Mi Xingzhe lunged forward and grabbed Yun Qingyi's sleeve."Senior Brother—Brother—Don't go, please don't go,if you leave, I'm finished."
Yun Qingyi lowered his voice and replied quietly, "If I don't leave, you'll be even more finished."
"It looks like Master is truly angry this time. Go apologize properly later. Everything will pass."With that, Yun Qingyi shook off Mi Xingzhe's grip, stepped out of the study, and closed the door behind him.
Mi Xingzhe stared helplessly as his final lifeline disappeared. After a long moment, he could do nothing but sink slowly to his knees.
Li Luoning was on the verge of being driven mad by this disciple of hers. She had gone to great lengths to gather medicinal herbs and personally prepared treatments for him—only for this boy to pour every last drop down the drain. Judging by the color of the flowers outside, this had not been a matter of a day or two. She had already shown leniency on his birthday and allowed him to drink, yet the very next day he had snuck out and gotten himself drunk again.
"Master… I apologize—I'm sorry."
Mi Xingzhe finally muttered the words under his breath.
Li Luoning let out a restrained sigh and stepped closer, her voice stern."How long has it been?"
"I went out in the afternoon," Mi Xingzhe replied instinctively, thinking she meant his absence.
"I mean," Li Luoning said, her tone sharpening slightly, "how long have you been pouring out the medicine?"
Mi Xingzhe's habit of stuttering whenever he lied rendered him incapable of inventing excuses. He knelt stiffly in place, fingers fidgeting uncontrollably.
Li Luoning placed the ruler she was holding in front of him and looked down coldly, silently instructing him to comply.
"M-Master, I…"The sight of the ruler made Mi Xingzhe shrink back instinctively.
"Show me your hands."Li Luoning's voice was soft, but her gaze was razor-sharp.
"What?N-No… no."Though he had been punished many times before, being disciplined like a child made him feel unbearably small. He resisted weakly.
"Hand. I said,show me your hands."Li Luoning repeated herself, slowly.
"I'm not… a child… why… hit… my hands…"Mi Xingzhe wanted to argue that he was no longer a child, but his nerves tangled his words.
Li Luoning's gaze sent a chill down his spine. He stared fixedly at the ruler, kneeling stiffly, refusing to move.
"Hands!Now!"Her voice rose slightly as the ruler flicked through the air.
"No,I… I don't…don't want to…"
Mi Xingzhe's eyes reddened as he pulled his hands behind his back.
"You think you did nothing wrong?" Li Luoning asked.
"I was… wrong."He lowered his head.
"If you know you're wrong, shouldn't you accept punishment?"
"I should… but hitting the hand is for… children…"His protest was barely audible.
"Is stealing wine and dumping medicine not childish behavior?"Her low voice left him utterly speechless.
"Unauthorized disposal of medicine alone would be grounds to expel you from the sect," Li Luoning continued coolly.
"No—no, Master, please don't expel me. I know I was wrong!I am sorry!I am so sorry,please."Panic seized him instantly.
"This punishment is merely a light warning for a serious offense."Her tone remained calm.
Mi Xingzhe finally gave in. Trembling, he slowly extended his hand, palm open, head bowed.
Snap.
The ruler struck his left palm cleanly. A sharp burning pain spread instantly, and he jerked his hand back.
"Ouch…"
He looked up instinctively, meeting Li Luoning's eyes. Whatever resentment had sparked within him was extinguished at once by her icy expression.
Ashamed, he lowered his head again and clasped his hands behind his back, rubbing them carefully.
"The other hand," Li Luoning said.
"M-Master… I am sorry… I really can't anymore…"His voice faltered in a plea.
For some reason, these strikes hurt more than any punishment he had received before. Facing an angry Master, Mi Xingzhe suddenly felt small, pitiful, and wronged.
"The other hand."There was no trace of mercy in her gaze.
"I…"Seeing no escape, he shut his eyes and stretched out his hand.
Just as the ruler fell, he instinctively pulled back, barely avoiding the blow.
Li Luoning's eyes narrowed. Her voice dropped to an icy whisper."If you keep resisting, I'll bind you and beat you properly."
Mi Xingzhe had no choice but to comply, placing his hand back out while muttering,"It really… really hurts…"
Whoosh—snap.
The ruler struck twice in rapid succession, the air whistling faintly.
"Ah—!"The pain nearly made him jump in place.
Mi Xingzhe scrambled to his feet, rubbing his hands behind his back.
"These are for dumping the medicine," Li Luoning said evenly. Then she stepped closer, seized his arm, and without hesitation brought the ruler down hard against his back several times.
"Ah—! It hurts! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Master!"A burning ache spread across his back. With his arm held firmly, he had no way to escape. Today, he truly experienced what it meant to be beaten like meat on a chopping block.
Each strike landed precisely on the same spot. The final blow was especially heavy, knocking him off balance and sending him collapsing to the ground.
"I'm sorry… please don't hit me again… I won't ever do it again…"Eyes squeezed shut, his voice trembled, tinged with tears. Despite having been punished many times before, he pleaded with surprising fluency.
"These are for theft, drunkenness, and leaving without permission," Li Luoning stated.
"Master… I'm sorry. I won't dare again."He looked up from the floor, eyes glassy.
"If there is a next time, the punishment will not be this simple. Do you understand?"She leaned down, her gaze stern.
"Y-Yes. I understand."
"Copy today's heart techniques thirty more times and present them at breakfast tomorrow," she said, as though nothing had happened.
"T-Thirty times more? My hands are swollen… how am I supposed to write…"He muttered resentfully while rubbing his palms.
"Hm?"Li Luoning raised an eyebrow.
Mi Xingzhe immediately clutched his back.
"I—I'll do it. I'll do it right now…"
"Sit down if you can," he said, glancing at the desk.
He obeyed instantly and took his seat.
Li Luoning sighed and gently set the ruler on the table.
"If there is a next time," he said gravely, "you will face severe punishment."
As she turned to leave, Mi Xingzhe couldn't help pulling a face behind her back—only to meet her gaze as she turned around.
"Y-Yes… I understand."He deflated instantly.
"You seem full of energy. Add twenty more copies."If his condition allowed it, she truly wished she could beat him again.
"N-No—why—" he protested weakly.
"No what?" he asked coolly.
"N-Nothing…"
More than a decade earlier, in the Liao Yin Immortal Realm—
Xuanming Star Lord sat with eyes closed, calculating. Suddenly, his brow furrowed and sweat beaded on his forehead. The crystal in his hand shattered with a sharp crack as he opened his eyes in alarm.
Confirming the omen again, his expression changed drastically. He turned at once and hurried toward the Upper Qing Hall.
Outside the hall, moonlight bathed the silver-lined cyan architecture, lending it an air of noble elegance. The night breeze whispered through flowers and slipped through the windows, carrying faint trails of incense smoke.
Inside the rear study, Immortal Sovereign SiTu Fanzhi sat in drowsy silence.
Smoke curled through the room as the breeze brushed gently across his sharp features. Strands of dark hair stirred like soft fingers tracing his face.
One hand propped against his head, SiTu Fanzhi appeared asleep—yet his brows were tightly knit. Despite the chill of night, sweat glistened on his forehead.
"No… no…"His head swayed slightly as he murmured.
In the dream, a young SiTu Fanzhi stood alone within a dark boundary. Voices echoed from all directions.
"What Immortal Sovereign? He's nothing but a pawn!"
An unseen force slammed into him, sending him tumbling away.
"He lacks ability and still dares claim the title. Ridiculous."
Another blow hurled him aside.
"If not for that… he wouldn't even have this position."
"With such meager strength, he thinks he can rule the entire Liao Yin Immortal Realm? He'll be replaced sooner or later."
His face turned deathly pale. He covered his ears and crouched helplessly, shaking his head in desperation.
Darkness surrounded him. Voices struck relentlessly, accompanied by invisible assaults.
He wanted to scream for them to stop—but no sound came. All he could do was run.
Then, a golden light shot toward him from behind.
Sensing danger, he dodged. A silver-gray sword swept past, its blade grazing dangerously close to his eyes. The inscription upon it was unmistakable—
"When the yellow bell is cast aside, the earthen pot roars like thunder."
As sword energy sliced past his cheek, a clear, majestic voice followed.
SiTu Fanzhi twisted aside again. Turning back, he could not see the wielder's face—only a tall, long-haired silhouette.
The sword turned and thrust straight toward him.
The tip was already upon him—
"No!"
SiTu Fanzhi jolted awake, hurling the book from his hands. His clothes were soaked in cold sweat, breath ragged, eyes filled with terror.
The flying book struck Xuanming Star Lord, who had just entered. He paused briefly, then calmly picked it up.
"Did the Immortal Sovereign dream of that person again?" he asked gently.
"Yes… this time it felt far more real."SiTu Fanzhi wiped the sweat from his brow and steadied himself."Teacher, you came suddenly. Is something wrong?"
"I divined an omen tied to future changes in the Immortal Realm," Xuanming Star Lord replied, producing a green embroidered scroll.
SiTu Fanzhi unfolded it slowly.
His pupils shrank.