Severing Ties: The Sect Regrets My Departure

Chapter 218: Rebellious Disciple! How Dare You Defy My Orders!

At this moment, Guan Xuelan stood as the very embodiment of justice. She radiated an aura of unshakeable righteousness.

Beside her, Elder Chen was already in tears, loudly praising Sect Leader Guan for her sentiment, justice, and lofty virtue.

However… he did not know that Guan Xuelan’s grandstanding was merely a cue for her third disciple.

Even if you are pretending, at least make it look convincing! Put on a show of treatment before you let him die!

Fortunately, after a moment of hesitation, Xu Wanqing seemed to catch the hint. She turned around and began treating the Chen family youth.

Guan Xuelan added loudly, “Use whatever medicine is needed! Do not be stingy!”

“Remember, this is the bloodline of my benefactor! I want you to exert every ounce of your skill to heal him!”

As soon as these words were spoken, Xu Wanqing obeyed. She pulled out a pile of high-grade pills and, as if they cost nothing, frantically poured them into the boy’s mouth. Immediately after, she sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and used her cultivation to forcefully activate the medicinal efficacy.

This scene brought a satisfied smile to Guan Xuelan’s face.

Although Wanqing isn’t as clever as Qin Meran, she is sharp enough. She understands my intentions well.

Glancing at Elder Chen, who looked both anxious and grateful, Guan Xuelan shook her head internally.

Fellow Daoist Chen, oh Fellow Daoist Chen… do not blame me for being ruthless. It is simply that the oath I swore back then was too heavy. ‘The Chen Family will be my benefactors for generations.’ Such a karmic debt… you shouldn’t have accepted it.

For a Sacred Land Supreme, repaying kindness was expected. But an eternal debt? If the benefactor’s clan prospered forever, dragging out the debt for ten thousand years, it would become a shackle on her Dao.

Ending it here… was for the best.

Suddenly, Xu Wanqing’s body trembled, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. Her face turned ashen. Without a word, she grabbed another handful of precious pills and shoved them down the boy’s throat, then resumed her desperate channeling.

This scene terrified Elder Chen, but Guan Xuelan couldn’t help but mentally applaud.

Wanqing has truly become enlightened! Even I can’t tell she’s pretending. That vomit of blood… method acting at its finest! Good! Very good!

“Master…”

Just then, Xu Wanqing turned her head, her voice weak. “This patient suffers from congenital deficiencies aggravated by trauma. I fear… it will require a massive amount of resources.”

Hmm?

Guan Xuelan frowned slightly. Acting is acting, but there is no need to actually waste resources.

However, before she could signal a refusal, Xu Wanqing added, “Furthermore… Master, your presence here disturbs the flow of Spiritual Qi, which is detrimental to the treatment. Could Master and Elder Chen please step outside for now?”

A realization flashed in Guan Xuelan’s mind.

Ah. She wants us to leave so she can quietly end it without witnesses. Clever.

Excellent!

With this thought, Guan Xuelan waved her hand grandly, her voice filled with heroic generosity. “What did I just say? Spare no effort! Whatever resources you need, simply ask the vault keeper. Today, the Azure Mystic Treasury is wide open for you!”

“This… this is too much, Sect Leader Guan!” Elder Chen was startled. “How can this child be worthy of the Sacred Land going to such lengths?”

“What kind of talk is that?” Guan Xuelan admonished sternly. “As I said, you are my benefactor. I will help with all my strength!”

“But…”

“Say no more, Fellow Daoist Chen.” Guan Xuelan cut him off. “My mind is made up. Let us wait outside so we do not hinder the treatment.”

Elder Chen looked conflicted but ultimately nodded, following Guan Xuelan out of the room.

Then came the waiting.

It was an agonizing wait. The managing Elder of the Treasury ran back and forth five times, each time carrying trays of rare spiritual medicines that made the air shimmer with potency.

Elder Chen watched with fear and trepidation. His family had long declined; he had only come to Azure Mystic as a desperate last resort, hoping for a crumb of aid. He never expected the Sect Leader to empty her vault for his grandson. He felt a mix of overwhelming joy and terrified guilt.

Guan Xuelan noticed his state and smiled comfortingly. “Fellow Daoist, do not overthink it. Saving the child is the only priority.”

“But… so many resources… that child… how can he be worthy…”

“My benefactor is worthy of anything!” Guan Xuelan declared. “I, Guan Xuelan, always keep my word.”

“Sect Leader Guan…” Elder Chen wept openly, kneeling to kowtow.

Guan Xuelan helped him up with practiced grace, but internally, she was beginning to feel strange.

Isn’t Wanqing taking too long?

Even for a show, this is excessive. If she uses this many resources and still ‘fails’ to save him, it might look suspicious. It could backfire.

Indeed, compared to Qin Meran, Wanqing’s brain is still lacking.

I need to find a way to give Meran an exit ramp, so she can stop sulking and return to the sect…

Just as she was plotting, a powerful surge of Spiritual Qi erupted from the room.

Creak.

The door opened slowly.

Xu Wanqing walked out alone. Her aura was chaotic, her hair disheveled, and dark bloodstains marred her collar. She looked as if she had fought a war and lost half her soul.

Seeing her state, Guan Xuelan couldn’t help but sigh. My Third Disciple… at least in the art of performance, she is a master.

Hiding her thoughts, Guan Xuelan immediately put on a mask of concern. “Wanqing, how is it?”

She glanced at Elder Chen, already preparing her speech to scold Xu Wanqing for her ‘incompetence’ and then comfort the grieving grandfather.

However…

Xu Wanqing swallowed hard and bowed slightly.

“Fortunately… I did not disgrace my mission.”

“Rebellious disciple! How have I taught you? I told you to cultivate diligently, yet you… wait. What did you just say?”

Guan Xuelan had already launched into her pre-written script, but the words jammed in her throat.

Xu Wanqing avoided her gaze, her voice trembling.

“The patient’s injuries… have been completely healed.”

What the hell?

Guan Xuelan froze. She suspected her ears were malfunctioning.

But before she could process it, a young man walked out from behind Xu Wanqing. His face was still pale, but his eyes were bright, and his steps were heavy and steady.

“Grandfather! Grandfather! I’m healed! I’m completely healed! I feel like I could punch a Demon Beast to death!”

“My good grandson! Hahaha! Good! Good!”

Elder Chen cried out in joy, rushing to the boy. He circled him, checking his pulse, his limbs, his eyes.

Guan Xuelan watched, her mind filling with a thousand question marks.

No… what is going on here?

She could see it clearly. The boy wasn’t just healed; he had been forcefully evolved. The sheer amount of heavenly treasures Xu Wanqing had stuffed into him had improved his aptitude and cultivation base.

Forget being a short-lived ghost—this kid was going to live a long, healthy life!

“Quick! Kneel to your benefactors!”

“Sect Leader Guan! Divine Physician Xu! Thank you for saving my grandson! I am endlessly grateful! My Chen Family will never forget this!”

“Supreme Guan is truly a person of her word! A saint! And Divine Physician Xu… a Living Bodhisattva!”

Elder Chen pulled his grandson down, kowtowing repeatedly.

But neither Guan Xuelan nor Xu Wanqing was listening.

Guan Xuelan said a few perfunctory words to dismiss them, her smile stiff and brittle. As soon as the grandfather and grandson were out of earshot, her expression instantly darkened.

She turned on Xu Wanqing, her eyes spitting fire.

“Rebellious disciple. Do you not think you owe me an explanation?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xu Wanqing’s face turned paper-white. Sweat poured down her forehead instantly, and her body convulsed as if she were being flayed alive by invisible whips.

The curse was reacting.

This scene made Guan Xuelan frown even deeper. “Stop it. You defied my orders, and now you try to act the victim in front of me? Do you think I am blind?”

Strangely, as soon as Guan Xuelan accused her of acting, Xu Wanqing seemed to find relief. The torture lessened slightly, though she remained pale.

“Master…” Xu Wanqing stammered, “This disciple… has difficulties. I absolutely did not intend to disobey Master…”

“Difficulties?” Guan Xuelan exploded. “What ‘difficulties’ could force you to defy a direct order? If you do not give me a satisfactory explanation today, I will flay you myself!”

Guan Xuelan was truly furious.

She had made it so clear. Let him die. And what did Xu Wanqing do? She saved him. Publicly. Using the sect’s most expensive resources.

This wasn’t just incompetence; it was sabotage. It was rebellion!

Facing her Master’s rage, Xu Wanqing could only apologize desperately. Her Wish Power was exhausted. She couldn’t afford to trigger the curse again, but she also couldn’t tell the truth about the Void Stone Wax. That weakness was too fatal to reveal, even to her Master.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—an interruption arrived.

A disciple rushed up the mountain path, breathless.

“Sect Leader! Guests at the mountain gate request an audience!”

“Who has the qualifications to demand an audience with me now?” Guan Xuelan snapped. She was a Supreme. Not just anyone could summon her.

The disciple bowed low, his voice trembling.

“It is… Tiance Mansion.”

“Tiance Mansion?”

Guan Xuelan’s brow furrowed deep. The anger in her eyes was replaced by suspicion.

Why would Tiance Mansion come to Azure Mystic unannounced? And demanding to see me personally?

These were not questions a disciple could answer.

Guan Xuelan glared at Xu Wanqing one last time.

“I will deal with Tiance Mansion first. When I return, you will have an explanation ready. Hmph!”

With a swirl of her sleeves, she vanished.

Xu Wanqing collapsed to the ground, gasping for air as if she had been drowning.

She waited a moment to ensure her Master was truly gone, then frantically grabbed her Storage Ring.

She needed to escape. She needed to enter the Mountain River Remnant World. She needed to hide inside that isolated dimension and find a way to break this accursed seal before it killed her!

She pushed her consciousness into the ring.

“Where is it?”

She rummaged through the contents. Pills, herbs, clothes…

“Where is it?!”

Xu Wanqing’s face went from pale to deathly gray. Cold sweat soaked her robes in an instant.

The shard. The entrance to the world.

It was gone.

The Mountain River Remnant World… where… where had it gone???