JSCMU-Chapter 83: Useless for Greater Purposes

“Senior Brother Gu… finished o-one hundred times… can we rest now?” A disciple panted heavily, looking like he was about to keel over at any moment.

Gu Jinghong lazily glanced at the five of them and said, “Fine. Scram.”

The five of them exhaled in relief and were about to flee in a panicked rush.

But then Gu Jinghong seemed to remember something and casually added, “For the next few days, none of you are allowed to leave Tianxing Sect. Be back here at the same time tomorrow.”

He really didn’t have a choice. After all, Yun Jin hadn’t assigned him a one-time mission, but a daily quest.

The five disciples who had just visibly relaxed suddenly froze, their faces turning into expressions of pure despair.

This painful torture is still not over?

Someone couldn’t help but ask, trembling, “Senior Brother Gu, what exactly does Junior Sister Yun want before she’ll forgive us?”

“What are you saying? My master just wants to admire your heroic sword practice. How does that mean she won’t forgive you? Don’t speak carelessly, or you’ll damage her reputation,” Gu Jinghong said.

Everyone: “…”

Alright… fine then.

Right now, they felt only one thing.

Regret!

Truly, regret.

Why did they go and provoke Yun Jin when their days were going just fine?

Even Ruan Jun was forced into seclusion by her and hasn’t come out, so what about them?

The group dispiritedly left, their heads hung low.

Gu Jinghong ignored them, he still had his next task.

To go talk to plants.

Gu Jinghong hesitated for a moment, then headed toward the Sect Master’s Main Hall.

During these past few days he was contracted by Yun Jin as a servant, not one of his master or fellow disciples came to see him. Not even to say a single word.

Thinking back now, Gu Jinghong actually no longer held much resentment toward Yun Jin.

At the time, he intended to kill Yun Jin. The fact that she spared his life and merely made him serve as a servant for three months was already showing mercy.

Maybe Yun Jin simply didn’t want him to die too easily, and instead wanted to properly torment him. But considering the hatred between them, whatever Yun Jin did was justified.

But…

The coldness from his fellow disciples was what made Gu Jinghong feel upset.

At the end of the day, what he did was to stand up for his senior brother and junior sister. If his senior brother was still in seclusion, that’s fine, but what about Ye Danxia? She didn’t feel even a shred of guilt. She even looked down on him now because he became a servant.

If it were just Ye Danxia, that would be one thing. But what about his master?

Did he really think he could hide what he was doing from everyone, even from his master?

His master had indulged him in doing this, but after the plan was exposed, he chose the little junior sister and gave up on him without hesitation.

This, too, Gu Jinghong could understand. After all, he was the one who made the mistake.

But… after so many days, couldn’t his master at least pretend to look at him and say a few comforting words?

The Sect Master’s Main Hall sat at the very center of Tianxing Sect, surrounded by ten towering peaks in the distance, as though guarding the great hall.

Within the sect, the Sect Master’s disciples had the best resources.

The best pills, the best spiritual fields, the best spiritual tools…even their residences were exquisitely built, a stark contrast to disciples of other peaks who had to build their own homes.

In the past, disciples under the Sect Master walked with their heads held high, believing themselves above others.

But recently, Zhao Wuji had issued an order restricting his disciples, telling them to reduce their outings for the next three months. Although what he said was “reduce outings”, the true meaning was not to interact with Yun Jin! So, the disciples either went out on missions or stayed quietly in their own areas, carefully avoiding Heavenly Sword Peak.

With the eldest senior brother in seclusion, and the second senior brother bound by contract, these small fries didn’t dare provoke Yun Jin anymore.

Even if the little junior sister cried pitifully with tear-stained cheeks, no one dared show the slightest excess emotion.

These disciples were currently cultivating in the open training grounds.

Suddenly, someone stammered, “S-Senior Brother Gu!”

The others also turned to look.

They instinctively glanced around Gu Jinghong to see if Yun Jin was with him. Seeing she wasn’t, they finally let out a slight breath of relief.

Gu Jinghong expressionlessly scanned them, then walked straight toward the large patch of spiritual fields in the back.

The disciples were momentarily stunned, then began whispering.

“Senior Brother Gu is under Yun Jin’s control now. What is he doing here?”

“No idea… that direction…could he be heading toward the spiritual fields?”

“Dammit! Yun Jin must be making Senior Brother Gu steal spiritual herbs.”

“Let’s follow him. You guys go report to Master.”

Gu Jinghong quickly realized a few small tails had attached themselves behind him, but he didn’t pay them any attention. He just kept walking.

He passed through the residential area and walked for about the time it takes one incense stick to burn. Up ahead was a vast, fertile field of spiritual herbs.

In the field, several disciples who were planting and tending to herbs were busy working, and a senior uncle in the Soul Transformation Stage was personally instructing nearby.

Without pause, Gu Jinghong stepped straight into the field.

He seemed to have a goal in mind and went directly toward a certain section.

“It’s the water element spiritual plant area! Damn, it also has several high-grade Xuan-level plants. If he damages them, the losses will be huge!”

“Destroying spiritual plants of the sect violates sect rules. Would Senior Brother Gu really do something like that in broad daylight?”

“Either Yun Jin is deliberately making trouble for Senior Brother Gu, or Senior Brother Gu’s mind has completely snapped after being made a servant. What use is talking about sect rules with someone who’s insane?”

“Master hasn’t arrived yet. Quick, inform Senior Uncle.”

A few disciples hurriedly informed the Soul Transformation Stage senior uncle guarding the herb garden.

Ma Hongyu had guarded the herb garden for many years. Now, not only was his cultivation at Soul Transformation Stage, he was also one of the sect’s rare fifth-rank botanists.

Hearing that Gu Jinghong might want to damage the plants, Ma Hongyu narrowed his eyes and looked over.

He heard a bit about Gu Jinghong’s situation. He didn’t care about anything else and only wanted to farm in peace. But if Gu Jinghong really touched the spiritual plants, then he would have to act for the plants’ sake.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes…

Gu Jinghong suddenly revealed a devilish smile.

What now? Is he going to take action?

Spiritual energy began gathering at Ma Hongyu’s fingertips.

Gu Jinghong fixed his cold gaze on a Xuan-level water element plant, then opened his mouth expressionlessly.

What is this lunatic going to say?

Everyone perked up their ears.

“Hello,” Gu Jinghong said calmly. “Have you eaten today? Did you eat enough?”

Everyone: “…”

Someone said, a bit dazed, “Senior Brother Gu… is he chatting with the plants?”

“It… it seems like it.”

Everyone fell silent for a moment, and sympathetic expressions gradually appeared on their faces.

After just a few days with Yun Jin, a perfectly fine Senior Brother Gu had already been driven mad.

Yun Jin’s methods are simply unimaginable!

Ma Hongyu looked at Gu Jinghong’s serious expression and couldn’t help but sigh, “As long as he doesn’t touch the spiritual plants, just let him be.”

Very soon, some disciples reported Gu Jinghong’s strange behavior to Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji was silent for a moment, then said, “Jinghong is probably already driven insane by Yun Jin’s torment. As long as he doesn’t cause any damage, let him do whatever he wants. Don’t provoke him unless necessary.”

He ordered the disciples to leave.

Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes.

Gu Jinghong cultivated the Blood Qi Art. He originally planned to nurture him for future use.

But now, it seemed that even if the master-servant contract was lifted after three months, Gu Jinghong would no longer be of much use.

A look of regret appeared on Zhao Wuji’s face.

Then, thinking of Ye Danxia, he couldn’t help but reveal a gratified smile.

Huo Lie said Danxia is very talented in alchemy. It had only been a few days, and she was already a first-rank apothecary. At this rate, within three to five years, she might become a first-rank alchemist.

If told outside, such speed was already astonishing. Perhaps in the future, she could even go further down the path of alchemy.

His decision to protect Ye Danxia was indeed correct!