TGDS Chapter 71.2

The Good Dad System (Arc 10) Chapter 71.2: The Villain’s Dad in the Cultivation Novels (2)

No one can foresee the outcome. The protagonist, who has already secured countless opportunities and mastered all manner of ancient inheritances, possesses esoteric sword techniques. Within thirty moves, Pei Mingzhen is knocked off the sword-asking arena. Everyone looks at each other in bewilderment, speechless. The sect leader declares Xiang Wentian admitted to the inner sect and departs.

From then on, Xiang Wentian enjoyed the resources of countless inner disciples, soaring to prominence. As his fame grew, Pei Mingzhen gradually lost his voice. However, it was clear throughout the sect that the two had a grudge. Pei Mingzhen, unsure of what had happened, had temporarily stagnated in his cultivation. Despite the sect leader’s quest for solutions, he saw little progress. Around this time, Xiang Wentian and Lin Lianxing led a team into the newly opened West Sea Secret Realm. There, they were accidentally poisoned by scorpion venom, forcing them to have sex. Upon returning to the sect, Xiang Wentian sought permission from the sect leader to become a Daoist Companion with Lin Lianxing.

The Daoist Companion Ceremony was presided over by the sect leader, and Pei Mingzhen did not appear throughout the entire day.

Later, demons invaded, and the world of cultivation united to resist the enemy. The Lanyue Sect, as the leader of the Nine Sects, was unwilling to be outdone. This wave of demons came with such force, as if they had been thoroughly prepared. A fierce battle raged, and the battlefield was littered with the flesh and blood of demons and cultivators alike. The next day, the burial grounds sprouted countless stunningly vibrant red flowers, for flesh and blood fertilizes the soil.

Seventy-eighty of the Lanyue Sect’s elders were killed, and many inner disciples were wounded or killed. The leader, though he returned, was severely injured, suffering a heart attack. He immediately passed the throne to Xiang Wentian, the highest-ranking leader at the time, and immediately retreated to recuperate, hoping to emerge as soon as possible and continue the fight.

Then, Pei Mingzhen fell into demonic possession. News of his incarnation caused widespread consternation. According to the most reliable theory in the cultivation world, Pei Mingzhen’s position as sect leader, which he believed was within his grasp, had fallen to someone else, his beloved woman’s father had arranged for her to marry someone else, and his lifelong enemy’s cultivation was completely superior to his.

Driven by these twisted circumstances, he simply turned his back on the righteous path. Xiang Wentian, unwavering taking on the responsibility, sacrificed his own personal interests to clear the way for the reclusive sect leader, striking Pei Mingzhen down on the spot. Unfortunately, the two’s battle proved too powerful, and Lin Lianxing was accidentally caught up in the encounter, killed by Pei Mingzhen’s single strike.

When the former leader came out of seclusion, he only found the broken sword that his son always carried on his back. Apart from that, his body was gone. The novel does not elaborate on this part, only saying that later, in order to avenge Pei Mingzhen, the former leader went to fight Xiang Wentian. Despite the doubts of countless righteous fellow disciples, he fought a life-and-death duel with the other party at the burial ground. He still had some injuries on his body.

Although he had the advantage of experience, he was still not as good as Xiang Wentian. Later, another corpse was added to the burial ground, and the Lanyue Sect was officially renamed the Wentian Sect. In the late part of the novel, the male protagonist had become an unrivaled master in the world of cultivation. He led everyone to expel demons and seal the entrance. As the leader of a sect, he had countless disciples and also married several wandering immortals. They became Taoist partners and had children. Finally, with his family, he shattered the void and ascended to the upper realm. It can be said to be a happy ending. However, in the extra chapter, the author mentioned it this way. When the male protagonist was teasing his son, he relaxed and said the following:

“Son, your father has never lost in my life. Victory or defeat isn’t measured in a moment, but in a lifetime. Those who once tried to trample me, were ultimately crushed by me. The one who laughs last is the true victor. As for the great way, the way of heaven, I only ask myself, and I only follow my own path, Xiang Wentian.”

This sentence has sparked countless debates among readers, some even declaring this piece of writing a masterpiece—they firmly believe that everything that happened later was orchestrated by Xiang Wentian. He has been cautious since childhood, and none who have ever harmed him have met a good end. Xingyun City was completely destroyed by the demonic invasion, leaving no one alive. The outer sect’s leaders and disciples, after the protagonist entered the inner sect, became the new targets of bullying and were ultimately sent to the battlefield. The sect leader and Pei Mingzhen both perished… The author never responded, simply sending a few smiling emojis, pretending nothing had happened.

The original body was the sect leader in the novel, and his son was Pei Mingzhen. Based on the original body’s memories, the readers’ speculation was correct.

Because in the final battle, when Xiang Wentian’s sword had pierced his original form, he clearly heard his sneer in his voice: “Old man, why are you so eager to die with your foolish son? Before he died, your son was still talking about you. He begged me not to tell you about his demonic possession, but I’m no kindhearted person, so of course you’ll know.” He twirled his sword, imbued with spiritual energy that could cause a cultivator’s flesh and blood to surge with pain. “By the way, didn’t I tell you yet? Your foolish son isn’t possessed, but rather fed a demon’s inner core.” The sword was drawn, the man dead, and the original form died with its eyes wide open.

All of this, from beginning to end, was a calculated scheme orchestrated by Xiang Wentian. He believed in revenge and resentment. Anyone who hurt him would be punished, no matter how deep the injury, no matter how deserved.

In reality, in Pei Mingzhen’s world, this story unfolded in a different way.

The relationship between father and son in the world of cultivation is different from that of ordinary people. Cultivation is to go against the will of heaven, to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and to seek the way to longevity and ascension. Once one enters the world of cultivation, as long as one has enough talent and aptitude, most of them have to concentrate on cultivation and often go into seclusion, sometimes for ten days or half a month, and sometimes for several years or even hundreds of years. Although the father and son are connected by blood, they cannot be together day and night after all.

His original body’s wife was a Taoist companion arranged by the sect. They practiced together and separated after giving birth to Pei Mingzhen. Cultivators have long lifespans, following their hearts. It’s common for them to gather when they’re compatible and separate when they’re not. As the leader of the Lanyue Sect, he placed great emphasis on his own cultivation. Although he entrusted his son, Pei Mingzhen, to several disciples, he neglected his care somewhat.

Since childhood, Pei Mingzhen had longed to be close to his father, but the opportunity never came. All he could do was cultivate diligently and improve himself. Everyone in the sect called him the future leader, and he gradually came to regard the position of leader as a responsibility that rested on his shoulders. For him, having such an outstanding father was both a source of longing and a pressure; he couldn’t let his father’s reputation down.

After Pei Mingzhen grew up smoothly, he met Lin Lianxing who came from outside. As mentioned before, in the world of cultivation, it is common for cultivators to break up and get back together. Although he knew that Lin Lianxing had broken off the engagement, he did not take it seriously. The two of them were in love and got together, but it planted the seeds of disaster. Pei Mingzhen’s thoughts were very simple at that time. He just wanted to wait for his father to come out of seclusion and let his father help preside over the Taoist Couple Ceremony. While practicing, he also began to learn to handle the affairs of the sect. At that time, every time his father went into seclusion, he and his senior brother would solve the accumulated sect affairs together, and he had accumulated quite a reputation.

He didn’t know that when he was working hard to improve himself, someone had already secretly hated him and regarded him as a lifelong enemy. During the sect competition, his father finally came out of seclusion. He wanted to show his swordsmanship in front of his father, but at the beginning, he was directly called upon by Xiang Wentian and was knocked off the stage after thirty moves. He watched his father wave his sleeves and leave, and heard his fellow disciples exclaim in surprise. They said, “Senior Brother Pei can’t beat a junior disciple from the outer sect!”, “It’s only been thirty moves! He can’t even hold on for thirty moves.”, “Senior Brother doesn’t look like the Sect Leader at all. How disappointed the Sect Leader must be.”

These words hit his heart one after another. Pei Mingzhen vomited blood on the spot and developed a demon in his heart. In addition, Xiang Wentian secretly injected him with strange true energy during the fight, which made Pei Mingzhen’s meridians circulate in a state of confusion. Problems, let alone improving his cultivation, even healing became a problem. He had looked for his father several times, but was always turned away. His senior brother helped to mediate. Outside the hall, he heard his father’s angry voice: “… Mingzhen has been eating natural treasures since he was a child. No matter whether it is the skills or the environment, they are all top-notch in the world of cultivation. He can’t even beat an outer disciple…”

He didn’t hear the rest of the words, but just left in silence. Yes, others were all geniuses, and he had used up all the benefits, but he didn’t even have the ability to command a school. He closed his heart and tried to continue practicing, but he didn’t know the insidiousness of Xiang Wentian leaving his true energy. The luckier he was, the greater the impact on his tendons and veins. Pei Mingzhen, who couldn’t make any progress no matter how hard he tried, became more and more desperate. He didn’t even dare to go out to see his father.

Afterward, he heard a rumor that someone had “accidentally” passed on. They said Lin Lianxing and Xiang Wentian had encountered challenges in the secret realm, and in the face of difficulties, they had discovered their true love and become partners. In two days, the Sect Leader would help preside over the Dao Couple Ceremony. Their voices were teasing, saying that Lin Lianxing and Xiang Wentian were a perfect match, a man of talent and beauty, with similar cultivation levels, and that dual cultivation was the only way to complement each other. They also said that Senior Sister Lin Lianxing had good taste, discarding the moldy sesame seeds in favor of the delicious watermelon. They also said that even the Sect Leader saw the truth…

What else could Pei Mingzhen say? He could only offer his blessings from afar and close the door. Then, the demons invaded, and his senior brothers arrived at his door and told him they were going to meet the enemy. They hadn’t invited him along, fearing his junior brother might be injured. Inside, Pei Mingzhen said, “Take care,” and watched the sect members leave. He was filled with passion, yet unable to offer any help. Less than half a year later, news reached him. For Pei Mingzhen, those days were dark— they said his senior brothers had all perished, exhausted from fighting the demons, leaving behind nothing.

They also said the sect leader had been gravely injured and was returning to recuperate that very day.

Pei Mingzhen left home for the first time in years. He wanted to see how his father’s injuries were and find a place to build a cenotaph for his fellow disciples. As soon as he arrived at the main hall, he heard a voice that could be heard throughout the entire sect: “From now on, the 61st generation disciple Xiang Wentian inherits the position of Sect Leader!” The voice echoed three times before the gates were completely sealed before him, and he didn’t even have the chance to enter and greet anyone.

He didn’t blame his father, Junior Sister Lin, or Xiang Wentian. He blamed only himself. He had the best conditions and treatment since childhood, but he couldn’t make it. He was only injured, but he couldn’t recover. Even at this critical moment when the entire cultivation world was united to defend against foreign enemies, he couldn’t be a man. He couldn’t bear the weight of his own life, his father’s expectations, Lin Lianxing, or his master.