“Master expelled the disciples of the Jade Pearl Sect, even after their leader’s death. He declared that as long as the sect harbored individuals who acted unrighteously, they would not be welcome in his domain. The mere mention of Master’s name sent a clear warning, ensuring their leader’s actions would never tarnish his reputation.”
I nodded silently.
I still couldn’t quite understand why the second senior brother revered Qing Chen so deeply, and why he was so reluctant to leave his side. It seemed that such loyalty wasn’t simply due to respect for Qing Chen’s power but stemmed from something far more profound. Perhaps Qing Chen’s calm exterior concealed a warmth that only those closest to him could truly feel.
The next afternoon, the second senior brother left to complete an errand, leaving me alone with Qing Chen. We sat quietly in the courtyard, listening to the faint sound of swords clashing in the distance. I stared at the wooden beam overhead, my thoughts drifting as I occasionally glanced at the neatly trimmed plants nearby.
At one point, I saw a shadow flash across the wall, and I froze. My instincts from centuries of surviving danger kicked in, and I immediately darted behind the nearest pillar. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt like a rabbit hiding from a predator.
But then I paused.
What was I afraid of? Surely, no one here would harm me.
It must have been that mischievous junior disciple trying to scare me!
Realizing this, I angrily stomped out from behind the pillar and made my way to the courtyard entrance. Seeing the junior disciple, I raised my voice: “Third Senior Brother, you’ve gone too far!”
The junior disciple, who had been leaning casually against the wall, raised his head and looked at me lazily. “Ah, you’re overreacting,” he said with a faint smile. “I was just watching to see if you’d finally stop being so timid.”
I frowned, staring at him in disbelief.
Had he forgotten? This third senior brother was utterly deferential to the second senior brother but seemed to enjoy teasing me endlessly.
I sighed and waved him off. “Why don’t you find someone else to torment for a change? Second Senior Brother isn’t here to back you up this time.”
The junior disciple chuckled and straightened up, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “You really have no sense of humor, do you?” he muttered before sauntering away.
As I watched him leave, my thoughts turned back to Qing Chen. I couldn’t help but wonder why the second senior brother had gone to find him earlier. Did something serious happen on the mountain? Or… could it have been something else entirely?
I exchanged a glance with the junior disciple, his expression calm but alert. Sensing he might walk away without saying more, I lunged forward and grabbed his leg with all my strength.
“You’re running away!” he yelled, clearly annoyed.
“Take me with you!” I demanded.
“You—!”
“Don’t leave me behind!” I shouted, refusing to loosen my grip. The junior disciple sighed heavily, clearly torn between exasperation and urgency, but ultimately, he hauled me up and dragged me back toward the inner courtyard of the sect.
“…That sect leader from the Stone Gate Sect was no better than the leader of the Jade Pearl Sect,” he muttered under his breath. “They’ve been stirring trouble for years, preying on weaker sects. However, after their leader’s death, their disciples were too scattered to retaliate. Master went down the mountain to meet them once, and it was enough to send a message.”
When the junior disciple and I later met with the second senior brother, I overheard their brief conversation. I watched Qing Chen in silence, noting the way his eyes remained distant yet piercing, as though he had already considered every move they might make.
“They went to meet the remaining disciples of the Jade Pearl Sect?” I asked quietly.
“Yes…” the second senior brother replied.
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