JSCMU-Chapter 121: From This Moment On, the Master-Disciple Bond Is Severed

Ma Hongyu took a deep breath and continued, “In short, this was Yun Jin’s proposal. I thought it through carefully, this is probably the only way. Right now, Heavenly Sword Peak is full of strange tricks, and the upcoming Grand Sect Tournament might not result in a loss. You might just be clinging to a golden thigh. If they still lose…”                                                    

Ma Hongyu sighed. “Then, that is your fate. Master has already done everything he could.”

A trace of sorrow rose in Ma Hongyu’s heart.

As a confidant of the Sect Master, all he could hope for was Yun Jin’s victory. This was nothing short of laughable.

But.

What else could he do?

This was the eldest disciple he regarded like his own son!

The Sect Master wanted to kill him, how could he not harbor resentment?

If he could leave right now, Ma Hongyu would even consider leaving everything behind.

After all, he worked hard his whole life, only to end up like this. Just thinking about it made his heart chill.             

Ye Cheng remained silent for a while, then said, “Disciple can’t bear to part from Master.”

Tears nearly burst from Ma Hongyu’s eyes. With red-rimmed eyes, he said, “This is the last time you’ll say something like that. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be enemies. Our master-disciple bond will be severed.”

Worried Ye Cheng wouldn’t obey, Ma Hongyu added, “This concerns not only your safety but mine as well. If the Sect Master finds out we’re putting on an act just to send you to Heavenly Sword Peak, then I’ll be doomed too.”

Ye Cheng’s heart trembled, and he immediately responded, “Disciple understands.”

He said no more.

He only kowtowed three times with heavy thuds before Ma Hongyu.

Ma Hongyu suppressed the tears at the corners of his eyes, calling Ye Cheng to stand up.

The two sat by the bedside and remained seated until dawn.

Ma Hongyu slowly took out the porcelain bottle given by the Sect Master and crushed two pills into powder in his palm.

“If anyone asks, say you received medicine from the Sect Master and took two pills in a row, which is how you recovered,” Ma Hongyu said in a low voice.

“Disciple understands.” Ye Cheng’s voice was a bit hoarse.

After a moment of silence, Ma Hongyu said, “Sit for a while longer, then go. Remember, follow the plan.”

Yun Jin only laid out a general idea. To execute it flawlessly, Ma Hongyu made additional refinements.

This performance had to appear flawless.

Thus.

When the time was right, he appeared in public with Ye Cheng. The two expressed their immense gratitude to the Sect Master in front of everyone. Naturally, someone would report this to the Sect Master.

After that, Ma Hongyu made an excuse to temporarily leave.

Yesterday.

Because the spiritual fields were now being distributed among each peak, the Sect Master specifically sent someone to collect spiritual plants that were already planted.

His intention was simple.

Aren’t you going to grow your own?

As for the ones they helped plant before, don’t bother keeping those either.

The people sent by the Sect Master not only came to collect the matured spiritual plants, but they even wanted to dig up the ones that just barely sprouted.

One must know that many medicinal herbs are extremely delicate. Doing things so roughly would directly cause the spiritual plants to die.

Ye Cheng accidentally found out about this matter, so he ran to each peak to stop the people collecting the spiritual plants.

Ye Cheng was already a plant nerd. For him to do such a thing was reasonable and logical, no one suspected him at all.

Even Ma Hongyu specifically hid this matter from Ye Cheng before, afraid that he’d act impulsively.

Now the way things developed seemed reasonable and completely natural.

No one found it out of place that Ye Cheng would act this way.

Ye Cheng did everything he could to stop the Sect Master’s people from digging up the spiritual plants. The matter quickly reached Zhao Wuji’s ears.

Zhao Wuji couldn’t help but fly into a rage!

What kind of bastard was this Ye Cheng? Before, he was still grateful that he saved his life and now he’s turning around to go against him?

Trying to kill him was the right decision!

“You’re telling me that so many of you couldn’t deal with just one of him?” Zhao Wuji said through gritted teeth.

The people below looked helpless, “Wherever we tried to dig, he just laid himself there. We really couldn’t bring ourselves to use force.”

Zhao Wuji sneered coldly, “Then just throw him out! If that doesn’t work, tie him up!”

The people responded and were about to act.

Suddenly someone reported.

“Sect Master, Uncle-Master Ma has brought Senior Brother Ye to confess their guilt.”

Zhao Wuji let out a cold laugh. At least they came to admit fault in time.

This Ye Cheng was insensible, but fortunately, Ma Hongyu had some sense.

Forget it, forget it. Ye Cheng was already as good as dead, he’s not worth wasting energy on.

“Let them in,” Zhao Wuji said coldly.

If Ye Cheng’s attitude in admitting fault was decent, he’d just let it go lightly.

Very soon.

Ma Hongyu entered the grand hall with Ye Cheng.

Just after entering, Ma Hongyu shouted angrily, “Unfilial disciple! Still not kneeling?!”

Ye Cheng dropped to his knees with a thud.

Ma Hongyu scolded sternly, “I only left for a short while, and you committed such a terrible mistake! Now, immediately confess your guilt to the Sect Master!”

Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow, calmly waiting.

But Ye Cheng suddenly lifted his head, “Master, this disciple is not guilty. Why should I confess? Sect Master, I still wish to offer my advice, the spiritual plants are innocent. Why must you, for a moment of pride, destroy so many immature spiritual plants? I ask the Sect Master to rescind the order and not continue such reckless behavior.”

As Ye Cheng spoke, he wore his signature stubborn expression.

Zhao Wuji was waiting for Ye Cheng to confess. He didn’t expect to hear that instead.

He was stunned, looking at Ma Hongyu in disbelief, “This is the good disciple you taught? Is this what you call coming to admit guilt?”

Ma Hongyu was also furious. He turned and gave Ye Cheng a vicious slap.

“You disgrace! What nonsense are you saying?! You fainted earlier, and it was the Sect Master who gave you medicine and saved your life. Not only are you ungrateful, but you dare speak such treasonous words!”

Ye Cheng held his face and said softly, “Each matter must be treated separately. I thank the Sect Master for saving my life, but the matter of spiritual plants is another issue entirely. The Sect Master is wise and mighty, I ask again that you rescind the order and not let the spiritual plants suffer needlessly.”

Ye Cheng genuinely believed Zhao Wuji’s actions were wrong, so he spoke with complete righteousness.

Zhao Wuji’s face darkened further and was about to explode.

But he found Ma Hongyu looked even angrier than him.

Ma Hongyu trembled with rage. He raised his hand and struck heavily again.

This time, the blow was very hard.

Deep finger marks appeared on Ye Cheng’s face, and he uncontrollably spit out a mouthful of blood.

Ma Hongyu glared at him furiously, “Disloyal! Unfilial! I have no such disciple! Ye Cheng, now your wings have hardened, you no longer respect me. And now you even dare oppose the Sect Master! I can’t keep you any longer!”

Ye Cheng froze, looking fearfully at Ma Hongyu, “Master… I…”

“I’ll ask you one last time. Do you plead guilty?” Ma Hongyu shouted sternly.

Ye Cheng was silent for a long time, then replied in a low voice, “This disciple is not guilty.”

“Good! Very good!” Ma Hongyu trembled all over with rage. He kicked Ye Cheng squarely in the chest, sending him flying far away.

Zhao Wuji was stunned watching this scene. Before he could react, Ma Hongyu already walked up to Ye Cheng. With a wave of his hand, Ye Cheng’s storage pouch and jade pendant were both taken off.

“I have no such disciple! Everything you own came from the Sect Master’s generosity, yet in this crucial moment you only side with outsiders! In that case, return everything to the Sect Master. As for you… from now on, the bond between master and disciple is severed. Go wherever you want.”