Chapter 93: Liu Jin's Succession, Gu Mo Si Nan
December 15th.
Those who had attended the banquet five days prior returned to the Jinsha City Lord's Mansion, awaiting Wei's final instructions—
To their surprise, Wei Xun did not come; only Madam Wei, the old city lord Wei, and thirteen-year-old Wei Feng were present.
Old City Lord Wei had gray hair and a sallow complexion. He was leaning on a cane and looked very weak. But his eyes were sharp like an eagle's. The old man looked down at you, like an expert who had been immersed in the wind and sand for a long time. Finally, he looked at the golden light in the sky with a faint smile.
He simply stood there, like a tiny grain of sand in the endless sandstorm of Liangzhou, or like a sturdy city wall resisting the endless sandstorm. Just by standing there, he inspired awe in people.
"Lord of the City, you..."
As soon as Yuwen Lan and Duan Jue entered the main hall, they saw him. The two middle-aged men strode forward to greet him, especially Yuwen Lan, who even straightened his clothes when the old city lord wasn't looking.
"Duan Jue, head of the Duan family of Shangyun City, pays his respects to the City Lord."
“Yuwen Lan, head of the Yuwen family of Liangzhou City, pays his respects to the city lord.”
Old City Lord Wei glanced at Yuwen Lan, too lazy to even speak. He nodded, raised his hand slightly, and told them to stand aside.
Many people fell silent, bowed to the old city lord, and stood obediently to the side, not daring to utter a sound. At this moment, even if the old city lord Wei killed someone on the spot, probably no one would stand up and question it. They would only sincerely worry about his health and whether he would be injured.
As Qingyu and the others entered, they sensed an unusual quiet and solemnity in the hall—a true sense of reverence and faith.
So this is the real succession ceremony of the Liujin clan in Xiliang, and this is the true Liujin clan of Liangzhou.
Qingyu walked at the front, and when she reached Old City Lord Wei, she respectfully performed the junior's bow.
"Qingyu, the great demon of Qishan, pays his respects to the city lord."
The girl's voice rang out. Old City Lord Wei lifted his eyelids slightly and nodded gently, indicating that he understood. Qingyu pursed her lips and stepped back, followed by her lover and friends—
Come to think of it, they've never explained their origins so clearly before.
"Wen Chuan, sword cultivator from the South China Sea, pays his respects to the City Lord."
"Qin Tianshu, an unnamed scholar, pays his respects to the city lord."
"Zhang Xuan, a swordsman from Shengjing, pays his respects to the city lord."
"Lin Fanxiang, a medical practitioner from the Lin family, pays his respects to the city lord."
...
They quietly stepped aside and watched the elderly Lord Wei in the center of the hall. Lady Wei stood respectfully behind him, holding the hand of the silent Wei Feng. Apart from the repeated greetings, there was nothing else in the hall.
It seems that at this moment, these young people from all over the country truly understand why, no matter how dynasties changed or how time flowed, the Liujin Wei clan has always been the faith in the hearts of the people of Liangzhou, a god, the guardian left to this land.
...
Madam Wei clapped her hands three times, and a servant pushed her onto the sand table and offered incense sticks.
The scene was exactly the same as five days ago, but because of the arrival of Old City Lord Wei, no one dared to say a word.
In a solemn atmosphere, Old City Lord Wei gently accepted the incense sticks. He took a deep look at the yellow sand inside the sand platform, and finally handed the incense sticks to Wei Feng.
At this moment, Wei Feng, who was only about half the size of everyone else, pursed his lips and accepted the incense stick. He gently lit it and raised it towards the sand—
"Today, I, Liu Jinwei Feng, stand on the land of Liangzhou as the newly appointed Lord of Jinsha City."
With yellow sand as a witness, we burn incense and pray, paying homage to Heaven and Earth and expressing our gratitude for their blessings.
Now, the heavy responsibility of protecting them falls on my shoulders.
By the grace of the Mongolian desert gods, I have been granted courage and fortitude, wisdom and insight, perseverance and unwavering loyalty.
The wind and sand may blow slowly, but my heart remains unchanged.
Wei Feng will not fail the divine grace, nor his people, and will join hands with his clan and the people of Liangzhou.
May Liangzhou enjoy peace and tranquility year after year, and may this land be blessed with lasting peace for ten thousand generations.
After speaking, a resolute look appeared on Wei Feng's small face. He inserted the incense stick into the sand tray, and then gently grasped a handful of yellow sand—
Suddenly a gust of wind arose, scattering the buried fragrance and dust.
In the blink of an eye, the succession ceremony was complete.
Wei Feng is the current master of the Flowing Gold Clan and the new lord of Golden Sand City.
There was a moment of silence in the hall. Old City Lord Wei reached out, wanting to pat his grandson's head, but in the end he patted his shoulder instead.
The wind and sand blew slowly. The old man looked up and spoke slowly.
“I, Liu Jin, Wei Xiangheng, am too old to continue to shoulder the heavy responsibility of city lord. I fear that I will soon enter the cycle of reincarnation.”
“A few days ago, my grandson Wei Xun, Wei Nian, made a fool of himself at the succession ceremony—who the murderer was and who the victim was are not important. What is important is that the city lord of Jinsha City must be someone who can shoulder great responsibilities.”
"After much deliberation, I have finally decided that Wei Feng will be the new city lord. He is still young and has much to learn. Next in line for him will be my granddaughter-in-law, Xiao Enci."
"I am here today for two reasons: first, to offer incense, and second, to see you all again, and to see the new children of Liangzhou."
He lightly swept his gaze over everyone present: Wei Feng, Yuwen Ran, Duan Zizhu, Duan Zixi…
They are all new, good, young, and belong to the children of Liangzhou.
"From now on, all matters concerning Liangzhou will be entrusted to you."
He said this at the end, seemingly with a sob in his voice, carrying a heavy sense of entrustment, but more than anything, they felt a wondrous blessing.
Unfortunately, before they could fully appreciate it, Old City Lord Wei, leaning on his cane and refusing any assistance, slowly left the main hall and the sandstorm.
His back was straight, clearly leaning on a cane, yet his determination was unwavering. His white hair was mixed with yellow sand. He walked out of everyone's sight step by step, just as he had in his youth, step by step entering everyone's hearts.
Wei Xiangheng, so many years have passed, does anyone present still remember his name?
The events of the past few days are no longer important. The old city lord has chosen a new successor, and the Liujin clan now has a new, young master.
Tears streamed down Yuwen Lan's face. He stared at the departing figure of Old City Lord Wei, speechless. Old City Lord Wei had held him when he was a child...
Duan Jue, standing beside him, glanced at him helplessly. Really, he started crying as soon as the old city lord said he was entering the cycle of reincarnation. How old is he? Sigh!
Qingyu unconsciously let out a soft sigh of relief. She had just witnessed a passing down of tradition, a continuation of faith. So this was Xiliang, the Liujin Clan.
Finally, the boys exchanged silent glances and sighs, their lips pursed as they shared the shock and realization they had felt in that instant.
In the instant the sandstorm raged, the sunlight shone brightly, as if it were flowing gold.
...
The succession ceremony finally came to an end, and everyone said their goodbyes and left. Yuwen and Duan also shared their experience in governing the people under the city walls with Wei Feng. Although their experience was limited, it was insightful. After all, he was only thirteen years old, and there was still much for him to learn.
Xiao Enci stood quietly behind Wei Feng, supporting him. Although some people discussed her background, they were ultimately silenced by the old city lord's words, "Below Wei Feng is Xiao Enci."
It's quite amusing. When Xiao Enci first married into the family, many people gossiped about her, saying her bloodline wasn't pure and that her appearance alone suggested she wasn't from Xiliang. Later, when Xiao Enci acted with propriety and grace, displaying a refined demeanor, people said she was too upright and lacked the sincerity and passion of Xiliang women. Even when Wei Xun avoided her a few days ago, she single-handedly handled the situation methodically.
Some people still say she is smug and is taking over the duties of the city lord.
Go ahead and tell me, every single day since Xiao Enci married into this family has been marked by contempt, gossip, and even distrust.
But so what?
Before Wei Feng matures, Xiao Enci will likely be in charge of Jinsha City.
...
“Qingyu, I think this is what you want.”
Xiao Enci pursed her lips and handed a small wooden box to Qingyu.
Qingyu gently accepted it, and in that instant, the girl already felt a heavy spiritual energy and power...
"This is……"
"Ancient Desert Compass".
She smiled and said, her eyes filled with a faint sadness, "When the girl asked me, I already knew what you wanted."
"Moreover, this compass can also help you enter the Fenggu Desert."
Perhaps it's all fate. This compass is an ancient artifact of the Flowing Gold Clan. Wei Xun even told her that this compass is very strange; it's rich in spiritual energy, but only the Lord of Golden Sand City can touch it. But what extraordinary use does it have?
They were probably guiding the way in the Fenggu Desert.
How ridiculous! In the end, Wei Xun failed to become the new city lord of Jinsha City, while Xiao Enci was able to pick up the compass belonging to the Liujin Clan.
"Madam... thank you very much,"
Looking at the box, Qingyu finally said to Xiao Enci, "Ancient Desert Compass, without even hearing it, is an ancient artifact of the Flowing Gold Clan. They were able to obtain it because of Xiao Enci's help."
Xiao Enci smiled, "It's nothing. Whether you can use this compass or not depends on yourselves."
“However, I think that even without the help of the Golden Clan, this compass would still be willing to guide you,”
"And... I also have something that I might need Qingyu's help with."
Qingyu pursed her lips. "What is it?"
Xiao Enci sighed silently, but her voice carried a rare hint of childishness, "My sister has recently gone traveling somewhere, and hasn't even sent a letter."
"I'm getting a little bored. Maybe it's because I've been reading letters so often over the years, but I've also developed a habit of imagining scenery through letters."
"If Qingyu were to come out of the ancient desert, I wonder if she could write me a letter and tell me what the Fenggu Desert is like."
"I'm so curious, what exactly is that place that cultivators yearn for, that you yearn for, like?"
"You don't need to tell me in person, a letter will suffice."
Will it be a sandstorm? Will she see a god? Will there be a white divine deer? The book never wrote about it; she didn't know. She wanted to know—
"So that's how it is,"
"Of course I'm willing to write this letter for you, we both are."
Qingyu smiled and said this as the girl finished speaking. She and Xiao Enci looked at each other, blessing each other with their eyes.
...
Before leaving,
The carriage was placed in a safe open space, and Xiao Enci specifically promised them that as long as they were in Jinsha City, the carriage would be safe.
The sandstorm was too strong, and it wasn't suitable for Cai Cai to go into the desert. Just as they were struggling with this, the new city lord, Wei Feng, took the initiative to come and said that he hoped to help them. He offered to let them entrust Cai Cai to him for a while if they didn't mind.
The boy's eyes were firm and clear, filled with expectation and curiosity about Cai Cai. In the end, Wen Chuan entrusted Cai Cai to him.
Cai Cai: "Coo-coo—coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo."
Qingyu gave it a final pat, saying, "Alright, I'll come pick you up in a while."
Cai Cai: "Gurgle."
...
After considering the length of the journey and the direction, they finally led eight camels, along with their bicycles and various supplies, westward out of the city.
Fenggu Desert, that's a place no one has been to for a very, very long time. They've found it, but they still have a long way to go.
The wind and sand were blowing in their faces. Qingyu's face was covered by a veil. The wind blew up their clothes and accompanied Zhang Xuan's intermittent conversation.
"Can you find it? What do you think might be inside...?"
"I'm worried about Cai Cai now that she's not here."
Are you thirsty?
"Brother, why are you ignoring me?"
Qin Tianshu: "Xiao Zhang, go and talk to Wen Chuan."
Wen Chuan: "..."
Qingyu: "Pah, pah, it's getting windy, let's keep quiet."
Lin Fanxiang: "Mm."
Zhang Xuan: "Oh!"
...
On the city wall, Duan Zixi watched their figures disappear into the distance.
Duan Zizhu sighed, wondering why his sister seemed a bit obsessed during her trip to Jinsha City.
"younger sister--"
"elder brother,"
She suddenly spoke, in a very calm tone, so calm that Duan Zizhu was somewhat stunned.
Duan Zixi, however, continued to gaze at the distant sandstorm. She said, "That demoness only glanced at me, just once."
"I haven't been able to sleep for several days, and I wake up in the middle of the night every night."
“I know she won’t really come to kill me, but I’m just scared, more scared than ever before.”
"Why? Why does she have such abilities? Why?"
"...She's so strong."
She kept replaying that scene in her mind: the girl in red walking towards her with a smile, yet her eyes were cold and disdainful, even carrying a hint of murderous intent. It was a light, confident gaze that, in a fleeting moment, instilled immense fear.
Her strength was what sustained her; at that moment, no man, no status, nothing mattered.
What Duan Zixi sensed was a different kind of disdain.
This vixen didn't care about her actions at all, because with a mere wave of her hand, Duan Zixi's life was like the yellow sand, gone with a gust of wind.
She's like a clown.
Duan Zizhu: "Little sister, you're obsessed. They are ultimately different from us."
"What's different?"
Duan Zixi looked at him, "What's different?"
Duan Zizhu was speechless. Suddenly, a clear and deep bell rang out from the city—
"Thump, thump, thump—"
Lord Wei, the old city lord, has passed away.
The Duan siblings looked up, and at that moment, the entire Jinsha City fell into a deathly silence, followed by the weeping of countless people.
That moment was truly awe-inspiring. They stood atop the city wall, watching the cries stir up the sandstorm and the prayers awaken the golden light.
Xiliang, once again, bid farewell to its aging guardian, and once again, welcomed its young and vigorous Lord of Flowing Gold.
...
Why are you still here?
A clear, calm, and even slightly sorrowful female voice came from inside. The Duan siblings looked up—it was Yuwen Ran.
The woman, dressed in plain white, sighed as she looked at the mournful sounds emanating from the city. She then glanced one last time at the Duan siblings.
"Let's go, we're going to see the city lord one last time."
She spoke calmly, with a sorrowful yet serene air, mentioning nothing. At this moment, as the Flowing Gold Clan Chief entered reincarnation, as heirs of a top-tier family in Xiliang, they should have rushed to pay their last respects to the City Lord and silently pray before his coffin—
You can rest assured that we are here in Xiliang.
After speaking, Yuwen Ran turned around and walked away silently.
Duan Zizhu lowered his eyes for a moment, then finally said to Duan Zixi,
"They went to distant lands, we stayed here."
"There are countless paths to enlightenment, and our paths are different; there's nothing to doubt about that."
"You're afraid simply because you're too weak."
"What I'm saying is, setting aside all status and position, and comparing only willpower and cultivation, you are too weak."
"We are all of them."
Duan Zizhu concluded by saying this: He watched as white banners fluttered in the city, accompanied by mournful sounds. The young man turned and followed Yuwen Ran away to see the old city lord one last time.
He rarely said such things to his mischievous and ignorant younger sister, but when the bell rang, the whole city knelt in worship, and the old city lord quietly closed his eyes in the wind and sand.
He suddenly realized that even if their paths were different, they should still walk their own paths step by step.
In the distance, young people travel across the land, seeking cultivation and enlightenment—a sight to behold.
Nearby, the old city lord, having guarded against the wind and sand for a century, was about to enter the cycle of reincarnation, where his merits were fulfilled.
Talent, cultivation, temperament, experience—all these require personal development.
How can we compare? There are countless paths to enlightenment, and people always unconsciously envy the paths of others. But the true meaning of the Way cannot be compared. In the end, all we are comparing is people.
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