Xiao Ling'r quietly retreated to her chambers, her mind churning with Bai Lung's words.
As she replayed the encounter in her mind, she could not deny the unsettling truth that lay beneath his rhetoric.
He speaks of power and ambition as if they are the true measure of worth in this world.
She frowned, her fingers nervously tracing the intricate carvings on her teacup that was still warm with tea in it.
And yet she knows, he is not entirely wrong.
She learned the hard way his great is power.
It is the strong who shape the course of history, while the meek are relegated to the shadows.
She thought back to the constant sheltering of her father, the Sect Master, and how it had stifled her growth.
Bai Lung saw her potential and recognized the steel that lay beneath her delicate facade.
With his backing, she could rise above the constraints that had been thrust upon her.
Surely, a hand can be raised higher than the head itself.
'The whispers of ambition do stir within me,' She admitted, her gaze hardening with resolve.
'To shape the destiny of the Heaven Fall Sect, to leave an indelible mark upon the cultivation world - these are no mere idle fancies...or perhaps... Even more,'
Xiao Ling'r set down the teacup, her fingers curling into a determined fist.
Bai Lung may have retreated, but she knew he would not be gone for long.
She would seize the next opportunity to engage him, to prove herself worthy of his trust and patronage.
As the ancient sage Lao Tzu said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Her lips curved into a wry smile. 'And I, Xiao Ling'r, shall take that first step, no matter the cost,'
For now, she would bide her time, observing the intricate web, her mind whirling with Bai Lung's words.
Surely he was a man with a great mind and sharp vision.
The tantalizing offer of power and influence was impossible to ignore.
With his backing, she could transcend the limitations that had constrained her all these years.
She could rise above her father, however...
'If not me, then someone else...'
His words echoed in her mind, a sobering reminder of the precariousness of her position.
Bai Lung would not hesitate to replace her with another pawn, should she prove unworthy or unwilling to play his game and she had already lost one of her chances due to her logical and friendly mindset towards her own sect.
She was a wise woman, it's pretty clear as she can easily guess, that Bai Lung wants to make the entire sect his pawn, a piece that runs under his control.
Not to mention,
The Sect Master hadn't treated her as a delicate flower, to be shielded from the harsh realities of the cultivation world... She knows very well the law of the world, as a matter of fact, she is very well known.
Despite all her mistakes, Bai Lung saw her true worth that lay beneath her refined exterior,
At this point, she really believed she missed a great opportunity due to her goodwill towards her own sect.
'He is not wrong,'
Xiao Ling'r mused, her fingers drumming against her bed.
'It is the strong who shape the course of history, while the meek are relegated to the shadows... Not to mention, who even is my father? Should I even care for him? He never did to me anyway,'
Steeling her resolve, she knew what she must do.
Bai Lung may have retreated for now, but she would not let this opportunity slip through her fingers.
She would take her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
With a deep breath, she steadied her nerves.
The path ahead would be fraught with challenges, but she was no longer content to be a mere pawn in someone else's game.
She would seize control of her own.
It was finally a time for her to shine.
...
Xiao Ling'r felt a bitter resentment simmering within her as she recalled the years of unconventional sheltered existence under her father's watchful eye.
She had been treated as a fragile flower, her true potential stifled and suppressed grown in a dark place.
"They saw and used as a mere tool," she spat, the words laced with venom. "Seen as nothing more than an object to be discarded, rather than nurtured and empowered... However it was a good thing, I was sent to Holy Envoy," She clenched her fist as there could have been much worse offers.
At this point, she realized how stupid she was to reject him when he showed more interest in her.
Her fingers tightened around the delicate teacup, the porcelain nearly cracking under the force of her grip.
All those years of being treated as inferior, as someone completely meaningless - it had eaten away at her, slowly chipping away at her resolve.
"No more," Xiao Ling'r declared, her eyes flashing with determination.
—
[ Ding! The Host managed to influence the Heroine, Xiao Ling'r ]
[ You have obtained 20K EXP ]
Xiaoyu hugged him from behind while a blue hologram popped up in front of him.
The seed was planted and now it needs water to grow.
Bai Lung waved his hands in the space as he thought of the future.
More protagonists are yet to come, after all, the immortal tomb is yet to open, not to mention, the heaven gambit, which meant another protagonist must already be inside the sect only left to be found.
However, Bai Lung is an expert in luring the hidden mouse.
Meanwhile,
Xiao Ling'r stood on a secluded terrace, her gaze fixed upon the stars above. The night air was perfumed with the scent of fragrant flowers, and the moon cast a soft glow over the tranquil gardens.
She sipped her tea, feeling a sense of calmness despite the churning thoughts within her.
The words of Bai Lung had left a deep impression on her, and she was still contemplating their deepest meaning.