Chapter 28

It was true.

[But the Medicine Sect Master didn't know any of this. He'd always thought his son devoted himself to cultivation. In fact, when his son claimed he was going into seclusion ten years ago and again three years ago, he went to affiliated schools under the Sect to find women. He even abducted women by force and made city lords in the Mortal World gather a harem for him. It was outrageous. Just today, he locked a young woman in his cave residence, waiting to spend their wedding night together.]

Li Zi couldn't help turning to look at the Medicine Sect Master.

The Medicine Sect Master truly looked every inch a refined gentleman.

He wore a white robe, with handsome features and an elegant bearing. Though he was getting on in years, traces of his youthful charm remained.

[His son is that awful, and he really doesn't know? Also, what do you mean his son isn't his biological son?]

[The way you're telling it, I'm starting to suspect the Medicine Sect Master has been covering for his son.]

The Medicine Sect Master stood rooted to the spot, as if turned to stone.

As far as he remembered, his son had always been obedient and sensible, focused entirely on cultivation. Though he'd achieved little, he worked hard.

How could this be?

Were they talking about his son?

What utter nonsense!

Covering for him?

He certainly hadn't!

He'd lived his whole life openly and honorably. Never had he imagined his wretched son had ruined his reputation behind his back long ago.

The Medicine Sect Master didn't need to turn around to know the Sect's disciples were stealing glances at him.

The two female disciples looked especially indignant.

Clearly, they'd thought this all along.

With the Sect Master's son throwing his weight around, female disciples had a hard time surviving in the Sect.

Once, a female disciple had been practicing her swordplay in her cave residence when the Sect Master's son hid in a tree to watch her. He'd even remarked that her backside wasn't perky enough.

Furious, she'd left the Sect and rarely returned.

[The Medicine Sect Master really doesn't know how awful his son is. He definitely hasn't covered for him. That boy isn't actually his biological son. Come to think of it, he's the son of his enemy.]

[When the Medicine Sect Master was young, he was sickly, so he studied alchemy and medicinal theory under an Imperial Preceptor in the Mortal World. He had a junior fellow disciple, too. Both of them married in their teens while they were still in the Mortal World

and had children.

Their wives gave birth on the same day, and his junior fellow disciple switched their sons while they were still infants.]

The Medicine Sect Master's expression shifted again and again.

Confusion, nostalgia, shock...

At last, disbelief settled over his face.

Those were events from many years ago.

He had indeed studied alchemy and medicinal theory under the Imperial Preceptor, his Master.

He'd also married in the Mortal World and had a son.

But after his Master and wife died, he'd taken his son to the Medicine King Sect to cultivate.

With exceptional talent, tremendous perseverance, and relentless effort, he had broken through to Nascent Soul, become an eighth-grade alchemist, and firmly secured his position as the Medicine King Sect Master.

He hadn't spoken of those old events in years.

No one in the Sect knew about them, either.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined...

His son had been switched?

No wonder he'd always felt his son looked nothing like him, but bore some resemblance to his former junior fellow disciple. He'd thought it was only his imagination.

The other powerful figures present were engrossed in the gossip. One look at the Medicine Sect Master's face told them it had to be true.

For a moment, they were all astonished.

The Medicine King Sect had always been the stuff of legend.

Nearly ninety percent of the cultivation world's Alchemists came from the Medicine King Sect. The Sect was wealthy, and unlike those who focused on Body Tempering, its members primarily cultivated mental power.

Methods for cultivating mental power were exceedingly rare and difficult to practice. Throughout the cultivation world, they were the stuff of legend.

Now that everyone knew the Medicine Sect Master's son had been switched, no one mocked him. Most felt sorry for him, and some could even relate.

The system said, [The Hall of Samsara's Sect Master has raised another man's son, too. What happened to him was even worse. But let me finish telling you about the Medicine Sect Master first.]

Li Zi looked around curiously. [Which one is the Hall of Samsara's Sect Master?]

The powerful figures swept their gazes around without thinking, finally settling on a group of cultivators in black robes.

The Hall of Samsara's cultivators all possessed rare Spiritual Roots. Their Sect stood at the center of the swamp-ridden Black Pool, where few people ventured.

The cultivators of this Sect kept a low profile. Some of them hadn't even shown their faces to this day.

Who would have thought they'd get to hear gossip about them this time?

It was thrilling, like seeing one corner of a mysterious veil lifted.

Hurry, hurry!

Once they'd heard all about the Medicine King Sect Master, they wanted the gossip on the Hall of Samsara's Sect Master!

That Sect was too mysterious and hard to approach.

At that moment, even the Medicine King Sect Master cast a rare glance toward the Hall of Samsara.

His gaze met the Hall of Samsara's Sect Master's, and an unexpected sense of kinship passed between them—two kindred spirits sharing the same misfortune.

[That's the Sect in black robes over there. Everyone in their Sect is socially anxious. They don't like dealing with other people. It's kind of funny. Host, don't get sidetracked. I'm telling you, the Medicine Sect Master used to be a cheerful, sunny young man. It was only after his wife and Master died that he grew quiet and became the cold, unapproachable man he is today. And here's the thing: his junior fellow disciple killed both his wife and his Master!]

The more the system spoke, the more excited it became, its electronic voice rising and falling dramatically.

The Medicine Sect Master's eyes flew wide, and his whole body trembled.

He turned, desperate to demand answers from that voice.

But the moment he raised a hand, the Spirit Sword Sect Master stopped him.

The Sect Master said softly, "Let her finish. There may still be a way to set things right."

Li Zi was so absorbed in the gossip that she didn't notice the strange atmosphere around her.

[That's so awful for the Medicine Sect Master. His wife and Master were murdered, and he's been raising his enemy's son. So where's his biological son? Don't tell me he's dead?]

Rankings

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Transmigration into a Book

Female Supporting Character Fiction

Immortal Cultivation Fiction

Cannon Fodder