The Sect Leader Raised a Fox to His Own Detriment - Chapter 20

Blood surged forth, the intense pain clearing Yue Xichen’s mind slightly. He swung his sword, slaying the corpse puppet, but the surrounding puppets stimulated by the scent of blood lunged at him even more frantically.

Thunder rolled overhead, and the rain showed no sign of letting up.

Under this weather, compounded by the interference of the Soul-Devouring Bell, Yue Xichen’s true cultivation could not be fully manifested. Deep crimson blood flowed steadily from his wound.

Will I truly… die here?

Yue Xichen knelt on one knee, exhausted sweat mixing with rainwater as it dripped down.

Such a pessimistic thought had not occurred to him in a very long time throughout his long journey of cultivation.

His already jade-white face grew even paler due to the excessive blood loss. Yue Xichen’s true essence and movements lost their fluidity, and he was on the verge of being bitten by another puppet.

At that moment, a brilliant light erupted like a meteor streaking across the sky, piercing through all the puppets surrounding Yue Xichen in the blink of an eye.

“Master!”

Yue Xichen looked up, his face stained with blood, and vaguely saw a figure.

The person hadn’t come by sword but by foot, sprinting toward him. His white hair, drenched by rain, was a tangled mess; yet in Yue Xichen’s eyes, that silver hair radiated a dazzling silver glow, much like his Silver Moon Sword.

A-Yin rushed to Yue Xichen’s side, seeing that his Master’s snow-white robes were not only soiled by rain but also dyed red with blood.

Master is actually injured?!

His heart skipped a beat. A-Yin supported the wavering Yue Xichen, apologizing repeatedly: “I’m sorry, Master, I’m so sorry… This disciple shouldn’t have left you alone. It’s my fault you’re hurt. I’m sorry…”

Hearing the endless stream of “I’m sorry” ringing in his ears, Yue Xichen suddenly, for some reason, broke into a smile.

Seeing the smile, A-Yin was completely bewildered. Having been Yue Xichen’s disciple for ten full years, he could not recall ever seeing the man smile!

Yet at this very moment soaked by a thunderous rain, surrounded by puppets, severely injured, and isolated Yue Xichen smiled. It was a smile so beautiful that A-Yin stared, transfixed.

“Master…”

“Mm?”

“You should smile more often.”

A-Yin’s words caused Yue Xichen to tilt his head in confusion. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you look incredibly beautiful when you smile! I like seeing you smile.”

This overly direct praise warmed Yue Xichen’s chest. He lowered his eyelids, his gaze flickering.

“I was laughing at myself just now… As the Sect Leader of Lingyun Mountain and your Master, I actually caused my disciple such worry…”

“Master…”

“A-Yin, I am already deeply grateful that you came to help… You have done nothing wrong that requires an apology.”

“But Master… I left you alone to deal with so many puppets…”

“Slaying these puppets was my duty and obligation.”

Yue Xichen spoke with absolute conviction. Looking at his Master—disheveled but with eyes full of resolve, A-Yin felt a sudden pang of pain deep in his heart, as if it were being squeezed tightly by a hand.

What is this feeling?

A-Yin subconsciously touched his chest.

This feeling… is likely called ‘heartache,’ isn’t it?

A-Yin took a silent, deep breath. The faint pain from his heart became more pronounced, accompanied by a strong palpitation.

Because Yue Xichen was the Sect Leader, the Head of the Alliance, and a rare Great Vehicle stage cultivator, A-Yin like everyone else had taken it for granted that Yue Xichen was powerful enough to take on a hundred enemies alone.

They all assumed he could not lose, would not be hurt, and would not die.

Not just A-Yin, not just the immortal families, but even Yue Xichen himself believed this.

Yet, was that truly the case?

His gaze fell upon Yue Xichen’s snowy neck; the bloody wound was a gruesome sight. A-Yin’s brow furrowed tightly as he gritted his teeth.

Yue Xichen was powerful, yes, but he was also human a person who could be hurt, and who could even die.

“Master…”

A-Yin didn’t know where he found the courage or the impulse, but he suddenly reached out and cupped the back of Yue Xichen’s head.

Yue Xichen froze.

A-Yin’s movements were light and gentle, careful not to touch the wound as he pulled him to rest against his shoulder.

Though A-Yin was not a child in years, his appearance remained that of one. Even with Yue Xichen kneeling on one knee, leaning on A-Yin’s shoulder appeared somewhat awkward and comical from an outsider’s perspective—as if an adult were crushing a child with his heavy body.

Yue Xichen actually wanted A-Yin to let go, but A-Yin refused.

He held Yue Xichen like a grown man embracing his beloved woman, his small hand gently stroking Yue Xichen’s damp back, yet it brought an unexpected and profound sense of security.

“Master, you don’t have to keep forcing yourself like this…” A-Yin’s voice, gentle as a clear spring, vibrated against Yue Xichen’s eardrums and struck a chord in his heart.

“You are indeed the Sect Leader, the Head of the Alliance, a Great Vehicle stage cultivator, and my Master… but before all that, you are a person a living, breathing human being. Therefore, you can be hurt, you can be afraid… and of course, you can show weakness.”

Leaning on A-Yin’s shoulder and listening to his tender words, Yue Xichen closed his eyes, his thick, feather-like lashes trembling uncontrollably.

Yue Xichen could not remember how many years it had been since he last felt the urge to cry. His eyes and the bridge of his nose stung with bitterness, and his throat felt choked with tears, but he gritted his teeth and endured, refusing to let them fall.

Only now, hearing A-Yin’s words, did he realize.

So… I am allowed to show weakness too?

He couldn’t remember when it started; he only remembered that he was the Sect Leader, burdened with the mission to bring glory to the sect, protect all living beings, and uphold justice. A person like him could not show weakness. He had to be strong so that Lingyun Mountain, and even the entire cultivation world, would have someone to rely on.

The rain poured down amidst the lightning and thunder.

By now, the corpse puppets had been completely wiped out by Silver Moon. The demonic cultivators hiding in the shadows, perhaps realizing that staying longer would bring them no good end, had long since slipped away.

Without the influence of the Soul-Devouring Bell, the chaotic essence in Yue Xichen’s body gradually calmed, and his mood improved significantly. Though, Yue Xichen himself didn’t think his improved mood had anything to do with his essence.

“A-Yin…”

“What is it, Master?”

“…Thank you.”

A-Yin, who was giddily hugging Yue Xichen, felt his heart pound fiercely upon hearing such a sincere thanks.

“Wh-what are you thanking me for! I didn’t help at all; it was just that the Silver Moon you gave me is so powerful…”

Hearing this, Yue Xichen realized A-Yin had misunderstood him. He thanked him not because A-Yin had helped slay the puppets, but because A-Yin was the only person in all these years who looked at him as just a normal person.

The night sky suddenly lit up with a flash of lightning, followed by a roar of thunder that could split clouds and rock. A-Yin clearly felt Yue Xichen’s body shudder in his arms at the moment of the strike.

“Um… Master, there’s a question I want to ask you…”

“What is it?”

Embracing A-Yin, Yue Xichen had the illusion of soaking in a hot spring; it was very comfortable, and his voice involuntarily softened, losing its usual icy edge.

“It’s… Master… are you afraid of thunder?”