like the ocean—impossible to fathom.

“When did I ever bully you? Sigh... All right, I really didn’t mean it before. Besides, the Third Elder is very busy. Let’s not trouble him with such trivial matters, all right, Miss Wang?” Frowning slightly, Tianming seemed to recall something and spoke with a hint of guilt.

He thought Wang Shangshang was angry because of his earlier indiscretions, so he pleaded, his voice trembling. If the Third Elder found out how he had treated his granddaughter, would he have any hope of survival?

“Hmph, you took advantage of me—do you think I’ll just let that go?” Wang Shangshang’s delicate lips pressed together tightly, her expression a blend of amusement and reproach.

At first, she had only been curious about the bamboo dragonfly, but now she felt like teasing him in return. He had embarrassed her just moments before—if the other disciples found out, how could she ever hold her head high in the sect again?

“Wang Shangshang, do you want the truth or a lie?” Tianming shook his head, speaking seriously.

After some thought, he decided to be candid. Although what had just happened was difficult for both of them to discuss, avoidance wasn’t the behavior of a true strong person, nor was it a way to solve problems.

“No, I don’t want to hear anything!” Her small head shook, sending a cascade of black hair swirling as she hastily interrupted.

At this moment, it seemed as if Wang Shangshang realized something, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

She didn’t know what choice she should make. Perhaps she had some affection for this man, but never having experienced any of this before, her heart pounded wildly, her mind a blur. Whether truth or falsehood, she couldn’t accept either.

“...I was born an ordinary person, while you are the esteemed granddaughter of the Third Elder. With such a difference in status, rumors would inevitably follow us if this continued; that would be bad for both of us. It’s better to be honest—it's the best outcome for everyone... Of course, if you can trust me... our names would surely echo through history.”

A long silence followed.

Exhaling deeply, Tianming looked up at the thick layers of atmosphere above, catching his breath after that torrent of words.

“Shangshang? Wang Shangshang?”

Lowering his head to call her name, Tianming found her seemingly asleep, a faint smile on her lips. He couldn’t tell if she was truly asleep or just pretending. He wondered if she had heard his confession.

“Sigh.”

With a soft sigh, Tianming held Wang Shangshang tightly, carefully raising a hand to gently smooth her already disheveled hair, his movements so cautious he feared he might wake her.

“Whether you heard me or not, I hope you understand my heart,” he murmured. Shaking his head, he continued to fly forward.

A gentle breeze swept past as Tianming’s words faded into the air.

Had Tianming looked down just then, he would have seen that the small face buried against his chest was already streaked with tears...

Sweat poured from Tianming, soaking him as if he’d just taken a hot bath. Though a slight breeze stirred, the sunlight only grew fiercer, pressing down so ruthlessly that even his vital energy could barely shield him.

At that moment, Tianming desperately wanted to find a place to land.

After all, he had made his feelings clear. Whether Wang Shangshang had truly listened or not, he had spoken from necessity. Now that the immediate crisis was over, he had no intention of taking further advantage by continuing to hold her.

Besides, staying in such an environment was hardly pleasant for either of them—Tianming realized the sunlight here seemed ten thousand times stronger than back on Terra, perhaps because this planet was so much closer to its sun.

The Elders’ Pavilion?

As Tianming looked around for a place to land, he suddenly caught sight of a faintly visible pavilion in the distance, and his heart leapt with joy.

He couldn’t help but marvel at the vastness of the sect—comparable, perhaps, to the greatest countries of his homeworld.

Bathed in blazing light, the pavilion shimmered with golden radiance. At its most brilliant point, a golden plaque hung squarely in the center, drawing every eye. The pavilion’s height seemed to reach halfway into the sky, leaving Tianming speechless in awe.

From his vantage point, he could see the topmost level clearly: dense, almost tangible vital energy from heaven and earth swirled endlessly around it, shrouding it in a thick, impenetrable haze.

Looking down, he saw countless tiny white figures crisscrossing the roads below, coming and going before the pavilion, each one vying for their place in the world.

Just as Tianming was about to wake Wang Shangshang in his excitement, his right eye began to twitch...

Before he could react, the world around him spun as if caught in a stream of swirling light.

“...This is bad!”

Feeling himself begin to fall, Tianming glanced up at the bamboo dragonfly on his head, realizing in an instant that things were dire.

Sure enough, as soon as the words left his lips, the bamboo dragonfly vanished completely...

His whole body flipped under the sudden pull of gravity. As the ground rushed up beneath him, Tianming’s face turned pale. But remembering that Wang Shangshang was still in his arms, he didn’t hesitate—tightening his grip around her tender body, he twisted himself underneath to shield her from the fall.