Chapter 228: Expelled from the Sect

On this turbulent night, Grand Elder Ke stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the extraordinary aurora that had reappeared in the sky, and sighed, "When it rains, it pours!"

The disciple standing beside him knew who he was referring to. Who else could it be but the new Sect Master, Bian Weiying?

Rumors were already rampant, and the Royal Court's stance on Bian Weiying's succession as Sect Master had wavered again. At this moment, the sudden appearance of such a celestial phenomenon was simply kicking someone when they were down.

In the past, the appearance of such a phenomenon always signified a prosperous time for Wukang Mountain. Now, it would likely bring sorrow to all disciples.

One event after another continuously eroded everyone's confidence in the new Sect Master.

At this time, on Wukang Mountain, many disciples emerged from their dwellings, all gazing up at the dazzling colors in the night sky.

Previously, this would have been their busiest time. Yet today, they were idle, and many were sighing deeply.

"Dong dong dong…"

A dull, booming bell suddenly reverberated across the mountaintop, shaking everyone to their core.

Everyone on the mountain looked around in surprise, exchanging glances. Then, they habitually began to move, following their usual routine. The bell was the command.

Everyone became busy. Yulan bamboo was transported from the base of the mountain, brought up for soaking, and then spread out…

The booming sound of the bell made the three individuals meditating cross-legged in the prison cells rise from their respective cells. Including Shi Chun, they all listened intently. They naturally knew what the bell signified.

Wukang Mountain had resumed refining talismans!

Weren't the three members of the Bian family—grandfather, father, and son—dead? Xiang Lan'er and Wu Jinliang were perplexed.

Only Shi Chun looked thoughtful. He murmured to himself, "It truly is that technique."

He knew very well that Bian Weiying must have confirmed its effectiveness. Otherwise, how could she begin refining? Leading the entire sect on a wild goose chase was no laughing matter.

"Chuntian, when are you letting us out?" Wu Jinliang suddenly called out.

Shi Chun replied, "I don't know."

All three were puzzled. The Demonic Cult had previously promised them safe passage upon their return. What was the meaning of being kept here now? Had the Demonic Cult's promise been broken?

They were unaware of the situation outside. They didn't know that the Demonic Cult had already fallen out with Yin Huixin. Now, unless a powerful figure intervened to order their release, or if someone directly stormed the mountain to break them out, whether they got out or not was no longer up to the Demonic Cult.

Tonight's extraordinary aurora phenomenon did not last as long as the previous one. It lasted only about an hour.

The quantity of reserve talismans, determined by the duration, was personally escorted by Elders Yi Huachun and Feng Youzhi to the heavy stone gate of the forbidden area.

This time, it was not Bian Jixiong standing at the gate.

For the first time in Wukang Mountain's history, a woman stood before the stone gate at this very moment to receive this batch of talismans.

Although the two elders were filled with doubt and uncertainty, they still handed over the talismans as per regulations.

Afterwards, they went to guard the surrounding area as prescribed. Bian Weiying, meanwhile, pushed open the stone gate, entered, and disappeared behind the closing gate…

Outside the forbidden area, Elder Feng Youzhi walked up to Elder Yi and whispered, "Can she refine the secret technique?"

Yi Huachun pondered and replied, "Whether she can or not will be revealed in an hour."

An hour later, the stone gate opened again. Bian Weiying handed over the damp talismans to them, and gave a few instructions in her capacity as Sect Master.

The prepared talismans were quickly sent to the next stage for refinement. Many were eager to know the answer: had Wukang Mountain's secret technique for refining Imobilization Talismans been passed down? After all, it concerned the interests of the entire sect.

The result was definitive: the refinement of the new batch of Imobilization Talismans was a complete success!

As midnight approached, with the spread of the good news, the entire Wukang Mountain erupted in excitement. Some even cheered with joy.

A group of elders collectively sought out Bian Weiying, who had not yet rested. Their eyes were filled with doubt and astonishment.

Even Yin Huixin was no different. Her daughter had exceeded her expectations. She hadn't realized her daughter could hide such a secret so deeply right under her nose.

Seeing Bian Weiying step out and stand on the steps, Elder Ke excitedly asked, "Weiying… Sect Master, have you mastered the secret technique for refining Imobilization Talismans?"

Bian Weiying nodded and formally declared, "The year Father expelled my elder brother from Wukang Mountain, he passed the secret refining technique to me. He said that Grandfather had instructed that I should take over Wukang Mountain in the future, to ensure the Bian family's lineage would continue!"

The elders were speechless upon hearing this. They believed her, otherwise Bian Weiying couldn't have obtained the secret refining technique. They were well aware of how strictly guarded this secret technique was.

Their speechlessness was directed at Bian Que and his son. They realized that the father and son were cunning and ruthless, concentrating all scandals on the son. It seemed they had secretly designated another successor long ago.

The problem was, they still let their daughter go to the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly.

Given this situation, who would have believed that Bian Weiying possessed the secret technique for refining Imobilization Talismans?

"Excellent, excellent!" Elder Ke clapped his hands repeatedly in delight.

After some elders left with indescribably complex emotions, Yin Huixin pulled her daughter into the room and whispered, "Did your father truly pass the secret refining technique to you?"

Bian Weiying nodded and said, "Yes, Father told me not to reveal it to anyone outside, not even you."

Having served as the City Lord of Linkang City, this demonstrated her political acumen, knowing what could be said and what absolutely could not be revealed to anyone.

Yin Huixin said incredulously, "So all your previous grievances against your brother... were an act?"

Bian Weiying: "Father didn't quite trust you."

Yin Huixin was utterly speechless. She felt as if everyone with the Bian surname was in cahoots, and she, being an outsider, truly was an outsider.

Bian Weiying suddenly changed the subject and said, "Mother, let Shi Chun and the others go."

"Sigh, you decide." Yin Huixin turned and walked away. At that moment, she felt a slight sense of despair.

The next day, in the Sect's main assembly hall, Bian Weiying publicly made a decision: to formally remove Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Lan'er from Wukang Mountain's roster and officially expel them from Wukang Mountain, effective immediately.

No one objected to this. Everyone had wanted to expel those individuals for a long time.

The person who carried out the order was Elder Ke. He personally led people to bring Shi Chun and the other two from prison and announced the sect's decision in front of the three disgraced disciples.

He was eager to sever their master-disciple ties and expel them immediately.

As soon as they were pulled out of their cells, they were immediately driven down the mountain. Their restrictions were only lifted once they reached the base of the mountain.

From behind a window lattice, Bian Weiying pressed her face against the window, biting her lip, secretly watching the figures descending the mountain.

Originally, after returning from her seclusion, the first person she wanted to see was Shi Chun. However, some things were beyond her wildest dreams. Therefore, she hadn't seen Shi Chun since her return, not even for a final farewell.

She didn't know what to say if she met him. Was Shi Chun involved in the deaths of her father and brother? Should she ask?

Or should she ignore it?

What if he was involved? What would she do then?

Little did she know, her father and brother's deaths were indeed connected to Shi Chun. From the moment she explicitly told Shi Chun that she wanted to become Wukang Mountain's Sect Master, their fate was largely sealed, especially after they became intimate.

Shi Chun still remembered their whispers as they embraced under the starry sky. He knew he couldn't take her with him. The only thing he could do was find a way to fulfill her wish.

For Shi Chun, to achieve his objectives related to Xia Fuli, he could have found other methods. Who said he had to eliminate the Bian family's grandfather and grandson? But if they didn't die, how could Bian Weiying ascend to power? It would never have been her turn. Bian Weiying would have merely wasted her life fantasizing. Constant internal struggle would have ruined her life.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Shi Chun looked back at the mountain. That was a secret in his heart. That was his way of tenderness, unrelated to good or evil. He would bear the responsibility without betraying his heart. He would never let anyone know.

From behind the window, Bian Weiying gazed down at the mountain.

She was no longer who she was. She was no longer the City Lord of Linkang City, but the Sect Master of Wukang Mountain.

From the perspective of a Sect Master, she had to consider a question: Shi Chun knew the secret of Wukang Mountain's talisman refining. Had he told anyone else? Should she silence him?

Whether for her personal gain or from the sect's standpoint, she had to consider this.

But in the end, she didn't do it. The profound tenderness of that first night of love ultimately prevented her from acting ruthlessly. This, too, was her unique tenderness…

After descending the mountain, Shi Chun and the others soon met Feng Chi, who was waiting for them.

It was only through Feng Chi that Shi Chun and the others learned of the recent turmoil on Wukang Mountain. The mother and daughter had fallen out with the Demonic Cult, and it was inevitable that the Demonic Cult would be disgusted by them.

The Demonic Cult was also disgusted. They never expected that Wukang Mountain's designated successor was actually Bian Weiying.

Did she need them to help her ascend to power?

What were they busy with, to no avail?

No wonder she didn't accept their goodwill or their threats; she had her own trump card.

"Yin Huixin's attitude was so resolute. At first, our superiors suspected that one of you might have leaked the news of Xia Fuli's death. It wasn't until last night, when Bian Weiying revealed the secret refining technique and declared the truth, that we understood what was happening."

"Bian Que and his son were too cunning. That good-for-nothing Bian Weikang was actually used as a distraction. They played us all for fools and made us work in vain for so long."

"An act, let them act. Well, they acted well this time; they acted their own lives away."

Feng Chi was visibly indignant, grumbling and cursing for a long time.

Not to mention her, Xiang Lan'er thought of everything she had experienced since leaving Liyun Tower, enduring various acts and making sacrifices. It turned out Bian Weikang had been abandoned long ago, and they had almost been found out and wiped out entirely. Thinking of how she had called him "My Lord," and how she had almost continued to bear children for Bian Weikang, she was utterly disgusted.

"Rest assured, that mother and daughter won't have an easy time. Even with the secret refining technique, they might not be able to hold onto the Sect Master position securely. The rumors about Xia Fuli's daughter and the 'magpie occupying the dove's nest' rumors have already shaken the Royal Court's resolute stance. Once internal and external troubles besiege them, Wukang Mountain will surely fall into disarray. The chaos will be unmanageable, inevitably leading to a change in leadership. Having the secret refining technique will be useless. To my knowledge, sects like Jielun Mountain are already planning to kick Wukang Mountain while it's down and cause trouble."

Listening to Feng Chi vent her grievances, Shi Chun remained silent. He also realized that things were not as simple as he had imagined, and Bian Weiying's current situation was precarious.