Chapter 27: The Boy Becomes Left Protector

Having grown accustomed to Ji Wushuang’s occasional affectionate gestures, Shui Jingxuan lay quietly nestled in his embrace. He waited until Ji Wushuang had laughed and patted enough, then gently extricated himself.

He looked up, meeting Ji Wushuang’s eyes directly, and pressed for an answer. “Master, when will you release Elder Mu?”

Ji Wushuang’s joyous laughter abruptly ceased. He gripped Shui Jingxuan’s shoulders, his expression turning slightly grim as he spoke. “What’s the hurry? Your master must make some arrangements to clear his name.”

“Axi thanks Master!” Shui Jingxuan clasped his hands, a charming smile gracing his lips.

“Hmph, you are my disciple; there’s no need for thanks,” Ji Wushuang scoffed, his gaze darkening. He then asked in a low voice, “Does anyone else know the secret of your body?”

‘If there are others, they must all be silenced,’ Ji Wushuang pondered inwardly.

‘Lest they leave future troubles for my disciple.’ Perhaps it was due to coveting the boy for two years, but he had naturally transitioned from Sect Master to Master, and a doting one at that.

Beside them, Ji Wushuang’s twin sister nodded, issuing a stern warning.

“Indeed, never reveal this matter to anyone else. If it gets out, you will be hunted by the entire martial world. Once captured, death would be a light fate; they might even devour you whole like a ginseng fruit!”

“Axi understands,” Shui Jingxuan responded, timely adopting a frightened expression.

His brows slightly furrowed, his thin lips tightly pressed, his face pale, and his body slender—the boy resembled a delicate glass doll, ready to shatter at a touch. This sight filled Ji Wushuang with unbearable heartache.

He involuntarily let out a breath heavy with killing intent, declaring fiercely, “The boy is Ji Wushuang’s beloved disciple. If anyone dares to touch a single one of his fingers, this Venerable One would be delighted to send them to hell.”

After speaking, he cast a displeased glance at his twin sister. “He is still young; don’t scare him with such talk. As long as you and I remain silent, the boy will never be in danger.”

Ji Wushuang’s twin sister, realizing her misstep, quickly nodded in agreement.

Ji Wushuang was satisfied. He patted Shui Jingxuan’s head, saying gently, “Extend your right hand. Your master wants to examine it.”

Shui Jingxuan rolled up his sleeve and offered his right hand for inspection.

Ji Wushuang clasped Shui Jingxuan’s pulse gate, releasing his internal energy to probe his meridians. As expected, every meridian was unobstructed and remarkably wide, pleasing him greatly.

“Your body is truly exceptional. After practicing the sword for so long, there isn’t even a hint of callus; your skin is as smooth as jade,” he murmured in admiration. His large hand completely enveloped the small one, gripping it tightly, a strange tremor stirring within his heart.

“Oh? How curious! Let this Venerable One take a look too,” Ji Wushuang’s twin sister exclaimed, her interest piqued. Without a word, she pulled the boy’s hand over, turning it over and over, exclaiming in wonder as she examined it.

Ji Wushuang frowned, his gaze fixed on their clasped hands. A strange melancholy welled up within him, and he couldn’t help but speak in a deep voice, interrupting their intimacy.

“Enough. There’s nothing more to see; serious matters are at hand. Let’s discuss how to conceal the secret of the boy’s physique.

His right hand’s meridians were severed and then reconnected; we need a reason to explain this after he joins my sect. And we must also find a way to clear Elder Mu’s name.”

“Indeed, we should discuss this thoroughly,” Ji Wushuang’s twin sister agreed, releasing Shui Jingxuan and adopting a serious expression.

Knowing the two needed to discuss privately, Shui Jingxuan felt it inappropriate to interfere. He quickly bowed and excused himself.

“Remember, no matter what news you hear in the future, do not be surprised. Simply cooperate with your master’s words. Your master will handle these trivial matters properly; you need not worry,”

Ji Wushuang said, seeing him out the door and giving him earnest instructions.

“Your disciple understands.” He had intended to express his gratitude, but remembering Ji Wushuang disliked such words, Shui Jingxuan could only suppress his heartfelt thanks.

His hardened emotional defenses, softened by Ji Wushuang’s unwavering care, had developed a small crack.

***

Three days passed. The Hall of Punishment discovered new clues: a small poison dart bearing the Wudang sect’s insignia was found in a corner of the High Priest’s medicine room.

The Demonic Sect had only recently clashed with Wudang. With Wudang’s internal strife concluded, it was natural for them to send assassins to kill the High Priest, exchanging the High Priest’s life for Immortal Yuqing’s.

The elders of the Hall of Punishment took little time to confirm their judgment, immediately reporting it to the Sect Master.

Ji Wushuang erupted in fury, swearing to someday flatten Wudang, then, with a face full of remorse, ordered Elder Mu’s release.

Upon his release from the dungeon, Elder Mu was immediately invited by the Sect Master into his room for a private, lengthy discussion lasting nearly half an hour.

The content of their conversation remained unknown, but when Elder Mu returned to his own room, his expression was complex, yet his eyes held firm resolve.

He paused, dismissed Azhuang, then patted Shui Jingxuan’s head and asked gently, “Axi,”

Shui Jingxuan was startled. Connecting this to Elder Mu, he knew Ji Wushuang must have said something. He nodded affirmingly.

“Good. If you wish it, then pledge yourself to the Sect Master. A few days ago, the Sect Master obtained a box of Penglai Immortal Medicine from the Qingcheng Sect, which can heal your hand.

He wouldn’t casually give such precious medicine away, but giving it to his own disciple is another matter entirely. Axi, this is your opportunity; you must consider it carefully,” Elder Mu advised earnestly.

“If I go, what will happen to you, Master?” Shui Jingxuan’s eyes were slightly moist as he spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Once a master, always a father. There’s no banquet that doesn’t end. This is how it is; people strive for greater heights, while water flows to lower grounds. You must understand, being by the Sect Master’s side is a hundred times better than staying with your master!”

Elder Mu urged with great effort.

Though he was reluctant in his heart, his nature was straightforward, and he cherished talent above all else. He had poured all his efforts into Shui Jingxuan and had always been troubled by his crippled right hand.

Now, with such a golden opportunity before them, he was even more anxious than Shui Jingxuan himself.

“Master, please allow your disciple to consider it carefully.” Although he had used their master-disciple relationship as leverage to save Elder Mu, when it came down to it, Shui Jingxuan still couldn’t agree immediately.

It would seem too callous and might hurt Elder Mu’s feelings.

Elder Mu nodded at his words, patted his shoulder, and quietly left. The resolve in his eyes, coupled with a healthy body, would surely lead to rapid growth; he was already satisfied.

The next day, taking advantage of a sect meeting where all the elders were gathered for discussions, Elder Mu stepped forward and directly requested the Sect Master to bestow the medicine upon his disciple, Axi.

Ji Wushuang refused, citing the reason that ‘immortal medicine is precious and not to be given to outsiders.’

Elder Mu gritted his teeth, painfully yielding his most capable disciple, Axi, to the Sect Master, in exchange for the Sect Master healing Axi’s right hand meridians.

The two acted in concert, and under the witness of the other nine elders, Shui Jingxuan was thus ‘transferred’.

It wasn’t until the news spread throughout the sect, and he encountered his increasingly respectful junior disciples in the refectory, that he learned of it through their scattered words. He was speechless.

‘Why do I feel like a secondhand item being transferred?’ he thought, self-mockingly.

“Excuse me, are you Axi? The Sect Master has invited the ten elders and arranged a master-disciple reception in the Hall of Deliberation. Please come over now.”

No sooner had Shui Jingxuan learned of his change of allegiance than a servant was dispatched to fetch him for the reception.

“Let’s go.” Bidding farewell to the junior disciples who had flocked to congratulate him, Shui Jingxuan calmly walked towards the Hall of Deliberation.

“Haha, my beloved disciple has arrived!” Seeing Shui Jingxuan’s elegant, composed figure gracefully approaching, Ji Wushuang’s mood brightened considerably.

He quickly stepped forward, embraced Shui Jingxuan’s shoulders, and brought him to his side, proudly introducing him to the assembled elders.

Aside from Elder Mu, the other nine elders had witnessed the boy’s progress step by step, and they all admired him greatly.

They could naturally understand the Sect Master’s excited and joyful mood. Anyone with such an outstanding disciple would wake up smiling in their dreams.

They were all discerning individuals; though on the surface it seemed Elder Mu had voluntarily given up the boy, deep down, who didn’t know it was due to the Sect Master’s coercion?

For the sake of the boy, the Sect Master had gone to such great lengths—seeking medicine, coercing, and enticing, almost to the point of outright snatching him.

It was clear the Sect Master valued him tremendously! The nine elders understood this perfectly and dared not show the slightest neglect or disrespect towards Shui Jingxuan.

Wolf Girl stood beside Ji Wushuang, her usually expressionless face now bearing a hint of a smile. The possibility of healing the boy’s right hand significantly alleviated her guilt and regret.

After the master-disciple ceremony, Ji Wushuang led Shui Jingxuan to sit beside him. While waiting for the dishes to be served, he raised a hand and slowly announced,

“Until recently, this Venerable One had only one disciple, Wolf Girl, and thus appointed her to the position of Chief Protector. Now that I have taken in the boy, this position needs to be changed.”

His words immediately drew the rapt attention of the elders.

Seeing their solemn expressions, Ji Wushuang nodded with satisfaction and continued, “This Venerable One intends to abolish the position of Chief Protector and replace it with Left and Right Protectors, with them each taking one position. What do you all think?”

Wolf Girl was deemed incapable of such a heavy responsibility, so weakening her authority was naturally met with no disagreement from the ten elders. They repeatedly praised the Sect Master’s wisdom.

The elder of the Hall of Punishment contemplated for a moment before hesitantly asking, “May I ask, Sect Master, among these Left and Right Protectors, who will be Left? And who will be Right?”

It was common knowledge that the Left held the position of honor. If there were Left and Right Protectors, there should naturally be a distinction in status.

The Hall of Punishment elder was in fact testing who the Sect Master valued more, to give everyone a clear understanding.

Shui Jingxuan, hearing this, lowered his head to hide a cynical smile. To him, the question was pointless; in Ji Wushuang’s heart, could his standing possibly surpass Wolf Girl’s? Unexpectedly, Ji Wushuang’s answer completely defied his expectations.

Ji Wushuang merely glanced at the elder, then reached out to stroke Shui Jingxuan’s soft hair, his tone gentle and without a hint of hesitation. “The Left Protector will, of course, be the boy.”

Everyone was astonished, save for Wolf Girl, who didn’t understand the intricacies of such matters. However, the ten elders quickly composed themselves and nodded in unison, expressing their approval of the Sect Master’s decision.

“Master, your disciple…” Shui Jingxuan began, glancing at Wolf Girl, intending to decline.

For the first time, he was somewhat unclear about Ji Wushuang’s intentions. ‘Perhaps he made this choice based on my abilities versus Wolf Girl’s?’ Shui Jingxuan could only guess.

“What? Do you lack the confidence to fulfill the role?” Ji Wushuang countered, raising a hand to cut off his unfinished words.

“No, your disciple can certainly fulfill it!” Being questioned about his abilities, Shui Jingxuan answered proudly, without time for further thought.

“Haha! Well said! Since you can fulfill it, the matter is settled!” Ji Wushuang’s twin sister laughed heartily, making the final decision.

Her younger brother’s actions this time greatly pleased her. To prevent him from changing his mind, she quickly cut off the boy’s refusal, then cast a knowing, mocking glance at the oblivious Wolf Girl.

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