Chapter 5: Eat Well and Grow Tall

Jiang Biehe naturally would not refuse Xia Huanjiao’s kindness at such a moment, so he followed her toward Qingshan Ridge.

Meanwhile, those disciples who had initially stood motionless without protecting him suddenly seemed to come to their senses and hurriedly gathered around.

“Senior Brother, don’t go.”

“We know we were wrong, Senior Brother. We didn’t mean to not stand by your side.”

None of them understood why they had frozen in place just moments ago, as if their emotions had been drained away, standing there coldly watching the eldest senior brother being humiliated.

But that was not their true intention!

They had always respected the eldest senior brother and knew he treated everyone well. They were not ungrateful!

Yet, somehow, in that instant, they remained rooted, watching everything unfold with indifference.

Now, seeing the eldest senior brother about to leave with the sect leader, panic set in.

Could it be that the eldest senior brother would never return?

Jiang Biehe was somewhat surprised to see them trying to hold him back.

Just as he was about to say something, the young sect leader beside him remarked, “Now you want to keep him? What were you doing before?”

Then, she reached out and grabbed Jiang Biehe’s hand, preparing to ascend Xu Yingying’s sword. “Xiao Jiang, let’s not bother with them—they’re all bad people!”

The disciples of the Sword Peak turned bright red with embarrassment at those words, lowering their heads like helpless little quails.

“What’s going on here?”

A murmur came from afar, seeming both close to the ear and distant as if carried by the wind.

Just five words, yet spoken like a lover’s whisper, intimate and tinged with subtle affection.

Xia Huanjiao turned to see the only romantic Taoist swordsman of the Sword Sect, Elder Xiao Ce of Sword Peak, approaching gracefully.

He glanced at Jiang Biehe, then at the assembled disciples, his peach blossom eyes sparkling with amusement.

Jiang Biehe was always reserved and inarticulate, especially with junior disciples covertly signaling him, begging for mercy. Naturally, he would not reveal the full story at such a moment.

But even if he remained silent, others would speak.

Xia Huanjiao, protective by nature—especially of obedient disciples—immediately spoke up.

“What else could it be? They saw Xiao Jiang’s cultivation weakened and his engagement broken off, yet they remained indifferent, letting others slap his face repeatedly.”

“When did Sword Sect disciples become so spineless? When struck on the left cheek, they still offer the right one to be hit.”

Though young, Xia Huanjiao spoke clearly and succinctly, laying out the situation plainly.

The elder’s expression grew even more radiant, his smile increasingly forced.

His cold lips parted, and his words sent a chill through everyone present: “It seems the task you were given was too simple, leaving you time to watch the spectacle.”

The disciples of Sword Peak immediately fell silent.

Yet, they dared not show anger nor blame the young sect leader.

After all, this was indeed their fault.

They accepted punishment quietly.

Even with those who could stand up for Jiang Biehe nearby, Xia Huanjiao was determined not to retract her words—she insisted Jiang Biehe stay no longer.

Instead, she took Jiang Biehe and left directly.

Only a small quarrel erupted before they left.

Xu Yingying held Xia Huanjiao in her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on Jiang Biehe trailing behind. Her voice, as cold as ice, nearly froze him in place.

“No.”

Her curt refusal made Xia Huanjiao immediately understand.

She tugged at Xu Yingying’s sleeve and whispered, “Yingying, let Xiao Jiang come up; he’s already injured.”

Before Xu Yingying could reply, Jiang Biehe, showing keen awareness, stepped back.

“Please don’t trouble Miss Xu, Sect Leader. The spirit sword is not something just anyone can mount.”

“Furthermore, there are distinctions between men and women; it would be inappropriate for the disciple to tarnish Miss Xu’s reputation.”

Hearing this, the little bundle couldn’t help but scrunch her delicate nose and mutter disdainfully, “That’s way too old-fashioned.”

“How can someone so young be so inflexible?”

At fourteen years old, Jiang Biehe lowered his head, avoiding the gaze of the three-year-old child.

In the end, Xia Huanjiao could only wave her hand and let Xu Yingying lead her away, still muttering anxiously, “Little Ce should take Xiao Jiang for a walk—don’t let any careless disciples bully him.”

With that, she “rode” on Xu Yingying’s sword and departed.

Only the disciples of Sword Peak remained, exchanging bewildered glances.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce’s peach blossom eyes cooled, and he addressed them sharply, “Aren’t you going to leave already?”

They left.

All of them.

Rolling away quickly.

Only Jiang Biehe stood there, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

Xiao Ce sighed, summoned his spirit sword, and said lazily, “Come up.”

“I will send you over.”

“Thank you, Master.”

…

Xiao Ce was quick, but still no match for Xu Yingying, the attendant by the little sect leader’s side.

By the time they reached Qingshan Ridge, Xu Yingying was already preparing a meal for the young sect leader.

Having just finished the braised pork Chu Shiyue brought, the little bundle had overeaten.

She looked utterly listless.

So tonight’s dinner for the little bundle was prepared with a light flavor.

Apparently nothing the little bundle particularly favored.

Xiao Ce spoke hastily, “The young sect leader doesn’t like dishes like these, right?”

Xu Yingying slowly set down her cooking utensils and glanced at Xiao Ce.

He immediately restrained his movements, adopting a serious tone as he added, “The young sect leader must like it, after all, it’s made by Miss Xu.”

Xu Yingying ignored him, conjuring a small blue flame in her palm that instantly ignited the spirit rice porridge.

Soon, the fragrant aroma of rice wafted from the pot, enticing and warm.

From the main hall came the little bundle’s voice, soft and tender, melting hearts instantly.

“Yingying, what delicious thing are you making?”

“Spirit pig rice porridge.”

Sure enough, there was no further sound from the little bundle for a long while.

A silent refusal.

Xia Huanjiao looked at the porridge Xu Yingying brought with a crestfallen face.

Piteously she murmured, “Do I really have to eat this?”

Xu Yingying’s tone brooked no refusal. Though cold to others, she was far more patient with Xia Huanjiao.

Even her cold voice carried a subtle tenderness: “You have to eat.”

“You’re not in good health.”

Xia Huanjiao’s frail condition was well-known throughout the Sword Sect.

She relied entirely on Xu Yingying’s care and ate very healthily.

Yet she favored strong flavors and worldly snacks with little nourishment.

So sometimes Xu Yingying would prepare foods Xia Huanjiao disliked to ensure she ate properly and observed dietary restrictions.

Tonight was one such occasion.

Seeing the bland, watery porridge, Xia Huanjiao’s nose reddened, and she looked extremely aggrieved.

Beside her, Xiao Ce hurriedly took out a cloth tiger he had bought in the mundane world, placed it before Xia Huanjiao, and shook it gently.

In a coaxing voice like adults soothing a child, he grew even more tender.

“Little treasure, look here—eat well and grow tall.”