57 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Just as Qi Xiu flew over the immigrant settlement, he spotted a massive-winged eagle resting on a large tree at the village entrance. His heart sank, fearing the worst. When he reached the lord's manor looking for Qin Ji, the Zhao family cultivators had already arrived and were seated at the head of the guest hall, enjoying tea. Qi Xiu recognized the visitor; it was the same person who had helped block the water at the earlier pig-fish farming point. Upon seeing Qi Xiu, the cultivator clapped his hands and laughed, "Chief Qi, you're late." "You..." Qi Xiu's heart dropped. Seeing no sign of Qin Ji around, he worried the Zhao family might have forced him into agreeing to a marriage through coercion. His frustration grew. "Did you use force?" "No, no, how could we? We hold our family's precious jewel's future husband in utmost esteem; we would never resort to force," the Zhao family cultivator replied, sipping his tea with an air of confidence, suggesting that Qin Ji had already agreed. Qi Xiu felt a wave of powerlessness. He hadn't expected them to bypass him so quickly and directly approach Qin Ji. The Zhao family acted with precision and determination. A mortal lord like Qin Ji standing up against the formidable Zhao family would find it difficult to resist their pressure, whether or not force was used. Nevertheless, Qi Xiu needed to hear from Qin Ji himself, so he made his way through the main hall and proceeded to find him in the inner chamber. Before entering, he overheard Uncle Qin's voice from inside: "Young master, perhaps you should consult Chief Qi before making a decision?" Qin Ji's voice followed, "I have thought it through. The Zhao family is powerful, and forming a marriage alliance with them could help us manage Qi Xiu. Otherwise, under the shadow of their influence, without any means of resistance, we, the Qin family, will never feel secure. If the Qi family expands in the future, our title of 'scholar' might not even remain." Stunned by this unexpected revelation, Qi Xiu felt a chilling disappointment sweep over him. "So, they were guarding against me all along!" His steadfast dedication suddenly appeared laughable; his selfless considerations were met with wariness and calculations—how utterly pointless. "Enough, enough, I'm done meddling in these affairs of yours." Quietly stepping back, he lost the will to converse with the Zhao family cultivators further. Summoning his spiritual vessel, he flew back home. Qi Xiu's cultivation wasn't sufficient to cover such distances without rest. Exhausted and dispirited, he forced himself back to the Black River Peak, but couldn't manage his breath and fainted. When he slowly opened his eyes, he'd been moved to the soft bed in the sect leader's private room, with Kan Lin, having arrived unnoticed, checking his pulse. "Senior Kan..." He struggled to sit up but was gently pushed back down by Kan Lin. "You've simply overexerted yourself, combined with emotional turmoil, but it's nothing serious. Rest is all you need. The key is to relax your mind and not dwell on things." Hearing that Qi Xiu had awakened, the disciples waiting outside rushed in to check on him, even Zhan Yuan and others from the Black River Market returned, crowding around, "Sect Leader, you've scared us all!" "I'm fine, I'm fine." Qi Xiu felt a warmth in his heart from their genuine concern, and his eyes grew moist. He gently reassured his disciples and asked them to leave, requesting Kan Lin to stay. Seeking solace for his heavy heart, he confided in Kan Lin about overhearing Qin Ji's conversation and his resulting disappointment and sorrow. "Hmm..." Kan Lin listened, then after a brief silence, smiled and said, "I'm not sure how best to advise you on these worldly concerns. I think your problem lies in being too entangled in personal relations and worldly gains. You give wholeheartedly, yet seek returns, which inevitably leads to disappointment. Life is unpredictable and often harsh. As a Daoist cultivator, you should understand these principles early on. While I've visited your Black River Peak many times, apart from those few initial debates, you haven't been a part of our discussions lately. Aspiring for the Dao isn't about seeking it for gain; that’s a lower path, driven by transient benefit. As cultivators, we should maintain a heart that inquires into the Dao. Know that while many with talent achieve success, it's not uncommon for those of average talent to make great achievements too. You should regain that pure heart focused on seeking the Dao. Whether successful or not, looking back one day, you'll realize today’s troubles were mere trifles, scarcely worth mentioning." Kan Lin's words struck Qi Xiu like a splash of cold water, clearing his mind. Yes, when exiled from the Old Chu Qin Sect, he lived in seclusion for those harsh years, spent most days in contemplation, yet never forgot to nurture a small finger monkey for cultivation, and his heart was at peace. Now, as a sect leader, he hardly spent any time on his practice. Even the heterochromatic golden silk monkey he purchased in Qi Nan City as a companion didn’t bond with him, and he neglected it, leaving it in Gu Ji’s care as a mere pet. His state of mind fluctuated wildly, causing him distress. Neglecting cultivation directly resulted in his tarnished spiritual core, causing his thoughts and actions to increasingly mirror mundane worldly concerns—like those of a parent tirelessly concerned for their children. Internal conflicts among disciples left him heartbroken. Overhearing Qin Ji's secret precautions shattered him. Confronted by those more powerful, he felt small and trembling, facing aggressive sorts like Swen Tai made him fearful even to stand firm. All this not only hampered his cultivation but more critically stripped him of the Daoist spirit, losing the capacity to face life’s vicissitudes with a calm and detached heart like watching the spring flowers and autumn moon or witnessing the timeless changes of the world! "Esteemed Senior, I am enlightened." Qi Xiu struggled out of bed, genuinely bowing in gratitude to Kan Lin. "Haha, I’m just providing an outsider's perspective. Don’t underestimate yourself. From what I've observed, within just a year, turning the black soil wasteland of the Chu Qin Sect into its current thriving state is no small feat," Kan Lin comforted him as he departed. Seeing him off, Qi Xiu was filled with nostalgia, realizing how much he lacked such mentors in his life. He mused on how fortunate He Yu was. Zhang Shishi, noticing that Qi Xiu was relatively fine, approached to report that during Qi Xiu's fainting spell, the Zhao family had formally proposed the marriage alliance with the Chu Qin Sect. But Qi Xiu now had a different mindset. Nodding to indicate he was informed, he readily appointed Zhang Shishi as the Chu Qin Sect representative to oversee the grand wedding arrangements, using his health as a reason to excuse himself from participating. "Furthermore, the Zhao family mentioned that they would release the young pigfish in two days,” Zhang Shishi continued. "Their proactive mention of this should be seen as a gesture of goodwill. Accept it on our behalf. Don't assume that just because we're family through marriage, things will inherently improve. Maintain our boundaries. In the future, key matters must still focus on cultivation. I’ve come to understand that cultivation is not just a matter of strength, but also an essential duty for us cultivators," Qi Xiu asserted, committing himself to this newfound clarity. Zhang Shishi, who had often disagreed with Qi Xiu and Zhan Yuan's focus on secular affairs, was pleasantly surprised and gladly welcomed this shift in stance.