Chapter 125: An Unexpected Trial (Part 1)

Just as Wei Yuning turned toward his residence, a few steps ahead he saw a familiar figure dressed in a laborer's uniform.

"Stop right there, don't move!" he shouted at the back.

Hearing Wei Yuning's shout, the laborer ahead ran even faster.

A green vine suddenly appeared, instantly coiling around the laborer's body, then like a massive green python it twisted, lifted the laborer high, swung sharply, and flung him in front of Wei Yuning.

Terrified, the laborer knelt quickly and cried, "Uncle Master, spare me! It's not my fault; it's all Uncle Master Qing Yun's order, I had no choice!"

"Get up first!" Wei Yuning said angrily.

Someone in the distance had already noticed this, and Wei Yuning feared being accused of bullying a laborer; his appointment as steward hadn't been formalized yet, and such rumors would be terribly damaging.

This laborer was none other than the fellow who had been tailing him before the assassination attempt at the herb garden cliff; had he not slipped up, Wei Yuning wouldn't have noticed anything amiss.

Wei Yuning hadn't seen him these past days; it turned out the fellow had been deliberately avoiding him.

The laborer stood, turned his face toward Wei Yuning, looking like an aggrieved daughter‑in‑law.

Wei Yuning was stunned; this laborer was so "handsome"!

He was clearly a man, yet he had a delicate, almost feminine appearance, especially now that the vines had left his hair loose, making him look even more like a woman.

He was only fifteen or sixteen, short, with a well‑proportioned build, and his youthful face was filled with panic.

"What's your name? Which hall are you from?" Wei Yuning asked.

His spiritual sense flickered, and he retracted the green vines.

The technique he just used resembled Elder Xuyè's improved binding spell, but it actually belonged to the Plant Domain ability. The Plant Domain covers a radius of about six or seven zhang—roughly a ten‑meter‑radius circle. Within the domain, the types and numbers of plants can be controlled, ranging from dozens of species and thousands of plants to merely a single simple vine.

The plants in the Plant Domain are genuine plants, no different from those in the improved binding spell; however, while they exist, they draw energy from the cultivator's internal spirit power, and if that spirit power is withdrawn or insufficient, the plants vanish.

Plants within the Plant Domain can entangle enemies, attack them, or defend against them—ever‑changing and at the caster's will.

However, compared with the improved binding spell, the Plant Domain has several drawbacks. First, its attack range is limited; currently Wei Yuning's binding spell reaches about thirty meters, three times the Plant Domain's radius. Second, the Plant Domain relies heavily on spirit power—once the command is issued, the subsequent attacks are carried out mainly by the plants themselves, drawing energy from nearby soil, water, or any source, with spirit power serving mainly as a control mechanism.

Thus, in terms of combat endurance, the binding spell still has the edge. Of course, within the Plant Domain, provided spirit power is abundant, the domain is nearly invincible.

"My name is Rui Bao. I was originally a laborer in the Pill Refining Hall's alchemy workshop, but… I offended an uncle master and was nearly expelled from the sect. Steward Qing Yun took me in and assigned me to do odd jobs in the herb garden," Rui Bao said.

"You…" Wei Yuning hesitated, unsure what to say.

Bullying a laborer is certainly not a heroic act, but the pitiful often have blameworthy traits. This Rui Bao was restless in his cultivation, assisting others in clearly ulterior tasks; if he faces punishment, he deserves it.

"Get out!" Wei Yuning finally said helplessly.

"Thank you, Uncle Master!" Rui Bao hurried away.

"Uncle Master! Ah, hearing that title makes me feel old! But this kid's appearance is good; he'd actually make a fine actor!" Wei Yuning muttered to himself as Rui Bao walked away.

There's nothing to do; it coincides with the sect's fifty‑year cycle of generational shifts. New first‑character foundation‑establishment disciples have emerged, and those laborer disciples who haven't yet founded a base immediately dropped a rank.

"I also think the sect's generational changes are too fast; in the blink of an eye I became a Grand Uncle Master, haha! But what exactly is an actor?" a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Brother Hong Zhi, why are you in the Pill Refining Hall?" Wei Yuning said happily, "Uncle Master Yun Yan is also here; you all got up early!"

"I've taken Daoist friend Yun Yan on a tour; from now on, Daoist friend Yun Yan will be the Guest Minister of the Cloud Hidden Sect, handling the sect's external liaison! By the way, what exactly was your 'actor' just now?" Hong Zhi asked, puzzled.

"That's great, Uncle Master Yun Yan! As for the actor, it's… a role, similar to a performer!" Wei Yuning replied.

"A performer? Oh, oh!" Hong Zhi nodded vaguely.

"What were you doing with that laborer earlier, why did you get physical?" Yun Yan asked with a smile.

"I… never mind, let's not bring it up. But I was being courteous to him; honestly, beating him up would have been justified!" Wei Yuning said.

"Punishment when deserved is appropriate; rewarding merit and penalizing faults is the proper way. Now that you're starting as steward, you'll encounter many similar situations—just mind the limits," Hong Zhi said casually.

"What business is there today?" Yun Yan asked immediately after.

Wei Yuning felt a stir inside and spoke frankly, "Today I need to go outside the sect to handle a thorny matter!"

"Oh, what's the thorny matter? Let me hear!" Hong Zhi said, genuinely interested.

Wei Yuning gave a brief account of the situation in the Xi Kingdom.

Hong Zhi and Yun Yan exchanged a glance, then said to Wei Yuning, "Nothing urgent these past two days; I'll go with you."

Yun Yan smiled, "I have nothing to do either!"

"Aren't you busy?" Wei Yuning asked curiously. Gaining permission from the two seniors was, of course, something he coveted.

"I've already handed the daily duties of the External Affairs Office to Qing Wu; Yun Yan's junior sister's role is a sinecure, so we have plenty of time! By the way, I just had an idea—why not use this outing to invite some outstanding sect disciples and treat it as training for them?" Hong Zhi laughed heartily.

The Yun Yan Fairy nodded and smiled, "I agree; Feng Qi girl happens to be here, I'll bring her along."

Hong Zhi laughed, "Since they're all disciples from the last marriage alliance gathering, I'll just summon the top‑ranked ones as well!"

"Fine, but it's a pity the Blue Luan Sect's mountain gate is sealed, so Feng Wu girl can't come out!" Yun Yan Fairy said.

The Blue Luan Sect hadn't locked everyone inside the mountain gate; about a tenth of its members remained outside. Most of them stayed at friendly sects with which they once had marriage alliances, while some became wandering cultivators, training while gathering information for the sect.