Chapter 27: Great Chaos Is Coming!

Zhang Xu was expelled from the Martial Academy?!

This news struck every disciple like a thunderclap from the ninth heaven.

That Zhang Xu—born into wealth, with superior innate talent, always arrogant in the Inner Academy, regarded as a core disciple—

Was personally expelled from the sect by the Headmaster! Permanently removed from the rolls! Even to be branded on the Pillar of Shame!

After a brief shock and silence, a deafening uproar erupted like a volcanic explosion.

“Geez… Zhang Xu was permanently expelled from the sect…”

“Heaven! What did Zhang Xu even do? The Headmaster made it sound so grave!”

“The Headmaster has real guts! Not even showing the Zhang family any respect!”

“That’s true ruin—total disgrace!”

Shock, horror, speculation, excitement, awe—emotions surged wildly through the crowd.

Everyone realized this was no ordinary punishment.

It was Headmaster Liu Qingshi’s harshest judgment, signaling the Academy’s stance—and a complete rupture with the powerful Zhang family.

Among the Inner Academy disciples, those close to Zhang Xu wore grim faces and avoided eye contact.

Those who had long resented him could barely hide their satisfaction.

Zhao Gang, the Senior Disciple of the Academy, stood at the front of the crowd, his thick brows knitted, his square face heavy with solemn thought.

He gazed at his Master’s mountain-like, solemn back on the stage, his heart churning:

What unforgivable sin had that bastard Zhang Xu committed? Why would the Master risk a complete rupture with the Zhang family to employ such a thunderous method?

“The Master has always been sentimental and loyal—unless his limits were crossed, he’d never do this…”

He sensed vaguely that behind this incident lay a storm far greater than what met the eye.

Liu Yiyi and Su Yan stood side by side at the front of the female disciples, already fully aware of the outcome.

Their faces remained as calm as still water, as if the surrounding chaos had nothing to do with them.

Yet the most striking—and most miserable—expression, aside from the two henchmen of Zhang Xu who looked as if they’d lost a parent and wanted to dig a hole and crawl in, belonged to Hu Tian, standing slightly behind the crowd, his face shifting between pale and ashen.

“H-how could this happen…”

Hu Tian felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head—he froze in place, his mind buzzing, utterly blank.

Last night, he had helped Zhang Xu arrange the meeting, escorting Liu Yiyi and Su Yan to the banquet.

And now Zhang Xu was expelled from the Academy…

“Could it be… could it be that Brother Zhang and the two Senior Sisters… had a falling out? A quarrel?”

He swallowed hard, his throat dry and tight, desperately seeking a plausible explanation for this earth-shattering turn.

“But even if they quarreled, even if they fought—how could it escalate to expulsion and branding on the Pillar of Shame?! What kind of disaster could this possibly be?!”

A chill crept slowly up his spine.

He suddenly recalled that this morning, as he entered the Academy, he’d felt two cold gazes settle on him—he’d dismissed it as an illusion.

Now, trembling, he cautiously lifted his eyelids and stole a fleeting glance toward Liu Yiyi and Su Yan.

He met Liu Yiyi’s idle, sidelong glance as she turned her head.

That gaze was icy-clear, utterly devoid of warmth—perhaps even carrying a faint hint of… revulsion and killing intent?

Hu Tian’s heart plummeted, as if dropped into a ten-thousand-foot ice cavern.

“It’s over… I’ve truly offended these two Senior Sisters beyond redemption!”

Panic, like countless icy vines, instantly wrapped around his heart, making it hard to breathe.

Only now did he realize, belatedly, that last night’s affair was far more complicated than Zhang Xu had claimed.

“What am I going to do now?”

Hu Tian’s mind was in chaos.

If he’d offended Liu Yiyi and Su Yan, could he even stay in the Academy?

Night deepened; closing time approached.

The first to leave the Academy today was not an Outer Academy disciple—it was Hu Tian.

He had spent the entire day in panic, and as soon as closing came, he bolted without hesitation.

Jiang Ye watched his fleeing back, his eyes narrowing slightly, lost in thought.

Disciples gradually departed; the courtyard fell silent once more.

Boom.

A soft sound.

After the last disciple stepped over the threshold, Jiang Ye rose slowly and closed the two heavy, lacquered black doors.

As usual, Jiang Ye returned to the gatehouse and changed into a dull, unremarkable gray-brown robe, neither new nor entirely worn.

He stood still within the room, his mind sinking—his consciousness flooded with the true essence of the Thousand Transformations Monkey, flowing like molten mercury.

Inside his body, two hundred and six bones and countless tendons and fascia emitted a faint, dense patter of cracks, like raindrops.

In an instant, the old man standing in the room was no longer the decrepit gatekeeper Jiang Ye—but a tall, thin, unfamiliar-looking elder, dressed plainly, indistinguishable once lost in a crowd.

He walked to the dim bronze mirror in the corner, studied his utterly alien reflection, and nodded slightly.

“Hmm. This appearance suits my purposes.”

Confirmed the disguise was flawless, he reached into his robe and felt the five thousand taels of silver notes hidden against his skin.

Without further delay, Jiang Ye slipped out of the Academy like a spirit deer merging into the night.

Anxi County, eastern district.

Jiang Ye halted before a shop.

The storefront was spacious, with two grand lanterns hanging beneath the eaves, illuminating the black sign with golden characters: Baoyao Hall.

The three characters were bold, iron-drawn and silver-hooked, powerful and commanding, radiating undeniable depth.

He had once heard Liu Qingshi mention in passing that Baoyao Hall was Anxi County’s premier pharmacy—stocking complete herbs and selling high-quality finished elixirs, with powerful backers even linked to the Prefectural City.

Jiang Ye stepped slowly into the hall. Inside, lights blazed brightly, the space open and airy. Rows of tall, dark-wood herb cabinets gleamed with quiet luster; the air carried a complex, calming fragrance of blended herbs.

Behind the counter, several clerks worked methodically, sorting herbs or polishing instruments.

A middle-aged man in a dark blue silk robe, about forty, with a pale, clean face and sharp, alert eyes, saw Jiang Ye enter and immediately set down his ledger, smiling warmly as he stepped forward.

His gaze swept over Jiang Ye’s plain attire, yet the man’s restrained, steady aura and upright posture stirred something in him—he grew even more courteous.

“Elder, welcome to Baoyao Hall. I am Cui Yang, the manager here. How may I assist you? Whatever we have, we’ll ensure your satisfaction.”

Cui Yang bowed respectfully, his tone warm but not obsequious.

Jiang Ye nodded slightly, speaking plainly and without preamble: “I wish to buy Blood-Replenishing Pills.”

“Blood-Replenishing Pills?” Cui Yang’s smile didn’t falter. “Of course. Our Blood-Replenishing Pills use premium ingredients and are expertly refined—superior in efficacy to ordinary ones. The price, however…”

He paused, holding up two fingers: “Currently, twenty-one taels per vial. How many do you need, Elder?”

“Hm?”

Jiang Ye’s brow furrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “Blood-Replenishing Pills have always been twenty taels per vial. Why the increase? Are you trying to cheat an old man who doesn’t travel much?”

He had spent years in the Academy—he knew the standard price. It had always been twenty taels, rarely fluctuating.

“Oh dear, Elder, you’re wronging me!”

Cui Yang quickly bowed again, his face contorted into a pained smile, leaning forward slightly as he lowered his voice with a tone of helplessness and caution:

“It’s not me raising prices—it’s the times. Things are unstable. You’ve surely heard—next door, Lushan County… is in turmoil, sealed off!”

“With the blockade, many herb sources are disrupted. Prices have skyrocketed.”

“We’re forced to raise prices too.”

At this, Jiang Ye’s expression shifted slightly.

Lushan County was right next door—not far from Anxi.

It had been sealed off due to internal unrest…

Anxi would inevitably be affected soon.

Coupled with the growing number of refugees in the city…

Jiang Ye felt a premonition.

Great chaos is coming!