Three days later, at the back mountain of Wuliang Daoist Temple, in front of the cliff cave honoring the past patriarchs, Chang Wude and Wuweizi, Yang Jingyi and Duan Yingying, along with disciples Xu Lingwei and Li Zihang, Qi Wu and Feng Yuxiu, and over forty remaining young disciples of the temple, all dressed in formal Daoist robes, were present for Wan Yunting's investiture ceremony as the thirty-fifth Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple.
As Duan Wuyu had passed away not long ago, the selection of Wan Yunting as the new Abbot meant the temple had not invited any other sects to the ceremony. Everything was kept simple, with only the disciples of the temple as witnesses.
However, Wuliang Daoist Temple had still sent out news to the major sects about Wan Yunting becoming the new Abbot, so that when Wan Yunting traveled to other sects in the future, people would at least know he was the Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple.
Wan Yunting emerged from the inner tomb chamber with Grandpa Gui. Today, he wore a very well-fitting black Daoist robe, superior in both craftsmanship and material to those of the other disciples.
As Grandpa Gui led him out of the tomb chamber, he knelt before the ancestral tablets of the past patriarchs. A new tablet had been added to the ancestral seats on the lower level, that of the recently deceased Duan Wuyu.
Seeing her husband's memorial tablet, Yang Jingyi's eyes reddened, but she managed to hold back her tears.
"First bow!"
With Grandpa Gui's loud command, Wan Yunting, kneeling on the prayer mat, bowed to the past patriarchs. Then Grandpa Gui called for the second and third bows, and finally, he stood up.
As Wan Yunting stood, Grandpa Gui took out a black nine-jewel Zhuangzi cap, with a square piece of Hetian jade inlaid at the front. Wan Yunting bent down, and Grandpa Gui personally placed the nine-jewel Zhuangzi cap on his head.
This was the Abbot's investiture ceremony!
Looking at Wan Yunting wearing the nine-jewel Zhuangzi cap, it seemed quite fitting. After all, with his short hair, he couldn't tie a Daoist bun. Now, wearing this cap, he indeed looked more like a Daoist.
"From now on, you are the thirty-fifth Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple. Since your master is no longer with us, I shall bestow your Daoist name: Qingjing!"
Grandpa Gui looked at Wan Yunting and said, "Your mind is chaotic. You must learn to calm your inner self and continue to bring glory to our Wuliang Daoist Temple. Do you understand?"
Wan Yunting looked a bit embarrassed. He found the Daoist name Grandpa Gui gave him too feminine, but he dared not object, so he could only nod in agreement.
Naturally, his tenure as the new Abbot called for a banquet. However, it was not as extravagant as the grand ancestral ceremony funded by Sima Boyong, with fine wine and delicacies. At the very least, the banquet hosted by the new Abbot Wan Yunting was simple, with just the usual dishes, perhaps with an added roasted chicken and stewed lamb.
There was no rule in Wuliang Daoist Temple prohibiting disciples from eating meat, so they could eat whatever they pleased.
"Junior Brother Wan, no, Abbot, I must toast you."
Li Zihang and Qi Wu approached with their wine cups, toasting Wan Yunting and saying with a smile, "I truly didn't expect you to become our new Abbot."
"Senior Brother Zihang, Senior Brother Qi Wu, I will rely on you all greatly in the future." Wan Yunting raised his wine cup and clinked theirs, smiling.
"That is only natural."
Li Zihang smiled, while Qi Wu nodded with a solemn expression and drank his wine.
At this moment, Qu Guangrong walked in. Upon seeing him, Wan Yunting immediately greeted him, "Director Qu, you've arrived, please have a seat..."
Qu Guangrong smiled at him, "Congratulations on becoming our temple's new Abbot. I hope you will continue to lead our temple to greater prosperity."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Qu, I certainly will."
Wan Yunting changed his address to Senior Brother Qu, as he was Duan Wuyu's disciple, and calling him Senior Brother felt more intimate.
Qu Guangrong then sat down. Li Zihang handed him bowls and chopsticks, poured him a cup of wine, and after toasting Wan Yunting, he then toasted Chang Wude, Wuweizi, and Master's wife Yang Jingyi. He said, "We just returned from the Kunlun Mountains yesterday!"
"Oh."
Wuweizi looked at him, knowing that Qu Guangrong and the police had been pursuing Lei Tianhu of the Heavenly Eye Lord God Cult in the mountains during this time.
"Unfortunately, that person is dead," Qu Guangrong said.
"Dead?"
Wan Yunting and Li Zihang were surprised. Qu Guangrong nodded and said, "He was just unlucky. It's estimated that on that night, he encountered a brown bear and its bite severed his neck, his head rolling off. He died a very tragic death, but he did kill that brown bear as well."
"Wow, that's really unlucky," Li Zihang remarked.
Qu Guangrong nodded, sighing helplessly, "It's a pity he's dead. Now it's even harder to confirm the evidence of Sima Boyong hiring assassins!"
Wan Yunting and Wuweizi nodded in understanding, then Wan Yunting said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Qu, I will make Sima Boyong pay!"
Qu Guangrong nodded, raised his wine cup and clinked with Wan Yunting. They both downed their wine in one gulp. He then patted Wan Yunting's shoulder and said, "Junior Brother Wan, it's up to you."
Wan Yunting nodded with determination, suddenly feeling the burden on his shoulders grow heavier.
Before, he had only thought of seeking justice for his master and fulfilling his dying wish.
But now, he had inexplicably become the new Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple, and dozens of disciples from the entire sect relied on him. Thus, Wan Yunting felt the pressure, which also ignited his sense of responsibility.
Although he lacked confidence in leading Wuliang Daoist Temple well, he was certain he would not let the temple decline because of him.
Meanwhile, in the capital, at the Sima Residence...
"What, Wan Yunting became the Abbot?"
Sima Boyong, who was lounging on a reclining chair in the courtyard, was so shocked by the news delivered by Wei Ping that he sat up abruptly, aggravating his internal injuries and causing him to cough violently.
Chen Qiuyun, the beautiful woman sitting beside him, reached out to pat his back. Sima Boyong, his small eyes wide, sternly questioned Wei Ping, "Who decided to make that brat Wan Yunting the Abbot? Is it that old immortal Song Yuanzong?"
Facing Sima Boyong's roar, Wei Ping felt a tremor of fear and nodded, "It was indeed Patriarch Zong's decision. Coupled with the recommendation of Chang Wude and Wuweizi, Wan Yunting took on the position of Abbot."
*Smash!*
Sima Boyong slammed his palm onto the wooden table next to him, which held tea, cracking it open. His anger, reignited, once again aggravated his internal injuries, causing him to cough. Wei Ping quickly went to comfort him, "Uncle, please calm your anger. Don't hurt yourself..."
"Ah, I am just angry."
Sima Boyong's old face was contorted with fury, saying, "I worked for others, letting that brat Wan Yunting benefit from it..."
"Alas..."
Wei Ping also sighed, "Uncle, even if you are angry now, what good will it do? When Wan Yunting ruined our plans, we can no longer return to Wuliang Daoist Temple. Moreover, all the major righteous sects have labeled us as betrayers of the master and apostates. It will be difficult for us to interact with people from other sects in the future."
Sima Boyong took a deep breath, waved his hand, and coldly snorted, "I never bothered with those sectlings. What angers me now is that Chang Wude and that brat Wan Yunting ruined my great plan, preventing my Heavenly Eye Lord God Cult from smoothly returning to China!"
Wei Ping raised an eyebrow, as he knew that Sima Boyong was the leader of the Heavenly Eye Lord God Cult's branch in China.
"And Uncle, Lei Laohu is dead!" Wei Ping then added.
"What did you say, Lei Laohu is dead?"
Upon hearing this news, Sima Boyong's small eyes widened again, staring at Wei Ping in disbelief. He sternly asked, "Didn't Lei Laohu escape? How did he die? Who killed him?"
Wei Ping shook his head, "He wasn't killed by anyone. He encountered an adult brown bear in the mountains. According to my contact in the Public Security Bureau, his head was bitten off by the bear. He died horribly."
This time, Sima Boyong's old face twitched several times. He was completely vexed and distressed, with a surge of anger suppressed in his heart, unable to be released. He snatched the teapot from Chen Qiuyun, who was sitting beside him, and smashed it violently, cursing, "Unlucky fellow, all useless, utterly useless..."