Chapter 180: The Master-Disciple Bond Fractures

Sikong Zhen pushed through a dense mountain forest and set foot on a winding bluestone path. Soon, a secluded temple came into view.

It was the Longevity Daoist Temple.

Stepping inside felt like entering a world of pure tranquility, broken only by the occasional chirp of a bird echoing through the air.

In the courtyard, several ancient pines and cypresses stood tall and proud, their gnarled trunks seeming to whisper stories of ages past.

"Ah!" A miserable scream shattered the picturesque atmosphere.

Jun Wushang bolted out of the main hall, clutching his head and scrambling away like a frightened rat. Right on his heels was Old Taoist Xuanqing, looking absolutely furious with a drawn sword in hand.

"You wicked disciple! Your Master asked you to wipe the Divine Statue of the Celestial Sovereign of Longevity, and you actually dropped and shattered it! Today, your Master will cleanse this sect!"

Jun Wushang cried foul. "It wasn't my fault! I just wiped it gently, and the statue shattered on its own!"

"Nonsense! Your Master has enshrined this statue for years without issue, so how did it break the moment you touched it? You wicked disciple, you still dare to argue! Take my sword!" Old Taoist Xuanqing's eyes darted around shiftily. He shouted with vicious intent, but his actual strikes were terribly soft and weak, allowing Jun Wushang to dodge them over and over.

Of course, he knew Jun Wushang had not broken the statue. It had shattered back when they last met Su Mu, and the old man had simply glued it back together. Ordering Jun Wushang to wipe it down today was completely intentional.

For once, the usually cheeky and grinning Jun Wushang felt genuine terror. He knew the Divine Statue of the Celestial Sovereign of Longevity was his Master's prized possession and lifeblood. In the past, no matter how much he messed around—even pointing at his Master's nose and cursing him—the old man had never gotten truly angry. But now...

Finally, Old Taoist Xuanqing forced Jun Wushang into a corner. He raised the gleaming sword high, its edge flashing with a cold light.

Jun Wushang went pale with fright, his eyes swimming with deep guilt. "Master, that statue really wasn't..."

"Shut up! You wicked disciple! You still want to argue even now? Do you truly think your Master's sword is dull?" Old Taoist Xuanqing roared like thunder.

Riddled with guilt, Jun Wushang hung his head. "Master, I was wrong. I am willing to accept my punishment."

Seeing the boy's guilt, Old Taoist Xuanqing laughed inwardly. His goal had been achieved. Ever since he realized this kid's future potential was absolutely limitless, he had been racking his brains for a way to keep him tied to his side. After all, the old man had pulled some incredibly shady stunts on him in the past... better not to dwell on that.

This entire charade today was an elaborate ruse he had plotted for a long time.

First, make the kid feel so guilty he wanted to crawl into a hole. Then, act as if he couldn't bear to strike him down, throw away the sword, weep bitter tears of old age, and finally have master and disciple embrace and cry together... hahaha!

Judging that the timing was just about perfect, Old Taoist Xuanqing swung his sword down. Jun Wushang frantically hugged his head and ducked. He didn't raise a hand against his Master, and deep down, he refused to believe the old man would actually kill him.

Right as the blade descended, Old Taoist Xuanqing subtly loosened his grip. He was waiting for the dramatic clang of the sword hitting the floor so he could begin his performance. Tears were already welling up in his old eyes on cue.

But right at that moment—bang!

A stone shot through the air, striking the sword in Old Taoist Xuanqing's hand and sending it flying.

"Taoist Priest Xuanqing, stay your blade." Sikong Zhen strolled over from a distance.

Old Taoist Xuanqing completely froze. He looked at the rapidly approaching Sikong Zhen, then down at his fallen sword, and finally at Jun Wushang's incredibly complicated expression. He was numb... utterly numb.

"Taoist Priest, this is your only disciple after all. No matter what he did, surely it doesn't warrant death. Please show mercy," Sikong Zhen said, his expression serious.

His thought process was incredibly simple. Old Taoist Xuanqing definitely did not have long to live, which meant Jun Wushang would sooner or later inherit the mantle of the Longevity Daoist Temple. If Jun Wushang ever went to the Imperial Capital in the future and was sought after by the great nobles just like Old Taoist Xuanqing was, stepping in now would earn him a major early favor.

It was no effort on his part, and it might just buy him the friendship of a future darling of the Imperial Capital. After all, he had just saved the kid's life.

Taoist Priest Xuanqing: "..."

Wearing a complicated expression, Jun Wushang picked the sword up off the ground and placed it back into Taoist Priest Xuanqing's hand. "Master, I never thought you would actually try to kill me over this. But you were the one who saved my life back then anyway. If you want to kill me, then do it."

Taoist Priest Xuanqing: "..."

"Little brother, your Master is just in a fit of rage right now. How could he possibly want to kill you? Go on ahead for now, I'll talk some sense into him. Besides, I have urgent business with your Master." Sikong Zhen stepped between the two, ushering Jun Wushang away. Worried that Old Taoist Xuanqing might keep pursuing the boy, he forcefully half-dragged, half-pushed the old man back into the main hall.

Inside the main hall.

Sikong Zhen frowned deeply. He couldn't understand why Taoist Priest Xuanqing was looking at him so strangely. Was that anger? Resentment?

"Taoist Priest, you shouldn't blame me. That disciple of yours has a good disposition, he—"

"I fucking blame you!" Taoist Priest Xuanqing suddenly roared, his wrinkled face turning a deep, angry red. "Who the fuck asked you to stick your nose where it doesn't belong! Do you know I was this close?! This Daoist Master was just about to—"

"Taoist Priest! Calm down! He is your only disciple. Even if you killed him in a fit of rage today, you would absolutely regret it in the future!"

Outside the hall, Jun Wushang had not gone far. Hearing Taoist Priest Xuanqing's furious roaring, his expression turned utterly desolate. He walked away from the Longevity Daoist Temple without a single word, his silhouette cutting a lonely, bleak figure.

"You're telling this poor Daoist to calm down?! How the hell am I supposed to calm down? Argh! Ruined! You ruined everything! Who the fuck is going to look after me in my old age now?!" In a complete breakdown, Taoist Priest Xuanqing squatted on the floor, beating his chest and stomping his feet.

Sikong Zhen's frown deepened. Deciding he wanted nothing more to do with this master and disciple's messy drama, he cut straight to the chase. "Taoist Priest, I came today because I need your help with an urgent matter.

"I've already reported your previous divination results regarding the Seven Deadly Sins to the Royal Family. The Royal Family has handed down an absolute order. You must divine the true identities of the Seven Deadly Sins. Even if you cannot divine Pride, uncovering the identity of any of the others will do."

"I can't divine them. Go find someone else." The dejected Old Taoist Xuanqing rejected him without a second thought.

Sikong Zhen's eyes narrowed slightly. Without missing a beat, he pulled a small square box from his robes. "The Royal Family knows your lifespan is drawing to a close, so they specifically had me bring you this Three-Leaf Longevity Spirit Grass. Taoist Priest, you should know perfectly well that even the great nobles drool over a transcendent material as precious as this. You can imagine just how determined the Royal Family is to capture the Seven Deadly Sins."

Old Taoist Xuanqing's eyes flashed. Naturally, he knew just how precious the Three-Leaf Longevity Spirit Grass was. It was a divine treasure capable of extending a person's lifespan, and the more leaves it had, the higher its value. A three-leaf stalk could extend a life by three full years!

If the Royal Family was willing to bring out a treasure like this, he knew very well that he couldn't refuse. It wasn't just that he coveted the Three-Leaf Longevity Spirit Grass; it was the fact that refusing such a heavy gift would inevitably bring about his utter destruction.

With that, he snatched the small square box right out of Sikong Zhen's hands, his wrinkled face twisting into a look of unbridled greed. "If you had a treasure like this on you, you should have just said so earlier!"