Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

"Senior Brother Gu... that's the hundredth time already. Can we rest now?" one disciple panted heavily, looking like he might collapse at any moment.

Gu Jinghong gave the five disciples a lazy glance and said, "Alright, you can leave now."

The five of them breathed a sigh of relief, ready to scramble away with what little dignity they had left.

But Gu Jinghong suddenly added, "For the next few days, you're not allowed to leave the Tianxing Sect. Same time tomorrow, report back here."

He really had no choice. The task Yun Jin assigned him wasn't a one-time punishment. It was a daily mission.

The five disciples who had just relaxed now wore expressions of utter despair.

This torture wasn't over?!

One of them couldn't help but tremble as he asked, "Senior Brother Gu, what does Junior Sister Yun want from us? What will it take for her to forgive us?"

"What are you saying? My Lady merely wishes to admire your gallant sword forms. Who said she refuses to forgive you? Watch your words, lest you tarnish her reputation," Gu Jinghong replied.

The disciples: "..."

Fine. Whatever.

All they felt now was—

Regret.

Deep, soul-crushing regret.

Why had they ever provoked Yun Jin?

Life had been just fine before that.

Even Ruan Jun was forced into seclusion after crossing her. What chance did they have?

The five of them slouched away in dejection.

Gu Jinghong didn't bother watching them leave. He had another task to complete.

Talk to plants.

After a moment's hesitation, he headed toward the Sect Master's Hall.

These past few days, he had been bound to Yun Jin as her servant. Yet not a single person, not even his master or fellow disciples, had come to check on him or say a single word.

Looking back on it now, Gu Jinghong felt surprisingly little resentment toward Yun Jin.

He had tried to kill her. That she'd spared him, only demanding three months of servitude, was already mercy.

Maybe she just wanted to torture him slowly. But given their enmity, anything she did was justified.

Yet…

The coldness from his fellow disciples stung far more than Yun Jin's treatment.

Everything he did had been to stand up for Senior Brother and Little Junior Sister. The senior brother was still in seclusion, fine. But what about Ye Danxia? She didn't show the slightest remorse. On the contrary, she seemed repulsed by the fact that he had become a servant.

If it were only Ye Danxia, he could endure it. But what about Master?

Did they really think they could hide the truth of what he had done from the Sect Leader?

His master had clearly allowed it to happen, but once the scheme failed, he chose to side with Junior Sister instead and cast him aside without hesitation.

He could understand it. After all, he was the one who had made a mistake.

But still… after so many days, couldn't Master at least spare a glance his way? Say a few comforting words, even if only for show?

~

The Sect Master's Hall stood at the very heart of the Tianxing Sect, surrounded by ten towering peaks, as if protected by the heavens themselves.

Within the sect, the disciples under the Sect Master's tutelage enjoyed the best of everything.

The finest pills, the most fertile spirit fields, the highest-grade spiritual tools. Even their residences were beautifully carved and adorned, in sharp contrast to disciples from other peaks who had to build their own homes by hand.

In the past, any disciple from the Sect Master's line would walk with pride, heads held high, thinking themselves above others. But recently, Zhao Wuji had issued an order to keep his disciples from going out too much. The real reason? To avoid Yun Jin.

They either accepted missions outside or kept to their own quarters, doing everything they could to steer clear of Tianjian Peak. With the senior brother in seclusion and the second brother bound by contract, none of the others dared stir up trouble with Yun Jin.

Even when Little Junior Sister cried with tear-streaked cheeks, no one dared show a single extra expression.

Some disciples were training in the courtyard when someone stammered, "S-Senior Brother Gu!"

The others looked over.

They instinctively checked to see if Yun Jin had come with him. Only when they saw she hadn't, did they let out a small breath of relief.

Gu Jinghong glanced at them with a blank expression, then headed straight for the spiritual fields behind the hall. The disciples blinked in surprise and began whispering.

"Senior Brother Gu is still under Yun Jin's control. What's he doing here?"

"Is he heading to the spirit fields?"

"Oh no… she must be sending him to steal herbs."

"Let's follow him. You, go report to Master."

Gu Jinghong quickly noticed a few little tails trailing behind him, but he didn't care. He simply walked on at his own pace. He passed the residential area, walked for the length of an incense stick, and soon a vast expanse of fertile spirit fields came into view. Several disciples were hard at work within the fields, guided personally by a Divine Transformation realm elder.

Without stopping, Gu Jinghong stepped into the fields.

It was clear he had a target in mind as he headed toward a specific area.

"That's the water-attribute section! Oh no, there are several high-grade Mystic-tier plants over there. If he damages them, it'll be a huge loss!"

"Destroying sect property is a serious offense. Would Senior Brother Gu really do something like that in broad daylight?"

"Either Yun Jin is deliberately making him suffer, or he's completely broken after becoming her servant. Who knows what a twisted mind might do?"

"Master hasn't arrived yet. Quick, warn the elder!"

A few disciples rushed over to alert the Divine Transformation elder guarding the fields. Ma Hongyu had been tending the spirit fields for many years. Not only was his cultivation at Divine Transformation, he was also a rare Tier 5 Plant Master within the sect.

When he heard Gu Jinghong might damage the spirit herbs, Ma Hongyu narrowed his eyes. He had heard some rumors. Normally, he didn't care for anything but his plants. But if Gu Jinghong really tried to harm the fields, he would take action immediately.

Under everyone's wary gazes—

Gu Jinghong suddenly gave a charming, sinister smile.

Was he about to make a move?

Ma Hongyu's fingers began to gather spiritual power.

But then Gu Jinghong turned to a high-grade water-attribute plant and, with a completely straight face, said softly:

"Hello there. Did you eat today? Are you full?"

Everyone: "..."

Someone muttered blankly, "Is he… talking to the plant?"

"Looks like it."

A silence followed, broken only by the rustle of leaves. Then the crowd's expressions slowly turned sympathetic. Poor Senior Brother Gu. Just a few days with Yun Jin, and he'd already lost his mind. No one could even imagine what kind of torture she had put him through.

Ma Hongyu looked at Gu Jinghong's serious face and sighed, "As long as he doesn't harm the plants, let him be."

Soon after, some disciples reported the incident to Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji fell silent for a moment, then said, "Jinghong must have been pushed to the edge by Yun Jin. As long as he doesn't cause any trouble, let him do whatever. Just don't provoke him."

Then he dismissed them.

Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes slightly.

Gu Jinghong had trained in the Blood Qi Arts. He had once considered grooming him into a major force for the sect's future. But now, even if the servant contract were to end after three months, Gu Jinghong would no longer be of great use.

A hint of regret crept across Zhao Wuji's face.

Then, thinking of Ye Danxia, he couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

According to Elder Huo Lie, Danxia showed immense talent in alchemy. In just a few days, she had already become a first-rank apprentice alchemist. At this pace, she might reach the level of a first-grade pill master within three to five years.

That speed was astonishing, even by sect standards. She might even make greater strides in the Dao of Alchemy someday.

It seemed that preserving Ye Danxia had been the right decision after all.