I Become Sect master In Another World

Chapter 217: Chapter 217 — The Departure

The last traces of sunset lingered above the mountains surrounding the Sanatan Flame Sect as the evening sky slowly deepened into shades of violet and gold.

The courtyard before the Main Hall was illuminated by rows of spirit lanterns, their warm glow stretching across the polished stone pathways. A cool breeze drifted through the mountain peaks, causing the orange sect banners to flutter softly overhead.

Although night had already fallen across the Sanatan Flame Sect, the plaza before the Main Hall remained unusually lively.

Spirit lanterns cast warm golden light across the stone courtyard while disciples gathered beneath the fluttering sect banners, their voices blending into a low murmur that drifted through the mountain air. No announcement had summoned them here, nor had any elder ordered their presence. News simply traveled quickly within the sect, and by now almost everyone knew that a special mission was about to begin.

Groups of disciples occupied the surrounding stairways and pathways, some discussing where the mission might lead while others shamelessly speculated about what kind of trouble their Sect Master was planning this time. A few younger disciples even carried snacks, treating the departure as though they were attending a festival rather than seeing people off on a dangerous operation.

Near the center of the plaza stood the mission team itself.

Shaurya waited calmly with both hands resting inside the pockets of his black-and-gold coat, looking far too relaxed for someone preparing to infiltrate an enemy supply network. Beside him, Elder Hua carried a medical satchel across one shoulder, her expression composed as she completed a final inspection of the medicines she intended to bring.

Auntie Muo, on the other hand, looked completely out of place.

Her gaze repeatedly shifted between the gathered disciples, the Main Hall, and the mountain sky above as though hoping someone would finally explain why a cook had been included in a mission that clearly involved people far stronger and far more dangerous than herself.

Nearby, Lu Fang appeared excited enough for three people. Lee Bie stood beside him with folded arms, trying very hard to look dependable, while Cheng Fang remained his usual quiet self, observing the surroundings with calm and attentive eyes.

For a brief moment, the atmosphere within the courtyard remained peaceful.

The evening breeze drifted across the mountain plaza, carrying the scent of spirit flowers from the nearby gardens while the last rays of sunlight painted the clouds beyond the peaks in shades of gold and crimson. Disciples stood scattered throughout the square, some chatting quietly among themselves while others watched the mission team make their final preparations.

Then Shaurya raised his hand.

The casual motion immediately drew several gazes toward him. Before anyone could ask what he was doing, his fingers snapped together with a sharp, crisp sound that echoed surprisingly far across the courtyard.

A deep vibration answered.

At first it was faint, little more than a distant rumble rolling through the heavens. Then the sound grew louder.

The conversations throughout the plaza gradually died away.

Many disciples instinctively lifted their heads.

Above the Sanatan Flame Sect, the clouds began to shift.

Massive layers of white mist slowly parted apart as though an invisible force was pushing them aside. The evening sky darkened beneath an enormous shadow descending from above, and for a few seconds the mountain courtyard fell completely silent.

Then the Dark Pearl emerged.

Its colossal black hull broke through the cloud layer with the majesty of a floating fortress. Golden formation patterns glowed softly across its surface, illuminating the engraved spiritual arrays that ran along the vessel’s sides. Countless runes shimmered beneath the fading sunlight while deep currents of spiritual energy flowed through the ship like blood through living veins.

The low hum of its engines resonated through the air.

Not loud.

Not violent.

Yet powerful enough that everyone present could feel it.

The vessel continued descending steadily until it hovered above the plaza. Its enormous shadow stretched across the sect grounds, covering courtyards, pathways, and rooftops alike. The surrounding banners fluttered wildly beneath the pressure generated by its movement while loose petals scattered through the air below.

Several disciples couldn’t help staring.

Not because the sight was unfamiliar.

Most of them had seen the Dark Pearl countless times already.

But familiarity did little to diminish its presence.

The ship remained impressive.

Every single time.

Moments later, a section of the vessel’s underside illuminated. Mechanical formations shifted smoothly into place before a wide boarding bridge extended downward from the ship, connecting the floating fortress to the courtyard below.

The heavy platform settled against the stone plaza with a soft metallic thud.

The Dark Pearl settled above the plaza while the boarding bridge slowly extended toward the courtyard below.

Lu Fang folded his arms and stared up at the Dark Pearl hovering above the courtyard. The massive vessel drifted silently through the evening sky, its golden formations casting faint ripples of light across the clouds.

"You know," he said after a while, "every time I see this thing, I start questioning my life choices."

Lee Bie glanced at him.

"What life choices?"

"The financial kind."

"You don’t even pay for anything."

"Exactly."

Lu Fang pointed toward the ship.

"Yet somehow Master keeps getting richer."

Lee Bie followed his gaze. The Dark Pearl remained suspended high above the sect like a floating fortress, its size large enough to overshadow entire buildings.

After studying it for several moments, he suddenly frowned.

"Actually..."

Lu Fang looked over.

"Hm?"

Lee Bie pointed upward.

"Have you ever wondered where Master keeps that thing?"

"The ship?"

"Yes, the ship."

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

"Every time he snaps his fingers, it just appears."

Lu Fang nodded.

"That’s true."

Lee Bie’s gaze remained fixed on the vessel.

"It can’t fit inside a storage ring."

"No."

"It’s bigger than half the sect."

"Also true."

"Then where does it stay?"

The question lingered between them.

Lu Fang stared at the Dark Pearl for several seconds as though genuinely considering the mystery for the first time.

Eventually, he shrugged.

"No idea."

Lee Bie blinked.

"You really don’t know?"

"Nobody knows."

The answer came so quickly that it was almost impressive.

Lee Bie looked unconvinced.

"That’s it?"

"That’s it."

"You’re not curious?"

Lu Fang shrugged again.

"Master is Master."

Lee Bie stared at him.

"...That’s your answer?"

"It’s the correct answer."

For a moment, Lee Bie looked ready to argue. Then he considered everything he had witnessed since joining the Sanatan Flame Sect.

A Sect Master who casually summoned floating warships.

A Sect Master who constructed entire buildings overnight.

A Sect Master who treated common sense like a personal enemy.

The argument died before it could begin.

Slowly, he nodded.

"Fair."

Lu Fang grinned.

"See?"

The worst part was that the explanation somehow made perfect sense.

Nearby, Auntie Muo appeared far more concerned than anyone else. Her eyes repeatedly drifted between the Dark Pearl hovering overhead, the assembled mission team, and her daughter standing beside her, as though she was desperately trying to find a reasonable explanation for her current situation.

Unfortunately, every direction she looked only raised more questions.

Eventually, she let out another sigh.

"I still don’t understand why I’m coming."

Muo Qian immediately wrapped an arm around her mother’s shoulder.

"Mom, relax."

"I am relaxed."

Muo Qian raised an eyebrow.

"You’ve sighed six times in the last minute."

Auntie Muo pointed at herself.

"I counted seven."

"That’s not helping."

Rubbing her forehead, Auntie Muo looked toward her daughter.

"Muo Qian."

"Yes?"

"What exactly are we doing?"

The question caught her off guard.

Muo Qian looked toward Shaurya.

Then toward Elder Hua.

Her gaze drifted to the Dark Pearl hovering above them before eventually returning to her mother.

The bright smile on her face never disappeared.

"I have absolutely no idea."

Auntie Muo slowly closed her eyes.

"Wonderful."

"Look on the bright side."

"There is no bright side."

"There has to be one."

"There isn’t."

Muo Qian remained stubbornly optimistic.

"Master chose you personally."

Auntie Muo immediately pointed toward Shaurya.

"That is exactly why I’m worried."

The statement drew several muffled coughs from nearby disciples who were trying—and failing—to hide their amusement. Even Lee Bie turned away for a moment, while Lu Fang shamelessly laughed out loud.

Unfortunately for everyone present, nobody could honestly claim that Auntie Muo’s concern was unreasonable.

Even Elder Hua’s lips twitched slightly.

"Honestly," Auntie Muo continued, "every time that boy says ’trust me,’ someone ends up climbing a mountain, fighting a beast, blowing up a formation, or committing what sounds suspiciously close to a crime."

"That’s not true," Muo Qian protested immediately.

Auntie Muo slowly turned toward her daughter.

"...Do you want me to start listing examples?"

The confidence instantly disappeared from Muo Qian’s face.

She thought about it for a moment before shaking her head.

"No."

Auntie Muo nodded in satisfaction.

"Wise decision."

Nearby, Elder Hua gently patted her shoulder.

"Don’t think too much."

Auntie Muo looked at her.

"For some reason, that makes me feel worse."

A faint chuckle escaped Elder Hua as preparations continued around them. Disciples moved throughout the courtyard, clearing space for the departure while final supplies were loaded onto the Dark Pearl above.

A short distance away, Elder Liya approached at her usual leisurely pace. Her expression carried the same perpetual exhaustion it always did, as though she had been forced to wake up far earlier than she preferred.

When she reached them, her gaze settled on Elder Hua.

"You’ll be fine."

Elder Hua blinked.

"That’s all?"

Elder Liya looked genuinely confused.

"What else do you want?"

Elder Hua folded her arms.

"I don’t know. Something inspiring, perhaps."

This time Elder Liya shrugged.

"You know medicine."

Elder Hua waited.

"You know poison."

She continued waiting.

"You know how to hit people with a medical textbook."

Auntie Muo immediately looked between the two elders.

"Why does that sound like personal experience?"

"It is," Elder Liya replied without hesitation.

Elder Hua coughed lightly and pretended not to hear that.

Elder Liya’s gaze drifted toward the Dark Pearl before returning to her old friend.

"Honestly, I’m more worried about the enemy."

A soft laugh escaped Elder Hua.

"I’ll take that as encouragement."

"You should."

Their eyes met briefly before both nodded.

Neither attempted to make the moment dramatic. There was no need for lengthy speeches or emotional farewells. Years of working side by side had long since turned mutual trust into something understood rather than spoken.

Around them, preparations continued as the final members of the mission team gathered beneath the looming shadow of the Dark Pearl, ready to depart.

Meanwhile, near the boarding bridge of the Dark Pearl, Shaurya was making one final inspection of the preparations. Supplies had already been loaded, the mission team was assembled, and the floating warship hummed softly with spiritual energy as ancient formations awakened beneath its dark surface.

Just as he finished checking the last details, a familiar figure stepped into his path.

Lin Shu.

The evening breeze stirred several loose strands of her dark hair while the warm glow of nearby lanterns reflected softly within her eyes.

Shaurya stopped walking.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

The courtyard remained as lively as before. Disciples continued moving supplies, elders exchanged final instructions, and conversations drifted through the air. Yet for some reason, all of it seemed farther away than it had a moment ago.

Lin Shu was the first to break the silence.

"Take care."

Shaurya smiled immediately.

"Don’t worry. It’s not my first mission."

"I know."

"I’ll be back before you know it."

"I know."

His smile faltered slightly.

"You don’t sound very convinced."

Lin Shu folded her arms.

"That’s because every time you say something like that, you end up causing trouble."

Shaurya looked genuinely offended.

"I don’t cause trouble."

Lin Shu simply stared at him.

The silence lasted several seconds.

Eventually, Shaurya cleared his throat.

"Fine. Sometimes trouble appears around me."

"Sometimes?"

Her eyebrow slowly rose.

Shaurya wisely decided not to continue that argument.

A faint smile appeared in Lin Shu’s eyes before she shook her head.

"Just don’t overdo things."

"I won’t."

"And don’t destroy everything."

Shaurya immediately raised a hand in protest.

"That only happened a few times."

This time both of her eyebrows rose.

The look alone was enough to make him reconsider his statement.

"Alright."

He coughed lightly.

"Maybe more than a few."

"Maybe?"

"Okay, definitely more than a few."

The corner of Lin Shu’s mouth twitched upward.

Satisfied with his honesty, she finally nodded.

"Good."

The mountain wind swept through the courtyard once more, causing the banners overhead to flutter softly.

Shaurya opened his mouth, intending to say something else.

Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity.

Lin Shu suddenly stepped forward.

The unexpected movement caught him completely off guard.

His brows furrowed in confusion.

"What are you—"

The question never finished.

Lin Shu reached forward and grabbed the front of his collar.

For a single heartbeat, Shaurya’s thoughts came to a complete stop.

Then she pulled him closer.

And kissed him.

Every sound in the courtyard seemed to disappear.

The disciples carrying supplies froze.

The elders stopped speaking.

Even the breeze itself felt strangely distant.

Several nearby disciples stared so hard that their eyes nearly fell out of their heads.

Others forgot what they were doing entirely.

One unfortunate disciple nearly dropped an entire crate.

None of them noticed.

Because every ounce of their attention was focused on the impossible scene unfolding before them.

For several long moments, nobody moved.

Then Lin Shu finally stepped back.

Her expression remained calm.

Composed.

As though she hadn’t just shattered the concentration of every living person in the courtyard.

Meeting Shaurya’s stunned gaze, she spoke in the same quiet voice she always used.

"Return soon."

Shaurya remained exactly where he was.

Completely motionless.

His mind, usually capable of handling battles, schemes, sect management, divine treasures, ancient inheritances, and catastrophically bad ideas, had stopped functioning entirely.

For perhaps the first time in a very long while, the Sect Master of the Sanatan Flame Sect had absolutely no idea what to say.

His mind, which normally handled sect affairs, cultivation plans, ancient inheritances, battle strategies, and disasters of every imaginable variety, seemed to have stopped functioning.

Then color slowly began creeping onto his face.

It started at his ears.

Spread to his cheeks.

And showed absolutely no intention of stopping.

The transformation was so rare that half the courtyard nearly suffered internal injuries trying not to react.

Lin Shu simply watched him. There was no trace of embarrassment in her expression, nor did she make any attempt to avoid his gaze. She remained completely calm, as though kissing the Sect Master in front of half the sect was the most natural thing in the world. Meanwhile, Shaurya stood frozen in place, desperately trying to recover from the ambush.

After several seconds of internal struggle, he finally cleared his throat, only for the sound to come out far less dignified than he intended. Realizing this, he immediately tried again, and then a third time, as though repeated coughing might somehow restore the composure that had just been shattered.

After a heroic struggle, he somehow managed to recover a small portion of his dignity.

"...Now you’ve guaranteed it."

Lin Shu tilted her head.

"Guaranteed what?"

A grin slowly appeared despite the redness still lingering on his face.

"Now I have to come back tomorrow."

For the first time that evening, a genuine smile appeared on Lin Shu’s face.

It wasn’t large.

It wasn’t dramatic.

But it carried a warmth that immediately made the entire moment feel worth it.

Unfortunately...

The rest of the courtyard was having a crisis.

Elder Liya was the first to recover.

The exhausted elder stared at the pair for several moments before suddenly placing both hands on her hips.

A proud smile spread across her face.

"Good."

Elder Hua blinked.

"What do you mean good?"

Elder Liya looked genuinely pleased.

"It took them long enough."

The elder looked as though she had personally completed a difficult mission.

Nearby, Elder Wan was even less subtle.

The young alchemist slapped both hands onto Elder Jian’s shoulders.

"You saw that?"

"I have eyes."

"You actually saw that?"

"I was standing right here."

Elder Wan nearly laughed.

"Our Sect Master actually did it!"

"He didn’t do anything."

"Details."

Meanwhile, Su Quan had already grabbed Muo Qian’s arm.

Her eyes were sparkling.

"Did you see that?!"

Muo Qian looked equally excited.

"I saw everything!"

"They kissed!"

"They kissed!"

The two girls immediately lowered their voices after realizing Shaurya was still standing nearby.

That lasted approximately three seconds.

Then they started whispering excitedly again.

Across the courtyard, Xiao Rui looked as though his soul had temporarily left his body.

The disciple slowly turned toward Sheng Lu.

"Did that really happen?"

Sheng Lu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"I believe so."

Xiao Rui pointed toward Shaurya.

"Our Master?"

"Seems that way."

"The same Master who challenged an entire royal family?"

"Correct."

"The same Master who fought Nascent Soul experts?"

"Also correct."

Xiao Rui nodded slowly.

Then pointed toward Lin Shu.

"She’s terrifying."

For perhaps the first time in history, Sheng Lu agreed without hesitation.

Nearby, Wang Tian and Luo Chen were desperately trying to pretend they hadn’t witnessed anything.

The problem was that neither possessed the acting ability required for such a task.

Wang Tian abruptly pointed toward the sky.

"That’s a nice cloud."

Luo Chen immediately followed his gaze.

"Very nice cloud."

Wang Tian nodded seriously.

"Excellent shape."

"Outstanding structure."

"Peak cloud."

"Top-tier cloud."

Neither looked toward Shaurya.

Not even once.

Unfortunately, Lu Fang ruined everything.

The moment he noticed what they were doing, he burst out laughing.

"You idiots are looking at the same cloud!"

Wang Tian immediately glared at him.

"Lower your voice!"

"Why?"

"Because Master might hear us!"

Lu Fang pointed directly at Shaurya.

"He can definitely hear us."

The realization visibly damaged both disciples.

Elsewhere, Lee Bie had already turned around and covered his face.

"I can’t watch."

"You already watched."

"I know."

"Then why are you hiding now?"

Lee Bie looked toward Cheng Fang.

"Self-preservation."

"Reasonable."

Even Auntie Muo couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

Looking at Lin Shu and then at Shaurya’s increasingly red face, she shook her head.

"For someone who fights entire sects without blinking, he really is helpless sometimes."

The statement earned several quiet nods.

At the center of it all, Shaurya finally noticed everyone staring.

Shaurya’s gaze swept across the courtyard one final time.

The reaction was immediate.

Wang Tian suddenly became fascinated by the horizon.

Luo Chen continued studying clouds that absolutely did not require further investigation.

Xiao Rui found himself examining a nearby pillar with extraordinary concentration.

Even Lu Fang looked away.

The collective performance was so terrible that it somehow made everything worse.

Shaurya’s eye twitched.

"...Cowards."

Not a single person responded.

Nobody even attempted to defend themselves.

The silence alone was answer enough.

After staring at the group for several seconds, Shaurya finally shook his head and turned toward the Dark Pearl. Most of the blush had disappeared by now, though a faint trace still remained whenever someone looked too closely.

"Let’s move."

The order instantly ended the embarrassment infecting the courtyard.

Lee Bie was the first to react.

"Finally."

He practically sprinted toward the boarding bridge.

Lu Fang followed immediately behind him.

"Retreat is the correct tactical decision."

"You mean escape."

"Same thing."

Cheng Fang sighed before following the two troublemakers onto the vessel.

Nearby, Elder Hua guided Auntie Muo toward the bridge.

The older woman glanced back toward her daughter one last time.

"Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone."

Muo Qian immediately looked offended.

"Why would I get into trouble?"

Several disciples nearby exchanged looks.

Nobody answered.

The evidence was overwhelming.

Auntie Muo pointed at them.

"See?"

Muo Qian clicked her tongue.

Traitors.

A few moments later, the entire team had boarded.

The massive bridge connecting the Dark Pearl to the plaza slowly began retracting while ancient runes carved throughout the vessel awakened one after another. Golden streams of light spread across the enormous black hull, illuminating formations that had existed since ancient times.

A deep vibration passed through the ship.

The sound wasn’t loud.

Yet every disciple throughout the sect felt it.

The Dark Pearl was waking up.

Above the vessel, layers of spiritual formations began rotating slowly while waves of energy spread through the evening sky.

The ship rose.

Not abruptly.

Not violently.

With the majesty of a mountain deciding to fly.

Wind swept across the plaza as the enormous vessel ascended higher and higher above the sect.

Disciples gathered throughout the courtyards instinctively stopped what they were doing.

Some stood upon rooftops.

Others watched from pathways and training grounds.

Several younger disciples pointed excitedly toward the sky.

The Dark Pearl climbed steadily toward the clouds, its colossal shadow passing over the mountain peaks.

From the deck, the Sanatan Flame Sect gradually unfolded beneath them.

The courtyards became smaller.

The training grounds shrank into tiny patches of stone.

Rows of buildings glowed beneath countless spirit lanterns that had already begun illuminating the mountain.

Orange banners bearing the sect’s emblem danced proudly in the evening winds.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

The sight was strangely beautiful.

Beneath them lay the home they had built together.

Ahead of them waited danger, uncertainty, and whatever madness Shaurya had planned.

Standing at the front of the vessel, Shaurya looked down at the sect one final time before turning his gaze toward the distant horizon.

The mission had officially begun.

As the Dark Pearl climbed higher into the evening sky, Muo Qian suddenly stepped forward and cupped both hands around her mouth.

"Mom!"

The shout carried surprisingly far.

Standing near the railing, Auntie Muo leaned over the side of the vessel and looked down.

"What?"

"Good luck!"

A smile immediately appeared on the older woman’s face.

"I’ll be back before you burn down my kitchen."

Muo Qian looked scandalized.

"I only burned it twice!"

"It was three times."

"Details!"

Several disciples standing nearby immediately nodded in agreement.

It had definitely been three times.

One unfortunate incident had involved soup.

Another had involved oil.

Nobody liked discussing the third one.

Muo Qian noticed the unanimous betrayal.

"You people are supposed to support me."

"Not when evidence exists," Su Quan replied.

The answer earned several approving nods.

Muo Qian clicked her tongue and crossed her arms while the laughter around her gradually faded.

A short distance away, Elder Liya watched the departing vessel with her usual expression of perpetual exhaustion. Spotting Elder Hua standing near the deck railing, she raised her voice just enough to be heard.

"Don’t die."

Elder Hua stared at her.

"That is the worst encouragement I’ve ever received."

Elder Liya looked genuinely confused.

"I’m trying my best."

"No, you’re not."

The elder considered that for a moment.

"Fair."

Elder Hua couldn’t help laughing.

The Dark Pearl continued rising while the distance between the vessel and the sect gradually increased. The mountain peaks that had once towered over everything now seemed smaller, and the courtyards below had begun shrinking into patches of light scattered across the mountainside.

To Be Continued...