Xuanxia

Chapter 696 They Under the Mask
Fu Qingzhou took the initiative to walk out of the tent.

He knew that the people from Lingjing Sect had arrived.

When they opened the tent and went out, they saw twelve people wearing metal masks standing outside.

They were covered in blood, and many of them were wrapped in bandages and looked seriously injured.

They had just returned from the battlefield.

When they saw Fu Qingzhou, their eyes turned to him at the same time, and a murderous intent that could almost be condensed into substance rushed towards them!

Fu Qingzhou had heard Hua Wuying mention that among these Lingjing Sect disciples, even the weakest one had reached the sixth level of Lingqiao.

As for the "great master" who is the most powerful among them, it is very likely that he has reached the eighth or even ninth level of spiritual realm.

With twelve people showing murderous intent at the same time, even Fu Qingzhou felt a chill all over his body and his scalp went numb.

But he kept his expression unchanged and just let out a breath.

"Junior Fu Qingzhou."

He clasped his fists and bowed to the twelve people: "Greetings to the elders of Lingjing Sect."

"Humph, we can't afford that!"

The leader sneered, "You are a big shot of Mingjian Pavilion who can make Wandu Mountain bow down with just one word! Even Sect Leader Lin can only fight for his life under your tyranny!"

Fu Qingzhou's brows sank slightly.

Then, he bowed again to the disciples of Lingjing Sect.

"Everyone, it was me who took Sect Leader Lin away and failed to bring him back. I am indeed responsible for this. I would like to apologize to you all..."

Fu Qingzhou bowed very deeply, far more than ninety degrees, almost exposing the entire back of his head.

"What's the use of being sorry?"

A middle-aged woman next to the master also sneered: "If you have the ability, you..."

"but."

At this moment, Fu Qingzhou suddenly stood up and calmly interrupted her: "You said that Sect Leader Lin was forced to risk his life under the tyranny. I can only think that you are insulting Sect Leader Lin."

"What did you say?" The pupils behind the mask of the master suddenly shrank.

The other Lingjing Sect disciples also suddenly burst into extreme anger, and some of them seemed to want to rush forward.

"I won't stop until I say something shocking." Elder Yu, who was standing beside the tent and watching silently, shook his head slightly with a smile on his face.

She had no doubt that Fu Qingzhou could resolve the current situation.

It’s just…even after three years, this young man is still as accustomed to using his passion and his ability to stir up people’s emotions as he was back then.

Not so mature.

However, the aura of power that he had previously revealed in the tent gradually faded away, and he returned to his simplicity.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Facing the anger of the disciples of Lingjing Sect, Fu Qingzhou remained calm. He said in a deep voice: "Do you think that Sect Leader Lin bravely went to his death only because he was forced to do so? In your mind, would he be someone who is willing to bow down to authority and kowtow?"

These words were so powerful that all the disciples of Lingjing Sect were stunned.

"I will tell you how Master Lin passed away."

Fu Qingzhou asked slowly: "The premise is that you calm down - can you do it? Do you want to listen?"

After a brief silence, Mr. Big spoke up: "You tell me, we can do it."

This time, his voice was much calmer.

Apart from Lin Wangshu, this great master was the backbone of all the disciples of Lingjing Sect. After he spoke, even though the others were clearly still angry, they finally endured it.

"it is good."

Fu Qingzhou said calmly: "I met Sect Leader Lin only today, but..."

He started from the time when the three of them took a small boat to Yinquan Water, and went on to talk about how Lin Wangshu used the Zhaoxuan Mirror and the Wind and Rain Array at the same time, until he turned into nothingness and passed away.

Apart from unnecessary redundant content about the Styx Valley, Lingwu Mountain, etc., Fu Qingzhou described in detail almost every word, every expression, and every action of Lin Wangshu.

During the whole process, the disciples of Lingjing Sect became more and more silent, with their heads lowered lower.

When they heard Lin Wangshu's last words, several of them began to sob quietly.

"When Sect Leader Lin sacrificed himself, I had a thought in my mind."

Fu Qingzhou sighed: "I think I can no longer rashly evaluate Sect Leader Lin. The realm in his heart is much higher than mine, even higher than some of the Xuanxing Realm masters I have seen."

He raised his head and looked at the disciples of Lingjing Sect: "At the moment when he finally passed away, I didn't even think he was dead, but that he had truly transcended and ascended to heaven."

"...Master Fu, you are very good at speaking nice words."

After a moment of silence, the Master said in a deep voice: "You have told us everything about Master Lin before his death in detail. We brothers and sisters are grateful. But we came here today to ask for an explanation."

"Eh?!"

Before Fu Qingzhou could say anything, the Miao girl beside him put her hands on her waist, wiped away the tears that had secretly shed while listening to the story, and said angrily: "How can you people be so ungrateful!"

She said indignantly: "Master Lin is such a heroic figure, willing to sacrifice himself to save the people of the world, but you are throwing a tantrum here! You have lowered Master Lin's dignity!"

"Okay, Xiaobai." Elder Yu, who had been silent the whole time, said softly, "Let Master Fu speak."

“……” The Miao girl retreated aside angrily.

Fu Qingzhou cast a grateful look at her, then turned to the disciples of Lingjing Sect: "So, what do you want to say?"

"Spiritual Mirror Gate."

The great master said in a muffled voice: "Lingjing Sect cannot be supported by just a few of us. Sect Leader Lin is gone, and you, Master Fu, are an official appointed by the court. You have money, people, and resources. We need you to provide land, money, people, and effort to help us rebuild Lingjing Sect."

Hearing this, Miao Nu, who had just shut up, could no longer hold back and said angrily, "As expected, he is just throwing a tantrum to ask for money."

Several disciples of Lingjing Sect lowered their heads slightly, and their faces could not be seen clearly under the iron masks.

Fu Qingzhou sighed softly: "In order to pass on the Spirit Mirror Sect for Sect Master Lin, you have to play this kind of street scoundrel. It must be hard for you, right?"

"..."

After a brief silence, Mr. Big also sighed: "So, we don't have to do this, right?"

"of course."

Fu Qingzhou said seriously: "Lingjing Sect will be passed down, I said so."

“…I’m sorry.”

The Great Master said sullenly, "Except for the Lingjing Sect, we, the twelve brothers and sisters, have never been treated well by the world. Whenever we encounter something, we always think of the worst first, and that's why we offended Master Fu..."

He stood up, and the other eleven people followed suit.

Then, they bowed deeply to Fu Qingzhou amid the slightly astonished gazes of the people around them.

"Well... you still have a conscience."

The Miao girl Xiaobai muttered to herself, and suddenly her eyes turned to look at a young Miao man who was running quickly not far away, holding a wooden box in his hand.

"A Jiao, don't go over there!"

She stopped him and said, "They are talking about something."

"Well, let him come over." Fu Qingzhou tilted his head and smiled, "I called him over."

The Miao girl Xiaobai was startled and stepped aside to let him go.

But the young Miao man came to Fu Qingzhou and carefully opened the wooden box: "Master Fu, I washed the clothes according to your instructions."

"Thank you."

Fu Qingzhou responded and took out a light blue robe from the wooden box.

When they saw this robe, the disciples of Lingjing Sect widened their eyes instantly!
"These are the clothes that Sect Leader Lin left behind."

Fu Qingzhou held the robe in his hands and said to them, "Let's build a tomb for him."

"...Master!"

There was a hint of sob in the master's voice.

Then, he actually stretched out his hand and slowly took off the mask on his face.

This iron mask has been with him for who knows how many years. When he took off the mask, he revealed the face underneath, which was extremely pale due to years of not seeing the sun.

This is a middle-aged man with a very ordinary appearance, probably around fifty years old. If it weren't for the glaring word "prisoner" occupying half of his cheek, he would be an ordinary person who would disappear in the crowd.

But that bright red tattoo meant that no matter where he went, he would always be the lowest and most despicable being.

As he took off his mask, the other eleven disciples of Lingjing Sect also took off their masks.

The oldest among them was naturally the great gentleman, while the youngest looked to be only in his twenties.

Without exception, everyone had the word "prisoner" tattooed in bright red on their face.

That is the mark of the sinners.

They should have died or been exiled, but because they had a repentant heart and a talent for cultivation, Ning Baimei sent them to Lingjingmen as fresh blood for this thousand-year-old sect.

"Disciple, Dajiang."

With tears in his eyes, the master knelt down in front of Lin Wangshu's robe and said, "Farewell, Master."

After he knelt down, the other eleven members of the Lingjing Sect naturally knelt down as well.

They each gave their own name.

Big River, Two Mountains, Three Casts, Four Moons, Five Winds, Six Clouds, Seven Seas, Eight Skies, Nine Songs, Ten Rains, Eleven Flowers, and Twelve Dreams.

The mountains and rivers cast the moon, the wind and clouds are the sea and sky, the songs are the rain and the flowers are the dreams.

The mountains and rivers are picturesque, the moonlight is pouring down, the wind and clouds are vast, the sea and sky are boundless, and people are singing in the rain and bathing in flowers and dreams.

Their names were chosen by Lin Wangshu. The twelve characters form three words, representing magnificent mountains and rivers, the vast world, love and dreams.

He hopes that these twelve people can see the world and be themselves.

"Congratulations, Master!"

The twelve men bowed their heads to the ground and cried out in great grief.

The night sky was still clear without any rain clouds, but a drizzle suddenly began to fall above the camp, gentle and calm, coming with the breeze, brushing against the corners of people's clothes, and then disappearing in an instant, leaving only a few light rain marks.

(End of this chapter)