"Wow, Senior Sister Zhou, it's so lively."
Jiang Tingxia and Zhou Ruoxi, along with six senior sisters and two senior brothers, followed Abbess Yunbai into the dining hall of the Boundless Daoist Temple. They saw the spacious hall filled with tables and chairs, where a rich spread of dishes was being served to the various sect members.
"Abbess Yunbai, Master Huikong, those few tables over there are for vegetarian dishes. Please take your seats."
Wei Ping approached and personally led Master Huikong of the Shaolin Sect and Abbess Yunbai to three tables in a corner. The dishes on these tables were all vegetarian, as he knew that these two major sects adhered to a vegetarian diet.
"You are too kind."
Master Huikong and Abbess Yunbai clasped their hands together, smiling and nodding at Wei Ping.
"You are too polite, Masters. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to instruct our temple disciples. We apologize in advance for any shortcomings in our hospitality," Wei Ping bowed politely and said with a smile, "Then I shall not disturb your meal."
"Alright..."
Zhou Ruoxi, Jiang Tingxia, and the young disciples from Shaolin nodded slightly at Wei Ping. Only after he turned and left did everyone begin to take their seats.
There were two tables for the Shaolin Sect. As Master Huikong had brought sixteen young Buddhist disciples, both tables were full. Abbess Yunbai of the Emei Sect, on the other hand, had brought Jiang Tingxia and Zhou Ruoxi, along with four other female disciples and two male disciples, which were not enough to fill even one table.
"Hmm, this is delicious! I didn't expect the cooks at the Boundless Daoist Temple to be so skilled."
Jiang Tingxia picked up a green vegetable and ate it. Then, she looked around left and right, prompting Zhou Ruoxi, who was sitting next to her, to tap her bowl with her chopsticks and scold, "What are you looking for?"
Jiang Tingxia leaned over and whispered, "I'm looking for Junior Brother Wan. Why isn't he here for dinner?"
Zhou Ruoxi glanced at her with her autumn-like eyes and said, "Eat quickly, be careful that Aunt-Master doesn't scold you again."
"Hehe."
As Jiang Tingxia spoke, she stood up and personally served a dish to Abbess Yunbai, who was sitting opposite her, saying, "Aunt-Master, this dish is delicious. Please try it."
The stern Abbess Yunbai looked at the girl who was trying to curry favor and naturally didn't have the heart to scold her.
Jiang Tingxia, who had sat down, saw a young disciple from the Boundless Daoist Temple standing by and called him over to ask, "Where is your Junior Brother Wan? I don't see him."
"Junior Brother Wan, you mean Senior Aunt Chang's disciple, Wan Yunting?" the young disciple from the temple asked.
"Yes, that's him," Jiang Tingxia nodded her head.
The young disciple smiled and said, "Our Senior Sister Yingying has already ordered that the three of them, master and disciple, are not allowed to eat in the dining hall."
These words stunned Jiang Tingxia. Even Zhou Ruoxi couldn't help but be curious, "Why?"
The young disciple from the temple explained, "Because they have returned to seize the position of the Sect Leader from our Ancestor!"
"Ah."
Jiang Tingxia was surprised. Even Abbess Yunbai frowned upon hearing the young disciple's words and admonished Jiang Tingxia, "Eat!"
Jiang Tingxia immediately turned her head down towards her bowl, not daring to speak further.
The disciple from the temple quickly retreated and stood to the side, continuing to serve as a mere attendant...
Meanwhile, in the small courtyard where Chang Wude resided...
Wan Yunting, Chang Wude, and Kang Nuolan were gathered around a charcoal stove, warming themselves. The three of them stared blankly at the charcoal fire on the stove. "I heard they are hosting a banquet for the various sects in the dining hall. If all else fails, we can sneak in and eat."
"Hmph, if we go, we'll go with dignity. Sneaking around is beneath me, Chang Wude!" Chang Wude snorted coldly.
This immediately earned disapproving looks from Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan, who said, "Then why don't you take us there with dignity?"
"I..."
Chang Wude's old eyes widened. If he were to go there openly and honestly, he would be ridiculed to death by Sima Boyong and the others.
"Tch."
Seeing the old man's dejected look, Wan Yunting found it amusing. He then stood up and said, "If you're not going, we are. Nuolan, let's go, let's go eat at the banquet."
Kang Nuolan nodded and stood up. Chang Wude glared at the two of them as they left and quickly called out, "Then pack some for me, and preferably a few bottles of wine..."
At this time, the dining hall was bustling with activity. As it was too crowded inside, the banquet was extended to the small courtyard in front of the entrance. Disciples from various sects were drinking and some were playing drinking games, creating a noisy and cheerful atmosphere.
The Boundless Daoist Temple held its Ancestral Worship Ceremony only once every ten years. The disciples of the temple usually only saw such lively scenes during gatherings on festivals and holidays, so it was a rare sight.
"Sect Leader Liu, we toast you."
Sima Boyong and Wuwei Zi raised their wine cups. Sima Wentang, Wei Ping, and other disciples like Zhu Yangyu also held their wine cups, toasting the sect leaders and masters of the various sects one by one.
"Come, Brother Boyong, Brother Wuwei..."
Sect Leader Liu Bing of the Qingcheng Sect also called for his disciples to stand up, and everyone raised their wine cups to drink together.
"Sect Leader Liu, please enjoy your meal and drinks..."
After finishing one cup of wine, Sima Boyong and Wuwei Zi continued to toast other sect leaders. As for Master Huikong and Abbess Yunbai, they did not drink alcohol, so they could only substitute tea for wine with Sima Boyong and the others.
After finishing the toasts, Sima Boyong and Wuwei Zi went to the small courtyard outside and sat at a table with Sect Leader Liu Bing, Sect Leader Shi Yizhen, Sect Leader Lu Chenzi, Elder Zhang Qing, and others, drinking and chatting. They were discussing that after tomorrow's Ancestral Worship Ceremony, the young disciples of the various sects would engage in sparring and martial arts exchanges...
At this time, the disciples of the temple were also eating in the small courtyard at the entrance of the dining hall. A few disciples remained in the dining hall to attend to the disciples from various sects, instructing them to do anything they might need...
The dining hall had a back door. Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan appeared stealthily at the back door, poking their heads in and looking at the lively crowd inside eating, drinking, and shouting with great enthusiasm.
"Hey, Senior Sister, quickly look, it's Junior Brother Wan!"
Jiang Tingxia, who was sitting at a table in the west corner of the dining hall, immediately spotted Wan Yunting peeking his head out of the back door, looking around stealthily. Zhou Ruoxi also turned her head to look and found the man's behavior quite peculiar.
Jiang Tingxia immediately got up and walked over, happily calling out, "Junior Brother Wan, are you here to eat? Why don't you come in?"
"Shhh..."
Wan Yunting turned around and saw Jiang Tingxia. He shushed her, signaling her to be quiet, lest they alert the young disciples of the temple over there, who would surely go and find the Sect Leader's daughter, Miss Duan Yingying, again.
Jiang Tingxia glanced around her surroundings with her almond-shaped eyes. Seeing his shifty behavior, she felt a bit strange.
Wan Yunting chuckled and said, "It's a special situation. Where are you guys eating?"
"Right there."
Jiang Tingxia pointed to the table where she was sitting and said with a smile, "Why don't you come and eat with us? My Aunt-Master has already gone back to rest."
"Alright."
Wan Yunting was happy. He turned back and called Kang Nuolan, who was trailing behind him, to come in. He was being secretive, while Kang Nuolan looked indifferent. Seeing the young disciples from the temple looking over, and Kang Nuolan still acting openly, Wan Yunting immediately pushed her head down, "Don't let them see."
The displeased Kang Nuolan turned her head and glared at him fiercely, but said nothing.
"You guys can sit next to my Senior Sister Zhou."
Back at the table, Jiang Tingxia had Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan sit next to Zhou Ruoxi. The two of them saw that the other two female disciples and male disciples of the Emei Sect were also present. Abbess Yunbai, unable to bear the noisy atmosphere of the dining hall, had finished her meal quickly and returned to her residence to meditate and rest.
"Sorry about this, everyone."
Wan Yunting smiled and cupped his fists to the Emei Sect disciples present, then sat down. Jiang Tingxia immediately gave them two unused bowls and chopsticks, saying with a smile, "We've almost finished eating. Please eat quickly. If there are no more dishes, I'll help you order."
"No need, this is enough."
Seeing the leftover dishes, Wan Yunting waved his hand, holding the bowls and chopsticks. Then, he looked closely and realized something was wrong. "Hmm, why are they all vegetarian dishes?"
"Because we disciples of the Emei Sect are vegetarians," Jiang Tingxia said with a smile.
"Oh, so that's why."
Wan Yunting nodded in understanding. Although it was a bit vegetarian, he couldn't help it. He was too hungry now, so he'd eat first.
Thus, he and Kang Nuolan began to eat heartily. Jiang Tingxia and Zhou Ruoxi, as well as the other two senior sisters and senior brothers sitting beside them, all kept their gazes on Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan.
Wan Yunting looked up at them and said with a smile, "Have you all finished eating? You're staring at me like this, it's making me feel shy."
*Pfft...*
Jiang Tingxia and the other two senior sisters covered their mouths and chuckled, while only Zhou Ruoxi's pretty face remained calm and composed.
"Junior Brother Wan, we just heard that you're going to seize the Sect Leader's position. Is that true?" Jiang Tingxia asked Wan Yunting directly, her large eyes fixed on him.
This question made Zhou Ruoxi turn her head, her gaze blaming Jiang Tingxia for asking.
Wan Yunting smiled, his chopsticks continuously picking up food, and said to Jiang Tingxia and Zhou Ruoxi, "Then do you believe it?"
"I don't know, I'm asking you," Jiang Tingxia replied, shaking her head.
"How should I put it?"
Wan Yunting put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "My master, Chang Wude, has been away from the sect for over forty years. We returned this time to participate in the Ancestral Worship Ceremony, and after it's over, we'll directly return to Huadu City. Therefore, it's not true that we've returned to seize the Sect Leader's position, as the rumors suggest."
"Oh, so that's what happened."
Jiang Tingxia listened and nodded, then said with a smile, "I believe you."
Wan Yunting picked up his chopsticks and continued to eat, looking up at her and smiling, "The rumors are spreading like wildfire, why do you believe me?"
"Because you are a righteous person."
Jiang Tingxia looked at him and said with a smile, "We searched for you on Baidu. You are not only a people's hero in the fight against drugs in Huadu City, but you also organized a medical rescue team to go to disaster areas and helped so many people. I believe that someone like you would absolutely never do something as unfilial as seizing the Sect Leader's position."
"Thank you."
Wan Yunting felt a bit embarrassed by her words.
Just then, a young disciple from the temple standing nearby looked over and his gaze stopped on him. Wan Yunting immediately saw him and knew they had been discovered.
So Wan Yunting quickly stood up, took out two red plastic bags from his pants, and handed one to Kang Nuolan, "Quick, they've found us, let's pack it up and eat back there..."
"I will not do such a disgraceful thing," Kang Nuolan said proudly.
Wan Yunting was angered by her words and cursed, "Fine, then don't eat when you get back..."
He didn't stop his actions and skillfully poured the leftover dishes from the table into the plastic bags. His movements were so proficient that it was somewhat frightening...
It was as if he had done this often, leaving Jiang Tingxia, Zhou Ruoxi, and the others sitting beside them wide-eyed with astonishment...