Severing Ties: The Sect Regrets My Departure

Chi Mingfei stared at the slip of paper in his hand, his gaze locked on the eight characters scrawled across it. His breathing hitched, and his fist clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He stood there for a long time, letting the tremor in his hands subside. Only when his composure returned did he channel his spiritual energy, incinerating the note into ash. He stepped out of the secret chamber, his face a mask of calm.

The plot he was weaving was too grand, too dangerous. A single whisper leaked to the outside world would spell total ruin.

He had barely crossed the threshold when a disciple hurried over. “Elder Chi, the Golden Blade Sect Leader has arrived. He is currently in audience with the Old Sect Leader.”

“Mm.” Chi Mingfei nodded, adjusting his robes as he strode toward the main hall.

Before he even reached the entrance, a booming, resonant voice echoed from within, thick with arrogance.

“It’s been an age since I last set foot in the White Qilin Sect. Five hundred years ago, your sect was a titan—disciples as numerous as clouds, spirit beasts roaring on every peak. Tsk, tsk, tsk. It really makes one nostalgic.”

“And I heard your Grand Elder finally kicked the bucket last month? Time truly is a heartless butcher…”

Chi Mingfei’s eyes narrowed. He pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

In the seat of honor sat the White Qilin Sect’s Old Sect Leader. His hair and beard were stark white, his frame withered and frail, an aura of decay hanging heavy around him. Seated beside him was a stark contrast—a burly, bear-like man radiating vitality and aggression.

The Golden Blade Sect Leader, Jin Bingquan.

Upon seeing Chi Mingfei, Jin Bingquan’s lips curled into a sneer. “Chi Mingfei! I hear you’ve been getting cozy with that female Peak Master from Azure Mystic’s Spirit Beast Valley lately. Tsk.”

Chi Mingfei did not rise to the bait. He simply offered a polite, hollow smile.

But Jin Bingquan wasn’t finished. “Hey, there’s no shame in living off a woman. Eating soft rice is a skill! Who asked you to be born with such a pretty face?”

He leaned back, swirling his tea. “Speaking of Azure Mystic, I heard that kid from the Qi family—Qi Keping—went there today. Carried a rod on his back, begging for punishment, blaming himself for failing to protect his fiancée.”

Jin Bingquan laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “I thought for sure Peak Master Yuchi would throw the boy into a forging furnace as a living sacrifice. But guess what?”

“That lucky brat caught the eye of another personal disciple from the Artifact Refining Peak! They’re planning to marry immediately. I hear the betrothal gifts from the Artifact Refining Peak have already been carted over to the Qi family. Mountains of treasure.”

Jin Bingquan leered at Chi Mingfei. “See? You’re a good-looking man too, Mingfei. Put in some effort. Maybe one day you can marry into Azure Mystic as a live-in son-in-law…”

BANG!

The Old Sect Leader slammed his withered hand onto the armrest. “Jin Bingquan! That is enough!”

“What? You dare to do it, but you don’t dare let people talk about it?” Jin Bingquan showed zero fear, casting a look of utter contempt at the dying old man. “The whole world knows the White Qilin Sect has willingly become Azure Mystic’s lapdog.”

“You—!” The Old Sect Leader surged to his feet, spiritual energy flaring, but the exertion was too much.

“Cough! Cough!”

He doubled over, violently coughing up mouthfuls of dark blood. The brief flare of power vanished, leaving him gasping for air, barely clinging to his final days.

Jin Bingquan frowned at the pathetic sight, the mockery dying on his lips. He leaned back, crossing his arms.

Chi Mingfei stepped forward, his expression cold. “Sect Leader Jin never visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. Since you are here, spare us the verbal jabs. If you have business, speak plainly.”

Jin Bingquan raised an eyebrow, hesitating for a moment.

Chi Mingfei nodded to the surrounding disciples. “Leave us.”

Once the hall was empty, Chi Mingfei activated a sound-isolation formation, sealing the room from prying ears. He turned back to the burly man. “Now. Speak.”

Jin Bingquan locked eyes with him, his expression suddenly serious. “Chi Mingfei, let me ask you something.”

“Why do you cultivate?”

Chi Mingfei paused, pondering the question, but Jin Bingquan answered for him.

“I’m a crude man,” Jin Bingquan grunted. “When I started down this path, I just wanted to live a few extra years. I wanted to live comfortably, freely. I didn’t want to be bullied.”

“And then?”

“Then I joined the Golden Blade Sect. I clawed my way up from outer disciple to inner disciple, then to personal disciple, and finally, I sat on the throne of the Sect Leader. But dammit… once I got to the top, I realized nothing changed. I’m still getting bullied.”

Chi Mingfei fell silent.

“I don’t want to be bullied anymore!” Jin Bingquan slammed his hand on the table, leaning forward. “Do you?”

Chi Mingfei sighed softly. “At least we are still alive…”

“If I have to live on my knees, I’d rather die standing up!” Jin Bingquan roared.

“Your thinking is dangerous.”

“Anyone who plays with blades ends up licking blood from the edge. Who in this world doesn’t have dangerous thoughts?”

“Aren’t you afraid the Golden Blade Sect will burn to ash along with you?”

Jin Bingquan grinned, a savage, predatory expression. “Do you know the creed of my sect?”

“I do not.”

“We have only one rule: If a man dies, he dies with his junk facing the heavens! If he doesn’t die, he reigns for ten thousand years! As long as there is breath in your lungs, you fight, you kill, you seize!”

Jin Bingquan’s voice dropped to a growl. “If I become a coward, afraid to take a step forward just to preserve the sect… then a sect without balls deserves to perish!”

Chi Mingfei looked at the brute before him with new eyes. Slowly, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply. “Sect Leader Jin’s Dao… I, Chi, admire it.”

“Save your admiration for the dead. My sect lost many people in the Falling Rain Valley. Those debts must be paid by Azure Mystic.” Jin Bingquan stared intensely at him. “Do you have the guts to play a big game with me?”

Chi Mingfei shook his head. “No.”

“Hm?” Jin Bingquan frowned, disappointment flooding his gaze.

But then, Chi Mingfei added calmly, “Sect Leader Jin has valor to spare, but lacks strategy. Playing a ‘big game’ with you would only lead to ruin.”

Jin Bingquan bristled. “What do you mean?”

Chi Mingfei smiled, a sharp, calculating glint in his eyes. “I want Sect Leader Jin… to play my game.”

Cloud Firmament City. The Listening-to-Rain Pavilion.

“I always knew your Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had vision! Guts! Prospects!”

A boisterous voice echoed from the courtyard.

“I’m telling you, back before you guys rose to power, I wanted to join! I just never had the chance. But look at us now! Fate has brought us together! And let me tell you, this place lives up to my expectations. Full of capable people, and everyone speaks so nicely. I love it here!”

“Alright, alright, off you go! It’s late, you all need rest. Offering Wind and I are old friends, we have catching up to do. Go on, shoo!”

“…”

Under the high hanging moon, the staff of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion were unceremoniously herded out of the courtyard gate by a red-faced, beaming Lu Dongshan.

Lu Dongshan had officially become an Offering for the Pavilion.

It was, frankly, somewhat forced.

Wan Xiaobei had no choice. Lu Dongshan was simply too monstrous. After five hundred years of stagnation, his breakthrough had triggered a terrifying explosion of power. Even the Pavilion’s resident Soul Formation expert had sparred with him and been forced to concede defeat.

When a master of that caliber insists on working for you, you don’t say no.

“My uncle won’t arrive for a few more days,” Wan Xiaobei sighed, watching the closed gate. “For now, we’ll have to trouble Offering Wind to maintain his disguise. I just hope he doesn’t cause any incidents.”

A clerk beside her scratched his head. “Pavilion Master… that Soul Formation expert was convinced Offering Wind is actually the Azure Mystic Sword Immortal. Do you think… maybe he really is?”

“How is that possible?” Wan Xiaobei shook her head dismissively.

“The Azure Mystic Sword Immortal is sitting in his sect right now. Besides, everyone knows the Sword Immortal is only at the Foundation Establishment realm. Why would he leave his sect to come here? And furthermore…”

She gestured to the noisy courtyard. “Peak Master Shi has met the Sword Immortal in person. He described him as cold, aloof, and indifferent. Does that loudmouth sound like him?”

“That… makes sense…”

“Of course it does. Order everyone to keep their mouths shut. Offering Wind is Offering Wind. The Azure Mystic Sword Immortal is the Azure Mystic Sword Immortal. Do not invite trouble from Azure Mystic.”

“Yes, Pavilion Master!”

Inside the courtyard, the sound of the staff retreating faded into the distance.

Lu Dongshan, his face flushed with wine and triumph, turned to Gu Xiu. “Did you sneak onto the Pavilion’s ship because you saw this little girl isn’t very bright? She’s absurdly easy to fool.”

“I actually find her quite clever,” Gu Xiu said, taking a slow sip of wine.

“You call someone who helps you play yourself ‘clever’?”

Gu Xiu didn’t bother explaining. He glanced at Lu Dongshan coolly. “I assumed you would retreat into the mountains to cultivate, chase down your old rivals, and make a stunning comeback that shocked the world. Why are you here?”

“What are you thinking?” Lu Dongshan scoffed. “I am a peerless genius of my era! In this Golden Age of contention, if I went to hide in a cave, wouldn’t that be a waste of my heaven-bestowed talent? I must emerge! Battle enemies from all sides! Seize the treasures of heaven and earth! Live a life of fast horses and sharp swords!”

Gu Xiu watched Lu Dongshan pound his chest and brag. He remained silent.

“Ahem!” Lu Dongshan cleared his throat, the bravado slipping slightly. “Of course… there is a small part of me that provoked a powerful enemy recently. I thought I might hide out with you for a bit.”

“Tiance Mansion?” Gu Xiu asked. He remembered Lu Dongshan’s attempt to kill Ye Hongling.

“Exactly,” Lu Dongshan grimaced. “You have no idea. The people from Tiance Mansion are like spirit hounds—their noses are ridiculously sharp. Especially that bastard surnamed Ye. He chased me through dozens of cities. Just wouldn’t let go.”

“So you came to me to divert the trouble eastward?”

“How can you say that? Am I that kind of person?” Lu Dongshan protested loudly. But under Gu Xiu’s deadpan stare, he coughed awkwardly. “Alright, fine. But mainly, it’s because I’m nostalgic. And… I happen to know about a Fated Chance. I want to cooperate with you.”

“Cooperate?” Gu Xiu raised a brow.

“Correct.” Lu Dongshan’s expression sobered. He didn’t rush to explain the details. Instead, he leaned forward, observing Gu Xiu intensely.

“But before we talk business, I have two questions.”

“Speak.”

“First question. What is your current realm?”

“Foundation Establishment.”

“Really? Still Foundation Establishment?” Lu Dongshan blinked, then nodded. “Actually… that fits perfectly.”

“Second question.”

Lu Dongshan’s voice dropped, his gaze turning sharp.

“This Fated Chance… Azure Mystic also intends to get involved. If we encounter people from your old sect…”

“What will you do?”