Chapter 86 Succession Ceremony: He had a formal title, he wasn't some nobody...
1:15 AM (卯时一刻).
The emerald green grass was still covered with crystal-clear dew. The leaves were slender and curved, with a few clean white flowers clustered in the middle. The refreshing fragrance permeated the morning mist. Zhou Qingnu woke the children up early in the morning. After washing their faces and getting dressed, she took a basket of freshly picked plums and led them out of the house.
"Qingnu, you're up so early today too."
The old lady from the Wang family next door couldn't help but touch Xiaoying's face as soon as she saw him. Three or four-year-old children are at the age when they are most lovable, not to mention that he is an extremely well-behaved child.
“Sister-in-law Wang, isn’t this the succession ceremony? Young Master Jiang and the others should all be here. I’ll take Xiao Ying to see them. He’s been making a fuss for a long time, saying he hasn’t seen Young Master Jiang these past few days and wants to go find him.”
Zhou Qingnu smiled and grabbed a handful of plums from the basket, handing them over. "Try some. By the way, Sister-in-law Wang, are you coming over later?"
"Yes, we definitely have to go. Your older brother went to reserve a spot a long time ago, saying that there are a lot of people and he's afraid that if he goes late, it will be too crowded and he won't be able to see anything."
The two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the Qingyun Ladder, which was already packed with vendors and onlookers.
The freshly steamed buns were steaming hot, and the chewy noodles were topped with soup. Zhou Qingnu looked at the steaming bowl and was momentarily at a loss for what to eat.
"Hey, let's buy a steamed bun. The succession ceremony of the new sect leader of Shen Wuke is coming up soon. There'll be plenty to watch. Don't go hungry. These steamed buns are so convenient to eat."
Xiao Ying stood there, his big, round eyes filled with longing. He carefully tiptoed to accept the steamed bun that the shopkeeper offered him, saying, "Thank you, Uncle."
"Then buy more." Zhou Qingnu patted his hand a little embarrassedly, took out a few copper coins from her money bag and handed them to him, "Thank you, boss."
"Hurry up, I heard it's about to start."
The man also had a smile on his face. He had gotten up in the middle of the night to make steamed buns, hoping that there would be more customers today and he could earn more money.
As expected, just as they thought, the once empty space was now packed with people of all ages and genders. Fortunately, Madam Wang pulled the two of them along and managed to squeeze a path through the sea of people, pushing them to the front.
"It's good that I came early to let you queue up."
Zhou Qingnu smiled at the man next to her to express her gratitude. The group stood in front, waiting for Jiang Yuchen and Jiu Xu to come out.
"I also heard that a few days ago, the soon-to-be Sect Master Shen dealt with several senior elders in Shen Wu Ke, and now the sect is much calmer." A man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face muttered in a low voice. He was standing right behind Zhou Qingnu, so the woman could hear him clearly.
"A new broom sweeps clean, but who knows if this one can compare to the previous ones? In my opinion, some people are too young and like to abuse their power. Besides, this person is morally corrupt and probably can't be any better."
"Elder Lian and the others have been in Shenwuke for so many years. How come Shen Jiuxu and Jiang Yu can take care of them as soon as they arrive? They have worked hard all these years, even if they haven't made any great contributions. I don't know what they have done, but I know they have good looks. Anyway, Elder Lian is genuinely good to us."
The more they talked, the more enthusiastic they became, which in turn spurred on the others who had been quietly watching to join in the conversation.
"They're just two homosexuals, what great things can they accomplish? Don't be fooled by their sweet talk, I haven't seen them do anything of substance. Even if they ascend to immortality with the help of Shen Wuke's sect resources, they probably won't listen to a word we say, they'll just be receiving offerings from us."
As they were talking, the man who had spoken first spat, his face showing anger. He turned and strode away, cursing as he went, "What kind of bastards are Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu..."
The crowd was instantly in an uproar. Those who knew what Jiang Yu had done quickly told those around them, while those who didn't know strained their ears, afraid of missing some earth-shattering news.
Even the acquaintances of Qingyun Ladder whispered among themselves, glancing towards Zhou Qingnu and Xiaoying, as more and more eyes were fixed on them.
"Are you really sure he's alive?" "You're not kidding me, are you? The child looks perfectly normal." "Is Young Master Jiang truly that amazing? But the person just now clearly said—"
"I'll tell you the truth, and you might not believe me. You all know Wang Liang, the legendary healer of Qingyun Ladder, right? Even he couldn't save someone, but Young Master Jiang managed to snatch them back from the brink of death. Isn't that amazing?"
The pancake seller transformed into a storyteller, and he spread the story of Jiang Yu to everyone who had come to buy pancakes these past few days.
And so, he found the perfect opportunity, surrounded by a crowd, and like a craftsman who had practiced his skills diligently for ten years, he finally got on stage, his eyes brimming with joy and delight. He started talking non-stop, his words flowing like a torrent.
"Words are not enough to prove anything; who knows if they are true or false? Sometimes, rumors can become true over time."
He was surrounded by a group of people, all staring wide-eyed. They had all come from out of town and had only heard that Jiang Yu was handsome and highly skilled. This was the first time they had heard that he also knew medicine. They were so eager to hear this that they wanted to find a sick person to lie down on the spot and have him treat them.
"That Wang Liang, Doctor Wang, he even made a bet with me back then, saying that if Jiang Yu managed to rescue the person, he would give Young Master Jiang the plaque personally bestowed by the Ancestral Master. We all heard him say that."
"Really?"
"It must be true! Dr. Wang should be here today, right? Let me find him for you. You can ask him yourself if he made this bet." The man excitedly went to find him. "Dr. Wang, Dr. Wang?"
"Keep your voice down. Dr. Wang has his pride too. You're making him angry." His wife, slightly annoyed, nudged him a few times, but he was naturally easygoing. "What's there to keep your voice down? Dr. Wang himself admitted it. I never take these little things to heart. It's just a joke. How could Dr. Wang be angry?"
"You brainless idiot, you spend all your time in the fields, what do you know—"
"Looking for me? I'm here." Wang Liang could hear people talking about him from a distance, and when he got closer, he recognized the familiar face of the pancake seller.
“Dr. Wang, you’re right here. Tell everyone if you made the bet to give the crown to Young Master Jiang. I’ve told them all, but they insist on seeing the real thing before they’ll believe it.”
Wang Liang's face turned pale and then red, but with countless eyes staring at him, he could only swallow his anger and curse the man viciously in his heart, calling him a brainless, stupid, and wicked person.
The woman noticed his gaze and took a step back, tugging at her husband's sleeve and pulling it down slightly, signaling him to say something.
"...Yes, Young Master Jiang is much more capable than me. He truly deserves to be called a prodigy who rose to fame at a young age. People with profound cultivation will succeed no matter what they do."
Wang Liang's eyes were dark and unfathomable. Even the most obtuse man could sense the sarcastic undertone in his words.
"Since I said back then that as long as Xiaoying could survive, what harm would there be in giving him this badge? I brought this badge here today specifically, just waiting for Sect Master Shen to come out and give it to Young Master Jiang in front of everyone."
"Dr. Wang is a magnanimous man, keeps his word, and possesses superb medical skills. He truly deserves to be called a renowned doctor in our Shenwuke area." The woman sensed a barb in his words and quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Our husband was just expressing his admiration for your medical skills. Now that he's said that, everyone is convinced, isn't that right?"
"Yeah yeah."
Wang Liang wore his usual fake smile. "If you have any questions, you can come to me. Young Master Jiang is very busy, so it's best not to bother him with ordinary people's business."
"That's really strange of you. It sounds like you're saying how amazing Jiang Yu is, but you're probably just jealous inside!" Lian Quesheng suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Seeing Wang Liang's sanctimonious appearance, he immediately started cursing with his sharp tongue.
Zhou Qingnu listened to the whole thing. At first, it wasn't a big deal, but some people's words became more and more outrageous, which made her feel strange. It had never been like this before. When she was selling things on the street, she always heard people praising Shen Jiuxu and Jiang Yu. Why did things change here?
Who exactly is deliberately spreading these damaging rumors about Young Master Jiang?
Lian Quesheng was dressed in fine clothes, and it was clear that he had dressed up carefully. As soon as Wang Liang saw him, he felt that this man was the same kind as Jiang Yu and the others. They were all arrogant and looked down on people, relying on their spiritual power to do whatever they wanted, and had no respect for ordinary people like them.
His mood was already bad because of the pancake seller, and now it had sunk even lower. He couldn't vent his anger on the group of acquaintances at Qingyun Ladder, but it poured out like a waterfall when he faced Lian Quesheng.
"How dare we ordinary people be jealous of Young Master Jiang? I can't say anything about Jiang Yu. If I'm not dead one day, but some people use some kind of messy spiritual power to send me to the Yellow Springs, then there will really be no one to save me, and I won't be able to be saved."
Wang Liang was arrogant and disdainful of associating with the people of the Azure Cloud Ladder, preferring to enjoy the adoration of the common people. A few years ago, when the Hundred Yue Immortal was around, although he often helped the people, he was nowhere near as well-known as Jiang Yu is now.
Everyone knew that this inexperienced young man had trampled on Wang Liang, a renowned doctor with many years of experience, and Wang Liang could not tolerate such humiliation.
"Quesheng, what's wrong?"
"It's Jiang Yu."
"So that was Jiang Yu." "He really is a handsome man." "Did he really save people? He's so young, that's amazing."
"Young Master Jiang."
"Brother Jiang".
Jiang Yu lowered his head and stroked Xiao Ying's soft hair. "Good boy." He didn't even glance at Wang Liang, but patted Lian Quesheng's shoulder. "Let's go, your spot is over there."
"I really am... I'll let it go for today, but if I hear you say another word next time, I'll beat you so badly your parents won't recognize you." Lian Quesheng was furious at Wang Liang's appearance and stormed off cursing.
"How can you be so tolerant? He doesn't look like a good person!"
"I don't look like a good person either."
Jiang Yu said calmly, "Don't let him ruin your mood."
"I really can't talk to you. Never mind, I'm going to find my master. Be careful, I have a feeling that bad guy is up to something." Lian Quesheng waved his hand. Seeing Jiang Yu nod, he was still worried. He had originally said he was going to find his master, but in the end he ran away at the last minute. He wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't keep an eye on certain people at such a big event.
Lian Quesheng searched for a long time, but the crowd was too dense and he couldn't find it at all. In the end, he could only find a tree, jump up, and squat on it. The leaves covered his face, and he secretly looked outside.
Shen Jiuxu has emerged. Dressed in black, he appears calm and composed. His beautiful eyes sweep lightly over the crowd below. Though his face is serene, he exudes an immense sense of pressure.
The plaque symbolizing the "Supreme Lord's Decree" hung on the jade belt around his waist, making a crisp sound as he walked.
Easy to install!
Lian Quesheng thought to himself, but he couldn't help but become interested. He thought he would hang something that makes a jingling sound on it someday, just to hear the noise!
Lian Quesheng hadn't seen the troublemakers yet, and was just about to relax when he glanced up and saw another friend of his, Jiang Yu, on the high platform. Lian Quesheng couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
Jiang Yu sat on the stage with his old-fashioned master. Around him were leaders and elders from other sects, most of whom had long white beards, wrinkled faces, and gray hair. The few who were slightly younger looked like middle-aged men.
Jiang Yu's stunningly beautiful face was placed in the middle, and the more you looked at it, the more incongruous it seemed. No wonder people liked to gossip about him; after all, it's not interesting to talk about the affairs of a bunch of old men.
That position is actually quite significant. It's usually reserved for the sect leader, and occasionally a few highly respected elders might sit there. But this is Shen Wuke's territory, and that spot is set up for the new sect leader, which is Shen Jiuxu's seat.
Jiang Yu is sitting there now, but everyone knows that Jiang Yu has no master and has no relation to Shen Wuke. With him sitting there, rumors will probably start to circulate again.
The relationship between the two people was made public at this opportunity. Although various rumors had spread throughout the streets and alleys, none of them were as shocking as today's scene.
Lian Quesheng was about to look away when he noticed something different. There were two chairs neatly placed there. Lian Quesheng chuckled. Sure enough, it was the two of them, as if they were afraid that no one in the world would miss it. They really gave people plenty of fodder for gossip.
That's impressive!
"Young friend Jiang, it's been a long time."
The speaker was Xu Youling, the leader of the White Blade Sect. Jiang Yu had met him very few times and didn't recognize him at first. It was only after Lian Quesheng's master whispered a reminder from the side that he realized who he was.
Xu Youling, who was able to become the leader of the White Blade Sect, was naturally no ordinary person. He noticed Jiang Yu's momentary daze. Although he was dissatisfied, he still showed a kind and gentle demeanor on the surface.
"Sect Leader Xu."
"Young friend Jiang is here to observe the ceremony, right? I've long heard that you and Sect Leader Shen have a close relationship. Seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."
"Sect Leader Xu, you're too kind."
"Young friend Jiang has no master or sect, yet he was able to defeat so many formally trained disciples from various sects and schools on his own. This shows that he has extremely deep talent. The rumors circulating in the world are indeed true."
Jiang Yu glanced at his seat and smiled. He guessed what the man meant, but before he could speak, another imposing man next to him spoke first.
“I think Jiang Yu is somewhat similar to my disciple. Although Han Yu was my eldest disciple under the Huai Xian Sect, I never really put in the effort to teach him. There’s nothing I can do. These young people are talented and have high comprehension, much better than us old men.”
"Master Yuxi really can't stop talking about your precious disciple." Xu Youling didn't expect him to speak. Before, Huaixian Sect produced Xie Hanyu, who suppressed them so much that they couldn't raise their heads in Bai Renli. Even though it was one of the three major sects, they still couldn't produce a talent that could compare to Xie Hanyu.
Later, when he heard that Xie Hanyu had died, he was secretly happy for a long time and prepared to let his disciple make a big splash. But he never expected that Xie Hanyu would come back to life and inexplicably become the Jade Immortal Lord in the heavens.
They couldn't compete, but Xie Hanyu had kept a low profile in recent years, spending all his time with his fairy partner and rarely participating in sect competitions anymore. After all, he was already an immortal, and he couldn't bring himself to compete with them anymore.
Meanwhile, none of the new disciples of Huaixian Sect were focusing their attention on the sect competition.
Xu Youling finally got another chance and tried his best to study Lian Quesheng, the only possible rival they might compete with. However, he never expected that Jiang Yu, who was previously unknown, would suddenly appear.
The other party looked ordinary, but who could have imagined that he was actually another unparalleled genius? Judging from how Master Yuxi spoke up for Jiang Yu just now, Xu Youling now truly felt that their chances of restoring their power in the White Blade Sect were hopeless.
With two powerful forces joining forces—no, there's also Star Palace—won't our status as one of the three major sects be kicked out?
This is an utter disgrace.
"Who wouldn't want to say a few more words about a good disciple? What, Sect Leader Xu doesn't have one? That's a real pity. Our Huai Xian Sect has many outstanding disciples."
Master Yuxi laughed and said, "Don't think I didn't see what this old man was thinking. Although I was indignant about my precious disciple being abducted by some seductive little vixen back then, after experiencing the successive deaths of my two disciples and one grand-disciple, I learned to let go."
Master Yuxi had already heard about Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu's relationship. What a perfect match they were! He stared at Jiang Yu, his smile practically stretching to the back of his head.
"Sect Leaders."
Xu Youling was feeling down when Shen Jiuxu came up from below. Perhaps because Lian Feng and the others had been taught a lesson before, they unusually did not cause any trouble on the surface today. They just sat quietly below and applauded enthusiastically when Shen Jiuxu came on stage.
The ceremony ended quickly, and when he saw Jiang Yu sitting there alone, he rushed over without stopping.
"Sect Leader Shen has arrived."
Xu Youling watched as Shen Jiuxu sat down next to Jiang Yu and naturally took Jiang Yu's hand. At that moment, he heard the crowd below fall silent.
“This is my Daoist partner, Jiang Yu.” Shen Jiuxu introduced the man beside him to everyone. “Our master watched us get married when he was alive.”
Therefore, he has a legitimate status and is not some nameless, unregistered man.
-----------------------
Author's note: Xu Youling: I was born at the wrong time! All these people are my nemesis! They're my nemesis!
Not bad for today's word count, right? Just bragging a little, hehe.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com