47 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

"Who are you?" Faced with the bewildered look of the beautiful female cultivator he hadn't seen in half a year, Qi Xiu felt an unexpected pang of disappointment. "She really has forgotten me..." he thought, forcing an awkward smile as he introduced himself. "Half a year ago, we troubled you to deliver us to Black River. Our sect has now settled there, and your past kindness is something we dare not forget even for a day. Today, I've come specifically to thank you in person." Although the person before him was younger, she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Qi Xiu was careful to show the utmost respect as he finished speaking, offering a beautifully tanned red fox fur with both hands. The fur wasn't worth much, but it was understood that she wouldn't truly desire anything from him. Offering something girls might fancy was merely a gesture of appreciation. “Wow!” The beautiful cultivator's eyes lit up at the sight of the red fox fur. Without any hesitation, she wrapped it around herself and began contemplating what item to fashion out of it, looking charmingly naive and adorable. The female cultivator was Chu Zhuangyuan, the one who had escorted the members of the Chu Qin Sect to Black River Peak half a year prior. Unlike then, she now wore a simple, light yellow robe that concealed her graceful curves, devoid of any accessories. Her long, black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, giving her an understated, at-home appearance that accentuated her snow-like skin and bright eyes. After trying the fox fur in different ways, Chu Zhuangyuan finally draped it around her neck and turned to Qi Xiu, asking, “What about making it into a scarf? What do you think?” The fox fur, flawless in its vivid red, highlighted her innocent and stunning beauty, transforming her fresh and natural aura. It was as if the air around her shimmered with an electric energy of allure, causing Qi Xiu's heart to flutter, his gaze unconsciously averting as if she were a radiant entity too dazzling to behold directly. “Uh... this, with your natural beauty, it's of course... of course, wonderful.” His tongue inexplicably tied, Qi Xiu stammered through his sentence, inwardly wanting to slap himself. "At my age, and still harboring such thoughts!" he inwardly scolded himself harshly. “Pfft.” Seeing Qi Xiu's flustered demeanor, Chu Zhuangyuan found it amusing. She pointed to a chair off to the side and said, “Sit. Since Black River is such a long way, you're not just here to thank me, right?” “Yes.” Qi Xiu dared not be vague about serious matters, sitting on the edge of the chair. The main purpose of his visit was to see if the issue of Chu Youmin's clan harassing Black River could be resolved. As the saying goes, 'affinity does not mediate estrangement,' he'd rather relay the truth directly than attempt to tactfully report their relative's wrongdoings and let them decide. “Well, the spirit beasts in Black River, if they want to hunt them, they can. But their cultivators claim that everything in Black River is theirs to take. Our sect has some economic interests in Black River now, but if we follow their dictate, we'll have nothing left. It’s become insufferable for us.” Qi Xiu explained his situation to Chu Zhuangyuan, his expression miserable as he laid out the details. “I see…” For once, the normally cheerful Chu Zhuangyuan looked serious, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she thought hard, clearly finding the situation difficult. After a moment, she gave Qi Xiu an apologetic smile, saying, “Though Chu Youmin and I are at the same cultivation level, in terms of hierarchy, he's still my elder within the mundane family structure, so I can't confront him on this matter.” Qi Xiu's heart sank, and he gave a dejected smile, saying, “If that's the case, then I've overstepped. Our sect's trivial matters have disturbed your cultivation. I hope you can forgive me.” “However…” Chu Zhuangyuan raised a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. “However, I can take you to meet my martial uncle. He's the elder responsible for managing immigration in our sect. I believe he can help you resolve this issue.” “Her martial uncle? An elder? That means…” Qi Xiu felt a thrill of realization. "A Golden Core cultivator!" Joy surged within him. If a Golden Core cultivator was willing to help, then the issue could be easily and permanently resolved. “Isn't it too much trouble to involve a Golden Core ancestor?” Qi Xiu, controlling his excitement, pretended to be concerned as he looked at Chu Zhuangyuan. “No worries, you may not be aware, but after the establishment of our sect, Southern Chu Sect, we initially didn't actively admit outsiders. It's only in recent years that we've started to engage in large-scale activities. Not just in the east, everywhere new immigrants settled, there've been minor conflicts, so we specifically have a Golden Core ancestor, who is my martial uncle, oversee these matters. Your timing is perfect, as the end of the year approaches, he's attending to these matters daily. Let's go see him now.” With her straightforward and lively character, Chu Zhuangyuan was decisive, and she led the way out. Qi Xiu hurriedly got up to follow her. In Southern Chu City, flying was prohibited. The two walked the incense-burning duration to reach a large hall in the city. Guarding the entrance was a Foundation Establishment female cultivator who seemed quite familiar with Chu Zhuangyuan, allowing them entry without question. Inside, a middle-aged man in black, wearing a high crown, was meditating with his eyes closed. Chu Zhuangyuan gestured to Qi Xiu to remain silent and not to approach with formal greetings. She herself went forward to greet the middle-aged cultivator and succinctly recounted the issues between the Chu Qin Sect and Chu Youmin. The man listened, eyes slightly opening, his gaze sweeping toward Qi Xiu. His stare seemed tangible; Qi Xiu felt a powerful force press down from above, nearly crushing him, filling his soul with an instinctive reverence that almost brought him to his knees. Yet, some unseen force held him up, leaving him unable to kneel, caught in an uncomfortable limbo. "Is this the aura of a Golden Core cultivator?" Qi Xiu trembled, sweating profusely in fear and awe. "So strong, so terrifying." “Humph!” The middle-aged cultivator snorted after hearing Chu Zhuangyuan's account. His features were sharp and harsh; an aquiline nose and narrow eyes lent him a fierce, aloof presence that was dauntingly sinister. In a cold, disdainful tone, he remarked, “Chu Youmin can’t get along with the Beastmaster Sect or the Qi Yun Sect, and now he can't even deal with a bunch of low-level cultivators. What does he want?” Completely disregarding Qi Xiu’s presence, the man labeled him a 'waste' to his face, a term that Qi Xiu, despite his unchanged expression, felt deeply insulted by. "To these people, am I not just a piece of trash?" he thought with restrained anger and humiliation. “Martial uncle,” Chu Zhuangyuan, unperturbed by the Golden Core ancestor’s presence, immediately protested with a pout. Clearly, she was well-pampered within the Chu family. “Alright, I’ll write a note for you to give Chu Youmin.” The middle-aged cultivator seemed somewhat powerless against Chu Zhuangyuan’s persistence. With a wave, he conjured a jade slip from thin air, tossing it to Qi Xiu before flicking his sleeve to usher them out of the hall. “Stingy Uncle, Rotten Uncle!” Chu Zhuangyuan muttered a few complaints after being shooed out and then turned to Qi Xiu, instructing, “Do not read this jade slip. Hand it directly to Chu Youmin, and he’ll know what to do. Now that this matter is settled and my promise from half a year ago fulfilled, there’s nothing more between us. You can leave, and in the future, if necessary, contact Steward Chu Duo’s disciples for any legitimate business.” Although being branded a ‘waste’ by the Golden Core ancestor had left Qi Xiu feeling only a tinge of sorrow, hearing the pretty face before him so casually utter ‘nothing more between us’ was a blow magnified a hundredfold. Despite achieving his goal for the trip, he didn't feel a shred of joy. After bidding farewell to Chu Zhuangyuan in a state of confusion, he didn’t even have the heart to explore [Southern Chu City]. He found the Beastmaster Sect’s base in the city and, waiting for the return of the cargo ship, embarked on his journey back, feeling as downtrodden as a defeated rooster.