93 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 93: Embrace The girl from a small mountain village met her first friend when she was brought to a distant celestial sect... Guilt overwhelmed her, growing more intense by the moment. Xiang Shiyan locked eyes with the girl’s warm brown gaze. She had planned to go out and find Huai Ye to clarify the situation, but her steps halted at the door, hesitating on the threshold. Qian Danni’s injury didn’t elicit much reaction from Hehe. Her clear brown eyes momentarily dimmed, and she bowed her head slightly. Seeing Hehe’s dispirited expression, Xiang Shiyan couldn’t help but feel apologetic: “Her injuries aren’t severe; she’s currently resting. I bear a significant responsibility for this incident. My disciples were harmed without reason, and the perpetrator should be punished to console the injured. However, Bai Jinghuan’s influence is great, and despite Yu Ming’s strong resistance, it was still difficult to apprehend the person from under his hand... If I had returned earlier, I could have at least stood up for Qian’s sake.” Moreover, the main reason Huai Ye chose not to rejoin the group when they were separated was because Xiang Shiyan had entrusted him with the task of finding the Cloud Covering Clothe in Lingguan Mansion, making it inconvenient to travel with so many people. If Huai Ye had been there, such an incident might not have occurred. She took a deep breath. This situation hadn’t happened in the original story. Bai Jinghuan’s disciple, acting on his master’s orders, was to probe Qin Miao in the secret realm and block him at the exit if necessary. Yet, this person coincidentally encountered Qin Miao in the realm, wielding a sword gifted by his master, and rashly challenged the male protagonist, who was brimming with confidence. Qin Miao transformed his Fire Spirit Root into a Thunder Spirit Root with Huai Ye’s help, and with the Dragon Bone Saber by his side, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators were no match for him. The challenger was defeated, left with a grudge against Qin Miao. Their objective achieved, there was no need to cover their actions by robbing other teams; they hurriedly left the secret realm to report to Bai Jinghuan. Due to Xiang Shiyan’s intervention, the members of the current Hun Yuan Expedition Team differed significantly from the original work, including several disciples who were not self-sufficient. As a result, the scenario where a disciple of Jade Mountain was gravely injured never came to pass in the original narrative. Furthermore, Qian Danni didn’t exist in the original story. Xiang Shiyan’s gaze darkened. As soon as she had heard that Yu Ming had accepted a disciple she had no recollection of, she became wary, having almost guessed Qian Danni's true identity. Regardless of this individual’s intentions, being a disciple of Jade Mountain meant Xiang Shiyan had a duty to protect her. What pained Xiang Shiyan wasn’t Qian Danni’s injury but that a disciple of Jade Mountain was humiliated, and Hehe’s friend was harmed without cause. The girl’s warm eyes carried some agitation: “How is this the master’s fault? Isn’t it Xuanzong’s fault for being too overbearing?” Earlier today, numerous rogue cultivator teams left the secret realm looking devastated and silent. Yet the atmosphere grew increasingly tense in the quiet, hoping the Four Sects would seek justice for them. But among the five great sects, only Jade Mountain disciples came out, one carrying a girl with a bloody head, tumbling out in distress. Upon seeing her disciple in critical condition and hearing the explanations from others, Yu Ming demanded Xuanzong to give an explanation. Other minor sects and rogue cultivators took this opportunity to voice grievances about similar plundering. Bai Jinghuan had anticipated this and avoided direct confrontation, saying they’d discuss the truth once Xuanzong’s disciples emerged. Seeing his indifferent manner, everyone realized Xuanzong’s rampant behavior was under his protection. Though young people might be hot-headed, they weren’t fools. Seeing the thirty thieves from Xuanzong with a regional-grade spirit sword, few dared face them directly. Aside from Qian Danni, there were no severely injured individuals, and those from smaller sects wouldn’t dare challenge Xuanzong, choosing instead to flee quietly. Qian Danni, only in the fourth level of Qi Refinement and very young, was as vulnerable as a mortal before more skilled cultivators. When knocked down, she accidentally hit her head on a sharp stone. By the time she was carried out, she was on the brink of death. Seeing the once lively child now like this, Yu Ming was naturally furious and vowed to demand accountability from Xuanzong. Yet, seeing the half-dead Qian Danni awaken after rudimentary treatment, Elder Yishi was surprised by her fortune. Despite the frightening head wound, she was lucky enough to retain her life and suffered no major injury. Hence, he chose to dismiss the incident as minor, considering it wasn’t worth engaging in conflict with Xuanzong. Yu Ming, however, held a different view, regarding Xuanzong’s actions as unjust and dishonorable, lacking both the dignity of foremost cultivators and the civility expected among celestials. Although her disciple was safe, had the stone’s angle been slightly different, Qian Danni could have died there. A victim’s luck shouldn’t absolve an aggressor of their guilt. When Xuanzong’s disciples swaggered out, Bai Jinghuan shamelessly declared that since there were no explicit rules against seizing others’ gains, his disciples had done no wrong. Moreover, the secret realm was a recognized battlefield, and those who wanted resources must compete for them. Even when some tried to restrain her, Elder Yu Ming, before representatives from over ten sects, protested to the elder of the Great Ascension Stage: “In peaceful times, you speak of lives being sacred and the inviolability of sect dignity. Yet when trouble arises, the strong devour the weak, and the victors take all. Does Xuanzong feast both civilly and barbarically, not fearing to choke?” Enraged, Bai Jinghuan unleashed his Great Ascension Stage aura, casting a shadow over the clear sky. Amidst the fierce winds, only the elder stood solitary upon his sword, commanding the low-ranking disciples to kneel in terror. Protected by two Nascent Soul elders, Jade Mountain’s disciples remained largely unaffected, even those who initially sought to restrain, intervened to shield their disciples from the harsh winds, with Yu Ming herself shouldering the brunt of Bai Jingyi’s spiritual pressure. The Four Sects were likewise unyielding. While lower-tier sect members might kneel to senior figures, they were on par with Xuanzong and couldn’t afford to let their sect be humiliated in disputes. Yu Ming, a sigil cultivator, was not adept in direct confrontations, and her strength was the weakest among Jade Mountain elders. Yet, even with her legs burdened as if by a thousand pounds, she resolutely bore the weight, watching Bai Jinghuan and his disciples depart, loudly proclaiming, “Jade Mountain will never forget this day!” The Zhu sisters hadn’t heard the full story earlier. Xiang Shiyan hadn’t informed them for fear of burdening them with guilt, thinking they had delayed her in Huaihai City, causing harm to an unseen senior sister without severe retribution upon the culprit. The truth was indeed as such. Zhu Yu felt her sister's once tense grip relax slightly, not from relief but perhaps dread. Zhu Yu clasped her sister’s cold, trembling fingers, feeling her own palms grow clammy. Xiang Shiyan noticed their reaction. The perceptive child masked her helplessness, yet she also didn’t know how to comfort them. Upon returning with the girls, they encountered a Jade Mountain team enveloped in grave silence, facing an unstable elder. Expecting the elder to be pleased seeing the sisters, she instead caught a glimpse of their Ning-like features, instantly fleeing like a startled bird, now barricaded in her room. Xiang Shiyan sighed quietly, gently patting Hehe’s head, “Qian is resting in the room at the end of the cabin. You can visit, but do not disturb her sleep.” Hehe nodded, stepped out, but couldn’t resist taking another glance at the silent Xiang Shiyan standing by the door, staring intently at the elder’s room. She turned back to whisper something to the twins. “This matter is unrelated to you two. It was my oversight to bring you back at this time, but I don’t regret it, even if returning a day earlier was my contribution. As for Elder Yu Ming, her relationship with Ning is more complex than mine, and Qian's injury is not your fault, nor will anyone blame you. Ultimately, it’s my lack of forethought.” Hehe bit her tongue to stifle a silent protest, begrudgingly admitting that Xiang Shiyan tended to find fault within herself during crises, proving once again why she was unsuited for the path of lovelessness. Xiang Shiyan's stunted advancement was partly due to her late-blooming mixed-race physiology, and her inability to progress in the path of lovelessness was a significant factor. Switching to a practice befitting a jade fox might give her a chance to ascend, though changing paths from lovelessness wasn’t simple. One could only hope her master would soon see reason. As Hehe reached Qian Danni’s door, she unexpectedly encountered Huai Ye and Long Ruiqing emerging from the room, both pausing in surprise. Huai Ye hesitated, seemingly wanting to speak, but was promptly halted by Hehe: “If you’re going to say that by not parting ways with them that day, all this wouldn’t have happened and that it’s your fault, there’s no need. You yourself mentioned that there were variant Purity Worms that could attack from high places, making flying over the forest risky. Furthermore, you couldn’t have carried both Qin and me on your sword. Splitting up was the most efficient choice.” “But—” “Enough, Master has been apologizing endlessly to me already, I wonder where this strong sense of morality you all possess comes from,” Hehe sighed. “Every mistake made here is Xuanzong’s fault. That Bai Elder’s disciple is likely to show up at the next Hidden Dragon Ranking; you could make him half-crippled, and it would just about compensate for Danni’s brush with death.” People without a sense of morality wouldn’t be as troubled as they were now. Shouldn’t everyone be united in condemning Xuanzong instead? Yet, everyone seemed to be taking the blame. Hehe rubbed her forehead, thinking that if just a bit of her master and elder sister’s introspection could be shared with her, it would perhaps benefit everyone. Though she spoke with a teasing tone, when Huai Ye met her gaze, he sensed a certain chill, prompting him to calm down and quietly reply, “Since that’s the case, I shall settle this matter with Sister Qian another day.” Long Ruiqing looked complicated, burdened by his own worries, and uninterested in stopping his friend’s thoughts of revenge. He casually remarked, “Just remember not to kill anyone; Xuanzong is full of unexpected twists and turns.” “After you return from Uncle Xiang, keep an eye on the younger disciples for me. Right now, Master is locking herself in her room like a quail, so I’m off to check on her,” Long Ruiqing nudged Huai Ye, grinning mischievously, “Go on, there’s a surprise waiting for you.” Huai Ye gave him a suspicious glance before heading towards Xiang Shiyan’s place, feeling perplexed. Hehe turned back into the room, gently closing the door behind her. As she did, the previously slumbering patient opened her eyes, gazing at Hehe with an indifferent expression, “You shouldn’t provoke her like that. Sister Huai Ye doesn’t know her own strength; she might actually kill someone.” Hehe pulled up a chair and sat down, wearing her usual sweet smile, “So what if she does? Haven’t you figured out what kind of person I am? Do you think I care about that person’s life and death?” “You certainly expect too much from me, it would be better if you worried about yourself. Hmm? Am I wrong, Xiao Tian Ji?” Author's Note: Hehe to her tutor: Consider switching fields. 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