Chapter 227
The eighth day of the eighth lunar month is auspicious for all activities.
The Mingguang Hall has been renovated and is now resplendent with its vermilion walls, golden tiles, carved beams and jade pillars. The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafts for miles, and the lush greenery provides ample shade. A bright red carpet stretches along a vibrant avenue, leading to the brightly decorated Wangtian Temple. Throughout the hall, joyful laughter and cheerful conversation fill the air.
The auspicious time was chosen to be noon, but Lu Huaiwei got up at the end of the morning. She made all the preparations in advance and personally went through all the procedures to make sure there were no omissions. Then, Lu Huaiwei ordered someone to bring her new clothes and stepped into the Mingguang Hall, walking through the osmanthus blossoms and morning light. Ji Wanshu and Wen Chaoyu were inside, dressing up in front of the bronze mirror.
Both of them looked flustered and unsure of where to begin.
"Finally here! I still have to leave this to you." Wen Chaoyu felt like she had been granted a pardon. She slid to the side on her chair and looked at Lu Huaiwei with pleading eyes. "Neither of us likes wearing hairpins or applying rouge. We've been fiddling around for ages and still don't know what to do. You should take a look at her."
"Oh dear, what's that on your face? Wash it off quickly!" Lu Huaiwei couldn't help but laugh when she saw Ji Wanshu, then added, "It's one thing that Senior Sister Ji doesn't like to wear makeup, but I thought you, Uncle Wen, would be better than her."
I didn't expect you two to be so careless. When I get busy, I can't find anyone. Couldn't I have asked Xiao Qiu to come and help? What if we're late?"
Wen Chaoyu said, "You don't know that Yin Qiu has long been corrupted by Man Jiangxue. As the saying goes, 'One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black.' Man Jiangxue is a person who loves to sleep in late, and Yin Qiu has learned from her. I sent two groups of people to Jingyue Peak to invite them, but they still haven't come by now. They might still be sleeping."
Just as she finished speaking, two graceful figures in white robes appeared at the palace gate. Wen Chaoyu's eyelids twitched, and she immediately covered her face with Ji Wanshu's handkerchief. Yin Qiu, who was outside, saw her actions clearly and laughed as she walked, "Uncle Wen always likes to talk badly about people behind their backs. Now your uncle and I have caught you red-handed. You'll have to drink three jars of wine as punishment at the banquet tonight."
Upon hearing this, Wen Chaoyu was overjoyed and blew on the handkerchief, saying, "Punishment, punish me to drink? That's exactly what I wanted!"
Upon seeing Yin Qiu arrive, Lu Huaiwei immediately stopped what she was doing and called out to her, "Xiao Qiu, you've come just in time. I still have some things to take care of. Could you help Senior Sister Ji with her makeup and dressing up? She doesn't know anything about makeup. It's such a grand enthronement ceremony for Jing, how can she go without a bare face?"
Yin Qiu readily agreed, and Lu Huaiwei went outside to arrange the various matters for the ceremony. Man Jiangxue picked a chair and sat quietly, looking lazy and as if she hadn't woken up yet. Wen Chaoyu teased, "You didn't used to love sleeping in so much. Ever since Yin Qiu came to live with you on Jingyue Peak, you've been sleeping in even later." She smiled slightly, adding mischievously, "What are you busy with at night?"
Her voice wasn't low, nor did she deliberately try to hide it, causing Yin Qiu's face to flush slightly as she turned away. Man Jiangxue brushed aside the smoke emanating from the brass incense burner beside her and said indifferently, "Whatever you're busy with at night, that's what I'll be busy with."
This time, it was Ji Wanshu's turn to be at a loss. She and Yin Qiu looked at each other in the bronze mirror, and both of them showed the same embarrassed expression.
"So you know what I'm busy with at night?" Noticing the two people in front of the dressing table were silent, Wen Chaoyu slid her chair closer to Man Jiangxue and asked curiously, "By the way, how far have things progressed between you and Yin Qiu? Give me a hint."
Man Jiangxue glanced at her, a slight smile playing on her lips, and asked, "What about you and Wan Shu? I'd like to know too."
Wen Chaoyu said, "I'm asking you, so you go first."
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Man Jiangxue said coldly. “In broad daylight, under the clear sky, please don’t talk to me about these things.”
Wen Chaoyu immediately laughed and pointed at Man Jiangxue, saying, "You're pretending to be serious with me again. I know what kind of person you are. Let me tell you, if you dare to bully Yin Qiu, I'll have Dong appear in my dream tonight and tell her about you."
"Do as you please," Man Jiangxue said indifferently. "I certainly won't bully Xiao Qiu. But you, we're fellow disciples. If you're bullied by Wan Shu, I'll burn incense for our master and ask her to stand up for you."
Wen Chaoyu was stunned for a moment: "Wan Shu bullied me... Why did she bully me?"
Man Jiangxue said, "You think Wan Shu will bully Xiao Qiu the same way I would? Is that even a question?"
Wen Chaoyu lost.
She quickly realized what was going on and said angrily, "You hypocrite! You were just saying it was broad daylight and the world was bright, and now you're spouting shameless nonsense. I'll sew your mouth shut!"
Man Jiangxue scoffed, "Everything has a source. I think you'd better slap yourself in the face."
Wen Chaoyu prided herself on her eloquence and fearlessness in verbal sparring, yet she couldn't gain the upper hand against Man Jiangxue. Unfortunately, she had indeed started the argument, so she had no choice but to accept her fate. Wen Chaoyu pursed her lips, her gaze shifting to a jade bracelet on Yin Qiu's wrist. Her eyes lit up, and she asked, "Did you give this to me?"
Man Jiangxue hummed in agreement.
"I haven't seen her wear it before, so I didn't know when it was given to her," Wen Chaoyu said thoughtfully, stroking her chin. "It looks expensive; it must have cost a lot of money."
Man Jiangxue said, "If we're going to give something, we have to give the best. Ordinary things are not good enough for Xiao Qiu."
Wen Chaoyu said, "Then you're really not loyal enough. You could have at least reminded me about this kind of token of love, so I could have prepared one for Wanshu."
"Then what are you going to give her?" Man Jiangxue said. "Wan Shu doesn't like anything, especially jewelry. You've never seen her wear it. Besides, bracelets are fragile. She gets so engrossed in practicing swordsmanship that she probably rarely wears them. If you give them to her, they'll just sit in a box and gather dust."
"That's true." Wen Chaoyu thought for a moment, then suddenly got up and rummaged through the cabinet for a while before finally taking out a jade pendant and handing it to Ji Wanshu.
Ji Wanshu glanced at it twice and asked, "What is this?"
“This is my life’s savings,” Wen Chaoyu said. “Take this to the money exchange, and all the gold I’ve saved up will be yours. You can buy whatever you like, as much as you want.”
Ji Wanshu was silent for a moment, then Wen Chaoyu continued, "Or you can take it and confiscate it, use it however you like. If I give you this fortune, I'll be penniless, so you must remember to give me food in the future, otherwise I'll be left with nothing. How about that?"
Yin Qiu burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Wen Chaoyu patted Yin Qiu on the head. "Isn't my gift more valuable than your bracelet?"
Yin Qiu sincerely said, "Whether it is valuable or not is secondary. The sentiment is what matters. Senior Sister Ji is so lucky, and Uncle Wen is so generous. Please accept it."
Ji Wanshu smiled faintly, put the jade pendant into her bosom, and Wen Chaoyu grinned, saying nonchalantly, "As Man Jiangxue said, if you're going to give a gift, give the best. I held nothing back, I took out all my possessions to prove that I'm no less than Man Jiangxue."
Man Jiangxue, holding her teacup, chuckled and said, "Why do you always compare yourself to me? I'm not going to steal your bride."
Wen Chaoyu said, "Of the five disciples, only the two of us are left. If I don't compete with you, who else can I compete with?"
These words were just spoken casually, unintentionally, but as soon as they were spoken, the smiles on both of their faces faded away.
The rebuilt Mingguang Hall bears no resemblance to its former self. Even the tables and chairs were all replaced by the craftsmen. The place has completely lost any trace of the five masters and disciples who once lived there. Everything is no longer the same as before.
The atmosphere instantly sombered a bit, but Bai Ling arrived just in time, beaming and saying, "Several distinguished guests from other factions have arrived outside, and they've received quite a few gifts. Xiao Qiu, quickly take a look at these letters; they're all from people you know."
After Yin Qiu finished dressing Ji Wanshu, she told her to go behind the screen to change her clothes. She took the letter from Bai Ling and looked at it. Her face lit up with joy. She said, "This is Fanxin Valley, this is Jiuxian Hall, and Mingyue Tower... Oh, Ziwei Sect is here too."
"Not only did they send a letter, but they also sent congratulatory gifts," Ling said with great satisfaction. "It's wonderful. We've truly ushered in a peaceful and prosperous era. Even the leader of the Nangong Sect sent someone to offer his congratulations. The reputation of the Ziwei Sect has improved recently, and the martial world is finally at peace. It's been worth all the ups and downs we've experienced these past few years. After today, Senior Sister Ji will be the sect leader again, and there's no shortage of people to manage things in the palace. If the world can continue to be this harmonious, that would be truly wonderful."
Yin Qiu nodded repeatedly, feeling reassured. She carefully read through the letters and said, "My aunt is still staying at Jiuxiantang, helping Fu Xiang manage Mingyue Tower. My other aunt is also doing well, rebuilding the main altar in Hezhou City. Look, Uncle-Master, Fu Xiang met my father during her travels! The letter says that she and my father met by boat on their way south, and they even wrote these two letters at the same table."
Man Jiangxue glanced at it twice and asked, "Did they mention how your father's health is?"
“My father didn’t mention it himself, but Fu Xiang said he looked very well,” Yin Qiu said with a smile and a sigh. “They’ve been gone for so long and haven’t written a single letter. I was worried sick about them. Now that I know they’re all doing well, I’m relieved.”
"Why aren't Meng Wugui and Nangong Min here?" Wen Chaoyu interjected. "Didn't we send invitations to both of them? I thought they would come."
Yin Qiu said, "My aunt is juggling two sects and can't leave. She originally wanted to abandon everything and wander the world, but ultimately chose to stay. As for my aunt, she's busy rebuilding the main altar; there are so many things to do, she can't spare the time. Besides, because of her search for the Holy Sword, she's being watched by other sects, so it's best for her to stay home as much as possible. Moreover, my aunt's letter said that she and my aunt have arranged a duel in three days, so she won't have time to come to Shangyuan City. Once they both have some free time, they should come to the palace as guests."
"Another duel?" Wen Chaoyu shook her head and chuckled. "I thought their next fight wouldn't happen until next year. It's only been half a year. They should at least consider us. They could at least pick an auspicious day where we can all be there to watch. What's the point of just the two of them fighting amongst themselves?"
Yin Qiu smiled and said, "I don't want to see that. It would be best if they fought to a draw for the rest of their lives. I don't want to see either of them die at the hands of the other."
As they chatted, Ji Wanshu had already changed her clothes behind the screen. Unlike the previous ceremony for the young sect leader's ascension to the throne, Lu Huaiwei had specially commissioned a tailor to make her a brightly colored, wide-sleeved robe, both gorgeous and elegant, perfectly suited to her. The moment Ji Wanshu appeared, everyone in the room turned their attention to her. Yin Qiu was the first to exclaim, "Senior Sister, you look so beautiful!"
Faced with a variety of gazes, Ji Wanshu felt somewhat uncomfortable. If they praised her for her kung fu skills and swordsmanship, she could show some joy, but if they praised her for her beauty, Ji Wanshu didn't know what to do.
Wen Chaoyu looked her up and down, then feigned a sigh and said, "I never thought that the disciple I casually took in would become the future sect leader. What do you call this? This is just a lucky coincidence. I just happened to stumble upon it."
Bai Ling was amused by her and teased, "On such a joyous day, can't Uncle Wen say something nice? But the auspicious time is almost here, let's hurry up and go out, the disciples are all waiting."
Compared to the investiture of the young sect leader, the enthronement ceremony of the sect leader should have been more solemn and elaborate. However, Ji Wanshu disliked those formalities and, after discussing with Lu Huaiwei and the elders, removed all the unnecessary procedures. Whenever a new sect leader was to be appointed, the procession had to begin at the foot of Yunhua Mountain, climbing the ten-thousand-foot staircase, and then be escorted by a ceremonial guard into the palace for the grand sacrificial ceremony. This was an indispensable procedure. Therefore, although the auspicious time was set for noon, Ji Wanshu still had to appear early and head towards the foot of the mountain.
Several people escorted Ji Wanshu to the palace entrance. The disciples outside were already prepared, sprinkling her with water-dipped flower branches and then fumigating her from head to toe with incense before dispersing to make way for Ji Wanshu.
The weather was clear today, the sky was a deep blue like the sea, and the white clouds were like fish scales, scattered across the horizon. The wind carried the rich fragrance of osmanthus. Looking around, there were many people, and the atmosphere was joyful. Ji Wanshu was under the watchful eyes of his disciples. Just as he was about to descend the white jade steps, he turned back to look at Wen Chaoyu.
She reached out a hand to her.
There were no superfluous words, only a silent invitation; all the unspoken intentions were hidden in their eyes and brows.
Wen Chaoyu abandoned her usual playful demeanor and became unusually dignified. She smiled at Ji Wanshu and gently took her hand. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two stepped onto the red carpet, slowly descended the steps, passed through the Wangtian Dojo, and boarded the carriage heading down the mountain.
A gentle breeze blew, and the carriage glided along the quiet mountain path. The disciples set off firecrackers and incense at the palace gate. Yin Qiu watched the carriage disappear into the distance and sighed softly, "I used to worry that Senior Sister Ji would be lonely after becoming the sect leader. Now that Uncle Wen has returned, with her by her side, Senior Sister Ji will no longer be alone."
Hearing this, Lu Huaiwei couldn't help but tear up and said, "Who says otherwise? Fortunately, Martial Aunt Wen eventually left the Ziwei Sect, and the disciples were all willing to accept her back. Otherwise, after Senior Sister became the sect leader, no one would dare to approach her easily. It's lonely at the top. Having someone with you makes it less lonely. Whether as a junior sister or a friend, I'm genuinely happy for her."
"Then why are you crying?" Yin Qiu laughed. "Now that the affairs outside the palace have been handed over to others, you no longer need to travel around. You only need to stay in the palace to assist Senior Sister Ji. With you and Uncle Wen by her side, Senior Sister Ji will become more and more adept in the future. Besides, there is also Uncle Wen and me. Yunhua Palace is our home. A family should accompany each other."
Lu Huaiwei wiped away her tears and nodded, saying, "You're right. I was just crying tears of joy and feeling a bit emotional." As she spoke, she looked Yin Qiu and Man Jiangxue back and forth and said, "You and your uncle must also take good care of yourselves. As the saying goes, true love will eventually prevail. It wasn't easy for you two to be together. I hope you and your uncle can stay together forever and grow old together."
Yin Qiuxin said with delight, "Thank you for your kind words. I also hope that Senior Sister can find her Mr. Right soon and have a good life together."
The sun shone brightly, its warmth filling the air. The disciples waited patiently and orderly for Ji Wanshu to ascend the steps. Lu Huaiwei stood for a moment before going to the sacrificial altar to check if anything had been overlooked. Yin Qiu and Man Jiangxue went to sit on the viewing platform of the training ground. Soon after, Bai Ling flew over, grinning, and said, "Xiao Qiu! Look who's that at the entrance!"
Yin Qiu looked in the direction she was pointing, and there stood a well-dressed young woman with a pretty face, holding a long whip, running towards a shady spot under a tree as if no one else was there.
"Isn't that Duan Ning?" Yin Qiu asked, somewhat surprised. "She's here too."
Bai Ling, hands clasped, leisurely gazed at the spot and chuckled, "It was a letter I delivered to her. On such a special day, and given how much she loves to join in the fun, how could we do without this young lady?"
Jing was delicate and frail, unable to withstand the wind and sun. After waiting for a while at the palace gate, she went to sit and rest under the shade of a tree. She took out her water pouch, drank a couple of sips, and stared blankly at the ground, lost in thought. Suddenly, the light dimmed before her eyes, and a pair of elegant embroidered shoes appeared in her vision. Jing looked up and saw Duan Ning looking down at her, saying with an air of righteousness, "Give me a sip of your water; I'm thirsty."
Meng Jing was slightly taken aback, as if he couldn't immediately recognize who the person in front of him was. He remained silent for a moment before handing over the water pouch.
Duan Ning gulped down a bellyful of water and swaggered down to sit beside Meng Jing. Her fellow disciples from Wenxin Peak, seeing her arrive, crowded together, whispering amongst themselves and casting meaningful glances in her direction. "Why are you here?" After a long while, Jing finally came to her senses and asked.
"I've come to offer my congratulations," Duan Ning said, propping himself up on his leg with a whip in his hand, "and I also came to see you while I was at it."
Meng Jing glanced at her indifferently, unusually showing a hint of restraint. Duan Ning returned the water pouch to her, and Jing reached out to take it. The moment their fingertips touched, Jing inexplicably shivered, and something fell out of her sleeve.
Duan Ning cried out "Ouch!" and Ma Diao headed to pick it up for her, but Jing's expression changed drastically. She blindfolded Duan Ning, grabbed the thing on the ground first, and quickly stuffed it into her bosom.
"What are you doing?" Duan Ning didn't move, maintaining his previous posture, and said, "Is there something you're ashamed to show?"
Several gloating laughs immediately came from one side.
Jing frowned slightly, noticing her fellow disciples looking at her with mocking eyes, and felt a surge of anger.
As Meng Jing was leaving Wenxin Peak to attend the ceremony, a senior brother teased him, saying, "Today is a very auspicious day. Many distinguished guests from the martial world will be coming, and perhaps even the young lady from the Duan family. Hey, junior brother, take the pearl hairpin she gave you. It'll be good to send a message when you see her."
Jing initially ignored him, but her senior brother insisted on stuffing the beaded flower into her sleeve, not giving her a chance to put it back in her room. Several people shoved Jing here. She really hadn't expected Duan Ning to actually come, and to make matters worse, the beaded flower had just fallen out. Luckily, Duan Ning hadn't seen it. She really didn't know how to handle this situation.
However, just as she was secretly rejoicing, she heard Duan Ning laugh beside her and say, "Oh, I see. There aren't many things you can't let me see. Are you carrying my pearl hairpin?"
Upon hearing this, Jing's heart was thrown into turmoil. The pearl flower in her arms suddenly ceased to be a pearl flower; it felt as if she had a fire burning in her chest, making her body hot and causing her to break out in a sweat.
Before Meng Jing could speak, Duan Ning could tell from her reaction that what she said was true. Her smile was bright and cheerful, as pure and clean as the white clouds floating on the horizon. Meng Jing glanced at her, and the tension and unease in his heart vanished in an instant.
The two sat in the shadows, one with a smile on his face, the other calm and composed. Neither spoke, but their eyes remained fixed on each other.
"I was the one who told those male disciples to force the hairpin onto Meng Jing," Ling said, leaning against the railing, practically beaming with joy. "Look at Jing's expression! She might really have feelings for Duan Ning. Normally, she wouldn't be so secretive; this is clearly an attempt to cover it up! Otherwise, what is she afraid of?"
Yin Qiu raised her hand to her brow bone, looking on with amusement: "It really is true. If she didn't care, it wouldn't matter if the pearl hairpin fell out and Duan Ning saw it. But just now she was flustered, as if she was afraid of being discovered by Duan Ning. I rarely see Meng Jing so flustered. What you said makes a lot of sense. Maybe she really has some feelings for Duan Ning."
Bai Ling said smugly, "If I can help bring about a marriage, I'll consider myself to have done a good deed. Good things always come in pairs, and today is indeed an auspicious day!" After she finished speaking, she suddenly seemed to remember something, "Oh right, there's something I forgot to tell you. Wait for me a moment!"
Just as Yin Qiu was about to ask her what was wrong, Bai Ling immediately leaped down from the stands again and returned shortly after. She carried a sword box in her arms, presented it to Man Jiangxue, and said with obvious delight, "Uncle's Frost Condensation Sword has been repaired! Please take a look!"
Yin Qiu's eyes lit up, and she immediately opened the box, revealing a nearly brand-new, snow-white dagger inside. Man Jiangxue took out the dagger and examined it, then shook it into a longsword. She found the blade sharp and intact, without any nicks or imperfections, and completely unchanged from before.
"I went to the Sword Forging Pavilion just two days ago to ask, and my senior brothers said it wouldn't be ready until next month," Yin Qiu said excitedly. "Could it be that you arranged for them to lie to me again?"
Bai Ling said, "What do you mean by deceiving? This is an unexpected surprise."
Man Jiangxue flicked her finger on the thin blade, clearly pleased, and nodded to Bai Ling, saying, "Thank you, you're very kind."
Bai Ling quickly waved her hand and said, "Uncle-Master, you're too kind. There's no need to thank me. Such a precious sword should naturally be returned to you intact."
Seeing Ning Shuang restored to her former appearance, Yin Qiu couldn't hide her joy and immediately took the Zhu Bing sword from her waist. The two identical longswords were placed together, reflecting the same dazzling cold light, like starlight reflected in their eyes. Ling smiled knowingly and left the place on her own. Qiu looked around and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to them, quickly kissed Man Jiangxue on the cheek.
After waiting for a long time, the crowd finally spotted Ji Wanshu and Wen Chaoyu just before noon. The crowd cheered, and Yin Qiu quickly pulled Man Jiangxue down from the stands to greet them at the palace gate.
Surrounded by admirers, Ji Wanshu still held Wen Chaoyu's hand. The two were tired from climbing the ten-thousand-foot staircase, but they couldn't miss the appointed time. Once inside the temple, they would go directly from the temple to the altar.
The honor guard, carrying the Yunhua banner high, escorted the new sect leader to the sacrificial altar at the end of the white jade steps. Ji Wanshu washed her hands, burned incense, and bowed three times to the heavens with a devout heart. Finally, she took a cup of strong liquor and poured it on the ground as an offering to the ancestral masters of Yunhua Palace. Then, she respectfully accepted the jade crown symbolizing the sect leader of Yunhua from Man Jiangxue.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, in a solemn atmosphere, Ji Wanshu faced the crowd and slowly placed the jade crown into her hair.
As time passed, dazzling fireworks shot straight into the sky, spreading powerfully across the dome like daytime fireworks. Deep drumbeats and bells resounded in unison, their grandeur echoing through the heavens and earth. Firecrackers and firecrackers were lit one after another, and fireworks rained down like snowflakes in August, floating on everyone's hair and in their eyes.
Apart from the elders, thousands of disciples simultaneously removed their swords, knelt on the ground, and bowed to the person on the high platform in a booming voice, saying, "Sect Leader Gui!"
The sound waves echoed far and wide, stirring up a gust of wind and flowers. The sun shone brightly in the sky, its dazzling golden light illuminating the earth and casting an unparalleled radiance that enveloped everyone.
The people around him had already retreated to the side. Ji Wanshu stood tall and proud, looking down from a high place. Touched by the scene before him, he couldn't help but feel his blood boiling and he felt an unprecedented excitement and exhilaration.
She clenched her fists tightly, her breath quickening slightly. The sunlight bathed her, as if gilding her with a layer of golden armor. It seemed that this would make her stronger, allowing her to face all the unknown storms and raging waves with greater courage. This was the confidence her disciples gave her, and also the responsibility she would have to shoulder in the future.
At that moment, all the confusion and uncertainty crumbled with that shout, replaced by a surge of ambition and determination that filled his heart.
Ji Wanshu asked herself in her heart, "Can I become a good sect leader?"
She looked around, turning her head slightly. All the familiar faces were looking at her, and the expressions in each of their eyes seemed to be a silent answer.
She can.
She can!
"Let's overcome all obstacles and move forward hand in hand," Ji Wanshu raised his hand, raising his sword to the heavens, "Bless my Yunhua!"
The disciples raised their heads, brandished their longswords, and shouted in unison, "Let us overcome all obstacles, join hands, and protect Yunhua!"
Cheers erupted suddenly as fireworks and confetti were launched into the sky. The wind blew the banners, the clouds surged, and everyone could hardly contain their joy.
Congratulations, Senior Sister!
"After waiting for several months, Senior Sister has finally officially become the sect leader!"
"That's wonderful! Yunhua has a new sect leader. Now that the martial world is at peace and everyone is safe, with Senior Sister here, Yunhua will surely grow stronger in the future!"
...
People surged in one after another, and cries of congratulations filled the air. Ji Wanshu gripped her sword and searched for Wen Chaoyu's figure in the crowd.
Lu Huaiwei held back her tears for a long time, but finally couldn't help but shed them. Yin Qiu, who had previously tried to comfort her, also couldn't help but have tears welling up in her eyes. The two of them were so moved that the surrounding disciples also had tears in their eyes. Ji Wanshu said with a smile, "Why are you all crying for no reason?"
Her disciples choked with sobs, laughing and crying as they surrounded her. Several of the older elders were also moved to tears, overwhelmed with emotion.
Seeing this, Wen Chaoyu had no choice but to step forward and take Ji Wanshu's hand, smiling, "Such a good day, stop crying. This enthronement ceremony ended faster than expected. Since everyone is here, I think we should hold the new disciple assembly at the same time, so we don't have to get up early tomorrow to run around and all that trouble." She raised an eyebrow at Ji Wanshu and asked, "What does Sect Leader Ji think?"
Ji Wanshu pondered for a moment, then looked at Man Jiangxue and asked, "What does Martial Uncle think?"
"Why are you asking me what to do?" Man Jiangxue said, "You are already the sect leader, and what to do next is entirely up to you."
Ji Wanshu then looked at Lu Huaiwei, who immediately said, "It has been a turbulent time since the beginning of winter last year. The palace has not recruited any new disciples. I had someone prepare the list a few days ago. There are indeed not many new disciples. If we were to hold a new disciple conference today, it would be a double celebration and make the palace more lively."
Ji Wanshu hummed in agreement and nodded, saying, "Then let's do it that way. Pass down the word that the new disciples should make some preparations immediately, and after lunch, they will go to the Sword Debate Platform for the grand assembly."
Lu Huaiwei nodded in agreement, and Ma led Bai Ling to begin the matter. After lunch, everyone gathered at the Sword Debate Platform, where Lu Huaiwei arranged for people to take turns competing, and the annual New Disciples Conference was held a day early.
The stands were packed with people, crowded and noisy. The duels between the new disciples had already begun on the arena, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats and eliciting cheers and applause. Ji Wanshu, who had been in high spirits earlier, only calmed down a bit after eating. Wen Chaoyu, seeing her composed face but sweaty palms, teased, "Some people pretend to be calm, but their clothes are soaked with sweat."
Ji Wanshu breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "I've never experienced anything like this before, so I'm still a little nervous. Besides, I never wanted to be the sect leader; it always felt like a dream before."
"And now?" Wen Chaoyu said, "You're already the sect leader, so what are your thoughts now?"
Ji Wanshu glanced at her, took Wen Chaoyu's wine pot, took a sip, and laughed, "What else can I think? Once you become the sect leader, you have to shoulder the responsibilities and burdens that a sect leader should have. In terms of ability, I am not as good as that one, but I am willing to put in the effort and learn from her. I only hope that Yunhua Palace will not fall in my hands. My grandmasters are like pearls before me, and I must naturally follow their example. I must not let the people in the palace down."
Looking at her, Wen Chaoyu said with relief, "I'm relieved that you think this way." She touched Ji Wanshu's face. "It's okay, I'm here for you. I'll always be with you. No matter what you face in the future, I'll be there for you." Ji Wanshu's eyes softened, and she smiled gently at Wen Chaoyu. She took Wen Chaoyu's hand, intertwined their fingers, and gently kissed her with a hint of alcohol.
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