Chapter 289: Expanding Ambitions

Su Ling'er's attachment to Yun Che might have seemed strange or even unfounded to outsiders. Even Su Ling'er herself didn't understand why, from the day she met him, his image filled her mind and heart, and waiting for his return became her sole desire. Su Haoran's words, for her, were undoubtedly the cruelest language in the world, as every word pierced her most beautiful and happy dreams like a vicious steel needle.

"You're talking nonsense... You're lying!" Su Ling'er shook her head vigorously, shouting angrily, "Brother Yun Che said he likes me! He said he'd marry me when I grow up! Brother Yun Che would never lie to me... You're making things up! You can't just say things like that!"

"Oh, really?" Su Haoran grinned. "If he truly liked you, why didn't he take you with him when he left? If he liked you so much, did he tell you where his home was, or what sect he came from?"

Su Ling'er's small face instantly turned pale. "That's because... that's because..."

"That's because he couldn't possibly like a little girl like you. How could he take you with him? He was probably afraid you might actually look for him, which is why he didn't tell you or anyone else where he was from. Besides his name, what else do you know about him? For all you know, even his name might have been made up on the spot." Su Haoran said with a chuckle, completely disregarding how cruel his words were to Su Ling'er.

"You're making things up... You're making things up! None of this is true! Brother Yun Che wouldn't lie to me; he'll definitely come back for me." Su Ling'er covered her ears with her hands, shaking her head forcefully, offering a weak defense as her eyes began to well up with tears.

Su Haoran shrugged. "Well, keep fantasizing then. It's a shame, my dear sister, the dignified princess of the Tai Su Sect. You'll have your pick of fine men from Jiangdong in the future, yet you insist on foolishly waiting for someone who was just playing with you. If word of this gets out, tsk tsk, our entire Tai Su Sect might become a laughingstock."

"You're lying... Everything you're saying is a lie! I hate you!!"

Su Ling'er covered her ears and ran far away. In the gentle breeze of the bamboo forest, her suppressed sobs faintly echoed.

"Why is Su Hengshan's girl here?" Not far behind Su Haoran, a middle-aged man in black slowly emerged. It was Su Hengyue!

"Don't mind her," Su Haoran said with an indifferent shrug, then turned. "I heard you have something important to discuss with me. What is it?"

"With your intelligence, nephew Haoran, surely you can guess?" Su Hengyue smiled faintly. "Of course, I'm here to help you get the sect's most precious treasure sooner and ascend to the position of sect master!"

The two looked at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter simultaneously.

It wasn't until night fell that Su Ling'er returned to the Tai Su Sect, her mind preoccupied the entire way. She didn't want to believe Su Haoran's words, but that nightmarish voice continued to echo in her mind, making it impossible for her to forget.

Will Brother Yun Che really not come back for me...?

No! Brother Yun Che would never lie to me... He was so good to me, and the way he looked at me was as warm as the moon in the bamboo forest.

But why didn't he take me with him that day? Why didn't he tell me where his home was...?

All I know... is his name... I don't know anything else...

What if he really has forgotten me, or doesn't like me anymore...? What should I do...? What should I do...?

Su Hengshan stepped out of the training room and immediately spotted Su Ling'er, whose steps were light and listless. He quickly went to meet her. "Ling'er, where have you been? Why are you back so late?"

Su Ling'er raised her tear-filled eyes, trying hard to hold back her tears, and asked pitifully, "Daddy, Brother Yun Che... will he really come back to marry me? Or was he just... just saying it casually? What if he's forgotten me?"

A few teardrops still clung to Su Ling'er's cheeks, showing she had just been crying sadly. Su Hengshan paused, then knelt down and smiled, "Ling'er, tell me based on your own feelings: do you think he likes you?"

Su Ling'er blinked softly and nodded. "Brother Yun Che... he definitely likes me."

"There you have it," Su Hengshan said, nodding with a smile. "When what others say conflicts with your own feelings, you should, of course, trust your own feelings. Not just you, Ling'er, but I also sensed that your Brother Yun Che likes you very, very much. When he looked at you, it was as if he was looking at his own life. Especially on the day he left, I could tell he desperately wanted to take you with him... It's just that you are too young. If he were to take you away or marry you now, it would certainly draw a lot of criticism. So, he asked you to wait for him until you grow up, and he will definitely come back to marry you... Even though he's not by your side now, you two already have an engagement, witnessed by so many people. That bond will absolutely not be severed."

Her father's words were like a gentle spring breeze, instantly sweeping away all of Su Ling'er's worries and anxieties. She nodded happily. "Daddy, I understand now! I knew it, Brother Yun Che definitely likes me... I'll grow up quickly and wait every day for him to come back and marry me."

"Heh heh," Su Hengshan chuckled somewhat helplessly. His precious ten-year-old daughter was originally a naive, carefree little sprite. Since meeting Yun Che, though she was too young for romance, she had spent her days immersed in longing, constantly thinking about getting married. As a father, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He casually asked, "Did someone say something to you that made you sad?"

Su Ling'er nodded gently. "Hmm... it was Brother. When I was in the bamboo forest, he came there too and told me that Brother Yun Che was lying to me, so... so..."

"You said... your brother went to the bamboo forest?" Su Hengshan's brow suddenly twitched.

"Yes! Daddy, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly become so serious?"

"Oh, nothing." Su Hengshan quickly smiled. He glanced at the Dragon Scale Armor under Ling'er's outer garment, then pulled up Su Ling'er's collar, earnestly admonishing her again, "Ling'er, remember what I told you. This dark gold clothing of yours must always be worn, and you must hide it well. Absolutely no one else should see it, not even your cousins you often play with. If by chance others find out about it, it could very likely be stolen. Do you understand?"

Su Ling'er subconsciously tightened her outer garment and nodded seriously. "I understand, Daddy. Brother Yun Che gave this to me; I will protect it carefully."

Su Ling'er finally put her worries aside and happily ran off, but Su Hengshan, on the other hand, became thoughtful.

It was only after night fully fell that Su Haoran quietly returned to the Tai Su Sect. As soon as he entered his room, he saw his father, Su Hengshan, standing there prominently. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Father, why are you here?"

"I have something to tell you..." Su Hengshan shot him a glance and said flatly, "Where were you this afternoon?"

"I practiced too long this afternoon and felt a bit tired, so I took a walk in the bamboo forest on the back mountain. I also ran into Ling'er. Is there something important you wanted to discuss, Father?" Su Haoran replied respectfully, his expression unchanged.

"Besides Ling'er, did you encounter anyone else in the bamboo forest?" Su Hengshan's face slightly darkened, and his voice became somewhat unfriendly.

Su Haoran looked up, a surprised expression on his face. "The bamboo forest on the back mountain is always secluded. I truly only met Ling'er and exchanged a few words with her. Besides that, I didn't see anyone else. Why do you ask, Father?"

After staring at him for a while, Su Hengshan looked away, sighed, and said faintly, "Haoran, it's not a bad thing for a mature man to have ambition; without it, one can never reach the top. Ruthlessness and cunning are often necessary qualities for a successful leader. However, these qualities are only suitable for use against enemies. If applied to your closest relatives, then that person cannot be called a human, but an animal. You must remember this."

Su Haoran's eyebrow twitched, and he immediately nodded vigorously, saying sincerely, "Haoran will remember Father's teachings."

Su Hengshan turned his face slightly and nodded faintly. "It's valuable for a person to have self-awareness. I am perfectly clear on whether I, as sect master, am competent. Many times, I am not decisive enough, not ruthless enough, not firm enough; otherwise, so many people wouldn't act so brazenly in front of me, the sect master. But everything I, Su Hengshan, have done in this life has been with a clear conscience. Though I may be ordinary, I have lived up to heaven and earth, to the sect, and to our ancestors... You are my only son, Su Hengshan's son, and I hope that in the future... you will not disappoint me."

"Yes... Your son will not forget your words, and I will certainly not do anything to disappoint you, Father." Su Haoran stated emphatically.

"Mm," Su Hengshan responded faintly, then said no more and slowly walked out.

Watching Su Hengshan leave, Su Haoran's expression gradually darkened, then he revealed a sinister smile. "Although I am the sect master's son, my position in terms of talent is too precarious, so I have to plan for myself in advance... Closest relatives? Heh, if I were as pedantic and indecisive as you, there would never be a place for me in the Tai Su Sect in the future. At that point, I'd truly be finished. As your son, how could I possibly disappoint you...? Heh heh heh heh... Heh heh heh heh..."