The Sect Leader System-Chapter 328 - Devastation

Ren Ning wasn’t a talented or top member of the Rising Tide Sect. In fact, he was decidedly average. He’d gotten a big boost when his spirit roots had been raised from F+ to E-, but that left him, relatively speaking, in the same position he’d been in previously—about average.

His only—very small—claim to fame was a congratulations he’d received from the sect leader. Only council members and very few others were addressed by name from him, and somehow, Ren Ning randomly became part of that number after he’d advanced his spear technique to Large Success.

He didn’t let that event inflate his ego, though. His dad had impressed two pieces of advice upon Ren Ning from the time he was a small boy—keep your head down and work hard.

That counsel had served him well in the days prior to the sect leader arriving in Prosperous Gray Forest Village. Back then Ren Ning’s only goal was to help his parents provide for his two younger siblings. He’d avoided drawing attention to himself, letting his work ethic speak for him. Whereas some of the flashier and even some of the more connected villagers his age had drawn the ire of those who needed help tending crops inside the walls, Ren Ning had kept his head down and did what he was told, never trying to tell the person directing the work that he knew best.

Food was still scarce, but his reputation got him enough jobs to keep his family from suffering hunger pangs.

Then, the sect leader had appeared, and soon after, food scarcity stopped being a problem. Ren Ning’s solid reputation had once again benefited him as he was included in the second group of fifty villagers to be inducted.

He’d then proceeded to do what his dad had told him—kept his head down and worked hard. And he’d been … average. So average, in fact, that he’d been quite surprised when he’d done well enough in the Martial Pavilion tournament to qualify to go to Sixth Flawless Flowing City. Once there, he’d been less surprised to get past the first round as his Body Cultivation and superior spear technique carried the day against his opponent from the clan.

The second round, though… That was much tougher. Along with about three quarters of his sect mates, he’d eked out a victory. Leading him to the third round.

As one of the lower seeded of the sect, he’d been matched up with a talent from the Poison Claw Sect, one who’d had a bye for the first two rounds.

Ren Ning had tried his best, utilizing his superior speed and strength, but nothing he did mattered. His opponent was simply too good. Too talented.

The match wasn’t a rout. The Poison Claw Sect member had even given what appeared to be a respectful bow at the end, and Ren Ning held his head high as he exited the arena floor.

He was looking forward to being an observer for the rest of the tournament. Huang Yimun, Zi Delan, and several others had made it through to the fourth round and still had a chance at the finals. And, after the Qi Gathering round ended, the twins would fight as the low Foundation Establishment competitions began. That promised to be entertaining.

Yeah. Things were looking good for Ren Ning. Until he reached into his robe’s inner pocket for his contingency ring.

His stomach sank as his hand came away empty. Desperately, he patted himself all over. Maybe he’d put it in a different pocket. But no, there was no sign of it.

The next thing that occurred to him was that he might have dropped it on the arena floor, but looking back, he didn’t see any metallic glint. And, honestly, if that were where it ended up, he would never find it as the soft sand quickly ate almost anything that was dropped upon it.

His only other thought was that maybe he could have somehow taken it off in his room? Maybe after removing it to wash, he’d never put it back on?

He wanted so badly to run back to the compound and search but couldn’t. The sect traveled to and fro as a group. Until the matches were over for the day, he was stuck.

Anxiously, he waited, unable to keep still, his feet bouncing up and down. He couldn’t have told anyone who won or lost or even who fought.

Finally, after what seemed like days and days, the group returned to the compound, and Ren Ning rushed to his room, where he proceeded to tear the place apart—not that there was much in there to begin with. After fifteen minutes, he was sure that the ring was not in the room, but he still searched for another hour.

Eventually, he had to admit to himself that the contingency ring, which had been created and personally gifted by the sect leader, had been lost. By Ren Ning. He’d lost the ring. The very valuable device created by a Master Blacksmith and Formations Master.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

A priceless item, and he’d lost it.

Devastation didn’t begin to describe how he felt.

A truly horrifying fact occurred to him—he had to tell someone. Right? Or could he hide his carelessness? Pretend that he still had the ring secure in his inner pocket. No one had to know.

After all, once he admitted his idiocy, the Punishment Hall was the least that he could expect. Elder Mo Nuying had a fearsome reputation even before she became a cultivator. Ren Ning had always managed to avoid her ire by keeping his head down, but he’d surely be sent to her.

If he wasn’t cast out of the sect altogether. It hadn’t happened to anyone yet, but someone had to be the first. Stories of sects always talked about how important discipline was and how harshly mistakes were punished.

Admitting that he’s lost the ring would bring shame to himself and his entire family.

He hung his head. The only thing he could do to bring more shame was to hide it.

A few minutes later, he found himself outside the door of the sect leader’s study. While it wasn’t unusual for a sect member to speak with him, it was rare for anyone outside a council member to meet him uninvited. So Ren Ning hesitated.

He could go to the Guard Captain, who was in charge of security. Or to Senior Brother or Senior Sis… No, that would be stupid. To Senior Brother.

But either of those options felt like cowardice. Ren Ning had wronged the sect leader who’d made the ring. The sect leader was the proper person to talk to.

Ren Ning rapped on the door, lightly, twice.

“Come,” a voice called.

The sect leader’s voice.

Ren Ning took a deep breath and entered, striding purposefully into the room, and sank to his knees. He slammed his forehead into the hardwood floor. “This lowly one has erred, Sect Leader.”

“I see. What exactly have you done to merit such an apology?”

“The contingency ring, Sect Leader. This lowly one has lost it. This lowly one has no excuse.”

Ren Ning’s heart thudded in his chest. Time to learn his fate.

Nearly a week had passed since Sun Hua’s disastrous meeting with Wu You, and she found it hard not to keep thinking about it, wondering if he could possibly have been telling the truth. Her entire life experience told her that there was no way he was being honest, but there was a tiny voice in the back of her head saying, “Well, maybe…”

At Yang Xiu’s insistence, Kang Lin had promised to look into the matter, and the two girls would meet soon. Sun Hua was, of course, invited, but she was so very conflicted about going.

Did she want to know? What good would it do? Finding out that she’d ruined her only real chance for a marriage wasn’t exactly a positive outcome. Neither was hearing that he was just using her for some scheme.

Two possible outcomes, both bad. Going made no sense.

Still, when the time came, she found herself knocking on Yang Xiu’s door.

“You need to understand a couple of things,” Kang Lin said. “First, I could not devote the full resources of my sect to this endeavor. There are other, more important priorities.”

Yang Xiu frowned, but before she could say anything, Sun Hua cupped her hands. “Of course, Esteemed Cultivator.”

“Second, I’m learning that nothing about determining people’s motivations is a sure thing. A man might do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason. It’s difficult to predict.”

Even Yang Xiu had to agree with that comment.

“That being said, I did a lot of work researching this man, Wu You, and presented my findings to one of our top researchers.”

Sun Hua tensed.

“To begin with, his story checks out,” Kang Lin said. “He gained admittance to the Swift Blizzard Sect and used every bit of influence he collected to have his sweetheart from his village inducted despite her D- roots. They soon married, and they devoted all their contribution points to alchemical solutions that eventually allowed her to become pregnant.

“Unfortunately, that expenditure left them with few resources for the birth itself. Complications arose that required a talented healer. Without sufficient funds, none would make themselves available, and both mother and child perished.”

“So he really did seek to date me?” Sun Hua said.

She found that so very difficult to believe, but Mother had always taught her to trust verified facts.

“Not necessarily. His easily verifiable story being accurate does not mean he was not part of a scheme. There were no indications that he sought a new wife among the members of his sect.”

“So it was a scheme then?” If anything, Sun Hua felt relief at the news.

“Not necessarily.”

Sun Hua clenched and unclenched her hands.

“Like I stated at the outset, it is difficult to determine a person’s motivations. Wu You is valued by his direct superiors as a competent clerk, but overall, Swift Blizzard Sect members do not seek out clerks for marriage. Like in most sects, martial prowess or excellence in a crafting profession is much preferred, and his C- roots are not strong enough to overcome the detriments of his profession. It is quite possible that he simply saw no opportunities for a match.”

“Give us the bottom line, sister,” Yang Xiu said. “You’re killing Sun Hua.”

Kang Lin sighed. “Our best guess—emphasis on guess—is that his desire for a date was genuine. There is simply no indication that he’s affiliated with the factions within his sect that are hostile to yours or that he has ever been involved in schemes or spying.”

Sun Hua buried her face in her hands. “I actually had a chance at marriage, and my doubts made me ruin it. How could I be so stupid?”

She’d gone to bed so many nights as a child and even into her teen years literally crying due to her mother’s coldness, promising herself that one day she’d have a son or daughter and bring them up in an atmosphere of love and happiness, only for circumstances to make marriage impossible for her. Then, finally, a man actually showed interest, and she didn’t even give him a chance.

A fool. That was what she was. A complete fool.