Apprenticeship Ceremony
On the day of the apprenticeship ceremony, the area in front of the Qingyun Hall on Qinglang Mountain was crowded with disciples and elders. On the high platform, Elder Mu Han, dressed in white, held a jade ruyi in his hand. His gaze swept over the disciples below the steps, finally landing on Su Qing. "Su Qing, you remained calm under pressure at the Yanqing Assembly, your control of your qi was precise, and you were able to distinguish evil and dispel misfortune. You have great potential. I am willing to accept you as my eldest disciple. Are you willing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was silence below the steps, followed by murmurs of discussion. Elder Mu Han was the most skilled elder of Qinglang Mountain in discerning qi and breaking evil spells. His disciples had always been of noble birth. It was quite unexpected that he would now accept an outer disciple from the countryside as his eldest disciple.
But then again, Su Qing's performance at the Rain-Seeking Ceremony and the Yan Qing Conference was obvious to all, so no one dared to question her. However, the faces of several noble ladies were not good, and they huddled together and whispered: "She's just lucky. Does she deserve to be Elder Mu Han's eldest disciple?" "That's right. She doesn't even have a proper background. She'll probably embarrass the elder in the future."
Su Qing quickly stepped forward, about to curtsy, when Tong Que squeezed in beside her, a familiar smile on his face, his tone warm: "Su Qing, congratulations! You've been accepted as Elder Mu Han's disciple. You'll have to mentor me in the future!"
Su Qing clearly noticed a fleeting, almost imperceptible, envy in Tong Que's eyes, and a hint of forced smile on her lips—Tong Que, from the Tong family of Jiangnan, had also hoped to become Elder Mu Han's disciple. Now that the opportunity had fallen to her, an "outsider," it was inevitable that she would feel somewhat disappointed. Su Qing understood, and gently took Tong Que's hand, saying softly, "From now on, we'll still be good sisters. If I have any questions, I'll need to ask you for guidance." Tong Que paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded, the disappointment in her eyes fading somewhat.
As Su Qing stepped onto the platform, Elder Mu Han handed her a jade-handled staff—a token of the eldest disciple, its shaft engraved with intricate aura-identifying runes and swirling with faint spiritual energy. But the moment she grasped the staff, a sharp pain shot through her brow, followed by a splitting headache, and then everything went black; she lost consciousness.
When she awoke again, she was lying on a small bed in an elegant bamboo house, with the soft rustling of pine trees outside the window. She propped herself up and walked to the dressing table. Her pale face was reflected in the bronze mirror. She subconsciously touched her brow—the bluish line that had once radiated warmth had disappeared, and her skin was as smooth as ever, as if the mountain god had never appeared.
"Immortal Master... is he really not coming back?" She looked at herself in the mirror, her nose stinging, and tears welled up in her eyes. The Mountain God had protected her many times, from guiding her through the village temple to protecting her in the secret passage. If it weren't for the Mountain God, she would have already fallen into the hands of the officials or Cong Jing. Now that the blue markings had disappeared and the Mountain God's aura had completely dissipated, she suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart, as if she had lost her only support.
Just as she was grieving, the door to the bamboo house was pushed open, and Elder Mu Han's disciple walked in carrying medicine, saying gently, "Junior Sister Su, you're finally awake! The elder said you were probably overworked a few days ago and also disturbed by evil spirits, which is why you fainted. He has found some calming herbs for you; please take them first. As for the apprenticeship ceremony, the elder also said it's alright; you can go to the hall to perform the ceremony when you feel better." Su Qing took the bowl of medicine, her fingertips touching the warmth of the rim, and a sense of peace rose in her heart.
Although she had lost the mountain god's companionship, she still had her master's understanding, Tongque's care, and unfinished wishes—the injustice done to the Yin family, the whereabouts of her elder brother, the whereabouts of her sister, and the secret behind Congjing, all waiting for her to uncover. She tilted her head back and drank the medicine; the bitter taste spread on her tongue, but it only made her more clear-headed.
Walking to the window and gazing at the distant Qingyun Palace, she whispered, "Immortal Master, if you truly leave, I will continue on my path and fulfill our promise."
Su Qing clutched the silver hairpin in her clothes, her fingertips glistening with sweat from nervousness. As she walked along the bamboo path toward the Muqing Palace, her steps were heavier than usual. Although the belated apprenticeship ceremony was just a formality, the thought of facing her ethereal master alone still made her feel flustered.
Just past the green pines outside the hall, a figure leaned against the stone steps in front of the Muqing Hall. The person wore a moon-white Taoist robe with dark patterns, loosely fastened with a jade buckle at the waist. His dark hair was only tied up with a plain silver hairpin, with a few strands falling in front of his forehead, swaying gently in the mountain breeze. His eyebrows were sharp but not fierce, his eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, with a hint of a smile, his nose was high and straight, his lips were clearly defined, and his jawline was sharp yet soft. Standing in the morning light, he seemed to be wrapped in a faint halo, so handsome that it was impossible to look away.
Su Qing was startled—this appearance was completely different from the "elderly figure with an air of otherworldly grace" she had imagined. Instead, he resembled a noble young master from a wealthy family, exuding a nonchalant and dashing air. Just as she was wondering, the other person had already stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over her tightly clenched hands, and the smile on his lips deepened: "Junior sister, are you here to become Elder Mu Han's disciple? Judging from your nervous appearance, are you afraid that Master is too strict?" His voice carried a hint of lighthearted teasing, and as he spoke, he leaned down slightly, so close that she could see the subtle glint in his eyes. Su Qing subconsciously took a half step back, gripping the silver hairpin tightly, about to speak, when he suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice to say, "To be honest, I'm a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect next door. I sneaked out to the Wood Purity Hall to admire the scenery. Junior Sister, please don't spread this around." After saying that, he deliberately winked, his tone even more flirtatious, "But speaking of which, Junior Sister is so pretty, she's much more pleasing than those spoiled young ladies of the Flowing Cloud Sect."
The flippant tone in those words made Su Qing frown instantly. She had thought the other person was just handsome, but she hadn't expected him to be such a playboy who flirted with people regardless of the occasion. Suppressing her dissatisfaction, she said coldly, "Since you know you sneaked in, you should have left earlier to avoid being discovered by the elders. As for anything else, you don't need to say anything more."
Having said that, she walked past him towards the hall. Behind her came his low chuckle, tinged with amusement: "Junior sister has quite the fiery temper, interesting." Su Qing didn't stop, only feeling her ears burning—if she didn't still have to perform the formal apprenticeship ceremony, she would definitely have given this lecherous man a good talking-to. Little did she know, the "frivolous and dissolute" young man in her eyes was none other than Elder Mu Han, the very elder she was to become his disciple. He had only inadvertently revealed his true nature, and in a moment of quick thinking, fabricated a lie, deliberately feigning a dissolute demeanor to lower her guard and completely conceal his identity.
Just as Su Qing finished tidying up her plain-colored Taoist robe for her apprenticeship, she heard a message from a disciple outside the courtyard: "Junior Sister Su, Elder Mu Han is waiting for you at the training platform on the back mountain and wants you to go there quickly." Her heart tightened as she thought of the "Young Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect" she had met in front of the Muqing Hall yesterday, and then of her master whom she would have to face today. She quickly gripped the jade-handled staff in her sleeve and hurried to the back mountain.
The training platform on the back mountain was halfway up, a half-hour hike normally required. Fearing her master would be impatient, she suddenly remembered the "Cloud Condensation Technique" she had practiced a few days ago—though she hadn't yet learned to fly, she could condense auspicious clouds for transportation. She stopped, gripped her staff, concentrated her energy, silently recited the incantation, and channeled her spiritual power into the air. Sure enough, a white cloud slowly descended. "It's done!" Su Qing exclaimed with delight, stepping onto the cloud. But as soon as she steadied herself, the cloud suddenly sank, and then fine rain began to emerge from within, dripping down her hair.
She hurriedly adjusted her spiritual power, trying to stop the rain, but the more anxious she became, the more chaotic it became. The clouds not only did not stop the rain, but instead, they swayed and drifted towards the back mountain under her control. The rain that fell along the way soaked the flowers and plants in the path, and even the hem of her Taoist robe was soaked through.
Having finally floated to the vicinity of the training platform on the back mountain, she was about to descend from the cloud when it suddenly dissipated beneath her feet. She stumbled and fell onto the grass, splashing mud and water. Looking up, she saw Elder Mu Han standing in the center of the training platform, his plain white Daoist robe spotless. Though still an old man, he exuded a calm and ethereal aura. He looked at Su Qing, soaking wet and with water dripping from her hair, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes, but his tone remained calm: "Your Cloud Condensation Technique has become a 'Rain-Summoning Cloud,' drenching everything from the foot of the mountain to the back. You must have thoroughly soaked all the flowers and plants along the way."
Su Qing was both embarrassed and anxious. Clutching her wet sleeves, she curtsied, "Disciple...disciple hasn't mastered the Cloud Condensation Technique yet, please forgive my poor appearance, Master." The elder slowly walked down from the training platform and pointed to a stone bench beside him, "Sit down and rest. I summoned you here today to teach you the 'Lightness Technique,' so that you won't need to rely on these 'rain clouds' to get to higher places anymore." Su Qing sat on the stone bench, looking at her dripping hair, and couldn't help but blush—just now on the way, she had been thinking of making a good impression on her master, but she hadn't expected to arrive in such a disheveled state. But seeing the elder's gentle expression, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and her hand gripping the staff gradually relaxed—perhaps, this master was gentler than she had imagined.
Every day before dawn, Su Qing would go to the martial arts arena for morning practice, where she would always see high-ranking disciples riding their spirit pets past—there were intelligent crimson foxes and azure phoenixes that could walk on water, both agile and majestic. Clutching her jade-handled staff, her eyes were full of envy, and for several days she went to the Muqing Hall to ask Elder Mu Han: "Master, I also want to raise a spirit pet, so that it can accompany me and help me in my cultivation..." But the elder would shake his head each time: "Spirit pets need to be compatible with their masters' temperaments, and they need high-level spells to tame them. Your foundation is not yet stable, and raising a pet rashly will only distract you. Wait a little longer."
After being rejected so many times, Su Qing inevitably felt disappointed, and she lost her usual enthusiasm when practicing magic. Tong Que noticed her low spirits and came over with a smile, "I've wanted a spirit pet for a long time too! But the masters always say we're not qualified enough."
"By the way, I heard from my senior brothers a few days ago that there are wild spirit pets in the Le Mu Qing Di area behind the mountain. It's just that the area is a forbidden zone for immortals, and only high-ranking elders can enter..." Before she could finish speaking, Jin Jing suddenly walked over, crossed her arms, and raised an eyebrow: "It's just a forbidden zone. If the few of us work together, we might be able to sneak in. Besides, with Su Qing's rain-summoning technique, she can protect us if we really encounter danger. It's better than just watching others here." Su Qing's heart stirred, but she still hesitated: "But there are rules in forbidden zones. If the elders find out..." "What are you afraid of?" Tong Que took her hand, his eyes full of expectation, "Let's go and take a look. If we can't find any spirit pets, we'll come back immediately, without anyone noticing." At this moment, two disciples also came over—the one in blue was Shui Mo from the Water Clan, who was skilled in water control; the one in green was Lin Xu from the Wood Clan, who could communicate with plants.
Shui Mo smiled and said, "I've been wanting to go to Le Mu Qing Di to see the aquatic spirit pets for a long time. Let's go together and look out for each other." Lin Xu also nodded, "I can sense the movement of plants and trees, and if there is any danger, I can give an early warning."
Persuaded by the crowd and unable to resist the allure of spirit pets, Su Qing finally nodded. The group agreed to meet at midnight that night in the pine forest behind the mountain, and then quietly head towards Le Mu Qing Di under the cover of darkness. Back in the bamboo hut, Su Qing touched the long-disappeared blue mark between her brows, a sudden unease creeping into her heart—if the mountain god were still alive, he would surely stop her, wouldn't he? But thinking of those lively spirit pets, and the thought of having companions to accompany her in cultivation, she suppressed her worries, secretly resolving: she would only go and observe, absolutely not cause trouble, and return immediately upon finding the spirit pets.
Okay, that's decided!
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