My Years as a Menace in the Sect

The pot on Wei Ping'an's back suddenly got scalded.

Through his coarse cloth clothes, the heat felt like a warm towel pressed against his spine—not scalding, but noticeable. The patterns on the rim of the pot flickered silently for a moment, then dimmed again. He didn't have time to look down, because the wolf had already pounced.

The grass rustled softly. A dozen pairs of red eyes emerged from the grass, slowly making their way to the clearing. The alpha wolf was nearly waist-high, its fur a dark red, drool dripping from its mouth onto the mud, sizzling and burning a shallow pit with a wisp of white smoke. A Tier 3 Crimson Flame Wolf.

Wei Ping'an took a half step back, his shoes scraping the muddy ground, his heel hitting a protruding rock and finding support. He held onto the edge of the pot with one hand, and with the other, he reached into his pocket and felt the packet of dried chili powder; the paper packet was slightly soft from sweat. He didn't pull it out, just tucked it in like a brick he could throw at any moment.

Zhou Yan drew his sword with a crisp sound; the sound of the blade sliding out of its sheath carried far through the quiet valley. He took a step forward, his longsword hanging diagonally, the tip pointing at the wolves, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. Xu Baochai didn't draw his sword; his hand was on the hilt, his knuckles white from gripping it, his back teeth clenched so hard his cheek bulged.

"Don't move," Zhou Yan said in a low voice. "The wolf pack is testing us. Whoever runs first will die."

Several disciples nearby were already trembling. The round-faced disciple from the Spirit Plant Hall was spinning in his legs, barely able to stand by holding onto a tree trunk; his robes fluttered in the wind. The disciple from Dan Peak, who was holding talismans, dropped the talismans to the ground with a thud; his knees buckled as he bent down to pick them up, and he almost knelt down.

The girl in green moved first. With a flick of her wrist, her long whip lashed out like a black snake, the tip whipping in the wind, and struck the first wolf in the eye with a sharp crack. The wolf howled and recoiled, blood splattering onto the grass, a glaring red. She moved swiftly, landing silently, the whip circling halfway around her wrist before lashing out at the second wolf. But her left hand remained hanging limply, the dark brown bloodstain on her sleeve spreading out again, trickling down her forearm.

"Those with swords, push forward! Those with talismans, throw them to the flanks!" Her voice was crisp, a little hoarse, as if sand was stuck in her throat, the last syllable rolling in her throat before finally coming out, "Are you waiting for wolves to bite your necks?"

Zhou Yan reacted first, shouting for the formation to be set up. The four Danfeng disciples frantically grabbed talismans and threw them to both sides. The flames exploded, and the smell of burnt wolf fur mixed with blood filled their nostrils. Xu Baochai also moved, his longsword springing from its sheath and slashing at a wolf trying to flank him, forcing it to retreat. The wolf took two steps back, baring its teeth and letting out a low growl. Its eyes reflected the glint of Xu Baochai's sword, as if it didn't care, or as if it had already memorized the shape of the sword.

The alpha wolf didn't move. It crouched on a protruding rock on the outermost edge, its tail drooping, its red eyes slowly scanning everyone in the arena, from left to right, then from right to left, finally stopping on the green-clad girl's left sleeve. It paused for two breaths, then moved away, landing on the pot behind Wei Ping'an.

Wei Ping'an felt that gaze was like a needle piercing the surface of a pot, and he took another half step back.

The alpha wolf stepped down from the rock, landing lightly with its front paws touching the ground first, then bending its hind legs to brace itself before pouncing on the disciple from the Spirit Plant Hall at the far end. The disciple was squatting on the ground picking up talismans when the wolf's face was so close that he could see bits of meat stuck between its teeth. He didn't even have time to scream before falling straight backward, his head hitting the rock with a dull thud.

Xu Baochai was far away, his sword still halfway there. Zhou Yan was entangled by two wolves, his sword flashing back and forth several times but he couldn't break free. The girl in green was halfway through whipping her whip when she tugged at it with her left hand. Her movement was a fraction of a second too slow, and the whip tip landed on empty air, snapping off a blade of grass. The blade of grass bounced up and floated in mid-air before landing.

Wei Ping'an didn't rush forward. He grabbed a fist-sized rock from beside him, swung his arm, and smashed it towards the alpha wolf's eyes. The rock flew past the wolf's ear, hit a tree trunk, and shattered in two. The alpha wolf paused, turned its head to look in his direction, its ear tips twitched, then it glanced down at the broken rock on the ground and exhaled a puff of white breath from its nostrils.

In that instant, Wei Ping'an had already untied the pot strap from his back, held the black pot in both hands, and lunged forward half a step, pushing the pot sideways so that the pot's surface was directly facing the alpha wolf's open mouth.

Clang. The sound was muffled and deep, like someone smashing an overturned bell with a hammer, the echo rolling through the valley before dissipating. The alpha wolf bit into the pot, its fangs striking the iron, sparks flying and landing on Wei Ping'an's hand, burning him. The wolf's momentum, combined with his own weight, sent him sliding three steps backward, his shoes carving two deep furrows in the mud before his heels finally struck a rock and brought him to a stop.

The tiger's mouth was split open, on the right side. A gash stretched through the skin, and blood dripped from between the fingers, onto the rim of the pot, seeping into the crooked lines and disappearing in the blink of an eye, as if sucked into the pot. The alpha wolf took two steps back, shook its head, exhaled white breath, and stared at the black pot in Wei Ping'an's hand, a strange, unreadable look appearing in its eyes.

Wei Ping'an didn't dare to relax. He held the pot in front of him with both hands, half-squatting with his knees slightly bent, ready to roll to the side at any moment. Blood was still seeping from his hands, but he didn't lessen his grip on the pot. The blood-soaked area on the pot's surface had deeper lines than the rest, like a section of a dried-up riverbed that had been soaked open. The other lines were still whitish, but that one spot was glossy and black.

The girl in green didn't waste the little time he had bought her. She took out a small red ball from her waist, pushed open the seal at the bottom with her thumb, and tossed it into the air. With a bang, a red firework exploded in mid-air, dazzlingly bright, and thick smoke billowed upwards like mushrooms, rising to the mouth of the valley where it was swept away by the wind and mostly dissipated.

The alpha wolf glanced up at the plume of smoke, pressed its ears back, and let out a long, muffled howl, as if it came from deep within its chest. A dozen or so wolves followed it, arriving silently and leaving just as quickly, disappearing into the grass in the blink of an eye, their tails flashing a few times among the blades of grass before vanishing. The clearing fell silent again, save for the wind that rushed in from the valley entrance, carrying the scent of blood, scattering it, then gathering it again, then scattering it once more.

Someone plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, talismans scattered everywhere. Another person bent over, supporting their knees, and dry heaved, vomiting a couple of times but nothing came out, only some clear water. The round-faced disciple from the Spirit Plant Hall finally got up, staggered to a tree, squatted down against the trunk, his face covered in sweat. No one laughed at him.

Wei Ping'an remained squatting, examining the black pot. There was nothing on the surface; not a single wolf-tooth mark remained. He touched the area between his thumb and forefinger; the blood had stopped seeping out, the edges of the wound were dry, and a thin scab had formed, healing much faster than usual. He paused, looked down at the wound, then at the rim of the pot, before slinging it back over his shoulder, tightening the straps securely.

The girl in green walked towards him. She wasn't very tall, and when she stood in front of him, her gaze fell directly on the rim of the pot on his back, right where the blood-soaked mark had been. Her face was still smeared with mud, and her damp bangs clung to her forehead. Her eyes were bright, like a stream with a thin layer of ice on them.

"Where did you get this pot?"

"It's an heirloom." Wei Ping'an stood up and patted the mud off his backside. "My dad left it to me, saying it was made of black iron and could be used for self-defense. I've carried it around since I was a kid, and it only ever blocked bricks and sticks. I never thought it could even withstand wolf fangs."

The girl in green glanced at him for a couple of moments, then didn't press him further.

Zhou Yan sheathed his sword and walked over, bowing to her with clasped hands: "Senior Sister Su."

Su Yin hummed in agreement and wrapped the whip back around her waist: "Luoxia Valley is not peaceful right now. The sect sent me to investigate the missing disciples. Those of you picking purple-patterned flowers, you should retreat and not go any further in."

Everyone around was stunned. The inner sect member surnamed Su, the one who wields the black whip, is Su Yin from the Enforcement Hall. She stormed into the inner sect from the outer sect last year; her methods are ruthless and her temperament fierce, and no one who offended her escaped unscathed. Wei Ping'an shrank back and stood behind Xu Baochai. Xu Baochai glanced at him sideways but said nothing.

The group retreated to a sheltered rock at the mouth of the valley and set up camp. Wei Ping'an sat furthest from the fire, leaning against an old tree root half-buried in the ground, holding half a dry biscuit, breaking it into small pieces and putting them in his mouth. The biscuit was hard and gritty, so he swallowed it slowly with the cold water from his water bag.

After it got completely dark, Su Yin found him. She sat down next to him, holding a small porcelain bottle, and poured ointment onto her left wrist. Her sleeve was rolled up, revealing a deep claw mark; the skin was torn open, the edges blackened, and it looked rather frightening.

"Thanks for that this afternoon."

"You're too kind, Senior Sister." Wei Ping'an continued breaking his pancake without looking up. "It was nothing. Besides, I couldn't run away if the wolf charged at me. Let's help each other out."

After applying the ointment, Su Yin put away the porcelain bottle: "Are you selling that pot of yours?"

Wei Ping'an paused the pancake in his hand, which was about to be eaten, and said, "Senior sister is joking. It's a family heirloom, how could I sell it? Besides, I rely on this pan to survive, if I sell it I won't live much longer."

Su Yin didn't mention selling the pots again, and left after sitting for a while.

In the latter half of the night, it was Wei Ping'an's turn to keep watch. He squatted by the fire, poking at the embers with a twig, not even bothering to brush off the sparks that landed on his trousers. The pot on his back remained warm, not hot, pressed against his spine like a small stove, keeping him warm even as the mountain wind blew in at night. He pondered the events of the afternoon. The wolf pack retreated too decisively; it didn't seem like they were running away because they couldn't win, but rather that they were startled away by that red smoke. A third-tier alpha wolf wouldn't be so easily frightened, unless the smoke indicated that something more powerful was nearby.

As dawn broke, Zhou Yan's communication talisman lit up. A blue light flashed in his palm as he held the talisman for a while, his expression shifting several times. He stood up and looked at Su Yin: "Senior Sister Su, the sect has assigned you to investigate the missing disciples. You can decide on the accompanying personnel yourself. I'll take the Purple Pattern Flower mission with the others."

Su Yin nodded, her gaze sweeping around before finally settling on Wei Ping'an. "He's coming with me."

Wei Ping'an almost dropped the pancake in his hand. He looked up and pointed at his own nose: "Senior sister, I'm just a handyman in the medicine testing hall. I haven't even reached the third level of Qi Refining. If I go with you to investigate the case, won't I be a burden to you? I'll just be a hindrance." As he said this, he subconsciously scooted back half an inch, hiding in the shadows.

"Whether I hold you back or not is up to me." Su Yin's tone left no room for negotiation. "You have good observation skills and quick reflexes. Carrying a pot can be useful for self-defense."

Wei Ping'an wanted to refuse, but when he saw Su Yin's gaze fixed on his face, he swallowed his words. He said with a sullen face, "Fine. We agreed that if anything happens, I'll run first."

When Sun Yan arrived, the morning light shone precisely on the broken porcelain shards on the Qi family's courtyard wall. He wore a grey robe, the fabric of which was far superior to that of ordinary outer disciples, and a deacon's token hung at his waist. Two attendants followed behind him. His footsteps were silent as he approached, yet the branches he stepped on snapped cleanly and decisively. From a distance, he bowed to Su Yin: "Senior Sister Su, my uncle sent me to assist you in investigating the case of the missing disciple. My name is Sun Yan."

Wei Ping'an huddled behind Xu Baocai, his back pressed against the edge of the pot, wishing he could disappear into the shadows of the trees.

Su Yin glanced at Sun Yan, then at the two attendants behind him, without asking who had sent him: "Leave once everyone's here. A warship?"

"I brought it." Sun Yan took out a small wooden boat, no bigger than a palm, from his storage bag and threw it on the ground. He recited an incantation, and the wooden boat grew to more than ten feet long in the wind, with cloud patterns flowing on its hull. "My uncle made it for me. It's a low-grade magic weapon, more stable than flying on a sword."

Wei Ping'an slipped as he stepped onto the deck, grabbing the gunwale to steady himself. The deck was cold, and the carved cloud patterns were raised and uncomfortable against his palms. Before he could even settle in, Sun Yan cast a spell, and the warship lurched upwards. Wei Ping'an nearly fell backward, clinging to the gunwale in a panic. The pot on his back pulled him down slightly, but he regained his balance. He slowly climbed back into the boat, settled himself, and untied the black pot, placing it in the middle of the deck.

With a thud.

The warship sank three inches and then surfaced again, rocking twice. Sun Yan, caught off guard, stumbled forward and grabbed the gunwale to steady himself. He turned and glared at him: "What are you doing! Picking up that broken pot! Can you afford to pay for it if you sink it?"

"I'm sorry, Senior Brother Sun." Wei Ping'an hugged the pot with an innocent look. "The pot is too heavy, it's tiring for me to carry. Putting it in the middle will be more stable, so I won't get seasick from all the swaying."

Su Yin stood at the bow of the boat, the wind whipping her clothes wildly. Sun Yan couldn't see her face, nor could Wei Ping'an. Only the wind carried her voice, low and hushed: "Let's go."

The warship skimmed the treetops as it flew deeper into Sunset Valley. Wei Ping'an, holding onto the pot with one hand and gripping the edge of the boat with the other, secretly peered down. The treetops below formed a thick, deep green carpet, with glimpses of mountain streams occasionally appearing through the gaps, their waters as thin as silver threads. The distant mountain peaks were hidden in the clouds, their sharp tips peeking out, stark white. This was the first time in his life he had flown so high; his heart pounded like a drum, yet he couldn't help but steal a few more glances.

Sun Yan looked down at the Qi-searching token; the token glowed with a scorching blue light. "Junior Brother Zhang's aura kept moving inwards, stopping here for a while."

Su Yin didn't turn around: "What's deep within Sunset Valley?"

"There are a few small families that rely on the sect." Sun Yan thought for a moment. "The Qi family, they guard the medicinal fields at the foot of the mountain for the sect, they have dozens of people, and they don't usually have much contact with the sect."

The warship landed on an open area, and Sun Yan retrieved it and put it back in his storage bag. Wei Ping'an's legs were still a little weak when he stepped onto the ground, and he bent over to catch his breath while holding his knees. He straightened up and looked around. The trees were so dense that sunlight could hardly penetrate, the air was damp, and the smell of decaying leaves and soil was very low. Even the chirping of insects and birds was sparse and the silence was unnatural.

Sun Yan led the way, holding the Qi-Searching Token, which was bluish-green and slightly warm to the touch. They passed through a patch of low bushes, and ahead appeared a grayish-blue brick wall, its top studded with broken porcelain shards. The gate was pitch black and tightly shut. Two servants stood at the entrance, carrying wooden sticks, their waists adorned with bronze plaques bearing the character "Qi".

Sun Yan took two more steps forward, and just as he approached the base of the wall, the token's light suddenly dimmed and it became cold, like an ordinary stone, showing no reaction whatsoever. He frowned, shook it a few times, and tried injecting spiritual energy into it, but still there was no response.

Su Yin took it and looked at it, pausing when her fingertips touched the token: "It's not broken. There's a formation inside that shields auras. Junior Brother Zhang's aura disappeared here last."

The three retreated into the woods and hid behind a large tree. Wei Ping'an peered out from the tree trunk. The Qi family's courtyard wasn't large; half of the tiled roof peeked out from behind the tree's shadow. Even in broad daylight, there wasn't a sound from inside the courtyard, not even a dog barking.

Just as Su Yin was about to speak, the gate creaked open. Four servants carried out a burlap sack, bulging and taller than a person, its edges stained with dark red, leaving a damp trail on the ground. The four men, heads down, hurried along, rounding the courtyard wall towards the back of the house. As they passed the edge of the woods, one of the servants tripped over a tree root, causing the sack to sway and loosen slightly, revealing a corner of a gray cloth garment and half a waist token—the blue waist token of an outer disciple of the Cangxia Sect, with a small piece missing from the edge. Wei Ping'an recognized the token; it was the same as the one Xu Baochai wore. His breath hitched, and he dug his fingers into the bark.

The back gate creaked shut, the sound of the lock audible even through half the woods. Su Yin turned and left. Sun Yan hesitated for a moment before following. Wei Ping'an brought up the rear, carefully slinging the pot back over his shoulder, adjusting the straps. His footsteps were muffled by the fallen leaves beneath his feet. He took two steps, then glanced back at the Qi family's courtyard wall. Moss grew in the cracks, and a gecko perched on the top, its tail tip swaying slightly. Startled by Wei Ping'an's gaze, it darted into the cracks in the broken porcelain and disappeared.

That evening, they set up camp in a clearing by a stream. Sun Yan leaned against a tree trunk, silent, whittling a branch with a short knife, scattering sawdust everywhere. Su Yin sat opposite the fire, flipping through an old booklet. The cover was worn white, and several loose pages were tucked inside, one of which had a small burnt corner. She turned the pages slowly, one by one. Wei Ping'an squatted by the stream washing a pot, splashing water to rinse the grooves along the pot's surface. The water droplets rolled over without leaving a trace, running down the surface of the pot. He remained squatting on the bank, staring motionless at his reflection in the water.

After a while, he stood up and walked back. The water in the pot hadn't been poured out yet, and he carried it slowly, as if afraid of spilling it.

When he returned from the stream, Su Yin closed the old booklet and looked up: "Tomorrow you'll come with me to the Qi family; Sun Yan will stay outside to provide backup." Wei Ping'an poured the water from the pot into the grass, squatted down, and carried the pot on his back: "Senior Sister, can I not go?"

Su Yin didn't answer. The wind blowing in from the valley entrance caused the fire to tilt to one side. The flames crackled a few times as they licked the dry wood, then stood upright again.

Sun Yan shaved off a tree branch, the cut clean, and it fell to his feet. He didn't say anything, and continued shaving off another one. The wood shavings were blown up by the wind and scattered all over the ground.