Chapter 2249: Chapter 2253: Hu Yiqiu’s Tough Stance
"Jiang Chen is my disciple, not a soldier of your Canglan Army!"
"He is a free man, without obligation to train your elite. I know that after he goes with you to Canglan City, he will certainly acquire considerable cultivation resources, and you can train him with all your heart. However, all this comes at the cost of his freedom!"
Hu Yiqiu spoke in a deep voice, "You shouldn’t always assume that what you think is right is indeed right. You want what’s best for him, but is this so-called good what he truly needs?"
"If I don’t stop you, would you just send someone to take him away when you go back?"
Princess Chang was taken aback by his words, nodded gently, "Yes, of course, I would fetch him. He has such abilities, if he can help train the soldiers, the strength of my Canglan Army would surely improve significantly. Also, he can receive excellent cultivation resources and guidance from Saints; isn’t this a win-win situation?"
Hu Yiqiu’s face turned cold, he gave Princess Chang a deep look and said blandly, "Do you know why I chose Cui’er over you back then, and even refused the idea of you willingly following me with Cui’er?"
Princess Chang’s heart trembled harshly.
Years ago, she, Hu Yiqiu, and Xu Cui’er were three rising stars of Changling Main Court. At that time, they were the strongest three among all the academy’s disciples, even the mysterious dean said all three had the potential for becoming Saints.
Princess Chang, whether in birth or strength, appearance, or demeanor, surpassed Xu Cui’er by a good margin. Both fell for Hu Yiqiu, but in the end, Hu Yiqiu chose Xu Cui’er and rejected Princess Chang’s offer to follow him.
This was the greatest pain in the heart of Princess Chang, and the thing she most didn’t understand, almost becoming her Heart Demon.
This time, she came out to steady her mind, hoping to remove this thorn from her heart, yet she couldn’t forget Hu Yiqiu and looked for a chance to ask the reason he didn’t choose her back then, unexpectedly, Hu Yiqiu himself brought it up.
"Speak!"
Biting her lip, Princess Chang forcibly calmed herself and stared straight at Hu Yiqiu.
Both were emotionally agitated, their minds unsettled, not noticing that the six young cultivators around them had stopped and were all looking at the two of them.
Old Tan glanced at Jiang Chen and the others but did not speak to stop them. He knew this was a heart disease for Princess Chang, if it wasn’t resolved this time, Hu Yiqiu might not bring it up again, and when Princess Chang breaks through to become a Saint, she might birth a Heart Demon.
Heart Demon, always the thing cultivators most dread encountering; unable to remove it would cost one’s life!
"I rejected you because of your self-centeredness."
Hu Yiqiu took a deep breath, a look of reminiscence appearing in his eyes, "Back then, indeed you were better than Cui’er, and I first liked you, not Cui’er."
Princess Chang’s body shook, disbelief coloring her eyes.
"Yet, when I wanted to get close to you, I found you had an inherent need to control."
Hu Yiqiu frowned lightly, eyes showing a slight solemnity, "You never care about others’ feelings when doing things, only follow your own ideas, as if what you believe is right, everyone else must also believe is right!"
"I know this is because your father is the Canglan Great Emperor, you grew up in Canglan City, having whatever you want at the slightest wish. Your one word, and no one dares to disagree. However, using such a character with friends and people around you only distances them from you, as no one is willing to become your puppet at your whim!"
Hu Yiqiu glanced at Jiang Chen and said lightly, "Young Jiang’s personality is similar to mine, he loves freedom and dislikes being confined by rules. If he goes to Canglan City, I assume his scope of activities would be limited to within Canglan City.
Because your Canglan Army holds too many secrets, once he begins such training for the Canglan Army, it would be akin to imprisoning him within Canglan City! Such a life, I couldn’t stand it, nor could he!"
"Luan’er, think back to what you’ve done since childhood, those who thank you after you dictate them, are they truly willing to do those things?
You might give them rewards that seem beyond their contributions, but even so, what then?
Some may indeed do things for rewards, yet some because of your identity, fearing the consequences might do things they originally wouldn’t!"
"Young Jiang doesn’t care about nobility; he won’t be like those you’ve met in the past, afraid of your status and compelled to act against their conscience, taking him to Canglan City; given his disposition, it’s nothing but a one-way road to death, trying to cage him like a pet, that’s impossible, what you’d get is just a cold corpse!"
"And from the moment Young Jiang dies, you and I will become sworn enemies who won’t rest until one of us is dead!"
Princess Chang trembled all over, her face sank, deep contemplation filled her eyes as she recalled her past actions.
Sigh!
After a while, Princess Chang sighed long, and laughed bitterly, "So, I was so inconsiderate of others before, so annoying!"
Beside her, Si Huang’er’s eyes flickered a few times, she glanced at Jiang Chen sitting upriver, then looked at Si Luan’er, lowered her head and began recalling her own past deeds.
Old Tan and Yuan Chong noticed Si Huang’er’s unusual behavior, exchanged glances, and their eyes were filled with a comforting expression.
"Old sot, thank you! Thank you for letting me understand what my past was like!"
Si Luan’er smiled softly, staring plainly at Hu Yiqiu, "My identity dictates that my words and deeds won’t be like Xu Cui’er. But that self-righteous mindset in facing friends and those around me, I’ll change it, I will make you think Si Luan’er is worthy of you, Hu Yiqiu!"
Hu Yiqiu paused, his eyes showing a gratification, he smiled lightly and nodded, "Alright, I’ll watch how you change. I’ll tell you upfront, I, Hu Yiqiu, have high standards, and your status has no allure for me!"
"Hum! Just you wait!"
Si Luan’er raised her brows, snorted tenderly.
Jiang Chen and the others were immediately dumbstruck, staring blankly at Si Luan’er who showed a spoiled expression, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Is this... Is this the noble and cold Princess Chang? Love indeed is the thing capable of causing the greatest changes!
