The Cultivation Method of Junior Sister is Unscientific

“Master!” Though they had agreed it was an act, hearing Ma Hongyu speak those words filled Ye Cheng with genuine pain. He crawled forward, clutching Ma Hongyu’s leg. “Master, I know I was wrong. Please don’t expel me from the sect. I truly know my mistake.”

Ye Cheng, overwhelmed by emotion, had overplayed his part.

Ma Hongyu hesitated for a moment before thundering, “Then tell me, where exactly did you err?!”

“I…” Ye Cheng’s lips trembled.

“Rotten wood cannot be carved!” Ma Hongyu gritted his teeth, kicking him away again. “From this day forward, you are no longer my disciple. Go wherever you please, but you and I have no further connection.”

He turned to Zhao Wuji, cupping his hands. “Sect Leader, it’s my failure in teaching that produced such an unworthy disciple. This wretch has utterly wasted your favor, truly an ungrateful cur! I cannot tolerate such disloyalty. Please witness as we sever our master-disciple bond, henceforth having no relation!”

Zhao Wuji watched, bewildered.

He glanced from the trembling Ma Hongyu to Ye Cheng, sprawled on the ground.

Was all this really necessary?

Ye Cheng was slated to die in a month anyway. Severing ties now merely set him free.

And Ma Hongyu had even taken back the jade pendant.

Something felt off about the whole situation.

Zhao Wuji cleared his throat, attempting to mediate. “Hongyu, don’t be hasty. With proper guidance, we can still reform this child.”

“Sect Leader!” Ma Hongyu grew more agitated. “If he merely disrespected me, that would be one thing. But he’s questioning your decisions, challenging your authority. Keeping him would only invite mockery throughout Tianxing Sect if he continues his antics. Moreover, without severe punishment, other disciples might follow suit, causing chaos. I know you’re merciful, always inclined to leniency. But in this situation, without strict discipline, I fear others may grow restless!”

Ma Hongyu spoke with fervent conviction.

Zhao Wuji pondered. His authority had already been compromised. Failing to properly punish Ye Cheng might indeed embolden others.

Narrowing his eyes, Zhao Wuji said slowly, “You’re his master. The decision is yours.”

Ye Cheng was inconsequential now.

He had been personally expelled by Zhao Wuji.

Once out of his faction, ending Ye Cheng’s life would be trivial.

Ma Hongyu respectfully acknowledged, then turned to Ye Cheng, expressionless. “Go now. From this day forward, we need not acknowledge each other if we meet.”

Ye Cheng’s lips quivered. He kowtowed to Ma Hongyu one last time, then unsteadily rose to his feet.

Though his master had arranged a path for him,

He didn’t fear its perils.

But he knew,

No matter what the future held,

He could never again call Ma Hongyu “Master.”

With reddened eyes, Ye Cheng left the hall step by step.

“Senior Brother!”

“Senior Brother, you’re injured!”

At the entrance, his junior disciples waited anxiously.

Ma Hongyu followed, declaring sternly, “What ‘Senior Brother’? Our master-disciple bond is severed. From now on, there is no Ye Cheng in my lineage! You need not greet him if you see him in the future. Is that clear?”

The group was stunned.

Expelled from the sect?

How had it come to this?

They had anticipated the incident might anger the Sect Leader, but to this extent?

As someone began to speak, Ma Hongyu cut them off coldly. “Whoever pleads for him can leave with him!”

His words were harsh, brooking no argument.

The disciples looked sorrowful but dared not speak further.

Silently, they parted to clear a path.

Ye Cheng walked out slowly, step by step.

He looked up at the sky.

The sunlight was harsh, yet carried the scent of freedom.

Controlling his tears, Ye Cheng walked on without looking back.

News of the scene in the Sect Leader’s hall spread quickly throughout the sect.

Ye Cheng’s situation didn’t violate sect rules, but in the master-disciple relationship, masters held absolute authority.

Disciples couldn’t betray their masters, but masters could expel disciples at will.

Ma Hongyu’s decision to expel Ye Cheng, regardless of reason, was beyond reproach. At most, his remaining disciples might feel disheartened, but others had no say.

Now expelled, Ye Cheng had two options:

Join one of the Ten Peaks as a disciple.

Or, if rejected by all, become an outer sect disciple.

Leaving the sect entirely was not permitted.

He had been expelled from his master’s tutelage, not from the sect itself.

Departing without proper registration would be considered desertion, with even graver consequences.

After Ye Cheng’s expulsion, Zhao Wuji observed, watching to see if anyone dared take him in.

Though Ma Hongyu had expelled Ye Cheng, not Zhao Wuji directly, others should understand that Ye Cheng was out of favor.

If anyone dared shelter Ye Cheng…

A cold smile played on Zhao Wuji’s lips.

After his expulsion, Ye Cheng, nursing his injuries, visited each peak in turn.

But most peak masters refused to see him, having disciples turn him away.

Only Fang Mingyue granted him an audience.

Yet she merely offered words of encouragement, not daring to accept him.

Zhao Wuji’s influence was far-reaching. It had taken six peak masters uniting to reclaim the spirit fields.

Taking in Ye Cheng alone would make her a glaring target. How could Zhao Wuji not retaliate, if only to save face?

Though Fang Mingyue sympathized with Ye Cheng and appreciated his talents, she was powerless to help.

There had been one last clear path.

Fang Mingyue hesitated, ultimately leaving it unspoken.

She had heard that Yun Jin had visited yesterday, speaking rashly and causing Ye Cheng to faint from anger.

If so, even this final option might be closed to him.

Fang Mingyue wondered.

Why had Yun Jin gone to provoke Ye Cheng unprovoked?

Though previously bold in her actions, she had never been unreasonable.

Had success gone to her head?

Or was she deliberately targeting the Sect Leader’s faction?

Fang Mingyue couldn’t make sense of it.

She merely had someone discreetly monitor Ye Cheng’s movements.

If he was forced to join the outer sect, perhaps she could offer some covert assistance.

Fang Mingyue sighed, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.

When would she truly be able to act as a peak master, rather than a puppet?

After successive rejections from several peaks, Ye Cheng stood alone for a long while, many watching his movements from afar.

Then, they saw Ye Cheng walk towards Celestial Sword Peak.

(End of Chapter)