Chapter 14: Extreme Wisdom Often Leads to Early Demise

Practitioners of cultivation never forget anything unclear.

There was only one possibility.

That was...

This matter itself was suspicious.

Yet, no one in the entire sect acknowledged it openly; everyone chose to turn a blind eye.

However...

Jiang Biehe watched Xu Yingying’s devoted care for the young sect leader and suppressed all his doubts.

Perhaps, the mysterious Miss Xu simply liked the sect leader and wanted to leave something behind for her.

Among cultivators, character varies greatly. Some mighty ones seize mountains to establish their own sects; others, weary from struggle, retire to the mountains and fields in peace.

Xia Huanjiao was still unaware that Jiang Biehe was mentally putting on a grand show. After swallowing the unpleasantly “osmanthus cake,” she bit into a candy and mumbled softly,

“It’s delicious. Just don’t make it again next time.”

The emotional value was full, but truly, it was inedible.

Xu Yingying simply gathered the jade plate with delicacies without replying.

Xia Huanjiao’s cheeks puffed up in frustration.

She was angry!

Yet, she was not ungrateful; she understood Xu Yingying’s concern.

Only with a healthy body could one cultivate.

She could not guide the Sword Sect forward while carrying a body full of leaks.

Cultivation was the foundation of one’s existence.

Relying on others would falter, relying on mountains would collapse, relying on things would dissipate.

No one knew whether accident or tomorrow would arrive first.

Only oneself was the most controllable variable.

Xia Huanjiao felt tired.

She waddled over to the jade bed, stretched out her hand, wanting Xu Yingying to hold her.

Xu Yingying watched Xia Huanjiao quickly fall asleep, extinguished the incense burner, and signaled Jiang Biehe with her eyes to follow her out, so as not to obstruct inside the room.

After they stepped out, Jiang Biehe couldn’t hold back and asked, “Why is the sect leader’s body so frail?”

Indeed.

Frail.

Incomplete spiritual roots, drowsiness, dietary restrictions...

And the ability to wield only wooden swords—all indicated the young sect leader’s body was weak.

Xu Yingying glanced at Jiang Biehe, and after leaving Xia Huanjiao, the warmth in her eyes diminished considerably.

Her cold voice could not conceal the underlying hostility of Heaven itself toward the young sect leader.

“Extreme wisdom leads to injury.”

“She’s already trying hard to save herself.”

“Rest assured.” Xu Yingying paused, her tone tinged with sarcasm. “Thanks to all of you, she’s not that easy to kill yet.”

The words were harsh.

Even somewhat cruel.

But the malice wasn’t directed at the young sect leader.

It was aimed at everyone else besides her.

Jiang Biehe recalled how the young sect leader had worried over everyone these days and lowered his head in guilt.

Miss Xu was right.

Their condition was truly a burden to the young sect leader.

...

Days passed, and Bai Lianyi seemed to cause no trouble, perhaps due to Xia Huanjiao’s unyielding attitude.

But Xia Huanjiao did not believe she would be so obedient.

Especially now, with the addition of the untrustworthy Xue Yunhe, the danger doubled.

Just as Xia Huanjiao was thinking this, she noticed today’s atmosphere was especially quiet.

Strange—usually at this hour, everyone would be practicing swordsmanship. Why was it so silent today?

At that moment, Jiang Biehe entered with a cold expression, knelt before Xia Huanjiao, clasped his hands, and spoke with unprecedented seriousness:

“Reporting, sect leader, many disciples of the Sword Sect are unwell today, suspected poisoning.”

“We request that you remain in place and refrain from movement. We will investigate before patrolling the sect.”

Xia Huanjiao hesitated as she was about to get off the bed. It felt as if a fist struck her heart—uncomfortable and painful.

But she knew that rushing out now would only hinder the investigating disciples.

So, she withdrew her feet.

Obediently sitting cross-legged on the jade bed, she lowered her head, hiding her expression.

Only her tone lacked the previous liveliness.

“Very well.”

With the situation urgent, Jiang Biehe did not linger. Before leaving, he said, “Miss Xu has gone ahead; I will stay here to report to you.”

“Mm.”

The little bundle sat obediently on the bed, wrapped herself tightly in the thick quilt, and her muffled voice came from within, heavy and gloomy, weighing down one’s heart.

“I will wait here for your return.”

Jiang Biehe found the sect leader’s attitude strange but had no time to ponder and turned to leave.

What he did not expect was that as soon as he left, the young sect leader popped her head out from the quilt.

She wobbled, climbed down the bed, rolled, scrambled to her feet, dusted off her disheveled clothes, donned a cloak, and prepared to go out.

Stay obedient? Not a chance!

As the Sword Sect’s leader, she must advance and retreat with her sect!

Of course, Xia Huanjiao was also curious about who was behind the poisoning.

Ever since those “main characters” arrived, her once peaceful life had become quite eventful.

Though lacking concrete evidence, Xia Huanjiao felt this matter was inseparable from Bai Lianyi.

She hoped Xue Yunhe was not involved; otherwise...

The little bundle squinted, then slowly spoke in a small childish voice:

“Otherwise, send him to the Reflection Cliff to grow spirit herbs!”

While muttering, Xia Huanjiao took out a magical treasure from her storage bag and, waddling on her short legs, headed down the mountain.

Among the disciples standing nearby, Xu Yingying seemed to sense something. She looked up toward Qing Shan Ridge and sighed.

“How can she be so disobedient?”

Xiao Ce, holding his sword, asked, “Disobedient about what?”

Xu Yingying ignored him, saying nothing.

Xiao Ce shrugged in resignation, used to this behavior.

Elder Xue, dark circles under his eyes, was taking pulse readings of disciples, muttering, “What’s going on here?”

“What’s with these symptoms...”

Xu Yingying snorted coldly and turned away from the pill hall.

Only Xiao Ce and Elder Xue exchanged glances.

Who had offended our ancestors this time?

Always such gloom.

Xiao Ce glanced at Elder Xue and suddenly asked, “Could it be someone you know?”

“No way!” Elder Xue’s voice rose sharply.

The dark circles beneath his eyes seemed to glisten with tears.

“Do not slander me!”

Xiao Ce quickly looked away, waving his hand.

“Just joking. Why so serious?”

“All right, all right. Hurry and refine antidotes. I want to see them recover. They look as if ill fortune has befallen them.”

The surrounding disciples lowered their heads, their handsome faces flushed with embarrassment.

Silently they thought:

This is an elder. That’s an elder.

We can’t fight him.

Don’t act impulsively.

But their acting was poor, easily seen through by Xiao Ce.

His gaze fell on the registered disciples, as if recalling something, and asked:

“Why aren’t your junior apprentice brother and that mortal here?”