Chapter 230: Yu Xiao Zhao! I’m Not Su Ming! Open the Door!
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
A sapphire-blue liquid slowly dripped into Master Qing Yan’s mouth.
Ye Cong Xin carefully put away the empty medicine bottle, her heart tense with both nervousness and anticipation. She began to wait for the effects to manifest. One breath… two breaths… three breaths… an entire incense stick of time passed. Then an hour passed. Still, Master Qing Yan lay motionless on the bed, eyes closed, without so much as a twitch of his eyelids.
Ye Cong Xin’s emotions churned between shock and anger.
“System! I’m filing a complaint! You sold me a fake medicine!”
?Ding! Host, all products from the store are guaranteed to be of the highest quality. Please remain patient.?
“How long am I supposed to wait?”
?Ding! Please remain patient!?
“Give me a definite timeline!”
?Ding! Please remain patient!?
The system’s unchanging response infuriated Ye Cong Xin, making her feel deceived. But she had no choice but to endure, as she still relied on the system to survive.
Reluctantly swallowing her frustration, she followed the system’s advice and waited another full day.
As dawn broke, Ye Cong Xin stepped out of her room and glanced at the azure sky. Despite the clear morning, her mood was shrouded in storm clouds. After offering hasty apologies to the Grand Elder, she left with unsteady steps.
No sooner had she left than the Grand Elder and Sect Master Ji Yuan hurried into Master Qing Yan’s room. The Grand Elder carefully examined Master Qing Yan and shook his head at Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan frowned in confusion. “This doesn’t make sense. Could it be that Yu Zhao was wrong?”
“Are you certain she can save Master Qing Yan?” the Grand Elder asked skeptically.
“I’m not certain,” Ji Yuan admitted, “but I trust Yu Zhao wouldn’t joke about something so grave. Let’s wait a few more days. If there’s still no improvement in Master Qing Yan’s condition, we can issue a public decree.”
The Grand Elder didn’t pursue the matter further. Instead, he shifted the topic. “Has Yu Zhao agreed to join your tutelage?”
Ji Yuan sighed and shook his head. “I broached the subject with her yesterday, but she refused. She said she already has a master and doesn’t wish for me to provoke Lone Moon Peak on her behalf.”
Ji Yuan didn’t want to press Yu Zhao further. After all, whether she agreed or not, she remained a disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect and was already under his protection.
“She’s unwilling? So be it. She’s endured many hardships over the years. Let her follow her own path,” the Grand Elder concluded.
“I feel the same,” Ji Yuan replied.
The two elders, now aligned in their views, set the matter aside and returned to fretting over Master Qing Yan’s condition.
…
Yu Zhao left the Main Peak, and wherever she passed, people scattered to avoid her. Recently, she had built a fearsome reputation with nothing more than a brush.
Disciples who once spoke ill of her now fled like mice encountering a cat. Of course, the Enforcement Squad’s influence played a significant role in this change. The atmosphere of the Five Elements Dao Sect had undergone a complete transformation. Now, even a stray dog passing by a training field might be dragged over to test its abilities, sparking a surge in enthusiasm for cultivation among the disciples.
Satisfied with the results, Yu Zhao eased up slightly. She even called back Zhang Jun and Xiu Luo, who had been lurking around the Reincarnation Grounds of Five Grains daily due to the lack of violations to punish. She gave them a stern lecture, pulling the duo back from the brink of inciting widespread resentment.
The tasks assigned by Senior Sister Zhou were nearly complete. With only routine maintenance left, Yu Zhao began preparations for her journey to the Nine Abyss Secret Realm.
To enter the Nine Abyss Secret Realm, she first needed the sect’s approval. While the Sect Master was likely to be accommodating, she had ruffled plenty of feathers recently, punishing many to set examples. Even Elder Gu avoided her. Whether the Sect Master could smooth things over with the elders was uncertain.
Back in her inner-court residence, Yu Zhao sat cross-legged and began organizing her storage space. A long journey required thorough preparation. Her most notable gains from the Floating Island were the Longevity Fruit and a peculiar red-and-blue flower.
She planned to consume the sole Longevity Fruit in the Nine Abyss Secret Realm at a location rich in spiritual energy. As for the strange flower… she decided to visit Master Wu Sang before leaving the sect. She wanted to inquire about the progress of her alchemy request and investigate the flower’s origin. Her harvest from the Floating Island wasn’t a secret, so she had no concerns about exposing it.
Setting aside several portions of White Jade Swallow’s Nest, she sealed and stored them separately. While she was nearly done organizing, she sensed a familiar presence outside her door.
“Yu Zhao! Little Zhao! Open up!” Su Ming’s face was flushed, his body reeked of alcohol, and he leaned unsteadily against her wooden door with a wine jar in his arms.
“Little Zhao! It’s not Su Ming! Just open the door! Hic~”
“Don’t ignore me, Little Zhao! I’m your best Third Senior Brother!” His voice grew louder, drawing the attention of disciples outside.
Initially, Yu Zhao intended to ignore him, but seeing the commotion he caused, she sighed and opened the door.
Su Ming, thoroughly drunk, didn’t realize the door had opened and promptly fell inside.
Crash!
The wine jar shattered on the ground, spilling its contents onto the dirt. Su Ming blinked at the mess, then slowly raised his head to see a pair of plain boots. Looking up, he found Yu Zhao staring down at him. Grinning foolishly, he muttered, “I knew you wouldn’t leave me out here, Little Zhao.”
Yu Zhao glanced at him briefly, then reached into her sleeve and pulled out her brush.
“Su Ming, drinking during the day violates sect rules. Your punishment is to sweep the sect’s main road for a month.”
“Hiss!” A wave of gasps rippled through the onlookers. Since becoming the leader of the Enforcement Squad, Yu Zhao had never issued such a harsh penalty.
The sect’s main road was the most frequented path, and having a personal disciple sweep it for an entire month was not just tiring but utterly humiliating.
It was only now that everyone realized Yu Zhao had been lenient with them before.
Completely oblivious, Su Ming stared at the punishment slip in his hand and asked with an innocent expression, “Little Zhao, do you want me to do this? I’ll listen to you.”
Yu Zhao felt a chill. “It’s not a request; it’s a punishment.”
“Su Ming obeys!” He sprang to his feet, looking at her with a lovestruck expression. “From now on, I’ll do whatever you say, Little Zhao.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Yu Zhao broke some branches from a nearby tree using her spiritual energy, fashioned them into a broom, and shoved it into Su Ming’s hands. Grabbing him by the collar, she turned him around and kicked him out. His figure formed a graceful arc as he disappeared into the horizon.
Dusting off her hands, Yu Zhao glanced at the disciples hiding in the shadows. They scattered instantly like startled birds.
Satisfied, she smirked coldly. Su Ming might have promised to listen to her, but she doubted he’d remember once he sobered up. Either way, the punishment was issued, and her squad members would ensure its enforcement. Zhang Jun and Xiu Luo had been grumbling about the sect being too quiet lately—this task would keep them busy.