Chapter 9: Is this the kind of plot a human would actually write?

The Sword Sect disciples spent the better part of the day searching the Cliff of Repentance before finally discovering Bai Lianyi in the furthest corner. She appeared to be on the verge of death, her complexion as pale as snow, with barely a flicker of life remaining.

"Should we save her?" someone asked. Truth be told, they were reluctant to waste their precious medicinal pills. Yet, they could not bring themselves to let her die. Ultimately, they turned their gazes toward Chu Shiyue, hoping for some reaction from the person most involved.

Chu Shiyue: "..." No, why are you looking at me? What kind of reaction could she possibly have? Obviously, save her!

Chu Shiyue sheathed her natal sword and clutched her tattered storage pouch, her expression stern. "I’ll say this first: I don't have any life-saving pills in my pouch. Don't even think about taking them from me!" She then hugged her natal sword tightly, her voice rising to a sharp pitch: "And this is my Dao partner! Don't even think about borrowing it!"

The other disciples exchanged glances, then looked up at the sky.

"I... I need to take my natal sword for maintenance."
"My natal sword has a bad temper; it doesn't like strangers."
"My natal sword hasn't been feeling well lately; it can't carry anyone."

One excuse was more absurd than the last. But for a sword cultivator, their natal sword is their most prized possession; it was perfectly normal to be unwilling to use it to carry another person. In the end, after much deliberation, they decided on the most primitive method: pulling her back on a flatbed cart.

Watching Bai Lianyi tied up like a piglet, Chu Shiyue felt absolutely wonderful. When Xia Huanjiao saw Bai Lianyi in such a state, she glanced at an innocent-looking Chu Shiyue and remarked, "She’s a girl, after all. Do try to be a bit more mindful of her image." However, her hand gave a very honest thumbs-up, as if saying, "Well done."

Chu Shiyue chuckled, then cupped her hands and said, "Disciple found this person at the Cliff of Repentance. How does the Sect Leader intend to handle this?"

Xia Huanjiao did indeed have an idea. Does a character favored by the Heavens possess some sort of "luck buff"? If she kept Bai Lianyi in the Sword Sect, right under her nose, she could see everything the girl attempted to do and prepare accordingly.

In full view of everyone, Xia Huanjiao fed the pill into Bai Lianyi’s mouth. Nearby, Xu Yingying frowned, looking somewhat displeased. Xiao Ce noticed immediately that this pill was the same one Xia Huanjiao had given to Jiang Biehe. He instinctively wanted to intervene.

"You don't have many of these pills left. The Elder of the Pill Room left them for you, and now that he’s in seclusion, no one knows when he’ll emerge. You don't keep them for yourself, yet you're so generous with giving them away to everyone else."

At this, Xia Huanjiao smiled, her round, chubby face looking remarkably magnanimous—a stark contrast to a cultivation world where everyone fought tooth and nail for supremacy. Xiao Ce even started complaining to Xu Yingying, growing bolder: "You didn't stop her. The Sect Leader might not know how precious this is, but surely you do?"

Xu Yingying certainly knew, but her attempts to dissuade the little one had been futile. The little dumpling was headstrong, constantly spouting things like, "Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda." In her opinion, it was all nonsense. People should look out for themselves, or perish. The path of cultivation was meant to be one of defying the Heavens; sacrificing so much for such a person was simply not worth it.

What they didn't know was that this was exactly the mindset Xia Huanjiao wanted to cultivate. This way, everyone would know she had been good to Bai Lianyi. If Bai Lianyi ever tried to play the victim later, claiming "everyone is bullying me," people would bring this up and recount it over and over. She would never be able to remain high and aloof, unstained by the dust, as described in the original text.

Xia Huanjiao was determined to save Bai Lianyi in front of everyone, forcing her to owe a debt of gratitude. If you do a good deed, you must do it with fanfare—loud enough that everyone knows you did it. One must stand on the moral high ground and strike first. That way, even if Bai Lianyi caused trouble later, it wouldn't reflect on her. After all, she was just a young child under five who was eager to save a life. What kind of bad intentions could she possibly have?

People in this world are biased. Hearts don't grow in the center of the chest, so it’s perfectly natural to have preferences. Normal people sympathize with the weak. Even if Bai Lianyi tried to feign frailty later to win sympathy, it wouldn't work. After all, compared to a young woman capable of taking care of herself, Xia Huanjiao—this little bean—looked much more vulnerable.

Of course, if Bai Lianyi remained well-behaved, Xia Huanjiao wouldn't resort to such tactics. She wasn't a devil; she just wanted her disciples to cultivate and grow in peace. She was protective of her own. With this thought, the look of worry on Xia Huanjiao’s face deepened. It was somewhat comical to see such an expression on a tiny dumpling, but no one laughed; they only thought the little Sect Leader was kind-hearted.

Soon, with the help of the supreme-grade pill, Bai Lianyi slowly regained consciousness. Upon opening her eyes, she saw a sea of heads, with Xia Huanjiao closest to her, which startled her so much she nearly jumped out of her skin. She curled up, trembling, her loose hair veiling her eyes, looking truly pitiful.

The Sword Sect disciples, mostly pure-hearted and unaccustomed to such scenes, felt a pang of pity. One comforted her, "Don't be afraid, you're safe." They gestured toward Xia Huanjiao, their tone softening: "Our Sect Leader gave you her most precious pill to save your life."

"That's right, you can stay in the Sword Sect, but you'll need to work hard to repay the debt of the pill."
"Don't worry, that scoundrel Lin Xiao has already been driven out; no one will bully you anymore."
"Our Sect Leader is very kind."

Each of these words, falling into Bai Lianyi’s ears, sounded less like comfort and more like a threat. Her expression grew increasingly grim. As the protagonist, she wasn't stupid—especially as a transmigrator—and she understood the importance of the "vulnerability" attribute. However, she couldn't believe that a mascot Sect Leader, one without real power who relied solely on being cute, could think of this and use such a method to deal with her.

Xia Huanjiao was not yet five, and... she would die soon. The title of Sword Sect Leader was her protection, but also her cage. Many viewed her as a thorn in their side. She was nothing to fear. With this thought, Bai Lianyi’s expression returned to normal, reverting to her usual soft and weak persona. It was quite a sight.

Xia Huanjiao didn't miss the change in her expression, but her mind was elsewhere. Why wasn't she afraid anymore? Was there some sort of "gold finger" in the subsequent plot to help her?

[Subsequent plot loading.]
[As the one who saves Lin Xiao, Bai Lianyi bears the heavy responsibility of helping him overcome his inner demons.]
[Soon, she will find a heaven-sent opportunity to bring the fallen Lin Xiao into the Sword Sect, turning the sect upside down, shattering his inner demons, and making him the next generation's Sword Sect Leader.]

Xia Huanjiao: ???
Is this plot even written in human language? If you can't write a decent story, you don't have to write one at all!