At seven-thirty in the morning, on the horizon of Wuliang Mountain, a fiery orange sun was slowly rising, piercing through the clouds. Its golden rays illuminated the snow-capped Wuliang Mountain and the Kunlun Mountain range behind it, awakening the long-frozen vegetation and small animals.
There was no snow today, and the sun even made a brief appearance, making for excellent weather.
In the small plaza beside the cliff in the back courtyard of the Wuliang Daoist Temple, a martial arts arena had been set up. Present were Master Hui Kong of the Shaolin Sect, Abbess Yun Bai of the Emei Sect, Sect Leader Liu Bing of the Qingcheng Sect, Grand Elder Zhang Qing of the Kunlun Sect, Sect Leader Shi Yizhen of the Huashan Sect, Sect Leader Lu Chenzi of the Kongtong Sect, Gate Master Li Feiyu of the Xingyi Sect, Gate Master Tan Song of the Taishan Sect, Gate Master Meng Zixiang of the Bajiquan Sect, Deputy Gate Master Ma Boren of the Tan Tui Sect, Gate Master Hu Yidao of the Great Saber Sect, and Gate Master Hou Feiying of the Eagle Claw Sect.
Each of them, along with the younger generation disciples of their respective sects, had gathered at the small plaza by the cliff. They were all dressed in their sect's distinctive attire, a colorful array forming a striking visual contrast.
Meanwhile, presided over by Sima Boyong and Wu Weizi, over a hundred young disciples of the Wuliang Daoist Temple had also assembled here, standing alongside the members of the various major sects. It truly resembled the grandeur of the Huashan Mountain martial arts summit.
“Senior Brother Chang is here…”
At this moment, Wu Weizi saw Chang Wude, Wan Yunting, and Kang Nuolan. The three of them were also wearing the blue Daoist robes of the Wuliang Daoist Temple today. Chang Wude wore black robes, signifying his higher seniority as an uncle.
Instantly, the sect leaders, gate masters, masters, and abbesses from the various sects turned their heads, curiously observing Chang Wude as he walked from the ranks of the younger Daoist disciples, accompanied by Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan. The members of the major sects looked on with bewilderment, pointing and murmuring amongst themselves, wondering who he was.
“Oh, it’s Chang Wude!”
Grand Elder Zhang Qing of the Kunlun Sect seemed to recognize Chang Wude.
“Elder Zhang, who is this person?”
Sect Leader Shi Yizhen of the Huashan Sect and others asked curiously.
Zhang Qing pointed at Chang Wude, who was approaching them, and chuckled, “This person is a disciple of the previous Daoist Master, Shi He Zhenren. However, he seems to have left the sect without permission thirty to forty years ago. I didn’t expect him to return now.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Sect Leader Liu Bing of the Qingcheng Sect nodded and said, “Last night, I heard their disciples spreading rumors that this Chang Wude has returned to contend for the position of Daoist Master. I wonder if it’s true!”
“Hmph, after abandoning the sect for so many years, to come back now and vie for the position of Daoist Master is truly despicable,” Deputy Gate Master Ma Boren of the Tan Tui Sect scoffed.
“Indeed. If current Daoist Master Duan is truly unable, even if he were to pass on his position, it would not be to him. It should be passed to Brother Boyong!” Gate Master Meng Zixiang of the Bajiquan Sect stated without hesitation.
The gate masters of the Eagle Claw Sect and the Taishan Sect also nodded in agreement.
Only Master Hui Kong, Abbess Yun Bai, and Sect Leader Lu Chenzi, who were not involved in the conversation, remained silent, as they had not yet grasped what had transpired within the Wuliang Daoist Temple!
“Senior Sister, look quickly, it’s Junior Brother Wan…”
Jiang Tingxia, from the Emei Sect’s ranks, spotted Wan Yunting and excitedly tugged at the arm of Zhou Ruoxi beside her.
“Quiet down.”
Zhou Ruoxi also glanced at Wan Yunting before reprimanding Jiang Tingxia, “Abbess Yun Bai, our senior aunt, is watching from the arena.”
“Senior Brother Chang, you’re here…”
With that, Wu Weizi personally descended from the arena to greet the approaching Chang Wude. He nodded, then raised his eyes to look at Sima Boyong, who stood on the arena with the sect leaders of the major sects, dressed in black Daoist robes. Their gazes met, and Chang Wude sternly huffed, “Today is the Ancestral Worship Ceremony. How could I, Chang Wude, be absent!”
At once, the disciples of the various major sects present, as well as the disciples of the Wuliang Daoist Temple, began pointing at Chang Wude, Wan Yunting, and Kang Nuolan, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
“We are more than welcome to have Senior Brother Chang return for the Ancestral Worship Ceremony this time,”
Sima Boyong stood on the arena with his hands clasped behind his back, his sinister small eyes looking down at Chang Wude below, and chuckled.
“Welcome?”
Chang Wude stared directly at Sima Boyong, then slowly ascended the arena step by step, stopping before him. He said coldly, “Sima Boyong, I left the sect without permission back then, but that does not mean I, Chang Wude, have renounced my sect.”
“Yes, Senior Brother Chang is right.”
Sima Boyong smiled, not arguing further with Chang Wude. He turned to Liu Bing, Master Hui Kong, and the others, and introduced, “Everyone, perhaps some of you do not know who he is. This is my senior brother, Chang Wude, who has just returned from abroad to participate in this Ancestral Worship Ceremony.”
“Hmph.”
Chang Wude also let out a cold snort. Today was the Ancestral Worship Ceremony, so he did not wish to quarrel with Sima Boyong. He turned to Grand Elder Zhang Qing and paid his respects, “Uncle-Master Zhang, it has been many years. You still possess such an ethereal demeanor?”
Grand Elder Zhang Qing of the Kunlun Sect smiled and nodded, “This old man is still reasonably healthy and should be able to live for a few more years. Wude, where have you been all these years?”
Chang Wude smiled, “I went out into the secular world to experience life and deepen my understanding of the Dao. It was a form of cultivation.”
“Good.”
Zhang Qing nodded and smiled, “I vaguely recall you coming to our Kunlun Sect for our grand ceremony back then. You sparred with my junior disciple Shangwu and defeated him, which left a deep impression on me. You also possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts. Looking at you now, it seems your cultivation in the secular world has yielded some results.”
“Results is too strong a word. The lives of people in the secular world are too restless nowadays, especially like some people, wolves in sheep’s clothing!” As Chang Wude spoke his last sentence, his old eyes glanced at Sima Boyong standing beside them.
“Heh heh.”
Sima Boyong chuckled, paying no mind to his words.
“Senior Aunt…”
Wei Ping, Zeng Yongchang, Qi Wu, Li Zihang, and Xu Lingwei were present. Xu Lingwei was dressed in a blue Daoist robe today, her long black hair tied up in a Daoist bun, revealing her delicate features. The small red freckles on her face highlighted a different kind of beauty.
Yang Jingyi, clad in black Daoist robes, accompanied her daughter, Duan Yingying, who was wearing a blue Daoist robe. Her black hair was also tied in a Daoist bun. Her fair and tender face, large, expressive eyes, and a cute, upturned nose completed the picture. Her cherry lips, painted with lipstick, were captivating.
Duan Yingying, walking beside Yang Jingyi, noticed Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan and haughtily raised her chin, glaring at them with her big, striking eyes. Then, she turned towards Xu Lingwei, happily exclaiming, “Senior Sister Zhishan, when did you finish your seclusion…”
“Sister-in-law…”
Sima Boyong, Chang Wude, and Wu Weizi approached Yang Jingyi and bowed respectfully.
“Madam Daoist Master…”
Sect Leader Lu Chenzi, Shi Yizhen, and other sect leaders and gate masters, along with Master Hui Kong and Abbess Yun Bai, also bowed in greeting to Yang Jingyi.
“Mm.”
Yang Jingyi nodded, then bowed slightly to the sect leaders and gate masters of the various sects, smiling, “Thank you all for your efforts.”
Sima Boyong then announced, “Let us begin our ascent up the mountain now.”
“Yes…”
The young Daoist disciples present shouted in unison.
Following that, Sima Boyong, Chang Wude, and Wu Weizi, alongside Yang Jingyi, moved towards the steps leading up the mountain.
Concurrently, Sima Wentang, Zhu Yangyu, Wei Ping, Zeng Yongchang, Qi Wu, Duan Yingying, Xu Lingwei, and Li Zihang were also present. Li Zihang pulled Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan along, saying, “Junior Brother Wan, Junior Sister Nuolan, come with us.”
“Zihang!”
Duan Yingying, who was holding Xu Lingwei’s arm, turned and glared fiercely at Li Zihang with her big eyes. This caused him to awkwardly release Wan Yunting’s arm and turn back to Duan Yingying with a sheepish grin.
“Hmph, don’t think I don’t know you’ve been sneaking food to them these past two days. I’ll deal with you later,” Duan Yingying glared at him fiercely and snorted.
“Sigh…”
Li Zihang immediately drooped his head, cast an innocent look at Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan, and sighed helplessly.
Wan Yunting smiled, and along with Kang Nuolan, followed behind Chang Wude. Simultaneously, the sect leaders and gate masters of the various major sects, as well as Master Hui Kong and Abbess Yun Bai, led their respective disciples behind them, all heading towards the Wuliang Mountain.
The Ancestral Worship Ceremony was essentially a ritual to pay homage to the past patriarchs of the Wuliang Daoist Temple. After the ceremony, they would descend the mountain, followed by sparring matches among the younger disciples and exchanges of martial arts among the major sects, fostering greater interaction.
At this moment, in the cliff cave, the stone platform where the Wuliang Daoist Temple’s past patriarchs were enshrined had been thoroughly cleaned by the disciples who had ascended yesterday. Even the spirit tablets of the patriarchs had been polished spotlessly. Red cloth was spread on the stone platform, adorned with many offerings and various ritual implements, some of which were unidentifiable.
Ten futons were laid out on the ground. Elder Gui was already seated on a chair to the right of the stone platform. His hair was a pale silver, tied in a Daoist bun, and he wore a new black Daoist robe, devoid of his previous disheveled appearance.
“Everyone, we have arrived…”
Soon, Sima Boyong and Yang Jingyi arrived with Master Hui Kong, Abbess Yun Bai, Sect Leader Liu Bing, and Gate Master Meng Zixiang. Due to the limited space within the cliff cave, it could not accommodate everyone.
“Those behind, please stop.”
Therefore, the disciples of the major sects who followed behind, as well as the young disciples of the Wuliang Daoist Temple, could only remain on the bluestone path, leaving the elders to perform the worship.
Consequently, the disciples took out their mobile phones to take photos or add WeChat contacts of disciples from other sects they had befriended during the previous night’s drinking session.
“Uncle-Master Zong…”
Sima Boyong, Yang Jingyi, Chang Wude, and Wu Weizi approached Elder Gui and bowed.
Elder Gui slowly opened his old eyes and looked at the four before him. His grizzled eyebrows raised, and he asked, “Where is Wu Yu? Why is he not here?”
Wu Weizi and Sima Boyong simultaneously turned to look at Yang Jingyi. She respectfully replied, “Uncle-Master Zong, Wu Yu’s old ailment has recurred, and he is unwell, unable to preside over the Ancestral Worship Ceremony. Therefore, he has asked Junior Brother Boyong and the others to preside.”
Elder Gui’s sharp gaze shifted to Sima Boyong, and he let out a cold snort. Then, he stood up and said, “Let us begin then.”
“Yes…”
Sima Boyong, Wu Weizi, Chang Wude, and Yang Jingyi nodded and began preparing to worship the patriarchs.