Chapter Eight: This Sect Won't Fall Apart Without Him

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Jiang Heng naturally would not tell Huo Shiqing that it was because she had now cultivated the E Luo Path, allowing her to consume spiritual plants directly without worrying about impurities, toxins, or the conflicts of mutual generation and restraint. This enabled her to efficiently absorb the spiritual energy and nourishing elements within.

A single Spirit-Replenishing Pill cost ten lower-grade spirit stones, yet herbs containing the same spiritual power were priced at less than a tenth of that. With these spirit stones, she would rather save them to purchase special pills for breakthrough advancement or healing and detoxification.

Expressionless, Jiang Heng continued chewing the contents in her mouth: “I’m a cripple; what use do I have for spirit-replenishing pills? Just having something to eat is good enough.”

Those words pierced Huo Shiqing’s heart like a sharp needle.

He vaguely recalled the lavish scene at Xu Ning’an’s birthday banquet just now.

Delicacies made from precious spiritual beasts and herbs, wines brewed from rare spiritual fruits, all laid out on the long banquet table, seemingly inexhaustible.

The grand and bright hall adorned with spiritual flowers and herbs, continuous music playing, fragrant with celestial scents, as if a paradise on earth.

Then he looked at the dim, spacious cave residence before him, where Jiang Heng ate herbs directly—something even ordinary outer disciples disdain.

A feeling indescribable clogged his chest.

Just as Huo Shiqing’s head throbbed painfully, his own voice suddenly echoed in his mind—

“Hurting a pure and kind junior sister like An’an—Jiang Heng is despicable, shameless, and vile. No matter how miserable she is, she deserves it!”

The confusion and struggle in Huo Shiqing’s eyes faded, replaced by hatred and coldness.

He grabbed Jiang Heng’s wrist, pulling her onto his flying sword.

Jiang Heng resisted, so Huo Shiqing firmly grasped her chin, his gaze sharp: “Today is An’an’s birthday. You will behave and attend the banquet. Once it’s over, I will take you to the pharmacy to treat your meridians. You won’t lack any pills or spirit stones as compensation.”

“But if you refuse the toast and spoil her birthday, I won’t hesitate to turn you into a true cripple!”

Upon hearing the mention of pills and spirit stones, Jiang Heng stopped struggling.

Though the E Luo Path was powerful, her realm was too low; these supplementary materials were very important to her at present.

No matter how much she loathed or resisted these people, she would never refuse benefits. She wasn’t a fool—who would quarrel with spirit stones?

When Huo Shiqing brought Jiang Heng to the banquet, the lively atmosphere instantly froze.

Those who had been smiling now frowned and whispered among themselves.

Xu Ning’an, seemingly unaware, stepped forward, took Jiang Heng’s hand, and warmly led her to a seat.

“Senior Sister, why are you only coming now? I’ve been waiting for you for so long. Third Senior Brother is back today too. You must miss him a lot, right?”

As soon as these words came out, the already frozen atmosphere turned utterly dead silent.

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Jiang Huai Xu looked at Jiang Heng as though she were a stranger; Jiang Heng, in turn, completely ignored him.

She raised a glass to Xu Ning’an: “Today is our little junior sister’s birthday. Senior Sister has nothing else to give you, so please accept this toast as a token of my feelings.”

With that, she downed the drink in one gulp.

This reaction stunned Xu Ning’an.

Why was Jiang Heng so calm today, not even glancing at Jiang Huai Xu, who once caused her such pain and emotional turmoil?

Xu Ning’an was not the only one surprised; Shen Yanchu also froze, Huo Shiqing narrowed his eyes, and Xia Zhiyu looked around at everyone in confusion.

Jiang Huai Xu’s expression remained unchanged, but his gaze stayed fixed on Jiang Heng.

She turned slightly away from him, her face indifferent, her demeanor detached.

As if all past events were irrevocable and insignificant.

After a long moment, Xu Ning’an regained her composure and smiled brightly, showing Jiang Heng the precious gifts she had received.

“An’an got so many gifts this year; your gift isn’t missed, so as long as you came, I’m very happy.”

“Oh, this one was from Third Senior Brother! Look, isn’t this hairpin beautiful?”

Xu Ning’an waved the purple crabapple flower hairpin before Jiang Heng’s eyes.

Shen Yanchu wanted to step forward to say something but was pulled back by Huo Shiqing.

Jiang Heng expressionlessly stared at the somewhat familiar flower hairpin.

Xia Zhiyu’s palms sweated, ready to intervene and restrain Jiang Heng should she lose her temper.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Heng merely smiled faintly: “Very beautiful. It suits you.”

Xu Ning’an stared directly at Jiang Heng, momentarily at a loss for words.

All the carefully prepared pained and innocent expressions she had planned vanished, and the pride and superiority she had brewed dissolved instantly.

Several nearby disciples, seeing Xu Ning’an’s stiff expression, felt deeply sorry and quickly tried to smooth things over.

“An’an, you should keep that hairpin safe. Not everyone is worthy to receive a gift personally carved by Brother Jiang.”

“Exactly. Some people pretend not to care, but deep down, they’re probably insanely jealous. They might even go back to their cave residence and smash things.”

Though Jiang Huai Xu ranked third, he was the disciple most resembling the Cloud Hidden Immortal Lord, both in talent and temperament.

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Everyone believed he was the most likely to succeed the Cloud Hidden Immortal Lord as the peak leader, or even as sect master.

Combined with his peerless looks, he remained cold and distant to all, yet his popularity inside and outside the sect rivaled Huo Shiqing’s.

A hairpin carved by his own hand carried undeniable weight.

Xu Ning’an bit her lip, hesitating: “Don’t jump to conclusions. My Senior Sister isn’t like that.”

Then, cautiously, she looked toward Jiang Heng: “Senior Sister won’t be angry, right?”

Before Jiang Heng could speak, Shen Yanchu interrupted: “It’s rare for us to gather today. Let’s all have a good drink and not leave until we’re drunk.”

He subtly pulled Jiang Heng behind him.

Seeing the senior brother clearly wanting to avoid dwelling on the matter, those who had been making snide remarks awkwardly left.

This birthday banquet left Xu Ning’an in a sour mood.

She had insisted on inviting Jiang Heng just to build her own happiness on Jiang Heng’s pain and to re-enact old tricks.

But Jiang Heng did not lose her mind; her calm reaction neither angered the senior brothers nor failed to attract a few extra glances from Third Senior Brother.

This unfavorable turn made Xu Ning’an restless. She quickly found an excuse to invite the senior brothers to her cave residence, deliberately excluding Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng was only too glad to leave; as soon as she heard they were leaving, she promptly took her leave.

Shen Yanchu wanted to stop her but was too late. He looked at Xu Ning’an: “Why didn’t you ask your Senior Sister?”

Xu Ning’an was startled, her eyes misting with tears, feeling wronged: “I… I thought Senior Sister’s mood wasn’t very good all along and assumed she didn’t want to stay with us…”

Huo Shiqing frowned: “Why blame the Little Junior Sister? Jiang Heng’s deadpan face is off-putting to everyone. Today is An’an’s special day. We didn’t even like her and still invited her to drink—that’s already courtesy enough. Why stir up trouble?”

Shen Yanchu said nothing.

Xia Zhiyu quickly lightened the mood with several jokes, finally making the senior brother and the little junior sister smile. Together, everyone flew toward Xu Ning’an’s cave residence.

Xia Zhiyu sighed in relief, then secretly sighed again.

Being the fourth brother really isn’t easy. Without him, this sect would surely fall apart!