Chapter 93: Chapter 82: The Sect is for the Public, the Great Dao is Selfless, Chen Chang’an!_1
Only after the four new clan rules were announced did Chen Chang’an and the others have a chance to take their leave.
Throughout the way, a faint smile lingered on Chen Chang’an’s face.
"Senior brother, why are you smiling? Is there something that makes you happy?" Mao Ruxue asked in bewilderment.
"Nothing much." Chen Chang’an shook his head.
"Just thinking about something to be happy about, which can’t be discussed publicly."
"Oh, I see." Upon seeing his reaction, Mao Ruxue did not press further.
Seeing Mao Ruxue’s satisfied silence, Chen Chang’an’s thoughts once again submerged within the warmth of his happiness.
Indeed, it was a matter to rejoice about.
According to his plan, he was fated to pass away peacefully in a hundred years.
When that time came, he certainly didn’t want the Tianshui Sect to remain the lackluster entity that it currently was.
Otherwise, there was a high probability that he might need to return from death to clean up the mess they would inevitably create.
In the light of the previous development rate of the Tianshui Sect, it was clear that the state of affairs would likely remain stagnant for not just a century, but even a millennium.
To become strong, changes must be instituted first!
The four current rules, especially the first and the fourth, undoubtedly were the most suitable paths to such change!
The Tianshui Sect had previously been too lax. From the Sect Master Li Daoran to the ordinary disciples, most were simply coasting through life with no ambitions.
The Elders were languid and the disciples were indolent, the cohesion of the whole sect was not strong enough.
Such a sect could make no significant progress.
However, now, after stirring the pot and using the external pressure imposed by the Ten Thousand Swords Sect,
the sect from top to bottom immediately started to brim with a sense of urgency.
With this sense of urgency came motivation.
At this point, under the constraints of the four major rules, everyone had been set in motion.
In this situation, it was not a problem at all if the Tianshui Sect wished to take off towards more prosperous achievements.
Of course, the premise was that their so-called external pressure would not prove to be insurmountable.
However, was this something to be worried about?
Chen Chang’an shook his head slightly, silent.
In a little while, they arrived at Daocang Mountain.
After leaving Mao Ruxue in the grand hall, and giving her a few instructions, Chen Chang’an returned to the scripture repository.
Having lived here for ten years, it was practically his standard territory.
The following time, Chen Chang’an’s life reverted to normal once again.
The moment he returned, he lay down on the lounge chair in the courtyard, casually taking out a book to read.
Though in the meantime, Chen Chang’an was living leisurely,
within a side hall of the Tianshui Sect Leader’s Grand Hall, Li Daoran, the Great Elder Li Xuandao, the Hall Master Bai Yunzi of the Hall of Merit, and Xuan Qingzi had gathered together.
With the exception of Xuan Qingzi, the faces of the others were marked with grave expressions.
"Sect Leader, Elder, did you call me here for some reason?" Xuan Qingzi asked, feeling uneasy given the atmosphere in the hall.
Li Daoran instead asked with a serious face:
"Senior brother Xuan Qingzi, may I ask you a question?"
"Is there anything wrong with Chang’an?"
"Ah? What could be wrong with Chang’an? He’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with him, Sect Leader, you all cannot scare me like this."
Upon hearing Li Daoran, Xuan Qingzi was taken aback. He then waved his hand, forcing a relaxed smile.
"Senior brother, this is very important, and I’m not joking."
"We know you’re just worried about causing unnecessary concern, but please, I beg you to tell us the truth." Li Daoran reaffirmed, solemnly.
He remained firm in his decision.
"Um..."
Seeing the grave expressions of Li Daoran and the others, Xuan Qingzi fell silent.
He understood that they had likely deduced something.
At that moment, Xuan Qingzi let out a long sigh and said:
"It seems you have figured it out."
"Sigh, I had initially planned to keep this matter a secret."
"But now that you have already caught wind of it, allow me to explain this to you guys."
"However, before I do, there is a condition I need you all to agree upon."
Having said that, for some unknown reason, Xuan Qingzi suddenly adopted a cryptic demeanor.
He looked around, and then said:
"That you must keep this matter to yourselves."
"If you guys promise me this, I’ll tell you, otherwise, I won’t."
"Because I made a promise to Brother Chen that I would keep this confidential."
After finishing his words, Xuan Qingzi looked towards the three of them, awaiting their response.
Li Daoran, on the other hand, did not hesitate in the slightest as he stated:
"Senior brother, rest assured, if there is one thing I excel at, it is keeping secrets."
"Once any secret enters my ears, it never leaves again!"
"I’ll promise you that."
"I, too, make the same promise."
"I will do the same."
Not just Li Daoran, but Elder Li Xuandao and Bai Yunzi also nodded in agreement.
It was merely a matter of preserving a secret, they certainly held enough integrity for that.
"Alright, now that it’s settled, let me tell you."
Seeing the three of them all nodding, the burden in Xuan Qingzi’s heart was finally relieved.
Then, he explained how he had chanced upon Chen Chang’an ’vomiting’ an unusually light golden ’Essence Blood’ when he was on the ship, and the fearless remarks that Chen Chang’an had made later on. He conveyed everything to them without omitting a single detail
"Senior brother, Junior brother, Elder, Brother Chen, he... he’s suffering!"
Half an hour later, Xuan Qingzi finished telling the entire story.
After finishing his tale, he addressed the trio with a mournful tone.
At this point, he was crying uncontrollably, unable to utter another word through his sobs.
However, in the face of Xuan Qingzi’s words, the trio did not respond.
That was because at this moment, all three of them had been rendered utterly speechless.
In their minds, a scene like this was playing out.
As the sun set in the west, aboard the flying boat approaching twilight, a pale young man was struggling to keep his collapsing body upright.
Despite the ceaseless bleeding from his mouth, his gaze towards the elderly man beside him who was concerned about him was exceptionally clear.
Moreover, it was as if they had experienced everything first-hand, with the voice of the young man ringing in their ears.
"When the king dies, the state perishes. When a gentleman guards, he defends the country’s gates."
"The soldier dies on the battlefield, the daughter dies for her country, the land laid down by our forefathers."
"Naturally, it falls upon us, the younger generations, to guard it...."
"....."
"I’ve grown up on this mountain, and the Sect is also my home."
"To guard the homeland left by our forefathers, I naturally also have a responsibility."
"So, elder brother, it has nothing to do with you. It’s just my choice."
"....."
"Elder Brother, our Tianshui Sect is weak, I can only do this."
"If we don’t scare them away this time, there will be more troubles waiting for us in the future."
"So, I can only do this."
"See, isn’t the situation good now?"
"I scared them away. They dare not come again...""
"...""
"Elder Brother, please promise me one thing."
"Promise me, don’t tell the other disciples about this."
"Especially Sister Ruxue."
"I don’t want them to see me in such a sorry state."
"...""
"Should I not tell the Sect Leader either?"
"Don’t tell them. I’m already crippled. If I die, you can bury me anywhere. There’s no need to mobilize many people and cause them trouble...""
".....""
Then, the young man gave a light shout.
The signs of defeat on his face disappeared instantly, and he regained the demeanor of a graceful gentleman that everyone saw.
"Elder Brother, look, am I not all right now?"
".....""
In their minds, the scenes related to the young man were repeated over and over again.
Li Daoran and the other two fell silent.
They also thought of more than thirty years ago, the little boy who is stripped naked brought by elder Yang Han to the mountain.
"Elder Brother, didn’t you go down the mountain to accept disciples? Why did you bring back a baby?"
"Younger Brother, come here. This is Chang’an, a name I’ve picked for him."
"Chang’an, meaning a long and peaceful life. I hope he can live peacefully for his entire life."
"....""
"Chen Chang’an, put down that fish quickly. Don’t eat it."
"Chen Chang’an, you were born with missing senses. I’m afraid you’ll be a fool for the rest of your life."
"Hehe~!""
"Chen Chang’an, I ask you, are you willing to become a disciple of Daozang Mountain and inherit my mantle?"
"Hehe, Master is good~!""
"Chen Chang’an, accept the command. Elder Yang Han passed away seven days ago, from now on, you are the thirty-eighth Mountain Lord of Daozang Mountain!"
"If you’re unwilling to accept this position, then the name Daozang Mountain will be erased. I ask you now, are you willing to inherit Elder Yang Han’s mantle?"
"Yes, hehe, Chang’an wants to guard the house for Master!"
"....""
"Chen Chang’an, you are playful by nature, ignorant of severity, and have repeatedly violated the rules of the sect, and remained incorrigible."
"Now, it is ruled that you should face the wall for life at the Scripture Repository behind Daozang Mountain, without any summons, and you cannot leave. Do you accept your punishment?"
"Disciple...accepts!""
The memories flashed by like glimpses of flowers from horseback.
Li Daoran and the others couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
Everything seemed like only yesterday.
No one could have imagined that the simple-minded child of those years has now become like this.
The sect is the common cause, the Great Dao is impartial!
"Elder Brother, compared to Brother Chen Chang’an, we fall short."
Finally, it was Bai Yunzi who spoke first.
His eyes were also filled with sorrow, not much different from Xuan Qingzi’s.
"Indeed, we fall short of him."
Li Daoran also shook his head and sighed.
He had guessed earlier that Chen Chang’an’s journey and Tianyuanzi’s expedition would certainly entail some sacrifices.
However, he never imagined that the sacrifice would be this great.
This...it’s almost costing a life!
"Sigh.""
The Great Elder Li Xuandao also sighed.
He hadn’t expected Chen Chang’an to be so selflessly righteous.
Then he turned to Li Daoran and said,
"Dao Ran, you should handle this matter."
"While intensifying the search for any immortal herbs that can extend life,"
"Also find some delicious delicacies."
"I heard that aside from reading alone, Chang’an’s favorite thing is eating."
"Chang’an has suffered too much in his early life."
"But, we couldn’t control his past life, but for his future life, I hope you can lend him a hand."
"Even if he ultimately can’t avoid ’going’, we should let him leave peacefully."
