It was three in the afternoon.
"Quick, the people from the major sects are coming, let's go down the mountain to welcome them..."
Upon receiving the calls, representatives from the various sects soon arrived at Wuliang Mountain. Wei Ping and Zeng Yongchang organized the younger disciples to descend, and even Sima Boyong personally led Sima Wentang and Zhu Yangyu down to the mountain gate to await the arrival of the major sects.
"Junior Brother Wan, you are here."
In the small square of the backyard, Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan were bored in the small courtyard. Taking advantage of the fact that it wasn't snowing, they came out for a stroll, hoping to catch a wild rabbit to roast for dinner.
"The people from the major sects are arriving soon, shall we go and see the excitement?" Li Zihang came over to call them.
Wan Yunting turned to Kang Nuolan and asked, "Shall we go?"
"Mm."
Kang Nuolan, still indifferent and unconcerned, nodded.
"Let's go."
Seeing them agree, Li Zihang was happy and led them down the mountain, following behind the main group led by Sima Boyong.
The snow had stopped in the afternoon, and the sun had come out, raising the temperature by a few degrees. Disciples took turns sweeping the snow on the mountain steps every day, especially for the important guests arriving today. As a result, the steps were completely clear of snow.
At the Wuliang Mountain gate, Sima Boyong wore a black Daoist robe, but he exuded no immortal aura. Instead, his sharp, piercing small eyes gave off an impression of being cunning, shrewd, and sinister.
He stood with his junior brother Wuweizi, his son Sima Wentang, and a group of young disciples including Wei Ping and Zhu Yangyu, beneath the mountain gate. They watched as several large buses slowly approached, carrying the representatives of the major sects attending the Ancestor Worship Ceremony at the Wuliang Daoist Temple.
Although only twelve sects were participating this time, the number of people was not large. Each sect had sent an elder, or the sect leader personally leading about ten disciples.
"They've arrived..."
Li Zihang, bringing Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan, also hurried down. They arrived just as the buses slowly stopped. Sima Boyong and Wuweizi led the disciples forward to greet them.
"Master Huikong, thank you for making the journey..."
From the first bus alighted an old monk wearing a saffron robe. He was Master Huikong of the Shaolin Sect. Although the Shaolin Sect leader did not personally attend, Master Huikong was a highly respected and enlightened high monk of Shaolin, leading the younger generation disciples of Shaolin Temple.
Master Huikong, not recognizing Sima Boyong who was greeting him, clasped his hands together in greeting, "Daoist Wuwei, we meet again."
Wuweizi also bowed and smiled, "Master Huikong, it has been three years since we parted ways at the Hua Shan Sword Competition."
"Yes," Master Huikong nodded.
Next, the representatives of the Qingcheng Sect alighted, led by their sect leader. Wuweizi immediately bowed, "Brother Liu Bing, how have you been?"
"Haha, hello Brother Wuwei."
Liu Bing's hair, half white, was tied up on his head with a jade hairpin. He had a ruddy complexion and greeted Wuweizi with cupped hands, smiling heartily. Upon seeing Sima Boyong, he also smiled, "Brother Boyong is here too."
Sima Boyong cupped his fists in return and smiled, "The Ancestor Worship Ceremony that our Wuliang Daoist Temple holds only once every ten years, how could I not be present."
Liu Bing nodded with a smile. Then the representatives of the Emei Sect alighted. They were led by an old woman in a long robe, bearing the Daoist name Yunbai. Wuweizi and Sima Boyong immediately stepped forward to greet her, "Sutra-sister Yunbai, thank you for making the journey."
Sutra-sister Yunbai gave a very stern impression. This time, she had only brought six disciples, four female and two male.
Contrary to what was depicted in martial arts television dramas, the Emei Sect did have male disciples.
Among the four female disciples brought by Sutra-sister Yunbai, one dressed in a white ancient-style Daoist robe was tall and exceptionally beautiful, so much so that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe her as heavenly or devastatingly beautiful.
Every move she made, every glance, her cold demeanor when serious, and her enchanting smile when happy, made her seem like the heroine from a martial arts novel, astonishing everyone present.
"Wow, it's really Senior Sister Zhou of the Emei Sect..."
"She's so beautiful..."
The young disciples from the surrounding sects were immediately captivated, pointing at Senior Sister Zhou of the Emei Sect and discussing her in hushed tones...
Even Wan Yunting, who was watching from the steps behind the mountain gate, was drawn to the female disciple of the Emei Sect and couldn't help but look at her a few more times.
"Brother Shi, thank you for making the journey."
Next, Wuweizi and Sima Boyong greeted the sect leader of the Huashan Sect, Shi Yizhen, and the dozen or so young disciples he had brought.
"Brother Wuwei, Brother Boyong, you are too kind."
Shi Yizhen wore a yellowish-brown robe. Although he was over eighty years old, he still had a ruddy complexion, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties, a testament to the vitality of martial arts practitioners.
Following them were the representatives of the Kongtong Sect, led by their sect leader Lu Chenzi, a middle-aged man over fifty. He also alighted with over a dozen disciples and cupped his fists to Sima Boyong and Wuweizi, "Brother Wuwei, Brother Boyong, it has been a long time."
"Indeed."
Wuwei Zi and Sima Boyong returned the cupped fists and smiled, "Sect Leader Lu, you should be considered junior to us."
Lu Chenzi nodded and smiled, "Brother Wuwei, you can call me Junior Brother."
"Alright."
Sima Boyong and the others nodded, then saw the representatives of the Kunlun Sect alight. They were led by an elder named Zhang Qing, an old man who brought over a dozen young disciples. Sima Boyong and Wuweizi stepped forward and cupped their fists, calling out, "Uncle Master Zhang, we didn't expect you to come personally!"
Zhang Qing, with an air of immortal detachment, nodded and smiled, "Yes, the Sect Leader intended to come personally, but due to important matters within the sect, he sent me instead."
"It is our honor at the Wuliang Daoist Temple that Uncle Master Zhang could grace us with his presence," Sima Boyong said with a smile.
Then came the leader of the Xingyi Sect, Li Feiyu, who also brought over a dozen disciples...
As well as the leader of the Taishan Sect, Tan Song, who brought eight disciples...
The leader of the Taiji Sect, Meng Zixiang, also brought over ten disciples...
The deputy leader of the Tan Tui Sect, Ma Boren, brought six disciples...
The leader of the Great Saber Sect, Hu Yidao, brought nine disciples. Their common feature was carrying a great saber, which made them very eye-catching...
The leader of the Eagle Claw Sect, Hou Feiying, was a middle-aged man. When he cupped his fists, one could clearly see the thick calluses on his hands, a result of practicing the Eagle Claw technique. He also brought seven disciples.
"Esteemed Sect Leaders, Door Masters, and Elders, thank you for traveling from afar to participate in our Wuliang Daoist Temple's Ancestor Worship Ceremony. You have all had a long journey."
Wuweizi cupped his fists towards the sect leaders, door masters, and elders present and then pointed to Sima Boyong beside him, introducing, "Perhaps some of you do not know him. He is the junior brother of our Abbot, Sima Boyong, and also the senior brother of Wuweizi. He is the one in charge of this Ancestor Worship Ceremony."
Sima Boyong stepped forward, cupped his fists to everyone, and smiled, "Everyone, if there is any lack of hospitality, I hope you will forgive us."
"Brother Boyong, you are too kind. It is our great honor to be invited to participate in your Daoist Temple's Ancestor Worship Ceremony," Hu Yidao of the Great Saber Sect replied with a smile.
Li Feiyu, the leader of the Xingyi Sect, and Ma Boren, the deputy leader of the Tan Tui Sect, nodded in agreement. Tan Song, the leader of the Taishan Sect, smiled, "We were invited to attend by Chairman Boyong."
"Chairman?"
Some people looked confused. Tan Song smiled and said, "Don't you all know? Brother Boyong is the founder of our Beijing Chinese Medicine Association. His medical skills are absolutely top-notch."
"Yes, I know about that..."
Liu Bing and the other sect leaders nodded with smiles. The fame of Sima Boyong in the Chinese medicine world was already well-known.
"You all jest. I am merely a physician, there is nothing worth praising," Sima Boyong said with a humble smile.
"Brother Boyong, you are too modest."
Liu Bing smiled and said, "Besides your unparalleled medical skills, your martial arts are equally remarkable."
"Yes..."
Everyone immediately nodded in agreement, especially those from the Tan Tui Sect and the Eagle Claw Sect. They were well aware of Sima Boyong's influence in Beijing, so they tried to flatter him, hoping to foster a good relationship.
"Thank you, thank you..."
Sima Boyong cupped his fists and smiled, then said, "Well then, everyone, please follow us up the mountain."
"Okay, please..."
After exchanging pleasantries, the sect leaders, door masters, and elders ascended the mountain alongside Sima Boyong and Wuweizi. The younger disciples followed behind, some carrying bags and luggage. After all, they would be staying at the Wuliang Daoist Temple for two to three days, so everyone had brought their belongings.
"Zihang, why are you all here too?"
Wei Ping saw Li Zihang, Wan Yunting, and Kang Nuolan there. He said, "Don't just stand there, hurry up and help our senior brothers, junior sisters, and junior brothers from the major sects with their luggage."
Sima Boyong, who had walked ahead, glanced at Wan Yunting and continued up the mountain with Master Huikong and the others. The sect leaders of the various sects assumed Wan Yunting was just an ordinary disciple of the Wuliang Daoist Temple...
"Sister, that person looks so familiar!"
The four female disciples of the Emei Sect followed Sutra-sister Yunbai. A junior sister accompanying Zhou Ruoxi, the exceptionally beautiful disciple dressed in an ancient-style long gown and a white cape, pointed at Wan Yunting, who was being called by Wei Ping to help with luggage, and felt he looked familiar!
Zhou Ruoxi's calm, autumn-like eyes glanced at Wan Yunting twice and she shook her head, smiling slightly, "I don't recognize him. He's probably an outer disciple of the Wuliang Daoist Temple."
"No, I think I saw him on Douyin."
Zhou Ruoxi's junior sister, Jiang Tingxia, shook her head, but then she wondered, "I just can't remember his name. He seemed quite famous."
Zhou Ruoxi smiled slightly, giving off a pure and refined aura like a lotus. She didn't pay much attention to external news and said, "Alright, give me Master Uncle's suitcase."
"Oh."
As Jiang Tingxia handed the suitcase to her, Wan Yunting, who had come down, directly approached and extended his hand with a smile, "Let me help you carry it."
Zhou Ruoxi and Jiang Tingxia froze, their eyes fixed on Wan Yunting. He smiled politely and took the suitcase from Jiang Tingxia's hand, then smiled and said, "Let's go."
Only then did Zhou Ruoxi and Jiang Tingxia react, nodding and continuing up the steps...
Wan Yunting carried the suitcase directly, with Kang Nuolan following silently beside him. Li Zihang was also called by his senior brother Wei Ping to help carry luggage, following the disciples of the major sects back to the mountain gate...