Shen Xiuhan did not show it on his face, but surprise surged in his heart.
This result was significantly higher than he had anticipated.
Yue Lingyong picked up his wolf-hair brush and wrote in the register: “It is done. Your information has been recorded in the register. It will be submitted to the elders of the Qi and Body Lineages for review shortly.”
Having said this, Yue Lingyong set down his brush, his tone filled with deep meaning: “If nothing unexpected happens, there will be a final decision in three days. You can rest at an inn in town for a few days... and await the good news!”
Await the good news!
Shen Xiuhan understood immediately. He cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, Manager!”
Lifting the bamboo curtain, Shen Xiuhan stepped out of the blue-brick tiled house.
Waiting in the distance, Lu Yuan's eyes lit up. Unable to contain himself, he hurried forward and asked eagerly, “Brother Shen, how did it go?”
Shen Xiuhan shook his head calmly and replied flatly, “The manager only told me to wait for the results.”
Hearing this, Lu Yuan let out a huge sigh of relief. He patted Shen Xiuhan's shoulder with feigned regret and comforted him, “The other brothers from the boat said the same thing. I'm afraid... sigh! Brother Shen, you don't have to be discouraged. Although entering the inner sect is difficult, if you can stay in the outer sect and bide your time, there might still be a day for you to turn things around.”
“As it happens, I plan to host a banquet in town today to celebrate. Would you do me the honor of joining us for a few drinks, Brother Shen?”
Although there was only a one-character difference between Bixia Villa's inner sect and outer sect, their treatment and status were worlds apart!
Inner sect disciples spent most of their time practicing martial arts, aside from occasionally managing the sect's properties, and their techniques and spiritual pills were distributed as regular rations.
Outer sect disciples had it rough.
To put it bluntly, they were just drudges used for running errands and doing odd jobs.
They were not even comparable to the branch academy disciples who paid tuition!
The Four Sects widely established branch academies primarily to screen for talent while simultaneously raking in massive amounts of silver.
Exceptionally talented branch academy disciples would enter the inner sect directly after spending less than a few months in the outer sect.
The remaining ones, with mediocre talent and only basic martial arts training, were perfect for staying in the outer sect to do menial chores like beasts of burden.
Lu Yuan had been eager to invite everyone, even specifically pointing out starting from the outer sect...
His underlying meaning was as clear as day!
‘Become my lackeys and subordinates, and I, Lu Yuan, will cover for you in the future!’
This was a far cry from the attitude he had shown on the boat, where he preached about sticking together and looking out for one another.
Thus, Shen Xiuhan declined politely but distantly, “Thank you for the offer, Brother Lu, but I am exhausted from the long journey. I am physically and mentally drained right now, so I won't join the excitement. Let's make it another day.”
Having said that, he turned and walked toward the exit of the plaza.
Lu Yuan's expression stiffened slightly. Feeling embarrassed, a flash of anger crossed his eyes.
Beside him, one of the disciples from the boat, who was skilled at reading the room, immediately let out a cold snort and spat, “Senior Brother Lu, this guy really doesn't know what's good for him. He's just a failed piece of trash, yet he's still putting on such aloof airs? Once we enter the sect, none of us should pay him any mind!”
“Exactly. We are all disciples from humble families in the lower counties. If we don't know how to stick together and follow Senior Brother Lu's lead when we arrive at the prefecture capital, how can we establish a foothold in the sect?”
“Hmph, aloof? When he gets bullied by the senior disciples in the villa later on, he'd better not expect any of us to lift a finger to help him!”
...
For a moment, the surrounding people were filled with righteous indignation, their words as harsh and mocking as possible, as if failing to join in on the insults would make them lose favor in front of Lu Yuan.
Their sycophantic chatter finally caused the gloom on Lu Yuan's face to ease slightly.
The coldness in his eyes faded, and he put on a magnanimous front of letting bygones be bygones, smiling hypocritically, “Forget it! Everyone has their own ambitions; we shouldn't force it. Junior brothers, let's go drink! All expenses for the banquet will be on me!”
“Senior Brother Lu is truly generous!”
“Let's go, let's go! We must drink to celebrate Senior Brother Lu's upcoming promotion to the inner sect!”
Lu Yuan threw his head back and laughed, as if he had reverted to his righteous, heroic, and generous persona from the boat.
But before his laughter could even fade, his expression froze. He hurriedly stepped to the side of the road, frantically winking at the others, his superior attitude instantly vanishing without a trace.
The others were startled by this and looked in the direction of Lu Yuan's gaze in surprise.
Down the misty, sheer mountain path of Mount Bixia, a purple afterimage swept down as fast as a shooting star chasing the moon.
The person's movement technique was incredibly swift, landing without a sound.
Without sparing Lu Yuan and the others even a glance, they headed straight for the stone house everyone had just stepped out of!
...
“What?!”
Inside the stone house, Yue Lingyong's face changed dramatically. He slammed his hands on the desk and stood up, staring at the newcomer: “Dismiss Shen Xiuhan of Changyun County? Second Brother, what is the reason for this?!”
The middle-aged man in purple robes standing before him shared some resemblance with him, but appeared more mature and experienced.
Hearing this, the man merely shook his head and said, “Lingyong, this is the lineage master's order. You only need to carry it out; there is no need to ask for the reason.”
“But... Shen Xiuhan has a Five-Form Constitution!”
Yue Lingyong's eyes widened, his tone carrying a trace of pain and regret: “He is only eighteen years old and has already opened three acupoints. With this kind of talent, he could easily rank in the top ten among the disciples our Yue family has carefully nurtured over the past decade. Given time, he would surely become a pillar of our Qi Lineage!”
“Lingyong, you... sigh...”
The purple-robed man sighed deeply and whispered helplessly, “Fine! I'll tell you the truth. This matter was specifically mentioned to the lineage master by Luo Tangyin. She is a genius with a Seven-Form Constitution and has been favored by a master from the imperial court's Xuanjing Division. There is a great hope of her advancing to the Gangjin Rank in the future!”
Hearing this, Yue Lingyong's face turned pale and red in rapid succession. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and said, “But even so, can't the two of them... bury the hatchet and coexist peacefully here in Mount Bixia?”
“Peaceful coexistence? How naive!”
The purple-robed man laughed coldly, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world: “These two clearly come from the same county, yet that Luo family girl did not hesitate to disturb the lineage master just to ensure this boy is expelled from the sect and has his martial path cut short. What does that tell you?”
“It means... it means there is a deep grudge between them, and... it is irreconcilable.”
“Exactly!”
Yue Lingyong pursed his lips. Still unwilling to give up, he hesitated, “But Second Brother, this boy was recommended by Zuo Guangshu, an inner disciple of the sect. If we reject him for no reason...”
The purple-robed man cut him off: “Zuo Guangshu will not object!”
“If he objects, he can get lost along with him!”
“Sixth Brother, remember this: once Luo Tangyin steps into the Gangjin Rank, our Qi Lineage will gain another top-tier combat power.”
“When that time comes, suppressing those stubborn fools of the Sword Lineage will be more important than anything else!”
“As for a boy with a Five-Form Constitution... you should know which is more important.”
With that, the purple-robed man flicked his sleeves and left, leaving Yue Lingyong standing alone with a complex expression.
When night fell and the bright moon hung high in the sky, Yue Lingyong finished assessing the last disciple. Standing by the window with his hands behind his back, he gazed at the cold moon hanging in the sky, a surge of frustration churning in his heart.
Smack!
Suddenly, he struck his fist into his palm, producing a crisp smack.
Staring at the majestic silhouette of Mount Bixia outside the window, Yue Lingyong could not help but mutter to himself, “Second Brother, oh Second Brother, you are all so foolish!”
“Over the years, the conflict between the Qi and Sword Lineages has grown increasingly fierce. If we continue to band together for selfish interests and allow this internal strife to tear us apart... I'm afraid disaster is right around the corner!”
His eyes flickered for a moment. Then, suddenly gritting his teeth, he used the cover of the moonlight to quietly sweep toward Biqiong Peak.
There lay the Sword Lineage of Mount Bixia!
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