Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

The old man took the Emperor’s House Tree Seed to his grave without revealing that he had given it to me. The evil cultivator stuffed all the medicinal herbs from the pharmacy into his body, intending to refine him into a human pill. The old man’s son watched the herbs explode his mother’s body, yet greedily sought to buy a pill from the evil cultivator at a high price."

"I watched these men’s ugly faces gather together, so vile it made me want to vomit. Just when I thought there was no hope, someone saved me—it was actually the evil cultivator’s companion, a female evil cultivator. She personally punished these two heinous men, yet spared me because I was still young, because I was also a girl."

You Su was somewhat silent, unsure of what to say.

For the young Third Elder, these two vile men undoubtedly caused her great psychological trauma.

"You think that’s all?"

The Third Elder tightly gripped her wine cup, staring at You Su without moving.

"Is...there more?"

You Su was somewhat reluctant to listen further, to have the Third Elder lay bare those past pains.

"Later, I had no choice but to follow the female evil cultivator, at least she treated me decently. She didn’t harm me or involve me in those evil affairs, she merely treated me as a normal little sister. That’s when I realized she became an evil cultivator not out of choice, but to prolong her Dao companion’s life."

"Her Dao companion could only barely hang on because of her, yet he still constantly insulted and abused her. I thought this Dao companion was arrogantly disdainful of living this way, but in reality, he too wanted to become an evil cultivator. The woman just didn’t want him to tarnish his body and mind; it was enough for her alone to be sullied."

"She often hid away to cry on her own, and she’d say regretful things, like how she should never have taken this path and should’ve died together with him. When the man heard such words, he’d beat her even more viciously. Eventually, she couldn’t bear it any longer and resisted."

"But do you know what that led to? It led to disaster for the woman. The man actually sought out other evil cultivators, personally opening the restriction technique on their cave abode for them one night. The woman was violated in front of her Dao companion, then made into feed for the evil spirits. The man thought this would earn him the evil cultivators’ trust, to join them, but they were merely toying with him. At the brink of death, he strangely didn’t hate these deceivers, but hated the woman for saving him, for not letting him join the evil..."

At this point, the Third Elder had drained even the entire wine pot.

So deeply in her emotions, yet not satisfied, she took out two jars of even stronger wine and drank straight, trying to numb her inner pain with alcohol.

She continued telling endless tales of these men’s despicable deeds, where the protagonist was no longer herself, but rather the experiences of other women.

You Su stood dazed and lost, the Third Elder’s sadness seemingly transmitted to him through the alcohol scent.

As a child, the Third Elder had personally witnessed men’s betrayals, where familial love, romance, and gratitude couldn’t restrain their evil intent. The only two women who gave her warmth also died tragically at the hands of these men.

How could this not make her despise these extremely vile men?

You Su wanted to offer comfort but couldn’t find the words. He felt he had no qualification, nor should he do so.

In times of extreme sadness, people don’t need others to preach to them. When recounting their pain, they only need empathy and solace.

Due to nature, men often act rationally. So after a fall, a mother would worry and ask if you’re hurt, while a father would tell you not to fall again next time.

But after living so long, does the Third Elder really need someone to teach her not to generalize, not to condemn all men?

The Third Elder surely knows, but she refuses to believe men are excusable; everyone must pay the price for childhood traumas.

"Now do you know why I hate men?"

The Third Elder looked at You Su’s flushed face, hoping for the ’girl’s’ answer.

You Su nodded, "I understand."

"After hearing all this, do you still not hate men?"

You Su hesitated for a moment, "Probably not, for I’ve seen many wicked women too. Good and bad are likely unrelated to gender. But I don’t think it’s wrong for Mr. Bihua to dislike men. One doesn’t live just for others; cultivation is for longevity and to act on one’s desires. To attain Venerable status yet still follow others’ likes and dislikes would be a tragic thing."

After finishing his words, You Su shook his head, realizing it was quite a strain for him to speak so many words while trying to stay sober.

The Third Elder was a bit astonished at his reply, "You’re not trying to persuade me to let go of my prejudice?"

"Why should I?" You Su propped his head with his hand, his eyes a bit dreamy, "Those wanting to convince the Third Elder to like men are probably all men... I’m no man, what’s there to persuade..."

The Third Elder looked at You Su’s face covered in makeup and gradually forgot what the person originally looked like.

"Well said, those coming to persuade me are all detestable men."

The Third Elder smiled brightly, raising her wine jar to clink with this unfamiliar maiden.

You Su also gradually got tipsy, drinking more boldly, his head dizzy, almost forgetful of everything.

The Third Elder hadn’t drunk so freely in a long time. The more she drank, the happier she felt; pouring out the pent-up sorrow left her heart even lighter. Though the maiden in front of her didn’t fully agree with her, the understanding she offered was invaluable.