(Book 1&2 Complete!) Dao of Healing [Transmigration Healer Xianxia]

I stood in the halls of the Grasping Life Palace. They had not changed much since the day they were built. The macabre shades of the local wood contrasted with the sparing jade pillars. It was a magnificent building, but the atmosphere was heavy with disappointment and anxiousness.

I looked down at Feng Mei and Little Cui. They had composed themselves in my absence, but I could see the fear behind their eyes. They were wondering what my judgment would be.

And they were right to be nervous. They may not have directly caused the assault on the young disciple, but they had allowed the other disciples to believe it was right. Their petty squabbles had created rifts in our sect when it was only beginning to grow its roots.

However, there was one person who deserved the worst punishment. The disciple who'd dared to attempt to murder one of his own martial brothers. To steal his resources and enrich himself.

In many sects, this behaviour was not only accepted, but often encouraged. Sect Elders claimed the competition would weed out weaklings and produce talented disciples to lead the future generations.

I suppose I couldn't outright claim they were wrong. Many powerful cultivators had risen to prominence through these clashes among youths.

However, I refused to accept that reality for my sect. In the first place, our goal was to produce talented healers. We would need martial cultivators, to serve as guardians and protectors, but a protector would not attack those he was meant to protect.

Wang Ren stood behind a group of three disciples. The two on either side of him were shaking with fear. Tears streamed down their faces as I approached. They had been begging my forgiveness ever since Wang Ren had dragged them to the Grasping Life Palace.

They would not receive it.

As for the main culprit, Bao Shen, he was not in as pathetic a state as his two accomplices. He had an arrogant sneer on his face as he glared up at me. His eyes spoke of a youth who believed he was owed everything he had stolen.

I sighed as I gave him a final reproachful look. I turned around, waving for the two girls to walk outside ahead of me. I heard Wang Ren pushing the three forwards behind me.

Right before I exited the palace, Bao Shen yelled out to me. "I thought this was supposed to be a sect? Instead it's a den of cowards and fools. It is a cultivator's right to take what he needs to advance, trampling all in his path to the peak!"

I stopped. I frowned. I could have grown angry at the boy, shouted him into submission, or even suppressed him with the weight of my presence. Instead, I simply let out a dry chuckle. "What would you know about being a cultivator? You're barely a man," I said, before walking out into the light of the sun and the expectant gazes of the entire Grasping Life Sect.

Gossip about the incident had spread like wildfire among the disciples. Even the mortals who were part of the sect as labourers, cooks, and medical assistants were there. I had ordered they all assemble, and they had.

It felt strange wielding such authority. Being a doctor on the frontlines was a position of authority and it had commanded respect, but I had never held the fates of so many people in my hands.

I could order them to attack Twisting Ridge City and they would, albeit with confusion and complaint—or so I hoped. At least, after today, the values that this sect would extoll would be made clear.

And those behaviours that would not be tolerated would be known to all.

Xiao Cui and Feng Mei stood to one side of me, while I took a position just off-centre. All eyes were on me, until the three culprits of the attempted murder walked out. I observed the reactions of the crowd with watchful eyes.

Most reacted as I had hoped. Their condemning gazes fell upon the trio, the female and male disciples who were Bao Shen's accomplices almost collapsed under the pressure. Bao Shen maintained his arrogant sneer, glaring down at those who were supposed to be his brothers and sisters.

There were those in the crowd who had neutral expressions, uncaring for the incident and what was happening now. I took careful note of them. They were not necessarily bad apples, but only a foolish farmer let rot spread in his crop.

An even smaller minority actually glared at me with contempt. They were those who shared Bao Shen's views. Who raised the cultivators of this world and their bloodthirsty ways on a pedestal.

They had hoped to join my sect when others had rejected them, to claim a fraction of power for themselves in the hope they could trample others underfoot. I was not a tyrant who would punish them simply for their thoughts, but each and every one of these disciples would be watched with eagle eyes. The moment they made a misstep, I would be there to punish them with the swift hand of justice.

As Wang Ren forced the trio to heel, right in front of the crowds in the most prominent position, before forcing them to their knees, I stepped forwards. I raised my hands to silence the chatter, preparing myself for this turning point in the Grasping Life Sect's growth.

I swept my gaze across the crowd a final time. Seeing all the faces of these youths, and a few talented adults who'd been deemed worthwhile prospects, I felt the full weight of my responsibility. I had promised to raise them into healers the likes of which this empire, this world, had never seen before. I would not let them down now, even if what I had to do pained my heart.

"It pleases me that you all obeyed my summons. It would have been a true shame to have to exile any rogue disciples, on top of what I am about to do," I began my speech with a sombre declaration and a warning. The disciples bristled, but I was far from finished.

"In fact, I had been expecting to give a very different speech on this beautiful day. Last night, I completed my long held goal of creating the first true healing arts this empire has seen, which any of you will be able to practice and elevate yourselves to the status of true healers." I heard the shocked and excited gasps. Saw the faces of my most fervent disciples light up with joy. That pleased me.

Many didn't even understand the weight of my declaration, but they soon would. However, seeing that my face held no joy despite this accomplishment, they knew that this was not a celebratory speech.

"Instead, the treacherous actions of one of your martial brothers and his two accomplices have poisoned this momentous day. Last night, Bao Shen, Yi Ling, and Ke Guqing attempted to murder one of your fellow disciples. They did this because they believed themselves to be above the laws of this sect. They believed themselves to be more deserving of resources than their martial brother. More deserving than you." My proclamation hung heavy in the air.

I saw the bubbling hatred growing in the crowd, directed towards the trio of would-be murderers. It was not my intent to cause such a vitriolic reaction, but my words were the truth. This had to be done.

"I admit that I am partly to blame. After founding this sect, I left it in the hands of my trusted allies while pursuing my own growth. Yet that wasn't all. Everything I did, my journey to the Blossoming Heavens, was to obtain the necessary resources to establish a sturdy foundation for the Grasping Life Sect. One that will last for a dozen eras or more. Today, I will rectify my mistakes. However, I am not the only person to blame for these tragic circumstances. Disciple Cui, Disciple Mei, step forwards."

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All eyes fell on the two girls as they stepped out in front of the condemned trio. Everyone in the sect recognised them. They were the most advanced healers in the sect, even though their cultivation wasn't necessarily the greatest.

"Recently, a divide has formed in our sect. Following the petty, foolish example of these two disciples, you all formed two factions. You either believe I am an infallible 'divine doctor' as our patients claim, or that I am a flawed and hypocritical man who doesn't always know best. The truth is, both of these viewpoints are wrong and right at the same time.

"No cultivator, no person, is perfect. Even the great Nascent Soul Sages and the Celestial Jade Emperor himself are not perfect beings. All are flawed, which is why we seek perfection in the dao and the heavens!" Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd as I dared to say such a thing about the emperor. I was far from done.

"I despised the state of this world. Brothers kill brothers for the resources to advance a single star realm, when there are plenty to go around. Sisters betray sisters for the affections of cold hearted cultivators who would toss them aside without a second thought. This state of violence and bloodshed is abhorrent. It has always been my desire to change this world for the better. To heal its wounds!

"I believed that those who came to this sect seeking to enter its ranks shared my vision. I was wrong. I failed to pass on my values to you, to let you see the world I wish to build. Because I cannot build it alone. Each of you is necessary. When you change one mind, you cause a chain reaction that leads to sweeping revolution. So, today, before I can give you the gift of the world's first healing techniques for you to learn and practice, I must establish what it means to betray the Grasping Life Sect and all we hold dear!"

There was silence in the wake of my speech. I knew that most of the disciples before me today wouldn't immediately understand the depths of my vision. Only through practicing the art of healing and transforming lives would they understand. I sighed inwardly, preparing for the hardest part of the day.

"Disciple Cui and Disciple Mei may not have raised the blade against their martial brother with their own hands, but it was their petty squabbling which almost led to his death. For allowing their prejudice to blind them, they must be punished.

"Xiao Cui, you believed you alone were entitled to my teachings and my time. This greed is unbecoming of a disciple who was supposed to lead her juniors by example. You will be exiled from Million Flowers Celestial Peak for one year, to travel the empire and see firsthand the horrors I aim to overcome. Only when you have understood your mistakes will you be allowed to return."

"Master, you can't!" she cried, mouth agape as she turned to me with eyes full of horror. Many of the disciples followed suit, those who had been in her 'faction' most of all.

"I can and I will. You do not get special treatment because you are my personal disciple. All who commit wrongdoings must make amends. This is your punishment, but it is also an opportunity for growth. You will learn much on your journey. Now, take this and leave. One year from now, you may return," I said, tossing her a spatial ring and then clasping my trembling hands behind my back.

This decision was the hardest of all to make. Xiao Cui was one of the first people I'd met in this world. She was a spoiled, stubborn brat, yet she was also hardworking, talented, and kind.

I hoped that this journey would temper the worst aspects of her personality and bring forth those I wished to extoll. That she would see the world as it was and try to change it for the better. If not… Well, that was a problem for future me to solve.

She looked down at the plain ring in her palm. I had removed my imprint, allowing her to bind it to herself. She didn't do so immediately, instead closing her fist around it. Tears streamed from her eyes, but instead of complaining again, she sniffled and wiped them away.

"If this is the punishment you deem necessary, master, then I will obey. I know now that my actions were petty and if I wish to become a talented and powerful healer, a shining example to the rest of the sect, I must be better than I was. In one year, I will return as a new woman. A better one. To those who followed me in my folly, I implore you to work hard under Master Dan's leadership. He is a great man and an even greater cultivator. He will not lead you astray," she said to the crowd. I held back my proud smile. It was still too early to know if she truly meant what she said.

With her speech concluded, Xiao Cui stepped forwards and began to walk towards the base of the mountain. The crowd parted in her wake, mixed emotions on their faces as they watched her go.

"To accept one's punishment with grace is the mark of an honourable cultivator. I hope you will follow Disciple Cui's example, Disciple Mei. Your punishment will not be exile. It would not fit your crime. You sought to challenge your Senior Sister's judgment, and by extension, my own.

"Healthy disagreements and discussion can lead to great advances, especially on the path of healing. However, to let it spiral out of control and become a wedge between you rather than a whetstone upon which you both sharpen your knowledge and skills is an unforgivable crime. You allowed yourself to be dragged into petty arguments instead of simply seeking my counsel.

"Let it be known that I will never condemn a disciple for challenging existing knowledge, as long as you do so in an upright manner. Disciple Feng's punishment will require her to dedicate her time to teaching the other disciples rather than furthering her own advancement. She shall make amends and learn what it means to be a leader. The duration of this punishment will be one year."

Confusion and anger sprouted at this. Many believed it wasn't even a punishment. Why had Xiao Cui received a much harsher one? The answer was simple. Xiao Cui had a greater hand in the events of last night. Also, these punishments were meant to not simply discipline the two girls, but to teach them their weaknesses and give them an opportunity to overcome them.

Xiao Cui relied on me too much. Feng Mei refused to lean on others for help. Both were too extreme and needed correction.

"This… punishment seems appropriate for my errors. Thank you for your leniency, Sect Leader. I will do my utmost to live up to your vision of a better world," Feng Mei said with a deep bow, before stepping aside.

She had revealed the three perpetrators once more, putting them into the spotlight with grace. I nodded in approval and waved a sleeve to get the crowd's attention for the final time that day.

"Myself, Disciple Cui, and Disciple Mei all had a hand in last night's tragic events. All of us shall atone in our own ways, but we are not the true culprits. The three you see before you attempted to murder one of their own. They did this to serve their own greed and their own twisted visions of the world. I will not tolerate this in my sect," I declared.

In fact, this was going to be easier for me than punishing the two girls. Each of the three deserved what I was going to do to them and more.

I walked towards the female disciple first. Her eyes glistened with tears of regret, but it was too late for such feeble emotions. She had made her choice when she picked up her dagger last night.

"Those who use their power for selfish gains, harming those they should cooperate with, are not fit to be healers. They are not fit to be disciples of the Grasping Life Sect. These three are hereby stripped of their status as disciples," I announced, tearing off their robes in a single fluid motion. "And they will have their dantians crippled, so that they may never abuse their power again."

With that, I thrust out at their navels swiftly. They didn't even have time to blink, let alone resist. As the qi slipped out of their broken dantians, returning to the world, reality set in.

The two accomplices began to wail. Bao Shen roared in anger, standing to his feet and pulling a dagger from… I didn't even want to think about it. He rushed at me and thrust the dagger at my throat.

He barely made it two steps before Wang Ren stepped forward and cut him down in a single slash. His head rolled along the grass, trailing crimson. Anger flashed through me. I didn't want them dead.

To my surprise, Wang Ren straightened up and turned to the stunned crowd of disciples. "The Sect Leader has a kind heart. He wishes to make the world a better place and thus, he felt that crippling rather than killing these impetuous fools was a righteous punishment. I agreed with him, but as the Sect's first Elder and its guardian, it is my duty to protect those within its grounds. Know this, any who dare to threaten our goals will find my blade at their throats. However, you have nothing to fear if you follow a path of righteousness and dedication," he said, before stepping back and grabbing the two crippled former disciples. He marched them towards the base of the mountain without hesitation.

All eyes fell to Bao Shen's corpse. It was now a permanent reminder of what it meant to betray the sect. The message was clear. It left a bad taste in my mouth, but it had been necessary.

"I will give you all one evening to understand what it means to be part of this sect. If you believe you cannot live up to expectations, you may leave without consequence. If you remain tomorrow, there will be no second chances. However, all those who stay will be receiving the first two true healing arts of the sect to begin their studies. The Body Restoration Technique and the Disease Purging Technique. All disciples are to gather here once again tomorrow to receive them."

With that, I turned around and returned inside the Grasping Life Palace. There was still much work to be done.