42 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

The human heart is indeed the strangest of things. Just as the Chu-Qin Sect was uniting as one to overcome the initial hardships and beginning to stabilize and improve, two of Qi Xiu's key followers clandestinely sowed deep-seated grievances against each other. The crux, or perhaps the root cause of their conflict, inevitably traces back to Qi Xiu, the sect leader. Zhang Shishi, much like Qi Xiu, was originally an inner disciple of the old Chu-Qin Sect who had experienced both elevation and suppression. At first, the two shared mutual admiration, but they quickly developed fundamental disagreements over various matters. Qi Xiu often kept the phrase "treat everyone equally" on his lips; he did not want his disciples to endure the oppression and cold shoulders he once faced. Zhang Shishi, however, dismissed this notion. Though he himself was once considered a wastrel, enduring disdain and oppression, rationality still led him to accept the iron-clad rule of "those with talent should receive more cultivation resources." This was an accepted practice throughout the cultivation world. Zhang wondered why Qi Xiu believed he could carve out a unique path. It seemed emotional, irrational. In the short term, it could placate disciples like Pan Rong and Shen Chang, but it came at the cost of He Yu—the only hopeful star of Chu-Qin Sect—whose cultivation speed would suffer. Currently, He Yu still had to participate in chores such as fetching water, cooking, and night watches, duties unthinkable at other small sects. The most gifted disciple doing the same work as the most mediocre one, with chores mandatorily rotated in the name of fairness. But cultivation isn’t like the predictable labor of commoners; insights can come spontaneously, requiring immediate meditation and practice. If it happened to coincide with his turn to fetch water, such rare opportunities would be squandered, and who could say when such a chance would come again? Delays like this could even affect He Yu's future foundation building. In cultivation, it's about fighting against time; true seekers of the Dao cannot afford the slightest delay. The more Zhang Shishi interacted with Qi Xiu, the more confident he became in his superior authority on cultivation matters. Qi Xiu's own understanding of cultivation was, frankly, mediocre. Whenever Kan Lin visited, Zhang Shishi and He Yu could engage in profound discussions, while Qi Xiu could only sit nearby, grinning awkwardly. To Zhang, chores were tasks that any slightly smarter commoner could manage. Did not many cultivation towns employ mortals as attendants for such trivial matters? In the grand scheme, cultivation is the heart of the matter! The divergences between Zhang Shishi and Qi Xiu were fundamental, pertaining to the future direction of the sect, almost irreconcilable. Yet, Zhang's character was upright. Despite his obstinate nature, he was also loyally devoted and deeply respected Qi Xiu for his contributions to the sect. For instance, although he argued against it, he still obediently executed the task of raising pigs and fish when asked. Occasionally, he discreetly carved out more cultivation time for He Yu, motivated by the sect's interest. Qi Xiu, himself deeply devoted to his disciples, showed leniency in all aspects. He didn't think much of Zhang's disagreements, and his anger quickly subsided. After all, they were family, his disciples, like his children; how could there be any long-lasting grudges? Moreover, as the sect leader, his position was secure unless he stepped down, and therefore he remained unperturbed. However, Qi Xiu's indifference didn't mean everyone else was. Zhan Yuan, who was discovered by Qi Xiu himself, viewed things differently. Once just a Qi level two cultivator like Pan Rong and Gu Ji, his status had transformed entirely due to Qi Xiu. Qi Xiu's adeptness in chores, broad knowledge, and equitable treatment, even of those unable to progress further, made Zhan Yuan view him as a mentor and benefactor, worthy of genuine admiration and support. Unbeknownst to him, Zhan Yuan was profoundly influenced by Qi Xiu’s example—in his enthusiasm for chores, his diligence toward the sect, even in his interactions with others. But Zhan Yuan’s position was different, his perspective unique, and his approach to problems varied, which made Zhang Shishi increasingly irksome to him. The favoritism Zhang showed toward He Yu was apparent to all, something Zhan Yuan saw as a private betrayal of Qi Xiu’s egalitarian principles. Zhang’s straightforward manner and lack of empathy, coupled with his status as a future sect leader, meant that he issued direct orders to others, including Zhan Yuan. Zhang lacked strategic planning abilities; for instance, in constructing formation arrays, he had everyone work blindly without considering individual capabilities, exhausting them without improving efficiency. Similarly, with spell practices, he handed out resources based on natural affinity and only urged assignments, indifferent to everything else. To Zhan Yuan, these presented ample opportunities for improvement, leading his mind to speculate that he could likely manage things far better. These thoughts persisted and grew uncontrollable. Moreover, Zhang’s often tactless remarks repeatedly embarrassed Zhan Yuan, deepening his prejudice against him. Reflecting, Zhan Yuan recognized that Zhang Shishi’s attitude toward He Yu was the crux. Despite the sect leader’s call for impartiality, Zhang’s favoritism was clear. Zhan Yuan considered speaking to Qi Xiu about it but feared appearing to tattletale, so he opted for directness, arranging a private meeting with Zhang. Zhan earnestly laid everything out, only for Zhang to dismiss him, deriding his low cultivation and telling him not to offer baseless opinions. This enraged Zhan Yuan thoroughly, and Zhang Shishi realized the challenge to his future leadership, hitting his sensitive spot. Hence, their relationship cooled substantially. Zhan Yuan found himself increasingly aligned with Shen Chang and Pan Rong, while Zhang Shishi and He Yu formed another faction, subtly opposing each other. Neither party reported this rift to Qi Xiu, likely out of shame for the internal discord it represented. Even though Qi Xiu continued to visit both sides, offering warmth and care, they concealed their concerns well, leaving him oblivious. Thus, beneath this veneer of tranquility, the Chu-Qin Sect greeted the season’s first snowfall. (To be continued)