Chapter 145: Can’t Let It Go to Waste

Qu Qiuming instinctively glanced down at the exam paper in his hand. His face went pale for an instant, and something flickered quickly in his eyes. After a brief daze, he suddenly threw the paper to the ground. The self-confidence he had displayed earlier vanished, replaced by a burst of humiliation and fury. He jabbed his finger at Yun Jiao and shouted,

“You… you’re insulting me, aren’t you?!”

“Insulting you?” Yun Jiao blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his sudden outburst. A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes, though her expression remained serious as she replied evenly,

“The Celestial Masters Hall registration examination is conducted in three stages. The written theory exam is the first. This is common knowledge to all disciples of the sect. Is there a problem?”

His face darkened further. His gaze flickered evasively before he raised his voice even louder.

“Hmph! I didn’t expect the Celestial Masters Hall to be a place that envies and suppresses talent! My medical skill is known throughout Tianfang City, and you dare humiliate me with these childish questions!”

Caidie’s eyes gleamed as she immediately leapt to his defense, full of outrage like a loyal fan.

“That’s right! You’re all too much! My Brother Ming is a divine physician! Didn’t you say you wanted to make him an elder? How can you give him the same exam as those ordinary disciples? Giving such a simple paper—how insulting! You’re underestimating him!”

The elders who had once struggled desperately through Yun Jiao’s tests: “……”

The old man still slaving away over his own test paper: “……”

What… what did they just hear?

Did she just call Yun Daoist’s exam simple?

Go ahead—say that again in the sect’s study group! Let’s see how many people line up to beat you to death!

“Enough!” Emboldened by Caidie’s words, Qu Qiuming straightened his back and said coldly, his tone laced with contempt, “When it comes to medicine, skill must be proven by action. There’s no need for these pointless tricks. If you want to test me, take me to a patient and I’ll show you.”

The faces of everyone in the hall turned grim. They exchanged glances, and in each other’s eyes they saw the same disapproval.

It wasn’t just that Qu Qiuming had refused to take Yun Jiao’s written test—it was his attitude. He didn’t seem like a dedicated scholar or eccentric genius too focused on mastery to care for formalities; instead, he came across as… a petty man inflated by sudden fame.

The more Hall Master Xu thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. His earlier enthusiasm about appointing Qu as an elder now seemed impulsive. Cultivators valued the cultivation of the heart above all. Even if his medical skill was real, a corrupt temperament made him unfit to teach disciples.

“Very well!” Xu began, but before he could continue, Yun Jiao calmly nodded. She didn’t seem to take his provocation seriously. Instead, she studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“If you’re that confident,” she said coolly, “then let’s go and see you heal someone.”

Turning toward Hall Master Xu, she asked, “You have patients prepared, yes?”

Hall Master Xu hesitated, then nodded. “There’s the Healing Hall. The injured and those afflicted by evil spirits go there for treatment—there should be plenty of patients.”

“Then I’ll heal them,” Qu Qiuming declared arrogantly. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the door, not even waiting for permission.

Everyone in the hall frowned even deeper.

“Brother Ming, wait for me!” Caidie quickly turned and started to run after him.

But just then, Yun Jiao’s calm voice came from behind her—cold, light, but cutting like a knife.

“You’re dying soon.”

“……”

Caidie froze mid-step, her eyes wide in shock as she stared at Yun Jiao.

Yun Jiao said nothing more. She merely turned and followed the others out of the hall.

Caidie hesitated for a few moments, then scurried after Qu Qiuming. She didn’t look back at Yun Jiao at all, as if she hadn’t heard the words—or perhaps didn’t dare to. Still, her face seemed noticeably paler than before.

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The Healing Hall of the Celestial Masters Hall was unique—it was open not only to sect members but to everyone.

It served as a medical pavilion because ordinary physicians could not heal wounds inflicted by demonic or cursed energy. Thus, the Healing Hall was established through the joint efforts of the Celestial Masters Hall and the renowned healer clan, the Chang family. Each month, three to four spiritual healers rotated there to see patients.

It was the only place in the entire sect that had people coming in daily. And since today was registration day, with elite disciples from every sect gathered, news had spread quickly—many patients seized the opportunity to seek treatment. The place was particularly crowded.

Though not all illnesses were caused by demonic influences, the Hall did not turn anyone away. Many of the healer apprentices had originally been talented doctors in the mundane world. Of course, the treatment fees here were… not cheap.

Their large entourage immediately attracted attention. Before long, a young healer disciple in white robes hurried over to greet them. He began to bow to Hall Master Xu—but halfway through the motion, he caught sight of Yun Jiao. His eyes lit up instantly, and he abruptly changed direction, bowing deeply before her instead.

“Greetings, Master Yun! I didn’t expect to see you again!”

“Mm, hello.” Yun Jiao nodded slightly. The young man looked vaguely familiar, but… who was he again?

“Master, the book you sent me—the Treatise on Meridian Renewal and Spirit Restoration—I’ve already read it four times! But I still can’t fully grasp certain sections, especially the part about the spiritual flow during meridian rejuvenation.” He frowned, face full of earnest frustration.

Yun Jiao replied casually, “Study the meridian diagrams again and think about how the spiritual flow enters the body. It also varies depending on the individual—and sometimes the species.”

“Ah, I see!” His eyes brightened, enlightenment dawning. “I understand now! I’ll go back and review the diagrams again. Thank you, Master Yun, for your guidance!”

“Mm. You’re welcome,” Yun Jiao said with a nod.

“Oh, there’s one more question—”

Seeing that the two were about to dive into a full-on medical discussion, Hall Master Xu had to step in quickly. “Nephew Chang, we have important matters today. If you have further questions, discuss them another time.”

The young man blinked, then seemed to recall something. His face flushed red with embarrassment as he bowed and stepped aside. “Yes, my apologies! Please forgive my rudeness, Master Yun!”

“It’s fine.” Yun Jiao had always been tolerant of students who loved to learn. After a moment’s thought, she suddenly reached into her bag and pulled something out. “Here, take this. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just do a few more practice papers and you’ll figure it out.”

She handed him a test paper—the very same one Qu Qiuming had thrown away.

“If that’s not enough, I have plenty more!” she added matter-of-factly. No need to waste it.

Hall Master Xu: “……”

The old man: “……”

Everyone else: “……”

Dozens of sympathetic gazes immediately converged on the poor disciple.

Did Yun Daoist have some kind of compulsion to hand out test papers whenever she could?

May the heavens have mercy on this boy!

Chang Ping: “……”

No! Master Yun, please listen—he just wanted to ask a question! He didn’t want to take an exam!!

(д)b

(End of Chapter)