Chapter 17: Do Not Lose the Hearts of Many for the Sake of Love

Xu Yingying was never one to show her emotions openly. This was well known throughout the Sword Sect. Everyone knew that the so-called "maid" who accompanied the young sect leader was not truly a servant. Her cultivation surpassed that of most elders. She simply did not take on teaching duties and focused solely on accompanying the young leader.

Yet, whenever Miss Xu was angry, it usually meant someone was about to suffer greatly. After all, in many ways, she was fiercer than many elders.

Xia Huanjiao was wrapped tightly in a quilt by Xu Yingying, unable to move her limbs, forced to swallow spoonful after spoonful of a bitter medicinal broth. Between sobs, she pleaded, “Don’t make me drink this, it tastes awful!” “It’s so bitter!” It was unbearably bitter—how could something taste so dreadful? Surely Yingying had added a host of bitter herbs to exact revenge on her.

“Exactly.” Perhaps Xu Yingying easily guessed the expression on Xia Huanjiao’s face and confirmed her suspicion without hesitation. Her pale fingers were like frost, and her voice was crystal clear and chilling.

“The sect leader always forgets. I have told you many times: there are many places in the Sword Sect you must not venture alone.”
“Don’t you know that the climate on the Repentance Cliff is frigid? Without me, you wouldn’t last an hour there.”
“And then there’s Lin Xiao...” Xu Yingying snorted coldly at the mention of the name. “He’s merely a third-stage Out-of-Body cultivator, a worthless fool. Is he really worth your constant vigilance and fear?”

Xia Huanjiao was at a loss for words. Being a third-stage Out-of-Body cultivator was not particularly impressive. While such a level could secure a respectable position in other sects, within the Sword Sect, it was insignificant. The head elder of the academy was the lowest in rank, cultivation, and contribution among all elders.

Xu Yingying’s strength was unfathomable, and for her to say this suggested she was well above that level.

Moreover, challenging beyond one’s realm was a tradition in the Sword Sect. It was not uncommon for a Qi Refining stage swordsman to face off against a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.

What troubled Xia Huanjiao was not Lin Xiao’s cultivation but his fate as a “protagonist.”

Fate—something invisible and intangible—was crucial to cultivators. Many fell short by just a fraction of this celestial secret. In some sense, these “protagonists” possessed a special destiny.

Whether this fate truly belonged to them was another matter. To Xia Huanjiao, a large part of Bai Lianyi’s fate was bound to Lin Xiao and the Sword Sect. She seemed like a parasite, leeching off others’ fate to forge her own path. Was this not a form of corrupt cultivation? Such thoughts had long haunted Xia Huanjiao’s mind. She felt these so-called “protagonists” were nothing more than thieves stealing others’ fate.

But she dared not voice such accusations; instead, she only grumbled, “He’s very cunning.”

Seeing Xia Huanjiao’s evasive expression, Xu Yingying knew the matter was more complex. Yet since Xia Huanjiao would not speak, she had no reason to act and continued feeding her the medicine.

That night, Xia Huanjiao fell asleep slowly. Xu Yingying set up new protective barriers around her and, carrying her sword, went to the Pill Building.

The Pill Building was always bustling, even now teeming with people. Naturally, cultivators required no rest and could immerse themselves endlessly in practice.

As Xu Yingying arrived, the disciples of the Pill Building felt the temperature drop abruptly. It was freezing. This ice-element celestial root maiden was like a walking glacier.

The senior disciple of the Pill Building stepped forward cautiously. He had been told by his master to be on high alert when meeting members of Qingshan Ridge and the Sword Peak and not to provoke them.

He sighed deeply, unsure what trouble the junior disciple had caused this time, but he noticed a weariness in his master’s demeanor.

Xu Yingying twirled her sword gracefully, her gaze not lifting to acknowledge the disciple, clearly dismissing him.

“Where’s Xue Changqing?”

“The master is busy concocting antidote pills for many fellow disciples and cannot meet you now. Please forgive us, Miss Xu.”

No sooner had he spoken than a chill settled on the back of his neck—it was the Snow Condensing Sword.

“Enough with the nonsense.”
“It’s only demonic energy infiltration. Such a little demonic energy will dissipate once the sun rises tomorrow. Why does that old man need to make any pills?”
“The sect leader has always treated you well, yet this is how you repay her?”

Xu Yingying’s voice was low, devoid of emotion, carrying a lethargic, almost deathlike tone. But now, it bore threat and pressure.

The disciple nearly faltered under the sword’s oppressive aura, wishing he could kneel to this fiercely protective and unreasonable Miss Xu.

At that moment, Elder Xue, who had been hiding like a timid turtle, finally emerged. His once pristine robes were stained and dirty; he looked haggard and broken, bent over for a mere child.

Upon seeing Xu Yingying, he cupped his hands and muttered vaguely, “This is the sect leader’s directive.”

Xu Yingying raised an eyebrow. “I know it’s the sect leader’s will, but I will make sure the grievances she suffered are righted!”

Her cold gaze swept over the Pill Building disciples. “From this day forward, the monthly quota of the Pill Building is halved until the secret realm opens and normal operations can resume.”

Some could not contain their anger. “On what grounds?”

Xu Yingying’s gaze landed on the speaker, and with a flick of her sword, she severed a lock of the disciple’s hair.

“Ah!”

The disciple turned pale, clutching the hair with teary eyes, pitiful yet too afraid to speak further.

“Because today, the Pill Building produced a careless mistake.”
“Therefore, the entire Pill Building shares the blame.”

Her gaze then settled on Xue Changqing. “Elder Xue, please supervise strictly in the future. Do not let such incidents happen again.”

With that, she soared away on her sword, leaving the Pill Building disciples stunned and trembling.

Finally, Xue Changqing stifled their panic, urging them to rest early. Then, hunched over, he returned to the courtyard. Gazing at the unconscious child, he murmured, “Do not lose the hearts of many for the sake of a child’s feelings.”

...

When Xia Huanjiao awoke again, everything had returned to normal. However, due to the previous day’s events, Sword Peak had tightened its controls, increasing patrols from groups of three to five.

The entire Sword Sect’s defenses were now impenetrable—no living mosquito could enter unnoticed!

But Xia Huanjiao knew that the Heavenly Dao would not let its children suffer losses.

Those “protagonists” would still come.