The weather was bitterly cold, and the frost could not seal the flowing water. In the distance, a waterfall rumbled thunderously.
Under the stars and moon, a rider came galloping over. The fine horse snorted clouds of hot breath as it raced along, while the person on its back was shrouded in a black cloak.
Reaching the riverbank at the shallows, he turned onto the riverbed, forded the shallow water, and splashed across to the opposite bank before continuing toward the distant mountain forest at full speed.
The forest deep in the mountains was secluded, its light and shadows dim and indistinct. Just as they charged into the woods, the rider waved a hand, and a warm pink-white glow flashed from within the black robe, illuminating the road ahead.
The pink-white glow came from a butterfly flying swiftly with its wings beating rapidly. It was called Little Moon, meaning "little moon." Its body was covered in hard armor, and its wings held bone spines. In daylight, strong light revealed nothing unusual about it, but in darkness it glowed. Its radiance was gentle, illuminating a distance of two zhang without difficulty. Its flying speed could be fast or slow, and cultivators tamed such butterflies for illumination.
Little Moon's glow came from its wings. The backs of its wings gave off no light; the light came from their inner surfaces. Thus, whenever it moved its wings, the range of illumination expanded and contracted, creating an effect of flickering brightness. When it landed and folded its wings, it could be used exactly like a lamp.
Little Moon led the way, lighting the road ahead, while the rider followed behind on horseback.
A streak of light suddenly darted from the forest ahead and blocked the road. It was another glowing butterfly.
The rider hurriedly reined in his horse. Little Moon flashed back to him, while the rider beneath the cloak raised his face. He was a thin, clear-featured old man with three strands of grizzled beard and bright, spirited eyes. He casually tossed out a token.
A figure concealed in a tree caught the token and inspected it before tossing it back. The glowing butterfly blocking the way quickly withdrew and vanished into the darkness.
The fine horse galloped away again, following Little Moon until both disappeared into the depths of the forest.
The bright moon shone over the mountains. Deep within the forest lay a land blessed with wondrous scenery, filled with strange peaks and sheer cliffs. Palaces and halls stood atop the precipices, their brilliant lights visible from afar. This was precisely where the Shangqing Sect of the cultivation world was located.
The black-robed rider dismounted beneath a cliff, flipped back his cloak hood, and revealed his true appearance. He was none other than Shangqing Sect's Sect Master, Tang Mu.
A disciple immediately came over and saluted. "Sect Master!"
Tang Mu casually tossed him the reins, said nothing, and strode away. He swiftly ascended the stone steps that wound back and forth along the cliff wall in a zigzag pattern. After bounding up several steps, he lightly landed on the cliff top, arriving outside the imposing palace on the mountain, and continued forward at a brisk pace.
Beneath the upturned eaves stood a woman in a gauze veil, her hair coiled into a dark-green spiral bun.
Her brows were fine and willow-like, her phoenix eyes bright as black jade, her nose delicate, and her cherry lips like blossoming petals. Her face resembled a hibiscus, with a dignified, cool beauty. Her skin was pale and tender as fine porcelain, her chest full, and her figure graceful. She wore a gray gauze-layered gown, her bearing otherworldly, like an immortal.
She was Tang Mu's daughter, Tang Yi. With her head raised toward the moon, she stood alone in the desolate night, admiring it in solitude.
The glowing butterfly was conspicuous. Although it was withdrawn as soon as it reached the cliff top, Tang Yi still noticed it.
Tang Yi glanced back, slightly surprised, then walked toward the steps to welcome him. She looked behind her father, but seeing no one else, she asked Tang Mu as he came up the steps in puzzlement, "Father, didn't Senior Brothers come back with you?"
Unexpectedly, Tang Mu's body swayed. Distracted, he tripped over the steps and fell onto them, coughing up a mouthful of blood with a puff.
Tang Yi was horrified. With her father's cultivation, how could this have happened? She hurried over to support him.
As she drew close, she smelled the heavy scent of blood on her father. When her hand touched his sleeve, she found it wet and somewhat sticky. She raised her hand beneath the light under the eaves and discovered it was blood. Her expression changed drastically. "Father, you're injured?"
Tang Mu waved faintly, signaling for her not to make a fuss.
The weather outside was freezing, and the mountain air was even colder, but inside it was as warm as spring. A huge copper furnace, resembling an alchemy furnace, stood in the center of the hall. One had to look up to see inside it, where burning coals filled the chamber. Anyone who approached could feel the searing heat. It warmed the entire room, while the heat flowed into all the inner rooms. Even with the doors wide open, the warmth inside barely diminished.
After helping her father inside and seating him, Tang Yi looked anxious and wanted to examine his injuries.
Tang Mu raised a hand to stop her and said in a low voice, "Immediately notify the three Elders and the Inner Sect Disciples to come see me. I have an important matter to announce!"
Tang Yi was frantic. "Father, your injuries—"
Tang Mu cut her off with a shout. "Go! Quickly!"
Tang Yi bit her silver teeth, tears welling in her bright eyes. She seemed to have sensed something, yet had no choice but to whirl her long skirt and hurry away.
Before long, several Inner Sect Disciples came running over first. They were all shocked at Tang Mu's condition; under the lamplight, it was obvious that he had suffered severe injuries.
The disciples hurried forward to examine him. Wei Duo, Tang Mu's Personal Disciple and eldest disciple, was especially frantic. "M-Master... how... how did you get... get injured like this? This disciple will... treat... treat your injuries!" He was a natural stutterer.
Tang Mu waved his hand, signaling them to withdraw and forbidding them from interfering. Wei Duo, who had an honest, simple face, was so anxious that he knelt to one side and did not rise.
Tang Mu closed his eyes, seemingly without the energy to say anything more to him.
After waiting a while, the three Elders of Shangqing Sect, who lived in the rear mountains, descended outside the hall and entered together. Two were men and one was a woman.
The three were named Luo Yuangong, Su Po, and Tang Susu. All looked elderly, even more aged than Sect Master Tang Mu. They had originally been Tang Mu's Martial Uncles, but after Tang Mu took charge of Shangqing Sect, the three had retired to become Elders.
Although they had been mentally prepared before coming, the three were still greatly shocked when they saw Tang Mu's condition. They stepped forward and examined him together.
Unlike the disciples below, Tang Mu could not refuse them and had no choice but to let them proceed.
After casting spells to examine him, all three wore extremely grave expressions. They understood why Tang Mu had refused treatment: he could not be saved. His injuries were too severe; his internal organs were almost completely destroyed, and he was relying entirely on a single breath of true qi to keep himself from collapsing.
The three had probably also guessed what Tang Mu had urgently summoned everyone to announce.
"Who did this?" Tang Susu asked angrily. She was Tang Mu's biological aunt. Back then, she had personally recommended Tang Mu for entry into Shangqing Sect, and she had also contributed greatly to his eventual ascension to the position of Sect Master. How could she not be furious when her nephew had ended up like this?
Tang Mu said slowly, "Wait until everyone has arrived."
Everyone could only wait.
Only after Tang Yi returned and summoned all several dozen Inner Sect Disciples remaining in Shangqing Sect did everyone stand in several orderly rows according to status in the hall. Tang Mu gripped the armrests and sat upright, his voice clear and forceful. "Due to my physical condition, I can no longer lead Shangqing Sect. Today, with all the Inner Sect Disciples present, hear my decree and bear witness. I formally pass the position of Sect Master of Shangqing Sect to my Junior Brother, Dongguo Haoran. Those who hear this order must not disobey. The sect has its rules; violators will be punished without mercy!"
The group of disciples merely exchanged glances, but the three Elders were deeply shocked. He was passing the position to Dongguo Haoran?
According to Shangqing Sect's rules, the position of Sect Master could only be held by an Inner Sect Disciple and was to be designated by the previous Sect Master. If the Sect Master suffered an accident and could not designate a successor, then one of his disciples would be selected to inherit the position, chosen by all the Inner Sect Disciples. Only if the Sect Master had no disciples at all would someone from a collateral branch be selected.
Dongguo Haoran was Tang Mu's Junior Brother, so he naturally counted as an Inner Sect Disciple and qualified as a successor designated by the Sect Master. However, from Tang Mu's own lineage, this meant choosing someone from a collateral branch to inherit the position. Combined with several other factors, Dongguo Haoran was, from a certain perspective, not a suitable candidate.
Tang Susu was the first unable to contain herself. She said sharply, "I ask the Sect Master to think this over carefully. Dongguo Haoran has been exchanging glances with Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo, for a long time. Shang Jianbo indulged in wild ambitions and aroused the dissatisfaction of cultivators throughout the realm. It was precisely for this reason that when Senior Brother wanted to pass the position to Dongguo Haoran back then, the Senior Martial Uncles and Martial Uncles stopped him and passed it to you instead. Now you have gone back to the same choice. Don't you know that once Dongguo Haoran takes power, he may bring the disaster of sect annihilation upon Shangqing Sect? How can such a major matter be treated as child's play?"
Tang Mu calmly said, "On the way here, I heard the news. Shang Jianbo was assassinated and killed, so the matter of Shang Jianbo is already over."
Shang Jianbo was dead? Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo, was the younger biological brother of the current Emperor of Yan Kingdom. He was the Grand Marshal, one of the Three Excellencies, and commanded Yan Kingdom's military forces. He was accomplished in war and truly held great power. Yet he had actually been assassinated and killed. What sort of enormous event was this? How had they not received the news here?
Tang Susu, dignified despite her aged appearance, lifted her head and straightened her chest. "I oppose it!"
Tang Mu glanced sideways at her. "Why do you oppose it? Has it violated the sect rules?"
Tang Susu said, "It has not violated them, but ever since Shangqing Sect was founded, the Sect Master has traditionally passed the position to a Personal Disciple. There has never been a precedent for passing it to someone from a collateral branch. There are clearly disciples beneath the Sect Master—why pass it to a collateral branch? There must be a reason."
Tang Mu closed his eyes and sighed. "All the disciples who accompanied me outside have already perished."
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Seeing Tang Mu return so gravely injured without any of the disciples who had accompanied him, they had already guessed the general situation. Now that it had been confirmed, they could not help wondering what exactly had happened.
Tang Susu pointed at Wei Duo again. "Wei Duo is your eldest disciple. How can the Sect Master ignore him?"
Tang Mu remained unmoved. "Wei Duo is loyal and honest. He can serve as a worthy assistant, but he is not suited to be the leader and cannot shoulder the heavy responsibility of Sect Master."
No one objected to this explanation. In addition to Wei Duo's stutter, making him Sect Master would indeed damage Shangqing Sect's image. Even Wei Duo himself lowered his head at those words.
Tang Susu pointed at Tang Yi again. "What about Tang Yi? Shangqing Sect has no rule that women cannot become Sect Master."
Tang Mu said, "Tang Yi is my daughter. Shangqing Sect is not my private property. As Sect Master, how could I harbor selfish thoughts and pass it down through my own family generation after generation?"
Tang Susu shouted, "One should recommend the worthy without avoiding relatives. Who would dare refuse to accept her?"
Tang Mu said indifferently, "That would be improper."
Tang Susu grew furious. "In the end, the Sect Master simply wants to pass the position to Dongguo Haoran. Why, exactly? Do you have some shameful ulterior motive?"
Tang Mu abruptly opened his eyes and swept his gaze over her. His tone held a hint of severity. "To Elder Tang, are Shangqing Sect's rules optional?"
"..." Tang Susu was rendered speechless. Her fists clenched tightly as she trembled with rage. She had never expected that her own beloved nephew would speak to her this way in public, becoming so forceful with her for the first time and stripping her of all dignity before the assembled disciples.
"My decision is final!" Tang Mu took out the Sect Master Token and handed it to the nearest Luo Yuangong. "My Junior Brother, Dongguo Haoran, is not present. According to the sect rules, the Sect Master Token shall be jointly kept in custody by the Elders. When my Junior Brother returns, the position of Sect Master will formally be transferred to Dongguo Haoran. The disciples of Shangqing Sect, from top to bottom, shall bear witness. There must be no mistake!"
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