Cultivating in Honkai!

Chapter 443: Chapter 442: Big Duck’s Contemplation

Seele, Bronya, and Sin Mal are originally close. The three of them were once part of Cocolia’s orphanage. It was the place where they became family. With Cocolia’s crimes revealed, she was sentenced to five hundred years of imprisonment. Their bonds did not drift away, partly because of their similar statuses as Shi Tian’s wives.

Despite having different Cave Heavens for their use, they often opted to live together; hence Sin Mal’s actions didn’t escape their eyes. Zero spiritual qi fluctuations came from her room, making it evident she wasn’t in seclusion.

Their house was reminiscent of the modern residences built in the 2030’s. The minimalist theme removed unnecessary designs. It was something that Bronya came up with. Seele and Sin Mal chose to acquiesce with it. Their choices of pillows, mattresses, and curtains were akin to colors in this blank canvas of a house.

The two stayed in the living room, seated on an L-shaped sofa. Seele looked towards the direction of Sin Mal’s room with a hint of worry.

"Sister Bronya... are you sure we should leave her alone?"

"Mn. We should."

Fearing words of affirmation weren’t enough, Bronya added:

"Sin is very stubborn. Whenever she makes a decision, she sticks to it until the end."

Her implications were simple. Sin Mal is stubborn to an unreasonable degree. If they influenced her decisions and made her commit to something she would regret, it would be bad for her. It is best to leave her alone and let her arrive at an answer by herself.

At the very least, Bronya trusted Sin to make her own decisions.

"Everyone felt it..."

"..."

She did not reply this time. Recalling the tall waves of that Sea of Suffering—something that came out of Shi Tian’s golden blood—Bronya felt a faint shudder on her spine. Even now, she could vividly recall the feeling of overwhelming helplessness she felt. If it wasn’t for Bronya remembering that she wasn’t alone, that she has a family now, she would have been drowned by it.

"What about the others?"

"They..."

Bronya couldn’t give a certain answer to Seele. Each had their own way of coping with it. Some would find it easy to overcome, while there are some who would be left in a quagmire.

In the end, Bronya gave out her honest thoughts:

"Time will tell for itself."

"You mean..."

She nodded at Seele’s words.

As of now, the majority of the twenty-one went to seclusion. Part of it was to focus their charge to the Void Refinement Realm. However, no one truly knows whether they entered seclusion to do such a thing or to deal with something else.

For example, Heart Demons.

Only time could tell the impacts of the Sea of Suffering unleashed by the future Shi Tian.

’If it wasn’t for Veliona...’ She paused as she thought of her other self. ’She must be hanging out with them.’

Seele put her mind at ease.

"It’s already been a month."

Her words caused Bronya to jolt visibly. She knew Seele was talking about Kiana’s month-long isolation.

"He already woke up."

Before Bronya could ask, Seele already gave her an answer.

"Even... Those two..."

A faint hint of blush appeared on her ears. Her lips trembled from her sheer embarrassment. Seele was accustomed to discussing such matters with Veliona as she was akin to her other self. When Shi Tian had sex with the two of them, she didn’t find it as embarrassing as she thought.

However, things become different once she openly talks about it with the others—Bronya and Sin Mal. The boldness and proactiveness she practiced on their dual cultivation sessions popped like feeble bubbles!

’Am I... a pervert..?’

Thinking of it, Seele’s embarrassment grew stronger. She could no longer maintain her composure as her gaze avoided Bronya’s. The latter, on the other hand, wore a longing look.

’That time...’

Bronya’s connection with Shi Tian began when Seele was kidnapped. He heroically came to her rescue, ultimately bringing her to safety. Bronya thought he was like her—a child mercenary—but it was the exact opposite. Shi Tian was a civilian who happened to learn a bit of martial arts. He possessed humane experiences, completely unlike her who grew up in a cold environment—literally and figuratively. Over time, she saw him as her destination. Bronya wanted to be a bit more like Shi Tian. Being able to live for oneself and not for something as far-fetched as her mission became the goal she sought for.

What she hadn’t expected was for her admiration and longing to turn into... love.

Bronya’s selfishness flared up as time went by. Aside from becoming human, she wanted to be cared for. She wanted to receive concern. Her role as the greatest wingman resulted in her envying the two, no, four women at that time. When Bronya heard of Shi Tian exiting seclusion, she acted shamelessly. She used the [Nine Yin Locking Seal] to corner Shi Tian—to force a decision out of him.

He ended up reciprocating Bronya’s affection.

Although the relationship of the two started bizarrely—taking advantage of his kindness—everything was smoothed out by time. Bronya reflected on her wrongdoings and vowed to make up for it. Out of everyone, it was she who wronged Shi Tian the most. It was also Bronya who egged on Sin Mal into using the [Nine Yin Locking Seal] in the first place.

Unbeknownst to her, she placed herself dead-last on who is deserving of Shi Tian’s time. Bronya had no issues letting others come first. She was even fine with Shi Tian not thinking about her as much as he does others. Bronya turned her mind into being satisfied with the bare minimum.

It was this ’stupidly strong’ will of hers that allowed her to overcome the Sea of Suffering. But, it wasn’t without any drawbacks. Everything relied on Shi Tian giving her affection. Her mental state would collapse if she doesn’t receive that bare minimum. Bronya’s situation was exactly like Theresa’s. Both of them surpassed the Sea of Suffering temporarily. Their eighth-level Tao Heart sits on borrowed time. So long as they fail to satisfy the most sincere requests of their heart, their Tao Heart would suffer irreversible damages.

Ironically, both of them aren’t aware of it in the first place.

’When will that time... come again..?’