FVN Chapter 23 The Black Sheep, Expelled from the Sect
Chapter 23 The Black Sheep, Expelled from the Sect
Just as Wu Shao was about to go find Liang Jin, a figure flew over the forest.
He flew above Liu He and the others, slowly descended, and finally hovered two zhang above the ground.
He wore a wide-sleeved Taoist robe with light cloud patterns, the sleeves and hem fluttering in the wind with the spiritual energy surrounding him.
Her full head of silver hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, and her long, snow-white beard hung down from her temples, fluttering in the wind.
His face was thin and aged, with shallow wrinkles but a warm complexion; he was old but not withered.
His eyes were half-closed, clear and calm, serene and still.
It was Liang Jin, a ninth-level Qi Refining disciple who oversaw the entire outer mountain forest.
"Senior Brother Liang~"
"Senior Brother Liang."
The people present bowed and greeted each other in unison.
"Wu Shao, come with me."
Liang Jin's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.
Wu Shao's heart skipped a beat. Having worked under Liang Jin for many years, he was keenly aware of Liang Jin's displeasure.
The two of them arrived at a distance, one in front and one behind.
Liang Jin landed on a large, protruding rock, his scrutinizing gaze fixed on Wu Shao: "Wu Shao, do you have a probationary repairman named Feng Zhe under your command?"
"Yes, Senior Brother Liang."
Wu Shao wondered, what was wrong with Feng Zhe?
Did something happen or did they cause trouble?
"Someone complained to me that Feng Zhe had cheated people out of spirit stones, and more than once."
"this……"
Wu Shao remembered that a few days ago a trial repairman had mentioned this matter to him, but he hadn't taken it to heart.
He heard it was a "borrowing," so how did it become a "scam"?
Such trivial matters often occurred among the menial disciples, so he couldn't be bothered to care.
"Senior Brother Liang, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If the investigation confirms the facts, I will expel him from the sect. Our sect cannot tolerate such a black sheep."
He assured him.
"Wu Shao, quite a few things have happened under your command lately. Have you been so engrossed in dual cultivation that you've neglected your duties?"
Liang Jin knew that Wu Shao and Song Qian, a servant disciple, had become Daoist partners.
Recently, Wu Shao's subordinates have indeed caused quite a few troubles. First, Sun Yan went to Lingzhi Peak to steal spiritual plants, then there was a termite infestation, and now someone has gone to Liang Jin to complain.
"Senior Brother Liang is right."
Wu Shao's face turned pale and then red, and he lowered his head in shame: "I will definitely rectify the situation and make sure there are no more mistakes."
There is another matter I would like to ask Senior Brother Liang to decide. Last time, with the termite infestation, more than a dozen century-old trees were saved. Could the matter of punishing Linglu be dropped...?
"Can."
Liang Jin uttered a single word and then flew away on his own.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
After Liu He and his group saw Liang Jin and Wu Shao exchange a few words and leave in the distance, Wu Shao's expression turned grim.
"Senior Brother Wu, what's wrong?"
"Didn't Senior Brother Liang exempt us from punishment?"
"..."
"No, Senior Brother Liang has agreed to exempt you from punishment. Let me ask about Feng Zhe; did he swindle you out of spirit stones?"
Wu Shao began investigating Feng Zhe.
"Feng Zhe?"
Liu He, Li Liangtian, and Zhao Cai looked at each other, unsure of how to begin.
Wang Yarong had only been at the forest farm for a short time and was unaware of Feng Zhe's borrowing of the spirit stones. The last time Feng Zhe tried to strike up a conversation with her, she had ridiculed and belittled him, driving him away.
Li Liangtian nodded and said, "Senior Brother Wu, he did indeed borrow spirit stones from me."
"Is it a loan or a scam? Explain yourself."
"Borrowing and not repaying is deception. He spoke with sincerity, but in reality, he was making up excuses to lure him with benefits and promises to repay more spirit stones."
He hasn't returned a single one of the spirit stones he borrowed.
Liu He then revealed what was on everyone's mind.
Tell me in detail when he borrowed the spirit stones and what he said.
Wu Shao inquired carefully.
Liang Jin personally took charge of this matter; he couldn't afford to be careless.
He not only inquired about Liu He and his group, but also about all the other trial repairmen under his command.
Feng Zhe would find out who had borrowed spirit stones and how much they had borrowed.
Seeing Wu Shao's seriousness, Liu He secretly thought that Feng Zhe was in trouble.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Two days later, at the forest farm.
Wu Shao ordered everyone to assemble.
Before he arrived, all the servants and disciples under his command had already arrived.
The group stood in twos and threes, chatting about recent events.
"Li Liangtian, I heard that the termite infestation in your forest area has been resolved, and the fines for violating the regulations have been waived?"
He heard it from Zhao Cai.
"It was thanks to Senior Brother Liu and Senior Sister Wang. They used magic to kill the termites," Li Liangtian said truthfully.
"Is that so? That's impressive."
"..."
In the crowd, Feng Zhe was unaware that he was about to face a terrible disaster.
He heard from others that Liu He, Li Liangtian, and others had been spared punishment, and his originally good mood instantly turned gloomy.
"The punishment is waived? What about the termites I painstakingly released?"
"I finally managed to get hold of so many termite nests..."
At this moment, Wu Shao arrived, and everyone present fell silent.
He cut to the chase: "As you all know, I've been investigating Feng Zhe these past few days. Feng Zhe~~"
Investigating me?
Feng Zhe was stunned for a moment, and his mood suddenly plummeted.
"Brother Wu, I've been diligent and conscientious in guarding the forest; I haven't slacked off. Is there some misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding? You borrowed spirit stones with a string of lies, promising high interest rates or even doubling the return, didn't you?"
Wu Shao stared expressionlessly at Feng Zhe's attempt to argue.
Feng Zhe wouldn't admit it so easily: "Senior Brother Wu, I really did borrow spirit stones. Once I'm promoted to a full-fledged handyman, I'll definitely pay back every single one I owe."
At this moment, the people who had borrowed spirit stones from Feng Zhe could no longer hold back.
"Senior Brother Wu, he's lying!"
He said he would pay me back in two months, but he keeps delaying it.
"I need it now, I can't wait until later."
"..."
Wu Shao gestured for them to be quiet, saying, "I've already understood the situation, so don't rush me."
He then looked at Feng Zhe: "I'm giving you one last chance. Return every single spirit stone to them, immediately! You don't need to pay more; just return what you borrowed."
He planned to ask those people to help him get his spirit stones back, so he kept Feng Zhe at the sect for another month.
Anyway, there's less than a month left before the trial period for the miscellaneous tasks begins.
Return the spirit stones?
If the spirit stones are returned, Feng Zhe will definitely have no chance to break through to the Qi Refining stage.
He borrowed it through his own ability, so why should he pay it back?
Feng Zhe figured he wouldn't even have enough spirit stones left to repay the loan, so he decided to play the rogue and said, "Senior Brother Wu, I've already spent all the spirit stones I borrowed on a Meridian Opening Pill."
I'm just a little short of breaking through to the Qi Refining stage, and I'm sure I'll succeed before the six-month deadline.
Wu Shao saw that he was incorrigible.
Even if someone like that breaks through to the Qi Refining stage, they are not worthy of staying in the sect.
If they remain under Wu Shao's command, who knows what trouble they might cause him again.
"Feng Zhe, effective immediately, you are expelled from the sect. You have one day to pack your belongings and get out."
"..."
Feng Zhe's face was ashen. He was just a hair's breadth away from staying in the sect, but all his efforts were in vain.
He was short one spirit stone to buy the Meridian Opening Pill, and he had just borrowed it a few days ago.
He currently has nine spirit stones, and with the last spirit stone he receives this month, he can buy the Meridian Opening Pill and break through to the Qi Refining stage.
"What are you waiting for? Hand over your identity jade token!"
Wu Shao shouted loudly.
"Yes."
Feng Zhe reluctantly handed over his identity jade token.
He was expelled from the sect, but fortunately he kept nine spirit stones.
These nine spiritual stones were his reliance for making a comeback.
The world is vast, and it is not only home to the Holy Ancestor Qian Yuan.
If a major sect like the Qian Yuan Holy Sect wouldn't accept him, what about those smaller sects?
If all else fails, one can become a wandering cultivator.
However, if one does not join a major sect, the path to immortality will be much more arduous and difficult.