Severing Ties: The Sect Regrets My Departure

Chapter 185: Junior Brother Wants Senior Sister to Forge a Weapon!

Wan Xiaobei’s sudden stammering left everyone in the room stunned.

Gu Xiu, however, remained unfazed. He offered a faint, knowing smile. “Pavilion Master Wan, long time no see.”

“L-L-Long… time…” Wan Xiaobei stuttered, her face flushing a deep crimson.

Gu Xiu took the lead, cutting through the awkwardness. “I’ve come to donate some Dharma Treasures I no longer need to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. While I’m here, I also wish to order a fresh batch of materials.”

“Arrange it!”

This time, Wan Xiaobei didn’t stutter. She waved her hand with grand authority, though her eyes darted away from his. “Whatever Enshrinee Feng needs, the Pavilion will provide! We fully support you!”

Despite her bold words, the moment Gu Xiu’s gaze landed on her, her confidence evaporated. She hurriedly looked down, afraid to meet his eyes. Yet, seconds later, she couldn’t resist stealing a glance. Then a second. Then a third.

Hidden in the shadows, the Shadow watched with her jaw practically on the floor. Su Rumei, however, only smiled politely. “Enshrinee Feng, do you have a list? I will have the staff prepare it immediately.”

“Thank you for your trouble.” Gu Xiu handed over the list he had prepared.

As Su Rumei stepped away to organize the logistics, the room fell into a heavy silence. Wan Xiaobei stood there, her face burning, her small hands frantically twisting the fabric of her sleeves. Round and round, tightening the silk until her knuckles turned white.

“Pavilion Master Wan.”

“H-Huh?”

“Thank you.”

“N-No! No need to thank me! It… it was just a small effort! A lifting of a hand!” Wan Xiaobei waved her hands frantically in denial.

Gu Xiu shook his head gently. “Pavilion Master Wan should know what I am thanking you for.”

Wan Xiaobei froze. She looked up, meeting his calm gaze. In that instant, she knew that he knew. And he knew that she knew.

She lowered her head again, biting her lip. After a long silence, she finally whispered, “Are… are you doing well?”

“Quite well.”

“Azure Mystic is rotten,” she blurted out, her voice trembling with indignation. “They are all wolf-hearted ingrates!”

Gu Xiu laughed softly. “You’re not wrong.”

“Do… do you regret it?” The question slipped out before she could stop it. Panicked, she waved her hands again. “I shouldn’t have asked that! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

“The past is gone and cannot be reclaimed,” Gu Xiu said, his voice steady and resonant. “But the future is still yours to shape.”

“Ah?” Wan Xiaobei blinked, stunned.

Gu Xiu continued, his tone shifting into something profound, like a teacher guiding a student. “Seize the present moment, lest you leave only regrets for empty years.”

Wan Xiaobei fell silent, absorbing the words. Finally, she looked up, her eyes searching. “Then what about me…”

“In this world, there are ten thousand paths. Following another’s Dao is ultimately a minor path. The road must be walked by your own feet; the sweet, the sour, the bitter, and the spicy must all be tasted by you alone.”

Gu Xiu looked at her, his eyes reflecting a deep, ancient wisdom.

“Heed not the sound of rain beating through the forest; why not chant a tune and walk slowly at your own pace?”

“A single straw cloak is enough to weather a lifetime of wind and rain.”

Wan Xiaobei stood rooted to the spot. The words echoed in her mind, crashing against her anxiety like waves against a cliff.

Don’t listen to the rain. Walk your own pace.

Suddenly, a flash of enlightenment sparked in her eyes.

Boom!

Waves of Spiritual Qi erupted from her small frame. The ambient energy of Heaven and Earth seemed to be violently attracted to her, surging into the room in a chaotic vortex.

“Entering the Dao!”

The Shadow burst from her concealment, her face pale with shock. “The Pavilion Master is Entering the Dao!”

Elder Chen, the powerful guardian who always shadowed Wan Xiaobei, materialized instantly, his face lit with ecstasy. “The Master has gained enlightenment! She has obtained a Fated Chance to forge her Dao Heart!”

“Quick! Activate the Grand Formation!”

“Summon all experts of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion! We must protect the Pavilion Master at all costs!”

The Pavilion Master Entering the Dao was a monumental event.

The entire building shook as defensive arrays roared to life. Experts descended from the upper floors, sealing the perimeter. In moments, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion became the most impregnable fortress in Cloud Firmament City.

While the staff cheered and scrambled to protect their leader, Gu Xiu—the Ninth-Grade Enshrinee who caused it all—quietly took his Storage Ring and slipped out the front door.

As he walked toward the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion, Lu Dongshan, disguised as a skinny, monkey-like man, sidled up to him.

“That little girl guessed you were Gu Xiu ages ago?”

“Mm.” Gu Xiu nodded.

Lu Dongshan’s eyes lit up. “I remember now! Last time we drank in my courtyard, she kept avoiding your eyes. Her behavior was all wrong. You mean she knew back then?”

“She’s sharper than she looks.”

“Hey, that’s interesting,” Lu Dongshan clicked his tongue. “I used to think this new Pavilion Master was a bit silly, not quite up to the job. I have to admit, Old Lu misjudged her.”

He stroked his chin, glancing back at the glowing tower. “She guessed your identity, was clearly excited to death, yet she never exposed you. That kind of restraint… it’s enough to make people look at her in a new light.”

“I suddenly feel that betting on the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion might have been a stroke of genius!”

A good bet?

Gu Xiu smiled faintly. He wasn’t wrong.

Parting ways with Lu Dongshan, Gu Xiu returned to the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion.

Little He was waiting in the courtyard, meditating on a stone bench. The moment she saw him, she leaped up, insisting on cooking a feast to celebrate his return.

Watching her bustling figure in the kitchen, Gu Xiu felt a momentary trance.

His mind drifted back to the Bibo Sect. To the solitary grave facing the southwest.

He shook his head, physically casting the thoughts aside. He sat down and ate every bite of Little He’s cooking with seriousness and gratitude. Only then did he retreat to the backyard.

He activated the defensive formations, sealing the space.

With a wave of his sleeve, he released the little black monkey—the Bone-Discarding Yin Ape. Then, he deployed a large number of puppets. His recent travels had drained his stock of Talismans, and the supply for the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and Lingbao Pavilion was running low.

With the Yin Ape handling the mundane production, Gu Xiu didn’t need to micromanage. He simply summoned the Heavenly Dao Rhyme to facilitate the process, then turned his attention to more important matters.

He drew the Shadow Chasing Sword.

One by one, he pulled rare materials from his Storage Ring. Finally, he retrieved the Unfailing Sword Heart—an item he had obtained long ago but never used.

The spirit within the Unfailing Sword Heart was weak, flickering like a candle in the wind. But the moment it appeared, it radiated a wave of intense, friendly consciousness toward Gu Xiu.

It had survived the Spirit-Extinguishing Tribulation, born from death. It had been rejected by its master, then fished up by the Green Bamboo Rod, severing its past karma.

It was clean.

This time, Gu Xiu did not refuse its goodwill.

His trip to the Bibo Sect had been immensely rewarding. He had returned fully loaded.

Now, there was only one thing left to do.

Repair the Shadow Chasing Sword.

While Gu Xiu prepared for his secluded cultivation, miles away, another “fully loaded” traveler was arriving at his destination.

Outside the mountain gate of the Azure Mystic Sacred Land.

Jiang Xun stumbled toward the entrance, his face a mask of exhaustion and grime.

Looking at the familiar archway, he felt the urge to weep hot tears of relief.

According to the original plan, his “training trip” was supposed to last much longer. There was no need to run back after just a few days.

But… plans really couldn’t keep up with changes.

In just a few short days, Jiang Xun had experienced a lifetime of misery.

Struck by lightning. Poisoned by a Spirit Gathering Array. Humiliated by the women of the Bibo Sect. Pursued and nearly beaten to death by two indestructible stone statues in an ancient mine.

Each event was a heavenly grievance.

Worst of all, he had lost the Heaven-Bestowed Ruyi. If not for his absolute confidence in the artifact’s loyalty and his own “astonishing means,” he might have suspected he had lost his Companion Immortal Artifact forever.

This trip had been a nightmare.

“Little Junior Brother!”

“Little Junior Brother is back!”

“How was it? Did you find good fortune?”

To Jiang Xun’s delight, the moment he stepped through the gate, several streaks of rainbow light descended. It was his three devoted Senior Sisters.

Jiang Xun opened his mouth, ready to pour out his grievances.

But before he could speak, the smiles on his sisters’ faces vanished, replaced by looks of disgust and fury.

“Where did this ugly monster come from?!”

“Daring to impersonate my Little Junior Brother?”

“You are courting death!”

“Evil creature! Show your true form!”

Boom!

Three terrifying pressures slammed down simultaneously. Jiang Xun, who had been on the verge of weeping with joy, was caught completely off guard. His knees buckled, and he was forced directly into the dirt.

“Wait! It’s me!” he wheezed.

“Die, monster!” Lu Qingyao raised her hand, killing intent boiling.

“Stop! Junior Sisters, stop immediately! This is Little Junior Brother!”

A weary figure materialized between them, blocking the strike. It was Yuchi Chunlei.

She had tailed Jiang Xun the entire way. She had watched as he lost his Ruyi, descended into madness, abandoned all caution, and provoked enemies left and right. If not for her secret intervention, he would have died ten times over.

Jiang Xun didn’t know any of this. He thought he was just blessed with Providence.

Seeing his Second Senior Sister step in and identify him despite his ruined appearance, Jiang Xun felt a surge of gratitude.

For a brief moment, he looked at Yuchi Chunlei and thought: Even Second Senior Sister looks surprisingly sharp and… charming.

“You really are Little Junior Brother?” Xu Wanqing asked, covering her mouth in shock.

“Little Junior Brother, how did you get so seriously injured? Who did this to you? Tell Senior Sister, we will get justice for you!”

“Damn it! Daring to harm my Azure Mystic Little Junior Brother? This blood debt must be repaid in blood!”

Once his identity was confirmed, the sisters erupted in righteous indignation. Seventh Senior Sister Lu Qingyao was practically vibrating with murderous rage.

When Jiang Xun recounted his tale of woe—being ambushed, trapped in a malicious array, and hunted—the sisters were furious, vowing to find the culprit and skin them alive.

Yuchi Chunlei stood to the side, her expression awkward. She mumbled a few vague agreements, hoping to move the conversation along before anyone asked for details she couldn’t explain.

Watching Jiang Xun bask in the sympathy of his sisters, reverting instantly to his arrogant, spoiled persona, Yuchi Chunlei felt that familiar doubt creeping back into her heart.

Little Junior Brother… what kind of person is he, really?

But she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Jiang Xun turned his battered face toward her, his eyes gleaming with a strange intensity.

“Second Senior Sister,” he rasped. “This time, Junior Brother has collected a large amount of rare forging materials.”

“I have a request.”

“Please… help me forge a weapon!”