Chapter 253 : Not Worth It
Chapter 253: Not Worth It
A gust of night wind swept past, lifting the hem of Huo Qianqian’s skirt and scattering her hair.
On her left stood a senior sister who usually cared for her.
On her right, a junior sister who had always disliked her.
One tried to persuade her—speaking kindly, offering benefits, appealing to emotion—to make her betray a friend.
The other pressed aggressively, threatening her to comply.
How had things come to this?
Huo Qianqian’s face was pale as paper, her body turning cold in waves. Her thoughts drifted away, and she suddenly thought of Senior Brother Chen.
Yes—ever since the news of Senior Brother Chen’s accident spread, everything had changed.
The gazes of the sect elders no longer carried warmth.
Her fellow sisters’ attitudes turned cold.
Even the senior sister who had once been closest to her became distant...
The elders’ former affection and her fellow disciples’ eager flattery—all seemed like bubbles bursting into nothingness.
Huo Qianqian gave a sorrowful smile. Looking at the ugly faces of her senior sisters before her, then at the two fierce disciples of the White Feather Sect, she felt as though they might devour her whole.
These people—were not worth it.
With a clang, she drew her sword.
The few female disciples of the Xiaoshui Sect instinctively stepped back two paces, a trace of fear flashing in their eyes.
“Junior Sister, what are you doing? Don’t make a mistake you’ll regret.”
“Huo Qianqian, are you really thinking of striking your own sectmates?”
Huo Qianqian did not look at them. She lifted her gaze to the cold silver moon in the sky and drew her sword across her neck. “Senior Brother, I’ll come to accompany you…”
“Not good! She’s going to kill herself!”
“Don’t let her die—we must force her to reveal the traitor’s whereabouts first!”
Several of them rushed forward to stop her, but how could they make it in time?
She was but a moment away from a tragic death.
Suddenly—ding!
The long sword in Huo Qianqian’s hand snapped at the hilt. Her hand went light, and the slash only grazed the surface of her skin.
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.
But none were more shocked than Huo Qianqian herself. She had already resolved to die, yet the sword in her hand broke apart. She stood frozen, staring blankly at the remaining hilt, unable to come to her senses for a long while.
Then came a faint sigh.
“For a sect like this, dying isn’t worth it.”
“Who’s there?!”
The Xiaoshui Sect junior sister turned, scanning her surroundings, and shouted harshly, “The Xiaoshui Sect is cleansing its ranks—who dares meddle in our affairs?”
“Who gave you such courage—to speak to this seat in that tone?”
Slap! Slap!
Two crisp sounds rang out.
The junior sister’s face took two heavy blows, and she spun, falling to the ground in a daze before bursting into tears.
When had she ever suffered such humiliation?
Everyone present felt their hearts chill. Before so many eyes, none of them had even seen how the slaps had landed.
They finally realized—they were facing a being of unfathomable power.
The Xiaoshui Sect senior sister stiffened her back, then bowed deeply. “This junior, Lu Minci of the Xiaoshui Sect, apologizes on behalf of her junior sister for her rude words. Thank you, Senior, for showing mercy. May I ask for Senior’s esteemed name?”
The voice replied faintly, “You are not worthy of knowing this seat’s name. Your sect’s disciple faced danger, and as her peers, you not only refused to help but even joined outsiders to oppress and force her. In my eyes, such a sect has no reason to exist.”
At those words, the Xiaoshui Sect disciples all turned ashen.
“Senior—”
Lu Minci tried to speak, but suddenly found herself unable to make a sound. Her body—and even the true qi within her—were bound by an invisible force.
Her eyes filled with horror.
Such means… this Senior’s strength was truly immeasurable.
She realized she had brought upon her sect a terrifying enemy.
The voice said again, “That little girl surnamed Huo—refusing to betray a friend even at the cost of her life—such character is rare and admirable.”
Huo Qianqian hastily bowed. “This junior is unworthy of such praise, Senior. To tell the truth, I truly do not know where Junior Brother Li has gone. I know I will not live past today, but I simply refuse to suffer further humiliation.”
Li Jinchuan had once trained at the Huo Residence. Though it had been less than a year, their bond remained, and they had always addressed each other as senior and junior sister.
The voice asked, “If you did know his whereabouts, would you betray him?”
Huo Qianqian was startled. She hadn’t expected the mysterious senior to ask such a thing. After a few breaths, she shook her head. “This junior does not know.”
“Hahaha… honest and adorable. Hmph!”
A cold snort echoed—and one of the White Feather Sect disciples suddenly collapsed dead.
He had thought to secretly release a signal from his sleeve while the mysterious expert was speaking with Huo Qianqian, intending to summon reinforcements—but had been caught instantly.
The other White Feather Sect disciple turned pale with terror. “It has nothing to do with me—”
“Silence. When this seat speaks, I dislike interruptions.”
“Little girl, today this seat will stand up for you. Since your fellow disciples are so vile, would you like me to kill them for you?”
Lu Minci and the others were so frightened they were nearly crying. They looked at Huo Qianqian with terrified, pleading eyes, unable to speak. If they could, they would surely have knelt to beg for mercy.
Huo Qianqian sighed. “Thank you for your kindness, Senior. Though they were heartless toward me, I cannot be ungrateful in return. We are fellow disciples after all—this junior cannot bear to see them die because of me.”
“Have you thought it through? This seat’s offer is only valid now. If you change your mind later, there’ll be no taking it back.”
“Please, Senior, spare them,” Huo Qianqian said.
“You heard her. Now, get lost.”
At that command, Lu Minci and her companions found they could move again. Overjoyed, they turned and fled without looking back.
Only Lu Minci looked at Huo Qianqian one last time, her expression extremely complicated. She hesitated to speak but finally said nothing and left.
Watching their departing figures, Huo Qianqian felt a deep sorrow. She knew the bond of sisterhood shared over these years had likely ended forever. Yet at the same time, a faint sense of relief arose within her.
“What about these two?”
She said, “They were only following orders from their sect. Their crimes do not warrant death. Let them go.”
“You heard her—leave.”
The remaining White Feather Sect disciple bowed gratefully to Huo Qianqian, then carried his unconscious companion away.
Once everyone else had gone, a dark figure appeared before Huo Qianqian—it was Chen Ming, still in the guise of Yuan Ziyi.
“Thank you, Senior, for saving my life. I will repay this debt even if it takes another lifetime.”
Huo Qianqian tried to kneel, but he stopped her.
Chen Ming asked, “Enough, no need for formality. Girl, what do you plan to do now?”
“I wish to return to Qingfeng City,” she said softly. “It’s where I grew up.”
“So naïve. Do you think they’ll let you go that easily? The White Feather Sect will chase you to Qingfeng City and capture you—until they find the traitor they’re after.”
Huo Qianqian looked lost.
Now that she had severed ties with the Xiaoshui Sect, her grandfather was dead, Senior Brother Chen was gone—other than Qingfeng City, where else could she go?
For the first time, she felt that although the world was vast, there was nowhere she belonged.
Chen Ming said, “I’ll be staying in Jiangzhou for some time. For the next few days, follow me.”
She hesitated. “Wouldn’t that trouble you, Senior?”
“It’s a pity I have too many enemies to take you as a disciple,” Chen Ming said. “Remember—if you want to stand tall in this world, you can only rely on yourself. If you had my strength, where in this world could you not go?”
Huo Qianqian smiled bitterly, thinking she could never compare to someone like him.
Although he looked young, once one reached the Third Grade, age was no longer visible from appearance.
Those Third Grade elders of the Xiaoshui Sect all maintained youthful looks—appearing to be in their twenties or thirties, though many were already in their forties or fifties.
Just as she was about to speak, Chen Ming wrapped an arm around her shoulders and soared into the air.
The speed was unlike anything she had ever experienced. She dared not speak again, afraid of distracting the senior.
…
Before long, they arrived at the Evergreen Hall.
Chen Ming came to the door of the small courtyard he had once lived in and transmitted his voice inside:
“Miss Yu, forgive me for calling so late at night.”
Huo Qianqian, seeing the senior arrive at this courtyard, was startled—she knew Senior Brother Chen had once lived here.
When she heard him say “Miss Yu,” she instantly realized who he meant, and her heart grew heavy.
Ever since Senior Brother Chen’s disappearance, that Miss Yu had moved into the Chen Residence, publicly declaring herself his fiancée. She had even entered the ancestral hall and had her name recorded in the Chen family genealogy.
Such an act had shocked everyone—and of course, stirred much gossip.
But Miss Yu had never cared, continuing to act as she pleased, frequently traveling between Jiangzhou City and Qingfeng City, living openly as the mistress of the Chen family.
In just a few months, the Chen family had become the most prominent household in Qingfeng City. After all, that Miss Yu was a genuine Third Grade expert—and so young.
Huo Qianqian could hardly believe that this senior actually knew Miss Yu—and would come to her at such an hour.
What was their relationship?
As she pondered, the door creaked open, and a beautiful maid stepped out. “My mistress invites the two young ladies inside for a talk. Please, follow me.”
Huo Qianqian recognized the maid. Though young and merely a servant, she was already a Fifth Grade cultivator—stronger than herself.
Thinking this, Huo Qianqian couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed.
She whispered, “Senior, I’ll wait outside.”
Chen Ming ignored her and led her in.
Powerless, Huo Qianqian followed him into the rear courtyard—where they soon met a veiled woman.
Even with her face covered, her peerless grace could not be hidden.
Each time one saw Miss Yu Haitang, one could not help but marvel—how could such beauty exist in this world? As though heaven and earth themselves had poured all their brilliance into her.
Yu Haitang’s gaze passed over Yuan Ziyi’s form and landed on Huo Qianqian. In those clear, tranquil eyes, a trace of surprise flickered.
“Master Yuan actually knows her?”