My Years as a Menace in the Sect

Su Yin carried Wei Ping'an back to the sect quickly, her black robes stained with forest dust, afraid that the bumpy ride would aggravate his wounds.

Behind them, law enforcement disciples lined up, escorting Qi Kui and his two companions, who were bound in chains. The atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.

Shen Qingyao followed closely behind, holding the food box steadily in her hands, her anxious expression never fading.

The group went straight into the Healing and Quiet Garden in the back mountain.

This place is sealed off by an array, and rich in spiritual energy. It is a secluded courtyard specially used by the sect to house seriously injured disciples for quiet recuperation, a place where no one can disturb them. The on-duty medical cultivator was already waiting here, and stepped forward to carefully examine Wei Ping'an's injuries.

The deepest wound was on his side, with the skin and flesh torn open and the blood dark. His shoulders and arms were covered with abrasions and bruises of varying depths, all injuries left from withstanding the attacks of a seventh-level cultivator in the Black Wind Forest.

The healer methodically cleaned the wound and stopped the bleeding, applied a special healing ointment, and wrapped it tightly with bandages. He confirmed that although the injury was severe, it had not damaged the source of the meridians. He said that the patient would gradually recover after a few days of rest. He repeatedly instructed the patient not to get angry, not to exert himself, and not to go out on his own. Then he bowed and withdrew, leaving only two disciples to guard outside the courtyard to keep out all outsiders.

The wooden door was slightly ajar, and the courtyard instantly fell silent.

On the bed, Wei Ping'an lay with his eyes closed and his breathing steady, still appearing to be severely injured and unconscious.

In reality, he had already become fully conscious while Su Yin was carrying him on the journey.

The pain from the wounds all over his body was incredibly clear, and the dizziness from the exhaustion and weakness gradually subsided. At this moment, his mind was as clear as it could be.

But he dared not move, nor dared he open his eyes.

There were only two people in the room.

Shen Qingyao sat on the wooden stool by the bed, quietly watching him. The worry in her eyes was almost impossible to hide. Her fingertips occasionally brushed gently along the edge of the bed, her movements tender and delicate.

Su Yin stood upright by a pillar not far away, her robes neat and tidy, silently on guard, her gaze always fixed on the direction of the door, wary of any remaining risks lurking in the shadows.

Wei Ping'an knew exactly what was going on.

It seems these two are really going head-to-head today.

One is gentle and caring, wanting to personally tend to his injuries; the other is conscientious and dedicated, holding the case in hand and refusing to leave his side. Whenever he opens his eyes, he inevitably finds himself caught in this awkward tug-of-war between the two.

Wei Ping'an may not have many other skills in his life, but his ability to avoid trouble and feign weakness is unparalleled.

After a couple of seconds of deliberation, he decided to continue pretending to be asleep.

He closed his eyes, leaned back, and pressed his breathing firmly, pretending that he was still the weak, unconscious, and seriously injured patient, quietly listening to the movements of the two people beside his bed.

Shen Qingyao broke the silence in the room first.

She raised her hand to straighten the messy pillowcase beside her pillow, her voice soft and melodious:

"Leave this to me, you can go back to your official duties."

Su Yin's gaze shifted slightly, landing on Shen Qingyao, her tone flat and cold:

"The Black Wind Forest assassination case is still unsolved, and the person behind the murderer has not yet been caught. The injured person cannot be left unattended, so it is my duty to stay and guard."

"The guards are handled by the disciples outside the academy; there's no need for you to personally stay up all night." Shen Qingyao replied calmly, raising her eyes to look at Su Yin, her eyes carrying a hint of gentle stubbornness. "You usually manage the Enforcement Hall, patrolling the mountains and judging cases, never having a moment's rest. It's already exhausting for your body and mind. Staying up all night is the worst for your health, and at your age, you can't withstand the depletion of energy all night."

These words sound like concern, but upon closer inspection, they are full of tension.

Su Yin raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction:

"Those who cultivate have stable qi and blood, how could they be damaged by guarding for a night? On the other hand, Junior Sister Shen has been living a life of luxury on Danfeng for a long time, and I'm afraid she's not even very skilled in emergency treatment of external injuries. Leaving you here alone may not be safe."

"Healing and recuperation are the core competencies of Danfeng." Shen Qingyao's lips curled slightly, her tone gentle yet unyielding. "When it comes to medicinal treatments and resting for injuries, I am naturally more proficient than you, who have been wielding a sword and solving cases for many years. You can withstand danger, but you cannot protect your injuries."

The two spoke back and forth at a slow pace, without raising their voices in argument, but every word implied a confrontation, with neither willing to give in.

Wei Ping'an, lying in bed pretending to be asleep, was silently groaning in his heart.

It’s over.

He dared not move an inch, not even his eyes. He could only stiffen and endure it, afraid that the slightest movement would reveal that he had already woken up. In that case, it would be awkward for both sides, and he would be the one to suffer in the end.

The argument continued, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Shen Qingyao looked at Su Yin, who refused to leave, and smiled faintly. She spoke softly, her words hitting the nail on the head:

"Aunt Su, it's late, you should go back and rest."

The moment the words "Aunt Su" were uttered, the atmosphere in the room froze.

Su Yin paused slightly, a faint awkwardness instantly appearing on her usually cool face.

She joined the sect only two years earlier, and at such a young age, her appearance and figure were outstanding in the sect. She was always respected and revered by the disciples, and had never been addressed like this before.

"Junior Sister, your words are inappropriate." Su Yin's breath hitched slightly. "We are of the same generation, so why are you calling me 'Auntie'?"

"Being two years older is being older." Shen Qingyao said sincerely, as if she was trying to give kind advice, and continued to gently add insult to injury, "You've been working hard on official duties all year round, so you already look much more mature than others. Staying up all night is the most harmful thing to your health. If you keep pushing yourself like this, it won't be worth it."

Wei Pingan almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Knives are fatal.

While ostensibly advising someone to rest, every word is actually a form of pressure, subtly implying that the person is old, overworked, and unable to withstand staying up late—a truly devastating attack on their spirit.

Su Yin was clearly quite angered by those words. Her usual calm and composure crumbled somewhat. She subconsciously took half a step forward, straightening her posture slightly, resembling a girl bickering and arguing. Her tone carried a sharp retort:

"Age is never a measure of strength. I stayed here to guard against any remaining enemy attacks and to ensure their safety. You only know about medicine and recuperation, but you are unaware of the lurking dangers in the shadows. That's too one-sided."

"Our safety is protected by formations and guarded by the outer courtyard. Why should you sit here in vain?" Shen Qingyao retorted firmly. "Recovery from injuries depends on careful care, not constant vigilance. Your presence here will only add to our fatigue and serve no other purpose."

"If a sudden hidden danger occurs, the outer disciples will not be able to react in time."

"With layers of defenses in this key area for recuperation, how could there be any sudden hidden dangers?"

The two argued more and more frequently, neither willing to give in. The topic shifted from right and wrong in their duties to their areas of expertise, from maintenance methods to temperament and experience. Gentleness clashed with aloofness, and delicacy with sharpness. Although there was no physical argument, the tension between them grew stronger and stronger.

As the two argued, they moved around and faced each other side by side. Their sleeves rose up at the same time, and the two sleeves swept across the edge of the table.

"Splash!"

The oil lamp burning on the table was swept away.

The glass lamp tumbled to the ground, spilling oil everywhere. The flickering red wick fell from the air, landing squarely on the thin quilt covering Wei Ping'an.

The velvet is soft and flammable, and it will burst into small flames instantly when it comes into contact with fire.

In the blink of an eye, a bright flame burst forth from the edge of the bedding, and the scorching heat instantly baked Wei Ping'an's flesh.

At first it was just a slight warmth, but the next instant, a scalding burning sensation penetrated the fabric and pressed directly against the skin, causing both itchiness and pain.

Wei Ping'an was completely dumbfounded.

He could endure the embarrassment, the pulling and tugging, and the pain all over his body.

The only thing I can't bear is burning myself!

If he continues to pretend to be asleep, he won't even have to wait for Steward Sun or the assassin; he'll be burned to a crisp by these two arguing old ladies!

"Holy crap! Fire! Fire!"

Wei Ping'an's eyes snapped open, and he sprang to his feet in an instant. His screams echoed throughout the entire Jingyuan, his face contorted in despair as he frantically patted the smoking bedding around his body.

Shen Qingyao and Su Yin, who were arguing fiercely, froze on the spot.

The two of them turned their heads at the same time, their gazes falling on the bed.

The patient, who was seriously injured, unconscious, weak, and on the verge of death just a moment ago, is now sitting on the bed full of energy, staring wide-eyed and yelling, with wisps of smoke rising from the bedding around him. The scene is absurd and comical.

The air was utterly still.

Both women were embarrassed at the same time, their cheeks flushed, and the confrontational atmosphere they had just had vanished without a trace, leaving only panic and awkwardness.

Shen Qingyao was the first to regain her senses, and quickly took two steps forward, her voice soft and full of remorse:

"I'm sorry, we made a mistake and accidentally hurt you. Don't move, be careful not to burn your wound."

As she spoke, she immediately picked up the warm food box from the low table and handed it to Wei Ping'an. The box was full of exquisite medicinal porridge and honey-based spiritual cakes, fragrant and warm.

"This is a warm and nourishing meal I specially prepared for you. You're still weak after waking up, so eat something to calm your nerves."

Just as the gentle reassurance arrived, Su Yin immediately stepped forward, her cool voice carrying a hint of remedial intent:

"Sweet foods are cloying and not suitable for someone recovering from a serious injury. I've already instructed the kitchen staff of the Enforcement Hall to prepare a nourishing bone-strengthening soup, which is light and gentle on the pulse, making it more suitable for your injuries. It would be better if you came with me to eat it."

Wei Ping'an, who had just been nearly burned to death, sat on the bed with a blank expression.

He looked at the two people on either side, opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. His mind was filled with nothing but despair.

The lingering heat from the bedding continued to bake the body, and the wounds ached and itched from the heat. All the pent-up embarrassment, frustration, and fear exploded at once.

Wei Ping'an abruptly waved his hand, his composure completely shattered, and his voice rose sharply:

"Get out, all of you!!"

The two of them stopped moving at the same time, staring blankly at his outburst.

Without waiting for a response, Wei Ping'an, enduring the soreness all over his body, rolled out of bed, strode out of the room, and rushed to the water storage tank in the center of the courtyard.

He picked up the wooden basin next to him, scooped up a full basin of cold water, and splashed it all over his body, including the bed and blankets!

wow-

The cold water poured down, completely extinguishing all the remaining fire.

After several buckets of cold water were poured over me, the burning sensation completely dissipated, and I felt cool and refreshed all over, but my clothes were soaked and I looked utterly disheveled.

Wei Ping'an leaned on the wooden basin, standing in the evening breeze, panting heavily, his heart filled with utter speechlessness.

Black Wind Forest narrowly escaped death, neither dying by the sword nor being defeated by a powerful enemy, but he almost died at the hands of two old ladies.

Just outrageous!

Shen Qingyao and Su Yin walked to the door and looked at the disheveled boy in the courtyard. They exchanged a glance, both looking embarrassed, and neither of them spoke again.

After a moment of silence, Shen Qingyao gave a soft hum and looked away.

Su Yin turned her head away and gave a cold snort. Then the two of them turned around.

Shen Qingyao took back the food box she had brought and said softly:

"Take good care of yourself, I'll come see you again tomorrow."

After saying that, he walked away.

Su Yin also composed herself, leaving behind a faint remark:

"There are no longer any hidden dangers in the hospital. Focus on recovering and I will keep you informed of any developments in the case."

As soon as he finished speaking, his robes fluttered as he left Jingyuan.

In a short while, the noise subsided, and the courtyard became completely quiet.

Wei Pingan dragged his soaking wet body back into the house. Looking at the messy bed, the overturned oil lamp, and the water stains all over the floor, he sighed deeply and completely let his mind go blank.

After a long and arduous ordeal, I was exhausted both physically and mentally.

He slumped down on the edge of the bed, looking at the food Shen Qingyao hadn't taken before leaving the table, and his stomach rumbled loudly.

After hesitating for two seconds, Wei Ping'an rolled his eyes.

Who cares! Might as well eat it!

Since things are already this awkward, why should I make myself suffer?

He casually picked up a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth one bite at a time. The sweet, soft, and chewy taste soothed some of the frustration in his heart.

While eating, he secretly reviewed the situation.

This ambush in Black Wind Forest was almost certainly orchestrated by Deacon Sun.

Since the attempt to adulterate the medicinal herbs had failed and they couldn't act openly, they resorted to hiring a killer in secret, a truly insidious act.

Unfortunately, the perpetrator has still not been caught and remains at large.

Meanwhile, at Danfeng Deacon's Office.

Deacon Sun sat in the main seat and listened to his disciples' report. He learned that the ambush in Black Wind Forest had failed completely and that Qi Kui and his two companions had been captured. He was furious on the spot.

He slammed his hand hard on the wooden table beside him, causing the teacup on the table to shake violently and spill tea all over the floor.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

Deacon Sun's face was gloomy, and his eyes were full of hostility.

He spent a fortune and promised a reward to hire the desperate cultivators from the Qi family, thinking he could eliminate Wei Ping'an quietly, create the illusion of a ferocious beast attack, and eliminate the future troubles without anyone knowing.

To my utter surprise, that group of people actually failed!

Not only did they fail to kill a junior who was just recovering from serious injuries and had low cultivation, but they were all captured and fell into the hands of the Enforcement Hall, leaving him with endless hidden dangers.

"Wei Ping'an..."

Deacon Sun gritted his teeth and whispered, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

This kid is incredibly lucky!

His plans for the medicine storehouse failed, and his assassination attempt in the Black Wind Forest also failed. They thwarted his plans and humiliated him time and time again. If this disciple of the Glory is allowed to grow up, he will surely become a major threat in the future!

Open attacks won't work, and assassinations won't work either.

Let's try another approach!

Deacon Sun's eyes flashed with a sinister light, and a new wicked plan instantly formed in his mind.

He knew Wei Ping'an's biggest weakness.

His alchemy practice is unstable, with frequent cauldron explosions, indicating a shallow foundation. He urgently needs a large number of new furnaces and cauldrons to practice with.

The cauldrons in his storage bag had been completely destroyed by the previous explosions. After his injuries healed, he would have to go to the sect's treasury to apply for new alchemy cauldrons.

The furnaces in the storeroom were under the jurisdiction of Danfeng, and he indirectly controlled them. With this thought in mind, Deacon Sun's lips curled into a sinister sneer. If he couldn't kill him, he'd cripple his alchemy! He only needed to tamper with the furnaces he would subsequently receive, making them appear intact but actually concealing flaws and hidden dangers.

Ordinary alchemists will not notice anything unusual during practice, but once they concentrate on refining spiritual herbs and break through to form pills, the hidden problems in the furnace and cauldron will erupt.

At best, it would cause the cauldron to explode repeatedly, wasting all the medicinal liquid and making him a perpetual laughingstock of the sect.

In severe cases, the internal fire will backfire, the poison will be contained, and it will slowly erode the meridians, ruin his cultivation, and destroy his foundation!

At that time, there will be no need for you to do anything; Wei Ping'an will gradually cripple himself and completely disappear from the sect's sight.

Having understood this, Deacon Sun suppressed his anger and coldly ordered his subordinates:

"Keep an eye on the storeroom. Whenever Wei Ping'an comes to claim a furnace cauldron, pick out a few flawed cauldrons that are intact on the outside but have hidden cracks inside and give them to him. Make sure they are clean and that no one can find out about this."

The disciple bowed and accepted the order, then quietly withdrew.

Only Steward Sun remained in the room, and a sinister laugh slowly rose from within.

"Wei Ping'an, let's see if you can live peacefully this time."

……

In the quiet garden, life flowed by quietly.

For the next few days, Wei Ping'an stayed quietly in the courtyard to recuperate.

With the nourishment of elixirs and spiritual energy, coupled with his already solid physical foundation, his injuries healed extremely quickly.

In just a few days, all the external wounds on his body scabbed over and fell off, the bruises disappeared, and his qi and blood returned to normal. Apart from not being able to engage in intense combat, he could move around, meditate, and contemplate alchemy without any problems.

During his recovery, he calmed down and reflected on the problems that had caused him to repeatedly explode.

He was quite perceptive, his techniques were not wrong, and his fire control was becoming more and more proficient. However, every time he refined pills, he would always lose control and explode when he reached the last step of condensing the pill.

Repeatedly exploding the pot is not simply a sign of inexperience; it indicates a problem with the method.

After thinking it over, he remembered Old Man Zheng from the medicine testing hall.

Old Man Zheng has been in the sect for decades, is proficient in alchemy and pill refining, and is very experienced. He understands these basic techniques best.

On the day his injuries were completely healed, Wei Ping'an straightened his clothes, got ready, and went straight to the medicine testing hall.

Old Zheng was still guarding the courtyard of the medicine shop, arranging the herbs scattered on the ground. When he saw him coming, he slightly raised his eyes.

"Is your injury healed?"

"Thanks to your blessing, senior, I am completely cured." Wei Ping'an bowed respectfully and then asked directly, "Recently, I have been repeatedly shattering the cauldron while refining pills. I have no problem controlling the fire and following the correct steps, but I still cannot condense the pill. I would like to ask you for advice on the problem."

Old Zheng put down the herbs in his hand, looked him up and down for a moment, and slowly spoke:

"You've narrowed your path in alchemy."

"Alchemy and medicine refining are essentially brothers from the same source, and have never been separated."

"You only know how to control the fire to melt the medicine and refine pills according to the prescription, but you don't understand the compatibility of medicinal properties and the balance of spiritual energy. Ordinary cultivators rigidly follow the procedures to refine pills, and when they encounter conflicting medicinal properties or mixed spiritual energy, the pills will naturally collapse and the cauldron will explode."

Old Zheng casually picked up two herbs and gave a simple demonstration:

"Alchemy is not just about burning medicine, but also about cultivating one's character. While refining the alchemical fire, one must simultaneously harmonize the medicinal properties, supplemented by guiding herbs to maintain balance, using the medicine to lock the fire, and using one's character to solidify the elixir. Multiple auxiliary herbs are refined simultaneously to stabilize the spiritual energy of the alchemical platform, so that the elixir can be steadily condensed in the end."

A few words, simple and clear, getting straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, Wei Ping'an's mind suddenly became clear.

It turns out that I've been wrong all along because I've been rigid in my procedures and haven't understood the complementary and balancing effects of the medicinal properties in elixirs!

No wonder they always collapse and explode at the last step!

He instantly realized what was happening and thanked him repeatedly.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior! I finally understand the problem!"

Having grasped the core issue, Wei Ping'an felt enlightened and couldn't wait to try alchemy again.

However, all the furnaces and cauldrons in his storage bag had already been destroyed in the previous explosions, leaving them completely empty.

To refine elixirs, one must first master the cauldron.

After bidding farewell to Old Man Zheng, Wei Ping'an headed straight for the sect's storeroom.

The warehouse steward was exasperated to see that it was Wei Ping'an, the headmaster's personal disciple, but he dared not be negligent and could only politely bow and let him choose as he pleased.

Wei Pingan casually picked out two brand-new standard-style furnace cauldrons. They were neat in appearance, uniform in color, and looked intact and of excellent quality.

After completing the application procedures, he put both furnace cauldrons into his storage bag and turned to leave.

But after walking a few steps out of the warehouse, Wei Ping'an paused slightly.

For some reason, a strange feeling arose in my heart.

He subconsciously scanned the two furnace cauldrons in the storage bag with his divine sense.

The appearance is perfect, the material is normal, the spirit is stable, and there is not a single flaw.

But the more I look at it, the more awkward and strange it seems.

It's like a seemingly intact object concealing a hidden problem that's difficult to detect with the naked eye or divine sense.

Wei Ping'an frowned and examined the area repeatedly, but still found nothing unusual.

He scratched his head, assuming it was because he had fried too many pots and pans, leaving him with a psychological trauma.

Little did he know that these two seemingly intact and exquisite furnaces had already been secretly tampered with.