Chapter 166 Dan Niang's Choice: Protecting the Supply
With each word Nanmen Hong spoke, his stern expression softened unusually, until the final question fell into a voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
The projection stone slowly returned to Nanmen Hong's palm. He lowered his eyes and stared at the dull, gray stone. This was just a low-grade projection stone; even if he exhausted all methods, he could not extend its lifespan.
The projection just now was the last time, and also the last time he would be able to see his master's every smile and frown.
The chance to see Master will never come again.
He paused, stroking the pebble with his fingertips. Fortunately, at the cost of this, the discussions within the sect that had shaken Jiang Xiaoyi's actions back then had disappeared.
Nanmen Hong carefully placed the projection stone, which was now indistinguishable from an ordinary stone, back into his storage ring.
He raised his head, the agitated and resentful look gone, replaced by a nonchalant smile that relieved the cultivators from Liuhuan Valley and the others. This was the Nanmen Hong they knew.
Nanmen Hong: "Are you still going to try to deny it?"
“Master Nanmen, you have said this many times before.” Yuan Liu remained expressionless throughout the process and said, “Why repeat it again today?”
“This is a reminder to those whose resolve is wavering,” Nanmen Hong glanced at Qin Danniang with a half-smile, “and also to warn some naive young disciples to open their eyes when making friends, lest they be deceived. How could you possibly understand my good intentions?”
“Master Nanmen is overthinking things. You have been working tirelessly all these years,” Yuan Liu said. “What you say is known to every spiritual cultivator.”
The Dingsheng Sect suffered a devastating calamity overnight. When the news spread throughout the spiritual cultivation world, everyone lamented the fate of the Dingsheng Sect and was deeply moved by their righteous act of working together to repair the cracks in the heavens.
Until Nanmen Hong, the chief disciple of Dingsheng Peak, left the sect and joined Liuhuan Valley.
The spiritual cultivators were about to condemn his deviant behavior when Nanmen Hong, just like now, in the Abstinence Hall of the Ten Daoist Cultivators, in front of all the elders of the allied sects, released this past event.
The overnight reversal of public opinion surrounding the Dingsheng Sect, and the sect leader's defection and the transfer of his inheritance, became a well-known topic of conversation in the spiritual cultivation world.
Compared to past disasters, scandals and secrets of sects are more captivating and spread further.
Dingshengzong plummeted in popularity and its reputation was ruined.
After surveying the cultivators who had accompanied them from the sect's territory, Chongjue nodded in satisfaction to Nanmen Hong.
They didn't come here just to stand at the entrance of Dingsheng Sect and enjoy the cool breeze.
The goal is to seize a seemingly legitimate reason and, taking advantage of Dingsheng Sect's unpreparedness, launch a full-scale attack to search for them.
As long as we can get in... as long as we can get in, why worry about not finding clues about Ji Mingran's collusion with the demonic cultivators?
Moreover, it's quite possible that Ji Mingran is actually inside the Dingsheng Sect!
Once they obtain conclusive evidence of Ji Mingran's collusion with demonic cultivators, coupled with what Jiang Xiaoyi once said, the reputation of Dingsheng Sect will surely be completely ruined.
Thus, Chongjue glanced at the ancient spirit stone again without leaving a trace. It was only reasonable for him to bring the Dingsheng Sect under the control of the Hongqi Sect, divide its territory, and divide its treasures.
But to his surprise, the Dingsheng Sect members were now fearless and spoke without any restraint, making his prepared excuse almost untenable.
Nanmen Hong is quite cunning; he knows how to shift the focus, manipulate people's hearts, and reveal Jiang Xiaoyi's past to give them a more legitimate reason to act.
Of course, if he weren't cunning, he would have seen that Dingsheng Sect was on its last legs and immediately turned to Liuhuan Valley.
“Perhaps all of this was also under Jiang Xiaoyi’s instructions.” Chong Jue pressed on while the iron was hot. After a moment of contemplation, he expressed his doubts to the other cultivators who came with him: “Jiang Xiaoyi did such a thing back then, yet your Dingsheng Sect was still able to take in Ji Mingran and still respect his ancestor’s status. I really can’t help but have my doubts.”
Although Chongjue looked down on Nanmen Hong, she was still willing to say a few words in defense of him for his earlier loss of composure.
“Young friend Qin,” Chongjue said to Qin Danniang, “The spiritual cultivation world is vast, and it is not easy to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Your master has gone to great lengths for you. He was only acting rashly just now because he was afraid that you would be deceived and delay our search for demonic cultivators, thus harming the spiritual cultivators.”
After watching the projection stone's image, Qin Danniang curled up and lay face down on the ground, her fists clenched and her shoulders trembling, clearly indicating a great emotional upheaval.
Nanmen Hong squatted down before walking away, gently rubbing the back of her head, and sighed, "I was afraid you would go astray, so I was a bit strict with you. Just now, looking back and seeing your grandmaster, I suddenly realized that as a master, I need to teach according to aptitude, but I forgot that you are meticulous and sensitive and cannot bear harsh criticism. I was wrong."
Qin Danniang could no longer hold back her tears and sobbed.
Nanmen Hong spoke patiently, as if coaxing a child: "Danniang, you have always been a kind-hearted child. I remember that your wish was to practice medicine and save the world. If you do not face this bravely today, but instead cower and run away, letting falsehoods deceive your eyes, allowing malice to escape, and causing innocent lives to be lost, how will you face your ambition in the future?"
The distraught girl gradually stopped sobbing, slowly got up, and knelt down with her head down.
Through the image transmitted by the sect's jade tablet, Dan Niang's eyes were red and swollen like walnuts, and her face was covered with tears and snot.
Nanmen Hong took out a brand new handkerchief and wiped her clean little by little.
"A combination of kindness and severity." Yu Tianxing gazed at Ji Mingran, who remained motionless as she watched the scene, poured her some tea, and handed it to her. "No wonder she was so easily manipulated. In this light, it's quite remarkable that she was willing to cooperate with you during the competition and help you escape from Hongqi Sect."
Ji Mingran watched the steam rising from the cup and did not accept the teacup offered by Yu Tianxing. "Dan Niang has her own principles."
With a slight pinch of his fingertips, the scalding tea in the cup cooled down, and Yu Tianxing handed it to Ji Mingran: "Even if you're not thirsty, just moisten your throat."
“It’s a lucky thing to encounter a good sect and a good master.” Ji Mingran propped his chin up with one hand, took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. “People outside say I’m very lucky. Looking at it this way, it seems to be true. What do you think?”
Yu Tianxing lowered his head, sipped his tea, and smiled faintly: "Of course."
His sect goes without saying, and Nanmen Hong in front of him isn't much better.
Ji Mingran recalled what he had seen of the past of Dingsheng Sect and said with a smile, "Yu Tianxing, I think Dingsheng Sect is really great. I like it here."
Looking at the smiling girl, Yu Tianxing's deep eyes revealed a warmth he himself was unaware of: "If you like it, then it's wonderful."
"Huh?" Ji Mingran glanced down at the sect jade token at his waist, and a look of joy appeared on his face the next second.
Yu Tianxing couldn't help but smile, pushing the chessboard forward and leaning back slightly: "Is there an echo?"
“Yes.” Ji Mingran looked up, his eyes sparkling. “You said that I have a sure-win strategy for chess.”
Yu Tianxing chuckled softly: "You figured it out."
"If I don't enter the game, I can't lose." As Ji Mingran stood up, the chessboard was overturned with a crash, and the chess pieces bounced and scattered everywhere. Yu Tianxing's position was perfectly balanced, and not a single piece hit him.
Yu Tianxing: "You're always so smart."
Ji Mingran stood up and asked him, "Aren't you bored?"
Yu Tianxing looked up: "Would you stay because of this?"
Ji Mingran: "No."
She spoke without hesitation and with absolute certainty, but Yu Tianxing smiled and said, "I knew it."
He stood up, then bent down to take off the spirit ring hanging around her neck and put it back on her: "Do whatever you want, don't worry about me."
......
Nanmen Hong looked down at the disciple kneeling before him and said softly, "Dan Niang, have you thought it through?"
The cultivators who came with him were on tenterhooks, their eyes fixed on the Spirit Pearl, awaiting Qin Danniang's imminent identification.
Unexpectedly, only a completely unrelated question came from the sect's territory.
"Master, you say my pills are no good, but why do people ask me every day if my pills can be sold?"
Nanmen Hong was also surprised by his disciple's inexplicable question, but still replied gently, "I have told you before that your pills must not be passed on to outsiders without my permission."
Why can't I have mine?
“Your pills are of poor quality. If someone accidentally eats them, they might harm them. That’s why I had Dongbai put away the pills you made and improve them before using them.” Nanmen Hong said, while gently wiping away Qin Danniang’s tears with a handkerchief.
"Even if the person who buys my pills is willing to take the risk, is that not allowed?"
Nanmen Hong said, each word distinct and clear: "No."
"Master." A handkerchief covered her face, obscuring Qin Danniang's features. She asked, "Can I dispose of my own pills as I see fit?"
Nanmen Hong's hand, which was holding a handkerchief, stopped at Qin Danniang's forehead. "No, we need to wait until your pills are good enough."
Qin Danniang spoke softly, but her voice was clear: "Senior Brother Dongbai didn't improve my pills; he used them. Master, you know that, don't you?"
These words caused a stir among the disciples of Liuhuan Valley.
What does she mean?
"Is she trying to slander Senior Brother Dongbai?"
"Does Senior Brother Dongbai really need to use her medicine?"
"It's such a shame that Grandmaster Nanmen and Senior Brother Dongbai treated her so well. Qin Danniang is truly heartless."
Standing before the disciples of the Flowing Illusion Valley, Ya Dongbai's expression stiffened slightly as he frowned and looked at Qin Danniang: "Danniang, you..."
Nanmen Hong spoke up, stopping the disciples: "Danniang, don't talk nonsense."
Qin Danniang raised her hand, pulled off the handkerchief covering her face, and said with a sad smile, "Master, from now on, I want to keep the pills I refine for myself, whether they are good or bad, and I don't want to give them to my senior brother anymore."
Nanmen Hong: "Danniang, don't make your master repeat himself. The quality of your pills is unstable. How to use them requires your master's approval."
"Master, my ambition is to save the world. If I can't even distribute the pills I refine myself, how can I realize my aspirations? Master, you can belittle me, but when it comes to pills, I have my own ambitions." Qin Danniang's eyes filled with tears as she spoke in an unprecedentedly loud voice: "Only this matter, I refuse!"
A corner of the jade token was revealed through the slight loosening of her clenched palm. Qin Danniang stubbornly said, "I want to dispose of my own pills. I want to give them to the people I'm willing to give them to. I want an equal exchange!"
Nanmen Hong's eyes were icy cold: "Qin Danniang, are you insane? How dare you speak to your master like that?"
Qin Danniang clutched the jade token tightly in her hand: "My pills are no good, so why would someone insist on asking me if I'd sell them? Why would she be willing to pay a high price for my pills?"
Nanmen Hong crumpled the handkerchief into a ball and threw it at Qin Danniang's face: "There are always blind people in this world."
"Master, I always thought the pills I refined were of poor quality, bringing shame upon you. Only after the Spiritual Cultivation Competition did I realize that my pills were not worthless after all." Qin Danniang grabbed a crumpled handkerchief, threw it fiercely towards the disciples of Liuhuan Valley: "The pills I thought were of poor quality, the pills you kept saying were bad, the pills my senior brother said were bad, the pills everyone in Liuhuan Valley said were bad, you are all using them. Everyone is using my pills, but in the name of Senior Brother Dongbai."
"Dan Niang!" Dong Bai roared.
Qin Danniang glared at him fiercely: "Senior brother, I don't need your kindness! I never wanted to marry you! I never wanted to give you my pills!"
Nanmen Hong's voice was deep: "You're not listening to your teacher anymore?"
"I cultivate alchemy to save more people." Dan Niang knelt down and kowtowed to Nanmen Hong: "I have no way to repay Master's kindness in raising me, but I cannot fulfill Master's request."
Looking down at Qin Danniang kneeling on the ground, he remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking, "Who? Who made you think this way?"
Qin Danniang: "It was me. I figured it out myself."
Nanmen Hong ignored him and said slowly, "It was she who lured you. She lured more than just you as a disciple. The Zhu family and the Shen family have similar situations. She instigated disciples of sects and aristocratic families to rebel. The evil she has done is too numerous to count."
Qin Danniang: "She didn't! It was you who said my pills were bad and demanded that I hand them over!"
Nanmen Hong raised his hand: "If you continue to be so stubborn, don't blame me for expelling you from the sect."
Dan Niang knelt on the ground, looked up and closed her eyes to welcome Nanmen Hong's punishment.
A clear voice came from beside her ear, "Dan Niang, it's wonderful that you're willing to turn against the sect."
Qin Danniang looked at Ji Mingran, who was grinning broadly at her, in surprise: "You, what are you doing here?"
Remembering Ji Mingran's predicament, Qin Danniang hurriedly stood up, instinctively trying to block Ji Mingran.
Ji Mingran stepped in front of her first, turned around and smiled, "Dan Niang, you are my source of high-quality and inexpensive pills. Your pills are so good, of course I have to protect you well."
Chong Jue shouted, "Ji Mingran, you really were hiding inside the Dingsheng Sect!"
Nanmen Hong tried to pull Qin Danniang back: "She and Jiang Xiaoyi are exactly the same, neither of them are good people! Jiang Xiaoyi did those things back then, and you still believed her disciple. You are just trying to sow discord between you and Liuhuan Valley. Aren't you going to wake up yet!"
Ji Mingran put one arm around Qin Danniang's waist and used the teleportation array to instantly teleport to the peak masters of Dingsheng Sect.
Pushing Qin Danniang toward the Eastern Continent, Ji Mingran reached into the ancient spirit stone, grasped the spirit essence stone, and the intricate and exquisite patterns under his feet bloomed like flowers in an instant, spreading rapidly outwards in clusters.
"As for what my master did back then, I also want to know. Why don't we ask her herself?"
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