Han Qing'er (Part 2)

Meanwhile, in another world, a young girl was frantically shouting as she stared at the empty screen in front of her.

"Brother!"

Her eyes were red, swollen from crying, and it was clear that she had been in torment, having sobbed endlessly.

Ling Ying, her loyal servant, initially thought that his young miss's shouting and tears were just the result of a nightmare. But when her cries didn't stop, he couldn't resist rushing to her side, concerned.

"Young miss?"

His worried voice pulled her out of her daze. 

Glancing at Ling Ying, however, she responded coldly, "Who gave you permission to enter my room, Old Ling?"

"Miss, forgive this old slave. I was just worried about your condition."

Ling Ying lowered his head in apology, but inside, he was thinking, 'What has happened to her?'

"Forget it, I'm fine. You should leave," she said, waving her hand dismissively. However, anyone could tell from her tear-filled eyes that she was far from okay. 

Nevertheless, Ling Ying couldn't disobey her order. 

He bowed and disappeared.

Left alone in the room, the young girl continued to stare at the blank screen in front of her, her tears still falling.

Tonight had been overwhelming for her and she had experienced a whirlwind of emotions.

That smile—the one she saw on the screen—had made her heart race, but she hadn't expected it to be followed by the rumbling clap of thunder.

She had so many questions for the system.

Why were those terrifying lightning strikes targeting him?

But as she continued to observe, her mind not only grew more concerned but also more perplexed.

The things she overheard were unlike anything she had ever encountered before. 

Somehow, she could hear the thoughts of the handsome brother on the screen, just as clearly as her own system could hear her thoughts.

"Previous life" and "reincarnation" were the two words she distinctly remembered.

The brother kept repeating them in his mind. 

However, she was unable to question anyone because the system had stopped working shortly after that brother had appeared on the screen.

And so, she could do nothing but stare helplessly at the screen as the lightning continued to fall. 

When he collapsed to the ground after being struck by four thunderbolts in quick succession, she couldn't hold back her voice any longer.

"Brother!"

No matter how desperately she wanted to be there to help him at that very moment, she was powerless.

Fortunately, he woke up and the horrific wounds on his body began to heal miraculously, but the good times didn't last long.

She heard a deafening rumble—so loud she had to cover her ears—while watching hundreds of lightning bolts cascade from the sky, forming a massive dragon that attacked him.

Then, she observed the child drawing a sword from somewhere and witnessed a powerful sword energy, bursting from him as he slashed through the dragon, splitting it in half.

Her heart was touched by the sight of that figure who, with a sword in hand, bravely rose to slay that great dragon, 

But what followed left her in tears, as the violent thunder obliterated the surroundings.

At that moment, she waited anxiously for that figure to appear once again, to reassure her of his safety and calm her fears. But then, suddenly...

...everything vanished as if it had never been. The screen went black.

"What happened??"

"Why is it gone?"

Her eyes, red and swollen, filled with tears as she murmured in confusion.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't see that place, or that figure, again. 

And the system refused to respond no matter how many times she called for it.

So, she could only cry in silence, hoping he would be okay.

Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long.

[Host, don't worry, he's fine.]

"Where were you gone?"

yelled in frustration when she heard the familiar voice. She had called for the system numerous times, but it had never responded before.

However, at the same time, the moment she heard that he was okay, the weight of her anxiety lifted.

[Sorry about that.]

Hearing it's apology, she didn't press the issue further and instead asked what had been on her mind.

"Why can't I watch anymore? Why is the screen blank?"

[Host, the spectating system has a time limit. Since the system is only at Level 1, you can only watch for two hours, or one-twelfth of the day. As the system upgrades, you'll be able to extend the viewing period.]

"How do I raise the system level, then?"

'Two hours is too quick', she murmured.

Like now, she was so enamoured with that figure and worried that she hadn't even realized when the time had passed.

Also, how could she level up the system when it was only a support system with no apparent mission?

If she could have done something, she wouldn't have stood powerless as the thunder rained down on him.

If she could have done something, she wouldn't have stood by helplessly as the thunder rained down on him.

[Host, you don't need to worry about that. The system will upgrade as more goddesses are bound to it.]

Upon hearing this, she sighed.

Then, wouldn't he have to save more girls?

In addition, they'll be able to watch him too...so, they might even fall in love with him, just like I have.

No, no, no!

What was she thinking? 

She was just grateful to him for saving her, that's all.

She wasn't worthy of him.

But still... There's an issue here!

It seemed she would be facing quite a bit of competition in the future.

Sigh...

Well...it's a good thing she was the first goddess he saved, which meant she could become the leader of the Chat Group, giving her a head start over the others.

A small smile crossed her lips as she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes.

Sweet dreams.

As for the reincarnation and other things she heard from his inner voice, she'd ask the system about them tomorrow.

__________________

𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭

A stunning woman gazed at the sleeping child before her, concern etched in her features.

Her heart had felt like it was being torn apart earlier when she looked at his frail, injured figure. 

Just like that day long ago, it was an experience that was worse than dying.

"Well, at least he's still alive."

 She murmured softly as her thoughts drifted back to their first meeting and the day she discovered her lost smile once more.

___

Years had passed since that incident, and the ignorant girl had now matured a lot, in all aspects.

She had reached the peak of the Heavenly Spirit Realm, nearly breaking through to the Divine Void Realm, which in this world could be regarded as a powerhouse.

Despite being the sect master of a small sect in a remote area, she wasn't entirely cut off from the outside world. She frequently received news about major events happening elsewhere.

Three years ago, she had come across some significant news: the wife of the patriarch of the Sacred Ling Clan had given birth to a son.

She didn't share the common dislike for the Sacred Ling Clan as she did for the others, but she also didn't hold them in particularly high regard, much like she felt about the other sacred clans. 

It wasn't awe like the rest of the world, because she, herself had once belonged to a sacred clan long ago.

It wasn't just that the Ling Clan was one of the most powerful clans in the world, even more powerful than her own had been.

When she was a child, her father used to tell her stories about the young prodigy of the Ling Clan, who was now the patriarch. 

Both he and his wife had reached the level of Supreme Saint by the time they were ten thousand years old—the fastest in many generations.

But now, she too had reached the Divine Void Realm, and she wasn't even a thousand years old yet. What did that make her?

However that had something to do with her physique, so, she wasn't too proud of it either.

In addition to these stories, she also knew that the Ling Clan had a tradition of sending their children to small sects outside the clan, so that they could only rely on themselves.

This was off course to prevent the children from becoming conceited or corrupt; power tends to corrupt, and if it is attained without effort and without understanding its meaning and repercussions, it corrupts completely.

Therefore, even though it was harsh for the young children, it was much better to teach them about the cruelty of this world from the very beginning so they could learn to control their character earlier, unlike her.

She had been shocked when the patriarch of the Sacred Ling Clan visited her sect and announced that he would be sending his son to her for training. 

Not because he decided to send his son to learn in her sect, but rather because he revealed his identity in front of her.

Wasn't that implying that his son should be treated differently from the other disciples?

If his son receive special care within the sect, wouldn't he notice that he was getting a special treatment and become arrogant due to it.

So, what exactly was the purpose of this training?

"Hey, she told me not to let him suffer any grievances, so I'm powerless to do anything."

The patriarch had said, as if he could read her thoughts.

"It was already hard enough for her to accept that her three-year-old son would be taken away. I can't imagine what would have happened if I had refused her request."

He spoke as if he had no other choice, hopelessly.

"So, I can only do this, and I also know you are from the Han Clan. Although I don't know why you left that clan, but they are still searching for your whereabouts and I assure you that they won't dare to take you back as long as you safeguard his safety," the man continued.

Hearing that, all she could do was nod, inwardly thinking that even the patriarch of such a powerful Sacred Clan was afraid of his wife.

As for knowing her identity and stopping her clan from taking her back, she had no doubts. 

After all, the Ling Clan was far more powerful than the Han Clan, even though both were Sacred Clans.

She simple accepted his offer, but inwardly, she had lost all hope for the child. 

Because she knew how members of the powerful clans often behaved, acting as though they owned the universe or something similar and could do whatever they pleased, often harassing the women of smaller clans.

Immediately, she imagined the young master of the Ling Clan acting in such a way.

After all, she was very well aware of her own beauty—many young masters from Sacred Clans and large sects had pursued her in the past. 

Of course, she had beaten them all up, and they didn't dare retaliate, knowing that the Sacred Han Clan was behind her. 

However, the same couldn't be said for the Ling Clan, because despite being identified as a Sacred clan as the others, that clan was far more powerful.

Still, she made a decision. 

If the boy ever behaved that way, she would kill him, no matter the consequences.

_____

A few days later

A middle-aged man arrived at the Floating Cloud Sect with a small child holding his hand.

However, Han Qing'er wasn't at the sect at that time, as she was in the process of breaking through to the Divine Void Realm, and preparing to face her heavenly tribulation.

When she returned to the sect, she went straight to the remote area where she lived.

Even though she was the sect master, she preferred to live away from the sect and its people, enjoying her solitude.

But when she came to her place she noticed that the door to her room was locked.

She immediately grew angry.

She had specifically told the elders not to disturb her, as she preferred her solitude, however, it seemed, that someone was inside her room.

She was no longer the kind and forgiving woman she used to be. Now, anyone who intruded on her personal space would either be killed or left severely injured.

"Knock !!

"Knock.

She rapped on the door repeatedly, with a frosty expression on her face.

She heard the sound of light footsteps approaching the door.

Click.

The door opened, and she scanned the entire room, but there was no one in sight. 

Thinking the intruder had fled without her noticing, her expression grew even colder, as she moved her gaze outside to check the area to find the person who entered her room, at the same time contemplating how powerful the intruder's cultivation base must have been to escape her notice,

When she heard a sweet, childish voice from behind her.

"Beautiful sister, I'm here. Look down."

She turned her gaze back to the room and saw a small child with silver hair standing at the entrance. 

He was adorably waving his right hand and while tiptoeing, as if trying to get her attention.

"Huff," he sighed, looking tired, his small breaths indicating that the effort of waving his hands and standing on his toes had worn him out.

"If only I were a little taller," he murmured regretfully, shaking his head.

"Puff."

Looking at his adorable expression, she couldn't help but chuckle, before realizing what she had done.

It had been a long time since she had smiled, let alone laughed.