Chapter 346: She's Not Made of Clay!
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The chamber held no barriers, and Su Cheng's bedchamber lay not far from the main hall. From the moment "May I offer guidance?" was spoken, Su Cheng's three direct disciples had stood at the doorway.
Dongfang Jue heard most of their conversation clearly, including references to Yichen Valley and Linglang River.
Su Cheng's nonsensical, incomprehensible explanations—or perhaps monologues—were all heard by Dongfang Jue.
"Master."
"Hmm, what do you think?"
Dongfang Jue was straightforward, but since she hadn't done anything wrong to begin with, Su Cheng hadn't expected her to admit fault anyway.
"Master, Jue'er accepts the punishment."
"Jue'er, do you recall what I told you when you first became my disciple?"
Dongfang Jue's expression was resolute. She knew exactly what her master was referring to.
"Once you pledged allegiance, you would never regret it."
Su Cheng shifted his approach, adopting a strategy of adapting to each situation as it arose. With a light flick of his sleeve, he spoke in a deep voice.
"Jue'er harbors great ambitions. How could she let one master derail her grand endeavors?"
"To achieve extraordinary feats, one must first learn to make choices. You understand this well."
"How can one achieve anything if they act with indecisiveness?"
This was sophistry, and Dongfang Jue knew it well—deflecting the crucial points, twisting words out of context. He thought to himself, Master is being remarkably restrained by not resorting to personal attacks.
"Master, this decision was made after deep and careful consideration."
[To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to carry on the lost teachings of the sages of old, to open an era of peace for all generations.]
Even if it was sophistry, his master was right.
"Jue'er is still fledgling and needs the Master's protection. Without you, how could I possibly accomplish anything?"
"From any perspective, having you by my side brings nothing but benefit to me."
"Therefore, both in reason and in sentiment, this is Jue'er's only choice."
Su Cheng smiled. These fellows were each more silver-tongued than the last.
"Did you know your senior sister nearly died?"
"That was the White Blade. Your protective qi is utterly useless against it. The White Blade can effortlessly pierce your bodies and swiftly impose a suppressing effect. Within three seconds, you'll lose your combat ability; within five seconds, you'll lose your ability to move."
"Against me, they used the Godslayer Arrow. It's safe to say that a hit means certain death."
"Even with life-saving elixirs, I wouldn't even be able to find your corpses."
"They're highly trained, killing is their profession. They can adapt to any combat environment and devise different strategies for different enemies."
"I'm not telling you all this to scare you, Jue'er. I just want you to understand this isn't a game. There's no room for recklessness—it's extremely dangerous."
"This is between your master and them. It has nothing to do with you."
Her hair bound by a crimson cord, she resembled a military Mulan. Heroic spirit radiated from her brow—truly a woman who could rival any man.
Dongfang Jue's gaze was sharp as arrows, her back straight as an arrow even while kneeling.
"Jue'er, don't be afraid."
Su Cheng was genuinely growing angry. Unlike Shi Yao, Dongfang Jue was not skilled at playing the victim.
"I am afraid! Your master is afraid! Your master fears you might die! Can you understand that now?"
"I know what you're thinking—you believe the worst that could happen is we die together!"
"I'll put it plainly!"
"I'm selfish to the core! Don't even think about it!"
This was the first time Dongfang Jue had ever seen his master like this—anger written plainly across his face.
But Dongfang Jue had no intention of backing down. He neither wanted to nor could he.
"Master, Jue'er is selfish too."
Truthfully, if Su Cheng had a solution, he would never have spoken such words.
"So I can't control you anymore, is that it?"
But he had to admit, Su Cheng truly couldn't think of any good way to make this stubborn brat "reform his ways."
Like unreasonable parents, Su Cheng had no other recourse.
It was somewhat laughable that, when faced with this child, Su Cheng couldn't judge a matter based on right or wrong…
"I'm doing this for your own good, Jue'er. Can you understand that?"
Children are merely young; they aren't truly foolish. Many parents fail to realize this.
For some reason, as the words left his lips, Su Cheng felt an inexplicable wave of shame wash over him.
Su Cheng didn't know whether Jue'er's actions were right or wrong, but one thing was undeniable: he didn't want her to do this.
He couldn't accept Jue'er making such a choice. He never wanted to see anyone die for him again.
"Jue'er knows. Jue'er knows Master did everything for her. And precisely because of that, Jue'er made that choice."
"Do you think I'm consulting you?"
Dongfang Jue refused to back down. As the third disciple of Lingxian Hall, neither the eldest nor second senior sister feared death—she, Dongfang Jue, was no pushover either!
"This is Jue'er's answer. Jue'er accepts the punishment."
"If Jue'er truly leaves, she may never return."
A master's command could not be disobeyed. Unless her senior sisters accompanied her, both standing there like pillars, how could she possibly leave?
If she truly left, would there even be a place for her left in Lingxian Hall?
Not only would her senior sisters likely never speak to her again, but even Elder Yulan would probably not give her a second glance.
She may have joined the sect later than others, but she was no pushover!
"Master, Jue'er may be prone to overthinking, but she is not heartless."
"If I were to abandon you and my senior sisters and leave, how could Jue'er ever show her face in Lingxian Hall again? How could she live with herself?"
"How would my two senior sisters view me? How would the world view me?"
"How could someone with such a vile reputation ever win the people's trust?"
"Fearfully, there would be no place left in this world for Jue'er to dwell or find refuge."
It seemed she was still stubbornly resisting, but Su Cheng understood: this third disciple was far less agreeable than the second disciple, and utterly disobedient!
"Enough. Go back and kneel. When you've thought it through, you may leave on your own."
"Very well."
"And bring Qinghan along. Have her bring her own Star River Ruler."
Dongfang Jue thought to himself: Isn't the Star River Ruler always with the eldest senior sister?
"Mhm. I'll share this good news with Senior Sister."
"If you're hungry, go eat first."
Watching Dongfang Jue close the door behind him, Su Cheng slumped heavily into his chair, pressing his temples lightly as he fell deep in thought.
They were both good children, but…
Good children don't necessarily have happy endings.
Many things were beyond his control, unfolding in ways he couldn't foresee.
He couldn't foresee every danger, only shield those who mattered most from harm as best he could.
Su Cheng could only do his utmost to secure a good ending for them. Nothing mattered more than their survival.
Many things must be fought for.
"Master?"
Before the person appeared, a pair of fox ears peeked through the door crack.
"Ready?"
Ye Qinghan squeezed her body through the door crack with an awkward smile, looking slightly timid.
"Heh heh, Master, you're not seriously planning to break Qinghan's legs, are you?"
"That is precisely my intention—to prevent you from playing yourself to death in the future."
Ye Qinghan grinned cheekily as he sidled up to Su Cheng. Without hesitation, he made a move to sit on the armrest, as if he were a guest being welcomed.
Only then did he glance at Ye Qinghan's wrist. Right—the fox tail and ears were still there. Clearly, he hadn't taken them off.
"Didn't you like the bracelet I gave you?"
Ye Qinghan thought to herself, Of course I don't like it!
She was terrified the master might actually break her legs!
Who was her master? Ye Qinghan dared not wager that a tiger wouldn't devour its own cubs.
"Hehe, Master, Qinghan was just scared~"
"You fear not even death—how could your master possibly subdue the Demon King of Ye?"
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