(MC POV)
After that day, things went back to normal… Relatively.
My disciples were obviously more wary of Iris and kept sending her looks of mistrust and sometimes even outright hostility.
Iris, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered by it at all and though she would still follow me around, she kept a larger distance between us than usual. Sometimes she might not even stay in the same room as me and just watch me from outside.
It seems like the event also made my disciples much more determined to grow stronger than before. They were also much more affectionate with me than before, which was obviously their method of making sure I won't relapse into my emotionless self again.
And by that, I really mean affectionate with me.
Like every given moment there's at least one or two of them accompanying me at all times and acting all lovey dovey.
For example, right now, Eris was sitting on my lap and cuddling with me while holding my hand in hers.
"Master~ Master~ Ehehehe~ Mnnn… This is da' best~" She giggled, twirling her fingers with mine. "Can we kiss?"
I responded by joining my lips with her, the kiss being chaste at first before she suddenly wrapped her arms around me to deepen the kiss.
She only pulled back after all four of her personalities had gotten a taste of my lips, giggling while going back to cuddling with me.
"Papa! Papa! Cuddles!!" Cai Hong squealed while running up to me.
Thank everything that Cai Hong was back to how she originally was… I would have definitely gone ahead to reset the entire universe if she was still acting like the other version of her.
Not to put my own expectations on her, but please at least just let me watch Cai Hong grow up normally first…
It seems like it was Cai Hong's turn to accompany me since Eris groaned and got up from my lap so that Cai Hong could take her place. My swordswoman gave me a peck on the lips before skipping away.
Cai Hong held out her hands to me and I picked her up to put the little dragon on my lap.
She immediately shuffled herself so that she was leaning her back towards my chest, giggling as I started patting her head.
I also gave her a cookie and she started nibbling on it, humming adorably as she did so.
She's so cute! Just look at her nibbling at that little cookie!
Yep, if I were to need to choose between the universe or Cai Hong, I would definitely pick Cai Hong ten times out of ten!
"Papa! Cookie, yummy!" She squealed.
"Haha, I'm happy you like it!"
She broke off a piece and offered it to me, "Papa want cookie?"
Why are you so cute?!
I opened my mouth and she fed the piece to me.
"Is it yummy, Papa?"
"Yes, it is very yummy, Cai Hong."
"Yayyy~"
I couldn't help but start patting her head again just for that.
"Does Cai Hong want to do anything?" I asked.
Cai Hong gasped and looked up at me with sparkly eyes, "Can we Play, Papa? Cai Hong want play! Papa play with Cai Hong?"
I almost got a heart attack until I reminded myself that it's not that kind of play. Damn, the other timeline really scarred me it seems.
"Hmmm… What does Cai Hong want to play then?"
"Umm… Hide and seek?"
Oh? I didn't really think she would pick that but I suppose there isn't any reason not to.
"Ok, ok. We can play hide and seek. Does Cai Hong want to hide first?"
"Cai Hong hide! Papa seek! No peeky!"
"Alright, I'll count to a hundred and come find you. Only hide inside the Sect, ok? No going outside."
"Okies~"
The little dragon leapt out from my lap and ran off with the cookie still held in one of her hands. I'm guessing she's planning on enjoying it while hiding.
Alright… I'll just count to a hundred here while Cai Hong goes out to hide amongst those insignificant bei-- No, no, no… Stop…
Do not think of them as insignificant… They are people… Living people… They deserve to be noticed. Don't think about them as simply moving sacks of flesh… Ok…
Damn… I still need help on that front… After being made aware of it, I only just realised how bad it was.
It was to the point that I was even looking at Xun Guan as merely just some other thing and I even needed to concentrate to remember the names of the servants working around my courtyard.
For a while, I even forgot about Sect Master Quan's existence… Wait, no… Sect Master Qing… Yeah, that's his name right? Yeah…
Wait, what was I doing again? Oh right! Counting to a hundred to play with Cai Hong. Let's see… One… Two… Three…
*
I went out into the Sect, looking for my loli dragon.
Honestly, the moment the game started, I had instinctively used my powers to find out where Cai Hong was immediately and had to consciously stop myself from teleporting directly to where she was.
I had to forcibly remind myself that this wouldn't be fun and wiped the memory of Cai Hong's hiding spot from my memory.
That's why I'm walking around the Sect now searching for where Cai Hong could be hiding.
"Good morning Master Lin."
"Hello, Master Lin!"
"Out for a walk, Master Lin?"
Why do these humans keep calling out to me? What do they want? I'm trying to look for Cai Hong here, you know? Go away.
…
Oh, I did it again, didn't I? Damnit.
Right… Err… What do you usually say to people when you're passing by and you're doing something again?
"Hello, greetings, I'm busy, bye."
Yeah… That sounds about right. Can't believe I almost forgot how to behave normally in front of others too, those Origin fragments really did screw me over huh?
At least I still have omniscience to remind me of social norms! Yep, if anything else happens I can just rely on it!
"Good day, Master Lin!" Some guy in white robes greeted me.
"Aye, wassup wit' ya, ya wanker?" I greeted back with a smile and nod.
Oh! Look at how surprised he is, seems like that's a pretty good greeting right? Thanks omniscience! I knew I could count on you!
"Master Lin? Did something happen to you?" The guy asked.
I tilted my head at him, "No? Why did you ask?"
"Umm… No, I guess this must be some new way to talk? Err… My apologies, MasterLin, I'm not too familiar with it."
Huh? What the hell is this guy even talking about? What new way to talk? Isn't this just a normal greeting? Wait, who even is this guy?
…
Oh, that's Sect Master Qing. How the hell did I even forget?
"Are you looking for something, Master Lin?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah. I'm playing hide and seek with Cai Hong right now."
"Ah, then I shouldn't bother you then. Good day."
"Yes, TTYL, GTG," I waved before walking off.
Hmm… That sounded a little weird but it's definitely a way for people to say goodbye according to omniscience. Can't be wrong then.
Oh right, mustn't forget I'm still playing hide and seek with my loli dragon.
I wonder just where could she be hiding?
