For Baixue, Chu Mingxi was more than just her cultivation teacher; she was her adopted mother, who had raised her for over twelve years. Baixue felt that she owed all of her current strength, accomplishment, and success to this adopted parent of hers.
Unlike most youngsters, Baixue did not possess any grand goals in life. All she hoped for was to live an ordinary life and eventually, to die an unremarkable death. If there was one thing that went against this 'ordinariness' mindset of hers, it was her desire to repay the care and affection of her adopted parent.
Chu Mingxi was a very closed-off person. She rarely left her abode atop the Everfrost Mountains in the sect. She hardly spoke or socialized with anybody and was a very private person. She was cold, proud, and aloof; a model practitioner of the Sacred Snow Heart Sect's doctrine.
However, there was one thing that his frost-like fairy was incredibly passionate about; it was her hatred for Sovereign Mu Wudi.
Most people, cultivators or non-cultivators, regardless of their personal strength, power, authority, and connections, made a conscious effort to not anger any of the World Sovereigns. This was only natural for the Sovereigns were, in a way, walking, talking world-ending disasters. To piss any of them off would spell certain death for the sinner; it was akin to putting one's head into the mouth of a lion and asking not to be eaten.
Chu Mingxi, the Everfrost Fairy, was an exception to this norm. She had often shown her physical and vocal loathing toward Sovereign Mu Wudi, and it was no secret within the top circles that she hated the man to the core of her very being. Nobody knew why she possessed such deep hatred toward the man, however, speculations existed.
The most popular and well-known speculation was this; the Everfrost Fairy had once confessed her love for Sovereign Mu Wudi and had been rejected by the latter. This incident caused her to feel irrational hatred toward the man.
As a person closely involved with one of the people from this rumour, Baixue knew better than anyone how wildly incorrect it was. She knew her teacher and understood that it was impossible for her to fall in love with any man, let alone with the world-renowned philanderer Patriarch Mu. The speculation was utter nonsense.
Still, she had to admit that her master's hatred did appear a little irrational and baseless. Many times, she had wondered just what could've happened for her to hate the man so much.
Directly asking her teacher for the answer was a no-go. The Everfrost Fairy always flew into anger at the mere mention of the subject. Baixue had tried to dig for the truth herself but had ended up finding nothing. Her question was destined to remain unanswered forever.
Or at least, that had been the case before she discovered Wuzhi's secret. The young scholar's face, which very nearly resembled the Everfrost Fairy, served as the biggest clue and most direct evidence of the truth.
Speculation formed within Baixue's heart. Her heart raced with nervousness and excitement.
'Master and Sovereign Mu Wudi definitely have some history between them. Perhaps they were causal lovers, or maybe two lonely souls that found comfort in each other. One thing led to another and a child was conceived by accident!'
Her burning gaze settled on Wuzhi.
'Master is a maternal and sentimental person. She must've wanted to keep the child. However, that heartless bastard Mu Wudi must've feared chaos within his household and forced her to conceal the truth! No wait! Knowing that heartless bastard, perhaps, he might've even pressured Master to get rid of the child!'
Her mind furiously as it wrote this heart-wrenching drama.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
'Master was obviously against this idea; she wanted to keep the child. However, that bastard was heartless. In the end, in a bid to protect the child's life, Master had no choice but to give birth in secret and send the newborn infant away; allowing him to keep his life in a distant continent!'
Such was the truth conceived in Baixue's mind. In her story, her teacher was the miserable heroine; Sovereign Mu Wudi was the heartless, trash bastard; and Wuzhi was the child living a life of tragedy.
No wonder she hated the man with every fibre of her being. Hell hath no fury like that of a woman spurned!
A multitude of emotions made waves within her heart as her face showcased a series of complex emotions.
On the other hand, Wuzhi, who could not have in his wildest predictions guessed the misunderstanding in Baixue's heart, read the female heroine's expressions and felt confused. However, he soon heaved a breath of relief upon seeing her no longer ask any questions, especially regarding why her Path Techniques did not work on him.
Truth be told, Wuzhi did not like such encounters where he was made to answer questions. It made him feel inferior to his opponent; as if he was losing a battle of wits.
'My feelings are running wild again.' He bit the inside of his mouth and used that pain to sharpen his mind. A look of seriousness appeared in the depths of his eyes. 'The side effects are more severe than I had expected.'
Wuzhi realized that his thoughts were derailing more often than before. He was unable to keep his mind on one topic and was often distracted. Moreover, he discovered that the thoughts in his mind were more negative than positive.
A sense of urgency rose within his chest. 'I need to resolve these side effects soon! If I let them remain, it will not be long before I tip over the edge and cross the point of no return.'
Losing his powers was not scary. Losing his life was not daunting. However, losing himself to the wildness and irrationality of his mind was utterly terrifying!
'Perhaps, I shouldn't have overdone my actions at the Iron Rhino Tribe. It was a mistak—!' Wuzhi paled. He raised his hand and delivered a harsh slap on his face.
SLAP! A crisp sound echoed and a bright red handprint appeared on the young scholar's face. Baixue was startled at the sudden event and worriedly asked, "What's wrong? Why did you slap yourself!?"
Wuzhi looked down. He did not reply immediately. His eyes glazed over as his argent pupils shimmered dimly like the midnight moon. A few seconds later, he raised his head, looked toward Baixue, and brightly smiled. "Please don't mind me, Sister Baixue. I was simply punishing myself for having some impure thoughts."
"Anyways, if you still wish to give up on this employment, I will not stop you. It is understandable for you to hesitate upon hearing the truth of my heritage. I only ask that you—!"
"Who said I want to leave!? I'm staying! I'm staying with you until you are done with your affairs in this continent!"
Hearing that, it was Wuzhi who was surprised this time. "What?"
Baixue neared him and gently held onto his bandaged palm with both her hands. A look of gentleness and pity appeared on her face as she softly consoled. "Wuzhi, it is only now that this sister of yours has truly understood your situation. No mere words can soothe the bitter tragedy that you've faced so far. It is only my wish, no… asking for your trust and faith so suddenly, when the time that we've spent is so limited is too far-stretched." She shook her head.
Straightening her gaze, she stared directly and deeply into Wuzhi's confused argent eyes. With a firm voice, she declared, "As long as I am around; no harm shall befall you!"
An iron-like conviction brimmed within her voice.
Wuzhi was utterly confused; and this time, he truly wasn't faking it. He understood what each of her sentences meant separately, but put together, they somehow didn't make any sense.
Before his mouth could form a question, Baixue placed her hand atop his forehead and pressed his head into the pillow. Then, with a gentle voice that was akin to a mother consoling her children, she quietly said, "Hush. Don't think about anything and simply rest. Big Sister will guard you with her life."
Wuzhi wanted to protest with all his might. But alas, the strength of a proper cultivator was simply too great. His head was forced into the pillow and his eyes were forced shut.
He was of half a mind to begin screaming and kicking and making a fuss. However, such thoughts quickly faded away. Some thinking revealed that Baixue seemed to have formed a major misunderstanding about him. And from the likes of it, it seemed to be a positive misunderstanding.
'It is good, I suppose,' reasoned Wuzhi. 'Better to have a willing slave than an unwilling soldier.'
Having settled his thoughts, Wuzhi truly relaxed his thoughts and entered the land of slumber. Good rest was the best alternative to healing a damaged psyche in the absence of other cures. And until he could come up with a more permanent solution, this was his only choice.
The night soon passed.