Chapter 8: Destiny, Destiny—Must One Obediently Follow Heaven’s Decree?

Xia Huanjiao reached out and firmly held Xu Yingying’s hand. She opened her mouth to say something but found her throat dry and parched, as if smoke was rising from it. Yet, she instinctively sought to comfort Xu Yingying. Xu Yingying, who had cared for her since childhood, must be deeply worried about her.

Xia Huanjiao felt a cold hand touch hers, like an ice sculpture devoid of warmth. Struggling, she tried to open her eyes to clearly see the person before her. But that cold hand covered her eyes.

“Don’t look.”

Though the voice remained flat and without inflection, Xia Huanjiao sensed a faint plea within it. What was she praying for? The little dumpling didn’t understand, only feeling that Xu Yingying must not be so heartbroken. So she obediently waited for Xu Yingying’s emotions to stabilize.

After a long while, Xu Yingying’s voice finally sounded. Wrapped in an embrace scented with a faint fragrance, full of safety, she said, “You’re finally awake.”

Xia Huanjiao even sensed a tremor in her voice. It seemed that Xu Yingying had truly been terrified.

She opened her mouth, wanting to ease Xu Yingying’s tension. “See, I’m fine now, aren’t I?” The little dumpling lifted her hand; her face was still pale, almost translucent, like a dream or a reflection on water—fragile and easily shattered.

Feeling Xu Yingying’s trembling body, Xia Huanjiao opened her eyes wide in disbelief. Was she really that scared?

She quietly allowed herself to be held, then looked at the disciples who had bowed their heads and silently signaled them to leave. But the little dumpling was too young; even when she tried to appear mature, her round face made it seem like she was just playing around. Everyone was making faces at her, and Xia Huanjiao felt as if the sky was collapsing. Didn’t anyone realize she was trying to send them away?

Just then, Jiang Biehe, standing nearby, had a sudden insight and waved the surrounding disciples out. “There are too many people here; it’s stifling. Let the sect leader and Miss Xu stay.”

Only then did everyone leave, and the entire hall was left with just Xia Huanjiao and Xu Yingying.

While Xia Huanjiao felt grateful for Jiang Biehe’s considerate gesture, she soon heard Xu Yingying’s voice.

“Who saved you?”

Who saved her?

Xia Huanjiao looked at Xu Yingying with confusion, her voice genuinely puzzled. “Wasn’t it you who saved me?”

She was about to jump off the bed to physically demonstrate what happened, but…

Xu Yingying’s next words stopped her in her tracks.

“No. When I arrived, you were alone.”

A chill rose from Xia Huanjiao’s feet, numbing all her limbs. The cold gripped her heart as if a tangible hand was squeezing it tightly, making her shiver.

It wasn’t Xu Yingying.

Then who was it?

Who had come to save her?

Xia Huanjiao noticed Xu Yingying’s gaze fixed on her, her brow slowly furrowing in disbelief as she asked, “You don’t really think I could resist Lin Xiao, do you?”

“I can’t even sense ‘Qi’!”

By now, Xia Huanjiao was a little angry. Why could everyone else cultivate Qi but not her?

Seeing that the little dumpling truly knew nothing, Xu Yingying sighed unusually. “I’m not doubting you,” she said. “It’s just that if someone unknown was near you, it would be very dangerous.”

If it had been anyone else, Xu Yingying wouldn’t have bothered explaining. But since it was Xia Huanjiao, she was patient enough.

She pulled the little one into a tight embrace, a white light gleaming on her hand as a warm current flowed into Xia Huanjiao’s body, as if inspecting for internal injuries.

Fortunately, Xu Yingying withdrew her hand soon after, her voice returning to normal without much fluctuation: “It’s nothing.”

Only then did Xia Huanjiao dare to speak, “See, I told you I’m fine. You’re just too nervous.”

Seeing Xia Huanjiao’s coy little expression, Xu Yingying naturally wouldn’t spoil her mood; she simply replied, “Mm.”

But in her heart, she reinforced the barrier outside Xia Huanjiao’s room once again.

It was the incident three days ago that had made Xu Yingying wary. She didn’t know what method Lin Xiao had used, but it had left her completely unaware of his movements.

Xia Huanjiao watched as Xu Yingying became lost in thought and quietly stood up, intending to leave the room.

She was curious why there had been no trace of Bai Lianyi when Lin Xiao came looking for her. It couldn’t be that Lin Xiao came alone and left alone without taking Bai Lianyi with him, could it?

Xu Yingying immediately saw the clever gleam in Xia Huanjiao’s eyes and replied directly, “Bai Lianyi is still in the sect.”

Eh?

That didn’t match what the gossip system had said! They were supposed to have grown closer on Reflection Cliff, so why didn’t Bai Lianyi escape with them?

Could it be that Bai Lianyi was considered a drag?

This thought only deepened Xia Huanjiao’s curiosity.

This storyline seemed to differ somewhat from what the gossip system had described. Did that mean they no longer needed to follow the original plot?

But soon, Xia Huanjiao realized she was overthinking.

When the sect leader asked about the woman brought back by the former head elder, everyone thought for a moment and finally recalled the person.

Chu Shiyue, who had a deeper impression of her, spoke hesitantly, “We haven’t seen her these past few days. She should still be on Reflection Cliff.”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, her face changed dramatically.

“This is bad! She’s a mortal without cultivation. Three days without food or water, she could die, right?”

“Quick, send someone to Reflection Cliff to check on her. If she’s really in danger, we’ll have to use pills to save her.”

The Sword Sect possessed exceptional pills capable of saving someone clinging to the last breath.

Yet, they tacitly agreed not to use them on Bai Lianyi.

Especially Chu Shiyue—she hadn’t forgotten that Bai Lianyi had “stolen” her mysterious iron as soon as she arrived.

She certainly held grudges.

With that thought, Chu Shiyue hurried her movements.

Xia Huanjiao watched their retreating figures and suddenly felt that things were not so simple.

If the author had chosen certain people as protagonists, they surely wouldn’t allow characters they cared about to die quietly, nor let them die so pitifully.

Therefore, Bai Lianyi probably wouldn’t die but would certainly cause the Sword Sect a great loss.

With that in mind, Xia Huanjiao was no longer anxious.

She ordered her people to gather all the pills capable of healing white bones, intending to stash them away and add a little “something extra.”

Even if they couldn’t kill Bai Lianyi, they would at least make her uncomfortable.