Chapter 49: A Certain Path to Death

"Severing karmic ties?"

Zhao Zhen paused slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

In the Quanque, severing karmic ties was the sole method for a member to officially leave the sect.

To break away from Quanque, one must first publicly confess past sins and announce their departure through a formal public ceremony, inviting witnesses from both the righteous and unorthodox paths to act as guarantors.

Secondly, throughout the duration of the severance period, the individual must accept challenges from any and all enemies who held grudges against them, using this as penance to demonstrate a total and absolute break from their past.

The rules of severing ties sounded simple enough in theory, but every Quanque member knew it was nothing short of a death sentence.

Could anyone who joined Quanque truly claim their hands were free of blood debts?

Moreover, in this era, all orthodox sects harbored a deep, bone-deep hatred for the freaks and outcasts of Quanque.

Even if there were no prior grievances, the mere fact that one was a Quanque member was reason enough for practitioners to trade blows, often fighting to the death.

Thus, while the path to leaving the sect existed in name, the brutal reality was that ever since this custom began circulating, not a single Quanque member had ever dared to attempt it.

The reason was simple: it was a path of certain death.

While Quanque consisted of all sorts of eccentric characters, it did not mean they were fools.

Already hunted and reviled across the entire world of practitioners, the severance ceremony required a full seven days of vulnerability—seven days during which anyone could come to settle scores, and during which one was forbidden to flee.

Unless tired of living, who in their right mind would initiate a severance ceremony?

At this thought, Zhao Zhen's heart sank slightly, a sudden ominous premonition gripping him.

If it were any other Quanque member, though rare, Zhang Zhiwei—as a disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion—would likely not have bothered paying attention.

Yet, given the expression Zhang Zhiwei currently wore, did that not mean...

"The person choosing to sever ties is that old man of mine, isn't it?"

"Mm."

Zhang Zhiwei nodded, his expression complex and heavy.

Hearing this confirmation, a bitter, self-deprecating smile touched the corners of Zhao Zhen's lips.

As expected, he had already sensed a foreboding dread before ascending the mountain, yet he had not anticipated the news arriving so swiftly.

"Wugen Sheng has announced the matter to the entire practitioner community in the name of the Quanque leader."

"When?"

"A month from now."

"Where?"

"Siming Mountain, Yongzhou."

Hearing the three words "Siming Mountain," Zhao Zhen froze for a fraction of a second.

He vaguely recalled the old man mentioning in his childhood that Siming Mountain seemed to be his hometown...

"Is that so? I understand."

Zhao Zhen nodded, neither joyous nor sorrowful, his face devoid of any readable expression.

"Old Zhao, are you going?"

"I don't know."

Zhao Zhen slowly shook his head.

In a situation like that, even if he went, it would be utterly impossible to alter the outcome of the severance.

Besides, if he truly went, was he supposed to stand by and watch helplessly as that old man was beaten to death by the enemies he had accumulated over a lifetime?

Though he wasn't certain about others, the Lu family would undoubtedly not miss such a grand spectacle.

"Very well."

Zhang Zhiwei patted Zhao Zhen on the shoulder, offering no further words of persuasion.

To be fair, Zhang Zhiwei cared little for the fate of Master Jinguang regarding this severance. After all, the man had committed numerous atrocities in the past, and even if he perished at the hands of his enemies during the ritual, the vast majority of people would only clap and cheer.

Yet, while Master Jinguang deserved death, Zhao Zhen was entirely different.

Despite their relatively brief time together, Zhang Zhiwei had long since regarded Zhao Zhen as one of his few genuine friends outside of his fellow disciples on the mountain.

Considering the bond between Zhao Zhen and Master Jinguang, the primary reason Zhang Zhiwei had come in person to deliver the news was his lingering concern that Zhao Zhen might act out of impulse and commit some foolish act.

"The foot of the mountain is bound to grow increasingly turbulent during this period. Why not wait until this storm blows over before heading down?" Zhang Zhiwei probed tentatively.

Zhao Zhen remained silent, lowering his head into a prolonged, heavy contemplation.

A moment later, just as Zhang Zhiwei assumed he had accepted the advice, Zhao Zhen suddenly raised his head.

"No. I've imposed upon you all for long enough during this time. It's time for me to head down the mountain as well."

"Are you planning to go to Siming Mountain?" Zhang Zhiwei frowned instantly at the declaration.

"Yes."

Zhao Zhen had no intention of concealing his intentions, choosing instead to nod openly and candidly.

"Old Zhao, don't do anything reckless!"

"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing. No matter what, I was raised by that old man's own hands. Though he may not give me the chance to repay his nurturing grace in this lifetime, at the very least, I must go and collect his remains, mustn't I?"

With a faint, bitter smile, Zhao Zhen cupped his fists in a salute toward Zhang Zhiwei.

"Zhiwei, I appreciate your good intentions, but in this life, there are things one must not do, and things one is bound to do.

No matter what, I have to go and see the old man off on his final journey."

"Very well. Since your mind is made up, I won't try to stop you."

Zhang Zhiwei let out a long, heavy sigh before continuing, "Actually, this whole affair caught me quite off guard. I truly never expected your master would choose to sever ties with Quanque."

"Indeed, I didn't expect it either. Still, perhaps this is for the best. The old man lived in a daze for most of his life; if he can regain his clarity for even a brief moment before death, it is not a bad thing."

"You actually knew he would do this all along, didn't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since you came up the mountain, I could tell you were harboring something heavy in your heart."

"Was it really that obvious?" Zhao Zhen blinked, slightly puzzled.

"Well, when a person keeps things bottled up inside, the look in their eyes changes entirely compared to ordinary times~"

Witnessing Zhang Zhiwei's feigned profundity, a genuine smile finally surfaced at the edge of Zhao Zhen's lips.

"You bastard, would it kill you not to put on airs?"

...

One hour later, inside the grand hall of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

"Zhao Zhen has gone down the mountain?" Zhang Jingqing asked.

"Yes, disciple escorted him down personally," Zhang Zhiwei nodded.

"That old fellow Duan Chuan, making such a grand commotion right at death's door. Severing ties... Heh, considering everything he has done in the past, dying eight hundred times over wouldn't be surprising."

"That's why, upon hearing the news, I couldn't help but feel a shred of respect for Duan Chuan. Knowing full well that the severance is a path to death, he still dared to choose to leave Quanque without a shred of hesitation."

"Indeed. If this were the past, an old scoundrel who spent his whole life fleeing would never have made such a choice, especially since he prized his own life above all others in the entire practitioner community.

Tell me, why would he suddenly become so untethered and resolute?"

Zhang Jingqing nodded, a flicker of profound doubt crossing his eyes.

"Were it not for Zhao Zhen's presence, this master would truly be tempted to go and witness firsthand what schemes that old fellow is cooking up."

"Forget it, Master. Disciple could tell that Old Zhao was already in immense inner turmoil just now."

"Sigh, what a pity. Awakening always comes far too late. If he had realized this sooner, how could it have come to this?

Very well, dwell on it no longer. The foot of the mountain will only grow more restless in the days ahead. Tell your fellow disciples that, henceforth, without my express permission, no one is permitted to leave the mountain privately. Understood?"

"Understood, Master! Disciple will go and inform them right away!"