TDSDE 26

26. Who Is It That You Truly Like

The sword light flashed like a rainbow, fast enough that there wasn’t even time to blink. If it hit someone, by the time they reacted, their head and body might’ve already parted ways.

Bai Yuanxiu flicked his wrist in a flourish, and the shadow-like black iron sword returned to its sheath at his waist, leaving behind only a ground full of tattered leaves.

Ye Nanxun rolled his eyes.

All that just to trim a few branches for scenery? Even the Sect Leader was getting involved. Was that really necessary?

But suddenly, he noticed Bai Yuanxiu’s movement. He rushed over in a few quick steps and grabbed the other’s hand. “Don’t take it off.”

Bai Yuanxiu’s hand, which had been resting on his mask, twitched. He didn’t try to pull away by force. “Why?”

Ye Nanxun looked grave. “Maintain your image.”

Bai Yuanxiu: ……

At the moment, it was the second day of the new recruits arriving at Yunhua Mountain. The Sect Leader had specifically instructed him to keep the Right Protector in check—couldn’t have the newcomers running off before their butts even warmed their seats.

As for why only the Right Protector was mentioned by name…

In the martial world, the two Protectors of the Demonic Sect were far more well-known than their elusive Sect Leader. Compared to the cold-as-ice Left Protector, the talented and flamboyant Right Protector was more approachable.

There probably wasn’t anyone in the world who didn’t like a high-spirited, radiant youth. Even if the Right Protector wasn’t exactly youthful in age anymore, he still stirred many hearts.

Plenty of people joined the Demonic Sect just to see him in person. Most of them were eager to lay eyes on this legendary Right Protector up close to see just how heroic and brilliant he truly was—but…

The old members of the sect just looked dead inside and said, “Stick around a bit and you’ll understand.”

As always, the newcomers were sneakily trying to gather information about the Right Protector. Today was no different.

Ye Nanxun glanced casually around at the group of poorly-concealed newbies and spotted the tip of a shoe peeking from behind a wall. He looked back at Bai Yuanxiu and realized the situation might be worse than he’d thought.

As the head of the Azure Dragon Hall, known for medicine and poison, Ye Nanxun’s martial skill wasn’t particularly high by Jianghu standards—especially in the tiger’s den that was the Demonic Sect.

But even he could sense several presences nearby. As for Bai Yuanxiu—there was no doubt he’d noticed them long ago.

Logically, Bai Yuanxiu should’ve realized from the start that they weren’t alone, and he should’ve taken care to protect both his identities: the Demonic Sect’s Right Protector and Hero Bai. Yet just now, he’d moved to take off his mask without a second thought, simply because it was bothering him.

Ye Nanxun saw the dazed look on Bai Yuanxiu’s face and couldn’t help frowning. “What on earth happened?”

Back then, Bai Yuanxiu had rushed down the mountain, and not long after, the Left Protector had awakened and left the sect. Ye Nanxun thought the two of them had finally made up. But now… things seemed even worse than before.

Bai Yuanxiu didn’t answer. He just stared blankly at a shrub with round, small leaves that he’d trimmed moments ago into the shape of a rabbit. The layers of leaves looked just like soft rabbit fur.

Suddenly, an image sprang into Bai Yuanxiu’s mind—Xiao Qing holding a rabbit, gently stroking its snowy fur. When he looked up, he gave a faint smile, soft and unbelievably warm.

But that tender expression quickly shifted into another face—the one from not long ago, filled with mocking disdain.

Xiao Qing had looked back at him, smiling, but the smile was cold as morning frost—sharp and bitter.

“See? Bai Yuanxiu. You were the one who insisted on asking. Now that you know… can you still say it had to be me?”

When Xiao Qing said that, he’d wiped all emotion from his face, completely calm: “The one you liked was that naive, sheltered Xiao Qing. It was never really me.”

Bai Yuanxiu searched his heart. The person who made him fall at first sight—was it that kind, innocent Xiao Qing?

Yes. Without a doubt.

But after hearing Xiao Qing say those words in that Nanyang teahouse, something didn’t sit right with him.

He’d been trying to figure out exactly what felt off—when the Xiao Qing who had just been threatening him moments ago suddenly vanished.

The Demonic Sect’s Left Protector had unparalleled agility. If he wanted to hide, there were few in this world who could find him.

Bai Yuanxiu had returned to the sect like a soulless shell, hoping to run into him there. But the head of the Vermillion Bird Hall told him Xiao Qing had never come back.

Bai Yuanxiu felt even more hollow, like his soul had been scooped out, with only an empty husk left moving.

Suddenly, he spun around so abruptly that Ye Nanxun jumped in fright.

He grabbed Ye Nanxun by the arm, and through the mask, his eyes were bloodshot. “Brother Ye, I remember… after the Sect Leader brought the Left Protector back, he stayed in your Hall for two years, didn’t he?”

Before Ye Nanxun could reply, he added, “Anything. I don’t care what. Just tell me something about him.”

Bai Yuanxiu had originally refused to learn about Xiao Qing through secondhand stories. He wanted Xiao Qing to tell him personally. But now that Xiao Qing was hiding from him, he had no choice.

And so, from Ye Nanxun, Bai Yuanxiu came to know a Xiao Qing he had never imagined.

When Xiao Qing arrived at the Azure Dragon Hall at the age of fourteen, his entire body was mangled—flesh torn, bones broken, nearly unrecognizable as a human being.

But his inner energy and cultivation were bizarre to the extreme. Even though his body was on the verge of death, his mind and senses remained unnervingly clear.

Ye Nanxun could say with certainty: if he hadn’t personally intervened, Xiao Qing wouldn’t have survived. The human body has its limits—pain alone can kill.

But Xiao Qing never cried out in pain—not even once. If his breathing hadn’t fluctuated slightly with the movements of treatment, Ye Nanxun would’ve suspected he was working on a corpse.

Xiao Qing didn’t like to talk. From the moment he entered the hall, the number of words he’d spoken during his years in the Demonic Sect could be counted on two hands.

“So when I saw the two of you arguing so fiercely, I was really shocked for a long time,” Ye Nanxun said with feeling. “But hey, even if you were fighting, at least he looked a little more like a living person.”

Bai Yuanxiu listened in silence, not saying a single word.

That night, a shadow streaked across the rooftop, so fast it left almost no trace beneath the bright moonlight.

Halfway up the eastern side of Mount Yunhua, from a spacious wooden lodge with its doors wide open came the rich scent of fruit. A tall man dressed in black gauze poured himself a cup of wine and waved lazily. “Come down.”

Just as he finished speaking, another shadow suddenly appeared in the room, darting toward the man sitting at the low table. The man didn’t even flinch, as if he hadn’t noticed.

But the shadow ignored him, leaping straight past the table and pouncing toward a bright orange form on the floor.

“Ah—” Bai Yuanxiu lifted his face from the giant tiger’s body, a few strands of tiger fur still clinging to his cheek. “It’s alive again.”

With a kick of its hind legs, the giant tiger flipped over neatly onto its back, belly facing up. Like a cat playing with a ball, it caught Bai Yuanxiu with its paws and held him aloft, then twisted and loosened its limbs, letting Bai Yuanxiu drop straight onto its chest.

Bai Yuanxiu wasn’t prepared and banged his chin against the tiger’s ribs. He let out a small cry, rubbed his chin, and reached for the tiger’s front paws.

“Wow, you little thing, you actually ambushed me!”

He squeezed and squished the tiger’s paw pads in his hand for a bit, then buried his face in the thick white fur of its chest and took a deep, exaggerated sniff.

The Sect Leader glanced back at him. “Alright, enough. Get up before you crush it.”

Bai Yuanxiu looked at the purring tiger and pouted. As if he’d actually crush it. Clearly the Sect Leader was just jealous the tiger liked him more.

He gave the tiger a few more affectionate rubs on the head, then flipped over and sat up.

Scooting over beside the Sect Leader, he picked up an apple and started peeling it silently. Once done, he held it out with a bright smile. “Esteemed Sect Leader, have some fruit.”

The Sect Leader took the apple and started eating without a word.

One apple after another: Bai Yuanxiu peeled them, and the Sect Leader chomped them down. After half an hour, the table was empty, and Bai Yuanxiu’s forehead twitched with frustration.

With a loud thunk, he slammed the paring knife onto the table. “Sect Leader!”

The Sect Leader lazily glanced at him. “What?”

All the momentum Bai Yuanxiu had built up vanished instantly. His face scrunched up, and he dragged out his words pitifully. “Sect Leader, stop dragging this out. I’m really anxious.”

The Sect Leader gave a noncommittal grunt and said slowly, “I know. If you weren’t anxious, you wouldn’t be here.”

Bai Yuanxiu wanted to argue, but seeing the other’s expression, he just shut up and sat there obediently.

When the Sect Leader finally drained the last of his wine, he spoke at last.

“Yuanxiu, I don’t really understand Central Plains customs. But where I come from, once you’ve chosen someone, it’s for life. If you treat it as a joke, you’ll be punished by the gods.”

Bai Yuanxiu lowered his head, picking at his fingers. “I wasn’t playing with him. I’m serious.”

He muttered, “You know what I’m like. If I weren’t serious, I wouldn’t be like this right now.”

The problem was, he didn’t know what Xiao Qing was thinking. Even if they fought again like before, that would be something. But now Xiao Qing was hiding. Did he really not want to see him again?

Bai Yuanxiu was stewing in his thoughts when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his cheeks.

“Ah—” the Sect Leader sighed and pinched both sides of his face, tugging at the soft flesh. “And you still won’t believe it when people call you a fool.”

The man’s deep-set eyes were uncharacteristically serious. “Didn’t you tell me before that you’d made up your mind? What now? Are you getting cold feet?”

He was talking about the time right after they’d saved Xiao Qing. Bai Yuanxiu had been furious at the sight of Xiao Qing, barely clinging to life. Sword in hand, he was storming down the mountain to drag that brat out himself.

No one could stop him when he was that worked up. He was marching down the path when someone gave him a knock on the back of the head.

Bai Yuanxiu flew into a rage. He’d barely drawn his sword when he turned around and saw who it was—and instantly deflated.

Back then, the Sect Leader had said only one thing to him:

“Brat, do you have any idea? Someone like Xiao Qing… shouldn’t have ever fallen sick in his entire life.”