From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 134 A Hesitant Refusal Reveals an Unfathomable Heart

After leaving my senior's residence, I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Brother Lin's worries also hung over me like a persistent cloud. The next day, at the crack of dawn, I got up and rushed to my senior's residence, my heart filled with unease, praying for a miracle.

However, what awaited me was a devastating blow. Before I even reached the senior's courtyard, I heard the disciples whispering amongst themselves, their words filled with regret and mockery. My heart sank, and an ominous premonition washed over me.

"I heard that the senior rejected Xiao Yao's proposal, thinking it was too risky."

"I knew it! How could a useless person like her, without any spiritual roots, possibly come up with any good ideas?"

"Elder Xuanfeng said long ago that this is wishful thinking and overestimating her abilities..."

I bit my lip and quickened my pace. Before I even reached the door, I saw Elder Xuanfeng leading a group of disciples out of the courtyard. When he saw me, a contemptuous smile appeared on his face.

"Oh, isn't this Junior Nephew Xiao Yao? What, still thinking of begging Senior to change his mind?" His voice was sharp and sarcastic, like a sharp blade piercing my heart.

I took a deep breath, tried to control my emotions, and calmly replied, "I just wanted to hear your final decision."

Elder Xuanfeng sneered, "No need. The senior has already made it clear that he will not adopt your plan. You should save your energy and not waste everyone's time."

His words struck me like a hammer blow to the chest, leaving me almost breathless. My cheeks felt burning, as if I had been slapped hard across the face.

I suppressed the humiliation in my heart and turned to leave without saying a word. Behind me, Elder Xuanfeng's triumphant laughter and the whispers of his disciples felt like needles pricking my back.

The days that followed felt like being in purgatory. Junior Sister Chu went even further, inciting her opponents and spreading rumors of my defeat throughout the sect, distorting the facts with exaggerated claims. Walking down the street, I could feel the strange looks from those around me, as if everyone was mocking my overestimation of my abilities.

I silently endured all of this, burying all the pain and grievances deep in my heart. I knew I couldn't give up; I had to keep going strong.

In the evening, I dragged my weary body back to my residence. Pushing open the door, I saw Elder Mingyue sitting in my room. When she saw me, a complex expression appeared on her face.

“Xiao Yao,” she sighed softly, “about this matter…”

Elder Mingyue held my hand, but her palm was not as warm as usual; instead, it felt a little cold. "Xiao Yao," she sighed softly, her tone tinged with helplessness, "regarding this matter... perhaps you really should listen to Elder Xuanfeng. Your plan is indeed somewhat risky."

My heart sank, as if I had fallen into an ice cellar. Elder Mingyue, who had always been so caring towards me, now even she…

"I know you've tried very hard," Elder Mingyue's voice remained gentle, yet it pierced my heart like needles. "But some things can't be achieved simply through hard work. It's an undeniable fact that you lack spiritual roots. Your plan may be theoretically feasible, but in practice, it carries enormous risks. Your concerns are for the sake of the immortal sect."

I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but found myself unable to utter a single word. Elder Mingyue's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in my heart. I felt like a trapped beast, confined in an invisible cage, unable to break free.

Elder Mingyue stood up, patted my shoulder, and said, "Rest well, Xiao Yao. Some things can't be forced." After saying that, she turned and left, leaving me alone in the cold room.

Night fell, and the room was pitch black. I curled up in bed, tears streaming silently down my face. Despair overwhelmed me like a tidal wave.

The next day, Senior Brother Lin arrived. He looked haggard, and his eyes were dark.

"Xiao Yao," he sat down beside my bed and gently took my hand, "Are you alright?"

I shook my head, forcing myself not to let the tears fall.

"Don't worry," Lin's voice was a little hoarse, "things haven't reached the point of no return yet."

I knew he was trying to comfort me, but his tone only made me feel more hopeless. Even my usually optimistic and cheerful senior brother Lin had lost faith, so what reason did I have to keep going?

“I know you’re upset,” Lin sighed. “I’m frustrated too. But we can’t just give up like this.”

His words, like a faint ray of light, illuminated the darkness in my heart.

“I know,” I said, choking back tears, “but what else can I do?”

Senior Brother Lin was silent for a moment, then raised his head, looked into my eyes, and said firmly, "Let's go find the senior again!"

His words rekindled a glimmer of hope within me, but that hope was quickly extinguished by reality. My senior had already clearly rejected my proposal; what could I possibly offer to persuade him otherwise?

Over the next few days, I locked myself in my room, going over my plan again and again, trying to find its flaws. I kept rehearsing and revising, hoping to find a perfect solution.

I know I can't give up like this. My plan is the only hope for saving the Immortal Sect.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the door. I had to see my senior one more time; even if there was only a sliver of hope, I had to try.

I headed straight for my senior's residence. The disciples along the way looked surprised when they saw me. They whispered among themselves and pointed at me as if I were a joke.

I ignored their gazes and walked forward resolutely.

When I arrived at the senior's courtyard, I was stopped by the disciples guarding the gate.

“The senior does not receive guests,” the gatekeeper disciple said coldly. “Please leave.”

I took a deep breath and said calmly, "I have something very important to report to you, senior. Please inform me."

The gatekeeper hesitated for a moment, but ultimately went in to report.

I stood at the gate of the courtyard, waiting, my heart filled with trepidation.

A moment later, the gatekeeper came out and said to me, "The senior wants you to go in."

I pushed open the courtyard gate and went inside... I saw my senior, who was sitting in the courtyard with a book in his hand.

“Senior…” I began. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “Senior, I have come here again to earnestly request that you reconsider my proposal.”

The senior slowly put down the book in his hand, his gaze falling on me like two sharp swords, making my heart tighten. He didn't speak, but just quietly scrutinized me, his deep eyes seeming to see through everything.

"I know that many people think my plan is too bold, even somewhat impractical." My voice trembled slightly, but I still tried to remain firm. "I also understand that your concerns are not without merit. But I still maintain that my plan is the only feasible solution at present."

I presented the revised plan again, explaining each step and detail in detail. I tried to use concise and clear language to explain the feasibility of the plan and its benefits, and emphasized its importance to the Immortal Sect.

As I continued my explanation, a flicker of emotion finally appeared in the senior colleague's eyes. He picked up my proposal and began to carefully review it, his brow furrowing and relaxing intermittently.

After a long silence, he put down the proposal, looked up at me, and asked with a hint of inquiry in his voice, "Do you really think your proposal will succeed? Do you know what the consequences will be if it fails?"

His questions were sharp and incisive, directly addressing the weakest link in my plan. I felt a chill run down my spine, knowing this was my senior's final test.

“I understand,” I met his gaze without flinching. “My plan does indeed have risks, but everything has risks. The key is to minimize them. I have conducted a detailed assessment of all possible problems and developed corresponding countermeasures. I believe that as long as we act cautiously and proceed step by step, the chances of success will be greatly increased.”

I explained to my senior colleague the difficulties I might encounter in the plan, as well as my proposed solutions. I did my best to demonstrate my thinking, my preparation, and my determination.

The senior's expression remained inscrutable; he would nod occasionally, then shake his head, as if weighing something. The only sounds in the room besides my voice were the occasional turning of the pages of his book; the atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.

"Have you considered the worst-case scenario?" the senior suddenly asked, his voice deep and powerful, carrying an inexplicable sense of authority.

“I have considered it,” I answered without hesitation. “If I ultimately fail, I am willing to bear all the consequences.”

A resolute light shone in my eyes, a light tinged with stubbornness and resentment. The senior seemed moved by this gaze, unconsciously moving closer to me. I could even smell the faint scent of medicine emanating from him and feel his powerful aura.

The atmosphere in the room became subtle, with an indescribable tension seemingly flowing in the air.

After a long silence, the senior finally spoke slowly. His voice was still deep, but with a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible: "I'll think about it some more."

He stood up, walked to the window, his back to me, gazing at the hazy night outside, his figure appearing exceptionally tall and mysterious. "You should go back first," he said. His back, bathed in moonlight, seemed somewhat lonely. His words ignited a glimmer of hope in me, yet I dared not be too optimistic. After all, a simple "I'll think about it some more" could be interpreted in many ways.

I took a deep breath and bowed deeply to the senior: "Thank you, senior. This disciple will take his leave."

Stepping out of my senior's cave, the night breeze brushed my face, but it couldn't dispel the unease in my heart. I looked up at the bright moon in the sky, silently praying. This time, I had put in so much effort, revised the plan so many times, and even prepared for the worst, hoping only that my senior would see my sincerity and give me a chance.

Back at my lodgings, I still couldn't calm down. My senior's ambiguous attitude left me bewildered. When he approached me, I clearly felt the powerful aura emanating from him, along with the faint scent of medicine—a reassuring aroma. But his final reply plunged me back into uncertainty.

The next few days were spent in anxious waiting. I reviewed my conversation with my senior colleague over and over again, trying to find a glimmer of hope, only to be disappointed time and time again. This wait was more agonizing than any before.

During this time, I didn't sit idle. I continued to refine my plan and discussed it with my supportive senior, Lin, hoping to find a better solution. Lin remained steadfastly by my side, encouraging me not to give up and promising to do everything he could to help me.

"Xiao Yao, I believe in you, your plan will definitely work!" Senior Brother Lin's words gave me great encouragement.

However, things did not go as I had expected. Elder Xuanfeng began to widely publicize his war plan within the sect, using his status as an elder to incite many disciples. His plan was simple and brutal, catering to the eagerness of some disciples to achieve quick results, and quickly gained considerable support.

I can hear my disciples talking about it even when I'm walking down the street.

"I think Elder Xuanfeng's plan is good. It's simple and direct, much better than Senior Sister Xiao Yao's complicated plan."

"Yes, Senior Sister Xiao Yao's plan is too idealistic and impractical."

"Elder Xuanfeng is an experienced elder; if he says it's feasible, then it definitely is!"

These whispers pierced my eardrums like needles. My supporters were dwindling, and even some disciples who had initially remained neutral were beginning to side with Elder Xuanfeng. I felt immense pressure, so much so that I could barely breathe.

What chilled me to the bone was that Junior Sister Chu also publicly opposed my plan. Standing next to Elder Xuanfeng, she fiercely criticized my plan, saying that I was just trying to attract attention and overestimating my abilities.

I looked at Junior Sister Chu, my heart filled with disappointment and helplessness. We used to cultivate together, discuss things together, and share joy and sorrow. Now, she stands against me, becoming my greatest obstacle.

I took a deep breath and told myself I couldn't give up. Even if everyone opposed me, I had to persevere. Because I believed my plan was correct, the only way to save the Immortal Sect.

Just when I was about to despair, Deacon Wu suddenly found me. “Junior Sister Xiao Yao,” he said solemnly, “our senior wants you to go to his cave.”