You You clearly didn't expect Xie Zhaolin to ask that out of nowhere and froze for a moment.
She cautiously probed the emotional thread of their contract and realized Xie Zhaolin was only asking casually, without anger or accusation.
The moment she sensed that, her courage swelled, and that chatterbox, complaining streak of hers came rushing right back.
"Set up a heart trial? For what?" Her voice was soft and childish, but her tone was dripping with jaded mockery.
"I've never claimed to be some model of the righteous path, let alone some selfless saint. I, You Ji, have lived my life following my heart, settling grudges as I please. Why the hell would I care about some fake test of temperament?
In my eyes, those so-called heart trials are nothing but fake and ridiculous!" Her little face was full of disdain now, her voice growing louder with every word. "Like passing some pre-set test suddenly proves your soul's pure, your dao heart's firm, and you're guaranteed to ascend to immortality someday!
Bah! What a load of bullshit!
The cultivation path is full of danger and bloodshed, where only the strong get the resources and opportunities! What's the use of having a good heart? Can it feed you? Can it block someone's flying sword?
What I value is strength, talent, and wits—the ruthless will to carve a bloody path out of a dead end!
As long as you're strong enough, smart enough, and cruel enough to carry on my lineage and make it flourish, then whether you're good or evil, righteous or demonic, what's it got to do with me?"
You You stood with her tiny hands on her hips, speaking with the conviction of someone twice her size, completely unfazed by how absurd her words sounded coming from such a delicate face.
Xie Zhaolin listened in silence. She had to admit, You You's words might sound heretical, but they reflected the brutal reality of the Cultivation Realm.
In a way, her own conduct in her past life hadn't exactly been saintly either. Power—that was the only eternal truth.
"So," Xie Zhaolin finally said, her voice calm, "your criteria for choosing an inheritor isn't about good or evil, only strength and potential?"
"Exactly!" You You nodded hard, her face bright with pride. "Practical and straightforward, right?"
She paused, sneaking a glance at Xie Zhaolin's expression. When she saw no disagreement, her eyes lit up even more.
"Besides, master, think about it! Even if I did set up a heart trial based on my standards—like decisiveness in killing, profit above all, and doing whatever it takes to reach your goal—" She counted off her fingers, her eyes shining. "I bet you'd totally score full marks on my test!
After all, you were so decisive in binding me with that master-servant contract! You're cunning, ruthless, and sharp—tsk tsk, that kind of personality's right up my alley!" she said proudly, as if Xie Zhaolin's scheming nature were proof of her own excellent taste.
Then, as if remembering something crucial, she puffed her cheeks and continued in a tone that was equal parts shameless and matter-of-fact.
"Besides, from the very start, my inheritance was never about sincerely finding someone to carry on my legacy!
My real goal was to find the perfect body for myself to possess and be reborn in!
Think about it, if I'm gonna take over someone's body, what's the point of pretending to care whether they're good or bad? That'd be like taking your pants off to fart, totally pointless!
Like, what, if my target's a kind, righteous person, I'll suddenly feel guilty and go easy on them?" She gave her a look that screamed are you stupid or am I?, then answered herself.
"Of course not! If I'm gonna possess them, I'll do it regardless! So why waste time setting up some moral exam? Pure nonsense!
For me, what matters most is finding a vessel with a strong foundation, immense talent, and unbreakable willpower—one that can perfectly hold my fragment soul and has the potential to climb back to the Dao! Whether that vessel's good or evil doesn't matter at all!"
You You spread her little hands, face full of smug certainty, as if the matter couldn't be simpler.
Xie Zhaolin listened to the whole rant—a mix of twisted logic and uncomfortable truths—and for once, she didn't know what to say.
This You Ji Shàngrén had a way of thinking that was… strangely clear and consistent.
Everything she did stemmed purely from self-interest, stripped of useless ideals and moral shackles.
Cold and selfish as it sounded, Xie Zhaolin couldn't deny that in the cruel world of cultivation, such pragmatism was often the most effective way to survive.
And she herself wasn't much different. She just hid it better. Unlike You You, she didn't wear her "I'm not a good person" label on her forehead.
"Heh." Xie Zhaolin let out a soft laugh and stopped dwelling on it.
Then You You suddenly remembered something, her expression collapsing as she whined in frustration.
"But still… I really didn't see it coming, meeting someone like you, master! Strong and talented, sure, but so damn cautious! Way too hard to fool!
If I'd known, I would've added a hidden condition like 'easily trusting others' or 'holding naive respect for inheritances'… Ugh, what a loss…"
Hearing her pitiful tone, Xie Zhaolin's lips twitched faintly.
This You Ji Shàngrén wasn't exactly complicated… just weirdly honest.
Still, it was only now that she finally relaxed.
Now that every scheme, every hidden card, and every intention was laid bare before her, that lingering unease and suspicion in her heart finally faded away. She didn't fear strong enemies or deadly environments. What she feared most was the unseen hand pulling strings from the shadows.
But now, she knew exactly what You You was and what she wanted.
The once-potential threat had turned into a living, knowledgeable, and—most importantly—completely obedient teacher.
"Let's go." Xie Zhaolin's tone returned to its usual calm as she turned toward the exit of the heart chamber.
"Got it, master!" You You answered at once, her voice bubbling with excitement and curiosity.
After who knew how many years trapped in this dark inheritance space, she was finally getting out. Even if she was bound to someone else, the outside world was bound to be exciting!
And following a new master who looked this dangerous? There'd definitely be chaos worth watching!
Xie Zhaolin ignored her chatter, her divine sense brushing against the pulse of energy at the heart chamber's exit.
Next, it was time to settle accounts with that so-called "good companion," Jiu Jiu, who'd "sent" her in here.