Chapter 13: Suffering, True Suffering—More Bitter Than Death Itself!

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Perhaps because he had never seen the young sect leader lose her temper before, Xue Yunhe was momentarily stunned. Then, lowering his head, his stray hair hid the faint redness at the corners of his eyes, making him look utterly aggrieved. Xia Hanjiao’s heart twisted slightly, her lips pursed in a subtle frown.
Hmph.
So pitiful, like a little dog fallen into the water.
But Xia Hanjiao had no time or patience to console him.
Some rules seemed absurd on the surface but were actually rooted in even more outrageous truths behind them.
Previously, some disciples of the Sword Sect had given their protective swords to other cultivators. When those cultivators caused trouble outside, they used these swords, leading to a period where the Sword Sect was seen as bullying others through sheer strength.
However, such ridiculous matters were not to be brought up now to lighten the mood.
Xue Yunhe seemed to realize that no matter what he said, he could not change the young sect leader’s decision, so he awkwardly stood up, preparing to leave.
But turning around, he caught Bai Lianyi’s gaze—her eyes as fluid and clear as water—fixed on him.
In that moment, he felt the world was especially unjust.
Such a delicate woman, yet not even a single weapon for self-defense!
How could this be allowed?
So he turned again to the young sect leader and asked, “May I take Miss Bai with me to the secret realm this time?”
Indeed, Xia Hanjiao had only said no swords, but she had not forbidden anyone from entering the secret realm.
Seeing his stubborn insistence, Xia Hanjiao felt a tinge of disappointment.
In the end, she waved them off.
“Do as you wish.”
Xue Yunhe, unaware of her disappointed glance, happily left with Bai Lianyi.
Only Xu Yingying slowly drew her sword and asked, “Should I deal with her?”
The sound of the blade being unsheathed instantly brought Xia Hanjiao back to her senses.
She quickly shook her head.
With her little plump hand, she grasped the cold, bone-chilling hand and muttered, “Yingying, don’t be so murderous—it’s not good.”
By the side, Jiang Biehe glanced curiously at the two.
Come to think of it, when did Miss Xu arrive at the Sword Sect?
Why had the elders never mentioned her?
It seemed that ever since the young sect leader took charge, Miss Xu had always been by her side.
Xia Hanjiao turned and met Jiang Biehe’s puzzled expression.
But ever polite, Jiang Biehe quickly lowered his head.
Xia Hanjiao knew that Xue Yunhe was not one to easily abandon his ideas.
She sent an outer disciple living downstream of Green Mountain Ridge to inventory the armory—under no circumstances was Xue Yunhe to take any sword.
Hearing her words, Jiang Biehe hesitated slightly, thinking of the pampered junior brother, and spoke cautiously, “Isn’t this a bit too much? The junior brother is young and inexperienced; it’s natural he can’t judge others well. Refusing this one sword might make us seem petty.”
“Young?”
Xia Hanjiao rolled the word on her tongue, then pointed at herself, babyish voice ringing out, “I’m not even five years old.”

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Then she pointed at Jiang Biehe and said in a childish tone, “You’re fourteen.”
“You call a sixteen-year-old young? Is that appropriate?”
Jiang Biehe was momentarily speechless.
Seeing him still caught in indecision, Xia Hanjiao’s innocent face took on a serious expression as she advised, “Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Look at you, only fourteen but acting so serious and solemn.”
“And look at your junior brother—sixteen, and he can’t even tell if someone’s human or ghost.”
She shook her head as she spoke. “Truly damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
Is “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” used like this?
This phrase inexplicably flashed through Jiang Biehe’s mind, but he soon calmed himself.
It’s fine.
The sect leader must have her reasons!
So Jiang Biehe stopped defending Xue Yunhe and instead taught Xu Yingying how to make a fragrant and soft Osmanthus cake.
Watching Xu Yingying halve, halve, and halve the premium rock sugar repeatedly, Jiang Biehe hesitated before speaking.
“Miss Xu, you can add more sugar; it won’t hurt the flavor.”
“It’s bad for health.”
Xu Yingying paid no heed.
“Miss Xu, this is Lingzhu flower, not Osmanthus. Osmanthus is fragrant; Lingzhu flower is tasteless, with a texture like sand—unpleasant to eat.”
“It’s good for health.”
Xu Yingying persisted stubbornly.
Xia Hanjiao watched the two bustling about, humming a tune neither had heard before, her wooden sword brandished vigorously.
Today, she would definitely get to eat a delicious Osmanthus cake, right?
But she truly disliked the Lingzhu flower cake.
Bitter—bitterer than the young sect leader’s own fate.
When the “Osmanthus cake” was finally served, Jiang Biehe evaded Xia Hanjiao’s gaze guiltily, fingers clutching his robe tightly as he endured the torment of his conscience.
He finally lowered his head and closed his eyes, seemingly having given up the struggle.
Xia Hanjiao sighed.
Barely alive.
But still wanting to fight a little, she opened her grape-like eyes, shimmering with tears, and asked expectantly, “Is this Osmanthus cake?”
Isn’t this Lingzhu flower cake?
Xu Yingying, you’re deceiving a child!
Xu Yingying’s expression remained impassive as she pushed the cake toward Xia Hanjiao.
Simply and clearly: “It is.”
Xia Hanjiao closed her eyes, unconvinced. “I’m no longer a three-year-old!”
“Yes, you’re a four-year-old child.”
Xia Hanjiao shut her eyes in agony.

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Eyes shut, she steeled herself and put the “Osmanthus cake” in her mouth.
Bitter.
So bitter.
So bitter that tears streamed down her face!
In her ears, Xu Yingying’s cold voice added to the torment.
“Eating this is good for your health; eat less sweet food.”
“When your body is well-regulated, you can cultivate.”
Xia Hanjiao slowly opened her eyes and looked at Xu Yingying.
A gentle breeze stirred the stray hair at her cheek, adding an inexplicable softness, like spring thawing the ice in an instant: “It will get better.”
The one born with a flawed spiritual root, weak and unfit to cultivate, was not Bai Lianyi.
It was herself.
Only because of her fortunate fate, having been recognized by the previous sect leader as bearing a heavy responsibility, was she appointed as the sect leader.
In truth, everyone knew the current Sword Sect leader was but a four-year-old child who knew nothing.
Xia Hanjiao lowered her head.
Everyone marveled at her luck.
But if she were truly fortunate, she would have a spiritual root, not be barely surviving.
After all, even the elder who never left seclusion said she was a rare millennial who cultivated the mind.
Yet she was burdened with a “leaky” body.
No matter how she practiced, no matter how hard she tried, the energy she gathered one day would mysteriously vanish the next.
Thinking of this, Xia Hanjiao lowered her head and bit into the “Osmanthus cake.”
She blinked, hiding her reddened eyes.
So bitter.
Beside her, Jiang Biehe also felt sorry for the young sect leader and wanted to offer her some candy.
One didn’t even have to taste the cake to know she would cry terribly.
And she took such a big bite!
This was nothing but enduring bitterness.
Just as he lifted his hand, Xu Yingying’s gaze landed on him.
It looked unfriendly.
Like a silent threat.
Strangely, Jiang Biehe recalled the earlier question again.
When exactly had Miss Xu appeared at the Sword Sect?
Why was his memory so vague about this matter?