Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Expelled from the Sect
“Junior Sister Song, what are you doing?” the Sect Master snapped. “He’s your disciple!”

Before one wave settled, another rose. The Sect Master felt like his patience was being ground into dust. Song Wan Ning didn’t look like an elder at all—she looked like trouble walking on two legs.

Song Wan Ning lifted her brow. “What? I’m disciplining my disciple, and the Sect Master wants to interfere?”

She gave a small, amused snort. “Perfect timing. He’ll be free soon anyway. Want me to give him to you?”

“Since you seem so eager to stand up for him.”

The Sect Master’s jaw tightened. “What do you mean by that?”

He wanted to lecture her, but Liu Lan Yi glanced over from the side—light, calm, and utterly unreadable.

The words stuck in his throat.

Song Wan Ning didn’t answer. She only smiled, bright as a blade, and slowly ground her foot down again. An Ze’s face pressed harder to the stone; his breath stuttered.

“An Ze,” she said, voice unhurried, “as my disciple, you not only failed to protect your fellow disciples—you took the lead in framing your junior sister. That is unkind.”

“After years of benefiting from my support, you have repeatedly challenged and insulted your Master. That is unrighteous.”

Her gaze swept the crowd, and every whisper died.

“From today onward, someone this unkind and unrighteous is formally expelled from my sect.”

“I, Song Wan Ning, will no longer have this disciple from this day forward.”

The air went so still it felt like the world had stopped breathing.

Grandmaster Song… was really expelling An Ze?

For years, An Ze had caused trouble with his loose mouth and sharper temper, and every time Grandmaster Song had shielded him—fierce and unwavering. People had envied him for it.

Now, in a single sentence, it was gone.

“Master?”

An Ze forced his head up despite the pressure, eyes wide as if he’d misheard something impossible.

“Master, what did you just say?” His voice cracked. “You’re expelling me?”

“Yes.”

Song Wan Ning lifted her foot at last. The moment the pressure eased, An Ze sucked in air like he’d been drowning.

Her tone was thin with cold. “From today on, you have nothing to do with me, Song Wan Ning, or with Cloudsky Peak.”

“Mind yourself.”

“No…”

An Ze lurched forward on instinct, reaching for her sleeve, but his hand closed on empty air.

“Master, you can’t! I’m your disciple—I’ve been under you for nearly 20 years!”

His panic surged, thick and suffocating. “I know it, Master—you’re joking. You have to be joking!”

Song Wan Ning didn’t blink.

Bai Yang’s heart hammered. He stepped forward, voice urgent. “Master, An Ze was wrong, but the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Please take back your order.”

“I’ll discipline him more strictly in the future. Master, you—”

“Enough.” Song Wan Ning cut him off, impatience sharp. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“If I hadn’t shown up,” she continued, anger flashing in her eyes, “Li Ruo would’ve already been Soul-Searched. His bright future would’ve been ruined in one stroke—with no future left at all.”

“And you, as the eldest senior brother, keep saying he didn’t deserve it?”

Her brows lifted, furious. “If you think I’m wrong, then get out with him. I won’t stop you.”

“Master—”

Bai Yang’s words died in his throat. He opened his mouth, but no rebuttal came.

He knew it. Master had made up her mind—this time, she was venting for Li Ruo.

Martial Uncle Gu. Junior Sister Ye. An Ze.

All of them had become the targets of her wrath.

And yet, she was still the same protective Master—only now, the ones she protected were no longer them.

Bai Yang silently clenched his fist, swallowing the jealousy and resentment burning in his chest.

“Junior Sister Song,” the Sect Master said, forcing his voice gentler, “this is a serious matter. Don’t make a reckless decision out of a moment of anger. You’ll regret it someday.”

“An Ze was indeed wrong, but as his Master, you should teach him properly—not expel him outright and abandon him.”

Song Wan Ning looked at him like he’d said something ridiculous.

“Regretting it now is too late.”

Disgust flickered over her gaze as it swept An Ze.

In her past life, he’d looked her in the eyes and said, I’m ashamed to have a Master like you.

Back then, she’d already been cursed by the world. The disciple she loved hadn’t pulled her up—he’d shoved her into the abyss.

The closer someone was, the deeper they cut.

She remembered every debt.

“You’ve disappointed me,” Song Wan Ning said softly.

“I don’t have a disciple like you.”

With a flick of her hand, spiritual power snapped through the air and sent An Ze flying. He crashed hard into the ground, sliding, coughing, breath ragged.

Coldness filled Song Wan Ning’s eyes.

“Martial Uncle Song!”

Ye Chu Xue’s restraint finally shattered. Still clutching Gu Qing Yuan tightly, she stepped forward, face pale with fury and tears.

“I know you’re angry at me, but you can’t treat Junior Brother An like this!” Her voice trembled with indignation. “If you’re angry, take it out on me. This has nothing to do with Junior Brother An. Don’t drag an innocent person into it!”

An Ze’s pounding panic caught on those words like a handhold.

Of course. Senior Sister Ye was still the best to him.

He looked at her, moved, eyes burning.

Song Wan Ning glanced at him—and the cheap, grateful expression on his face only deepened her contempt.

“Oh?” she said. “If you want me to take back my decision, it’s not impossible.”

She smiled, slow and meaningful. “Kneel and knock your head on the ground three times. If I’m in a good mood, I might change my mind.”

Her gaze slid to Ye Chu Xue. “You two are so close. Surely you can’t bear to watch him get expelled, right?”

Ye Chu Xue’s expression twisted. Her face flushed with humiliation and anger.

Bai Yang’s brow furrowed as well, unease stirring in his chest.

“Master!”

Before either of them could respond, An Ze shoved himself upright and shouted, voice hoarse with rage, “Don’t go too far!”

“It’s just being expelled, isn’t it? You really think I can’t live without Cloudsky Peak?” His eyes flashed. “With my talent, even without you, there’ll be plenty of people who want to take me in!”

He could endure Song Wan Ning insulting him—but not dragging Senior Sister Ye into it.

Senior Sister Ye was the kindest, most beautiful person in the world.

He’d make Song Wan Ning regret this.

“Fine.” Song Wan Ning’s smile thinned.

She crossed her arms, looking An Ze up and down with chilling calm. “I won’t count the pills you’ve swallowed. But everything on your body gets stripped off.”