Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Yun Jin?

Zhao Wuji's expression turned cold. His voice sharpened with fury. "Yun Jin, ever since you entered the sect, you've been arrogant and lawless. Yet I have defended you time and again out of care for my disciples. And this is how you repay me? Jinghong may have signed a master-servant contract with you and indeed declared he would obey your commands, but that doesn't give you the right to harm others at will!

Now you've ordered Jinghong to injure Danxia to this extent. If I hadn't arrived in time, she might not have survived. What do you have to say for yourself?"

His anger was palpable.

Yun Jin glanced at Ye Danxia.

Ye Danxia clutched her abdomen, her face pale as paper. "Xiao Jin, we grew up together. Even if we've had our differences lately, I thought there was still some bond left between us. Do you hate me that much? Do you truly want me dead?"

She coughed violently as she spoke.

Fresh blood seeped from her wound.

Zhao Wuji's heart ached at the sight. He hurried forward and, without hesitation, helped her swallow a healing pill.

"Master..." Ye Danxia took the pill and clung tightly to his sleeve. "Xiao Jin has been my friend since childhood. No matter what happened, I never wanted her dead. Please, spare her."

"You really..." Zhao Wuji looked down at his disciple, filled with mixed emotions. She was too kind for her own good.

Yun Jin watched the little drama unfold, then looked down at Gu Jinghong, who lay motionless on the ground, eyes to the sky.

She walked over.

Gu Jinghong's lips trembled as he met her eyes. "I'm sorry, I…"

"Idiot." Yun Jin snorted and kicked him. "A little blood was enough to drive you mad? What have you been doing all these years?"

[Gu Jinghong: Early Nascent Soul stage. Blood Qi Art – Level 4 (Currently in weakened state after frenzy.)]

Gu Jinghong remained numb, murmuring again, "…Sorry."

It wasn't for what happened tonight, but for what had come before.

He regretted it. Deeply.

That Ye Danxia… was she really worth him falling to such a state?

If Yun Jin hadn't evaded his schemes that day, he would still be dancing in the palm of that little junior sister's hand.

Ye Danxia had a strange allure, making it hard to resist her.

Had Gu Jinghong not witnessed her shifting masks multiple times, he might never have awakened.

Yun Jin snorted again, shoving two Restoration Pills into his mouth. Her movements were brisk, though her expression betrayed a flicker of heartache.

These pills were crafted by her with great care. Using them on Gu Jinghong felt like a waste.

But she had her reasons. She still needed him.

The pills she gave were Second-Grade Restoration Pills. Normally, such pills were used by Foundation Establishment cultivators, but hers were of perfect quality, enough to show effects even on those in the Golden Core stage.

Gu Jinghong, being at Nascent Soul stage, hadn't damaged his core or vital organs. The pills could still repair his meridians and bones.

Usually, cultivators avoided using Restoration Pills unless absolutely necessary, due to their rarity and cost. For minor injuries, a simpler Elixir of Dew would suffice.

So when the pill entered his system, Gu Jinghong was stunned.

This...

This was a Restoration Pill. And by the strength of the medicine, it had to be Third-Grade. Third-Grade Restoration Pills could even repair the dantian of a Golden Core cultivator, making them priceless in the right situation.

And Yun Jin… used one on him, just like that?

His injuries could have healed naturally over time.

His lips trembled.

"How could she waste something so precious on me?"

"What's with that look?" Yun Jin smacked his face in annoyance. "Hurry up and absorb the medicinal energy!"

Gu Jinghong nodded silently and began circulating his qi.

"Still too slow," Yun Jin muttered, annoyed. She pulled out another pill and shoved it into his mouth without hesitation.

She had crafted them herself and had a good stockpile.

Gu Jinghong, unable to turn his neck, didn't see the pill's transparency but judged by its potency—another third-grade pill. His expression changed.

As the sect master's second disciple, he knew better than anyone how Zhao Wuji secretly suppressed Tianjian Peak. With Xuandan Gate's Huo Lie aiding him, Tianjian Peak barely received any decent pills.

"How hard must it have been for Yun Jin to save these pills?"

"Yet she gave them to me without hesitation!"

Gu Jinghong clenched his jaw, emotions churning.

The master and junior sister he had sacrificed everything for had abandoned him.

The Yun Jin he had schemed against was now healing him with priceless pills.

"This world is truly absurd."

By the time Gu Jinghong could barely stand, Ye Danxia had also regained some color under Zhao Wuji's personal care—though the gruesome wound on her abdomen remained, seemingly left on purpose.

Zhao Wuji, previously focused on Ye Danxia, hadn't paid much attention to Yun Jin and Gu Jinghong. To him, they were already as good as dead.

But seeing Gu Jinghong recover so quickly surprised him.

He had noticed Yun Jin feeding him something but hadn't seen what. Now, it seemed the pill was potent.

"Tianjian Peak must dote on this girl if they'd let a Foundation Establishment disciple carry pills effective against Nascent Soul cultivators."

He didn't pursue it further. His voice turned icy. "Yun Jin, Gu Jinghong, the two of you have harmed your fellow sect member. This is a capital offense. I hereby decree—"

"Whether it's a capital offense or not... the Sect Master cannot be the only one to decide," a voice interrupted.

Zhao Wuji frowned. He turned to see Lin Ya and several elders from Tianjian Peak had arrived, silently and without fanfare.

"You intend to shield these two murderers?" Zhao Wuji's tone chilled further.

Lin Ya, already briefed by Yun Jin, remained calm. "Shield them? When Ruan Jun tried to kill Xiao Jin before, didn't he walk away unharmed?"

Zhao Wuji snapped, "How can this be the same? If I hadn't arrived in time, Danxia would have died. Even with immediate intervention, she was on the verge of death. Without the pills I carry at all times, she wouldn't be here now!"

Lin Ya glanced at Ye Danxia, who lay pale in Zhao Wuji's arms, and chuckled softly.

"I question the circumstances of her injury. If the Sect Master insists on a verdict, then let it follow sect protocol—bring this matter to the Hall of Discipline for a public trial. Due to the seriousness of the case, at least five elders or peak lords must observe."

He locked eyes with Zhao Wuji. "A public trial, according to process. What does the Sect Master say?"

Zhao Wuji frowned, glancing at the pitiful Ye Danxia in his arms.

"This case is straightforward—Yun Jin ordered Gu Jinghong to attack. I've done nothing underhanded. A public trial will only expose her crimes to all."

"Very well."

Unnoticed by him, a flicker of unease crossed Ye Danxia's face.

"Very well," Zhao Wuji said calmly. "As you wish. The Hall of Discipline will hold a public trial tomorrow. At most, you buy your little disciple one more night of life."

He cast a cold glance at Yun Jin.

She rolled her eyes at him in return.

Her eye-roll was a perfected skill, filled with mocking disdain.

Zhao Wuji's expression darkened. He picked up Ye Danxia and turned to leave without another word. He didn't spare Gu Jinghong a single glance.

Leaning against a tree, Gu Jinghong smiled faintly.

"Since I've been abandoned so thoroughly… there's no need to hold back anymore."

A trace of madness flashed in his eyes.

===

Restoration Pill = Huan Yuan Pill.

I think that after this I will try write the pills name in their Chinese name.