In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 203 The Name of the Young Sect Leader

As November arrives, the autumn chill in the air intensifies.

Even during the day, a persistent layer of cold mist permeates the world, gray and damp, blurring the outlines of distant mountains and coating nearby withered branches, bare trees, and gray-tiled roofs with a sticky layer of moisture.

The withered yellow grass and reeds trembled in the bleak wind, emitting a low, mournful sound.

At midday, two dusty, sturdy horses slowly came to a stop near the west gate of Jiading Prefecture.

After receiving the document from the guard at the gate, Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue led their horses through the city gate.

Horseshoes made a unique sound as they stepped on the bluestone pavement.

The city was still bustling, but it no longer had the quiet and desolate feeling of the suburbs.

Gu Shaoan skillfully led Mei Jiangxue to an inn after they had eaten something in the city.

Gu Shaoan took out a piece of silver weighing about three taels and tossed it to the waiter who came to greet him.

"A quiet, superior room. First, prepare two large buckets of hot water and bring them over. Then, help me buy two bamboo hats. The rest is your tip, waiter."

The waiter took the money with a beaming smile and bowed, replying, "Don't worry, sir, I'll give the order right away."

As he spoke, the waiter turned around, called out, and then deftly led them upstairs to the second floor.

After the waiter closed the door and left, Mei Jiangxue walked to the window and gently pushed open the half-closed window.

Outside the window was the inn's courtyard, with a few withered trees also damp with moisture, making it seem even quieter than the street. She glanced at the leaden sky and the barely past afternoon light outside the window and asked, "My benefactor, it's still early. Shall we rest here in Jiading Prefecture now?"

Gu Shaoan placed the bundle on the table and replied, "We're almost at my sect. But before we return, we must first remove our disguises to avoid any misunderstandings."

Disguise when in public.

If he were to return to the Emei Sect while still in this disguised state, it would obviously be inappropriate.

Mei Jiangxue was born into a prestigious family.

They also had a certain understanding of the power distribution of various prestigious and righteous sects within the Great Wei.

Upon hearing Gu Shaoan's words, he immediately thought of the forces surrounding Jiading Prefecture.

He then looked at Gu Shaoan in astonishment and asked, "My benefactor is a disciple of the Emei Sect?"

Gu Shaoan nodded in acknowledgment.

Having received confirmation from Gu Shaoan, Mei Jiangxue's mind raced, and she asked in surprise, "Is the benefactor Gu Shaoan who killed Fang Yeyu, the little demon master of the Demon Master Palace, on Bright Peak?"

"Not bad!"

Gu Shaoan responded softly.

Gu Shaoan didn't find it strange that Mei Jiangxue guessed his identity.

Although news traveled very slowly in ancient times.

However, it had been a year since the six major sects besieged Bright Peak.

A year is enough time for the events that occurred on Bright Peak to spread throughout the entire Great Wei Kingdom.

In addition, the situation of the Emei Sect is special.

Currently, Gu Shaoan is the only male disciple.

After learning that he was a disciple of the Emei Sect, it was perfectly normal for Mei Jiangxue to guess his identity.

"So it turns out that my benefactor is a disciple of the Emei Sect."

Throughout the journey, Gu Shaoan did not bring it up, nor did Mei Jiangxue ask about it.

It would be a lie to say that he wasn't curious about the sect that Gu Shaoan belonged to.

However, judging from Gu Shaoan's behavior and speech, Mei Jiangxue could vaguely sense that the force to which Gu Shaoan belonged should also be a prestigious and upright family like the Meishan family.

Mei Jiangxue never expected that Gu Shaoan in front of her was a disciple of the Emei Sect.

"I've heard that Gu Shaoan of the Emei Sect is not even twenty years old yet, which means that our benefactor was also disguised?"

Thinking of this, Mei Jiangxue couldn't help but glance at Gu Shaoan, seemingly curious about his true appearance.

After the waiter placed the two straw hats, one white and one black, on the table, he and the other innkeepers brought over a bath tub.

As buckets of hot water, adjusted to the correct temperature, were continuously poured into the bathtub, filling the room with steam, Gu Shaoan took out a pill and placed it on the table. He then said, "Disguising yourself is a precaution when you're out, but there's no need to continue disguising yourself once you return to the Emei Sect. After taking this pill, your skin color will return to normal. I'll keep watch outside."

"Thank you so much, my benefactor."

After nodding in acknowledgment, Gu Shaoan turned and walked outside, leaning against the door as he slowly circulated his inner energy.

After an incense stick had burned, the previously closed door finally opened.

The lingering steam inside, mixed with the warm scent of a hot bath, drifted gently out of the room like an invisible veil of clouds. Within this swirling mist, a figure stood gracefully.

Upon hearing the sound, Gu Shaoan straightened up from the door frame he was leaning against, and his gaze naturally turned to the doorway.

The next second, his eyes, which were usually as deep and calm as an ancient well, paused almost imperceptibly.

The mist was slowly parted, like a light veil.

Mei Jiangxue had changed into a clean, moon-white, fitted long dress that accentuated her slender and graceful figure.

But what's even more captivating is her true face, now revealed after the elixir has washed away her disguise!

Her eyebrows, like distant mountains, seemed to float above the mist. These eyebrows were not bold or flamboyant, but rather like distant mountains painted with meticulous brushstrokes, their natural curves exuding a pure and elegant charm untouched by worldly dust.

Below were a pair of eyes as clear as a frozen lake in the Tianshan Mountains. As their gaze shifted, they seemed to hold a pool of clear autumn water, or perhaps the ancient, unyielding starlight scattered across the snow-capped peaks.

Those eyes were clear and bright, yet unfathomable. With each glance, there was a dignified and aloof air about them, just like their name, "Reflecting Snow and Gleaming Radiance."

Her straight, delicate nose was like a piece of white jade, elegant and exquisite. The tip of her nose had a slight redness from being moistened by a little bit of water, which did not seem out of place at all, but instead added a touch of vibrancy and fragrance.

Under the influence of the elixir, her skin not only shed its feigned dullness but also revealed a radiant, jade-like glow, as if it were the outward manifestation of an icy, jade-like body.

Her long hair was loosely tied back with a simple silver hairpin, a few strands of dark blue hair slightly damp, falling casually onto her smooth, full forehead and jade-like neck.

Gu Shaoan's eyes lit up when he saw Mei Jiangxue walking out of the house.

This also explained why the Ghost Hand Gang members never forgot Mei Jiangxue.

Gu Shaoan nodded in agreement, noting that such a young age of fourteen already possessed such beauty.

In a few years, Mei Jiangxue's beauty will certainly not be inferior to Zhou Zhiruo's or Yang Yan's.

After admiring Mei Jiangxue's appearance for a few moments, Gu Shaoan went inside and handed her the bamboo hat that the waiter had bought earlier.

After Mei Jiangxue put on a bamboo hat and covered her face with a veil,
After closing the door, Gu Shaoan walked to the table, poured a glass of water, and then took out a pill and dropped it into the water.

Once the medicine had dissolved, Gu Shaoan applied it evenly to his face, neck, and behind his ears.

After waiting for nearly a hundred breaths, Gu Shaoan's facial features began to gradually change.

Just like flattened clay gradually regaining its elasticity, the facial features and face slowly unfolded.

I placed my hands behind my ears and rubbed them gently a couple of times. Then, little by little, I peeled off a layer of almost transparent, carefully crafted oil film from my face.

As the disguise was peeled away, Gu Shaoan's original cold, angular, and somewhat deep and weathered face was gradually revealed again in the dim light of the room.

After swallowing a pill, Gu Shaoan climbed into the bathtub.

"Alright, come in!"

Fifteen minutes later, as Gu Shaoan spoke, Mei Jiangxue, who was waiting outside the door, pushed it open.

At this moment, Gu Shaoan had changed into the black and gold patterned outfit that Abbess Miejue had prepared for him when he left Wudang.

His body, clad in dark, tight-fitting clothing, resembled a pine tree poised to unleash its power, or a peerless sword concealed in its sheath, its sharpness concealed, brimming with explosive tension.

A few strands of dark, damp hair clung to his full forehead and pale neck, adding to his unruly youthful spirit, yet creating a stark contrast with the ancient, deep pool of concentration in his eyes.

His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, thick and black as ink, pressing down on a pair of eyes as deep as a cold pool and as bright as stars.

His handsome face made people secretly admire him.

Upon seeing Gu Shaoan reveal his true face, Mei Jiangxue's gaze froze, and her face became somewhat dazed.

Mei Jiangxue only snapped out of her daze when Gu Shaoan put the black bamboo hat on his head and covered his face with a black veil.

As she looked down and averted her gaze, a thought couldn't help but pop into Mei Jiangxue's mind: "I never imagined that my benefactor would be so handsome."

Then, as if she had thought of something, Mei Jiangxue's cheeks suddenly flushed pink beneath her veil.

Holding the Heaven Sword in his hand, as he exhaled and exhaled, the coarse cloth that was originally tightly wrapped around the Heaven Sword tore apart inch by inch, revealing the golden-white color and ancient patterns of the Heaven Sword's scabbard.

Only then did Gu Shaoan leave the inn with Mei Jiangxue.

Two hours later.

Dusk had begun to fall.

Against the backdrop of the gray sky, Mount Emei's majestic peaks appeared even more imposing and imposing. A thin layer of cold mist shrouded the continuous mountain ranges, and the deep blue forests exuded a sense of winter's desolation and solemnity. Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue rode their horses to the stone steps leading to the mountain gate at the foot of the mountain, a passage reserved for disciples and followers.

The horses' hooves clattered on the frost-covered flagstones, producing a crisp yet somewhat lonely sound.

Looking at the rolling mountains in front of him, Gu Shaoan, who had been away for more than a year, finally smiled.

The tension that usually runs high eased at this moment.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Gu Shaoan's once helpless heart has finally taken root.

After more than a year of wandering, returning to the familiar mountain gate now brings a sense of heartfelt peace that can never be felt anywhere else.

As Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue drew closer, the Emei Sect elders and a dozen or so Emei Sect disciples on duty at the foot of the mountain all looked up.

When the two horses drew closer again, the leading elder of the Emei Sect shouted a stern question.

"Who goes there? This is a forbidden area of ​​Emei. Do not enter without permission!"

The voice echoed in the empty mountain gate, carrying the chill of a mountain wind. Behind her, several young female disciples had already gripped the swords at their waists, their eyes wary.

Mei Jiangxue's heart tightened, and she subconsciously tightened the reins she was holding.

Gu Shaoan did not speak, but slowly raised his left hand, revealing the sheathed longsword he was holding tightly.

The sword hilt inlaid with gold and white jade, and the ancient and solemn patterns on the scabbard, shimmered with a restrained and unique brilliance in the dim light of the sky!

As soon as everyone's gaze fell upon the Heaven-Slaying Sword, the elder who had shouted earlier suddenly narrowed her eyes, and all the sternness and scrutiny on her face froze instantly.

At the same time, Gu Shaoan, who had also stopped his horse, gently raised his other hand to his chin.

He pinched the edge of the black brim with his two slender fingers, and with a smooth and clear movement, lifted it upwards, revealing his true face that had been hidden.

With a gentle press of his right hand on the horse's back, Gu Shaoan's body swayed down like a white feather.

Then he bowed to the Emei Sect elder in front of him and said, "Uncle Juexin."

Seeing Gu Shaoan smiling in front of her, Abbess Juexin also came to her senses and bowed slightly, saying, "Juexin greets the young sect leader."

After Abbess Juexin took the lead, the other disciples of the Emei Sect also bowed.

"Meet the Young Master!"

Deep, respectful greetings gathered together and rang out before the silent mountain gate, carrying heartfelt reverence.

Hearing the way Abbess Juexin and the group of Emei disciples addressed him, Gu Shaoan was slightly taken aback.

The next second, Gu Shaoan had a vague idea in his mind, and then said with a wry smile, "It seems that Master decided on the position of young sect leader without saying a word while I was away."

Upon hearing this, Abbess Juexin smiled and said, "After the sect leader, Zhiruo, and Yan'er returned to the mountain gate, they immediately summoned all the elders and disciples and announced the identity of my junior disciple as the young sect leader."

As she spoke, Abbess Juexin's eyes were full of appreciation and satisfaction.

The Emei Sect is only a second-rate force, and its members are not many.

There are only about a thousand people in total.

During the battle at Bright Peak last year, the Emei Sect mobilized half of its disciples.

Not to mention the other three sects: Kongtong, Kunlun, and Huashan Sword Sect.

Even the Shaolin and Wudang sects suffered heavy losses in the battle.

Only on the Emei side did everyone set off in perfect unison, returning to the mountain gate without a single one missing.

Not to mention the terrifying strength Gu Shaoan displayed on Bright Peak.

This was enough to greatly enhance Gu Shaoan's reputation within the Emei Sect.

When Abbess Miejue announced Gu Shaoan as the young sect leader, everyone was convinced and accepted it.

Master Juexin glanced at Mei Jiangxue, who had also removed her bamboo hat and revealed her beautiful face, standing beside Gu Shaoan, and then said, "In the year that the young sect leader was away, the sect leader and the two senior sisters, Juechen and Juejue, often talked about it. Junior sister Zhiruo and junior sister Yan'er also occasionally came to the mountain gate to meditate. Now that the young sect leader has returned, why don't you go back and see the sect leader first!"

As she spoke, Abbess Juexin slowly moved a step back to the side.

Gu Shaoan nodded in acknowledgment and then led Mei Jiangxue up the stone steps leading up the mountain.

When they encountered other Emei disciples along the way, these disciples were slightly taken aback before bowing respectfully.

Gu Shaoan's attitude was not arrogant in the slightest.

Before long, led by Gu Shaoan, the two arrived at the back of Mount Da'e.

In the back mountain.

Abbess Juechen and Abbess Juejue sat cross-legged in different places to cultivate.

Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan were located on the outer perimeter of Gu Shaoan's courtyard.

The sound of flowing water echoed in the back mountain, bringing a sense of tranquility that brought peace of mind.

With Gu Shaoan's current level of lightness skill, if he didn't want to be discovered, let alone Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan.

Even Abbess Juechen and Abbess Juejue wouldn't be able to detect it.

But Mei Jiangxue, who was by Gu Shaoan's side, was different.

Mei Jiangxue has good talent, but her current cultivation level is only at the Acquired Realm.

To the average person, Mei Jiangxue's footsteps were almost imperceptible.

But to Abbess Wu and the others, the footsteps were as clear as a bell tolling in an empty valley.

Therefore, as Gu Shaoan and the other person approached, Abbess Juechen and Abbess Juejue opened their eyes one after the other.

When they saw Gu Shaoan walking slowly towards them, both Abbess Juechen and Abbess Juejue were stunned.

Immediately afterwards, joy appeared on both of their faces.

Among them, Abbess Wujue stood up and said, "Senior Sister, Shao'an is back."

Although the sound is not loud.

But almost as soon as the words left her mouth, the door to the main room of Abbess Miejue's Bamboo Courtyard was suddenly flung open.

A figure floated out of the room almost the instant the door opened.

Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan, who were cultivating in the distance, also suddenly stood up and looked into the distance. The moment their eyes fell on Gu Shaoan, the two women showed surprise and delight.

With a light step, he swiftly flew towards Gu Shaoan like a soaring swan.

Two breaths later, looking at Abbess Miejue and the others standing in front of him, Gu Shaoan bowed and said, "Disciple greets Master and two Martial Uncles."

Abbess Miejue said with a smile, "Good, good, you're finally back!"

As she spoke, Abbess Miejue's eyes were still scanning him up and down.

Then he nodded in satisfaction and said, "You've grown a little taller than last year, but you've also lost weight."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's true that you've grown taller, but not that you've lost weight. I eat quite a lot every day while I'm away."

Abbess Miejue shook her head and said, "I watched you grow up, how could I not know if you've lost weight?"

As he spoke, Gu Shaoan's gaze was fixed on Miejue.

Compared to last year, Miejue's expression was peaceful, with a smile on her lips.

He showed almost no trace of his former sharpness and severity.

After Gu Shaoan and Abbess Miejue exchanged a few words, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo stepped forward.

Yang Yan rushed into Gu Shaoan's arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

"Senior brother, you're finally back."

Zhou Zhiruo remained like a jade lotus in the valley, swaying with an elegant and gentle smile.

"Welcome back, junior brother."

As she spoke, her eyes flickered slightly, her gaze gentle and tender.

In response to the two women's words, Gu Shaoan said gently, "Yes! You're finally back."

As the group gathered around Gu Shaoan, Mei Jiangxue stood quietly to the side, watching from the sidelines, her expression showing a hint of embarrassment in the face of strangers and an unfamiliar environment.

Abbess Miejue turned her gaze to Mei Jiangxue, who was standing quietly to one side, and asked, "Shaoan, who is this girl?"

Gu Shaoan waved to Mei Jiangxue and then recounted the events of the Ghost Hand Gang in detail.

Upon learning that the Meishan Family had been jointly destroyed by the Ghost Hand Gang, the Four Seas Hall, and the Giant Sword Sect, both Abbess Miejue and Juechen's expressions darkened.

When Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan looked at Mei Jiangxue, their eyes showed a hint of pity.

　This is a transitional chapter! I'll try to post the next chapter by 10:30!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)