"Silence in the hall!"
Dao Xuan Zhenren, who had remained silent for a long while, finally spoke with imposing authority. Everyone immediately stopped arguing, and the hall returned to silence.
Worthy of being the Sect Leader—just one sentence was enough to calm these flushed-faced masters. It was also clear that the various Peak Lords held him in considerable respect.
Dao Xuan Zhenren pondered for a moment. Tian Buyi and the others inwardly cried out in alarm. Sure enough, after a while, Dao Xuan Zhenren looked at Cang Song and said, "Since Junior Brother Cang Song was the first to speak, and he is quite skilled at teaching disciples, let Jing Yu enter his sect."
"Junior Brothers, there is no need to be discouraged. Xiao Fan and Chang Qing remain; choose between them as you please."
After coughing, Shang Zhengliang pretended to sip his tea as though the matter had nothing to do with him. Tian Yun stared at the hall's ceiling as if the patterns above were exceptionally fascinating. Tian Buyi, who had argued most fiercely with Cang Song just moments ago, closed his eyes and fell asleep. Zeng Shuchang simply entered meditation, as though he had never participated in the matter from the start.
Seeing his good brother valued so highly, Zhang Xiaofan had secretly felt happy for him.
Yet when it came to himself and Su Changqing, the Zhenrens who had just been arguing red-faced all fell silent one after another.
How much must they look down on the two of them?
"Chang Qing, we..."
Zhang Xiaofan gave Su Changqing a bitter smile born of shared misery.
Su Changqing said nothing, merely returning a smile as he stood quietly to one side and watched the scene unfold. It was impossible to tell what he was feeling.
What else could he feel?
A little indifference, mixed with a touch of pleasure at how things had turned out.
Lin Jingyu possessed Extraordinary Talent and outstanding Bone Root Aptitude. Becoming Cang Song's disciple was his destined path in the story, while Zhang Xiaofan would also be taken in by Tian Buyi. There was no need to worry at all.
As for himself, this abrupt extra presence, he still did not know whose disciple he would become.
But whether he became someone's disciple or one of the Outer Sect Disciples, it would not affect Su Changqing's mood.
With Unrivaled Insight in hand, whose sect he entered was all the same. Avoiding the turmoil and cultivating peacefully to attain the Great Dao was perhaps the best choice.
Sure enough, seeing that no one else spoke up—
Dao Xuan Zhenren could not help feeling somewhat awkward. He had just told Su Changqing that he would join the Qingyun Sect, yet this was how things had turned out. Still, as an immortal, he naturally had to stand by his word.
With a thought, he immediately found a scapegoat.
"Junior Brother Tian."
Dao Xuan Zhenren's smile looked exceptionally kind at that moment.
Tian Buyi instantly sensed that disaster was at hand. He immediately woke from his feigned sleep, but before he could speak, Dao Xuan Zhenren beat him to it. "It was your disciple Song Daren who discovered what happened at Caomiao Village, and he was also the one who rescued the three of them. They must have destined ties with your Great Bamboo Peak."
"Since that is the case, why not take Chang Qing and Xiao Fan into your sect together?"
Tian Buyi instantly panicked. Zhang Xiaofan appeared to have average aptitude; taking him in already meant adding dead weight. Now he was supposed to accept Su Changqing as well, whose Bone Root Aptitude was abysmal beyond measure. This was simply a double disaster.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you know that I have always been lazy and dislike taking disciples or teaching them. If you hand both Daoist Children over to me, I fear I will be unequal to the task."
Dao Xuan Zhenren remained silent, merely smiling at him.
Tian Buyi gritted his teeth. Seeing Dao Xuan Zhenren's resolute attitude, he knew he could not escape this ordeal. He simply continued, "Fine, fine. I will accept one of them as my disciple. Whoever I point to will be the one."
Even among short men, one had to pick the tallest general.
After pretending to choose at random, Tian Buyi's finger pointed at Zhang Xiaofan.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you saw it yourself. I pointed to Zhang Xiaofan, so I will accept him as my disciple."
Watching this display, the others secretly praised Tian Buyi for knowing how to play the game. So his supposedly random selection was not random at all, but something he could manipulate however he pleased?
Dao Xuan Zhenren knew Tian Buyi was truly helpless as well, so he did not press him further and merely nodded.
Thus, Lin Jingyu became the disciple of Cang Song Zhenren, Peak Lord of Dragon Head Peak, while Zhang Xiaofan entered Tian Buyi's sect at Great Bamboo Peak. Everything developed as it ordinarily should have for Su Changqing.
Only Su Changqing remained without a place to belong, standing silently to one side with no one paying him any attention.
Dao Xuan Zhenren did not know what to do now either. He had been very satisfied with Su Changqing's conduct since entering the hall and had intended to keep him in the Qingyun Sect.
But his Bone Root Aptitude was simply too poor. To speak frankly, it was only slightly better than that of an ordinary mortal, even inferior to some Outer Sect Disciples. It was impossible to force his fellow brothers to take him in.
Just as Dao Xuan Zhenren was troubled, a gentle voice rang out.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, since none of the brothers wishes to take Chang Qing as a disciple, why not let him enter my sect?"
The speaker was Master Shui Yue. She rose to her feet and spoke earnestly to Dao Xuan Zhenren.
Everyone was stunned. No one had expected Master Shui Yue to step forward of her own accord.
"Junior Sister, but Chang Qing..."
Dao Xuan Zhenren was happy that someone had spoken up, but upon hearing that it was Shuiyue, he became somewhat awkward. Little Bamboo Peak was a lineage of female cultivators, while Su Changqing was a boy.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, Chang Qing is still young. He has grown up alone since childhood. If he is sent back to the mortal world, he will still be all alone. Yet none of the brothers is willing to take him into their sect. The only option would be to send him to the outer sect to work as a servant alongside those disciples."
"I cannot bear to see Chang Qing continue living such a difficult life. It would be better for him to enter my sect."
Looking at Su Changqing, who stood ignored to one side, Shuiyue ultimately had not achieved a heartless Dao. She felt some pity and heartache for him, and so the thought of taking him in arose.
Regardless of his aptitude, giving him a place to belong could still be considered a kind karmic bond.
After a moment of silence, Dao Xuan Zhenren reached a decision. "Very well. Though men and women should remain separate, considering Chang Qing's circumstances and his young age, let him enter your Little Bamboo Peak. Once he is older, he may be sent to live on another peak, but the name of master and disciple between you will remain unchanged."
"That will do."
Master Shui Yue nodded and accepted the arrangement.
Little Bamboo Peak was full of female disciples, but at Su Changqing's current age, he presumably would not have such thoughts. Once he grew older, he could simply be sent to a peak inhabited by male disciples.
Even Su Changqing had not expected anyone to be willing to take him as a disciple, much less Master Shui Yue, the Qingyun Sect's only female Peak Lord.
"Thank you, Immortal Elder Sister, for being willing to accept me as your disciple!"
Su Changqing smiled happily. Two little dimples appeared on his childish face, making him look quite adorable.
"You need not thank me. Since I made this choice, it means you and I were destined to share Master-Disciple Destiny. From now on, do not call me Immortal Elder Sister. Just call me Master."
A rare smile appeared on Master Shui Yue's usually cold and distant face.
It was like a snow lotus atop an icy mountain blooming for the first time. That smile left everyone present staring blankly, and even Su Changqing was somewhat astonished.
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