The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 557

"I haven't shown up for so long, I'd better not show up, it would only cause more trouble."

No matter how Linghu Chong tried to persuade him, Feng Qingyang refused outright.

Linghu Chong could only sigh helplessly.

Actually, he was very worried about Feng Qingyang.

Now that Feng Qingyang is so old, he still lives alone in this back mountain. If Feng Qingyang were to pass away one day, Linghu Chong wouldn't be able to find out in time.

Moreover, Feng Qingyang was indeed too lonely by himself.

Linghu Chong wanted Feng Qingyang to return to the sect so that he could take care of him and see him off in his old age.

"It's rare for you to be so filial."

Upon learning of Linghu Chong's thoughts, Feng Qingyang's expression softened.

"However, I still won't go. After living in seclusion for so many years, my Grand Uncle is already used to it."

Seeing that Feng Qingyang insisted, Linghu Chong did not continue to persuade him, but instead brought up another matter.

"Grandmaster Uncle, my junior brother plans to restart a new round of the Mount Hua Sword Tournament after the succession ceremony. You can also go and take a look then."

"What catches your eyes?"

Feng Qingyang was not interested.

"Anyway, your junior brother will definitely be the best in the world, there's no suspense."

Linghu Chong immediately perked up: "But there will definitely be many extraordinary people coming. Don't you want to watch the excitement? And Grandmaster Uncle, you can also go up and show off your skills."

Feng Qingyang chuckled.

"I am already tired of the rights and wrongs in the martial arts world, and I am past the age of fighting with others."

"But Grand Uncle, your martial arts are so high, wouldn't it be a pity if you didn't go?"

"Tsk, heh."

Feng Qingyang couldn't help but chuckle, looking at Linghu Chong with some displeasure.

"Why are you forcing me to go? Your great-uncle is old and frail, would you be satisfied if I got beaten to death?"

"Am I in your way because I'm alive?"

"Does this mean I have to leave at this time?"

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong's face flushed red, and he quickly waved his hand.

"Grandmaster Uncle, that's not what I meant..."

Before he could finish speaking, Feng Qingyang continued his furious tirade.

"What do you mean 'not'? My grandmaster is over eighty years old, and I want to live a few more years."

Linghu Chong was thoroughly drenched in dog blood by Feng Qingyang.

Linghu Chong hung his head.

"Grandmaster Uncle, your grand-disciple was wrong. Your grand-disciple also hopes that Grandmaster Uncle will live to be a hundred years old."

"Humph!"

Feng Qingyang snorted coldly.

If you come less often, I can live to be a hundred.

Having said that, Feng Qingyang immediately shook his hand.

"roll roll roll."

Seeing that Feng Qingyang was telling him to leave, Linghu Chong had no choice but to stand up and say to Feng Qingyang.

"Grandmaster Uncle, please don't be angry. Your grand-disciple knows he was wrong and will leave now."

Feng Qingyang's expression remained displeased, but he suddenly spoke up as he watched Linghu Chong about to leave.

"and many more."

Linghu Chong turned to look at Feng Qingyang.

"Does Grand Uncle have any further instructions?"

Feng Qingyang glanced at him.

"Why haven't I seen you hiding the wine on the Cliff of Contemplation lately?"

"This is the matter."

Linghu Chong suddenly realized and explained, "Grand Uncle, as you know, my master doesn't allow me to drink alcohol. Last time, the wine I hid in the Cliff of Contemplation disappeared. I'm afraid my master discovered it, so I hid it in a different place."

"Oh?"

Feng Qingyang raised an eyebrow.

"So where did you hide it?"

Linghu Chong didn't think much of it and told him about his new wine storage location.

Feng Qingyang seemed not to be listening at all. After Linghu Chong finished speaking, he nodded and then waved his hand.

"Alright, let's go, let's go, it's annoying to look at you."

Linghu Chong gave a bitter smile.

"The disciple takes his leave."

Shortly after Linghu Chong left, Feng Qingyang's expression shifted slightly. He then got up and walked in one direction, which was the place where Linghu Chong hid the wine.

……

October.

Mount Hua was crowded with people.

"Congratulations, Master Jiang!"

"Master Jiang, do you remember me? We met once before."

One by one, martial arts practitioners who had traveled from afar offered their congratulations to Jiang Ning.

"Thank you all for coming all the way here."

Jiang Ning responded with a smile to each of them.

At this moment, Jiang Ning wore a lotus crown and a wide, blue-gold robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, cranes, and other symbols of good fortune. The back of the robe was embroidered with a Tai Chi symbol, and these patterns were clearly made of gold and silver thread.

Jiang Ning was wearing a golden sash around his waist and had the Zhenwu sword hanging diagonally across his body.

"Master Jiang's attire exudes nobility and majesty."

"Who says it isn't?"

Everyone was full of praise and amazed.

Jiang Ning was already extraordinary in demeanor, and after breaking through to the Innate Realm, he exuded an otherworldly aura. At this moment, dressed entirely as a Taoist master, he seemed as if he were about to ascend to the celestial realm at any moment.

"Senior brother, congratulations on becoming the sect leader."

Just then, a voice rang out from not far away.

Jiang Ning turned his head and saw Lin Pingzhi.

"Junior Brother Lin, you've come too."

Jiang Ning smiled.

"Junior brother is late, please forgive me, senior brother."

Lin Pingzhi said embarrassedly.

After leaving Wuwei Prefecture, Lin Pingzhi did not return to Huashan with the main force. He still had a security escort business in Luoyang, and he couldn't just leave it unattended. So Lin Pingzhi took his leave in advance and returned to Luoyang first.

Lin Pingzhi originally planned to briefly check on the escort agency's business after returning to Luoyang before rushing back to Mount Hua to help, but the escort agency's affairs have entangled him and have been delayed until now.

Jiang Ning chuckled and shook his head upon hearing this.

"nothing."

Lin Pingzhi then asked curiously, "By the way, senior brother, where are Master, Mistress, and other senior brothers? I haven't seen any of them."

On such a joyous occasion, Lin Pingzhi was curious to see that none of the Huashan Sect disciples were making preparations; instead, it was the disciples from the Emei and Taishan Sects who were greeting the guests.

Jiang Ning said, "They are all in the back room. My master and I have something to tell them. Since you're here now, there's no need to write to you later. You can go ahead now, and I'll be there soon."

"Huh? Oh."

Lin Pingzhi nodded upon hearing this, then bid farewell to Jiang Ning and headed towards the back hall.

Not long after Lin Pingzhi left, another person came over.

"Congratulations, Master Jiang."

At this moment, Chongxu walked over with a smile on his face.

Previously, Chongxu would address Jiang Ning as "Young Hero," but now he addresses Jiang Ning as "Real Person" just like everyone else.

"Thank you, Taoist Master."

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "I have other matters to attend to, please sit for a moment, Daoist."

"Please take care of yourself, sir."

Chongxu responded as well.

Watching Jiang Ning's departing figure, Chongxu's expression gradually became serious.

Unlike the others, Chongxu knew that Jiang Ning's succession ceremony had alarmed the person in the capital, who had already sent people to Mount Hua.

Chapter 758: The Disciples' Choice

Jiang Ning arrived at the back hall, where Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, Linghu Chong, and other Huashan disciples were waiting.

"Master and Mistress."

After entering, Jiang Ning first bowed to Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze.

Yue Buqun nodded.

"Now that you're here, let's begin."

"Yes."

Jiang Ning nodded, then turned to look at the crowd.

"Dear senior brothers and sisters, today is my succession ceremony, which is also a significant day for the reform of our Huashan Sect. I originally intended to inform you at the succession ceremony, but it is alright to tell you in advance now."

The Huashan disciples looked at each other, but no one spoke, and they listened attentively to what Jiang Ning would say next.

"From this day forward, the Huashan Sect will make changes."

Jiang Ning paused slightly, setting the tone before continuing, "Master also told us before that the founder of our Huashan Sect was Hao Datong, one of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. Our Huashan Sect belongs to the Quanzhen lineage."

Jiang Ning then recounted how the Huashan Sect had undergone reforms.

"Now, my Huashan Sect will reaffirm the precepts of the Quanzhen School, and all disciples must become monks or nuns."

The Huashan disciples widened their eyes upon hearing this.

Before they could even be shocked, Jiang Ning continued.

"Of course, this is not mandatory; disciples who do not wish to become monks can become lay disciples."

Next, Jiang Ning explained the difference between ordained and lay disciples.

Upon hearing this, the disciples of Mount Hua all looked at each other in bewilderment.

They never expected the sect to undergo such a massive change.

Jiang Ning continued.

"In the future, the Huashan Sect will recruit more and more disciples, and Huashan will not be able to accommodate so many disciples. Huashan disciples who do not wish to become monks and only want to be lay disciples will need to live at the foot of the mountain. In the future, the Huashan Sect will also build a residence at the foot of the mountain for lay disciples to live in."

Upon hearing this, the disciples of Mount Hua looked at each other.