# Chapter 288: Inflated Ambitions
Su Linger's attachment to Yun Che might seem strange to outsiders, even somewhat unreasonable. Even Su Linger herself didn't understand why, from the day she met him, his shadow had filled her mind and heart completely. Waiting for his return had become almost her entire longing. And Su Haoran's words were, to her, undoubtedly the most cruel language in the world, because every single word was like a vicious steel needle, fiercely stabbing at her most beautiful and happiest dream.
"You're lying... you're deceiving me!" Su Linger shook her head forcefully, shouting angrily. "Brother Yun Che said he likes me. He said he would come to marry me when I grow up. Brother Yun Che would never lie to me... You're talking nonsense! You can't talk nonsense like this!"
"Oh, is that so?" Su Haoran grinned. "If he truly liked you, then why didn't he take you with him when he left? Since he likes you that much, did he tell you where his home is, or what sect he comes from?"
Su Linger's little face turned pale: "That's because... that's because..."
"That's because it's impossible for him to actually like a little girl like you. How could he possibly take you away? He was even afraid you might actually go looking for him, so he didn't tell you, or anyone else, where he came from. Other than his name, what do you actually 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 unconcerned about how cruel his words were to Su Linger.
"You're lying... you're lying! None of this is true. Brother Yun Che won't deceive me. He will definitely come to find me." Su Linger covered her ears with both hands, shaking her head forcefully, making weak denials as moisture began to gather in her eyes.
Su Haoran spread his hands: "Then keep on dreaming. What a pity, my good little sister. The dignified princess of Tai Su Sect, who in the future could pick any fine man from the Jiangdong region, yet you choose to foolishly wait for someone who was just playing with you. If this gets out, tsk tsk, I'm afraid our entire Tai Su Sect will become a laughingstock."
"You're lying! Everything you say is a lie! I hate you!!"
Su Linger covered her ears and ran far away. In the breeze of the bamboo forest, the faint sound of her suppressed sobbing could be heard.
"How did that girl of Su Hengshan's end up here?" Not far behind Su Haoran, a middle-aged man in black robes slowly walked out. It was none other than Su Hengyue!
"Don't worry about her." Su Haoran curled his lips indifferently, then turned around and said, "I heard you have something important to discuss with me. What is it?"
"With the intelligence of the esteemed nephew Haoran, can't you guess?" Su Hengyue gave a faint smile. "Of course it's to help you obtain the sect's supreme treasure sooner and ascend to the position of Sect Master!"
The two stared at each other for a moment, then both burst into loud laughter.
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It was not until nightfall that Su Linger returned to Tai Su Sect, walking in a daze the entire way. She didn't want to believe Su Haoran's words, but that nightmare-like voice kept echoing in her mind, impossible to forget.
*Could it be that Brother Yun Che really won't come looking for me...*
*No! Brother Yun Che would never lie to me... He was so good to me. 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...*
*If he really has forgotten me, if he doesn't like me anymore... what should I do... what should I do...*
Su Hengshan walked out of the training room and immediately spotted Su Linger walking with light, unsteady steps. He quickly went up to her and asked, "Linger, where did you go? Why are you back so late?"
Su Linger lifted her tearful eyes, barely holding back her sobs, and asked pitifully, "Father... will Brother Yun Che really come back to marry me? Could it be... could it be that he was just saying it casually? Could it be that he has already forgotten me?"
A few teardrops still hung on Su Linger's cheeks, clearly from crying sorrowfully just a moment ago. Su Hengshan paused for a moment, then crouched down and said with a smile, "Linger, use your own feelings to tell me. Do you think he likes you?"
Su Linger blinked gently and nodded: "Brother Yun Che... must like me."
"Then that's it." Su Hengshan nodded with a smile. "When someone else's words conflict with your own feelings, what you should believe is, of course, your own feelings. It's not just Linger—I can feel it too. 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 see that he really, really wanted to take you with him... But you were too young. If he took you away now, or married you, it would definitely cause a lot of criticism. So he asked you to wait for him, to wait until the day you grow up, and then he will definitely come back to marry you... Even though he is not by your side right now, you already have a marriage contract between you, witnessed by so many people. That is something that can never be severed."
Su Hengshan understood very well that after Yun Che left, everyone thought he would never return, and the engagement with Su Linger was just a convenient move to resolve the matter with Su Hengyue. But Su Hengshan didn't think so. The way Yun Che looked at Su Linger, and how good he was to her... that was completely impossible to fake.
Her father's words were like a warm spring breeze, instantly blowing away all of Su Linger's worries and fears. She nodded happily: "Father, I understand! I knew it! Brother Yun Che must like me... I will grow up quickly and wait every day for him to come back and marry me."
"Heh heh." Su Hengshan laughed somewhat helplessly. His precious ten-year-old daughter, originally an innocent, carefree little sprite, had, ever since meeting Yun Che, become completely immersed in pining for him despite being at an age before her heart had even awakened, thinking day and night about getting married. As her father, he really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He asked casually, "Did someone say something to you that made you sad?"
Su Linger nodded softly: "Mm... 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 say... your brother went over to the bamboo forest?" Su Hengshan's brows twitched sharply.
"Mm! Father, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly become so serious?"
"Oh, it's nothing." Su Hengshan quickly smiled. He glanced at the dragon scale armor under Su Linger's outer clothes, then pulled her collar up and warned her seriously again, "Linger, remember what I said. You must wear this dark golden clothes at all times, and keep it well hidden. Never let anyone else see it, not even the clan siblings you play with often. If others find out about it by accident, it might be stolen. Do you understand?"
Su Linger subconsciously tightened her outer clothes and nodded very seriously: "I understand, Father. This was a gift from Brother Yun Che. I will definitely protect it well."
Su Linger finally resolved her inner turmoil and ran off happily. But Su Hengshan became troubled, his mind heavy with worry.
Only after night had fully fallen did Su Haoran quietly return to Tai Su Sect. As soon as he entered his room, he saw his father Su Hengshan standing there. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Father, why are you here?"
"I have something to say to you..." Su Hengshan glanced at him and said flatly, "Where did you go this afternoon?"
"I was practicing martial arts for too long and felt a bit tired, so I took a walk in the bamboo forest at the back mountain. I also ran into Linger. Is there something important you need to discuss with me?" Su Haoran asked respectfully, his expression unchanged.
"Besides Linger, did you meet anyone else in the bamboo forest?" Su Hengshan's expression darkened slightly, and his tone became somewhat harsh.
Su Haoran looked up with a surprised expression: "The bamboo forest at the back mountain is always quiet. I only met Linger and said a few words to her. Other than that, I didn't meet anyone else. Why do you ask, Father?"
Su Hengshan stared at him for a long moment, then looked away, sighed, and said coolly, "Haoran, having ambition is not a bad thing for a mature man. Without ambition, one can never reach the summit. Ruthlessness, cunning, and treachery are often necessary qualities for a successful ruler. But these things should only be used against enemies. If they are used against one's closest family, then that person cannot be called a person—they are a beast. Remember this well."
Su Haoran's brows twitched. He immediately nodded earnestly and said sincerely, "Haoran will keep Father's teachings in mind."
Su Hengshan turned his head sideways, nodded lightly, and said, "Knowing oneself is valuable. Whether I, as Sect Master, am qualified, I know in my heart. Many times, I am not decisive enough, not ruthless enough, not firm enough. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people acting recklessly and arrogantly in front of me, a Sect Master. But everything I have done in my life has been with a clear conscience. Though I have accomplished little, I have been true to heaven and earth, true to the sect, and true to our ancestors... You are my only son, Haoran. I hope that in the future... you will never disappoint me."
"Yes... Your son will not forget Father's words. I will never do anything to disappoint Father." Su Haoran said with firm determination.
"Mm!" Su Hengshan responded faintly, said no more, and walked out slowly with heavy steps.
Watching Su Hengshan leave, Su Haoran's expression gradually darkened, then twisted into a sinister smile. "Although I have the status of the Sect Master's son, in terms of aptitude, my position is too precarious. So I had to make plans for myself in advance... Closest family? Heh, if I were as pedantic and indecisive as you, this Tai Su Sect would never have a place for me in the future. Then I would truly be finished. As your son, how could I let you down... hehehehe... hehehehe..."
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