However, after a string of complaints, the Second Sect Master had no choice but to accept reality. Six Emperor-realm cultivators had come charging into the
And if
"Second Sister, what do you think?" Xu Qingxuan was a disciple of the Azure Moon lineage, so the Grand Sect Master still needed to hear the Second Sect Master's opinion.
The Second Sect Master said dejectedly, "Pill Fire City has abandoned even its last shred of decency and torn off the mask entirely. What else can we do? A head-on fight? Gamble away the entire foundation of the Moon God Sect? Sigh… although that brat
Against Pill Fire City, the Moon God Sect truly did not have the capital for a direct confrontation. Whether you called it wariness or outright fear, they simply could not wage war against Pill Fire City.
"Qingxuan, your master is useless — I cannot protect you. At least you have a more capable brother, though I won't be thanking him for it. If it weren't for him, Pill Fire City wouldn't be taking their anger out on you." Even now, the Second Sect Master still harbored some resentment, feeling that all of Xu Qingxuan's troubles had been brought about by Jiang Chen.
"Master, it is Qingxuan's fault for dragging the sect into this. Please don't blame my brother. Pill Fire City's ambitions toward our Moon God Sect have never changed. Even without my brother's involvement, they would have found some excuse to cause trouble for us eventually."
Though Xu Qingxuan enjoyed going against Jiang Chen whenever she could, that was merely a young girl's caprice. Deep down, she was proud of her brother and took genuine pride in him.
So when she heard her master still blaming Jiang Chen, she could not help but speak up in his defense.
Under normal circumstances, the Second Sect Master might have nagged a few words or even scolded Xu Qingxuan.
But at this moment, with their parting imminent, the Second Sect Master simply sighed helplessly. "I know you share a blood bond with him and can't stand hearing me speak ill of him. Back when your mother was by your side, it was the same — you never could tolerate a single criticism of her from me. Very well, very well… you are blood relatives after all, and he will surely take good care of you. Sigh… though I'm reluctant to admit it, in the entire human domain, the only power capable of protecting you from Pill Fire City's threats is the Glazed King City."
The Second Sect Master was stubborn with her words, but not foolish.
She knew this truth full well.
"Master, I…" Xu Qingxuan had never heard the Second Sect Master speak with such tender concern before. In an instant, all the little details of growing up at her master's side, learning from her year after year, came flooding back. This master who appeared cold and unapproachable to outsiders had, in the end, always doted on her.
Even if she was stern to the point of harshness in her daily manner, and sometimes spoke in ways that cut close to the bone — toward this disciple of hers, she had truly given everything to nurture and cultivate.
The weight of her master's kindness overwhelmed Xu Qingxuan, and she felt tears welling up, her eyes turning red.
"All right, enough with the sentimentality. A child of the jianghu carries herself with jianghu composure. All this weeping and sniffling — what kind of bearing is that? Enough. There's no time to waste — get ready and depart at once."
The Second Sect Master furrowed her brow and urged her on.
Xu Qingxuan's heart felt as though it were being sliced apart. "Master, Qingxuan truly doesn't want to abandon the sect and leave on her own. I can't bear to part from you either."
"You fool! If you stay here, what would you have me do? Hand you over to them on a platter? Or fight to the death for you? Which is it?"
The Second Sect Master flew into a rage and snapped at her.
"If I handed you over, what Moon God Sect disciple would ever feel loyalty to this sect again? And if I fought to the death for you, how could the Moon God Sect's foundation possibly withstand the combined might of Pill Fire City, the Heavenly River Palace, and the Celestial Sound Temple?"
These words of the Second Sect Master were, in fact, rooted in pragmatism.
In the current situation, Xu Qingxuan remaining in the sect was truly not as good as her leaving.
Xu Qingxuan covered her face and wept softly, her heart wracked with anguish. A deep sense of guilt consumed her — she felt she had dragged her master down, dragged the entire sect down.
"What are you still standing there for? Are you trying to anger me to death?" the Second Sect Master said huffily. "What have I always taught you? When you face a situation, can't you be decisive about it? Firm about it? If you remain this childish in the ruthless world of martial cultivation, how will you ever survive?"
Xu Qingxuan knew her master was truly sending her away. Though her heart ached, she had no choice but to bow. "Master, your disciple will obey. I will leave now. No matter where I go, I, Xu Qingxuan, will always be a disciple of the Moon God Sect — your disciple. This will never change."
A warmth stirred in the Second Sect Master's heart, but her face remained expressionless. She waved her hand with an air of impatience and irritation, as if shooing away a fly.
Xu Qingxuan understood her master's temperament well.
She bowed deeply several times to the Second Sect Master, then turned and walked out.
The moment the Second Sect Master watched Xu Qingxuan's figure disappear from view, her heart felt hollow, as though a part of her had been scooped out entirely. Her spirits plummeted to the lowest depths.
She had raised Xu Qingxuan from childhood, pouring into her all her ideals and expectations. And Xu Qingxuan had never disappointed — among all the Holy Maidens of Pill Fire City, she had stood virtually unchallenged at the very top.
And now, she had to watch Xu Qingxuan walk away from the Moon God Sect with her own eyes.
The pain of this was beyond words.
"Second Sister, your understanding of the greater picture is truly admirable. Qingxuan leaving for a time may not necessarily be a bad thing. Think of it as letting her go out into the world to gain experience," the Grand Sect Master consoled her.