Sect Leader's Token
Supporting her weak body, Yun Qian slowly sat up from the cold snow and very carefully put the sect leader token that was floating in mid-air into her bosom.
For some reason, a scene appeared in her mind: many years ago, did her master Bai Yan also suffer the same pain after severing that wisp of divine consciousness, unable to straighten up, and could only lie alone in this eternal ice and snow, silently putting away this cold token that symbolized endless responsibility and sacrifice?
What was he thinking at that time?
Within Cangmin Mountain, a somber silence remained. Bai Ji, once the most lively and boisterous, now sat silently in a corner, his eyes red-rimmed, as if all his vitality had been drained overnight. Bai Chuan, on the other hand, buried himself almost frantically in mountains of medical books and ancient texts, reading and studying them day and night, as if only in this way could he temporarily numb the excruciating pain.
Qin Wu, on the other hand, mostly stayed alone on the snow-covered mountaintop, practicing the Cangmin Sword Technique over and over again. His swordplay was sharp, yet it carried an unyielding loneliness. Occasionally, he would stop his movements, staring blankly at the stone door where Bai Yan had once secluded himself, a rare and clear sorrow showing on his cold face.
They are remembering the person who suddenly left in their own way.
Life seems to continue as usual, everything as normal. But only those living through it know that some things have changed forever.
Only at this moment did Yun Qian suddenly understand why Bai Yan frequently went into seclusion, and why he seemed so detached from the disciples' bustling daily lives. Perhaps he had already foreseen his predetermined fate, knowing that he would eventually leave first, and thus deliberately maintained his distance, unwilling to leave too deep a mark on his disciples' hearts. In this way, when he truly departed, perhaps the void in their hearts would be smaller.
Unconsciously, her fingertips caressed the warm yet heavy sect leader token in her arms, Yun Qian's expression calm and serene. She understood that the immense sorrow might gradually subside with the passage of time, but the longing deeply rooted in her bones would accompany them like breathing for the long years to come.
Mingli Hall, a hall symbolizing the ancient traditions and order of Cangmin Mountain, is dilapidated, but its towering walls still exude an undeniable majesty. The mottled walls are densely engraved with the Cangmin Mountain rules from top to bottom, the characters ancient and simple, seemingly silently recounting the rise and fall and the perseverance over thousands of years.
Logically, every disciple who joins Cangmin Mountain should recite the sect rules here and clarify their mind and nature. However, Cangmin Mountain has been in decline for a long time, and the Mingli Hall has also been abandoned for many years. When Bai Yan was alive, whether he felt that the time was not right or had other considerations, he never brought them here formally.
At this moment, Yun Qian knelt alone on the slightly cold stone platform in the center of the Mingli Hall. The sect leader's token flew out from her arms and hovered not far in front of her, emitting a soft yet solemn light. She was here to complete the ceremony that her master had not had the chance to preside over, and to finish the unfinished path of inheritance.
She closed her eyes, and a wisp of pure divine consciousness overflowed from between her brows, gently wrapping around the sect leader's token. It then transformed into invisible ripples, spreading gently yet firmly to every corner of Cangmin Mountain, calling out to her three fellow disciples.
The first to step into the Mingli Hall was Qin Wu. He felt the summons emanating from the sect leader's token and his senior sister's divine sense. Without the slightest hesitation, he walked straight to Yun Qian's side, lifted his robe, and knelt down silently and solemnly.
Following closely behind was Bai Ji. This usually talkative boy still had red and swollen eyes. He pursed his lips and didn't say a word. He simply walked quietly to Qin Wu's side, knelt down in the same manner, and lowered his head.
Bai Chuan arrived last. He seemed to have just returned from outside the mountains, his breathing still slightly hurried and unsteady. He stepped into the hall, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling Yun Qian and the floating token. He instantly understood something, quickly stepped forward, and knelt down steadily on the other side of Yun Qian.
"Senior Sister," Bai Chuan spoke first, her voice slightly hoarse, "did you call us here with important instructions?"
Bai Yan has already left, and now, Yun Qian is naturally their backbone in Cangmin Mountain.
Yun Qian slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the three junior brothers before her, whose fates were intertwined with hers, and nodded. Her voice echoed clearly in the spacious hall: "The rules inscribed on the walls of this Mingli Hall are the generational rules of Cangmin Mountain. Are you all familiar with them?"
"Understood." The three answered in unison, their tone solemn. Even though they had never formally recited the rules here, those rules integrated into their daily teachings were already etched into their hearts.
"Okay." Yun Qian replied, then stood up and faced the three of them.
She raised her right hand, palm up, and subtly circulated her spiritual energy. The floating sect leader token seemed to be drawn by it, slowly drifting down and finally settling lightly on her palm, its radiance restrained yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.
"Before my master passed away, he instructed me," Yun Qian's voice trembled slightly, yet remained exceptionally firm, "to pass this sect leader token to Qin Wu."
She paused, her gaze falling on the aloof young man's suddenly raised face, and declared clearly, word by word: "From this day forward, Qin Wu, the 148th generation disciple of Cangmin Mountain, shall act as the sect leader!"
Qin Wu was startled and suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief and immense confusion as he looked at Yun Qian.
Why him?
He was neither the most skilled cultivator in the mountain nor the earliest disciple; he had only been at Cangmin Mountain for a little over a decade. Why then was this authority, representing the supreme position of the mountain, entrusted to him?
"Senior sister! I can't do it! I'm still inexperienced, I've only been a beginner for a short time..." Qin Wu's usually cold and icy mask shattered instantly, revealing a rare, almost panicked, and complex expression. If Bai Ji hadn't been still immersed in grief with red eyes, she probably would have already made a few teasing remarks.
Qin Wu subconsciously turned his head to look at Bai Ji and Bai Chuan kneeling beside him, his eyes filled with pleading and questioning, hoping they could say something.
However, Bai Chuan and Bai Ji showed no objection or dissatisfaction whatsoever.
Frankly speaking, apart from those eccentric artifacts hidden in the treasure pavilion and this sect leader token whose fortune or misfortune is unknown, Cangmin Mountain doesn't seem to have any huge foundation worth fighting for and inheriting.
The sect leader is in seclusion year-round and rarely seen. Many of the halls are only kept afloat by spiritual energy, and the last time the four of them entered the treasure pavilion, they barely escaped with their lives. This sect leader's token might be a hot potato; it wouldn't be an easy task for anyone to handle.
Moreover, the four of them were already as close as brothers, with a deep bond. Whoever held the sect leader's token would not change their relationship and affection.
Bai Chuan and Bai Ji, sharing the same thoughts, both bowed their heads in silence, indicating their unconditional agreement to the arrangement.
Looking at the helplessness and pressure in Qin Wu's eyes, Yun Qian's gaze was gentle yet unquestionable. She spoke softly, like a hammer that had sealed the deal: "Qin Wu, this is Master's order."
It was her master's entrustment to her by his own words at the end of his life.
It is also a crucial link in the future of Cangmin Mountain, preordained in the dark. Only Qin Wu can wield this command and shoulder that unknown mission.
This, perhaps, is destiny.
Since the seven-day-long, mournful snowfall, the weather on Cangmin Mountain has been mild. At this moment, a gentle mountain breeze drifted through the dilapidated window frame into Mingli Hall, ruffling Yunqian's dark hair that was draped over her shoulders.
Qin Wu knelt on the cold ground, looking up at Yun Qian. He could clearly see the trust and entrustment in his senior sister's eyes, as well as the deep-seated determination to share the heavy responsibility with him. Deep within his heart, something seemed to tremble and roar violently.
All doubts and anxieties gradually subsided under that clear and unwavering gaze, transforming into a heavy yet incredibly steadfast strength.
He took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, lowered his head again, and in an unprecedentedly solemn voice, promised word by word: "Disciple Qin Wujin will obey Master's orders and will do his utmost to protect the mountain gate and safeguard the sect leader's token!"
The moment the words fell, the sect leader token floating in Yun Qian's palm seemed to understand the solemn oath. Its light trembled slightly, and then it slowly floated towards Qin Wu on its own.
As if it possessed intelligence, it hovered lightly and precisely above Qin Wu's outstretched hands.
Qin Wu stretched out his hands and, with extreme care and an almost reverent gesture, firmly and steadily grasped the token, which was neither gold nor jade and warm to the touch, in his palms.
An indescribable, ancient, and vast aura entered his body from the token, seemingly resonating with the oath he had just made in some mysterious way.
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