Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the grand hall of the Wuliang Daoist Temple, Chang Wude and Wu Weizi were seated, while Yang Jingyi, dressed in a black Daoist robe, sat beside her daughter Duan Yingying. Though three days had passed since Duan Wuyu's demise, mother and daughter were still lost in grief, their faces devoid of smiles, only showing exhaustion and sorrow.
Li Zihang, Xu Lingwei, Qi Wu, Feng Yuxiu, and other disciples like Xue Xinghe stood by. Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan stood beside Chang Wude. The group gathered in the quiet meeting hall, the only sound the faint crackling of burning charcoal from the brazier.
However, as the wizened, stooped figure of Grandpa Gui slowly entered, Chang Wude, Wu Weizi, and Yang Jingyi all rose to greet him. "Martial Uncle Master, you've arrived. Please sit…" wap.kanshuwu.net
Grandpa Gui, being supported, naturally took the main seat in the hall.
With Duan Wuyu gone, Grandpa Gui held the highest seniority in the entire Wuliang Daoist Temple. Therefore, Chang Wude, Wu Weizi, and Yang Jingyi all had to heed his arrangements.
Even when Duan Wuyu was alive, important matters always required Grandpa Gui's input, such as the current selection of a new Temple Master!
"Everyone, please sit."
As Grandpa Gui slowly sat down, he gestured for Chang Wude and the others to be seated. Then, his sharp gaze swept towards Wan Yunting, standing to Chang Wude's left. Grandpa Gui's piercing voice rang out, "Wuyu is gone, and the position of Temple Master of our Wuliang Daoist Temple is now vacant. Tell me, who should be chosen to assume the role of the new Temple Master?"
Yang Jingyi spoke softly, "Let Martial Brother Chang take over."
Chang Wude waved his hand and shook his head. "Sister-in-law, I have been away from the sect for too long and am not suitable to be Temple Master. However, Martial Brother Wuwei and I discussed this a few days ago and decided to let a disciple of the younger generation take over."
Yang Jingyi, her weary face gaunt, looked up at Chang Wude and Wu Weizi seated before her. "But none of Wuyu's disciples are capable of being Temple Master."
Li Zihang and Qi Wu, standing behind her, exchanged a brief glance. Xu Lingwei, on the other hand, was indifferent to who would become the future Temple Master and appeared quite serene.
"Martial Uncle Master, Sister-in-law, I believe Martial Brother Chang's disciple, Wan Yunting, is suitable!" Wu Weizi said, looking at Wan Yunting, addressing Grandpa Gui and Yang Jingyi.
Instantly, all eyes in the hall turned to Wan Yunting, standing to Chang Wude's left. Disciples like Li Zihang and Qi Wu also looked surprised.
Yang Jingyi looked at Wan Yunting, her brow furrowed slightly, but she remained silent.
"Young Wan is not only Martial Brother Chang's disciple but also the sole direct disciple of Martial Brother Xiuliang. He has also inherited our Martial Uncle Ren's medical arts!"
Wu Weizi looked at Yang Jingyi and then at Grandpa Gui. "Whether it be his intelligence and talent or his martial arts aptitude, he is the best candidate for the new Temple Master of our Wuliang Daoist Temple!"
"Therefore, Martial Brother Chang and I have discussed it, and it is most appropriate for him to succeed as the thirty-fifth generation Temple Master. Martial Uncle Master, what are your thoughts?"
Before Grandpa Gui could speak, Yang Jingyi, seated opposite, said, "Martial Brother Chang, Martial Brother Wuwei, while Yunting is indeed suitable to be Temple Master, he has not been with our sect for long and is not very familiar with the temple's affairs. Choosing him to take over is still somewhat inappropriate!"
Chang Wude and Wu Weizi's old faces showed a hint of surprise. They looked at their sister-in-law and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you have someone in mind?"
Yang Jingyi then turned to look at Duan Yingying, who was sitting beside her with her head bowed. "Yingying is Wuyu's and my only child. She grew up in the sect. Although her temperament is a bit wilful, she is kind-hearted. I still think she should…"
"Absolutely not!"
Before she could finish, Grandpa Gui's sharp eyes fixed on Yang Jingyi, and he sternly declared, "In our Wuliang Daoist Temple, generation after generation, no woman has ever been chosen as Temple Master. Put away your selfish thoughts."
These words left Yang Jingyi pale, her head bowed, her lips tightly pressed. Her heart trembled even more.
Chang Wude and Wu Weizi also raised their eyebrows slightly, looking at their sister-in-law seated before them, understanding her intentions.
Letting Duan Yingying become the new Temple Master of the Wuliang Daoist Temple was not only a matter of her own capability, but Grandpa Gui would never agree to a woman holding such a position.
Wan Yunting, standing beside Chang Wude, watched Yang Jingyi struggling to control her emotions. He understood why she felt this way, and a helpless sigh escaped him.
Grandpa Gui's gaze then shifted to Wan Yunting. "Very well, you shall succeed us as the thirty-fifth generation Temple Master of the Wuliang Daoist Temple."
Wan Yunting's expression was one of shock. Kang Nuolan beside him, as well as Xu Lingwei, Li Zihang, and Qi Wu, disciples standing behind Yang Jingyi, all looked at him. While surprised, none of them seemed to object.
Chang Wude and Wu Weizi nodded. Seeing Wan Yunting about to refuse, Chang Wude stopped him. "Yunting, do not refuse this matter. No matter what reason you find, you must accept it. Even if your master were here, he would agree."
"I…"
Wan Yunting frowned. He truly did not want to inherit the position of Temple Master of the Wuliang Daoist Temple, feeling that he was not suitable.
"Martial Uncle Master, choosing him to be the Temple Master is acceptable, but I have one condition!"
Suddenly, Yang Jingyi looked up, turning to Grandpa Gui and speaking seriously, "He must marry Yingying!"
"What?"
Wan Yunting cried out in shock at Yang Jingyi's words.
Even Li Zihang, Qi Wu, Xu Lingwei, and Feng Yuxiu looked at their師娘 (Shī niáng - paternal uncle's wife/respected elder female) in astonishment. Duan Yingying beside her also widened her eyes. As she came to her senses, she exclaimed, "Mom, I don't agree! I don't want to marry this scoundrel…"
Seeing Duan Yingying's strong opposition to marrying him, Wan Yunting retorted angrily, "If you don't want to marry, I don't want to marry either! Shīmǔ (Shī mǔ - mother of one's master), this is impossible. I already have a girlfriend and cannot possibly marry your daughter."
However, Yang Jingyi's old face was solemn, her gaze fixed on Wan Yunting, her attitude unyielding. "If you want to be the Temple Master, you must marry my daughter. Otherwise, I will firmly object."
"Fine, then I won't accept it," Wan Yunting said indignantly.
"Nonsense."
Chang Wude suddenly stood up, turned, and glared at him. "This is a matter decided by your Ancestral Master. It is not for you to treat as a joke and object to. Besides, your girlfriends in Hua Du City are not married yet, are they? You can just break up with them when you go back."
These words provoked Wan Yunting. He glared and retorted, "Old Chang, that's going too far…"
"It is decided."
Grandpa Gui, however, spoke, approving the matter.
"It's not Martial Ancestral Master, I don't agree…"
Wan Yunting became agitated and pleaded with Grandpa Gui, "I can be the Temple Master, but I absolutely cannot marry her!"
"If you won't marry, I won't either."
Duan Yingying, pointed at by his finger, stood up indignantly and shrieked.
"Yingying, sit down."
Yang Jingyi pulled her down, but Duan Yingying cried out emotionally, "Mom, why are you making me marry him? I absolutely refuse, I'd rather die than marry him…"
"You shut up."
Yang Jingyi glared at her angrily and said, "This matter is not up for your refusal."
"But Shīmǔ, can't we discuss this matter?"
Wan Yunting glared at Yang Jingyi, completely unable to understand why she insisted on marrying her daughter to him.
"Alright, you all discuss this yourselves."
Grandpa Gui stood up and said to Wan Yunting, "The succession ceremony will be held in three days. Prepare yourself well."
"Martial Uncle Master, please go slowly…"
Chang Wude and Wu Weizi immediately rose to see him off, and had Li Zihang assist Grandpa Gui back.
Seeing the Martial Uncle Master leave, Yang Jingyi also said to Xu Lingwei and the others behind her, "You all go out first."
"Yes, Shīmǔ…"
Qi Wu, Xu Lingwei, and Feng Yuxiu left. Wu Weizi also asked disciple Xue Xinghe to leave.
"Nuolan, you go out too."
Chang Wude also asked Kang Nuolan to leave, knowing that Yang Jingyi had something to say.
Finally, Wan Yunting, Yang Jingyi and her daughter, along with Chang Wude and Wu Weizi, remained in the meeting hall.
"Wan Yunting, if you accept the position of Temple Master, you must marry my daughter." Yang Jingyi looked directly at Wan Yunting, her attitude still firm.
Chang Wude and Wu Weizi exchanged glances and remained silent.
Wan Yunting, having calmed down, understood why Yang Jingyi had made the decision to marry her daughter to him. He said earnestly, "Shīmǔ, I know why you are forcing us together, disregarding your daughter's happiness!"
"In fact, you can rest assured. Even if I take over as Temple Master now, I won't be staying in the sect immediately. I still need to return to fulfill my master's last wish and eliminate Sima Boyong."
"Therefore, during this period, I will need to ask Shīmǔ to manage the affairs of the sect. I wonder if Shīmǔ would be willing?"
Hearing his words, Yang Jingyi raised an eyebrow and asked, "You are not staying in the sect now?"
"Yes."
Wan Yunting nodded. "At least for the next few years, I won't be in the sect. I am merely a nominal Temple Master. All major and minor matters of the sect will still be decided by Shīmǔ."
"As for your daughter marrying me, I truly cannot agree, and your daughter also disagrees, correct?"
"Yes."
Duan Yingying's eyes widened, and she nodded with a snort.
Yang Jingyi remained silent. In reality, the reason she decided to have her daughter marry Wan Yunting was to prevent her and her daughter from struggling to survive in the Wuliang Daoist Temple in the future.
After all, Duan Wuyu was gone, and Yang Jingyi feared that the new Temple Master might cause her and her daughter to lose their status within the temple.
That was why she decided to have Duan Yingying marry the new Temple Master, Wan Yunting.
Only in this way could her daughter have a better life in the temple.
However, upon hearing that Wan Yunting would not be in the sect for the next few years and that she was to manage the sect's affairs, Yang Jingyi's resolve wavered. She looked up at Wan Yunting and said, "I will not retract my decision for Yingying to marry you, but I will not force you to marry my daughter now. We will discuss it when you return and truly assume the position of Temple Master."
This was also a way of setting the matter aside. Wan Yunting, hearing her words, felt a sense of relief and nodded, "Alright, then it's decided."
Yang Jingyi nodded and then called Duan Yingying to rise and leave.
Wan Yunting watched the mother and daughter leave, sighing. He thought about returning to Hua Du City and getting married as soon as possible, to make Yang Jingyi give up this idea.
As for who he would marry, Wan Yunting truly needed to consider it carefully.