Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 517 Reunion (Thanks to 20190303204144758 for the 10,000 coins)
—Yunjiao Prefecture, Chongming Sect
Standing beneath the archway, Lian Xuepu was even more handsome than when he left. The Grand Master Kang had no idea that the former's appearance was the result of being raised on countless delicacies; he simply assumed that it was because he had received great favor after joining the Hehuan Sect that he had achieved such good fortune.

"My martial uncle is back."

Kang Dabao's voice was gentle, much more composed than Lian Xuepu remembered. A hint of guilt flashed in the latter's eyes, and after a long pause, he spoke again: "These years, Sect Leader, you've worked hard."

"Uncle-Master, what are you saying?!" Sect Leader Kang walked over with a smile, grabbed Lian Xuepu's sleeve and led the latter into the sect, just like when he was young and asked for guidance. This made the Peach Blossom Envoy of the Joyful Union Sect somewhat dazed.

When Chongmingzong was renovating for the second time, Fei Shuhe, as the mistress of the house, came up with many ideas. Therefore, in Lian Xuepu's opinion, although the arrangement was simple, it was still elegant and quite different from ordinary small households with no background.

The two of them explored the entire sect together. Even when they returned from Xuepu, they only had time to pay their respects at the ancestral hall outside, without having a chance to take a closer look at the changes in the sect.

As someone close to the real person and with a keen eye, he could see that there were many vulnerable points along the way that others might perceive. However, Master Kang made no attempt to hide this, and when Lian Xuepu showed curiosity about a few places, he would even take the initiative to offer explanations.

This behavior warmed Lian Xuepu's heart. He seemed to see the shadow of that great man from back then in the great leader Kang. He felt even more guilty and his mood became depressed. He remained silent for the rest of the way.

Chongming Sect now occupies a considerable area, but its heartland is undoubtedly the sect leader's courtyard inherited by Kang Dabao. Even though Chongming Sect has been renovated for many years, Kang Dabao's courtyard remains largely unchanged from its original state, not much different from when the old sect leader He was alive.

The two-bay hall with its hipped roof was no longer the place where Emperor Chongmingzong held meetings; it was only used for a while when close friends and relatives came out, as a way to receive guests.

The scripture room, alchemy hall, discipline room, and reward and punishment room on both sides have been empty for many years. Even the current sect leader Kang himself does not know what they are for.

The only room still in use is the Sect Leader's Cloud Chamber, which is rarely used. It's mostly only used when Sect Leader Kang and his wives and concubines occasionally indulge in debauchery.

In the low, flat hut where the patriarch is enshrined to the due south, the same clay and gilded statues still fill the cramped space. When Wu Meng served Kang Dabao in the past, he would occasionally come in and touch up the statues, but now they have all faded.

There are six monks' quarters on each side of the Ancestral Hall. They were only filled for a few days before most of them became empty again.

The banyan tree in the middle of the courtyard has grown to towering height, and the blue brick well under the tree is now completely different from what it used to be, with its spiritual energy so rich that it can overflow.

The stone table next to the well, with a yellow jade chessboard embedded in its surface, was particularly eye-catching, immediately reminding Lian Xuepu of a dashing figure who, after losing a game, would take off his shoes and whip people all over the yard.

After Lian Xuepu stepped into the courtyard, he found himself unable to utter the prepared remarks. After a moment of slurred speech, he had no choice but to sit down as the headmaster with Master Kang.

By this time, the seats had already been set up in the courtyard. The Chongming disciples who could enter this place might not necessarily have high cultivation levels, but they needed to be qualified. Master Kang and his fellow disciples were naturally among them, followed by the first two batches of disciples.

He Degong, who happened to be visiting his relatives in Chongming, was also invited and sat in a seat above the chairman.

He Chang was specially arranged by Kang Dabao to sit next to Lian Xuepu. As for his mother, He Wanying, she did not want to come, just like when Lian Xuepu returned to his clan last time.

The moment she saw this martial uncle, she remembered her own foolish behavior back then and realized that she had indeed failed her late father in raising her.

However, this time, Sect Leader Kang did not indulge her temper and insisted on summoning He Wanying over to properly greet Lian Xuepu.

Kang Dabao had no idea how much emotion the uncle and nephew felt upon seeing each other. He only sent Kang Changxi to urge Jin Shilun and his wife, who were preparing the coffin, to hurry up and serve the dishes.

Now that Chongming Xiaolou's business has grown so much, even second-level chefs are no longer a rarity. The only ones who might be cooking in this small courtyard of Master Kang are this couple whose skills have become quite rusty.

Lian Xuepu has followed Master Jiangxue for so many years and has eaten more delicacies than Master Kang has ever heard of. However, he did not find the dishes at this family banquet disgusting. Instead, a warm feeling rose in his heart.

The delicacies that Jin Shilun had painstakingly prepared failed to catch Lian Xuepu's eye, but the plain-looking dumplings placed in the center brought a look of reminiscence to the latter's eyes.

After meeting him, the alchemist disregarded etiquette and manners, and without exchanging greetings with others, he immediately picked up the food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

"It tastes just like the ones my sister-in-law used to make,"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Jin, who was accompanying the guests, smiled and pointed to the women's table, saying to Lian Xuepu, "Uncle-Master, you may not know, but this time it was still the Sect Leader's wife who cooked."

When Lian Xuepu saw Fei Shuhe rise from her seat and give a graceful curtsy upon hearing the sound, he also laughed. But after the laughter subsided, he sighed again.

However, when Lian Xuepu put down his jade chopsticks, he didn't say much. He simply looked at Headmaster Kang carefully again before praising him, "Fortunately, Senior Brother He passed the leadership to you, his junior nephew."

He stroked the head of He Chang, who was no longer young, and sighed softly, "Having come back to see this scene today, even if I were to die tomorrow, it would not be a pity."

"Uncle-Master, what are you saying? Raise your glass, raise your glass."

Yuan Jin still had several wounds wrapped in medicine, but his heroic spirit remained undiminished when he raised his wine cup. Lian Xuepu, preoccupied with his own thoughts, did not refuse, and the atmosphere naturally became lively.

The only outsider present, He Degong, was deeply moved by the scene. He watched as the square face of Master Kang was flushed and tinged with the smell of alcohol before silently praising him:

“My elder brother here is truly skilled at understanding people’s hearts. He offers great rewards to those who value profit and entrusts true feelings to those who value affection. How could he not win people’s hearts? However, this skill is even more difficult to learn than his achievement of the Golden Core.”

Lian Xuepu was so intoxicated by the clinking of glasses and the dazzling banquet that he forgot to take out the storage ring he had prepared for a long time to give to Kang Dabao.

Just then, a message arrived from outside. Jiang Qingfu glanced at the message and saw its color; his expression immediately darkened.

After he reached out and took it, he made an excuse to go into a room. When he glanced at the letter again, he let out a long breath and almost crushed the wine cup in his hand.

The usually decisive Third Master Jiang showed a hint of hesitation on his face at this moment. He tilted his head back and poured down the amber-colored wine in his cup. Only then did Jiang Qing seem to have the courage to open the talisman.

Unfolding the scroll, one sees only a few words, yet each one is like a knife, carving bloody marks into Jiang Qing's heart.

"The Joyous Union Sect!!!"

Blood immediately seeped from Jiang Qing's clenched fist, but after letting out a low roar, he felt utterly powerless. In the end, he could only crumple up the bright red talisman and throw it on the ground.

The creaking sound of the door opening, deliberately made by the newcomer, pulled Jiang Qing back to reality. He turned around and saw Yuan Jin leaving the lively scene behind him and walking towards him. Jiang Qing, who had been trying to hide his grief, suddenly softened his expression: "Second Senior Brother, Zhe'er and Changsheng..."

"Alright, you've been in here for too long. It's time for you to leave, otherwise you won't have a good excuse."

Forced to smile, Yuan Jin gestured to stop Jiang Qing from speaking. He pointed to the commotion outside, then to Kang Dabao, who was still expressing his true feelings for Lian Xuepu, before speaking slowly:
"This is not the time to talk. We should wait until Uncle Lian returns before discussing anything else. We must not put our senior brother, the sect leader, in a difficult position."

The two brothers exchanged a glance and both felt sorry for each other. Yuan and Jiang then came out of their room and quickly rejoined the lively atmosphere.

Even Xuepu couldn't remember the last time he was this happy. After drinking cup after cup of delicious spirit wine, he became a little more sober.

After thinking for a moment, he took out the storage ring and handed it to Sect Leader Kang, then straightened his tongue and began to speak seriously:
"Inside are two kinds of Celestial Rank Daoist inheritances and a hundred kinds of Flood Rank Daoist techniques, all of which have been carefully selected and are suitable for my disciples to cultivate. Even this ring can be considered a rare item, which even a Golden Core cultivator might not have after many years."

Today I offer this as a congratulatory gift, to my nephew who has achieved the Golden Core and entered the inner sanctum; and to celebrate the continued existence of our Chongming Sect in the south of the mountain, ensuring the unbroken lineage of our Dao!

Master Kang rarely refuses gifts, and since it was from an elder, he naturally accepted it with a smile.

The banquet was a joyous occasion for both hosts and guests, and it didn't end until the moonlight filled the sect leader's courtyard. Lian Xuepu wasn't exactly a completely free man, and he didn't dare accept the younger generation's suggestion to stay overnight. Instead, he strolled out of the sect with a look of satisfaction on his face.

Both sides understood that they didn't know when Lian Xuepu would return again.

After bidding farewell to the younger generation, Lian Xuepu leaped over the archway of Chongming Sect, his feet treading on red clouds, bathed in moonlight, and continued his journey. But after only a few feet, he stopped, turned back, and sighed softly:
How could such sorrow be concealed?

He then remembered his identity, lowered his head, and murmured, "It would have been better if I had just died back then."

The sect leader Kang, who remained in the courtyard, had excellent eyesight. Only after Lian Xuepu had completely disappeared did he turn back with a solemn expression. Zhou Yixiu's eyes were already brimming with tears, and her dry, chapped lips opened and closed repeatedly, but she could not utter a word.

"Mingzhe and Changsheng are gone, aren't they?!"

"Waaah." Zhou Yixiu's sobs could no longer be contained; his turbid tears flowed like a dam breaking, soaking the old man's clothes in just a moment.

"Why isn't it me? Waaah... Why isn't it me?"

The joyful scene in the courtyard earlier seemed to be torn apart by this mournful voice, and the disciples in the sect looked sad and began to sob. Even when Yuan Jin, this tough man, closed his eyes, two lines of tears secretly slipped out from his eyes.

Jiang Qing seemed to have already grieved. He just stared at He Chang, whose eyes were red, in silence for a while, before turning his gaze to the slightly hunched Headmaster Kang.

Even someone as close as him couldn't quite describe the latter's expression.

When Ye Zhengwen, who was in charge of the register, flicked his wrist, the five seal characters on it immediately turned into two ink stains.

—————Xuanwei City, Fei Family

Fei Tianqin's sharp eyes were filled with displeasure. Recalling the humiliation he had suffered in the Hehuan Sect, he wished he could use his sharp beak to tear Jiang Xue Zhenren into pieces of rotten flesh.

However, it also knew that this was a complete fantasy, so it could only sulk in silence when it returned to the Fei family.

After all, if it weren't for the fact that True Immortal Jiangxue still held a grudge against its title and rank, he might have really skinned it alive and dismembered it. After all, Fei Yeyi is a member of the imperial family and a close minister, and even ordinary True Immortals would have to give him some face. But what is killing a mere beast?
Fei Nanying and Fei Donggu, who had just returned from Yingzhou, stood by his side, but seeing Fei Tianqin's appearance, they dared not speak for a moment.

Fei Tianqin, who had been pondering for a long time, spoke first: "This matter cannot be kept secret. We must inform my younger brother as soon as possible. Even if we know it will take a lot of his time and energy, we have no choice but to do it."

The Hehuan Sect is far superior to those families that went to Yingzhou to compete for the Five Spirit Ice Sunflower. Someone in the court needs to intervene in this matter; otherwise, it might truly be a catastrophe for the Fei family.”

"After I go down there, I will draft a document and submit it to the clan to inform Ancestor Ye Sui." Fei Nanying clearly understood the implications, and upon hearing this, he immediately bowed and replied.

Fei Tianqin hadn't completely lost his composure; he simply explained a few more important matters, and his frustration subsided considerably.

As Fei Tianqin let out a long sigh, the teacup on the low table made a soft sound, and then the lid was lifted, and the tea inside turned into a stream of water that slowly flowed into Fei Tianqin's mouth.

"Has the message for Kang been delivered?"

"Yes, it was written by the young man himself and delivered by a reliable person."

"That's good. They must have lost quite a few people this time. They're the kind of people who remember kindness and hold grudges." Fei Tianqin nodded for a moment, then turned to Fei Donggu and asked:
"Have you asked Yingzhou when the provisions for half a century that my brother promised to Sheshan Hall will be delivered?!"

"Reporting to the Ancestor, Wanbao Trading Company's asking price is too high, and they require a senior cultivator from our family to escort the shipment before they will agree to transport it. Therefore, Nancy has decided to inform them when the authorities allocate military supplies to the Northern Imperial Guards next time, and send it along with the goods. However, it will be later, probably another quarter before it can be transported, and it will likely take about a year to arrive."

"Hmm, slow is fine, it's appropriate." Fei Tianqin praised, but this time the question was directed at Fei Nanying: "Have you thought about how to use it?!"

Without hesitation, the latter said directly, "Most of them should be allocated according to the quota and distributed. In the current tense situation, the only right thing to do is for the children in the family to improve their cultivation. There is no need to be bound by rigid rules. As for the remaining 50%, they should be sent to Chongming Sect. After all, the entire Sheshan Hall has benefited from Kang's influence this time, so they should give something in return."

Fei Tianqin nodded repeatedly after hearing this, but when he spoke, he was very calculating: "Well, your nephew-in-law is quite a figure now, and we need to win him over."

Even though Fei Nanying didn't entirely share this sentiment, he didn't offer any explanation, but simply responded respectfully.

Fei Tianqin had no interest in getting too involved in these matters, after all, Fei Nanying and Fei Donggu were trustworthy people, so there was no need for him to worry too much.

However, given its nature, it is impossible for it to stay here for long or sit idly for too long.

Fei Tianqin stood up and said, "Ancestor, I'm going to the Duke's mansion to ask why they haven't moved yet and why they're still staying on my son-in-law's land. Aren't they ashamed?! This is a fiefdom personally bestowed by the Emperor, which can be passed down to future generations. We can't let them continue to take advantage of us here."

(Um, I'll try to make up for the extra chapters due to donations as soon as possible.)

(End of this chapter)