Volume One, Chapter 11: Clarify—Whose Belongings Are These?

“Trouble! Master’s wife!”

Just as she finished gathering her things and was about to leave the Treasure Pavilion, Zhou Yan hurried over, holding Lin Caibing in his arms.

Lin Caibing’s face was pale, her frail form leaning weakly against Zhou Yan.

Bai Zhi glanced at them coldly, her heart unmoved.

“Master’s wife, I went to deliver spirit stones to the little junior sister just now and found her collapsed inside the room. She…” Fourth disciple Han Sheng hurried forward to check Lin Caibing’s pulse and immediately showed a shocked expression.

“Spiritual energy backlash has injured her heart meridian!”

“What?!” Everyone was startled.

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow, glancing at her indifferently, puzzled.

Spiritual energy backlash?

Why would it suddenly backfire like this… Could it be related to Yuan Lingqing’s sudden outburst?

Seeing Bai Zhi lost in thought and expression serene, Cheng Yang knelt urgently.

“Master’s wife, you can’t just stand by and let her die! She’s our little junior sister!”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Bai Zhi didn’t want to pay any attention and turned to leave, but Jiu Ze sneered with a strange look, taunting, “Tsk… It’s really unlucky to be your disciple.”

“You are my disciple; she is not,” Bai Zhi retorted, shooting Jiu Ze a sharp look over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“Master’s wife! You can’t leave!” Cheng Yang’s tone was firm as his tall figure blocked her way. “You have to save the little junior sister!”

“Why should I?”

Perhaps it was Bai Zhi’s cold gaze that stunned him.

He had never seen the master’s wife like this before.

Since childhood, she had always been gentle with them; even for minor injuries he got from mischief, she would blame herself and personally apply medicine.

Cheng Yang’s voice softened, tinged with pleading, “She… she’s our little junior sister!”

A flash of light appeared, and Yuan Lingqing’s figure showed up at the doorway.

Seeing his pale face and unstable aura, Bai Zhi raised her eyebrows; it seemed he had used a high-level teleportation talisman to hurry back.

Upon seeing Yuan Lingqing, Cheng Yang stiffened and hurried toward him, seemingly trying to avoid something.

“Master! The little junior sister…”

Yuan Lingqing frowned at Lin Caibing in Zhou Yan’s arms, then relaxed after a moment’s examination.

“Once she takes the Immortal Lotus Purple Pill, she will be fine; it’s nothing serious.”

Hearing his calm assurance, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Yuan Lingqing’s face darkened as he glanced at the two standing side by side on the steps. Forcibly pushing past them, he shoved open the Treasure Pavilion’s door without a word.

Seeing the mostly empty display shelves, his fists clenched tightly, his shoulders trembling momentarily.

“Bai Zhi, what do you mean by this?”

—

The disciples were shocked at once.

“Master’s wife, you… why are you taking so many pills and treasures at once?” Zhou Yan frowned, confused.

“If you need anything, taking one or two items would be fine, but… taking so many at once… it’s just improper.”

“Even as the master’s wife, you can’t be so willful, taking our sect’s treasures as you please.”

Yuan Lingqing had searched the room but came out empty-handed.

“Hand over the Immortal Lotus Purple Pills.”

Bai Zhi sneered coldly.

“Why should I?”

“That belongs to our Yunqing Sect!”

Bai Zhi crossed her arms and looked at him with amusement. “You have quite the nerve.”

Caught off guard, Yuan Lingqing’s expression grew even colder.

“Master…” Lin Caibing’s weak voice came softly, “I’m fine. I just need to rest.”

Yuan Lingqing, touched by her thoughtfulness, stepped forward and gently stroked her head. “No, although the heart meridian injury isn’t severe, it cannot be delayed.”

When he turned to look at Bai Zhi again, his once gentle and loving gaze turned icy.

“Give it to me. Saving a life is the priority. If you want to throw a tantrum, there’s a limit.”

“Master, Bing’er doesn’t want the Immortal Lotus Purple Pills. Master’s wife is already angry with me…”

She looked at Bai Zhi with grievance.

“But master’s wife, I know you’re angry with me. You can punish me however you want, but please put everything back. These are all things our sect has accumulated…”

“Bing’er, don’t waste your words on this narrow-minded woman. Master is here; there’s nothing to fear.”

Seeing her understanding, Yuan Lingqing’s heart ached.

Tired of witnessing their hypocritical ‘master-disciple affection’ play out in front of her, Bai Zhi grabbed Jiu Ze and turned to leave.

Yuan Lingqing flashed forward, blocking Bai Zhi’s path, anger surging as his pressure released wildly. Jiu Ze’s face suddenly darkened; his body wavered, barely able to stand.

Bai Zhi flicked her sleeve, unfolding a protective barrier to shield Jiu Ze behind her, her eyes icy cold.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Hand it over!”

Seeing Bai Zhi protect that boy so fiercely, Yuan Lingqing’s anger intensified.

“Want these Immortal Lotus Purple Pills?”

Bai Zhi flipped her hand, a pale purple pill appearing in her palm, but she gave no intention of handing it over.

“This is a mid-grade mysterious pill. Besides treating meridian damage, it can also rejuvenate and beautify. It’s priceless on the outside… When I first made it, I spent three whole months gathering Tian Mountain lotus, climbing the perilous mountain on foot without being able to use spells…”

Bai Zhi toyed with the pill, a mocking smile on her lips.

“Where were you, your Bing’er, and your disciples then?

I struggled to find the medicine and painstakingly refined this pill, and you think you can just have it?”

—

“You!” Yuan Lingqing wanted to argue this was Yunqing Sect’s property, but he couldn’t speak.

Because it was true.

“Saving lives is the priority. If you keep throwing tantrums, I…”

“What will you do? Kill me?”

Bai Zhi disdainfully put the pill away.

Lin Caibing frowned, a flash of cold light in her eyes.

“Master’s wife, no matter what, these belong to the sect…”

“You really have a thick skin, just like your master.”

Lin Caibing choked on the words, barely hiding the hatred in her eyes.

Bai Zhi’s merciless words made everyone gasp.

Since when did the master’s wife become so aggressive?

She had always been gentle, though sometimes strict, never uttering harsh words.

Perhaps because of that, everyone treated her like a lamb to be toyed with.

“I came today to take back what belongs to me.” Bai Zhi pointed to the Treasure Pavilion. “Nothing related to you have I taken.”

“They are all sect property; how can you—”

“When I was part of Yunqing Sect, these things naturally belonged to Yunqing Sect. But now, I am no longer part of Yunqing Sect. These things no longer belong to the sect.”

Her words fell heavily, shocking everyone.

Yuan Lingqing’s heart jolted sharply. “What do you mean?”

Bai Zhi flipped her wrist, drawing her sword.

With a sharp “shhh,” a sleeve slowly fell away.

“Today, I sever all ties. From now on, I am Bai Zhi, and Yunqing Sect is Yunqing Sect. I have no further connection with you.”

She stared at Yuan Lingqing, her eyes shining with resolute determination.

“When Master gives me the jade token, I will destroy it immediately.”

“Master’s wife… you can’t…”

Fu Ming was the first to react, kneeling hastily, but Bai Zhi mercilessly stepped aside to avoid him.

“Fu Ming, I don’t want the pills you gave me. Return the Thunderstrike Blade.”

“Master’s wife…” Fu Ming was shocked and quickly guarded the sword at his waist.