Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

These discussions naturally reached the ears of Manager Chen of Baibaoge. As he listened to his clerk's report, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"All of them...ordinary people from the bottom of society? Shen Mo, what exactly are you planning?" he muttered to himself. "Is it truly as the outside world says, a helpless situation? Or...do you have other motives?"

Meanwhile, across the street from Baibaoge, inside Dandingge, a triangular-eyed shop assistant was reporting to the manager with spittle flying everywhere, his face full of schadenfreude.

"Manager! Listen to this! The Qingyun Sect has only taken in this bunch of good-for-nothings! I think Shen Mo is just putting on an act; he can't keep up the pretense any longer!"

"Without the Black Wind Stronghold's debt, they'd probably be starving by now, forced to hire lowly commoners to fill the ranks and serve as free labor! Bah!"

The manager squinted and sneered, "Looks like they got lucky last time, scaring away Black Cloud Fiend. Without that bit of luck, the Azure Cloud Sect's true colors will be revealed! Keep an eye on them and see what other tricks they can pull!"

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

The morning light pierced through the thin mist and shone on the dilapidated main hall of Qingyun Gate, which had weathered many storms and whose roof had just been repaired.

Today, this is where new disciples will begin their apprenticeship and formally become disciples.

There was no celestial music, no throngs of guests, and no lavish procession. There was only an old offering table with one leg crooked, which Shi Tie and Zhang Daniu carried together to the steps in front of the hall.

On the table was a chipped incense burner with three ordinary incense sticks inserted inside, which Su Xiao had found after rummaging through his belongings.

Beside the incense burner, eight sets of grayish-brown coarse cloth Taoist robes and eight newly carved, ordinary-looking wooden identity plaques were neatly stacked.

The atmosphere was extremely simple, even somewhat shabby.

Shen Mo, dressed in his only white Taoist robe, stood solemnly before the offering table. Shi Tie, Su Xiao, and A Yuan, as his senior brothers and sisters, stood behind him on his left.

On the right side are eight new disciples, led by Zhang Daniu and Lin Xiaofan, arranged in two rows according to their height.

They had all changed into clean old clothes, and their faces were free of yesterday's dust, but they still couldn't hide their nervousness and unease. Qian Xiaodou, the youngest of them all, was still trembling slightly.

A mountain breeze swept by, carrying the chill of the early morning, causing the smoke from the three sticks of incense to curl gracefully and swirl in the air.

Shen Mo's gaze swept over the young, bewildered faces below, and he spoke slowly, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet morning:

"Today, we will not engage in formalities or perform the three bows and nine kowtows. The Qingyun Sect was founded with great difficulty, and our founder, even he, does not appreciate empty formalities. We will keep things simple; our sincerity is enough."

He turned around, facing the main hall. Although the hall was empty, without any statues or portraits of the patriarch, he remained respectful and announced in a loud voice:

"By the patriarchs of Qingyun Sect, I, your unworthy disciple Shen Mo, have inherited your will and taken charge of the sect. Now that the sect is newly established, we are facing a shortage of talented individuals. Therefore, we are opening our gates to accept these eight disciples into our sect."

"Though they come from humble backgrounds and are of average talent, their hearts are pure and their devotion to the Way is evident. May the Ancestral Master bless them, grant them wisdom, strengthen their resolve in the Way, and allow our Qingyun lineage to continue and flourish!"

After saying that, he took the tinder Su Xiao handed him, lit the three incense sticks himself, and respectfully inserted them into the incense burner.

The smoke rose straight up, carrying a faint sandalwood scent that permeated the air, adding a touch of solemnity to this simple ceremony.

"New disciple, step forward three steps!" Shi Tie shouted in a gruff voice, trying to make his voice sound authoritative, just as he had rehearsed beforehand.

The eight new disciples, somewhat flustered, stepped forward as instructed and stood in place one by one.

Shen Mo looked at them with gentle eyes and said loudly, "Enter my Qingyun Sect, and I will bestow upon you Daoist robes. From this day forward, you will shed your mortal garments and embark on the path of cultivation."

"Though this robe is simple, it symbolizes the rules and regulations of the sect, requiring one to maintain purity and integrity; though this path is arduous, it demands courage and diligence, and one must not give up halfway. Can you all do it?"

"Yes!" This time, the eight people answered in much unison. Although their voices were of different volumes, they carried the fearless spirit of newborn calves.

"Alright!" Shen Mo nodded and instructed, "Junior Sister Xiao, A Yuan, distribute the Daoist robes and identity tokens."

"Yes, Senior Brother Sect Leader."

Su Xiao and A Yuan stepped forward and solemnly handed each new disciple a neatly folded coarse cloth Taoist robe and a wooden plaque engraved with their name and number.

It has a rough texture to the touch, and there are even tiny burrs on the robe. The wooden plaque is not polished smooth either.

But at this moment, for these eight young men and women, the simple clothes and wooden sign seemed to carry an immense weight. It was recognition, belonging, and the first truly meaningful "identity" in their lives!

Some people clutched their Taoist robes tightly to their chests, while others repeatedly stroked the inscriptions on the wooden plaque, their eyes involuntarily reddening. Even the most taciturn Wang Lie's fingers trembled slightly when he received the plaque.

"Now, repeat after me the sect rules," Shen Mo said in a deep voice. "First, you must not betray your master or ancestors!"

"First, you must not betray your master and ancestors!" Eight voices rang out, albeit in a disorderly manner.

Second, fellow disciples must not kill each other!

"Second, fellow disciples must not kill each other!" The voices became slightly more unified.

Third, one must not bully the weak!

"Third, one must not bully the weak!" The voice carried a hint of force.

Fourth, you must not betray your sect!

"Fourth, you must not betray the sect!" This time, the eight of them practically roared it out, their voices echoing through the empty valley, carrying a do-or-die determination.

The simple ceremony is now complete.

A genuine smile appeared on Shen Mo's face, and his tone became more relaxed: "The ceremony is complete! From this moment on, you are officially disciples of my Qingyun Sect."

"Junior Brother Tie, Junior Sister Xiao, and A Yuan are your senior brothers and sisters. If you have any questions about your cultivation in the future, you can ask them for guidance."

"After everyone disperses, let's familiarize ourselves with the environment. Tomorrow, we'll begin formally teaching the introductory techniques."

Upon hearing this, all the disciples showed expressions of relief and anticipation.

But Shen Mo did not immediately ask them to leave. Instead, he stepped down the steps and came to the new disciples.

He walked up to Zhang Daniu first. Zhang Daniu was so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet, and his dark face turned red.

Shen Mo looked at him and smiled: "Da Niu, you are strong, which is a good thing, but the path of cultivation is not just about strength. In the future, follow your senior brother Shi Tie, train your body and mind well, and don't waste this strength."

Zhang Daniu nodded vigorously and said in a deep voice, "Yes! Sect Leader! I...I will definitely listen! I will learn well from Brother Tiezi!"

Shen Mo patted his strong arm and walked to the next one, Lin Xiaofan.

Lin Xiaofan's thin body was taut, and she looked up at Shen Mo with a mixture of awe, gratitude and a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.

Shen Mo looked at him, his tone gentle yet powerful: "Xiao Fan, let bygones be bygones. From today onward, you are Lin Xiao Fan of the Qingyun Sect."

"If your body is weak, you can train; if the road is long and arduous, you can walk slowly. The important thing is not to lose your spirit. Remember the road you came from, and more importantly, see clearly the direction you are going."

Lin Xiaofan shuddered, his eyes instantly welling up with tears. He bit his lip hard to keep the tears from falling, nodded heavily, and squeezed out a few words: "...Thank you...Sect Leader."

Shen Mo nodded and then went to Zhao Qingyan.

Zhao Qingyan lowered her head slightly, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, but her back remained straight.

"Qingyan," Shen Mo called her by her new name, "You are thoughtful and observant, which are your strengths. The sect is newly established and there are many complicated matters. In the future, we will need your help with Senior Sister Su's affairs."

"In addition to spiritual practice, one can also take a look at the medicinal garden and its plants; perhaps one will gain something from it."

Zhao Qingyan raised her head, a hint of surprise and emotion flashing in her eyes. She hadn't expected the sect leader to remember her insignificant "strength." She quickly curtsied and replied in a soft but firm voice, "Qingyan understands and will do her best."