novelapdf Chapter 41 Choice
Chapter 41 Choice
They stood up, perhaps out of fear of the unknown after descending the mountain, perhaps because they were used to staying on the mountain and unwilling to change, or perhaps simply to follow the crowd and raise their hands.
Those who did not stand up were not all disloyal.
Some people still have a loyalty level of over 70, but they need to support their elderly parents down the mountain and take care of their young siblings.
Those who had concerns kept their heads down, not daring to look up at Shen Qing.
Shen Qing raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
"I am very pleased. So many people are willing to stay, which shows that the efforts of Qingyun Sect over the past six months have not been in vain."
"But as I said before, I will only keep three to five people. It's not that I don't want you, but keeping too many people will not be good for Qingyun Sect, for the Academy, or for yourselves."
He paused, then continued, "Moreover, before you make your decision, I have an obligation to tell you the whole truth. The Huang family has been coveting Qingyun Mountain for 130 years."
"Now that Huang Yuanji, the patriarch of the Huang family, is about to return, he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He alone could slaughter the entire Qingyun Mountain. The county magistrate has promised to protect Qingyun Academy. To be honest, I am not sure how big this 'protective umbrella' is."
"If the Huang family really decides to take action regardless of the consequences, I cannot make any promises to you regarding whether the academy can be preserved or whether those who remain on the mountain can escape unscathed. Therefore, you must bear the risks of staying behind yourselves."
The atmosphere in the training ground suddenly became heavy, and several disciples with their hands raised trembled slightly.
"I'll ask one more time," Shen Qing's voice was calm and solemn, "Who is willing to stay?"
A dead silence.
Then, Wang Shouzhou strode forward and knelt on one knee. "Disciple Wang Shouzhou is willing to stay on the mountain to guard the temple, regardless of life or death."
Su Shoujing followed closely behind, kneeling on one knee. "Disciple Su Shoujing is willing to stay on the mountain to guard the temple, regardless of life or death."
Zhao Shoucheng, Lin Shouwei, and Chen Shouxin stepped forward simultaneously and knelt down. "This disciple is willing to stay, regardless of life or death."
Zhong Xiu stepped forward. She did not kneel, but her voice was more resolute than anyone else's: "Disciple Zhong Xiu is willing to stay, regardless of life or death."
Xu Ping and Fang Xue knelt down simultaneously. "This disciple wishes to stay!"
Then, a few more people stepped forward.
There are mediocre Class C disciples and newcomers who joined the mountain in the second batch.
Their loyalty levels were fluctuating on the system panel; some gained five points, while others gained ten.
Because Shen Qing laid out the truth and made the danger clear.
Choosing to stay under such circumstances is no longer following the crowd, but a genuine commitment.
As for those who had raised their hands earlier but now lowered their heads, Shen Qing had no intention of blaming them. Their loyalty was mostly in the sixties or seventies; they weren't core members to begin with. They were just ordinary people with ordinary cowardice and hesitation.
Huang An and Zhang Ning stood there, their faces pale.
The two looked at each other and saw struggle in each other's eyes. They wanted to raise their hands, they wanted to stay, but they couldn't.
Because the person who coveted Qingyun Mountain was their own family, their grandfather who was about to return.
Their presence will only make things difficult for everyone.
Huang An bit his lip, not moving an inch. Zhang Ning's eyes reddened, but he didn't move either.
"Disciple..." Huang An's voice was hoarse. He took a step forward, then pulled back. "Disciple...I'm sorry, Sect Master."
Shen Qing looked at them calmly. "You two don't need to be in a difficult position. This was never a choice you could make. After today, pack your things and go back to the Huang family. No matter who your grandfather is, neither of you has ever done anything to betray the Qingyun Sect."
Huang An's tears finally flowed. He knelt down and slammed his forehead heavily against the bluestone ground. Huang Ning did the same, slamming his forehead against the ground once.
Then the two of them got up, said nothing more, and silently stepped aside.
Once the two had come to a stop, Shen Qing turned her gaze to those who had not stepped forward.
"The number of spots available is limited. Those who are not selected should not feel guilty. I know that many of you have parents to support and younger siblings to take care of down the mountain. It's not that you dare not stay, it's that you cannot stay."
"As for who will stay, I have already made a decision. Those who are not selected need not worry about where they will go. The county magistrate has promised to arrange a way out for everyone: yamen runners, clerks, shop assistants. As long as they are willing to work, they will always have food to eat."
"However, I must remind you that things down the mountain are complicated, and you need to be strong yourself to succeed. You know a few more words and have practiced a few more moves than others, and that is your advantage."
"Hold onto your capital and accumulate new capital. When you grow strong enough that others dare not easily touch you, you will no longer be ants."
His gaze swept over the disciples who had their heads bowed, and his voice softened slightly.
"Remember what you've learned over the past six months. These are the things you can truly rely on after you leave the mountain. Qingyun Sect will do its best to pave a path for you, but ultimately, you must walk that path yourself."
"That's all for today. In the days to come, continue to practice martial arts and study diligently. I will notify you one by one once the county government's resettlement plan is finalized. You may leave now."
The crowd was silent for a moment, then slowly dispersed.
Huang An and Huang Ning stood in silence for a long time in the open space after the crowd dispersed. Huang An turned around and knelt down before Shen Qing again.
"Sect Master, I will not mention what happened on the mountain to anyone after I return."
Huang Ning also knelt down, "This disciple does too."
Shen Qing looked at the two boys and nodded. "Go back. Live well."
The two stood up, bowed deeply, and turned to walk down the mountain. After walking a long way, Huang An suddenly looked back.
At the mountain gate, the white-robed sect leader was still standing in the same spot. Huang An wiped away his tears and strode away.
Only eight people remained on the training ground.
Zhao Shoucheng, Lin Shouwei, and Chen Shouxin were the three earliest disciples who followed Shen Qing.
Zhong Xiu, Xu Ping, and Fang Xue are Shen Qing's trusted disciples and potential successors, forming the foundation of Qingyun.
Su Shoujing, though of average talent among the inner disciples, is steadfast in character.
Wang Shouzhou was the disciple with the worst aptitude among them, but the highest loyalty.
After the great waves have washed away the sand, out of the seventy-three people, only these eight remain who truly aspire to high office.
Shen Qing looked at the loyalty numbers of the eight people on the system panel, feeling a mix of emotions.
All of them are above ninety; this is the true foundation of the Qingyun Sect.
In Shen Qing's mind, these eight people were far more important than the previous sixty-five.
Shen Qing's gaze lingered on each of the eight people. "You eight are the last ones left. I am very pleased. But staying doesn't mean you have to stay on the mountain. I have different plans for each of you."
He turned to Wang Shouzhou and Su Shoujing. "Shouzhou, Shoujing. You two, wait for Lord Zhao's arrangements before you go down the mountain."
Wang Shouzhou was already mentally prepared, and simply nodded silently.
But Su Shoujing's face instantly turned pale. "Sect Master!"
The girl's voice trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened. "Disciple...disciple won't leave! I'll do anything the sect leader asks, I won't go down the mountain!"
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she wiped them away forcefully, but they only flowed more.
"Back in my family, my parents always said that girls were a waste of money. In my entire life, no one has ever treated me like a human being."
"It was the sect leader who showed me that I can read, cultivate, and be called 'Senior Sister.' The sect leader gave me a name, this blue robe, and the dignity of being human. Now that the sect is in trouble, the sect leader wants me to leave? If I leave, am I still human?"
She broke down in tears at the end, her whole body trembling.
Wang Shouzhou opened his mouth, wanting to persuade her.
Unexpectedly, Su Shoujing suddenly turned to him, her eyes filled with anger: "Wang Shouzhou! Shut up! The sect leader values you the most, making you an inner disciple and then the senior outer disciple."
"You don't think about repaying your debt of gratitude, you only think about leaving the mountain? How can you face the sect leader? How can you face the blue cloud pattern on your sleeve?"
Wang Shouzhou was rendered speechless by her scolding, and lowered his head with a bitter smile, not daring to say another word.
Su Shoujing then turned to Shen Qing, knelt down, and slammed her forehead heavily against the bluestone ground.
"Sect Master, this disciple will not leave. This disciple is not afraid of death. If the Huang family attacks, this disciple will fight them to the death. Even if this disciple dies, this disciple will die on Qingyun Mountain."
Shen Qing squatted down, helped Su Shoujing up, and gently patted her shoulder.
"Keep quiet."
Shen Qing's voice was gentle, "I know you don't want to leave. I know you feel that going down the mountain is betrayal. But it's not like that. Qingyun Sect isn't just this one mountain."
"The Qingyun Sect consists of these people, of myself, of Shoucheng, of Shouzhuo, and of you. Wherever they are, the Qingyun Sect will be there."
"It was I who sent Shouzhuo down the mountain. Don't blame him. You have a mission this time. I need Shouzhuo to lead the outer sect brothers to slowly infiltrate all walks of life in Qinghe."
"On the day when Qingyun Sect enters Qinghe, you will be my eyes in Qinghe."
"Shouzhuo can't do everything alone; he needs a meticulous and reliable person to help him. That person is you. I'm not sending you down the mountain to escape for your life, but to put down roots. You are a member of the Qingyun Sect, and wherever you are, you will always be a member of the Qingyun Sect. Do you understand?"
Su Shoujing bit her lip, and after a long while, she nodded vigorously, "Disciple...I've remembered."
Shen Qing stood up and turned his gaze to Zhao Shoucheng, Lin Shouwei, and Chen Shouxin.
"Shoucheng, how long have you been following me?"
"Reporting to the Sect Master, it has been five years."
"Shouwei?"
"It's been five years."
"Keeping promises?"
"Four years." Chen Shouxin's voice was very soft. He was the youngest of the three and also the least talented.
He possessed five useless spiritual roots and had only barely reached the second level of Qi Refining after nearly five years of cultivation. But at this moment, his back was very straight.
"Of the three of you, you have followed me the longest and suffered the most."
Shen Qing's gaze lingered on the three of them for a long time before he suddenly smiled slightly. "Shoucheng, Shouwei, do you two have anything to say to me?"
Zhao Shoucheng and Lin Shouwei were both stunned. They looked at each other, and Zhao Shoucheng's face turned red to the roots of his neck. Lin Shouwei lowered his head and leaned closer to Zhao Shoucheng, his ears also turning bright red.
"Sect Master..." Zhao Shoucheng stammered, unable to speak.
"Do you think I don't know?"
Shen Qing's smile held a hint of mockery mixed with kindness. "You two have followed me for five years. Do you think I wouldn't see through your intentions?"
"Today, I will make the decision for you. I agree to this matter. Once Qingyun Sect overcomes this hurdle, I will personally officiate your marriage."
Zhao Shoucheng knelt down with a thud, and Lin Shouwei followed suit, both saying in unison, "Disciple...thanks to the Sect Master!"
The two men kowtowed simultaneously, their foreheads striking the bluestone ground with a dull thud.
Chen Shouxin stood to the side, looking at this and that, and suddenly grinned, but his eyes were also a little red.
Shen Qing waved his hand, signaling the three of them to stand up. "However, there is something I must tell you first. The three of you also cannot stay on Qingyun Mountain; your junior brothers and sisters need help."
"The three of you were the first to follow me and have the most experience. Shouzhuo and the others need to establish a foothold in Qinghe. You know more characters than most outer disciples and are more mature in your dealings with others. With you here, I feel more at ease."
Zhao Shouchang remained silent for a moment, then knelt on one knee. "This disciple obeys."
Lin Shouwei and Chen Shouxin also knelt down, saying, "Disciples obey."
Shen Qing stepped forward to help the three of them up, then let them leave and prepare to descend the mountain.
Shen Qing finally turned his attention to Zhong Xiu, Xu Ping, and Fang Xue, the three disciples he valued most and the talents he had nurtured with the most effort.
Shen Qing had been weighing the arrangements for the three of them ever since the day Zhao Yuanlang left Qingyun Mountain.
Staying on the mountain is too conspicuous. When the Huang family patriarch returns, every move of the disciples left on Qingyun Mountain will be under his watchful eye.
Sending them down the mountain would be equally dangerous. A genius with dual spiritual roots will shine wherever he goes, and the consequences would be unimaginable if he were exposed.
But in the end, Shen Qing decided to leave them behind, not because it was safer on the mountain, but because he needed to personally oversee their growth.
Zhong Xiu's aptitude is too strong, and his cultivation speed is too fast. If he is not by your side to guide you at any time, something might go wrong at any moment.
Although the other two did not progress as well as Zhong Xiu, they were also geniuses with dual spiritual roots. What they needed was not only cultivation techniques and incantations, but also someone who could correct and guide them at any time.
Moreover, with the county government troops stationed on the mountain, Shen Qing felt that given the Huang family's cautious nature, they shouldn't dare to openly massacre the mountain.
"Zhong Xiu, Xu Ping, Fang Xue."
Shen Qing looked at the three of them and said, "The three of you, come with me."