novelapdf Chapter 43 Paying Homage to the Ancestor
Chapter 43 Paying Homage to the Ancestor
"Three."
Shen Qing held up three fingers. "One man and two women. The man's name is Xu Ping. He's an orphan from the north of the city, and he has no one to rely on in Qinghe."
"There are two women. One is named Fang Xue, who is implicated in her family's gambling debts. If she goes down the mountain, she may be harmed by her father. The other is named Zhong Xiu, who is also an orphan. She is withdrawn and not good at socializing."
"These three are all mediocre talents, and their backgrounds are also quite difficult. So I, Shen, decided to keep them at the academy as instructors to help Mr. Sun and the others teach children to read and write, so that they would have a place to stay."
Xuanji pondered for a moment, then said, "Sect Leader Shen, would you do me the favor of allowing me to see these three disciples?"
Shen Qing nodded and told Uncle Zhou to go and fetch someone.
A moment later, Zhong Xiu, Xu Ping, and Fang Xue arrived at the tea table.
The three, all dressed in the blue robes of inner disciples, stood in a row, adopting a respectful demeanor.
Xuanji's gaze lingered on the three of them one by one, but he did not notice anything unusual about them, who were already prepared.
Then, he got up and walked to Xu Ping, placed his hand on the boy's wrist, and a surge of spiritual energy entered.
After a short while, he withdrew and then examined Fang Shourou and Zhong Xiu in turn.
All three were at the first level of Qi Refining, possessing three different elemental roots. Their cultivation levels were mediocre, and they truly had nothing outstanding about them.
Xuanji nodded and sat down again. "Since they are three children of average talent, it's fine for them to stay on the mountain. I admire Sect Leader Shen's concern for these disciples. I will report this matter truthfully to the County Magistrate upon my return."
Shen Qing breathed a sigh of relief, but his expression remained unchanged: "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Xuanji."
Xuanji waved his hand and stood up: "Now that the resettlement plan has been decided, let's begin the distribution today. All the stewards are already waiting at the mountain gate. Please, Sect Leader Shen, summon all the disciples."
The ancestral hall of the Qingyun Sect was already dilapidated before Shen Qing took over.
Over the past six months, the disciples have renovated this place to earn immortal affinity points.
The bluestone floor is smooth and shiny, and the shrine in front holds the memorial tablets of the successive leaders of the Qingyun Sect.
At the very top is the memorial tablet of Qingyun Daoren, followed by Han Yan, Qi Chen, Yue Heng, and Fu Shan Daoren.
Mo Wentian is still alive, so according to the rules, no memorial tablet should be set up for him. Of course, even if Shen Qing knew he was dead, she would not set up a memorial tablet for him now.
His name was engraved only on the stone tablet to the left of the Ancestral Hall to indicate his seniority.
This was the first time that all the disciples had truly stepped into the Ancestral Hall. Before this, only Shen Qing and Zhou Bo were qualified to enter. Even Zhao Shoucheng and the other two had only kowtowed outside the door.
Seventy-one disciples filed in and lined up, filling the already not-so-spacious Ancestral Hall to capacity.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the memorial tablets on the offering table, their expressions solemn.
Xuanji and the other stewards stood outside the Ancestral Hall without entering.
This is an internal matter of the Qingyun Sect, and it's not appropriate for an outsider like him to interfere.
But from his vantage point, he could see the scene inside the hall. He could see the tears welling up in the eyes of the departing disciples, and he could see the old but clean memorial tablets on the offering table.
Finally, he turned his gaze to Shen Qing, who was standing in front of the memorial tablet. She was dressed in white, as white as snow, but her appearance was full of desolation.
Xuanji understood Shen Qing's feelings. If nothing unexpected happened, after today, the Qingyun Sect, which had been passed down for more than two hundred years, would face the danger of its lineage being cut off.
In Xuanji's view, unless a miracle occurs, such as Mo Wentian's sudden return, the fate of Qingyun Sect is already sealed by the general trend.
In the ancestral hall, Shen Qing lit three incense sticks and inserted them into the incense burner.
Wisps of smoke rose and swirled among the beams and pillars of the Ancestral Hall.
"I have summoned you today for two reasons."
Shen Qing's voice echoed in the Ancestral Hall, "The first thing to do is to bid farewell to the Ancestral Master."
He turned to look at all his disciples. "You have been in the Qingyun Sect for more than half a year, yet you have never entered the Ancestral Hall. It's not that I won't let you in, it's just the rule."
"Only disciples who have been formally accepted into the sect are qualified to enter this place. Today, we are making an exception because you are about to leave. Before you go, kowtow to the ancestral masters of all generations, which will be considered as fulfilling this master-disciple bond."
Shen Qing stepped aside to make way for the altar.
"The founder of Qingyun Sect, Daoist Qingyun, established the sect on this mountain 216 years ago and accepted two disciples, True Men Hanyan and Qichen."
"Master Hanyan accepted Master Yueheng. Master Yueheng accepted my master, Daoist Fushan, and my uncle, Master Mowentian. My master, Fushan, accepted me, Shen, as his disciple. This lineage has now reached its fifth generation."
Shen Qing's voice was calm and solemn.
"Today, you will be formally enshrined in the Ancestral Hall and become the sixth generation disciples of the Qingyun Sect."
"Although we are about to leave the mountain, the Qingyun Sect's 216-year heritage will not be severed by today's changes. As long as you still remember the name 'Qingyun,' the Qingyun Sect will exist forever. Now, I will begin calling roll. Those whose names are called, please step forward and pay respects to the Ancestor."
Xuanji opened the booklet in his hand and began to read out the names.
The first person to be read out was Zhao Shoucheng.
Zhao Shoucheng strode forward and knelt down on both knees in front of the offering table.
He kowtowed three times, his forehead hitting the bluestone ground heavily each time, then stood up, turned to Shen Qing, and knelt down again.
"Disciple Zhao Shoucheng bids farewell to the sect master."
Shen Qing reached out to help him up, looking at this old disciple who had followed him for five years.
Zhao Shoucheng's eyes reddened, but he didn't cry. He just pursed his lips tightly and stood aside.
Xuanji continued calling out names: Lin Shouwei, Chen Shouxin, Wang Shouzhuo, and Su Shoujing, one after another, stepped forward.
Everyone did the same thing: they paid homage to the patriarch and the sect leader, and then silently stood aside.
Some people kowtowed until their heads bled, some wept uncontrollably, and some bit their lips without saying a word.
When the names of the last batch of Category C disciples were called, two rows had already formed in the Ancestral Hall.
Those who have finished paying homage to the ancestral master stand on the left, and those who have not yet been called stand on the right.
There are more and more people on the left, and fewer and fewer people on the right.
After reading the last name, Xuanji closed the booklet.
Shen Qing stood in front of the offering table, looking at the dark mass of people on his left, and remained silent for a long time.
"The second thing."
His voice was softer than before, but everyone could hear him clearly: "I want you to remember the kindness of the county magistrate. Today, you are all able to find your own place and have your own future, all thanks to the county magistrate's painstaking arrangements."
"I hope you will remember this kindness and repay it if the opportunity arises in the future."
He paused, then changed the subject: "After you descend the mountain this time, you will no longer be official disciples of the Qingyun Sect."
"I will not force you to remember the Qingyun Sect. If anyone asks about your lineage in the future, you may or may not acknowledge Qingyun if you wish. It is your freedom."
A commotion arose in the crowd on the left. Zhao Shouchang suddenly raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed: "Sect Master! This disciple will always be a member of the Qingyun Sect!"
Wang Shouzhou knelt down as well: "This disciple also!" Then came Lin Shouwei, Chen Shouxin, Su Shoujing, one after another, until everyone knelt down.
"Once a teacher, always a teacher!" Zhao Shouchang's voice was hoarse but firm. "Your disciple will always be a Qingyun disciple!"
"We will always be disciples of Qingyun!" everyone responded in unison.
Shen Qing looked at the disciples kneeling on the ground, the loyalty numbers on the system panel were fluctuating slightly.
Loyalty levels have changed for most people; most have increased by two or three points, while a few have decreased slightly.