Chapter 14: Qinyun sect

  * IMMORTAL PEAK - QINYUN SECT *

Two figures stepped onto the stone path before the Qinyun Sect's gate. The mist drifted lazily around the towering peaks, and countless floating mountains hung suspended in the air like silent sentinels. The scene was vast, quiet, and strange. Li Cheng couldn't help but stare. His gaze wandered to the far-off peaks glowing faintly with spiritual energy.

Before they could approach the gate, a cold voice sliced through the silence.

"Who dares barge into Qinyun Sect at this hour?"

Li Cheng flinched slightly and looked up. A man stood atop the gate, his blue robe fluttering with the wind. His expression was hard and sharp.

Wu Ming chuckled without even raising his head. "you now have the guts to block my path, huh?"

The man blinked, and the next moment, he appeared directly in front of them. It was Sun Xue, one of the senior members of Qinyun Sect.

"Senior Wu Ming! My apologies. I didn't recognize it was you." Sun Xue bowed slightly, then glanced at Li Cheng.

"And this is...?"

"My new cook," Wu Ming replied casually, grinning.

"New... cook?" Sun Xue's face twisted in confusion.

"Him?" he asked again, pointing at Li Cheng.

"You don't believe me? Just wait. You'll find out soon enough." Wu Ming waved a hand and began walking into the sect. "Let's go, kid."

Li Cheng followed silently, his eyes still taking in the grandness of the place.

Li Cheng finally settled down. Wu Ming had given him a room right next to his own.

Standing beside the window, Li Cheng gazed up at the moon hanging in the night sky. I'm finally here at Immortal Peak. Even though I don't have a spiritual root... there must be a way out, he thought to himself.

  * The Next Morning *

Wu Ming stretched and yawned, lying comfortably on the bed then a pleasant aroma weffted through his nostrils, he sniffed the air.

"Sniff... sniff... hmm?"... it's smells great.

He shot up. "Wait!"

His eyes suddenly shot up in realization...

He threw the blanket aside and stormed out of his room. There, on the table, were three dishes—steaming hot and beautifully arranged.

"Hahaha! This kid's a genius! I really made a good decision by bringing him here," he said, and without a second thought Wu Ming grabbed a chopstick and started eating. "Mmm... this is good. No, this is damn good."

Outside, Li Cheng was sweeping the courtyard. He saw several disciples in white robes walking past him, heading toward the training grounds. He heard the whispers.

"Who's that?"

"No idea."

"Probably just a servant."

Li Cheng didn't react. He kept sweeping.

A voice called from behind. "Who are you? When did you get here?"

Li Cheng turned. A gray-robed elder with sharp eyes stood a few steps away.

"Elder Mo," Li Cheng said and bowed.

"You know me?" Elder Mo asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes, Elder."

Elder Mo squinted at Li Cheng, a hint of familiarity flashing in his eyes.

Where have I seen this face before? he wondered. After a brief pause, his eyes widened in realization.

"You're that boy with no spiritual root! How did you get in here, and what are you doing here?" Elder Mo asked, his tone filled with irritation.

"I came last night with the Immortal Envoy, Wu Ming," Li Cheng replied calmly.

"Wu Ming?" Elder Mo repeated, his face twisting in annoyance. "That old fool actually brought you back? Is he trying to bring even more shame to Qinyun Sect? Hmph!"

Without waiting another moment, Elder Mo spun around and stormed off toward Wu Ming's quarters.

"Wu Ming! Wu Ming! Where are you?! Come out right now!"

Inside, Wu Ming sat with a bowl of rice in one hand and chopsticks in the other.

"Can you not shout so early in the morning?"

Elder Mo barged into the room. "Wu Ming! What is your problem? Why did you bring that crippled boy back here? Qinyun Sect is already at the bottom of the ranks on Immortal Peak. If word gets out, this will only ruin our reputation further!"

Wu Ming raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, "Elder Mo, what's wrong with your eyes? Did you see him sitting in one spot? Did you see him in a wheelchair? No? Then stop calling him a cripple."

He gestured toward the table. "Besides, I didn't bring him here as a disciple. He's my servant—and my cook."

He leaned back with a satisfied grin. "Just look at these dishes. He made all this early this morning. And let me tell you, he cooks better than all those women in the kitchen."

Wu Ming chuckled. "If you ever get a taste of his cooking, you'll never want to eat the potions those old witches serve you again. But unfortunately for you, I'm not sharing a single bite.

Elder Mo's face darkened. "You—! Fine. Just wait until the sect leader comes out of seclusion. You'll answer for this."

Elder Mo huffed in anger and stormed out of the room.

"Tch! Even if the gods come down, I won't explain myself to anyone," Wu Ming muttered, picking up his chopsticks again.

  * TRAINING ARINA *

Li Cheng stood at a distance, watching rows of disciples meditating while Elder Mo gave instructions. Their robes fluttered slightly as spiritual energy flowed around them. Li Cheng observed every movement carefully.

That evening, he sat cross-legged on his bed and closed his eyes. He tried to mimic the hand movements, the breathing patterns...but he couldn't feel the spiritual energy around him.

Frustrated, he got up and walked outside.

"Can't sleep?"

Li Cheng looked up. Wu Ming was sitting on a tree branch with his right leg dangling lazily, his wine gourd in his hand as he occasionally takes a sip from it.

"What's bothering you?" Wu Ming asked.

"Senior, is there no other way...?" Li Cheng asked.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Wu Ming replied.

"I mean... is there no way to restore my spiritual root?" Li Cheng asked again.

Wu Ming sighed. "Haiyaa... To restore a spiritual root, there are ways, yes."

Li Cheng's eyes lit up at once.

"But in your case," Wu Ming continued, "you don't even have one to begin with. There's nothing to restore. A damaged spiritual root can be repaired, but one can't be created from nothing. You have to be born with it."

Li Cheng's heart sank.

"Don't worry about it," Wu Ming said casually. "Just focus on being a good cook. That's all that matters."

He laughed loudly.

"Hahaha! Hahaha!"

Li Cheng stood in silence, staring at the moon as his robe fluttered gently in the night wind.

  * The Following Morning *

Li Cheng finished cooking and returned to his sweeping duties at the gate.

But soon, two figures flew in on a sword and landed at the front gate.

Li Cheng narrowed his eyes as they walked closer. One of them looked familiar. His gaze lingered on the person on the left—and then it hit him. His eyes widened in shock, and he quickly turned away, pretending to focus on his sweeping.

"Oh... Li Cheng?" the one at the left said in surprise.

It was his stepbrother, Li Yuen.

Li Cheng didn't respond. He shifted to the other end and continued sweeping as if he hadn't heard anything.

The man beside him, tall with a long sword strapped to his back, looked curious. "You know him?"

"Yes, Senior Lin Fang. That's Li Cheng. He's a cripple—no spiritual root at all. He even dared to take the trial with us, but they kicked him out after finding out. He's a complete waste. Looks like Qinyun Sect is taking in trash now."

Lin Fang raised an eyebrow. "Qinyun Sect is really becoming worse everyday.

Li Yuen approached. "What are you doing here?"

Li Cheng didn't look up. "None of your business."

Li Yuen's face twisted with rage. He kicked the pile of swept trash and sent it flying.

"You dare talk back to me now? Filth!"

"Li Yuen! What are you doing?" Li Cheng said after seeing him kick the trash.

"Alright, let's see if you've grown any guts," he said with a sneer.

He raised his hand and cast a spell. A beam of light shot out and struck Li Cheng directly in the chest.

Boom!

Li Cheng was sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground. He rolled several meters before finally coming to a stop.

"Ahh..." he groaned in pain as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Junior, that's enough, "We didn't come here to cause trouble."

"Tch. Fine," Li Yuen muttered, brushing past Li Cheng and following Lin Fang inside.

Li Cheng slowly pushed himself up, clutching his chest, his hands trembling—not just from the pain, but from the anger boiling inside him.

I won't keep living like this, he thought, eyes burning. One day, I'll make all of you pay for every single humiliation.

He picked up his broom, straightened up, and continued sweeping.