Chapter 4: The Cultivation Protagonist

Jiang Biehe was the current popular protagonist known for being rejected after an engagement. Due to an injury sustained on a mission, he lost his spiritual root, transforming from a prodigy into a cripple.

After learning of this, Su Jiao, his fiancée, immediately came to break off the engagement.

No one stood by him.

Preposterous!

In just a few lines, Xia Huanjiao’s anger soared.

Not to mention that Jiang’s injury resulted from a mission, so the sect should spare no effort to help restore his spiritual root.

Given the Sword Sect’s stature, there was no way they would allow the humble Su family to humiliate a direct disciple!

Xia Huanjiao slapped Xu Yingying’s arm hard, took a bite of the braised pork elbow, then put it back in her dimensional pouch, muttering, “I want to see who dares to be so insolent in the Sword Sect!”

Though small in stature and showing no cultivation aura, at that moment her presence resembled that of the previous sect leader.

The Sword Sect’s dignity was inviolable!

The Cold Snow Sword shimmered with a piercing light under the sun as it turned towards the Sword Holding Peak.

“Jiang Biehe, from now on, we are worlds apart. Today, I present you with a letter of divorce!”

“From this moment, we part ways and live happily apart.”

Though unseen, his voice was heard clearly.

His tone was righteously indignant—utterly shameless!

Then came the brazen Miss Su’s “well-meaning” admonition: “I’m doing this for your own good. You can’t beat the Qin family now. Just sign the paper obediently, and we’ll have nothing more to do with each other.”

“‘For your own good’—what a joke. ‘Nothing more to do with each other’—what a sham.”

A soft voice came from behind Su Jiao. Turning around, one saw the young Sword Sect deputy leader’s face burning with anger.

The little bundle jumped off her “human mount,” bounced twice on the ground, and ran into the crowd, delivering a swift kick to the silent, handsome youth.

“What are you standing there for? Look up!”

The kick didn’t hurt, but it was enough to pull him out of his despair.

The young deputy leader stood proudly before Jiang Biehe, blocking the disdainful gazes from the Su family.

She cast a shadow over him, shielding his fragile pride.

Though not tall and only just beginning cultivation, she always stood at the forefront when danger arose.

The little bundle hid her hands behind her back, wiped the grease from her palms, her childish voice firm: “Who gave you the audacity to speak so boldly in the Sword Sect!”

“Jiang Biehe is the chief disciple of Sword Holding Peak. Even though his spiritual root is damaged, he suffered this misfortune for the Sword Sect. His character is noble, and he is an outstanding disciple. How dare you insult him!”

“Guards, throw them out!”

Su Jiao was momentarily stunned by the little bundle but soon grew flustered.

Seeing the Sword Sect disciples make no move, her eyes glinted with arrogance.

After all, she was just a nominal sect leader with no real power; no one obeyed her.

But in the next moment, the little bundle’s voice rang out again, “What are you waiting for?”

The disciples of Sword Holding Peak moved instantly.

The Su family elder was pressed before Xia Huanjiao.

She glanced at him and, without hesitation, tied his white beard into a butterfly knot.

“You!” The elder’s eyes reddened with fury as he glared at Xia Huanjiao, wishing to tear her apart. “Ignorant child! How dare you!”

At that, sword flashes flew as his beard was neatly sliced off.

Jiang Biehe stood upright behind Xia Huanjiao, holding a pale blue longsword with a trembling white beard hanging from it.

A gust of wind snapped the last remaining whisker in two.

It fell onto the Su elder’s face, mocking beyond words.

“A disrespectful tongue deserves death,” came a cold voice as a sword was drawn.

Though his cultivation had dropped to the Qi Refining stage, Jiang Biehe’s swordsmanship remained peerless.

If one strike failed, there would be ten, a hundred, a thousand…

Tempered through relentless trials, he had mastered the sword way.

Xia Huanjiao was not idle either.

She pulled out a sheet of golden millet paper from her dimensional pouch, grabbed a brush, and swiftly wrote a letter of divorce.

Unlike Su Jiao’s shamelessness, she chose a letter of separation instead of a breakup.

From now on, the bridge belongs to the bridge, and the road belongs to the road—they would never meet again.

“Take this letter of separation and leave the Sword Sect!”

Xia Huanjiao threw the letter at Su Jiao and released the Su elder.

“Get out!”

Su Jiao knew the Su family couldn’t contend with these mad cultivators of the Sword Sect, so she took the letter, bowed, and prepared to leave.

Before departing, she wanted to say something, but Xu Yingying, who had been following Xia Huanjiao, blocked her path.

The Cold Snow Sword appeared before her, its cold and upright form blocking all light.

The chill was bone-piercing, rendering Su Jiao motionless.

After a long moment, as if recollecting herself, she asked, “Are we really severing ties?”

Ignoring the strong unease in her heart, she clutched the letter tightly as if it were a lifeline.

Xu Yingying, who seldom spoke to anyone besides the young deputy leader, only nodded.

She moved the sword slightly, urging Su Jiao to leave.

The Su family and their party were driven away.

All the disciples of Sword Holding Peak bowed their heads, not daring to breathe.

Because…

They felt the wrath emanating from their sect leader.

The little bundle stomped each disciple once, scolding, “How dare you watch others bully little Jiang!”

“How dare you lack the spirit of comradeship!”

Though kicked multiple times, the disciples said nothing and took the punishment quietly.

After all, Xu Yingying stood firm with the Cold Snow Sword, glaring at them unkindly.

Any sign of resistance would surely be met with more severe punishment.

And that punishment was no mere kick—it could cost them ten or fifteen days of cultivation pain.

Once Xia Huanjiao’s anger subsided, she glanced at the group and said irritably, “I don’t want to see this happen again.”

The disciples nodded repeatedly.

Chushi Yue, following behind Xia Huanjiao, watched the scene brighten her eyes.

It felt like Sword Holding Peak was a pure land.

No dirtiness like on Cloud Peak.

In the end, Jiang Biehe saved them all.

The sword cultivator with a high ponytail tied his sword blossom and stored his destined sword, then bowed to Xia Huanjiao: “Thank you, Sect Leader.”

After a moment of silence, he continued, “But as my spiritual root is damaged and my cultivation has fallen to the Qi Refining stage, I am no longer suitable to be the senior disciple of Sword Holding Peak. I voluntarily resign and become an outer sect disciple to start anew.”

Xia Huanjiao sighed as she looked at Jiang Biehe, a little vexed.

Jiang was fine in every way, but his rigid mindset was truly a headache.

“Little Jiang.”

The small figure stood with hands behind his back, like a grown-up.

Her shadow fell upon Jiang Biehe, shielding him from prying eyes.

“There are things in this world more important than cultivation.”

“Cultivation isn’t just about technique; it’s also about cultivating the heart.”

“If one’s heart is insincere, impure, or unsteady, in the end, all efforts are in vain.”

“As for your spiritual root, I will find a way. You needn’t worry.”

“If you’re truly worried about the days ahead, you can come live with me at Qingshan Ridge for a while.”

Her gentle, youthful voice was like a beam of light shining into Jiang Biehe’s withered heart.

He seemed to hear the sound of all things growing anew.

“I will never let you suffer injustice.”