【Carefree Sect * Freedom and Kindness】
After Cang Lin descended the mountain, Tantai Jin never saw him again.
Nie Shui’s death was like the accumulated snow of the mortal world’s winter—once spring arrived and the snow melted, no one mentioned it again.
Zhao You summoned Tantai Jin and said, “Go to the Cliff of Reflection to receive your punishment.”
Tantai Jin asked, “Master, why are you punishing me?”
“What were you doing in the mortal world a few days ago?”
Tantai Jin replied calmly, “Purchasing clothing. I registered it with Senior Brother Zhihui.”
Zhao You shook his head, his horsetail whisk striking Tantai Jin’s back through the air. “The sect has its rules. The Carefree Sect emphasizes cause and effect and the certainty of retribution. Nie Shui and Chi Lian committed adultery—her immortal marrow had to be extracted, and she had to descend the Soul-Severing Stairs. Cang Lin bore the consequences for her. He gave everything just so she could live. But what did you do?”
Tantai Jin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his finger, his lips curling coldly as he remained silent.
Zhao You could tell at a glance that the young man felt no remorse.
“Go to the Cliff of Reflection.”
Tantai Jin stayed at the Cliff of Reflection for three months, during which his three senior brothers took turns visiting him.
Cang Hai said, “Little Junior Brother, what did you do to anger Master? I’ve followed him for eight hundred years and have never seen him this furious.”
“It’s nothing.”
“The Cliff of Reflection is cold. Tomorrow, I’ll bring you a protective robe.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
Unwilling to speak further, Tantai Jin did not elaborate, and Cang Hai did not press further.
The chilling air of the Cliff of Reflection seeped relentlessly into his body. Even with an immortal physique, prolonged exposure was unbearable.
Zhao You visited once and asked, “Do you admit your wrongdoing?”
Tantai Jin opened his eyes, his lips blue from the cold, and nodded softly. “I admit my wrongdoing.”
Zhao You gazed into the young man’s dark eyes and sighed. “Since you admit it, you may return.”
Tantai Jin stood up, a trace of mockery flashing across his face.
By his second year in the Carefree Sect, Tantai Jin was covered in venomous thorns.
The senior brothers of the Cang generation treated him well, and over time, Tantai Jin adopted a gentle and shy mask within the Carefree Sect.
The disciples of the Carefree Sect were simple-minded, or perhaps foolish, and this demeanor made the senior brothers and sisters go out of their way to assist him.
Among the disciples, one stood out—Shao Ji. Born on Penglai Immortal Island, with a father who was a disciple of Penglai, Shao Ji held a minor reputation within the Carefree Sect.
Shao Ji was of the same generation as Cang Hai, having entered the sect in the same year, and he consistently outshone Cang Hai in every aspect.
Ambitious and competitive, Shao Ji always claimed the sect’s resources first and seized the best tasks whenever they arose. Cang Hai, with his gentle temperament and belief in harmonious coexistence, never contested Shao Ji.
The junior brothers, following Cang Hai’s example, respectfully addressed Shao Ji as “Senior Brother Shao” whenever they saw him.
Shao Ji, however, showed no appreciation.
By the time Shao Ji returned from his training, Tantai Jin had already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage and was on the verge of forming his Golden Core.
Rumors spread within the sect that Zhao You intended for his youngest disciple to inherit his legacy and was nurturing him meticulously.
Shao Ji fixed a cold gaze on Tantai Jin and said with a smile, “So this is Junior Brother Jiu Min. I heard you’re now living in Cang Feng’s old quarters. I’ve returned from my training with some injuries. I wonder if Junior Brother Jiu Min could gather some medicinal herbs for me?”
Most disciples of the Carefree Sect possessed wood attributes, and tending to medicinal herbs was a leisurely task, part of the sect’s tradition of cultivating both body and mind.
Even Tantai Jin was no exception. For two years, he, along with Cang Hai and others, had to rise at dawn to water the plants with rain-summoning spells.
Shao Ji, however, never engaged in such tasks.
In Shao Ji’s eyes, the other disciples were nothing but unremarkable farmers, an embarrassment to the sect.
He ordered Tantai Jin around just as he had previously commanded Cang Shu and Cang Feng.Tan Tai Jin stared at him with his pitch-black eyes for a moment before smiling. "Alright, I'll deliver it to you this evening."
Shao Ji turned and headed back to his peak, his expression dark and sinister.
It was widely known that the old sect master of the Carefree Sect was nearing the end of his life, and the most likely candidates to succeed him were Cang Hai and Shao Ji.
Cang Hai was kind and tolerant, embodying the sect's consistent Daoist principles, but his cultivation was lackluster, and he was rather lazy in his practice.
Shao Ji, on the other hand, had decent cultivation but was overly competitive and rarely considered the sect's interests.
The recent recruitment of Tan Tai Jin as Elder Zhao You's final disciple and his personal training had sparked a sense of crisis in Shao Ji.
He wasn't afraid of competing with the foolish and sluggish Cang Hai, but a young prodigy was another matter entirely...
That evening, when Tan Tai Jin delivered the medicinal herbs, Shao Ji accepted them and took out a few Soul-Guiding Grasses from his Qiankun pouch. "I heard from a fellow disciple that you've been searching for these herbs. I hope they help you."
Tan Tai Jin raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
He took the herbs, wondering what Shao Ji was scheming. "Thank you, Senior Brother."
The Soul-Guiding Grasses carried a faint fragrance, barely noticeable unless one sniffed carefully. Tan Tai Jin tightened his fingers, his smile widening.
"If there's nothing else, Senior Brother, I'll take my leave."
"Go ahead."
After Tan Tai Jin left, Shao Ji viciously threw the herbs he had brought onto the ground and spat contemptuously, laughing coldly. "Think you can compete with me?"
Tan Tai Jin rubbed the colorless powder on the Soul-Guiding Grasses between his fingers, a smirk curling his lips. "Dispersed Power Powder."
Such a low-tier substance—he had no idea where Shao Ji had gotten it or how many people he had used it on.
The Dispersed Power Powder silently seeped into one's bones, making further cultivation progress nearly impossible, all while leaving no traceable cause.
Perhaps... Cang Hai and the others hadn't always been so useless?
Tan Tai Jin plucked a few leaves with his pale fingers, twirled the Soul-Guiding Grasses a few times, cast a spell on them, and tucked them into his own Qiankun pouch.
It didn't matter. As long as they were Soul-Guiding Grasses, he would take them, even if they were laced with Dispersed Power Powder.
By the end of spring, another incident struck the Carefree Sect—
Shao Ji, the sect's most accomplished disciple, was found at the foot of the mountain, his limbs broken, eyes gouged out, and tongue cut off.
The gruesome sight was so horrifying that even the law enforcement elder couldn't bear to look, his brow furrowed deeply.
Who could be so cruel?
The situation was grave. The Carefree Sect convened a triple tribunal to uncover the perpetrator, but they found nothing.
Traces of demonic energy lingered faintly in Shao Ji's body. After exchanging glances, the elders concluded it must have been an ambush by a demonic cultivator.
Cang Hai and a few others followed behind Immortal Venerable Zhao You, discussing the matter. "Senior Brother Shao's injuries are too severe. Will he ever be able to cultivate again?"
"What a pity. Such high cultivation, wasted just like that."
"Uncle Zhao Qing looks utterly heartbroken."
Zhao You suddenly stopped and said, "Jiu Min, come with me."
Tan Tai Jin stepped forward and bowed. "Master."
Zhao You closed his eyes briefly. "Go to the Reflection Cliff and accept your punishment."
Tan Tai Jin shot him a cold glance. "As you command."
The others were astonished and immediately pleaded on Tan Tai Jin's behalf. "Master, what has Junior Brother done? His health is poor—he can't keep going to the Reflection Cliff. Let me go in his place."
"Master, I can take Junior Brother's punishment as well."
"No need. I'll go myself." Tan Tai Jin mounted his sword and flew toward the Reflection Cliff.
At the time, he didn't understand Zhao You's intentions, thinking the old fool was simply unreasonable. By midsummer, the usually patient Zhao You still hadn't released him.Tan Tai Jin walked out of the Reflection Cliff and arrived outside the old man's door. Zhao You was not there, but he sensed a strange aura. After hesitating for a moment, he entered the secret chamber where Zhao You cultivated.
At first, Tan Tai Jin thought that whether immortal or demon, everyone had secrets they wished to keep hidden.
Until he saw the forbidden technique in Zhao You's chamber.
—Back in his first year of defying discipline, he had secretly come to take a look.
It was an array for transferring karma.
On the array, two yellow talismans were inscribed with the birth years of two individuals.
Tan Tai Jin realized something and picked up the two talismans.
One read "Nie Shui," while the other, still vivid with cinnabar, read "Shao Ji."
That day, he remained silent for a long time before returning to the Reflection Cliff, allowing the waterfall to crash down upon his body.
He recalled the white-haired old man stroking his beard and asking him, "Do you know, among my five disciples, who am I most worried about?"
Tan Tai Jin did not know, and Zhao You said no more.
He had once thought it was Cang Lin, who had fallen into the mortal world. Only today did Tan Tai Jin realize.
From beginning to end, it had always been him.
Zhao You did not oppose his revenge against Nie Shui and Shao Ji, but lamented his cruelty and helplessly bore the karma his youngest disciple had created.
Zhao You had picked up the worst youth in the world.
That youth was born evil, knew no compassion, was ruthless in his methods, and would never repent.
Zhao You tirelessly guided him to understand the emotions and righteousness of the world, patiently taught him the distinction between good and evil, and brought this "bad child" to read children's enlightenment books. Even when he still had not shed his cruel heart, Zhao You shouldered all the karmic retribution and killings on his behalf.
Many years later, in Zhaocheng, Tan Tai Jin plunged the God-Slaying Crossbow into the old man's heart.
Zhao You closed his eyes, his soul slowly dissipating.
The white-clad youth, covered in blood, leaned against a tree, lifted the old man, and gently passed his hand over Zhao You's unclosed eyes. A clear teardrop suddenly fell onto Zhao You's face.
"Master."
A great fire ignited, consuming the old man's body.
Tan Tai Jin lifted his gaze and saw countless faces filled with hatred for him, yet no one noticed the tears evaporating in his eyes.
【Free Spirit Sect * Turning Blades on Each Other】
That year, before setting out to confront Tan Tai Jin, the mountain gate was crowded with disciples from the entire sect.
Cang Hai struggled to keep his voice from trembling.
"Heretics and villains, enemies of the six realms—all deserve death. He has betrayed his master and his path. Today, Cang Hai swears an oath: in this journey to the demon realm, either Cang Jiumin dies, or Cang Hai perishes."
Before he could finish, Cang Shu's eyes reddened.
Cang Feng asked, "Do we really have to kill our junior brother?"
Someone shoved him, saying, "Cang Feng, wake up! Is he still your junior brother? He was never Cang Jiumin—he is a heretic! A demon lord of the demon realm!"
"Have you forgotten how your master died?"
Cang Feng opened his mouth, a lump in his throat, unable to speak.
He had many things he wanted to say, but when he turned, he saw Senior Brother Cang Hai draw his sword, his hand trembling slightly.
That was their junior brother—the one they had watched their master bring back.
Cang Feng remembered it was autumn in the mortal realm at the time. The youth was covered in blood, and they watched him slowly heal, carefully prepared clothes for him, and brewed medicine for him.
They taught him cultivation techniques, practiced horse stances with him at the mountain gate as the sun rose, and took him to the mortal world to drink freely.
They watched Tan Tai Jin transform from his initially cold demeanor to later calling them "senior brothers" with a smile.
Cang Hai turned his head, looking at the desolate mortal realm behind him, his teeth chattering softly.Over the years, Zang Lin was gone, the master had passed away, and now it was either their junior brother's death or their own.
The setting sun bled crimson as Tantai Jin's Heaven-Slaying Sword pierced through their chests.
Zang Hai's pupils slowly lost focus. Before him, the Demon Lord seemed to revert to the black-robed youth who once sat on the ridge of the Carefree Sect's fields, playing a leaf.
Back then, the sunlight was gentle, and the wind was free.
Even though Zang Hai had long known that the youth's sound-based attacks would mischievously startle a nest of rabbits into fleeing through the woods.
Yet, with all his fellow disciples still by his side, what a wonderful year it had been.
Zang Hai smiled and closed his eyes.
【Carefree Sect * The End】
Zang Hai, Zang Shu, and Zang Feng never imagined they would wake up again one day.
Much later, they learned the truth of what had happened.
It turned out that back then, Zhao You had barged into the Nine Revolutions Mystic Return Formation, forcibly retrieving the Divine Pearl, and was on the verge of his soul scattering. Si Ying, seeking to create a puppet, wanted Zhao You to turn into a zombie after death, to be used by her.
Zhao You had always been upright and honorable. To him, the thought of his corpse turning into a demon, slaughtering innocent mortals and his own disciples, was more unbearable than having his soul scattered. So, he asked his youngest disciple, Tantai Jin, to kill him and burn his body to ashes.
He left this world with a clear conscience.
White clouds drifted leisurely over the Carefree Sect, and this year, a new batch of disciples had joined.
The herbs at the foot of the mountain gate grew lush and green. A disciple rushed in breathlessly: "Sect Leader! Sect Leader! Someone is looking... for you..."
Zang Hai hurriedly hid his wine gourd, wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, and scolded, "What's with all the panic? Where is your composure?"
The disciple grinned, "Sect Leader, you're secretly drinking again. If Uncle Zang Shu finds out, heh..."
"Nonsense! You little brat, if you dare spread rumors, I'll teach you a lesson."
Zang Feng walked in, shaking his head, "Senior Brother, you've been the sect leader for so many years, yet you haven't improved at all."
Ignoring him, Zang Hai asked the young disciple, "You said someone is looking for me. Who is it?"
"Sect Leader, follow me."
Outside the Carefree Sect, fruits hung heavy on the trees, and an atmosphere of peace prevailed. At the foot of the mountain gate, a stone tablet was carved with fish patterns.
Zang Hai, dressed in blue robes, followed the disciple to the mountain gate and saw him at a glance.
The disciple said, "There, it's them."
Before the green mountains and clear waters stood a man in black robes, a woman in white beside him, and a mischievous little pink-clad child curiously examining the Carefree Sect.
Tantai Jin lifted his gaze, his eyes and brows just as they were in his youth. He clasped his hands and bowed deeply: "Cang Jiumin pays respects to Senior Brother."
Zang Hai's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
Across towering mountains and flowing rivers, through the long and silent millennia—it was enough that his junior brother had returned.
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