Junior Sister, I can explain.

Su Jiu answered almost without hesitation: "This disciple accepts the mission!"

"Good."

The Love-Longing Sect Leader nodded, seemingly appreciative of her decisiveness.

She handed Su Jiu a jade token shimmering with a faint blue glow.

"This is a communication token. If you encounter danger, crush it, and I will be alerted."

"As agreed, meet the disciples from the other two sects at the east gate of Anyang City tomorrow at noon."

After giving all the instructions, the Love-Longing Sect Leader’s gaze once again fell upon Su Ji.

"Wait."

Su Ji’s heart skipped a beat.

No way.

Did I push my luck too far?

Su Jiu had claimed that her power had greatly increased, and with it, the range of her illusion techniques.

Now, as long as there was direct contact, even if she didn’t have full control of the situation, she could still ensure safety.

Ever since the Love-Longing Sect Leader had questioned them, he had stayed silent, not uttering a single extra word. How could this still involve him?

The Sect Leader’s slightly clouded eyes scrutinized Su Ji, her brows furrowing slightly at his sickly appearance.

"Since you saved this boy, you must have been looking after him along the way."

"The two of you seem quite close."

Su Jiu’s heart instantly leaped into her throat.

Su Ji also sensed trouble.

What kind of scheme is this old hag plotting now?

"In that case, let him accompany you on this journey."

Su Ji: "..."

Su Jiu: "..."

Both Su Ji and Su Jiu froze simultaneously.

"Sect Leader, this..."

Su Jiu hurriedly spoke up, trying to refuse.

The trip to Anyang City was clearly no simple matter.

Moreover, Su Ji had just narrowly escaped disaster—how could she push him back into the fire?

But the Sect Leader merely waved her hand, cutting her off.

"Su Jiu, though you’ve reached the Golden Core stage, you are still young and need tempering in both skill and character."

"The path of cultivation is never walked alone."

"If you wish to go far in the future, you will need trusted allies, capable subordinates."

"This mission is not just a test for you, but for him as well."

"Let us see if he is truly worth the effort you’ve expended to save him."

"And let us see if you have the ability to protect those who follow you."

"This disciple will not disappoint the Sect Leader!"

"But..."

Su Jiu’s delicate face showed a trace of hesitation.

"Sect Leader, as you can see, Senior Brother Su Ji... his injuries are severe, his qi unstable. It may not be wise for him to travel long distances immediately."

"Could this disciple first take him back to my quarters to rest? I can stabilize his condition, and we can depart by evening—it shouldn’t delay us too much."

Her words were reasonable, showing concern for her fellow disciple while not shirking the mission.

Any normal elder would likely agree to such a request.

However, the Love-Longing Sect Leader merely looked at her calmly, her murky eyes revealing no emotion.

"No need."

Her cold voice cut off any further words from Su Jiu.

"The matter in Anyang City concerns our sect’s reputation and involves the other two sects. Delays invite complications."

"Set out now."

Su Jiu stiffened, instinctively wanting to argue further.

But the Sect Leader gave her no chance.

She didn’t say another word, nor did she make any additional gestures.

She simply stood there, inside the sect gates.

Yet the invisible barrier between them was clearer than any words could convey.

She would not let them enter.

Leaning against Su Jiu, Su Ji took in the tense atmosphere with cold amusement.

Just as I thought.

This old woman never intended to let either of us set foot inside the Love-Longing Sect.

The pressure of a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator, even just a fraction of it, was enough to make Su Jiu—a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator—feel her heart tremble.

Seeing that Su Jiu remained silent, the Sect Leader seemed to realize she might have gone too far.

After all, Su Jiu was a once-in-a-century genius for the sect. Discipline was necessary, but so was reassurance.

With a flick of her wrist, a white jade vial appeared in her palm.

"This is a third-grade Qi-Restoring Pill. Though not a miraculous elixir, it should be enough to keep him alive."

She flicked her fingers, and the vial shot through the air like a streak of light, landing steadily in Su Jiu’s hand.

"Go."

"Do not disappoint me."

With those final words, the Love-Longing Sect Leader’s figure slowly dissipated.

The oppressive weight pressing on their hearts vanished with her.

At the sect gates, only Su Jiu and the half-dead Su Ji remained.

And the two gatekeepers, who hadn’t dared to breathe loudly the entire time.

Su Jiu looked down at the vial in her hand, then at Su Ji’s deathly pale face beside her.

In the end, she said nothing. She simply supported Su Ji and turned to walk down the mountain.

One step heavy with reluctance.

The other hunched in feigned weakness.

Only when they had descended the mountain path, far beyond the Love-Longing Sect’s borders, did Su Jiu finally stop.

She studied Su Ji’s "frail" expression, confirming no one else was around.

Then she pulled her hand away.

She examined it for a moment before letting out a cold laugh.

"Senior Brother, you truly have refined tastes. Suddenly, I find myself agreeing with the Love-Longing Sect’s rules."

Su Ji could only play dumb. "Junior Sister, I can explain—the Golden Core cultivator’s pressure was too much... it scared the piss out of me. Fear the strong, submit to the weak—human nature, right?"

Su Jiu looked at him, torn between anger and amusement.

"You—"

"Shh."

Su Ji raised a finger to his lips.

After confirming they weren’t being watched, he lowered his voice.

"I suspect the Grand Elder really is dead."

"Senior Brother here is considering... signaling the start of a rebellion."

......

Meanwhile.

The two gatekeepers watched as Su Ji and Su Jiu disappeared into the distance at the end of the mountain path.

The suffocating pressure at the sect gates had also faded.

Only the protective formation remained, silently humming.

Gatekeeping duty paid well in spirit stones.

But it was also mind-numbingly dull.

No meditation, no cultivation—just staring at the unchanging sect gates, time crawling by.

So gatekeepers often found ways to entertain themselves.

The taller of the two idly kicked a pebble at his feet and spoke first.

"Junior Brother, what was that about? Why did the Sect Leader block that Senior Sister and her Senior Brother from entering?"

The shorter disciple scoffed, his face smug with the air of someone who knew better.

"Tch, can’t you see? It’s because of the Grand Elder’s death."

"Yesterday’s commotion—the whole sect saw it. The Grand Elder exploded on the spot."

"Only the disciples who weren’t here don’t know. The Sect Leader probably had an urgent mission that couldn’t be delayed, but she couldn’t risk sending out disciples who might gossip."

"After all, a Grand Elder—he doesn’t need to act, but he must exist."

"Those two returned at just the right time. Solved the Sect Leader’s problem. Of course she’d personally assign them a mission and ‘escort’ them out."

The taller disciple blinked, absorbing this.

"But... I heard yesterday was just an illusion caused by a spy from another sect. The elders have been debunking rumors, telling us not to spread them. Even the Sect Leader said so earlier."

"You believe the Sect Leader when she says it's an illusion?"

The shorter disciple's face twisted with even greater smugness.

"Then I might as well claim I'm a chosen one reborn from another world."

"Honestly, you cultivators are so gullible—believing whatever nonsense people spew. I—"

His voice cut off abruptly.

Every muscle in the shorter disciple's face froze. His pupils contracted to pinpricks.

The last thing he saw was a headless corpse—his own—spurting blood from the severed neck.

A figure in pristine white palace robes stood silently where none had been a moment before.

The Love-Longing Sect Sect Leader had returned.

The taller disciple nearly lost his soul from terror. His legs gave out as he crashed to his knees, forehead thudding against the ground in frantic kowtows.

"Th-this disciple... pays respects to the Sect Leader once more!"

The Love-Longing Sect Sect Leader didn't spare the corpse a glance. Her voice was winter itself.

"This one spread heresy to shake our sect's foundation. Death was just."

"You resisted poisonous rumors. Your dao heart stands firm."

"Dispose of this. Dump it in the mass graves below the mountain. After guard rotation, collect a month's stipend from the Contribution Hall."

"G-gratitude... Sect Leader!" The disciple kept his forehead pressed to dirt, voice trembling like plucked lute strings.

The Sect Leader said no more. A sigh escaped her lips before she flickered—gone as suddenly as she'd appeared.

Just as the disciple had said.

The Grand Elder need not act.

But his presence must never be doubted.

This time... there seemed to be rather many mouths to silence...

The taller disciple remained prostrate for a long while, only daring to rise on shaking limbs after confirming the Sect Leader's aura had truly vanished.

He yanked the gourd from his waist, gulping fiery spirit wine until his throat burned. A long exhale followed.

His lips curled in disdain.

Finally... got that idiot killed.

For some reason, this junior brother had become insufferable since two and a half months ago—strutting around like some genius among fools, treating everyone like imbeciles.

Always ranting about how he'd "make everyone eat their words" once his greatness manifested.

True, chatter helped pass the tedium of gate duty. But his constant preening grew as irritating as flies buzzing in summer heat.

The tall disciple glanced at the still-warm corpse and shook his head.

Here's hoping the next gate partner proves more entertaining...