“Hey, what was that for, Senior Sister?” Xia Qianqian rubbed the back of her head, resentment surging in her heart. “Damn Jiang Han, this is all your fault!”
“No matter what, Jiang Han is still our junior brother. The way you treat him isn’t right. When he comes back, don’t hit or scold him so casually anymore.”
“Senior Sister, are you really planning to bring him back?” Xia Qianqian asked in confusion. “Weren’t you always annoyed by him? Now that he’s gone, isn’t that a good thing? He won’t bother anyone on the mountain anymore.”
Mo Qiushuang paused but did not reply. She turned into a streak of light and flew toward Heavenly Dominion Hall.
She admitted that she used to find Jiang Han irritating. But since earlier, the image of young Jiang Han’s pure, innocent eyes had lingered in her mind.
There had been no trace of impurity in those eyes. When he looked at her, there was only admiration, reverence, and a hint of timidity.
For reasons she could not explain, more than half of her dislike toward him had already faded.
“Qiu Shuang, have you found Jiang Han?” Ji Yuchan was meditating on the main seat. Seeing Mo Qiushuang return so quickly, she looked slightly surprised.
“No. None of the disciples in the sect have seen him. No one knows where he went.”
“That wicked creature!” Ji Yuchan snapped. “If he was going somewhere, he should have said something. Instead, he makes us search for him like this. Completely lacking in manners!”
She was furious. It was all because of that useless Jiang Han. The distracting thoughts she had painstakingly cleared from her mind were now filling it again.
Mo Qiushuang glanced at Xia Qianqian. Seeing that she had no intention of speaking, Mo Qiushuang remained silent for a moment before saying, “Master, you once said that once Jiang Han reached the Qi Refining Realm, you would give him cultivation resources. He is now at the Great Perfection of the 9th stage Qi Refining Realm. Did you previously instruct the Deacon Hall to issue his monthly allowance?”
“I don’t remember. Why are you asking this?” Ji Yuchan looked down at her eldest disciple.
“That useless thing has dull aptitude. He’s been stuck at the Great Perfection of the 9th stage Qi Refining Realm for ten years without breaking through to the 1st stage Foundation Establishment Realm. Even if he cultivates more, it’s useless. It would just be a waste of resources.”
Mo Qiushuang’s heart sank. Such an important matter, and Master had forgotten.
And how had this turned into Jiang Han wasting resources? She had promised before. Even if it was wasteful, he should still have been given what was promised. Wasn’t Master afraid of forming a heart demon by acting like this?
“I just want to know how many spirit stones he took with him. If he doesn’t have any, he shouldn’t have gone far.”
Ji Yuchan frowned. “How would I have time to worry about such trivial matters? Guiding you in cultivation every day is already enough. Why would I bother with something so minor?”
“Go summon Elder Xiao from the Deacon Hall. He has always handled your monthly allowances. He should know.”
Mo Qiushuang realized she had indeed been flustered. All disciples’ allowances were handled by the Deacon Hall. She only needed to ask Elder Xiao.
She took out her Sound-Transmission Jade Slip and called Elder Xiao to the hall.
When Elder Xiao received the message, his heart leapt with joy. After approving Jiang Han’s withdrawal from the sect, he had been waiting for the sect master’s reward.
He had waited and waited. A month had nearly passed with no word. Just as he was growing anxious, the summons arrived.
“I greet Sect Master Ji Yuchan. May I ask why Sect Master has summoned me?”
He was delighted inwardly. He had removed such a major burden from the sect master. Surely he would be rewarded.
“Elder Xiao, was Jiang Han’s monthly allowance issued this month?”
“What?” Elder Xiao froze. Jiang Han had withdrawn from the sect a month ago. Why ask about his allowance now? But since the sect master had asked, he could only answer truthfully.
“Reporting to Sect Master Ji Yuchan, according to your instructions, Jiang Han has never been issued a monthly allowance. Furthermore, he has never received any of the benefits or resources allocated to direct disciples.”
Mo Qiushuang’s breathing faltered. So it was true. Jiang Han had never received cultivation resources. No wonder. No wonder he had exploded in anger this time. They had gone too far in the past.
Yes, that must be the reason. Otherwise, he would not have been so furious.
Xia Qianqian was equally stunned. How had Jiang Han never received cultivation resources?
He had reached the Great Perfection of the 9th stage Qi Refining Realm in just three years. Back then, she had countless resources at her disposal, yet it still took her five years to reach that stage.
If Jiang Han had been supported with resources, would he have progressed even faster? Could he have reached it in just one year?
Why did Jiang Han possess such talent, yet Master always said he had dull aptitude?
Ji Yuchan pondered for a moment before finally recalling. “I do remember saying that Jiang Han had dull aptitude and poor temperament. To temper his state of mind and perseverance, I withheld his monthly allowance.” The source of this chapter is g.com.
Mo Qiushuang did not know what to say. From one perspective, Master was correct. Jiang Han had been stuck at the Great Perfection of the 9th stage Qi Refining Realm for ten years without improvement. Resources would indeed have been wasted.
But he was still Master’s direct disciple. If he was given nothing at all, what meaning did it have for him to remain in the Heavenly Dominion Sect?
If it were her, she would never have endured it.
Ji Yuchan suddenly snorted. “That wicked creature has always had impure intentions. He must have stolen sect treasures again this time. Otherwise, why hasn’t he returned for so long?”
“It’s a good thing I never approved his monthly allowance. With his temperament, giving him resources would have been wasted!”
The hall fell silent.
Jiang Han had indeed been caught stealing sect treasures many times. Although no one knew where he hid them, Lin Xuan had witnessed it personally. He could not deny it.
But even so, was it right to deny him all resources? Did the Heavenly Dominion Sect truly lack that little?
The Heavenly Dominion Sect ranked second among the five great sects in the Cultivation World. It controlled countless spirit mines, secret realms, and resource industries.
As direct disciples, they received abundant monthly allowances based on cultivation level.
Mo Qiushuang, at the Great Perfection of the 9th stage Nascent Soul Realm, needed only one more tribulation to advance to the Divine Transformation Realm. Each month she received 300,000 mid-grade spirit stones and 50,000 high-grade spirit stones. Other materials and pills were freely available to her.
When Master was in a good mood, she granted additional rewards. Mo Qiushuang even controlled several spirit stone mines.
As for Xia Qianqian and Shao Qingyun, both in the Golden Core Realm, they each received 100,000 mid-grade spirit stones per month. Pills were freely used, and materials were available unless excessive.
Even Lin Xuan, the lowest in cultivation among them, received 30,000 mid-grade spirit stones each month, though Foundation Establishment Pills were limited due to scarce materials.
But Jiang Han? Forget tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones. He had not even received a single low-grade spirit stone.
Mo Qiushuang had previously learned that Jiang Han could only search the mountains for spiritual herbs and fruits to exchange for spirit stones at the market among independent cultivators.
And he had to do so secretly. If Master found out, she would scold him for disgracing the sect, for setting up a stall in the market over a small amount of resources, behaving unlike a direct disciple.
They all found it hard to believe.
Especially Mo Qiushuang. She could not fathom how Jiang Han had endured all these years. No one could tolerate such treatment.
Yet Jiang Han had endured for thirteen years.
“Master, we do not lack these resources. Why was nothing given to him?” Mo Qiushuang could not stop herself from asking.
“I was doing it for his own good!” Ji Yuchan snapped, annoyed. “He was once an abandoned orphan. If I had not brought him back, he would still be begging on the streets.”
“He was so young. Even if I gave him resources, he would not know how to use them. Better to temper his temperament. Otherwise, how could he form a Dao heart and advance to the Nascent Soul Realm?”
“The hardships he endures now are to make his future path smoother. How can you not understand this?”
Mo Qiushuang’s breathing faltered. “But…”
“There is no but!” Ji Yuchan waved her hand impatiently. “Go bring him back. He doesn’t need to search for Spirit-Congealing Grass anymore. Tell him to return and recite the Clear Mind Mantra for me. If not for the fact that his recitation helps clear my distracting thoughts, I would have expelled him long ago!”
“I asked him to gather spiritual herbs, and he dared to sever jade slip contact. He truly has no respect for me. When he returns, I will deal with him properly!”
“Master is right,” Xia Qianqian quickly agreed. “Isn’t Jiang Han good at finding spiritual herbs and fruits? No one in the sect competes with him. There’s plenty for him to use.”
“And that useless thing really lacks discipline. Last time he even dared to steal my Jade Spirit Bracelet. He has grown far too bold. When he comes back, I will teach him a proper lesson!”
Mo Qiushuang’s heart sank. She could not refute that incident. But Jiang Han should not have lived so miserably.
“Master, have you ever paid attention to Jiang Han’s clothes?”
“Speaking of that makes me angry. The Heavenly Dominion Sect has never treated him poorly. Yet he refuses to wear sect clothing. What use is he?”
Mo Qiushuang’s eyes flashed with sorrow. “But Master, Jiang Han never received sect clothing to wear.”
“The sect never issued him any. And without spirit stones, he could only buy mortal clothes.”
Those words startled Xia Qianqian. She instinctively stepped back half a step, lowering her head, afraid her actions would be exposed.
Mo Qiushuang continued, “Not only were his clothes tattered, but his cave dwelling did not even have a jade bed for cultivation assistance. He slept on a cold stone bed every day. Why have we treated him so harshly?”
Her state of mind trembled again, but she forced herself to continue.
“Why couldn’t we give him better clothes? Why not a cultivation aid treasure? Does the Heavenly Dominion Sect lack such things? Even menial disciples have them.”
“What did you say?!” Ji Yuchan erupted in anger. “Elder Xiao! What is going on? Is this how your Deacon Hall handles affairs?”
Elder Xiao panicked and hurriedly denied it. “Sect Master Ji Yuchan, this was according to your instructions. You said Jiang Han’s temperament must be tempered and that he should not be indulged…”
Ji Yuchan froze. She had indeed said such things.
Seeing her silent, Elder Xiao continued, “And none of the senior nieces delivered anything to Jiang Han either. I assumed this was Sect Master’s intention to temper him.”
“Don’t speak nonsense!” Xia Qianqian blurted out, alarmed. “Why would we deliver things to him? Isn’t that the Deacon Hall’s responsibility?”
Ji Yuchan suddenly sighed. “No wonder Jiang Han kept stealing. He truly lacked spirit stones.”
“But that does not justify theft!” Her tone hardened. “He dared not only to steal our magical treasures and spiritual herbs, but also sect treasures. His temperament is utterly disgraceful!”
“Enough of this. Bring him back first. At worst, you all just stop beating him so often in the future.”
Mo Qiushuang wanted to say more, but suddenly noticed Elder Xiao’s face had turned pale, his eyes vacant.
“Elder Xiao, what’s wrong?”
Elder Xiao trembled and collapsed to his knees.
He finally understood. Sect Master Ji Yuchan had only sent Jiang Han down the mountain to find treasures. But Jiang Han had actually left!
The worst part was that he had seen Jiang Han bidding farewell to Su Lingxi that day and even giving her the Foundation Establishment Pill he had prepared for his breakthrough.
Assuming Jiang Han would never return, he had crossed Jiang Han’s name off the sect registry.
That was the sect master’s direct disciple. And he had expelled him without reporting it!
Now that Sect Master Ji Yuchan had begun searching for him, the truth could not be concealed. A simple investigation would reveal everything. It would be better to confess and hope for leniency.
No, he could not say it that way. Sect Master Ji Yuchan would definitely blame him.
Elder Xiao’s heart pounded wildly.
Perhaps he could say Jiang Han withdrew from the sect voluntarily? Then Sect Master Ji Yuchan might not blame him…
His eyes lit up. Yes. He would say Jiang Han withdrew of his own accord. It had nothing to do with him.
“Sect Master…” Elder Xiao’s lips trembled. “Jiang Han… he…”
“Speak quickly! What about Jiang Han?” Mo Qiushuang felt her heart tighten. An ominous premonition rose within her.
Elder Xiao took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and shouted, “Jiang Han completed the formal withdrawal procedures one month ago!”
The hall fell into sudden silence, his words echoing endlessly.
A moment later, Ji Yuchan was the first to react. She roared, “What did you say?! Say it again! Who withdrew from the sect?!”
Elder Xiao lifted his head, wearing an expression of grim resolve. “Jiang Han withdrew from the sect one month ago!”