"Hmph."
Standing in the position of the Sect Master, Mistress Jun Xuan did not sit down. Sensing Zhou Ruoxi's angry gaze, she glanced at her with disdain, a cold snort at the corner of her lips, appearing completely indifferent. She withdrew her gaze, swept it over everyone present, and announced loudly, "Has everyone arrived? Then I will announce it directly..."
"Wait!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out. Mistress Jin Yu, seated to the side, stood up and looked directly at her senior sister, Jun Xuan, saying, "Senior Sister Jun Xuan, what you are doing now goes against the last wishes of Sister Fengling. Do you think this is right?"
Mistress Jun Xuan turned her head, her old eyes narrowing. She hadn't expected that the one to stand up and object would be this junior sister, Jin Yu, who had always stayed out of sect affairs, like a white lotus untouched by mud. She couldn't help but chuckle, "Junior Sister Jin Yu, you should understand that Senior Sister Fengling chose her successor for the future of our Emei Sect!"
"But Ruoxi is still young. She has been protected within the sect by Senior Sister Fengling and has not experienced various hardships. If she is allowed to take over as Sect Master now, I worry she will not be able to manage our sect's affairs well and will cause unnecessary trouble!"
"Trouble? What trouble?"
Mistress Jin Yu's phoenix eyes fixed on Senior Sister Jun Xuan, and on Senior Brother Guo Yu, who stood opposite and remained silent. The so-called trouble was none other than these two.
"Junior Sister Jin Yu, you have always stayed out of sect affairs, so you simply do not understand the implications."
Guo Yu spoke, smiling, "Senior Sister's becoming the acting Sect Master is actually for Ruoxi's own good. After we get through this storm, we will find a suitable time to let Ruoxi take over as Sect Master. Is that not good?"
Mistress Jin Yu's expression was cold, her gaze constantly fixed on Mistress Jun Xuan, who stood before the Sect Master's seat. She said calmly, "I think you, Senior Sister, are trying to seize this Sect Master's position, aren't you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present looked at Mistress Jin Yu in astonishment, silence falling upon the hall.
Mistress Jun Xuan's old face darkened. She glared at Jin Yu and reprimanded her, "Junior Sister Jin Yu, you truly disappoint me. Is this how you see me?"
"Furthermore, on what basis do you question me? May I ask, Jin Yu, since you joined the sect until now, have you made any contributions to the sect?"
"You live alone in the back mountains, spending your days painting and drawing. Relying on your innate martial arts talent, you feel you can do whatever you please. It's one thing to not do anything for the sect, but now you dare to question me, wanting to seize the Sect Master's position? Jin Yu, you truly break my heart!"
These words made Jin Yu raise her eyebrows. Mistress Jun Xuan was right. Since entering the Emei Sect, she had indeed not been like her, constantly working for the sect. This made it impossible for Mistress Jin Yu to refute.
"May I ask if anyone present has done more for the sect than I have?" Mistress Jun Xuan's old eyes widened as she scanned everyone present, loudly questioning.
The stewards and disciples present exchanged glances. Besides the Third Elder Guo Yu managing the outer sect affairs, the inner sect was basically managed by the First Elder Mistress Jun Xuan. This was because although Mistress Feng Ling was the Sect Master, she rarely managed sect matters herself.
This was why Mistress Jun Xuan held the highest prestige within the sect!
"Junior Sister Jin Yu, and Junior Sister Yun Bai, I tell you, I, Jun Xuan, have never thought of taking this Sect Master position!"
Standing above, Mistress Jun Xuan pointed her thumb at the Sect Master's throne behind her and reprimanded Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu, who were seated on her right, "My becoming the acting Sect Master is to first handle the current turmoil within our sect. When the time is right, I will let Ruoxi take over as Sect Master. At that time, I will certainly hold a grand inauguration ceremony for her..."
"Thank you, First Elder, for your concern!"
Suddenly, Zhou Ruoxi stood up, her voice calm, interrupting Mistress Jun Xuan's words. She stood directly in the center of the hall, her autumn eyes lifted, looking directly at Mistress Jun Xuan above. Her gaze was firm, her attitude unyielding. She directly produced the Sect Master's seal and said, "The Sect Master's seal is here. I should be the one to inherit the position of Sect Master!"
"It really is the Sect Master's seal..."
The disciples around looked at the Sect Master's seal in Zhou Ruoxi's hand, and cries of astonishment erupted.
Mistress Jun Xuan's old face changed slightly. Her old eyes narrowed as she looked at the Sect Master's seal in Zhou Ruoxi's hand. No wonder Mistress Fengling couldn't find the Sect Master's seal before her death. It turned out she had given it to this little girl, Zhou Ruoxi, long ago.
Zhou Ruoxi's autumn eyes were sharp, her attitude even more resolute. As if she had transformed into another person, she walked forward step by step with the Sect Master's seal, meeting Mistress Jun Xuan's gaze. She said, "First Elder, you understand that what you are doing is for the good of our sect. But please rest assured, I have the ability to manage the sect's affairs when I take over as Sect Master. If I cannot manage it well, I will hand this Sect Master's seal to you with both hands, how about it?"
Mistress Jun Xuan's narrowed old eyes stared at Zhou Ruoxi before her. She was somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected this little girl, who usually gave off a gentle impression, to now have such sharp and determined eyes. She couldn't help but smile and say, "Ruoxi, you must guard this Sect Master's seal well. But the acting Sect Master is still necessary!"
These words made Zhou Ruoxi's pretty face turn cold, her jade hand holding the Sect Master's seal trembling. Her heart was filled with extreme anger.
"Oh, right, I've also arranged a marriage for you!"
Suddenly, Mistress Jun Xuan smiled and said, "It's the son of Master Tian Shi Lin from Longhu Mountain. His name is Lin Xiaobao. He is handsome and talented. I have already discussed it with Master Tian Shi and plan to have his son marry into our Emei Sect. What do you think?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Ruoxi froze on the spot.
Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu below, as well as Jiang Tingxia and the other disciples present, were also taken aback by Mistress Jun Xuan's move. Everyone fell silent.
"First Elder, you... you are going too far!"
Zhou Ruoxi's jade hand, tightly clutching the Sect Master's seal, trembled slightly. Her autumn eyes were red and glistening with tears. She glared fiercely at Mistress Jun Xuan, biting her teeth tightly.
"Heh heh."
Mistress Jun Xuan smiled and said in an elder's tone, "Ruoxi, I remember you are twenty-eight this year, aren't you? You can't stay single forever. Especially as the Sect Master successor, generations have not married. However, our Emei Sect does not have explicit regulations that the Sect Master cannot marry. Moreover, in this day and age, it is really not appropriate not to marry."
"Therefore, Master Tian Shi and I discussed having his son marry into our Emei Sect. This way, it will not affect your succession as Sect Master. Isn't that great?"
Mistress Jun Xuan patted Zhou Ruoxi's stiff shoulder and smiled, "Alright, just listen to your Auntie's arrangements. In two days, Master Tian Shi will bring his son to propose. You should make a good impression then."
"Congratulations, Junior Sister Ruoxi..."
Below, Zhang Xincai and Liu Lian'er, and others, immediately began to mock and congratulate Zhou Ruoxi with sarcastic smiles...
But at this moment, Zhou Ruoxi stood there in a daze, her mind blank. She was completely stunned.
She had never expected the First Elder, Jun Xuan, to go to such lengths, not only disregarding the Sect Master's seal and forcibly establishing an acting Sect Master but now also forcing her to marry someone she didn't know!
For a moment, Zhou Ruoxi felt as if she had been struck by lightning. The Sect Master's seal in her hand slipped and fell to the ground. Her delicate body swayed precariously, about to fall...
"Senior Sister..."
Fortunately, Jiang Tingxia reacted in time and quickly rushed forward to support Zhou Ruoxi. Seeing her autumn eyes shedding tears of grievance, Jiang Tingxia felt immense heartache and glared at Mistress Jun Xuan, "First Elder, you are too much."
"Presumptuous! Do you have a right to speak here?"
Mistress Jun Xuan glared angrily at Jiang Tingxia. Seeing Zhou Ruoxi in such a state, she softened her tone and said, "Alright, Ruoxi is not feeling well. Hurry and take her to rest."
As she spoke, Mistress Jun Xuan bent down and picked up the Sect Master's seal. The moment her large hand grasped it, a fanatical glint appeared in her old eyes. She thought to herself with a cold sneer: Don't worry, it will be mine soon!
"Hold the Sect Master's seal tightly, and don't let it drop again in the future."
Mistress Jun Xuan placed the Sect Master's seal into Zhou Ruoxi's jade hand and waved her hand, telling Jiang Tingxia to help her down...
Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu saw this scene and could only shake their heads and leave.
Mistress Jun Xuan paid them no mind. She considered both these junior sisters to be of the same ilk, having done nothing for the sect and lacking any influence, so there was no need to bother with them...
After this, Mistress Jun Xuan smoothly became the acting Sect Master of the Emei Sect. Of course, it was also publicly announced that Zhou Ruoxi was the designated Sect Master!
A few days later, Master Tian Shi Lin from Longhu Mountain indeed brought his son Lin Xiaobao to the Emei Sect to propose.
As a result, everyone discovered that Master Tian Shi's son, Lin Xiaobao, was born a simpleton, with the intellect of only a two or three-year-old!
Upon seeing this simpleton, and thinking of being forced to marry such a simpleton, Zhou Ruoxi could no longer bear it and collapsed.
But Mistress Jun Xuan disregarded everything and directly discussed with Master Tian Shi to hold their grand wedding on the 23rd, after the New Year!
Thus, time went back to the evening of the 21st. Wan Yunting listened as Jiang Tingxia meticulously recounted the recent events of the Emei Sect. His face turned extremely grim. He never expected the First Elder of the Emei Sect to force Zhou Ruoxi to marry a simpleton!
"How is Ruoxi now?"
Wan Yunting, having recovered from his shock, quickly asked.
Jiang Tingxia sighed and said, "Senior Sister, to hasten her succession as Sect Master, she has resigned herself to fate!"
"What?"
Wan Yunting's eyes widened in disbelief. His emotions instantly became agitated, and he involuntarily grabbed Jiang Tingxia's arm, "Quick, take me to see her."
Jiang Tingxia shook off his hand, giving him an aggrieved glare with her almond-shaped eyes, "Senior Sister doesn't know you're here, and I probed her. She doesn't want to see you right now!"
Wan Yunting's expression was stunned. He recalled the scene at the Wuliang Daoist Temple where Zhou Ruoxi had resolutely left. He knew she still harbored resentment towards him.
"Tingxia, are you willing to see your Senior Sister marry a simpleton?" Wan Yunting said anxiously.
Jiang Tingxia said, "Of course not! Otherwise, why would I secretly send you a message, asking you to rush over?"
"So, take me to see Ruoxi now. I'll try to persuade her!" Wan Yunting said with determination.
But Jiang Tingxia shook her head and said, "No. Now there are rumors in the sect about your ambiguous relationship with Senior Sister. So, the First Elder has ordered disciples to openly monitor Senior Sister, specifically to prevent you from seeing her!"
This was clearly intentional on Mistress Jun Xuan's part. If Wan Yunting were to overtly seek out Zhou Ruoxi, it would confirm the rumors of their improper relationship!
Wan Yunting raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is there no other way?"
Jiang Tingxia's almond eyes flickered as she said, "Tonight. For now, follow me back to the sect. After all, you are now the Master of the Wuliang Daoist Temple, representing the Wuliang Daoist Temple as a guest attending the wedding."
Wan Yunting nodded. He could only agree for now. He would try to find an opportunity to see Zhou Ruoxi tonight and see if he could persuade her...