Pitiful

"Sect Master Peak, aren't you... a little too pitiful?" Yang Ning repeated.

"Huh?" Shi Xuanfei was completely stunned. She turned her head in confusion, her beautiful eyes full of disbelief.

Yang Ning calmly withdrew his hand, picked up a clean handkerchief from the low table beside him, and carefully wiped the residual skincare product from his fingertips. He glanced around the luxurious and exquisite sleeping quarters: "Just as you said, Jade Maiden Peak is indeed a good place. Its location is excellent, and the environment is serene and pleasant."

"Your palace is even more ingenious. It's clear at a glance that countless efforts and years were spent meticulously decorating it. On the way up the mountain, I also saw all sorts of buildings with different styles standing on either side. I presume you personally led your disciples to design and build them, brick by brick? And that spiritual beast garden, if you didn't genuinely love those creatures, why would you specifically create a space to care for them so attentively?"

As he spoke, his gaze fell back to the display cabinet filled with gifts: "These are your disciples' birthday gifts for you, aren't they? Each one is wiped spotlessly clean and arranged neatly. It's evident that you cherish these gestures deeply, and you must also dote on every female disciple under your command."

Shi Xuanfei's brows gradually furrowed, and her tone carried a hint of displeasure: "Boss Yang, what exactly do you mean by all this?"

Yang Ning didn't answer directly. Instead, he reached out and moved an unoccupied embroidered stool, calmly sitting down to Shi Xuanfei's rear-right. He gazed at her placidly: "You are attached to every blade of grass and tree on Jade Maiden Peak, you dote on those female disciples, and you can't bear to leave this place from the bottom of your heart. Just as you said yourself, you don't want to be the troublesome Sect Master at all. Yet here you are, trying to persuade me with all your might... to help you contend for a position you don't actually want."

Shi Xuanfei's brows remained tightly knitted. She emphasized: "I told you, it was the Sect Master who approached me and demanded that I participate in the selection!"

Yang Ning reached out and moved an embroidered stool, sitting down: "You are attached to Jade Maiden Peak, you dote on your disciples, and you can't bear to leave this place. Just as you said, you don't want to be the Sect Master, but now you're asking me to help you become the Sect Master."

Shi Xuanfei's brows remained tightly furrowed: "I told you, it was the Sect Master who approached me and demanded that I participate in the selection."

Yang Ning smiled and shook his head: "Within the Sword Sect, there are numerous large and small peaks. Not counting the minor peaks, there are twelve peak masters for the twelve main peaks alone. Add to that key departments like the Law Enforcement Hall, Mission Hall, Library, and Tianbao Pavilion, and there are no less than thirty people qualified, capable, and with the seniority to compete for the position of Sect Master."

"They are all venerable, profoundly powerful, and experienced cultivators."

"That's right, Hall Master Yun's temperament does have flaws. It's understandable that Sect Master Lei wants more people to compete for the future of the sect. But why does it sound like... Sect Master Lei sees you as the only choice in the entire sect?"

He casually mentioned a few names: "Putting aside others, just those whose names I know include the Peak Master of Beast Taming Peak, Ding Zhen; the Pavilion Master of Tianbao Pavilion, He Shen; and the Peak Master of Chixiao Peak, Liu Bang... Aren't they all outstanding and reputable candidates? Why would Sect Master Lei specifically believe that only you, Sect Master Peak, are qualified to compete with Hall Master Yun?"

Shi Xuanfei immediately retorted, her tone laced with urgency: "Because Yun Zishan and I are fellow disciples! If I am elected, the position of Sect Master will still be passed down within our lineage. She... she will have indirectly fulfilled our Master's ideal from back then, made up for our Master's regret, and her inner obsession can naturally be resolved, allowing her to find release!"

However, the moment the words left her mouth, seeing the knowing smile on Yang Ning's face that seemed to see through everything, Shi Xuanfei suddenly realized that in her haste, she had said the wrong thing.

Seeing Yang Ning's smiling face, Shi Xuanfei suddenly realized she had spoken incorrectly.

"Yes, precisely because you know that the root of Hall Master Yun's obsession with the position of Sect Master lies in her desire to make up for Qingxia Fairy's regret from failing to be elected back then," Yang Ning picked up her words. "And this regret can only truly be mended if you, or she herself, takes that position. If anyone else is elected, their heart knot cannot be untied."

He watched Shi Xuanfei's expression gradually turn solemn and continued his analysis: "So, let me guess... This is a deeply moving story about sacrifice and protection."

"Senior Sister is determined to run for Sect Master to make up for our Master's regret from back then, to reclaim the glory that belongs to their lineage."

"And Junior Sister, she clearly saw the fatal flaws in Senior Sister's personality. She knows well that even if Senior Sister achieves her wish and becomes Sect Master, with her stubborn, cold, and inflexible nature, she will not only be exhausted and overworked every day but may also lead the Sword Sect to decline due to her inability to balance all parties.

If the hidden danger of the sect's decline truly erupts during Senior Sister's tenure... With her strong sense of responsibility and competitive spirit, she will never forgive herself, and might even damage her Dao heart, giving rise to inner demons... This is an outcome that Junior Sister would never wish to see, even at the cost of her life."