But before he could seize anyone, a whisk pierced straight through his chest.
His blood instantly drenched a small patch of earth around him. The disciple stared in disbelief at the hole that had suddenly appeared in his chest, then... collapsed heavily to the ground.
A ring of dust rose around him, as though every sound had been buried beneath it in that instant.
Su Mianmian thought that the Medicine Gate Master had finally gone mad.
Many disciples stood frozen in place, staring blankly, while Tang Wuchen walked over to the fallen disciple and gathered him into his arms. His mouth hung half-open, but not a single word came out, as though he had lost all ability to speak in that instant.
The Medicine Gate Master sneered. "Do you really think I can't see through any of you? He wanted to secretly lock you up first, then secretly let you go, didn't he? Pulling a stunt like that right under my nose-he must have thought he'd lived too long."
Then he turned his bloodshot eyes on the others. "Do you see? This is what happens when you betray me and the Medicine Gate!"
"How did he betray you?" Tang Wuchen struggled to force the words out of his throat.
His voice was so faint that Su Mianmian almost failed to catch it, but the Medicine Gate Master heard every word.
"How did he betray me? You tell me how he betrayed me! Taking your side like that-perhaps he became one of your people behind my back long ago. The Medicine Gate only needs one master. I'm not old, and I'm not dead yet. What? Are you that impatient?"
Tang Wuchen began to tremble, as though desperately holding something back.
"Betrayal? My people? The position of Medicine Gate Master? Hahahahaha..."
**"You