Chapter 16: Master, It's Time to Take Your Medicine
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What could be more thrilling than the master of a great sect collapsing unconscious in full view of everyone?
Nothing!
Nearly everyone crowded around Xia Huanjiao, but in the next moment, the Sword-Wielding Elder drove them away with a grim expression.
“What are you standing around for? Go find someone!”
If the Sword-Wielding Elder was a smiling tiger on ordinary days, then when he stopped smiling, he became a god of slaughter.
Only before the young sect master did he appear somewhat gentle.
Of course, it was not just him. Apart from the former Dean Elder, nearly all the elders were remarkably mild in the young sect master’s presence.
Perhaps it was because the former sect master had instructed them to treat the young sect master well?
No one knew the exact reason. They simply took it for granted.
After all, everyone was busy—busy cultivating, busy living.
Yet when they left, the three Azure Mountain Spirit Deer had somehow vanished without anyone noticing.
After Xiao Ce carried Xia Huanjiao back to Azure Mountain Ridge and placed her on the jade bed, she finally opened her eyes “weakly.”
Her voice trembled as she murmured, “Xiao Xiao…”
Xiao Ce reached out and took her chubby little hand in his. His voice was exceedingly gentle.
“I’m here.”
“That… Lin, Lin Xiao…”
“Mm.”
Xiao Ce patiently waited for her to continue.
Xia Huanjiao blinked, then began spinning her tale.
“I saw him at the Cliff of Reflection. He was poisoning Xue Yunhe and Bai Lianyi.”
“He even infected the spiritual veins on Cloud Peak with demonic energy.”
The Sword Sect possessed many spiritual veins.
To sit securely as the number one sect in the cultivation world, it naturally could not rely solely on the superior talents of its disciples.
It also needed abundant resources.
Across the countless mountains and seas of the cultivation world, only a handful of sects possessed resources comparable to those of the Sword Sect.
The young sect master, panting for breath, poured out everything she knew as though emptying a sack of beans.
Her eyes were red, making her look unbearably pitiful.
Her body was covered in tiny wounds, and there was even a faint scent of blood about her. She looked as though she had been horribly mistreated.
Everyone in the Sword Sect, from top to bottom, was fiercely protective of their own.
Hearing the young sect master’s words, which sounded very much like a complaint, they naturally could not possibly let Lin Xiao off lightly.
Xiao Ce reached out and stroked Xia Huanjiao’s fluffy head. His voice grew even gentler, as though he feared frightening the little bundle.
“Rest assured, Sect Master.”
“I will make him regret ever being born into this world.”
“Those sect vermin should be dealt with by our Sword Sect.”
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His voice sounded as though the words had been forced through clenched teeth, harsh and murderous.
Yet no matter how fierce he sounded, he did not forget to form a hand seal before leaving, cleansing Xia Huanjiao’s filthy body and drawing the soft quilt over her.
“Rest well. Please put your mind at ease, Sect Master.”
With that, he left the main hall.
Only after Xiao Ce’s figure had completely disappeared did Xia Huanjiao poke her head out from beneath the quilt. Looking toward the doorway, she spoke in a childish voice.
“Come out.”
An elderly, white-haired man appeared from the corner. It was Elder Xue, who had been treating the injured disciples at the foot of the mountain.
Without saying a word, he dropped to his knees before Xia Huanjiao.
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
The demonic energy on Cloud Peak had not been released by Lin Xiao at all.
It had been released by Elder Xue’s own disappointing son.
But Xiao Ce of Sword Peak would not concern himself with such details.
Sword Peak served only the sect master and obeyed only the sect master. It cared nothing for the motives behind anyone’s actions.
Besides…
Xiao Ce had actually noticed something amiss at the foot of the mountain just now.
If the sect master had not brought Lin Xiao up as a pretext, Xiao Ce’s sword might already have fallen upon Xue Yunhe’s neck.
After listening, Xia Huanjiao gave a light cough before speaking.
“Xue Yunhe accidentally inhaled demonic energy and has fallen unconscious. Elder Xue, take him back to the Pill Hall and keep him under strict supervision.”
When she finished, she sighed and gazed out at the spiritual bamboo beyond the window.
“The spiritual bamboo in the Pill Hall flowers only once every ten years. It must be beautiful.”
Elder Xue understood her meaning.
She wanted him to take Xue Yunhe back and keep him confined for ten years, allowing the matter to blow over.
Although this punishment was somewhat cruel for Xue Yunhe, it was still better than becoming a blade in someone else’s hand.
Besides, if Xiao Ce caught him, he would be lucky to escape with his life, let alone without losing half of it.
A mere ten years was no more than a fleeting instant to a cultivator—smoke vanishing before one’s eyes.
With a trembling voice, Elder Xue said respectfully, “Thank you, Sect Master.”
Xia Huanjiao waved a hand, signaling him to rise.
Her round eyes settled on the unconscious Bai Lianyi, gleaming with slyness like those of a little fox brimming with wicked ideas.
She pointed at Bai Lianyi with one chubby finger.
“As for her…”
“Take her back as well.”
“Tell everyone that she risked her life to save Xue Yunhe. Even if she has no cultivation left in the future, we are still willing to give her a place to live.”
Elder Xue’s face went pale, and he instinctively wanted to refuse.
Anyone could see that becoming entangled with a woman named Bai Lianyi would bring no benefit whatsoever.
What was more…
A fallen demon like Lin Xiao and Xiao Ce of Sword Peak were both people impossible to deceive.
“Why are you still hesitating, Elder? Did I not tell you to take Xue Yunhe back?”
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Elder Xue looked up and saw the little bundle sitting upright on the jade bed.
To be fair, the little bundle already possessed several traces of the former sect master’s bearing. There was also a growing majesty about her as sect master.
Beads of sweat as large as beans gathered on his forehead, and he could no longer summon the slightest thought of resistance.
He slammed his forehead against the floor, producing a dull thud.
“Yes, Sect Master.”
Only after the three of them had disappeared from the main hall did Xia Huanjiao feel a wave of weariness surge through her body.
She let out a huge yawn.
Yet her dark, grape-like eyes shone with eager anticipation.
Human nature could not withstand scrutiny.
Especially between people whose status and strength were unequal—suspicion only multiplied.
Bai Lianyi and Lin Xiao had not communicated immediately, nor did they have any way to verify one another’s accounts.
And afterward, the rumors would become that Bai Lianyi had lost her cultivation while saving Xue Yunhe.
For Lin Xiao, who had only just fallen into demonic cultivation, what kind of agonizing betrayal would that seem?
A demon cultivator’s realm was already unstable. Under such circumstances, if Lin Xiao harbored any different thoughts about Bai Lianyi, he would inevitably fall an entire major realm.
At the thought, Xia Huanjiao could barely keep the smile from spreading across her lips.
What fated match? What destiny beyond defiance?
They wanted to use such vague and intangible notions to turn the Sword Sect into their testing ground?
Dream on!
Cultivators never resign themselves to fate!
At that moment, a figure suddenly approached from outside the door.
In his hands was a steaming bowl of medicinal food that smelled rather unpleasant.
Xia Huanjiao’s face stiffened. Instinctively, she wrapped herself in the quilt and tried to burrow beneath it.
However, someone seized her and hauled her straight out.
The newcomer held the bowl in one hand and Xia Huanjiao by the back of her collar with the other.
The bowl remained perfectly steady. Not a single drop of medicine spilled.
His voice was as cold as ice, sending an involuntary shiver through the air.
“Sect Master, it is time for your medicine.”
Oh, no!
Yingying looked ready to explode with anger!
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