Chapter 39: A Name

Wolf Girl shuffled into the council hall, her appearance disheveled.

Lifting her eyes, she met Ji Wushuang’s sinister glare.

Her scalp tightened, and fear crept into her heart.

But recalling the passionate entanglement with Zhuo Yihang in the cave and their vow to retire from the martial world together, she immediately steeled her resolve.

“Disciple greets Master, greets Sect Master.” Wolf Girl cupped her hands in salute to the two.

“It is a relief that you have finally decided to return!” Female Ji Wushuang’s lips curled into a cold sneer.

She scanned Wolf Girl—her disheveled wet hair and rumpled clothing—and glared.

“What happened to you? Was killing Zhuo Yihang really that difficult?”

Wolf Girl lowered her head, biting her lip, remaining silent.

“Is Zhuo Yihang dead or not?” Ji Wushuang demanded, not needing her explanation.

Wolf Girl’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, unconsciously clenched into a fist, then quickly relaxed.

She said hoarsely, “Reporting to Master, I did not kill him.”

She bit her lip, took a deep breath, and spoke firmly, “I have taken a liking to him, so I could not bear to kill him. This subordinate has come to request that the Sect Master allow me to leave and retire from the martial world with him.”

Wolf Girl’s tone was resolute, each word striking like a hammer, leaving the Ji siblings stunned for a moment.

They could never have imagined that Wolf Girl would betray the sect for a man she had only met once, and that man being an enemy of the heterodox faction.

“I am not crazy! I have never been more clear-headed.” Wolf Girl straightened her back and looked towards the two on the main seats.

“Anyway, you never treated me as a person. I was just a sharp blade for you to exact revenge. With Junior Brother here, I am dispensable. So, I beg Master and Sect Master to grant me this one favor.”

From her words, it was clear that Wolf Girl was not crazy; in fact, she saw things more clearly than ever.

She gradually realized what she meant to the Demon Sect and to Ji Wushuang, and her heart slowly drifted away. After meeting Zhuo Yihang and tasting the sweetness of being cherished, she ultimately decided to leave.

“You see things quite clearly!” Female Ji Wushuang sneered, suddenly reaching out and grasping the air.

A powerful internal force locked onto Wolf Girl, yanking her off her feet and sending her flying uncontrollably.

In an instant, Wolf Girl’s neck was caught in Female Ji Wushuang’s clenched fingers.

Tightening her grip, she leaned in to glare at Wolf Girl, her face twisted with rage, her voice icy:

“Regardless of how we treated you, we raised you, taught you, fed you, clothed you, and served you wholeheartedly. And now, for a man, you betray your clan? Do you have no conscience?

If we had known this day would come, we should never have saved you back then. We should have let you remain in the wolf pack, naked and starving, enduring wind and sun, snow and rain!

You wouldn’t have survived five years, and you would never have had the chance to stand before us and beg us to grant your wish!”

The more she spoke, the redder Female Ji Wushuang’s eyes became.

Though she did not particularly like Wolf Girl, she had raised her with her own hands, and she could not accept Wolf Girl’s betrayal—especially for an enemy. That made it even harder to swallow.

Wolf Girl’s face turned purple, her lips white, as she was suffocating from extreme lack of oxygen.

But even at death’s door, her fierce nature would not yield.

She opened her eyes with difficulty, staring back, and said slowly, word by word, “My mind is made up. I beg the Sect Master to grant my wish.”

Hearing this, Female Ji Wushuang’s eyes flashed with deep killing intent.

Just as she was about to tighten her grip and snap Wolf Girl’s neck, Ji Wushuang suddenly struck out with his palm, pushing aside her hand that was choking Wolf Girl.

Saved by the palm wind, Wolf Girl tumbled clumsily to Ji Wushuang’s feet, clutching her throat, gasping heavily.

“Little brother, what are you doing? Her heart belongs to someone else. Why are you still protecting her? This kind of slut deserves to die!” Female Ji Wushuang shrieked, almost bouncing up in a blaze of fury.

“I just want to know why she betrayed the clan.” Ji Wushuang’s eyes were dark and deep, like two black holes that could swallow everything.

He looked down expressionlessly at Wolf Girl gasping at his feet and asked coldly, “What did that man promise you that made you willing to follow him after just one meeting?”

Wolf Girl struggled to crawl away from Ji Wushuang’s feet, stood up unsteadily, and a dreamy smile spread across her face.

She spoke slowly, “A name. He gave me a name. He made me know that I am human too. From today on, I am no longer called Wolf Girl. I am Lian Nishang.”

Ji Wushuang crushed the armrest of his chair, lifted his chin, and sneered, “Lian Nishang? A very common name. I taught you peerless martial arts and gave you a status above others. So, you only want to be an ordinary person? Very well. Since that is the case, you will leave the Demon Sect like an ordinary person!”

As he spoke, the veins on his forehead bulged, and he suddenly shouted, “Men! Summon the elders and the clan members. The Right Protector is to undergo the expulsion penalty!”

Someone quickly acknowledged and left.

The expulsion penalty was carried out by the entire clan. The betrayer had to walk through a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, enduring the clan’s bombardment with stones and beating with clubs. If they did not die, they could leave the Demon Sect safely.

However, in the history of the Demon Sect, no one had survived to the end; they usually died halfway under the beating.

Knowing the severity of this punishment, Female Ji Wushuang, though she saw a glimmer of hope, held back and did not speak.

She only roared harshly, “You can get out now!”

Wolf Girl slowly walked to the door, took a deep look at Ji Wushuang, and then strode resolutely toward the punishment hall, ready to endure the cruel ordeal necessary to leave the Demon Sect.

“A name. It was just because of a name?” After Wolf Girl had gone far, Ji Wushuang closed his eyes wearily, his brows deeply furrowed, muttering softly, his heart in turmoil.

The news was not minor. The ten elders arrived first at the council hall to seek the truth. Shui Jingxuan also rushed in with them, but no one knew the situation better than he did.

He explained the matter, leaving the ten elders sighing and then burning with rage. Wolf Girl held a high position, received preferential treatment, and learned profound martial arts from the Sect Master.

What more could she want? To betray for a man and a name was truly disheartening!

The ten elders unanimously approved the Sect Master’s decision to expel Wolf Girl. After taking leave of the Sect Master, they went to summon the sect members to oversee the punishment.

“Disciple, stay.” Dismissing the elders, Ji Wushuang called back his beloved disciple, who was about to leave.

“Master, what do you wish to say?” Shui Jingxuan turned and asked respectfully.

“Tell me, is a name really that important to a person?” Ji Wushuang slowly approached him, leaned down to look directly into his pitch-black but clear eyes, and asked solemnly.

“Of course it is important. A name distinguishes one person from another, accompanies a person for life, and to some extent declares the meaning of a person’s existence,” Shui Jingxuan evaluated objectively.

Moreover, for Wolf Girl, having a name had an extraordinary significance. She was raised by wolves and later lived among humans, which made her unable to get close to wolves or integrate into human society.

She wandered between humans and beasts, unable to find her place or footing. Zhuo Yihang accidentally gave her a name, and suddenly she felt a sense of belonging, of being accepted and recognized. Wanting to leave the clan that rejected her and follow Zhuo Yihang—Shui Jingxuan could fully understand that.

However, Ji Wushuang could not understand. Since he himself did not possess an independent name, how could he be expected to consider Wolf Girl’s situation?

There were many principles involved that Shui Jingxuan could not explain to Ji Wushuang at the moment, so he kept silent and let the matter drop.

Upon hearing his beloved disciple’s answer, Ji Wushuang secretly clenched his fists and asked with a trembling voice, “Then, does Axi want a name? How about I give you a name?” So, please don’t betray me or leave me like Wolf Girl did, okay?

Shui Jingxuan smiled and shook his head. “Thank you, Master. Axi has already chosen a name for himself.”

Ji Wushuang closed his eyes, barely maintaining a calm tone. “Oh? What is my disciple’s name? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“My name is Shui Jingxuan. A name might be very important to Senior Sister, but it means nothing to me. Whether Master calls me Axi or Shui Jingxuan, it’s still me. There’s no difference,” Shui Jingxuan replied slowly.

A name is certainly important to an individual, but for someone with a strong mind who has already found their self-identity, it is merely a code name.

Having lived two lifetimes, Shui Jingxuan could truly perceive and know himself, so he was not obsessed with a name. He only regarded it as a tool for others to identify him.

Hearing his answer, Ji Wushuang breathed a sigh of relief, but there was also a strange panic in his heart. He had been with his disciple for seven years and yet did not know his real name.

He felt concealed and rejected, as if all the closeness before was just an illusion, and perhaps the disciple would disappear from his sight the moment he turned around. The mere thought was as painful as a hundred claws scratching his heart.

“I won’t. As long as Master lives, I will never betray you or leave you.” Sensing his fear, Shui Jingxuan obediently let him hold him and made a solemn vow.

The vow was one hundred percent sincere, but who could understand its deeper meaning? How long would Ji Wushuang’s lifetime last? Only three or four hours.

Thinking of this, Shui Jingxuan’s heart suddenly ached.

Ji Wushuang and his sister truly felt the sincerity and earnestness in his words, and their mood improved. Female Ji Wushuang said warmly, “Yes, the boy is so good and filial. How could he betray us? Little brother, don’t overthink it.”

“Mm. Remember these words today. If you leave, I will never let you step out of the Demon Sect. I will kill you with my own hands!” Even if you die, you must die by my side! Ji Wushuang grabbed his beloved disciple’s chin, using harsh and ruthless words to cover the deep fear hidden in his heart.

Shui Jingxuan paid it no mind, merely smiling faintly and nodding.

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