71.5 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

After Gu Ji was sent back to the mountain to recuperate, life once again settled into a peaceful routine. Outside, the wind and rain were blocked by the mountain-protection formation. Within Heihe Peak, it was warm like spring all year round. Unbeknownst to them, the Chu Qin Sect had been in the southern region for over eight years. On an auspicious day, lanterns were hung in a courtyard at the back of the mountain, with large red "Double Happiness" characters pasted in the main hall. "Brother Shishi, today is a day of great joy for you. Along with the rapid progress in cultivation by the sect master and Junior Brother He, the prosperity of our Chu Qin Sect is just around the corner. Come! Let us all drink to this!" Yu Denuo raised his glass high, toasting loudly as the members of Chu Qin Sect gathered to celebrate. The others responded with cheerful laughter and agreement, "Cheers!" After downing their drinks, two young girls of seventeen or eighteen, dressed as brides, stood behind Zhang Shishi, who was in bright red. Their cheeks were flushed, seemingly unable to handle the wine, as they hid their red sleeves and lightly coughed, identical in their beautiful appearances, like mirrors reflecting each other. They were truly a delightful sight on earth. "Hahaha, it seems the two young ladies can't wait. Let's not intrude on Brother Zhang's new duties; better get going, get going," chuckled Old Head Yu. Over the years, he had grown even more unrestrained in speech. Hearing this, the pair of girls blushed deeply, bowing their heads even lower. Zhang Shishi, now thirty, sported three strands of long beard and looked more mature. Despite seeing Qi Xiu and He Yu advancing rapidly in their cultivation, Zhang, still stuck at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, had gradually buried his desire for immortality to enjoy worldly pleasures. The girl servants Qin Ji had brought were now ripe for the picking. He had set his eyes on the twin sisters early on, and as soon as they were of age for marriage, he took them as concubines, given the disparity in their social standings. He joked, "Brother Yu, you don't seem old yet; maybe when the time comes, I'll attend your wedding!" Everyone erupted in laughter and gradually left, leaving the newlyweds some private space. Qi Xiu, since acquiring the "Refinement of the Heart Technique," had no obstacles in his cultivation, reaching the fifth level of Qi Refinement at thirty-eight, at the height of his life. His "Understanding of Self" aptitude progressed daily, his eyes sharp and bright with wisdom and kindness. Leading the way out, he turned back to smile at Zhan Yuan, "You're a year younger than Shishi. I reckon next year we'll attend the wedding of you and Mu Han." Embarrassed, Zhan Yuan glanced at the female cultivator beside him, exchanging a shy look, "I'm afraid it won't be as grand as Senior Brother Zhang's; poor Mu Han..." The female cultivator quickly interrupted, "Don't say that. Thanks to Sect Master Qi's help, my father could live like a person these years, also under your care in the market. Those ceremonial matters don't mean much to me." The woman, appearing older than Zhan Yuan and at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, wore simple attire. She wasn't conventionally beautiful but exuded a calm and gentle demeanor, somewhat resembling Bai Xiaosheng, who was locked in Heihe Market. "Sigh, if Senior Bai hadn’t gotten himself into trouble, you wouldn't be in such a plight," sighed Qi Xiu lightly. Bai Muhuan was indeed Bai Xiaosheng's daughter, and because she spent years secretly caring for her father in Heihe Market and was grateful to Chu Qin Sect for their support, she developed feelings for Zhan Yuan. Once married, she would formally become a member of the Chu Qin Sect. "My father's antics are self-inflicted, writing those troublesome things..." Bai Muhuan felt a mixture of anger and pity. Due to those writings, her once-solid engagement was broken by the other family, alienating her from others to avoid offending the powerful Nascent Soul ancestor of Nan Chu Sect. Were it not for Zhan Yuan's care, she wouldn't have managed in Heihe Market. "I found Senior Bai's writings quite entertaining," Gu Ji suddenly remarked, retaining his carefree manner after recovering from his injuries. Without him, the Chu Qin Sect surely lacked much joy. Qi Xiu felt a bit annoyed, knowing Gu Ji's talent for defeating a higher-level Qi Refinement opponent showed potential, yet he squandered it instead of honing his skills. Feigning anger, he reprimanded, "Ahem, read less of those idle books! Emulate your Senior Brother He and work hard on cultivation!" Afraid of comparisons with He Yu, Gu Ji defensively countered, "Senior Brother He reads them secretly. I saw them under his pillow, and I can fetch them to prove—" He Yu, embarrassed and shamed, chased after Gu Ji, leaving the group behind amidst laughter. Qi Xiu chuckled helplessly, acknowledging Gu Ji's playful nature, and turned to inquire about Zhan Yuan's market affairs. Zhan Yuan's expression turned serious, saying, "The market has grown tenfold, and our place is now just a small corner. I converted the downstairs into a spiritual tea shop serving low-level cultivators, and the inn is struggling. Business is becoming less profitable." At the mention of this, the others' expressions dimmed. Ever since the main sects divided up the market's profits, Chu Qin Sect, as a local force, could barely catch the leftovers. They mainly relied on expanding the breeding of pigs and fish but feared losing this advantage as Zhao Liangde's days in the Beast Taming Sect grew numbered. Recalling the tournament, since returning from it, the matches grew intense, exposing the fierce internal conflicts within the Beast Taming Sect when Zhao family members clashed fiercely with another faction, with neither side showing mercy. The Zhao family lost dearly, diminishing Zhao Liangde's influence. Rumors around Heihe also noted the impending passing of Zhao Liangde's mentor, Jindan cultivator Wei Tong, prompting many opportunistic cultivators to flock to the rising power of another Jindan elder within the Beast Taming Sect, including Wang Guan. Because of a secret order from Chu Duo, Qi Xiu was forced to stick with Zhao Liangde. Despite Zhan Yuan's insistence on switching allegiance, Qi Xiu couldn't disclose the reason and maintained the current tense state. Chu Qin Sect faced growing expenses with new admissions such as a child named Li Tan and increased cultivation costs for Qi Xiu and He Yu, while their income dwindled. Once Bai Muhuan joined, resources would be stretched thin. "About our ties with Zhao Liangde..." Zhan Yuan began, seizing the moment to bring it up again. "Sect Master, Zhao Liangde has arrived at the Bao Yuan Hall, requesting to see you," Huang He reported from his post. "Just as we were discussing him, here he arrives," Qi Xiu and Zhan Yuan exchanged a surprised look, stifling further conversation and heading to meet Zhao Liangde at the hall.