Chapter 257: Don't mock those who have dreams

These days, if you had to say who suffers the most, it must be Liu Yuer and her mother. Every day they hear those miserable screams from the mountain, unable to work seriously, unable to rest properly; even cultivation is impossible, they can only stay awake alongside those screams from the mountain.

Zhang Nongqian's eyes were red as she asked, "Mother, how much longer until it ends?"

Liu Yuer shook her head. "Mom doesn't know either, but it should be soon—just hold on a little longer."

Liu Yuer looked toward the mountain; the alchemy furnace was still blazing, the pill fire burning, the red furnace constantly spewing smoke and dust, the white smoke rising and vanishing into the mist of Longshe Shan.

Inside the alchemy furnace, Chen Qinger fainted again—she didn't know how many times she had fainted or regained consciousness. This was her first time being thrown into the furnace, her first experience of the burning sensation that Shang Hongxue often felt; she felt she was ruined, several times feeling like she would die.

That layer of skin was burned red, her whole body ached, unbearable.

Parched and dry-mouthed, she couldn't utter curses, only endure, using the trickle of true qi her body had barely produced to repair herself; resistance was impossible, so that's all she could do.

"Is it not over yet?"

She felt it had been ages, while others had only experienced about a day; why did it stretch to so many days for her? It was far too long.

Three full days had passed, and she was still holding on—perhaps due to her cultivation, perhaps her strength; her tremendous endurance far surpassed that of the two men outside, a point Chen Chuyang personally remarked on.

"Look at Qinger sister, then look at the two of you—you're nowhere near her."

Hearing that, Elder Brother Chen Chusheng lowered his head and kept working, pretending not to hear.

Shang Yue's face flushed slightly, his body and mind trembling, he lost the will to work.

Shang Hongxue smiled at the side, constantly stealing glances at their reactions; she loved seeing this scene, loved seeing them mocked—especially her brother Shang Yue, who always considered himself a real man, now even falling short of Chen Qinger; not blushing would be strange.

"Chuyang brother, Yue also did pretty well—at least he lasted a day."

"Yeah, not bad—just one day, not even a third of what Qinger sister endured; if I hadn't let him out, he might have died in there already."

Chen Chuyang gave no face, lightly mocking: "His screams are the biggest, and also the most... miserable."

"A grown man can't even bear this pain, yet he has the nerve to call himself a man."

Shang Hongxue glanced at her brother again, her face reddening further, her smile growing brighter.

"Hehehe, Yue is just too weak."

The two of them were sniping here; if Yue weren't unable to beat them, he would really have grabbed a hoe and attacked them.

Chen Chusheng pressed him down, advising: "Forget it, you can't win; going up would just get you beaten—stay here and relax."

"They're bullying us too much—I'm their brother, how could they treat me like this?" Shang Yue said, fuming.

Chen Chusheng felt even more wronged, gave Shang Yue a sideways glance, and muttered: "I'm still their elder brother, yet the outcome is the same."

Even worse, he's suffering more.

He's an elder, being bullied and humiliated like this—what has he even said?

Seniority means nothing before strength.

Shang Yue heard that, lowered his head, and thought carefully: maybe that's right—the one who should feel hurt is the elder brother, not him; at most he's being bullied, but he's used to it, bullied since childhood, this little humiliation is nothing.

Thinking that way, he seemed not to need to feel sad.

"Elder brother, you're feeling wronged."

"Hmph."

Chen Chusheng snorted coldly: "No need to pity me; once my strength surpasses theirs, I'll definitely make them pay."

Shang Yue jerked his head up, then shook it.

"How so? You think I can't?"

Shang Yue quickly shook his head: "Elder brother, I don't mean that—my second sister's words, you can surely defeat him; as for my brother-in-law, that is your younger brother, I'm not looking down on you, but even you and I together couldn't surpass him."

"My brother-in-law is just too strong—whether his cultivation, talent, or strength, we know nothing about it; elder brother, give up."

Such unrealistic thoughts should be dispelled as soon as possible.

This is for your own good, elder brother—don't be obstinate.

"Surpassing Chen Chuyang? You must be joking."

"It's impossible in this lifetime, elder brother—don't go looking for discomfort."

Chen Chusheng widened his eyes: "Whose side are you actually on?"

"Elder brother, I'm naturally on your side—just that I, the younger brother, am more honest, down-to-earth, and don't indulge in vain fantasies."

"Your idea is totally outrageous; little brother, I have to correct you—give it up, really, don't fight my brother-in-law; you can't win."

"Don't bring suffering on yourself, and don't invite trouble."

Shang Yue patted Elder Brother Chen Chusheng's shoulder, offering indirect comfort.

Chen Chusheng pointed at Shang Yue for a long while, unable to speak.

"Although what you say makes sense, I don't agree, nor... do I accept it."

I...

In the end, Chen Chusheng's bold words still couldn't be spoken; it really wasn't likely—he had hope of surpassing anyone, except he could never surpass his own younger brother.

Harder than climbing to heaven.

"Sigh."

Shang Hongxue on the mountain burst out laughing.

She heard the whole conversation, couldn't help laughing, and said: "Chuyang brother, Elder Brother is just too hilarious—who slaps their own face?"

Chen Chuyang shook his head: "My elder brother also has ambition and lofty aspirations; we shouldn't strike him down like this—at least he has this idea, which is good and praiseworthy."

Whether it can be done isn't the point.

"Chuyang brother, you also look down on Elder Brother."

"No no no no, you're wrong, little girl; I actually hold Elder Brother in high regard, and I think his mindset and dream are wonderful—everyone should set a dream for themselves, that's what gives motivation; as for whether the dream can be realized, no one can be sure, right?"

Shang Hongxue thought for a moment, nodded: "Chuyang brother, you're right."

She was wrong.

One shouldn't mock those who have dreams.

"The young are teachable."

"Brother Chuyang, can you not keep patting my head like this? I've grown up, I'm not a little kid anymore."

Chen Chuyang lowered his head, looked, and felt moved, saying: "Indeed you've grown up; from now on, Brother Chuyang won't pat your head like that."

His hand, still on her head, rubbed.

Shang Hongxue was furious; now she is Brother Chuyang's fiancée, not that little girl.

They are husband and wife, not...

"Hmph."

The sulky little girl, her back to Chen Chuyang, was angry.

Chen Chuyang was both amused and exasperated; this girl had also learned to get angry.

He reached out, put his arm around her waist, and said affectionately: "All right, Brother Chuyang was wrong; next time, if Brother Chuyang does this to you, okay?"

He lifted her chin and lightly touched her lips.

Shang Hongxue's cheeks visibly reddened; in a flash, the red spread to the base of her neck.

"Mm." The sound was like a mosquito's buzz, barely audible.