Chapter 10 The Truth Behind Bai Xiaosheng's Distancing from Ye Li

Ye Li thought Su Ying'er would make excuses to defend herself, but she didn't expect her to grit her teeth and admit it.

"Yes... I didn't see Second Senior Sister today."

Bai Xiaosheng had already guessed based on Su Ying'er's reaction just now, and when he heard her admit it, he couldn't hide his disappointment.

"Junior Sister, how could you do this? Do you know that because of what you said today, Second Senior Sister has become a rat in the street, and everyone can kill her?"

"I know, but I have my reasons!"

Su Ying'er said anxiously, "Although I didn't go to the Discipline Hall today, I heard all those rumors. Those people are slandering Master for being jealous of Second Senior Sister, which is why he punished her so severely. They also said that Second Senior Sister didn't come back because the whole sect has wronged her."

Bai Xiaosheng's brows relaxed. Indeed, he had heard many of these words while he was protecting the Dharma in the Precept Hall today.

If Su Ying'er hadn't suddenly appeared, both Master and the entire Lotus Sect would have lost face today.

"My master saved me from danger, and my fellow disciples treat me like family. Lotus Sect is my home, and I cannot allow anyone to slander Lotus Sect or you. That's why I injured myself and fabricated these words. I want everyone to know that my master is not wrong, and my fellow disciples are not wrong either!"

Seeing Su Ying'er stubbornly tilting her head back to stop her tears from falling, Bai Xiaosheng couldn't stay angry. He said helplessly, "Are you confused? How can you slander Second Senior Sister like this? How will she face people when she comes back?"

"Fourth Senior Brother."

Su Ying'er knelt before him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Ying'er really cares about you all and doesn't want anyone to slander you. If someone has to be wrong, then let Ying'er bear the blame!"

After saying that, Su Ying'er drew the sword from Bai Xiaosheng's waist and held it horizontally against his slender neck.

"stop!"

Bai Xiaosheng hurriedly stopped him, "Let's talk this out. Don't do anything foolish!"

Su Ying'er smiled sadly, "Ying'er has done something wrong and knows she has no face to stay in the sect anymore. Today, Ying'er will commit suicide to apologize to Second Senior Sister, and repay Fourth Senior Brother's kindness in the next life."

"Ying'er!"

Faced with life and death, Bai Xiaosheng had no reason to blame her. He snatched the sword from her arm and said, "Alright, since you are sincerely repentant, Second Senior Sister will surely understand. Let's just let this matter go. I won't mention it again, nor will I tell anyone else."

"..."

Ye Li, who witnessed everything, had furious eyes.

She was clearly the victim, yet Bai Xiaosheng generously forgave Su Ying'er on her behalf, despite it being someone else's fault.

What right does he have to make decisions for her?!

On the other side, Su Ying'er finally felt relieved, but she was still worried that Bai Xiaosheng would tell others. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bai Xiaosheng's sword and had an idea.

She sobbed, "Fourth Senior Brother, please let me go. After I die, if you want, I can see your sword. That way, our acquaintance won't have been in vain."

Ye Li frowned.

This sword was left to Bai Xiaosheng by his deceased mother. What does it have to do with Su Ying'er?

Bai Xiaosheng's words quickly answered her question.

"Don't talk nonsense. I will always remember your kindness in helping me redeem my sword. Don't worry, I will never tell anyone about this."

Ye Li looked bewildered.

Su Ying'er redeemed this sword? She clearly redeemed it!

I remember half a year ago, Bai Xiaosheng lost his sword due to a moment of infatuation and asked her for help.

She was already angry about Bai Xiaosheng's gambling habit and said a lot of harsh things, so she decided to ignore him.

It wasn't until she heard from Lu Ziting that the sword was not an ordinary sword, but an heirloom of Bai Xiaosheng's deceased mother.

After much thought, I decided to find a way to redeem the sword for him. Since I was too embarrassed to give it to him in person because what I said earlier was too harsh, I wrote a letter and left it in his room, hoping that he would repent and change his ways.

Could it be that something happened in between that she didn't know about?

Many details that I hadn't noticed before were now connected.

Although Bai Xiaosheng always had a smile on his face, he was older and more shrewd than his fellow disciples, making him not an easy person to approach. Even after Su Ying'er had been there for over half a year, he remained indifferent.

Until one day, he suddenly became closer to Su Ying'er, while becoming increasingly distant from her.

Looking back now, that period coincided with the time around when she helped Bai Xiaosheng redeem his sword.

It was Su Ying'er who took this favor for granted!

She shouted, "No! This sword wasn't redeemed by her, it was mine!"

No one heard Ye Li's words; on the waterside pavilion, only Bai Xiaosheng reminisced.

“Back then, I was heartbroken after being rejected by my second senior sister. When I returned to my room, I saw you holding this sword. You have no idea how moved I was.”

Upon hearing this, Su Ying'er's eyes flickered.

Actually, at that time she had only heard that Bai Xiaosheng and Ye Li had a big fight, and wanted to take advantage of the situation to go to Bai Xiaosheng to comfort him, but he mistakenly thought that she was the one who redeemed the sword.

She simply hid the letter and accepted it.

In retrospect, that decision was incredibly wise.

Su Ying'er said understandingly, "How could I watch my fourth senior brother's mother's sword fall into someone else's hands? You are all my family, and I would do anything for you."

Bai Xiaosheng was indeed moved, but his eyes quickly dimmed again. "Second Senior Sister doesn't think that way."

Su Ying'er sighed, "Second Senior Sister is indeed..."

"You said Second Senior Sister didn't come back today, could something have really happened to her?"

The topic changed so quickly that Su Ying'er didn't react for a moment. "Huh?"

Bai Xiaosheng continued his analysis, "I felt something was off in the Mist Camphor Forest that day. Now that I think about it, even though there were only traces of Second Senior Sister's fight in the Mist Camphor Forest, what if the disparity between us and the enemy was too great, and she couldn't hit the other side at all? I think we should go back to the Mist Camphor Forest to take a look."

Su Ying'er was completely dumbfounded. Didn't they just say they were going to carry swords? Why are they suddenly going to the Misty Camphor Forest?

"Fourth Senior Brother, but Master has already given orders. What if Master finds out..."

Bai Xiaosheng nodded, "You're right."

Just as Su Ying'er breathed a sigh of relief, she heard Bai Xiaosheng say, "I heard that some outer disciples are going to the Misty Camphor Forest for trials the day after tomorrow. I can apply to be their protector, so that I won't disobey my master's orders."

He asked enthusiastically, "Isn't this a great idea?"

Unable to find an excuse to stop her, Su Ying'er stammered, "Ah, uh, yes..."

Across from her, Ye Li, who had taken in Su Ying'er's tense reaction, felt a strange unease.

Why is Su Ying'er so afraid of Bai Xiaosheng going to the Fog Camphor Forest?

She had previously thought that Su Ying'er didn't want her to come back, which was why she had repeatedly stopped them from going to see her.

Now it seems that Su Ying'er knows something, such as the Fog Camphor Forest.

Just as Ye Li was sizing up Su Ying'er, an uninvited guest arrived outside.

Yuan Ce ran in excitedly, "What are you all doing here? Is there some good news?"

He gloated, "That old hag angered Master today, and just now Master sent someone to throw her annoying beast pet into the Chaos Realm!"