"The Sect Leader...just passed away today." Yu Jinjiang only remembered to tell her this when she mentioned the Sect Leader.
He and Shi Ran had been planning to tell everyone the news of the Sect Leader's death, and were also preparing to explain to everyone that the position of Sect Leader had been passed on to Yu Jinjiang.
Although she already knew about this, Qu Lingyuan still cooperated by glaring.
Even the sad smile on his face faded, and his face was full of shock.
"How could this be... The Sect Leader is so powerful..." she muttered to herself.
"Alas..." Yu Jinjiang's picturesque long eyebrows wrinkled again, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Qu Lingyuan raised her small hand and rubbed his brow, then smiled faintly: "Brother Yu, you still have things to deal with, right? I'm fine now, you can go."
After taking a deep look at the gentle little girl in front of him, Yu Jinjiang knew that the death of the headmaster could not be delayed, so he stood up from the chair.
"Since you already know about the Sect Master's death, there's no need to go to the Imperial Sword Hall gathering. Just rest in your room."
Yu Jinjiang reached out and rubbed her furry head. Seeing the girl squinting her eyes comfortably like a kitten, he suddenly felt worried.
This child is sensible and always feels wronged easily.
Turning around and walking out of the house, he used his lightness skills to rush to the Imperial Sword Hall without stopping.
Shi Ran has gathered everyone here, waiting for Yu Jinjiang to come.
"Sorry, I was delayed for a while due to something." He stood on the podium, looked at everyone below, and apologized politely.
Some of his disciples who disliked him made dissatisfied voices, which sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet hall.
These people didn't know what delayed him, but Shi Ran knew it, and there was no smile on his face.
She didn't know what Yu Jinjiang and Qu Lingyuan talked about in the room, but it was probably related to her.
This feeling of not being able to control how events unfold is not a good one.
We have to find a way to deal with that wild rabbit that came from a bandit's den...
Shi Ran was lost in thought while Yu Jinjiang went straight to the point and explained the matter about the Sect Leader to everyone at Huashan.
Everyone knew that the leader was injured, but they didn't expect that this injury would cost the leader's life.
A group of people in the audience were whispering to each other, finding it hard to accept the fact.
Especially the fact that the position of the leader was passed to Yu Jinjiang was even more difficult for some people to understand.
"Why do you want to be the headmaster?" a male disciple challenged.
Yu Jinjiang remained calm and said in a cold tone, "Then you should ask the deceased leader."
His aura was so overwhelming that no one dared to speak.
He turned around and left gracefully, and Shi Ran followed immediately.
Some of the male disciples in the audience were looking at them with admiration, some with disdain, and the female disciples were all infatuated with them.
"Brother," Shi Ran followed Yu Jinjiang's steps closely, holding onto him, and said in a low and weak voice, "Can you... have dinner with me tonight?"
After a slight pause, Yu Jinjiang nodded gently in agreement.
It was normal for Shi Ran to want someone to accompany him since his father had just passed away, but he had to practice martial arts as usual in the afternoon.
After considering it for a moment, Yu Jinjiang said in a negotiating tone, "I'll come find you at dinner time."
"Okay." Shi Ran forced a smile, but there was a hint of loneliness in his smile.
This expression reminded Yu Jinjiang of Qu Lingyuan's cold smile, which was even more heartbreakingly sad than Shi Ran's.
Shaking his head, he turned around and walked towards his residence with a confused mind.
Shi Ran noticed that he was stunned for a moment, but he didn't know what he was thinking.
I simply stopped thinking and focused on my plans for the evening.
——
At dinner time, Yu Jinjiang arrived at Shi Ran's residence a little early.
Shi Ran was already sitting at the dining table waiting for him.
"Senior Brother is here. I've sent someone to call Ling Yuan. Now that I've lost my sister and my father, I understand how lonely she is... It's not easy for her to be alone all day. Senior Brother, you won't mind, right?"
"I raised this kid myself, it's just a meal, so of course I don't mind."
Yu Jinjiang suppressed the suspicion on his face, thinking that her question was very strange.
If, as Qu Lingyuan said, it was Shi Ran who instigated everyone to bully her, then what was Shi Ran saying now?
A change of heart?
Yu Jinjiang didn't notice that he subconsciously leaned towards Qu Lingyuan.
Maybe it was because of Qu Lingyuan's preemptive strike, maybe it was because of her little face with a faint smile, or maybe it was because she was thoughtful and considered Yu Jinjiang wholeheartedly.
Anyway, Yu Jinjiang now directed all his doubts at Shi Ran.
The words "a child I raised myself" kept lingering in Shi Ran's mind, making her feel particularly harsh.
Yes, if we talk about closeness, it seems that Qu Lingyuan is better than her.
Calculating the time, Qu Lingyuan should be here soon. She adjusted the golden hairpin on her head and said softly, "Lingyuan has no parents, and no master on Mount Hua. Now that she's old enough, isn't it time for her to go down the mountain and find a husband?"
The Huashan Sect is kindhearted, and most of the orphans they adopted in the past would choose to go down the mountain when they reached a certain age. This has become a common practice.
But when Yu Jinjiang thought about what Qu Lingyuan said today, he felt uncomfortable.
Before he could open his mouth, the door was pushed open by a pair of slender, white hands.
"I don't want to get married." The soft voice was cold and firm. Qu Lingyuan's eyes were misty and her gaze was fixed on Shi Ran's face with no expression.
Shi Ran looked as if she was scolding her for being ignorant. She opened her red lips lightly and said calmly, "This is also for your own good. You are helpless on Mount Hua. If you can find a good family, a husband will be a woman's lifelong support."
Qu Lingyuan felt strange and smiled faintly, then asked, "Sister Shi is now alone and helpless, why don't you go down the mountain and find someone to support you?"
After a moment's pause, Shi Ran covered her mouth with her hands and smiled softly, her face still blushing. "Father has already entrusted Senior Brother Yu to take good care of me. How can I say that I am helpless?"
Qu Lingyuan only felt that the blush on her face was very annoying. She lowered her eyelashes, her face became a little whiter, and said coldly: "I won't marry. Anyway, I have always been alone. If Sister Shi doesn't like me, I will leave."
After saying this, she turned around and left, leaving her figure blending into the misty lonely mountain outside the door, full of pride.
I'm leaving...
Where can she go?
Yu Jinjiang looked at her back, feeling a little anxious.
How can such a young girl live alone in such a big world, even if she has some martial arts skills?
On Mount Hua, she was used to accepting everything and never spoke up when she was wronged. She had lacked a sense of security since childhood, so Shi Ran was a little aggressive when he proposed that she get married so urgently.
Thinking about this, Yu Jinjiang couldn't sit still any longer, so he stood up and chased after him out the door: "I'll go take a look."
The errand boy who was serving dinner was carrying the food into the room and passed him by.
Looking at Shi Ran's unfriendly expression, the young disciple was somewhat confused: "Senior Sister...?"
The exquisite meal was placed on the table. Shi Ran watched Yu Jinjiang leave, but he lost his appetite.
"Take the food away and eat by yourselves. Don't disturb me." She stood up from her seat with a sour face and walked towards the inner room.
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