Things by the river were destined to become an unresolved suspense.
Recently, Chu Xun's name had spread rapidly throughout the sect.
He had become the center of heated discussion.
As a result, far fewer people were coming to the Sutra Pavilion.
On the eighth floor of the Sutra Pavilion.
Li Yaochi arrived this time with joy written all over her face. When she saw the old Daoist reading quietly, her eyes curved into bright crescents.
"What's made you this happy?" Chu Xun asked with a smile, half-joking.
"No!" the little girl said earnestly. "I was really angry when I saw that bad man try to attack you, but I was so happy when I saw you slap him to death!"
She was genuinely delighted. Chu Xun hadn't seen such a bright, carefree smile on her face in days.
In Li Yaochi's heart, aside from the late Uncle Fu, Chu Xun's position had risen uncontrollably. He had already faintly surpassed the distant father she rarely met. Because of this, she worried about Chu Xun's safety from the bottom of her heart.
When the red-haired old man arrived at the Donglin Sect filled with killing intent, she thought history was about to repeat itself, that Uncle Fu's tragedy would happen again. She had nearly collapsed into despair.
Fortunately, the ending was completely different from what she had feared.
Looking at the happy little girl, Chu Xun shook his head and said lightly, "It wasn't just a slap. I used quite a bit of strength. Besides, don't you also know that palm technique?"
Li Yaochi nodded vigorously like a little chick pecking rice. The desolate aura around her body quietly spread as she said seriously, "I'll become as strong as you in the future. Then I'll protect you!"
Chu Xun smiled helplessly, but seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he couldn't help but think silently, This little girl… might already see me as family.
But then, a sudden change caught his attention.
The desolate aura around Li Yaochi was actually devouring the surrounding spiritual energy.
"Huh?"
Chu Xun was startled.
The Eight Desolate Palms carried withering power, but they did not possess the ability to directly swallow spiritual energy. He stepped forward, lightly probing her body, and indeed felt a faint pulling force. It was extremely strange.
At the same time, realization dawned on him.
No wonder this little girl's destiny could strip away the fate of a chosen protagonist. This innate devouring physique, combined with desolate power, was nothing short of heaven-defying.
He couldn't help but sigh.
What kind of great demon was he unintentionally nurturing?
His gaze fell silently upon Li Yaochi's fate.
[Name: Li Yaochi]
[Age: 4]
[Cultivation: Body Refining Realm]
[Luck: (Purple-Black) Destined Villain]
Beneath the purple-black fate, a faint black lotus had already condensed. Though illusory, it was unmistakable. Jiang Chen had only formed a black lotus shadow after repeatedly trampling destiny with Chu Xun's help, yet this little girl was only four years old.
If she waited until adulthood, when her fate fully erupted…
Wouldn't she become a true destiny villain?
A faint, amused curve appeared at the corner of Chu Xun's lips.
Li Yaochi noticed none of this. Instead, she said nervously, "But I also heard that even though you became famous, you caused a lot of trouble. If Donglin Sect isn't safe anymore… you'll take me away soon, right?"
Chu Xun nodded. This was already within his expectations.
He had killed a powerhouse from the Immortal Dao Sect. The other side's silence could only mean they were preparing something bigger. But he wasn't worried. Soldiers came, he would block; water rose, he would dam.
With the newly mastered River Sword Intent, there were very few in the Human Emperor Realm who could kill him. Even if he couldn't win, escaping would be more than possible. Besides, as long as he stayed within the sect, there was no real danger.
"How about…" Li Yaochi bit her lip and whispered, "You come with me? I'll ask my father to step in. Then no one would dare touch you."
Chu Xun looked at her warmly, reached out, and gently touched her head.
"So this is what you really wanted to say."
Li Yaochi lowered her head nervously, twisting her fingers together.
Chu Xun smiled and shook his head. The appreciation in his eyes deepened. Considering her relationship with her father, being able to say this meant he already held an extremely important place in her heart.
But he still said calmly, "My cultivation may not be high, but Donglin Sect treats me well. And this matter happened because of me, how could I just leave?"
"Besides, low cultivation doesn't mean others can bully me. If someone comes… cats and dogs can still be dealt with easily."
Li Yaochi's eyes filled with disappointment.
But she nodded hard.
"Alright! Then I'll watch you beat them up when they come!"
"Not leaving?" Chu Xun teased.
"I'm not leaving!" Li Yaochi said firmly.
Chu Xun was stunned, then his expression softened.
He understood. She was afraid that once she left, something like Uncle Fu's fate would befall him again. So she wanted to stay and watch over him. If necessary, she would beg her mother no matter what.
He smiled, rubbed her head, and said, "Listen to your mother. Don't act recklessly. Tell me before you leave, and I'll give you a gift then."
"A gift?"
Li Yaochi's eyes lit up.
In her entire life, no one had ever given her a gift. Living with Uncle Fu in a remote city, the old and the weak were ignored by everyone. Even orthodox cultivators looked down on her as a wild child. She had only ever seen other children receive gifts, never herself.
Anticipation filled her eyes.
"Okay!"
"Go back first," Chu Xun said gently. "Grandpa Chu still needs to cultivate."
Li Yaochi nodded, waved, and said, "Goodbye, Grandpa Chu! I'll definitely hold on until you beat them up!"
…
The little girl had just left,
When someone else arrived immediately after.
This made Chu Xun feel helpless. The eighth floor wasn't a place just anyone could enter, so why was it that one person left and another came right away?
"Master!"
Jiang Chen, handsome and refined like jade, stepped onto the eighth floor. The respect in his eyes was different from before. Previously, it had been respect for strength and status. Now, there was something more, something akin to reverence for a father.
During these days of cultivation, every time Jiang Chen closed his eyes, he would see Zhao Huangchao's brutal battle, feel the deepest fear buried in his heart, and then see Elder Chu's gentle smile, effortlessly shattering that fear.
That feeling…
He had only ever experienced it with his father.
No matter the crisis, as long as his father was there, nothing would happen. That sense of peace and security filled him with unprecedented trust.
Chu Xun nodded slightly.
"My father also heard about this," Jiang Chen said. "He's worried the Immortal Dao Sect will retaliate, so he plans to send a clan elder to take charge of Donglin Sect, just in case."
Chu Xun's lips twitched faintly.
Wasn't I the one who slapped Zhao Huangchao to death?
It wasn't slander, Li Yaochi had just said Donglin Sect was too weak and wanted him to leave with her. Now Jiang Chen was sending reinforcements from the Jiang family.
Was Donglin Sect really that weak?
Or was he being underestimated?
He suppressed his thoughts and said gently, "Jiang Chen, as a disciple of Donglin Holy Land, there's something you must understand. An ancient power passed down for three thousand years has foundations far deeper than you imagine."
Jiang Chen straightened, awe filling his heart.
Master must be implying something profound.
Could it be that the sleeping saint was not dead?
Seeing Chu Xun's calm, gentle eyes, his confidence grew stronger.
Chu Xun had no idea what Jiang Chen was thinking. He didn't even know whether Donglin Sect's saint was alive, but the sect's formation was real. If outsiders came, they would only be defeated.
"Buzz."
A simple Taixuan Sword floated in midair.
Plain and unadorned.
Its edge concealed.
"Take this sword," Chu Xun said softly. "Since you were the one who obtained it, there's no reason for me, as your master, to keep it."
"Master…!" Jiang Chen grew anxious.
"Take it," Chu Xun said calmly. "This sword is gentle and steady. With your cultivation, you can control it easily, and it's enough to double your combat strength. As for me, there will be better choices. Don't cling to this one."
"…Alright."
Jiang Chen did not dare disobey. He thought that if Master refused, it must be because something better awaited him.
After accepting the sword, he cupped his hands deeply. "This disciple will take his leave and won't disturb Master's cultivation."
Chu Xun nodded.
As Jiang Chen departed,
Chu Xun checked his reading progress.
999 volumes.
Only one volume remained.
"Soon," he murmured softly.
He was not only curious about the thousand-volume reward, but also faintly anticipating the Immortal Dao Sect's retaliation. If he didn't establish authority through action, not only outsiders, even the two juniors he valued would think Donglin Sect was… weak.