Chapter 2125: A Conversation Between Siblings

"Papa!"

Behind the Sacred Peacock Mountain, a lovely young girl came bounding toward Jiang Chen at full speed. It was none other than Nian'er — the child born of Jiang Chen and Consort Dan.

After so many years apart, Nian'er had grown considerably. She was now a slender, graceful young lady. She hopped along like a little deer, her movements light and airy, her porcelain-doll face bearing traces of Jiang Chen's features between her brows and eyes.

Seeing his daughter, all of Jiang Chen's heroic fervor melted away into tender paternal affection.

He had always carried a deep sense of guilt toward his daughter.

"Nian'er, you've grown so much taller. You're all grown up now." Jiang Chen sighed with endless emotion. He had missed nearly every moment of his daughter's growth.

In the blink of an eye, she had become a young woman.

Though the world of martial cultivation could not be compared with that of ordinary mortals, having missed his daughter's childhood still weighed heavily on Jiang Chen's heart.

Seeing the gentleness in her father's eyes, Nian'er seemed to sense the love within his gaze. She cupped his face in both her small hands: "Papa, Mama says you've worked so hard. She says you're the hardest-working man in the world, and the greatest man too. Is that true?"

Jiang Chen felt a pang in his heart.

The greatest?

Whether he truly deserved to be called great in his daughter's eyes — that was another matter entirely.

"Nian'er, you've grown up so quickly, and Papa has never been by your side. Do you resent me for that?"

Nian'er's eyes turned red, but she held back stubbornly, refusing to let the tears fall, and gently shook her little head: "Nian'er doesn't resent Papa. I know Mama is right — Papa is the greatest father there is. Papa carries the whole world in his heart and works for all living beings. If Papa only cared about our little family, then there would be no greater family in the world…"

Jiang Chen was astonished. How old was his daughter, and yet she had such clarity of understanding?

"Hehe, Mama taught me to say that. But honestly, Nian'er still wishes that when Papa has time, he could spend more of it with me."

Jiang Chen's heart ached. He was about to speak when he heard footsteps behind him. Though many years had passed, he still recognized them immediately — it was his sister, Xu Qingxuan.

"Qingxuan, come out."

Hearing Jiang Chen's voice, Nian'er's bright, starlike eyes lit up: "Auntie! You're here too?"

Over the years, Nian'er and Xu Qingxuan had grown remarkably close. The aunt and niece were practically inseparable at the Sacred Peacock Mountain.

Their ages were not far apart, and in the world of martial cultivation, such a small age gap made them more like sisters than aunt and niece.

"You little rascal — I knew you'd be here clinging to your father," Xu Qingxuan said, though her chiding tone carried unmistakable affection.

"Papa, while you were away, Auntie was with me every single day. She looked after me and taught me all sorts of things!" Nian'er was clearly just as attached to Xu Qingxuan, tugging at her arm and chattering away nonstop like a little lark.