Chapter 51: The Kindness of Rice and the Grudge of Rice
Yu Xia sat alone in the tent, closing her eyes to gather her thoughts.
She had to prepare for the upcoming decisive battle.
The spiritual cannon would break the Demon Cultivation Mountain Gate’s protective array in about half an hour.
…It was more accurate to say it had to break.
Because if they kept bombardment like this, the sect would really run out of spirit stones.
This time, she had resolved to fight the Demon Cultivation Mountain Gate at all costs, even sacrificing the years of spirit stones accumulated in the sect’s treasury.
No matter what, today had to bring a result.
Hua Jianglian was actually not too much trouble.
Although she had exceptional talent, it was still relatively early for her to step into the tribulation stage. Dealing with her alone was no problem.
The only variable was likely the one who had been lurking in the Demon Cult, the one capable of killing her senior brother.
But no matter the risk… Yu Xia bit her lip slightly.
Nothing compared to the temptation of stepping into the Great Ascension stage.
Only by stepping into the Great Ascension stage could the Water Moon Sect hope to stand shoulder to shoulder with the three sacred places.
Only by stepping into the Great Ascension stage could she truly transcend mortality and behold the scenery at the mountain peak.
For that opportunity, she wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice everything of the Water Moon Sect.
At that moment…
“Master, Master…”
A weak, trembling voice came from outside the tent.
Yu Xia frowned slightly, “What is it?”
“The disciple, disciple has come to change the incense burner.”
Changing the incense burner, huh?
It made sense. The incense from yesterday was almost used up.
Yu Xia had a habit. Whenever she needed to calm down, she would light incense in the room, burning her favorite sandalwood.
The deep, profound scent allowed her heart to be tranquil and her thoughts to be clear.
“Make it quick.”
Soon, a small disciple entered the tent, awkwardly carrying the incense burner.
He walked unsteadily, as if it were his first time changing it.
Especially as he approached Yu Xia, he suddenly screamed and fell to the ground.
The incense burner slipped from his hand, scattering ash everywhere.
The entire room was instantly filled with a pungent aroma.
“I, I’m sorry!”
Seeing Yu Xia’s expression darkening, the disciple quickly prostrated himself, banging his head on the ground, “I deserve to die! I deserve to die!”
“…Forget it.”
Yu Xia shot him a disdainful glance, “Truly more useless than a pig or dog. You can’t even handle this small task.”
“Why aren’t you leaving?”
The disciple continued to kowtow in apology.
But his body didn’t move.
Yu Xia sensed something was off, her beautiful eyes narrowing, but before she could react, it was too late.
The spiritual energy within her suddenly became sluggish and almost came to a halt.
…Poison in the incense?! Yu Xia’s heart raced.
This was bad.
Inhaling too much without caution, she didn’t expect the incense to halt her energy flow.
“Jing Yu, what do you mean by this?!” she demanded coldly, glaring at the disciple.
The one named Jing Yu rose expressionlessly, taking two steps back and coldly staring at her.
“Master.”
“When you just called me more useless than a pig or dog…”
“Did you ever think… it would end up like this?” He sneered mockingly.
“You’re looking for death!” Yu Xia’s beautiful eyes flared with anger, “Do you think mere poison can subdue me? You underestimate your master too much.”
“How could I underestimate the master?”
Jing Yu grinned ominously, “I’m just a pawn doing someone else’s bidding.”
Yu Xia’s heart sank.
Sure enough, a familiar yet unpleasant voice slowly resonated from outside the tent:
“Yu Xia, my friend, why be so cruel to your own disciple?”
A plump Taoist wearing luxurious robes and gold jewelry strolled in, a playful smile on his face.
“You must know, there are gods looking down from above.”
“Treating your disciple in such a violent manner, aren’t you afraid one day it will rebound on you?”
Upon seeing He Hongyi, Yu Xia’s heart understood most of it.
She bit her lip hard, her beautiful eyes freezing cold:
“He Sect Leader, what do you mean by this?”
“My Water Moon Sect is attacking the Demon Cult. Not only do you not lend a helping hand, but you also stab a righteous fellow sect member in the back at this moment. Aren’t you afraid word gets out and the Qian Kun Sect becomes the world’s laughing stock?!”
Yu Xia’s scolding was severe, but He Hongyi just smiled cheerfully.
“My dear Yu Xia, your words are mistaken.”
“This journey was not initiated by me with any ulterior motives.”
He lamented dramatically, “It’s just that your Water Moon Sect’s disciples suffer greatly under your oppression, their lives daily akin to purgatory.”
“Now, you even want them to die for your selfish desires in the Demon Cult.”
“He Hongyi is kind-hearted, unable to bear such suffering.” His eyes showed pity, his tone mystical: “Heaven embodies the virtue of kindness. Since your disciples sought my help, how could I sit idly by?”
“I am acting as Heaven’s agent, saving the disciples of the Water Moon Sect from catastrophe. How could the world blame me?”
Yu Xia coldly glanced at Jing Yu beside her.
“Jing Yu, you entered the sect three years ago. Since then, I’ve valued your sincerity and kept you in the Xuanning Hall. Have I ever treated you unjustly?”
“Master, how can you even say that?”
Jing Yu contemptuously raised his chin, looking down at her, “I’ve been working like a dog for you for three years, yet I can’t even become a first-tier disciple.”
“Instead, your daughter runs around all day, causing trouble, and has become the leader of first-tier disciples in the Xuanning Hall.”
“I admit, the master has indeed treated me well.”
“But the principle of ‘kindness breeds resentment’… Shouldn’t you know that, Master?” He sneered.
What a principle of ‘kindness breeds resentment.’
Yu Xia slowly closed her eyes, trying to suppress her anger.
She truly hadn’t expected it.
After being sect leader for so long.
What she had raised around her were nothing but a bunch of ingrates, cowards, liars, and weaklings.
At that moment, a sense of sorrow and powerlessness flooded through her.
She knew that in her current state, she was no match for He Hongyi.
“…What do you want to do?”
Taking a deep breath, Yu Xia calmly looked at He Hongyi.
“My demands are not high.”
He Hongyi closed his folding fan and slowly clasped his hands, “I ask that you, Yu Xia, step down and let others take the lead. From now on, the Water Moon Sect shall merge with my Qian Kun Sect.”
“I guarantee you, Yu Xia will be treated as a special guest, with no worries about food or clothing.”
…Liar.
If she were to bow her head, all that awaited her was a lifetime of endless imprisonment.
She suddenly chuckled lightly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes:
“He Sect Leader, you are so fixated on my Water Moon Sect’s territory.”
“Then it depends on your ability to snatch it away from me.”
He Hongyi lowered his gaze slowly: “Yu Xia, are you refusing a toast and only willing to drink a penalty?”
“As the leader of the Water Moon Sect, I, Yu Xia…”
Yu Xia’s expression was calm, her beautiful eyes showing no hint of fear.
“…If I must die, I will die for the sect.”
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