Zhao Yunru, you betrayed Daoya?

Zhao Yunlong made Dan Ye kneel for a full three hours, from daytime into night.

The bluestone floor was hard and cold, but for a Foundation Establishment cultivator this was nothing.

What truly frightened Dan Ye was his master’s attitude.

During this time, Zhao Yunlong did not say a single word to him.

He did not even spare him a single glance.

He simply sat beneath the tree, drinking tea, pot after pot replaced.

Suddenly, Dan Ye heard Zhao Yunlong’s voice.

At once, he lifted his long-bowed head as though a great weight had been lifted, his face full of anxious reverence.

“Dan Ye, do you know why your master made you kneel?”

Dan Ye understood his master’s temperament well.

Playing dumb now would only disappoint him further.

He could only answer honestly.

“Master, your disciple made the decision on his own to invite Junior Sister Cao to join Yuzheng Pavilion…”

Before he had finished speaking, Zhao Yunlong let out a cold hum.

“Good. Good. So you still have not become completely foolish.”

“Master, I do not understand,” Dan Ye could not help but say.

“Do you not support me continuing to expand Yuzheng Pavilion?

Now, my business spans the entire Blackiron Immortal Dynasty, and even reaches beyond the borders.

When our sect’s disciples outside find themselves in need, so long as Yuzheng Pavilion is able, we assist them.

The stronger Yuzheng Pavilion is, the more benefit it brings to us, does it not?”

Zhao Yunlong stared at Dan Ye for a long time.

In the end, he only sighed and shook his head.

“It seems your development these past years has been too smooth, to the point that you have lost the most basic sense of caution toward this world.”

Dan Ye did not understand.

He stubbornly argued.

“Although Junior Sister Cao is inexperienced, you know what kind of person your disciple is.

No matter what, she is one of our same sect.

Now she is even a direct disciple of Sword Sect like I am.

How could I possibly harm her?”

“Harm her?”

A whisk appeared in Zhao Yunlong’s hand.

He flicked it gently.

The soft white hairs suddenly lengthened like a whip and struck Dan Ye’s shoulder.

Pa.

Dan Ye’s expression changed instantly.

Cold sweat soaked his back, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

The strike felt as though his shoulder had been torn open, yet outwardly his body showed no injury.

That was the terrifying part of the technique—wounding without leaving a mark.

Zhao Yunlong seemed still dissatisfied, and struck twice more.

One strike made his ears ring and vision darken.

One strike made his heart pound wildly and his organs feel as though they were splitting.

This punishment was one Dan Ye had endured many times in earlier years.

When he was careless in alchemy.

When he slacked in cultivation.

When he deceived fellow disciples for business deals.

Whenever he made a serious error, Zhao Yunlong would strike him three times with the whisk.

One strike for the body.

One strike for the senses.

One strike for the organs.

Each time, the pain was unbearable, yet it left no permanent harm.

The suffering, however, was beyond what an outsider could comprehend.

“Even if you had ten times your courage, you would not dare to harm your fellow disciple!”

Zhao Yunlong’s voice rose, anger showing on his face.

“What I am angry about—you truly have no idea?”

“Your disciple does not know. I beg Master to enlighten me!” Dan Ye bowed low to the ground.

Zhao Yunlong said, “You are a businessman. This is something I should not need to teach you.”

“To do business, it is not enough to recognize goods. You must recognize people.”

“You do not know who stands behind Cao Xueyan?”

“Peak Lord of the Talisman Peak, Xiao Menglan.”

“Master and disciple are like one body. Honor shared, loss shared.”

“Xiao Menglan was once fellow disciple to Sect Master Qin Mo. She is of the Sect Master’s faction.”

“If you draw Cao Xueyan into your business, then tell me—am I to enter the game, or not?”

Dan Ye suddenly understood, and a chilling fear spread through him.

The cultivation world was not only about strength.

It was about connections, allegiances, and factions—especially within a sect.

The current Azure Cloud Sword Sect had two major factions.

One led by Sect Master Qin Mo and Deputy Sect Master Xiao Menglan.

The other, Zhao Yunlong’s side.

The struggle for the next Sect Master was subtle but ever-present.

Xiao Menglan taking a disciple meant her faction now had a successor.

Zhao Yunlong’s side also hoped to produce a successor.

But now, Dan Ye’s action had created a direct link between the two competing lines—and obligations and favors would inevitably follow.

Such a situation was delicate.

Such a situation was dangerous.

Dan Ye finally understood the weight of his mistake.

He crawled to his master’s feet, weeping like a child.

“Master, your disciple is unfilial—unfilial—unfilial!”

Zhao Yunlong, long accustomed to peace and quiet, felt his ears ache from the wailing.

Without hesitation, he smacked him across the face.

“Look at your disgraceful appearance! If the others saw you like this, how would they view me? Would they not say I failed to teach you properly?”

“Ah? But they are my children too—they would not blame Master!”

“Nonsense!!”

Zhao Yunlong, normally calm as still water, now outright cursed.

“You rebellious brat! You leave your children to be raised in the Alchemy Hall like stray animals, and I, an old man of over seven hundred years, must look after them! Tell me—does that make any sense?!”

The more he spoke, the angrier he became.

He continued.

“Other children, even if their talent is poor, I can still raise them. I have resources enough.”

“But the one who worries me most—is your child!”

“And you, as the father, do not—唉!”

Dan Ye wiped his face with a hand that had just been pressed against the dirty ground.

“Master… since the words have already been spoken and can’t be taken back… what should we do now?”

“What should we do? Let it be!”

Zhao Yunlong said calmly.

“Xiao Menglan most likely already knows. She is probably sitting there planning what benefits to offer in return for entering this arrangement.”

Dan Ye felt his scalp go numb.

He whispered, “Then… what should I do?”

“If you can stomach it, then take whatever she gives you.”

“It may not be fortune dropping from the heavens, but it will be real benefits to you.”

“Then Master, you…”

“Oh, now you think of me? Where was that thought when you were speaking nonsense earlier?”

He snorted.

“Today I play the villain because you remembered me at least a little.”

“A few hundred years old bones—I do not fear gossip anymore.”

“If this were in the old days, I would have stripped you and thrown you at their doorstep to apologize in person!”

Zhao Yunlong stood and looked toward the direction of Talisman Peak.

He sighed deeply, his thoughts unknown.