After Leaving the Sect, I Became the Protagonist. Why Are You Crying? - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: Forcing Me Into Demonhood?

Jiang Yubai didn’t respond to anyone and simply continued walking down the mountain path.

At that moment, Xiao Yifei, who had been endlessly coughing up blood, suddenly opened his eyes with great effort. Struggling to speak, he gasped out, “Senior Brother, how long will you stay so obstinate?!”

His voice was sharp and hoarse, filled with disappointment and pain, cutting straight into the soul. His eyes brimmed with despair and sorrow, a deep, aching grief for Jiang Yubai that could almost move hearts.

After uttering those pitiful words, Xiao Yifei spat out another mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

“Junior Brother!”

“Yifei!”

The crowd erupted in alarm, their faces full of concern. Even Ye Yunshang, who had remained silent until now, shouted his name, her expression showing rare worry.

But no matter how they called out, Xiao Yifei didn’t wake. Instead, their shouts only pushed the crowd’s sympathy further toward him and deeper against Jiang Yubai.

They had already harbored doubts about Jiang Yubai; now their judgment was sealed.

The hearts of those who had been biased before now tilted completely.

Some began whispering among themselves. “It’s true! Ever since Senior Brother came back from the Demonic Cavern, he’s changed completely. It’s like he’s not the same person anymore.”

“Yeah, Senior Brother was already strong. If he’s possessed by a demon, that thing must be unimaginably powerful!”

At first, their murmurs were quiet, but soon they grew louder, more emotional, until finally—

“Kill the demon!”

“Kill the demon!”

“Kill the demon!”

The cries surged into a deafening roar, echoing across the mountain.

Yet, no one dared to move against Jiang Yubai.

Ye Yunshang, meanwhile, was too occupied with her injured beloved disciple to care about the so-called “rebellious” one.

Jiang Yubai watched the chaos unfold, a mocking smile curling at his lips.

A change in temperament? Possessed by a demon?

How utterly laughable.

A troupe of actors and a crowd of fools—this was the Longevity Sect he had once sworn his life to protect?

The thought struck him as bitterly ironic.

As he reached the mountain gate, a sudden wave of killing intent surged from behind.

He turned to see Ye Yunshang standing at the gate, her eyes cold as frost, sword gleaming with murderous light.

“Activate—the Sect Protection Formation! Execute Jiang Yubai with full force!”

Her icy voice swept through the entire sect like a storm.

Everyone froze in shock.

The Sect Protection Formation… that was the sect’s final defense—something only used when facing annihilation!

And she was unleashing it—against her own chief disciple?!

It was said that once activated, even a cultivator in the Spirit Transformation Realm could not survive its crushing power. Worse still, the Tenfold Soul-Grinding Formation didn’t just destroy the body—it shattered the Divine Soul itself.

That meant complete erasure from heaven and earth, no rebirth, no reincarnation.

The sect master truly left no mercy.

It was no wonder the disciples were horrified. Before Xiao Yifei joined, Jiang Yubai had been their pride, the perfect Senior Brother—respected, admired, even loved.

When had that changed? When had they begun to see him as unworthy, flawed, even hateful?

It seemed… everything had changed after Xiao Yifei entered the sect.

While the crowd wavered in disbelief, Ye Yunshang’s venomous voice struck again, each word like a blade.

“What are you waiting for?! Disciples, heed my command—combine your power and destroy—Jiang! Yu! Bai!”

Her final words broke whatever hesitation remained.

The disciples moved as one.

A colossal formation ignited, light swirling upward to blanket the entire sect in blinding radiance.

Its full force locked onto one target—Jiang Yubai.

He stood motionless at the mountain gate, unshaken. His white robes fluttered lightly, his presence cold yet serene.

White garments like snow, Frostsnow Sword in hand—he stood beneath the glowing sky, as elegant and untouchable as ever.

For a fleeting moment, his Junior Sisters’ hearts wavered.

He had always been handsome—radiant as the moon, powerful, refined, patient.

Before Xiao Yifei’s arrival, they had adored being around him, fighting over his attention with laughter and warmth.

But after Xiao Yifei came, their fondness turned to irritation.

Three years of absence in the Demonic Cavern was nothing to a cultivator—yet to them, it felt like a lifetime.

Now, they saw only the gentle, pitiable Xiao Yifei as the one worthy of their care, and Jiang Yubai as the jealous, possessed traitor who had beaten their beloved Junior Brother near death.

Unforgivable.

Their hesitation vanished.

Each of them poured their spiritual Qi into the grand array.

Within the formation, Jiang Yubai’s body convulsed with pain.

It felt as if a thousand needles pierced his flesh, as if invisible hands were tearing his soul apart from within.

The agony was unbearable. He gritted his teeth, trying to endure, but a mouthful of blood burst from his lips, splattering against his white robes like crimson blossoms in snow.

His veins bulged, sweat dripped down his face, yet he stood firm, refusing to fall.

Even trapped in torment, he exuded a cold, unyielding grace.

Outside the formation, watching him suffer brought a twisted satisfaction to the crowd.

Ye Yunshang’s face remained cold as stone. Mu Xueqi’s pale lips curled slightly into a cruel smile.

Her smile was faint, but chilling—like someone savoring a beautiful tragedy.

Time passed slowly. Jiang Yubai’s figure began to blur within the light.

Finally, his strength began to fail.

He dropped to one knee, Frostsnow Sword trembling as he used it to steady himself. Blood dripped down his chin, blooming on the white stone beneath him like vivid red flowers.

Just when everyone thought he could no longer endure—

A low, hoarse voice rang out.

“You… are forcing me… into demonhood?”

The words struck like thunder, shaking every soul present.