Wenren Pingxin fell silent for a moment before speaking calmly, "Since we have already been assigned to the tenth competition area, there isn't much that can be done. Elder Wang's action didn't violate the rules of the competition."
Xi Qingyi nodded. He hadn't come here expecting Wenren Pingxin to take the matter up with the Sacred Land's elder council; he simply felt aggrieved.
For the Sword Sect, if we become fearful just because of one additional Half-Step into Dao Integration expert, how could we ever hope to contend with Wuhua Palace?
He glanced back at Su Bei and said indifferently, "We're both Sacred Land elders. How come you don't have that much authority?"
Su Bei looked utterly exasperated.
「He then returned to the Sword Sect's encampment to find his disciples.」
Xiao Ruoching and Mo Li both had their eyes closed, silently circulating their Spiritual Energy.
The Sword Maiden, dressed in a plain ruqun, sat quietly beside them, staring blankly at the Token in her palm.
For some reason, watching the Sword Maiden, Su Bei felt she seemed preoccupied and restless.
"Sword Maiden, what's wrong? Is there something on your mind?"
Su Bei walked over and sat down beside her. His gaze shifted towards the Ascension Platform in the tenth competition area. A heated battle was raging there, the sounds of fierce clashes echoing relentlessly between heaven and earth.
The Sword Maiden's lips trembled slightly as she looked at Su Bei, unsure how to tell him.
He might even... be the father I've never met.
Seeing the Sword Maiden's hesitation, Su Bei glanced down at the Token in her hand and asked softly, "Did you promise to meet that person at the tavern today?"
Shock filled the Sword Maiden's eyes. Her Master actually knew about her encounter with that man at the tavern that day!
A faint smile touched Su Bei's lips as he reached out and gently patted the Sword Maiden's head.
"Since you've made a promise, then go."
That day, although I was downstairs, I had my Selfless Realm active, constantly monitoring Jianniang's surroundings. The middle-aged man concealed his aura exceptionally well, appearing like an ordinary person, but I could distinctly sense there was something unusual about him.
To so deliberately approach the Sword Maiden...
I don't understand the man's intentions, but it's clear he seems to know something about her.
The Sword Maiden met Su Bei's gaze, bit her lip, and took a deep breath. As if having made up her mind, she shook her head.
Su Bei was visibly surprised and asked, puzzled, "Why have you decided not to go?"
The Sword Maiden tucked the Token into her pocket and forced a smile at Su Bei. She then gestured: "I already have a Master; I don't care about anything else anymore!"
"If I were to go behind Master's back, he would surely be upset..."
...
Even if I suspect that man might be the father I've never met, so what?
It's like being trapped in a beautiful dream, like a fragile butterfly struggling in a spider's web. It was Master who gave me everything.
Weak as I am, I can accomplish nothing without Master.
Su Bei's heart stirred, and he sighed softly. Has her consideration for others overridden her own desires?
Perhaps in the eyes of others, this is a part of her weakness. To me, however, it's a quality as precious as gold.
"Master, am I really so useless?"
"I've embarrassed you, Master. Especially since you gave up such a precious opportunity."
Yesterday, in Key Smoke's courtyard, I was the only one who failed to comprehend anything.
Su Bei turned his head and saw her beautiful face already streaked with tears.
Noticing Su Bei looking at her, the Sword Maiden hastily wiped her tears. She still tried to smile at him, but the tears kept falling uncontrollably.
Su Bei gently reached out, wiped the tearstains from the corners of her eyes, and then softly pulled her into his embrace.
Now I finally understand why she has seemed so downcast ever since I took her as my disciple.
Pressure. I had inadvertently placed immense pressure on her. Even though I said I didn't care about all that, perhaps in her heart, she felt this was the only thing she could do for me.
Su Bei's expression softened. He smiled, sighed, took her small hand, and leaning close to her ear, said softly,
"In my heart, you are unique and irreplaceable."
"Even if it hadn't been on that high platform that day, I still would have wanted to take you as my disciple."
I need to let her know she isn't some forgotten girl in a corner. Her wonderful qualities already outweigh her talent, outweigh everything.
A cascade of emotions—shyness, joy, relief—flitted across the Sword Maiden's face. Tears welled in her eyes until she finally let go completely, bursting into sobs against Su Bei's chest.
The butterfly, once ensnared by fate, seemed to finally break free from the spider's web, fluttering towards the vast, open sky.
Su Bei gently patted her back. His gaze drifted to the Elder's Platform, where he exchanged a brief glance with the Eastern Emperor. He smiled faintly, then looked thoughtfully at the empty seat beside the Emperor.