From all directions, cultivators poured into All-Heavens Sect. Robes to match every color of the rainbow and ragged robes whose color could no longer be discerned alike flocked toward the sect. Cultivators who rode swords in neat formations, cultivators who rode noble immortal boats of all shapes and sizes, and cultivators who flew atop weapons of every shape and description all drew up along the sect’s main peak. Every sect Hui had heard of was represented, and a great many more he had never seen in his life. All of them here, today, gathered together.

At my whim.

Hui swallowed. He clenched his fist, steeling himself. It had to be done. This meeting is vital. When it concerns the future of the Southern Sect Conference as a whole… everyone must be made aware. Certainly, we can’t trust the fate of the entire region to lie on one man’s back! Most definitely not this small cultivator’s. No, no. My back isn’t broad enough, isn’t broad enough!

He nodded to himself, sweeping his eyes over the gathering cultivators. Let’s use this conference to find a main character who can shoulder the next battle. Someone like Ying Lin, who surpasses me in all ways, to blast through the continent and overcome Eight Tiers Palace! Naturally, this small cultivator will support them with all my strength… but no, no, it can’t possibly fall to me!

The only problem is…

A group of cultivators in white caught sight of Hui. Awe flashed over their faces, and they cupped hands respectfully to him before scurrying away. Hui saluted back, but they were already gone. He pressed his lips together and rubbed the back of his neck. There aren’t many seventh stage and higher cultivators, and… er, Bai Xue might have spread word about me escaping from Hell around. Everyone’s treating me like some kind of… I don’t know. Expert? But I’m no expert. I barely know any attacks at my realm!

He ran a hand over his face, mimicking the gesture he used to call forth the snakeskin. Maybe I should just put on a disguise and be done with it. I can’t handle much more of this. All this bowing and scraping… it just feels wrong.

A hand ran down his ponytail. “Xiao Hui, are you ready?”

“Bai Xue. No. I don’t think I ever will be,” Hui muttered. He glanced up at him. “Er, I think I’d rather fight another Gui Delun than take on this meeting.”

“Meetings are bad, but they aren’t that bad. If you keep your eyes open, there’s money just waiting to be scooped up at meetings like this,” Bai Xue mused, freely toying with Hui’s ponytail. His red eyes flashed, and a slow grin spread across his face. “I think it’s good to attend them, yes.”

That’s right. The Bai Clan is known for their financial dealings and interclan ties. I can always rely on them. Hui took a deep breath. “Li Xiang?”

“She isn’t suited to this sort of thing… I’ve told her to sit quietly, even if people are lying,” Bai Xue said. He chuckled, pausing in stroking Hui’s hair to put a hand on his chin. “Ah, that’ll be a sight to behold. I’m looking forward to it.”

Hui nodded. “So you’ll be the one leading it?”

Bai Xue looked at him. “What do you mean? You’re the one who called this conference. You’re the star, Xiao Hui.”

“Me?” Hui asked, taken aback.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Did you think it wouldn’t be?” Bai Xue asked, equally taken aback.

“Er, I suppose… small cultivator had hoped…” Hui mumbled to himself. He shook his head, stealing his ponytail back from Bai Xue’s grasp. Taking a deep breath, he looked around at all the gathering cultivators. Me? Lead this?

I’d rather die.

Wait, hold on. Hui wobbled in place. “I’m… I’m feeling horribly faint… I think I’m going to… have a qi deviation…”

“Ah, do you?” Bai Xue put his hand on Hui’s back. Unhesitatingly, he sent a pulse of qi through Hui. After a moment, he nodded. “Huh, no qi deviations found. You seem perfectly healthy and vigorous to me.”

Hui pursed his lips. Okay, maybe pulling that one next to one of the most shameless cultivators most used to sensing others’ qi wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. “I don’t deserve to be the center of attention. I… I’m no one, really.”

“Nervous?” Bai Xue asked, smiling a little.

Hui scratched the back of his head. “It’s… not quite, but…”

“You’ll do fine. Didn’t you lead an army against Gui Delun?” Bai Xue said.

“Yes, but—”

“Revive your entire sect?”

“I mean, sure, but that was—”

“Burn down and rebuild the underworld?”

Hui narrowed his eyes at Bai Xue. “Elder Brother, if I didn’t know better, I’d suspect you were implying that I was important.”

Bai Xue spread his hands innocently. “Are you not?”

Hui shook his head vigorously. “No, no! Me? No! Anyone could have—would have done it if they were in the same place as me. I just—it had to be done. I’m nothing special. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Xiao Hui, you can’t honestly believe that,” Bai Xue said, chuckling.

“Elder Brother doesn’t?” Hui asked, frowning.

Bai Xue opened his mouth, then took a deep breath and shut it. A pained expression passed over his face. After a moment, he sighed. “Xiao Hui, I’m starting to understand why you have a reputation for giving people heart demons.”

“Eh? Has my talent grown too much? Elder Brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sow a heart demon at all!” Hui apologized quickly, bowing.

Bai Xue thumped him on the back. “Go out there. Do your best. You’ve got this! After all, aren’t you the one who knows about the threat from the Eastern Alliance? If not you, who is supposed to speak?”

“Ah… that’s true,” Hui said. No one else can do it? Then of course they’d reach for me. Naturally, naturally! Ah, I understand now. Of course they would ask someone else to lead it, but there’s no one else to ask! I’m the last one on the list, not the first. It just so happens that the list is one long! Hui nodded to himself. Now it all makes sense. Straightening up, he nodded at Bai Xue. “Thank you, Elder Brother. You’ve opened my eyes.”

Bai Xue narrowed his eyes at Hui. “Did I…?”

“Yes, yes. There’s no one else to ask. I’m the only one left,” Hui said, nodding.

“That’s not what I…” Bai Xue shook his head, putting a hand on his forehead. He sighed again. Under his breath, he muttered, “If it makes you happy…”

The sound of little footsteps broke the moment. A young girl in black-and-white robes ran over, her eyes glittering. She ran over and hugged Hui. “Dad!”

“G-greetings, Junior Sister,” Hui said awkwardly. He patted Bai Xingxue on the back, not really sure what to do with her.

Bai Xingxue released him and bounced back, looking up at him. “Are you ready?”

“Mmm,” Hui muttered under his breath. His stomach flipped again. I don’t know that I am! I have to talk in front of everyone? Are we sure I can’t find a hero to take my place? I’m just a small cultivator, a nameless small cultivator!

“Bai Xingxue! Can’t you see you’re making him uncomfortable?” Li Weiqi called, coming up behind her. He barely caught Hui’s eyes before he glanced aside, unwilling to make eye contact. Pausing, he formally saluted to Hui before running over to his sister’s side. He grabbed her and led her away, bowing as he left, overly stiff.

I can’t handle Bai Xingxue, but I equally don’t know how to handle Li Weiqi! Hui thought, saluting back. It was so much easier when I was playing the villain for them. I know how to be a villain. How do I play a father?

Bai Xue put a hand on Hui’s shoulder and smiled at him. He nodded. “It will come with time.”

Hui took a deep breath and nodded back. I’ll figure it out. Just like everything else, I’ll make it up as I go!

In the distance, a bell tolled, the sound rolling over the mountains. Bai Xue grinned. “Ready?”

“Never,” Hui said, and stepped forward.