Confrontation

One whole year passed.

Davis became nine years old at this point.

He grew up to a hundred and forty-five centimeters tall. His face began to more and more shape like his father, who undoubtedly looked like a lady killer. Combined with his mother's aspects, it is set in stone that he would indeed become popular among women in the future.

Davis solely spent most of his time cultivating. He eventually reached Mid-Level Iron Stage, High-Level Infant Soul Stage, High-Level Energy Condensation Stage.

He had entered the Third Stage in Body Tempering Cultivation while just being nine-years-old. This was rather a phenomenal achievement that would make any parent in the Grand Sea Continent proud of, including his parents.

During this year, he didn't get a chance to meet Evelynn, or rather one should say that he put that matter on the back of his head. He was still waiting for her reply, but none came even now.

He also made Ellia train in Body Tempering Cultivation and Essence Gathering Cultivation. He made her train in the same Cultivation Techniques he cultivated without caring for the opinion of others.

Her talent was great as well, but not to the point of being a genius.

He managed to pull some strings with some random excuses to get the resources for her cultivation. Of course, if his father and mother found about it, even he doesn't know what will happen, but he had the confidence to take care of it.

Ellia achieved Peak-Level Copper Body Stage and Peak-Level Meridian Refinement Stage during this time.

Logan and Claire also worked 'hard' and birthed a baby boy during this year.

Davis was elated that he finally got a little brother and a scapegoat to put on this Empire's throne. Any more little sisters and he thought that he would probably get diabetes.

Logan mostly worked his butt off to see to the affairs of the Empire. He only had enough time to meet Claire, and he didn't worry about Davis while he had no idea what to do about Clara.

Clara became a five-year-old.

She started cultivating normally like any child in the Capital City would do when they reach this age, but she unhinderedly tried to make quick progress in cultivation. She reached Low-Level Meridian Refinement Stage and was already on the verge of breaking through to the Mid Level of Meridian Refinement Stage.

But a day before, she was even gutsier than Davis and had tried cultivating Body Tempering Cultivation System, only to fail miserably.

She couldn't bear the pain and fainted.

The remaining energy in her body went berserk and considerably damaged her small body. Fortunately, it was not fatal as Logan was beside her at that time.

Logan, who had allowed her to cultivate Body Cultivation System, got severe thrashings from Claire. Of course, it had been all in Claire's room, or he would have lost his face big time.

He didn't say anything as he also felt guilty about Clara.

Davis, who had heard this incident, became worried and stayed with Clara in her room from yesterday.

She still didn't wake up.

Davis looked at her face warmly as he held her hand. Clara also tightly held his hands, but it was unknown whether she did it consciously or subconsciously.

"Why are you trying so hard, Clara?" Davis muttered as he sighed again.

He didn't know how many times he sighed like an old man from yesterday. He partially blamed himself for this accident as well.

'If only I had watched her properly...'

'If only I had paid attention to her from that time...'

'After all I said that to mother about taking care of her... talk about pathetic...'

Thoughts like these were swirling around his head, making him severely depressed. Just as he was wallowing in his depression, Clara's hand slightly twitched.

It woke Davis up from his depression, and he anxiously shouted.

"Clara!"

Clara, who was lying in her bed, opened her eyes slowly as if her eyelids were heavy.

Seeing that she was fine, Davis heaved a sigh of relief, much different from the previous depressive sighs he released.

"Brother?" She weakly smiled at him and called.

Seeing that weak smile on her face, Davis lost himself in immense guilt. He felt like something was stabbing his heart.

"Clara, I'm sorry, it's all brother's fault. I shouldn't have left you alone at that time, no matter what. I've caused you meaningless sufferings, I'm so sorry, even though you worked so hard, I've closed my eyes t..."

Clara suddenly placed her finger on his lip as she weakly smiled, making him stop.

"It isn't brother's fault..."

A single sentence.

That single sentence was like a spear that pierced through his resistance as he felt his guilt dissolve into boundless love. A single tear fell from his eyes as he bit his lips.

"Why? Why do you try so hard?" Davis feebly asked.

He couldn't understand. Clara was just five years old, and there was no need for her to be this hasty. In his eyes, she was a little girl who should be playing and smiling all day before falling asleep with a cute expression on her face.

But she wasn't like that...

He was a special case since he was a transmigrator and knew what he was getting into... and it wasn't as if he was blindly jumping into cultivation either. Only after learning all the possible methods and consequences had he decided to take this step.

Clara slowly sat up and tightly embraced her brother as if she wouldn't let him go no matter what, "Because I want to stay with brother forever." 

This time, she didn't try to hide anything as she realized what she had gotten into had equally harmed her brother. She had never seen her elder brother shed a tear before, so it had even more impact on her all the more.

Davis stood there, stunned. He could feel her pure emotions of wanting to be with him by looking at her innocent face. He became dumbfounded.

Then... why was she avoiding them?

Wasn't she avoiding all of them for a reason?

"Why? Why me?"

"Only you were there for me." Clara weakly replied as she bit her lips.

"Me? What about father and mother?"

"mother and father both… they both lie to me from time to time as if they practiced it… beforehand. Even other people in the imperial castle lie and deceive, and it makes me very scared. Only brother didn't lie to me. Being with you makes me comfortable..."

"Mother and father lied? It can't be!" Davis shook his head.

"I'm telling the truth, my eyes have said so..." In turn, Clara desperately uttered.

Davis nodded, "You truly think so?"

"I believe my eyes."

"Then, brother will verify it for you!" Davis smiled.

Clara became stunned. 

"No…"

Before she can even reply, Davis sent a crystal transmission to Logan and Claire that Clara had woken up and was immediately requesting their presence.

"It's fine. Brother will protect you." Davis strongly replied as he held her small shoulders.

"Mhm..." Clara nodded her head, nervously.

Previously, she was worried but now that her brother had reassured her, she felt heartened.

Meanwhile, Davis thought, 'Lies? What possible lies? This is getting rather out of hand. Even I have no way to tell if they are lying or not. I guess that I'll just have to ask them directly in front of Clara. Indirectly confronting them can also possibly lead to Clara losing trust in me. No matter what, I just want to avoid that as much as possible.'

Not even a minute passed before both of them simultaneously showed up in Clara's room. It could be seen that they were truly anxious.

"Clara! Are you fine?" Both of them asked simultaneously. 

Worry could be seen in their eyes, but they also maintained some distance from Clara, afraid that she might possibly show rejection to them.

Clara nodded head but didn't dare to look in their eyes as she thought that she would get into trouble soon. If she had looked into their eyes, then she would've noticed the worry and care in their eyes.

Seeing that she kept her head down, both of them looked at Davis with a questioning gaze.

*Cough!~*

"Mother and Father. Clara and I want to talk to you two about something."

Clara visibly trembled, albeit slightly.

"Talk? Is it a serious matter?" Logan probed.

"… Depends."

"Perfect, I have something to talk about to you two as well," Claire replied.

"I think what mother wants to talk about and what we want to talk about is the same."

"Mhm?" 

Claire had a puzzled expression on her face.

Davis's expression became solemn, "Now, I have a question to ask of you, and you both must answer honestly." 

Seeing that they were both clueless, he changed his attitude towards them for the sake of his adorable little sister.