Qing Chen gestured for me to sit beside him. His tone was gentle, yet I could feel the quiet strength behind it. “Do not fear,” he said. “They will not return.”
I watched him carefully as he spoke, his words measured and deliberate. There was something about him that made it impossible to look away.
When I later recounted the incident to the second senior brother, he seemed amused. “So, Master actually stepped in for you? You must have made quite an impression.”
I frowned, unsure if his comment was meant to be teasing or genuine. Still, I couldn’t deny the truth behind it: Qing Chen had stood up for me in a way no one else ever had. It was a feeling I hadn’t yet learned to process.
“Why…?” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.
The second senior brother smiled faintly. “Because you are one of us now,” he said simply. “A disciple under his protection.”
I stared at him, unsure what to say. For the first time, I realized what it meant to belong to something greater than myself.
I shook my head quickly and replied, “Nothing’s wrong.”
However, Qing Chen’s demeanor didn’t relax. He gazed at me from afar, his eyes unreadable, before stepping closer and gently patting my head. “I won’t allow you to suffer any harm again…” he murmured. His voice was calm, but the weight behind those words left me stunned. Did he know the extent of my fear? Could he see through me?
Before I could process what had just happened, the second senior brother rushed over. Breathless, he called out, “Master! I heard that there was a commotion at the mountain gate…” His words trailed off when he saw me.
His eyes darted to my slightly disheveled robe. “What happened to her?”
“She just fell,” I replied hurriedly, adjusting my robe.
The second senior brother frowned, but his tone softened as he spoke. Though his words sounded comforting, the look in his eyes carried a mix of suspicion and disapproval. “Go back to rest.”
At the mention of the Jade Pearl Sect, Qing Chen’s face turned calm, yet his words carried a faint warning: “They have already left.”
The second senior brother sighed, muttering, “This sect has been stirring trouble for years. They act self-righteously, but they’re nothing but pests that keep appearing.”
“Troubles aren’t worth fearing,” Qing Chen said faintly, his tone dismissive. He glanced at the second senior brother, and the tension in the latter’s expression eased. However, Qing Chen’s next words carried a sharper note: “If their leader’s child dares to act recklessly, ensure that the child learns respect before returning.”
The second senior brother lowered his head in agreement.
As we walked back to the courtyard, I couldn’t help but ask the second senior brother, “Why does trouble outside always seem to follow you? Does Master only step in when things get truly out of control?”
The second senior brother paused for a moment before smiling faintly. “Master doesn’t need to act unless necessary. After all, a name like his already carries more weight than a thousand swords.”
I thought about the Jade Pearl Sect’s leader. He had a reputation for being both arrogant and reckless, yet Qing Chen seemed unconcerned. His composure reflected the vast difference between their standings. Despite being a thousand-year-old ginseng spirit myself, I felt like an outsider in this world, observing from the fringes of their power struggles.
“The Stone Gate Sect is known for its unorthodox practices,” the second senior brother explained as we passed the garden. “They have been hiding in the shadows for years, waiting for an opportunity to rise. However, they lack the strength to challenge anyone truly powerful.”
His words confirmed what I had suspected: Qing Chen’s mere presence deterred them from escalating their actions. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to their visit than met the eye.
Later, I learned that the Stone Gate Sect had previously clashed with another renowned sect at a distant lake. The stories about that battle were terrifying, filled with betrayal and tragedy. As I listened, I couldn’t help but wonder if Qing Chen had played a role in that conflict. His calm yet unyielding demeanor made me suspect that there was more to him than I had initially realized.
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