Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Yun Jin wore an enigmatic smile. "Naturally, if I can see the issue with the jade pendant, I also have a way to resolve it."

Ma Hongyu's eyes lit up at once.

At this point, he still had no clue what method the Sect Master had used. Without that knowledge, there was no way to talk about saving Ye Cheng.

If Ye Cheng simply stopped wearing the pendant, it would immediately raise the Sect Master's suspicions, which would only put him in even greater danger.

If he had to keep wearing it, then the hidden threat on the pendant must be removed.

"But," Yun Jin suddenly shifted the tone, "Martial Uncle Ma, in some sense, we are competitors. Saving Ye Cheng—what benefit does that bring me?"

Ma Hongyu's expression darkened. He lowered his voice. "Yun Jin, my disciple has always avoided worldly conflicts and shouldn't have been dragged into your struggle with the sect leader. He's an innocent victim. If you're willing to save him, I'll owe you a favor."

Yun Jin's lips curved slightly. "It's not that I refuse to save him. I'm simply asking—how would you like me to save him? Remove the poison from the jade pendant? Purge the lingering toxins in his body?"

Ma Hongyu nodded repeatedly. "That would be ideal."

Yun Jin spoke calmly. "But, Martial Uncle, do you really think that would solve the root of the problem?"

Ma Hongyu froze.

"A month from now, even if Ye Cheng doesn't show signs of poisoning, the Sect Master will still know something went wrong. He'll suspect that you've already discovered the pendant's secret. So even if I help you survive this month, what then? A month later, the danger won't just befall Ye Cheng. To protect the secret of using the pendant to harm others, the Sect Master might not spare even you. Have you considered that?" Yun Jin said quietly.

Ma Hongyu fell silent.

Of course he had considered it.

He had simply been clinging to a shred of hope, thinking that getting through one day was better than none.

Yun Jin didn't rush him. She calmly sipped her tea, quietly waiting.

After a long pause, Ma Hongyu let out a bitter laugh. "So, my disciple is trapped in a death sentence? Whether now or a month from now, there's truly no escape?"

He had even considered fleeing the Tianxing Sect with Ye Cheng, but that wouldn't work either.

Once they fled, Zhao Wuji would know his scheme had been exposed. With his vast resources, they'd only die faster.

After much deliberation, he realized—this was a battle of titans, and his disciple had been caught in the crossfire with no way out.

What cruel irony.

"Martial Uncle Ma," Yun Jin spoke gently, "since I've gone to the trouble of uncovering this matter, I do intend to save Senior Brother Ye. I have a plan. See if you think it's feasible."

"Tell me," Ma Hongyu said, suddenly alert.

At this point, he asked for nothing else, only to preserve Ye Cheng's life.

Yun Jin's voice was composed. "Ye Cheng refused to repent and, without permission, assisted other peaks in cultivating spirit plants. Martial Uncle Ma disciplined him many times to no avail and decided to expel him from the sect. Before the expulsion, you took back everything he carried. Naturally, that includes the jade pendant."

She paused for a breath, then said slowly and clearly:

"With nowhere else to go, Ye Cheng came to join Tianjian Peak." She looked Ma Hongyu in the eye. "If he joins my Tianjian Peak, I can protect his life. Otherwise, I have no reason to help an outsider."

Ma Hongyu's expression shifted slightly.

This way, it would be perfectly reasonable to remove the jade pendant.

"If he's no longer wearing the pendant, I can purge the residual toxins in his body. If he survives the next month, the Sect Master won't be too suspicious. He'll think the poisoning simply didn't take effect due to the short duration of wear," Yun Jin said slowly. "And the Sect Master won't act against Tianjian Peak just yet. He's waiting for the Grand Sect Assembly. He wants to trample Tianjian Peak publicly at the event. As long as Ye Cheng is one of us, he won't make any further moves—for now."

Ma Hongyu's eyes flickered. "But at the Grand Sect Assembly, Lin Ya is certain to lose. Your duel with Ruan Jun also looks bleak. Won't Ye Cheng be doomed along with Tianjian Peak?"

Yun Jin smiled faintly. "You're right. That is the hidden risk. Tianjian Peak's current situation is far from ideal. Ye Cheng may have found a way out by joining us—or he may just be delaying his death. Who can say? Martial Uncle, you can weigh this yourself. Gu Jinghong visits the spirit fields daily. If you make up your mind, speak to him."

With that, Yun Jin made a clear gesture to dismiss the guest, not giving Ma Hongyu time to respond.

He hadn't expected Yun Jin to be so decisive.

Truthfully, he was already leaning toward the idea. He had only hoped to negotiate some additional terms for Ye Cheng, such as having Lin Ya accept him as a true disciple.

But Yun Jin gave him no room to bargain and directly saw him off.

Ma Hongyu hesitated but saw that Yun Jin had no intention of continuing. He could only rise and take his leave. He hurried back to his cave-dwelling as fast as possible.

Ye Cheng was sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. Seeing Ma Hongyu return, he stood up respectfully and even handed him a cup of tea. Looking at his considerate and obedient disciple, Ma Hongyu couldn't help but sigh. Ye Cheng was his proudest pupil, but now, it seemed he would have to hand him over.

Ma Hongyu took a sip of tea and said quietly, "Ye Cheng, our bond as master and disciple may have to end here."

Ye Cheng's heart skipped a beat. He immediately dropped to his knees. "Master, did I do something wrong to make you angry? If so, I accept any punishment. Please, don't drive me away!"

His eyes were filled with panic.

Ma Hongyu's heart ached, but this step could no longer be avoided.

Yes, Tianjian Peak was in a dire situation—but they were the only ones willing to openly oppose the Sect Master. And since Yun Jin joined them, all her deeds had been uncanny. Though they were clearly the weaker side, they had not suffered a single real loss.

Only a little over two months remained until the Grand Sect Assembly. Everyone believed Tianjian Peak would be crushed. But hadn't that been the consensus every time before?

No one had believed Yun Jin could master the Azure Lotus Sword Art. But she did.

No one believed she could learn planting techniques. But she did—and even surpassed Ye Cheng.

Now, no one believed Tianjian Peak would win. No one believed Yun Jin could triumph…

But what if?

What if she did win?

Then he would have truly carved out a future for Ye Cheng—rescued him from this calamity.

And if Tianjian Peak lost, then at least Ye Cheng would have two more months of life.

Ma Hongyu gave a bitter smile. The more he thought about it, the more this seemed to be the only hope.

Such a crucial matter could not be hidden from Ye Cheng.

He sighed and recounted everything in detail.

From Yun Jin's warning, to how he confirmed the pendant's problem, to their conversation just now—he told it all.

Ye Cheng, pure-hearted as he was, was left stunned.

"My disciple, you…" Ma Hongyu was about to offer some comfort.

But then he saw a trace of joy in Ye Cheng's eyes. "I knew it. Someone who's that good at planting couldn't possibly be a bad person. Senior Sister Yun is truly kindhearted."

Ma Hongyu: "??"

Wait, was that the takeaway?