"Ting Xia, what exactly happened?"
Wan Yunting, bringing Jiang Ting Xia to a pavilion, asked impatiently as there was no one around.
Jiang Ting Xia glanced at him and sighed, "It all started with my master's death..."
On the evening of December 29th last year, cold rain suddenly began to fall that night...
Inside the courtyard of the sect leader's residence in the inner sect of the Emei School, a group of people were gathered. Men and women, old and young, they were all elders and disciples of the inner sect. On the bed lay a pale-faced, sunken-eyed old woman with a weak breath. Holding her dry left hand and weeping uncontrollably was Zhou Ruoxi...
Surrounding the bed were a group of elders. Among the familiar faces were Mistress Yun Bai, and an older elder with a stern old face, the Grand Elder of the Emei School, Mistress Jun Xuan, as well as other elders. Seeing that the sect leader Feng Ling was reaching the end of her life, everyone wore expressions of grief.
"Wuwu, Master, I can't bear to let you go..."
Zhou Ruoxi cried with tears streaming down her face, tightly gripping her master Feng Ling's dry and feeble left hand. She trembled violently, sobbing, and her tears soaked the bedding.
Feng Ling, with her last bit of strength, managed a gentle smile. Her hollow, melancholic gaze fell upon her only direct disciple. With a weak breath, she whispered, "Ruoxi... the Emei School, I entrust it to you. Don't let... your master down..."
After saying this, Feng Ling's left hand slipped powerlessly from Zhou Ruoxi's grasp, and she closed her eyes forever...
"Sect Leader..."
"Sect Leader Master..."
Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jun Xuan, standing by, stared blankly at the departed sect leader. Outside, a crowd of young disciples knelt, crying out in unison...
"Master..."
Unable to accept this, Zhou Ruoxi fainted and slumped onto Feng Ling. Jiang Ting Xia, kneeling beside them, cried out, "Senior Sister..."
Three days later, the Emei School held a grand memorial service. Representatives from major sects across the martial world attended. Yang Jingyi from the Wuliang Daoist temple was among them to pay her respects.
Yang Jingyi was also a disciple of the Emei School. When Feng Ling, her senior sister, heard the devastating news, Yang Jingyi rushed over the next day.
Mistress Feng Ling never married. Her only direct disciple was Zhou Ruoxi, whom she brought into the Emei School when she was a child. Feng Ling was both her master and mother. Now, Zhou Ruoxi wore mourning attire and saw Feng Ling off on her final journey.
After seeing Feng Ling off, three days later, the inner sect of the Emei School convened a grand assembly. All disciples gathered in the inner hall. Seated inside were, naturally, the Grand Elder Mistress Jun Xuan, the Second Elder Mistress Yun Bai, the Third Elder Mistress Guo Yu, and the young Fourth Elder Mistress Jin Yu!
Also standing in the inner hall among the younger generation disciples was Zhou Ruoxi, leading disciples like Jiang Ting Xia who were more prominent in the inner sect. Everyone understood that the purpose of the assembly was to announce the new sect leader.
"Senior Sister Jun Xuan, now that the Sect Leader is gone, you've been arranging all matters of the sect. Please announce the succession of the Sect Leader!" Mistress Yun Bai turned to look at the Grand Elder Mistress Jun Xuan beside her. She had been diligently arranging the memorial service and entertaining representatives from various sects, a task that had been quite arduous.
Furthermore, as the Grand Elder, she was naturally in charge in the absence of the Sect Leader.
"The Sect Leader announced before her death that Ruoxi would succeed her as Sect Leader."
Fourth Elder Mistress Jin Yu, dressed in an ancient white robe with flowing black hair, and possessing a peerlessly beautiful face with serene, unworldly phoenix eyes, her pale, bloodless complexion giving her a somewhat frail appearance, sat alone and said in a calm tone, "Then let's directly announce this outcome!"
Mistress Yun Bai nodded in agreement, having no objections herself.
"The Sect Leader Master did indeed instruct that Zhou Ruoxi should succeed as the twenty-sixth Sect Leader, but!"
However, the Third Elder Mistress Guo Yu had an objection. He was fifty-eight years old, of medium build, and wore a gray robe. His narrow eyes gave him a sinister look. Glancing at Mistress Jun Xuan, Mistress Yun Bai, Mistress Jin Yu, and the others, he said, "Don't you all feel that Zhou Ruoxi is not qualified to be the Sect Leader?"
As soon as he spoke, everyone in the hall looked surprised, exchanged glances, and whispers began to spread...
Mistress Jun Xuan and Mistress Yun Bai turned to cast sideways glances at Third Elder Guo Yu and asked, "Junior Brother Guo, are you questioning the Sect Leader Master's decision?"
Guo Yu smiled and shook his head, saying, "Of course, I am not opposing the Sect Leader Master's decision. After all, among the younger generation of our sect, Ruoxi is the one with the highest martial talent. Her character and demeanor are dignified, making her suitable to succeed as Sect Leader."
"But what I'm saying is that Ruoxi is still too young and immature. I worry that if she takes over as Sect Leader now, she won't be able to stabilize our Emei School!"
Mistress Jin Yu remained expressionless and said lightly, "Senior Brother Guo is overthinking. With us here, the sect will not fall into chaos!"
"What Junior Sister Jin Yu said is correct."
Mistress Yun Bai nodded in agreement, stating, "Letting Ruoxi succeed us as the twenty-sixth Sect Leader was the Sect Leader Master's dying wish. Everyone in the sect knows this, and no one can defy it..."
"I agree with Junior Brother Guo's view!"
However, Grand Elder Mistress Jun Xuan spoke. As soon as she said this, Mistress Yun Bai's expression turned astonished, and even Mistress Jin Yu's delicate eyebrows slightly raised. She turned her phoenix eyes to cast a sidelong glance at her eldest sister, Jun Xuan, her mind lost in thought!
"Ruoxi is indeed too young. If she takes over as Sect Leader now, it might not be entirely secure!"
Mistress Jun Xuan looked at Mistress Yun Bai, Guo Yu, Junior Sister Jin Yu, and the young disciples present, saying, "Therefore, we should now elect an acting Sect Leader to manage our sect for Ruoxi until she matures. What do you all think?"
"I agree with Master's view!"
"Yes, I also agree with Grand Elder's view..."
Some young disciples and sect stewards present spoke up in agreement, siding with Mistress Jun Xuan.
Third Elder Guo Yu smiled. He hadn't expected his eldest sister to agree with his view, so he wanted to say...
However, Mistress Jun Xuan spoke first, saying loudly, "I believe this acting Sect Leader should be me!"
Upon hearing this, Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu were taken aback. Third Elder Guo Yu's expression was even more stunned. Impatiently, he stood up and retorted, "Eldest Sister, this is a dictatorship! When choosing an acting Sect Leader, shouldn't you ask if we junior siblings agree? And if the disciples agree?"
"Yes, how can you just say you'll be the acting one..."
Many disciples below also echoed Guo Yu's words, particularly the young male disciples of the sect.
Mistress Jun Xuan's stern face, especially her sharp eyes, cast a sidelong glance at Guo Yu. She sneered, "Junior Brother Guo, if you find this unsuitable, why don't you take on the role?"
"Alright."
Guo Yu involuntarily straightened his chest and said with a confident smile, "I was just about to nominate myself for this acting Sect Leader position."
"Heh heh."
Mistress Jun Xuan gave a cold laugh and sarcastically remarked, "Junior Brother Guo, when our Master decided to pass the position of Sect Leader to our junior sister Feng Ling, you already had objections. It seems you've always wanted to be the Sect Leader of our Emei School, and now you don't want to let go of even the acting position!"
Guo Yu retorted, "Senior Sister Jun Xuan, we are two of a kind!"
These words made Jun Xuan's old face darken. She snorted coldly and said seriously, "When selecting this acting Sect Leader, in terms of personal ability, do you, Guo Yu, have the confidence to be this acting Sect Leader and manage our sect's affairs?"
"Of course."
Guo Yu affirmed himself without hesitation, laughing, "In the sect, I am normally responsible for worldly affairs. In terms of human relationships and dealings, I, Guo Yu, am confident I am stronger than you, Senior Sister!"
"You?"
Mistress Jun Xuan cast a disdainful glance at him and sneered, "After all these years, you're still stuck at the intermediate stage of Dan Jin. How dare you claim to be the acting Sect Leader?"
This remark hit Guo Yu's sore spot, causing his old face to darken and his lips to twitch a few times. He grumbled, "Senior Sister, this is just an acting Sect Leader. The future succession is still for Ruoxi!"
"Therefore, we cannot just pick someone casually to make do!" Mistress Jun Xuan sneered.
Guo Yu was speechless. He turned to Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu and asked, "Senior Sister Yun Bai, Junior Sister Jin Yu, what are your opinions?"
Mistress Jun Xuan also looked at them. Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu exchanged glances. They hadn't expected things to escalate to this point and understood why their eldest sister, Jun Xuan, and third junior brother, Guo Yu, were vying for the position of acting Sect Leader!
Back when their master was alive and passed the position of Sect Leader to Mistress Feng Ling, Mistress Jun Xuan and Guo Yu had opposed it and fought over it!
Therefore, Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu knew they desired the position of Sect Leader!
"Alright, Senior Aunt Jun Xuan, Uncle Guo, you don't need to fight over this acting Sect Leader position!"
Suddenly, Zhou Ruoxi, who had been sitting aside without speaking, opened her mouth. As she raised her head, her resolute autumn eyes made her seem like a different person. She stood up and directly faced Mistress Jun Xuan and Third Elder Guo Yu. Zhou Ruoxi said calmly and composedly, "I have the confidence to be a good Sect Leader!"
Upon hearing this, the gazes of Mistress Jun Xuan, Mistress Yun Bai, Third Elder Guo Yu, Mistress Jin Yu, and the numerous young disciples present, including Jiang Ting Xia, all converged on Zhou Ruoxi.