The last drops (2)

Lin Huaixu lowered his voice further, yet every word struck True Person Yu Qing's ears like a heavy hammer, carrying an edge he could not evade. "You kept Senior Brother confined in Clear Parasol Hall for six months. Yes, you protected him. But can you keep him there for the rest of his life?"

"Second Senior Brother cultivates the sword. He is meant to ride his sword above the clouds and unravel the Great Dao. Do you really want him trapped in this tiny space for his entire life, a caged bird that can see the sky but never fly into it?"

True Person Yu Qing's chest tightened as though an invisible hand had clenched around it. Even his breathing grew labored. He remained silent for a long time, until only their alternating breaths filled the hall. At last, he sank dejectedly into the grand armchair behind him, pressed his fingertips to his brow, and said nothing.

How could True Person Yu Qing not understand? He had placed Shen Yuxi under house arrest in Clear Parasol Hall to keep him safe, but it could never be a lasting solution. Rumors ran rampant through the sect, and dark currents stirred beneath the surface. He knew all of it. Yet more than those insubstantial whispers, he feared for his disciple's life.

"No." In the end, he shook his head, his voice hoarse. "Your cultivation and Qingming's are still too low. If Yulan truly sets his sights on you, you will have barely a chance of surviving."

But Lin Huaixu suddenly smiled, the faintest curve touching his lips. None of it reached his eyes. Instead, it held the resolve of someone smashing his cauldrons and sinking his boats, leaving no path of retreat. "Then you'll just have to find a way to protect