After the dust settled, this chapter came to its conclusion.
For Xuandushan, the price they paid was most painful.
Yu Ai was dead, Tan Yuanchun’s wugong was nullified, to spend the remainder of his days guarding a gravesite, not much different from death, of the other six elders, four were injured seriously, including Liu Yue, as he fought Tan Yuanchun and suffered internal injuries, would probably require seclusion to recuperate, the remaining two were also wounded.
As for the disciples, Le’an and Yunchang had gone to notify their shifu when Sang Jingxing and his people ascended the mountain, had only come back with Kong Zeng in the middle of things, they avoided the most ferocious of the killings of the disciples standing guards, when Le’an fought Xiao Se he was injured, but on account of the latter being not that interested in their fight, Le’an’s injuries were not extensive. The remaining disciples were all seriously wounded, one had been hit directly by Sang Jingxing, falling over the precipice, bones completely crushed, luckily was caught by a branch when they fell, they hung there with their last breath, until someone was able to rescue them.
Looking around, it was all the injured and the elderly, wailing could be heard throughout.
But it was only after experiencing this event, those that still had illusions about collaborating with Tujue, finally saw Tujue’s true intentions, and they also finally realized, Xuandushan’s desire to re-emerge into the secular world and to rise among the Daoist sects, could not rely on external supports. The strongest supports could be embroidery on the brocade, ultimately, it all came back to one’s own abilities.
Shen Qiao reclaiming Xuandushan zhangjiao, this was pretty much undisputed, no need for discussion, with the exception of Liu Yue the other five elders took it upon themselves to find Shen Qiao, expressing their hopes that he’ll succeed as zhangjiao, and their deep remorse over trusting Yu Ai previously.
Yu Ai vanishing, Liu Yue and Tan Yuanchun fighting over the zhangjiao position, now with Shen Qiao’s return, this matter was no longer worth dispute, even if Liu Yue came out of seclusion, the zhangjiao position would not go to him.
Shen Qiao listened, for a long time he said nothing.
Everyone seeing this, was a bit fidgety, afraid that Shen Qiao might still hate them, with the larger enemy beat back, now was naturally the time to clear the accounts.
Who knew that when Shen Qiao opened his mouth he would say: “The newly established Sui, wants to befriend the Daoist sects, the Sui emperor has allocated funds for me to build a daochang in Chang’an, which will be used to erect Xuanduguan, when I left the capital, Xuanduguan was nearing completion, in the future it will be Xuandu Purple Pavilion’s other site, my time is limited, I have no way of attending to it all, so in the matter of Chang’an’s Xuanduguan, I will have the elders rotate through every year to oversee it, what does everyone think?”
They all looked at each other, they didn’t expect Shen Qiao to talk about this matter.
They would know, since Xuandushan re-opened its doors, Yu Ai working with the Tujue, had ordered the recruitment of new disciples to happen in spring and fall every year, but in reality the yield was poor, of the ones seeking a master, there were very few of good calibre, frustrating the elders, they didn’t know how to expand Xuandushan’s influence within the Daoist sects and in people’s hearts.
If they could obtain the support of the Sui dynasty, in Chang’an establish their guan and teachings, then what had been difficult in the past was easily resolved, not only that but Chang’an was a congregate of talent, if the elders could rotate overseeing things there, they would never need to worry about not finding good disciples again.
The sect being carried forward, themselves likely to have successors, how could they not be happy?
Lianshan was ashamed: “Zhangjiao is very forgiving, writing off priors, we however cannot go on as if nothing happened, brushing things aside, on the matter of rotating through as overseer of Chang’an, you don’t need to include me in this, I am willing to spend the remainder of my days teaching disciples, helping with sect matters, never setting foot off the mountain again.”
Of the four Xuandushan zhanglao that supported Yu Ai, Lianshan was closest to Yu Ai, of course he had his own interests, hoping that with Yu Ai as leader, he would also have more power.
But Lianshan was not capable of great evil, rather, Xuandushan from one generation to the next, disciples were selected with great care, with emphasis on character, of course there would be exceptions, but these were few. Facing the circumstances now, Lianshan also realized his mistake, seeing Shen Qiao’s generosity, he was moved, felt more ashamed, so these words he spoke from his heart.
Kong Zeng also said: “If we’re talking mistakes, I as a zhanglao, stood outside of it all, ignored the fluctuations within my sect, trying to avoid all entanglements, I am more guilty of neglecting my duties, I implore zhangjiao to punish me accordingly, even if it’s to spend the remainder of my days guarding the tombs of our ancestors, I am willing!”
The other elders seeing this, all started to speak up about their own faults.
Shen Qiao knew that some things must be said: “Towards Yu Ai, I also made the mistake of negligence, otherwise I wouldn’t have been taken advantage of, I’ve said this before, he wasn’t wrong in his commitment to Xuandushan, the wrong was when he tried to ask a tiger for its skin, when he caused harm to his shixiong, now he is dead, in many matters there’s no use in talking more, since you all want to remedy things, then more the reason to listen to my words, unless in your hearts, wallowing in repentance for the past is more important than following zhangjiao’s orders?”
They rushed to say they wouldn’t dare.
Shen Qiao: “If so, then nothing more needs to be said.”
It was then that they could be certain that Shen Qiao had no intention of pursuing past accounts, they let out a breath they had been holding and felt very grateful.
Unlike the previous time when he inherited the zhangjiao position from Qi Fengge, this time, Shen Qiao with his own potential, formally became zhangjiao, no one was dissatisfied, or felt that he couldn’t live up to his name.
Lianshan said: “I heard when zhangjiao was outside he took on disciples, since you have returned, we should have someone bring those two shizhi back.”
He had always been capable, what others hadn’t thought of, he had already considered.
Shen Qiao was so busy he’d nearly forgotten: “Thank you shishu for the reminder, Shiwu and Qi-lang are currently guests at Bixia Sect, I see that Kong-shishu’s disciples Le’an and Yunchang are steadfast in matters, why not have them go on a journey, and bring them back?”
Kong Zeng nodded: “It’ll be a good opportunity for them to get some practice.”
They discussed a few more matters at length, mostly about Xuandushan’s policy decisions and future directions, in the end Shen Qiao decided on policies regarding the rebuilding of the sect and recruitment of disciples, and delegated tasks accordingly, to the two elders now responsible for assessing new disciples he said: “On my journey I met three people at the foot of the mountain, they had traversed a thousand li to seek out a master, unfortunately they didn’t get a chance to come up the mountain, if I could trouble the two of you to send someone down to see if they’re still there, then bring them up, assess them according to the regulations. Moreover, in the future recruiting disciples no longer needs to be restricted to the occasion of the spring and fall equinox, as long as someone is seeking a master, they can be assessed at anytime, however the number of people who are drawn here from now on will only increase, so the assessment must be strict, especially when it comes to personal character, maiming our own within the sect, I do not want to see a second time.”
The two elders expressed their agreement, Shen Qiao then told them the names of Duan Ying their group of three and the name of the inn where they were staying.
After sending away those two, Bian Yanmei came in: “Shen-daozhang: important people tend to be busy, ten thousand tasks in a day, don’t ruin your health!”
Shen Qiao laughed: “Thank you for your concern, you’re an official in court, have to deal with a lot of people regularly, yet you do it so easily, calm and collected, I admire that a lot, if it was you as zhangjiao, you’d be more suited to it than I by a hundred-fold!”
Bian Yanmei smiled: “Shen-daozhang flatters me, in these years I’ve spent dealing with people, I neglected my wugong, have not improved at all, shizun is extremely upset, where there’s gain there’s loss, in the end how can anything be perfect?”
Shen Qiao: “Are your injuries improved?”
Bian Yanmei: “It’s all thanks to Xuandushan’s medicines, it’s much improved, since this matter has been resolved, I will not trouble you further, and have come to bid you farewell.”
Shen Qiao knew that he still had many affairs to attend to in Chang’an: “This time I thank you for your help, Shen Qiao is very grateful, in the future if there’s something you need, please let me know, I will try to help.”
Bian Yanmei smiled: “Shen-daozhang no need to be so polite, if you want to thank someone then thank my shizun, if I didn’t have his respectful elderly one’s instructions, how would I be able to act on my own?”
Shen Qiao: “Do you know the fight between Yan-zongzhu and Hulugu, where it will take place?”
Bian Yanmei shook his head: “I do not, you’ll probably have to send someone to check the news.”
Shen Qiao unconsciously furrowed his brows: “Then as you see it, does your shizun stand a chance of winning?”
Bian Yanmei: “That day at shijiandaihui I was not there, I did not see Hulugu’s prowess, but I hear his wugong is exceedingly high, it would be hard to find a rival his level in the world?”
Shen Qiao: “Yes, I fought him, even expending all my effort, within fifty moves, I was certain to lose.”
Bian Yanmei’s expression changed: “That strong? What to do, the flaw in shizun’s demonic core still hasn’t resolved completely!”
Shen Qiao, rushed: “How could that be, last time I heard him say clearly that it’s been fixed, otherwise when he fought Xueting, how was he able to win?”
Bian Yanmei sighed: “Did shizun say that to you? Truthfully, the day shizun fought Xueting, his nieli was compromised fundamentally, what was the close-to-flawless demonic core, started to crack again, it would require a year and a half of rest, who knew that the situation at Xuandushan would change, if no one stayed Hulugu, he would certainly have helped his disciple Duan Wenyang by coming up the mountain to seek you out, so shizun had to execute this less-than-ideal plan, this challenge…”
Does not bode well.
He didn’t finish his sentence, but his heavy expression already spoke this sentiment.
Shen Qiao’s heart, along with his words, continued to sink little by little.
“You and Yan-zongzhu must have some way of communicating? Can you find out where he is?”
Bian Yanmei: “I can, but what’s the use, this fight will happen regardless, Shen-daozhang has no need to feel guilty, what my shizun does, he only does if he wants to, there’s no one who can force him.”
Shen Qiao was silent for a while, quietly said: “I know, but if I can’t see him, how can I be at peace?”
Bian Yanmei sighed: “In that case…”
His sentence unfinished, a disciple entered from outside to report: “Zhangjiao, there’s someone at the foot of the mountain seeking an audience, he says he’s Huanyue Sect disciple Yu Shengyan.”
Before Bian Yanmei could react, Shen Qiao had already said: “Show him up quickly!”
He looked happy, even his voice rose in pitch.
Bian Yanmei laughed: “That’s great, no need to waste time trying to get in touch, shidi is sure to know where shizun is!”
After a while, Yu Shengyan followed the disciple over, Shen Qiao seeing him enter, rose to greet him.
In terms of wugong, position, or martial generation, he had no need to do so, seeing him stand, Bian Yanmei who had not planned to stand originally couldn’t not follow suite, he thought, my conversation with him must have sent Shen-daozhang into disarray.
On his way up, Yu Shengyan saw that although people’s expressions were bleak, everything was in order, he surmised that Xuandushan must have undergone a calamity, but the danger was already past.
“Congratulations Shen-daozhang on regaining the zhangjiao position, I bet I’m the first one to come up the mountain to congratulate you? Daozhang ought to give me a large hongbao!” Seeing Shen Qiao and his shixiong welcoming him at the door, he was very moved, but didn’t put on any airs, rushed to pay his respects, and made this small joke.
Shen Qiao however was unable to smile: “Thank you, where are you coming from?”
Yu Shengyan saw Bian Yanmei who was standing behind Shen Qiao shoot him a look, momentarily was a little muddled, didn’t dare reply frivolously: “From, from Chang’an!”
He remembered the purpose of his journey, from his robes he took out a small bamboo canister: “Shizun brought Xueting to Tiantai Sect, in exchange he obtained from Tiantai Sect zongzhu a copy of the fragment of <Zhu Yang Ce>, he wanted me to bring this to Shen-daozhang.”
Shen Qiao received it, twisted the bamboo canister open, from inside he pulled out a silk scroll, it was covered completely with words.
The silk scroll was light in his hands, but for some reason, Shen Qiao felt he was holding a hundred pounds of gold, its heft he could barely lift.
His grasp on the silk tightened, his heart a disarray of feelings, it was hard to describe.
“Then do you know where your shizun is currently, and the fight between him and Hulugu, where it will take place?”
Yu Shengyan: “This fight will happen at Banbu Peak.”
Shen Qiao froze.
Back then his fight with Kunye had also been at Banbu Peak, his subsequent injury and fall, rescue by Yan Wushi, everything had started there.
Now, it is to be Banbu Peak again.
Yu Shengyan added: “Huanyue Sect has a residence not too far from Banbu Peak, I think shizun will arrive in advance, and settle there for the time being.”
That residence, he didn’t need to elaborate, Shen Qiao remembered, after he was brought back by Yan Wushi and his disciple from Banbu Peak, it was where he had rested.
Inexorably, he had come full circle.
Mentioning this, Yu Shengyan was a little awkward, back then he had seen the amnesic Shen Qiao, lied to him about being a disciple of Huanyue Sect, and urged him to call him shixiong.
Yu Shengyan’s face thickness was not cultivated as much as his shifu, if it was Yan Wushi here, he wouldn’t be the least awkward, in fact he’d probably shamelessly say something that would make Shen Qiao awkward instead.
Shen Qiao thought of this, kind of wanted to laugh, but couldn’t, he gripped the silk scroll tighter in his hand, a plan had formed in his head.
Duan Ying the group of three had travelled a thousand li to seek a master, but met a noseful of dust, hadn’t even been able to ascend the mountain, they were greatly discouraged, after hesitating a day, Zhong Bojing departed first, he planned to go to Qingchengshan to try his luck, after all Chunyangguan was also a reputable, large Daoist sect.
Duan Ying and Zhang Chao were left, they didn’t know whether to go or stay, were in the middle of debating when a visitor came, they were wearing the robes of a Xuandushan disciple, and said that they were here to take them up the mountain to be assessed as a new recruit.
The two of them were half suspicious half believing, but didn’t want to give up on this last thread of hope, hurried after their visitor up the mountain, after much trial and tribulation, finally passed the tests, they even had an audience with a Xuandushan zhanglao, they were overjoyed, they felt they were the embodiment of luck follows great sorrow, who knew that after Zhang Chao was led away by a disciple to rest, Duan Ying was brought by another zhanglao in front of Shen Qiao.
Shen Qiao had already packed his belongings, was preparing to go on a journey, and had to explain some last minute things to the disciples, in this myriad of affairs he found time to see Duan Ying, he asked him: “Are you willing to enter my tutelage, and become my disciple?”
Duan Ying had already been struck dizzy by this huge turn of fate, the elder had to remind him before he finally realized: the mild-tempered, easy to talk to, kind Daoist the three of them had met at the foot of the mountain was actually Xuandushan’s zhangjiao, ranked among the top ten martial masters in the world, Shen Qiao!
Shen Qiao saw the other in a fugue, so he repeated his words again, then said kindly: “If you don’t want to, you can also enter the tutelage of another zhanglao, no matter.”
“I’m willing! Willing! I’m extremely willing!” Duan Ying snapped back into attention, his face a bright red, as if he wanted to say this phrase a hundred times over.
Yu Shengyan watched this scene from the side, couldn’t help smirking, he thought, Shen Qiao’s judgment when it came to taking disciples wasn’t great, look at the other’s dumb face, compared to himself, he was really lacking.
As soon as he had this thought, he saw his shixiong Bian Yanmei roll his eyes at him.
Yu Shengyan, baffled: What did I do this time?