Chapter 12: The Old Lady’s Footbinding Cloth—Both Foul and Endless

Upon hearing that familiar voice, the disciples of Sword Peak nearly shed tears.

Sob, sob, it’s still their “kindest” senior brother who is best.

Though the senior brother remained stern and unsmiling, appearing aloof and unmatched in pride, they knew deep down—

He was merely tough on the outside but soft-hearted, and he truly cared for all his junior brothers and sisters!

Under their master’s guidance during this time, they felt as if their lives were slipping away.

They longed desperately for their senior brother.

With that thought, they kept blinking at Jiang Biehe as if to say,

“Senior brother? Senior brother! Come back and save us!”

Yet...

Jiang Biehe remained unaware of their thoughts.

Or perhaps he knew but chose not to return.

Life on Green Mountain Ridge was pleasant—he accompanied the sect leader in sword training every day, shared meals with Miss Xu...

He wandered the surroundings, admiring the verdant hills and clear waters.

Such peaceful days were an experience Jiang Biehe had never known before.

In recent days, he had savored them fully.

Moreover, whether it was his imagination or not, Jiang Biehe even sensed his cultivation rising and his spiritual root healing.

Had he not gone to the Pill Building to confirm with the medical cultivators that his spiritual root remained damaged, he might have believed he could resume cultivation.

To be honest, many disciples like Deng Ji called themselves burdens, but Jiang Biehe did not take it to heart.

As the young sect leader said, cultivation is inherently a defiance of fate; setbacks are nothing unusual.

When facing a low point, what matters most is to hold true to one's heart and swim against the current.

Besides, Jiang Biehe’s gaze landed on the little dumpling-like sect leader beside him, and warmth stirred in his heart.

He thought,

Perhaps the disdain voiced by those junior brothers and sisters also contained a hint of jealousy.

After all, he enjoyed the sect leader’s favoritism.

After driving others away, Xia Huanjiao took out a piece of candy and placed it in Jiang Biehe’s hand, mischievously saying, “Little Jiang, don’t be sad. Once we enter the secret realm and obtain remnants of the ancient demon spirits, we can have the people of Xuantian Sect refine them to reconstruct your root bone.”

“Just be sure not to lose yourself and fall into demonic cultivation!”

“That would be such a waste!”

Though demonic cultivation methods also exist among the myriad paths of the Dao,

they are completely unlike those of other sects.

Demonic cultivation often requires “complementing strengths and offsetting weaknesses,” depending on external things—in other words, it is inherently flawed.

It is not a sound path.

Have you not seen how Lin Xiao, once pure and abstinent, lost control of his desires after succumbing to demonic cultivation, engaging in those shameless acts with Heaven and Earth as his playground?

It is truly shameful and unbearable to witness!

Young and pure Jiang must not lose his way and engage in such base deeds!

Perhaps Xia Huanjiao’s heavy concern shone in her eyes, prompting Jiang Biehe to answer more earnestly, “Disciple understands.”

Then he added, “Sect leader, rest assured, I will not be reckless or overambitious.”

The little dumpling nodded vigorously, speaking in a childish voice, “A promising disciple indeed.”

Beside them, Xu Yingying clapped expressionlessly.

“Clap, clap, clap.”

Another peaceful day passed.

At least in theory.

But...

Xia Huanjiao looked at the disciple kneeling before her and slowly furrowed her brows.

[Plot of the delicate, innocent heroine loading...]

[After Lin Xiao fell to demonic cultivation, he renounced all ties and used a life contract to force Bai Lianyi to stay inside the Sword Sect as an informant. In truth, he was tormented inside. His tragic childhood made it hard for him to trust others, so he resorted to this method of “keeping” Bai Lianyi. Only this way could he feel a sense of “possession” and security.]

[Bai Lianyi’s stay in the Sword Sect was also painful. On one hand, she felt Lin Xiao did not love her and was hurt by his distrust. Amidst this sorrow and entanglement, a junior disciple from the Pill Building gently soothed her inner unrest with tender care.]

[This caused her to waver.]

[She enjoyed the junior disciple’s kindness but could not let go of the fallen Lin Xiao. The moral tug-of-war left her in unbearable agony!]

[She was in such pain that those who hurt her should also suffer, so she sent the junior disciple to petition the sect leader, hoping to be allowed into the secret realm to obtain something to survive in this ruthless cultivation world.]

[However, before departure, she still needed Senior Sister Chu’s protective talisman.]

Xia Huanjiao nearly frowned as she read through this lengthy plot.

Was this rambling nonsense concocted by an old lady’s foot-binding cloth really the product of human thought?

What nonsense about being weak and therefore justified?

What madness about the world wronging her, so she must take revenge on the entire world?

Couldn’t these deranged lovers just lock themselves away?

Thinking this, Xia Huanjiao’s gaze fell on the pill refining disciple kneeling before her, filled with frustration.

And this hopeless fellow!

How could he have fallen for such a woman?

Did he not know any relationship involving a third party becomes complicated?

But there was no choice. The Sword Sect had few pill refining healers, and a talented junior like this one was the Pill Building elder’s treasured gem.

What good things had he not seen? How could his eyes be so blinded?

Yet now was not the time to speak.

Why?

Because people are rebellious by nature.

Especially cultivators—their rebelliousness is almost about to break through their flesh and become their life treasure!

After all, without rebelliousness, who could defy Heaven and Earth?

The junior disciple was fair-skinned, sixteen, and handsome.

Raised by Elder Xue of the Pill Building in sheltered innocence, his eyes held only purity.

Truly...

Utter foolishness!

Xia Huanjiao sighed, just as he spoke, “Please, Sect Leader, take pity on Sister Bai and grant her a protective long sword.”

Sword Sect disciples without a bonded sword may petition the sect leader for a protective long sword.

Nearly every Sword Sect disciple possesses one.

It accompanies them through their most destitute times.

Even when left weaponless and forlorn, the protective long sword shields them.

A protective sword is just that—a sword born to protect its disciple.

However, only disciples of the Sword Sect are eligible to receive one.

Bai Lianyi was not even considered a Sword Sect disciple, so what right had she to shamelessly come before the sect leader to ask?

Naturally, the favored junior disciple of the Pill Building had to petition on her behalf.

Before Xia Huanjiao could utter a word, Jiang Biehe said proactively, “Miss Bai is not a Sword Sect disciple; the protective sword cannot be given.”

“Hmph.” Xue Yunhe snorted coldly, then took out his own protective sword and threw it to the ground, his tone tinged with defiance, “Then I shall present my protective sword to Miss Bai, and I hope Sect Leader will grant this favor.”

“Nonsense!”

Xia Huanjiao slammed her chair hard, the jade armrest snapping her hand back painfully.

She bit the inside of her cheek tightly, stifling a cry of pain.

To speak out now would have been utterly embarrassing.

Especially with Bai Lianyi kneeling on the ground, barely able to conceal the smile at the corner of her lips.

Xia Huanjiao took a deep breath, suppressing her displeasure, “That sword is also proof of a Sword Sect disciple’s status.”

“How dare you be so presumptuous as to give away such a precious item so easily!”