Jade Dynasty: I am the master of the Burning Sword, my swordsmanship is unparalleled.

Chapter 46 Meeting old friends

On the mountain path behind the mountain, Zeng Shuchang looked at the much wider path after the repairs and said with surprise.

"Few disciples come to this back mountain. I didn't expect that the sect leader would have specially arranged for it to be renovated."

"Senior Brother Zeng may not know this, but in the past year or so, Xiao Fan has been valued by Senior Brother Headmaster, who allowed him to come to the Ancestral Hall to cultivate my Qingyun's profound Daoist techniques. This mountain path was specially repaired by Xiao Fan because he felt it was inconvenient for fellow disciples to travel to the Ancestral Hall."

Upon hearing this, Su Ru chuckled and explained, her words carrying a hint of pride, but then a touch of heartache appeared on her face as she sighed with emotion.

“That child had a difficult life, which is why he was kind-hearted and did not disappoint our sincere feelings.”

"Yes, Junior Nephew Zhang is indeed as the Sect Leader said, possessing extraordinary talent, not only in terms of innate ability but also in terms of his temperament."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Shuchang sighed with emotion. That day, he had tried to snatch Zhang Xiaofan away, but Dao Xuan Zhenren had directly given him to Dazhu Peak.

However, Zeng Shuchang was not a stingy person, and since he had a good relationship with Tian Buyi, he immediately changed the subject and praised him with a smile.

"When I was at Feng Hui Peak, I often heard my disciples talk about Junior Nephew Zhang. They all had great respect for him. It's all thanks to Junior Brother Tian's excellent teaching!"

"Haha, Senior Brother Zeng is too kind. If we're talking about effective teaching, then Senior Brother Zeng is far superior. My junior nephew has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, and now she has even made it into the top four of this year's Seven Veins Martial Arts Tournament. In comparison, my good-for-nothing daughter is far inferior."

From the moment Zhang Xiaofan was mentioned, Tian Buyi's smile never stopped. Now that Uncle Zeng had brought up the topic of him, Tian Buyi's chubby face was beaming like a Maitreya Buddha, and he kept saying modestly.

Upon hearing this, Master Shuiyue, who was walking to the side, couldn't help but snort and turn his head away, refusing to look at Tian Buyi's hypocritical expression.

"Junior Brother Tian, ​​you are too modest. If only my unfilial son were as easy to manage as Zhang Xiaofan, one of your disciples."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Shuchang couldn't help but show a hint of satisfaction on his face, but then he shook his head, sighed with a troubled expression, and said...

"As for the top four, it's just a matter of good luck. Whether it's Changmen Changjian, or Song Daren under your tutelage, or Wen Min under your tutelage, Junior Brother Tian, ​​who didn't have a chance to be in the top four? They were just a little unlucky."

Zeng Shuchang's words were quite polite and modest, while also praising Tian Buyi and the disciples of Master Shuiyue.

While Zeng Shushu's entry into the top four had an element of luck, he was still the one with the highest cultivation level among the four. However, the difference was not significant, and it was normal for him to be replaced by others due to bad luck.

But to everyone's surprise, Master Shuiyue not only didn't appreciate his words, but also snorted coldly, staring at Zeng Shuchang with a stern expression, and then glancing at Tian Buyi with a hint of anger.

Uncle Zeng was a little confused, but he didn't want to argue. He just assumed that the old nun had lost her mind again. Tian Buyi snorted and wanted to say something sarcastic, but Su Ru pulled him back and quickly mediated.

"Senior Sister, Senior Brother Zeng, this is the final resting place of our Patriarch. Do not disturb his peace."

As they spoke, the group of four quickly arrived at the Ancestral Hall. Looking at the solemn and quiet Ancestral Hall in front of them, Master Shuiyue took a deep breath and stepped inside first.

Su Ru and Tian Buyi followed closely behind and went inside. Zeng Shuchang, who was walking at the very back, looked around at the spotless ancestral hall and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"This place is so clean and tidy. I've never heard of any disciple that the sect leader sent to clean it every day. Junior Brother Tian, ​​could it be that your disciple Zhang Xiaofan is in charge of this as well?"

"Xiao Fan has been busy with competitions these past few days, how could he have had time to come to the ancestral temple to worship?"

A look of surprise flashed in Tian Buyi's eyes. Regardless of how normal Dao Xuan Zhenren's reaction was in the Yuqing Hall, there was something strange about the Ancestral Hall right now.

"It's not easy, let's offer incense to the ancestral master first."

Su Ru said softly, handing three of the nine lit incense sticks to Zeng Shuchang and Tian Buyi respectively. After they accepted them, the two followed Master Shuiyue and paid their respects before the ancestral tablet.

As she looked up, Su Ru's gaze sharpened, fixing on the outermost spot of the memorial tablets. There was a blank tablet there, placed in front of the memorial tablet of the former sect leader, Senior Uncle Tianchengzi.

"Senior sister, it wasn't easy, look at that!"

Su Ru raised her hand halfway before realizing that this was the ancestral hall and she couldn't be disrespectful to the ancestral tablets, so she lowered her hand and softly gestured to Tian Buyi and Master Shuiyue.

Master Shuiyue, Tian Buyi, and Zeng Shuchang looked over upon hearing the sound, and their pupils contracted when they saw the blank memorial tablet.

This is the ancestral hall, and the tablets enshrined above are those of the ancestral masters of the Qingyun Sect throughout history. After their passing, their tablets can also serve alongside the tablets of their revered masters.

In this sacred land of Qingyun, the placement of any memorial tablet is done with utmost care; an extra blank tablet would clearly be a sign of something amiss.

Moreover, it's not like Tian Buyi, Zeng Shuchang, and others haven't come to the ancestral hall to pay their respects. During the catastrophe a hundred years ago, when Uncle Tianchengzi and all the other uncles passed away, they all came here to pay their respects. At that time, there was definitely no such empty memorial tablet.

Su Ru and Master Shuiyue exchanged a glance, feeling increasingly uneasy. Master Shuiyue then wanted to go forward and examine the memorial tablet to see if there was any hidden meaning behind it.

Just then, a large, withered, old hand reached out from the side and took the memorial tablet away.

Tian Buyi and Zeng Shuchang immediately turned their heads to look, and saw an elderly man dressed in old clothes, holding a broom, reaching out to hold the memorial tablet.

"This... senior brother, may I ask your name?"

Zeng Shuchang hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to clasp his hands in a salute to the old man and asked softly.

To his surprise, the old man did not answer his question. Instead, he raised his head, revealing his weathered old face, and looked at Master Shuiyue and the others with his cloudy eyes. His hoarse voice slowly rang out.

"If you wish to pay homage to the ancestral master, you may return after offering incense."

Zeng Shuchang chuckled dryly after hitting a wall, while Tian Buyi kept looking the unfamiliar old man up and down, his brows furrowing slightly. Su Ru was also constantly observing the person in front of her, and Master Shuiyue's gaze never left him.

The old man ignored the four people, bent down and carefully placed the memorial tablet on the ground, tucked it under the altar, then picked up a pair of new candles from the side, lit them and replaced the nearly burnt-out candles.

Master Shuiyue kept watching the old man's back. The old man had just inserted the incense sticks into the incense burner and was about to withdraw his hand when he suddenly called out softly.

"Senior Brother Wan, are you alright?"

Upon hearing Master Shuiyue's words, Zeng Shuchang, who was completely unaware of the situation, was startled and abruptly turned to look at Master Shuiyue. He then immediately turned back to look at the old man in front of him. The old man's hand paused slightly before he slowly withdrew it. He turned to look at Master Shuiyue and the others, his gaze lingering on Tian Buyi and Su Ru for a moment before he spoke softly.

"Are you talking about Wan Jianyi, the one who murdered his master a hundred years ago at Tongtian Peak?"

The hoarse and weathered voice, like a breeze of time, unexpectedly drifted into this ancient ancestral hall, a place brimming with stories.

Master Shuiyue's eyes were already brimming with tears, her eyes slightly red as she looked at the unfamiliar yet incredibly familiar figure before her.

Before Master Shuiyue, Zeng Shuchang, and the others could answer, the old man spoke to himself.

"The disciple who murdered his master back then has been executed by the sect leader himself. However, the sect leader is kind-hearted and, out of consideration for the bond between fellow disciples, he left him an unnamed memorial tablet so that he could serve his master Tianchengzi for a long time."

The old man spoke calmly and undisturbedly, like a bystander observing everything. He then simply recounted what had happened, and that was all.

But Master Shuiyue's face instantly slid down two streams of hot tears. He staggered as he tried to walk over, but Su Ru gently hugged him.

After looking up and meeting the old man's gaze, Su Ru suddenly chuckled and spoke.

"Senior brother, since you are valued by the sect leader and assigned to guard the ancestral hall, you must have seen a young disciple cultivating here, right?"

"Junior sister is referring to that disciple named Zhang Xiaofan?"

The old man slowly lowered his eyes, not daring to look at Su Ru and Master Shuiyue. After extinguishing the remaining candle in his hand, he gently held it in his hand and used a rag to wipe the table.

Su Ru was not in a hurry. She simply accompanied Master Shuiyue and quietly watched the old man's back. Tian Buyi trusted his beloved wife and also calmed down to wait.

Zeng Shuchang, who was standing to the side, felt as if a fire was burning behind him. He was restless and wanted to ask a few questions, but he was afraid that he would be disappointed in vain. However, he was unwilling not to ask.

Fortunately, after wiping the table clean, the old man took the initiative to walk out of the ancestral hall, talking as he went.

"I've seen that disciple before. He often comes here to help me clean and cook for me. Even this mountain path was built by that child. He's a good kid."

"Does Senior Brother know who taught him the Daoist techniques of our Qingyun Sect?"

Su Ru chuckled and continued to ask, while Master Shuiyue's jade-like hand clenched tightly, her gaze fixed intently on the old man's back, awaiting his answer.

"Taoist magic? The sect leader taught him some, and the rest, perhaps, was a manifestation of the patriarch who passed on some profound Taoist magic to him."

The old man stopped as soon as he stepped out of the ancestral hall, turned his head slightly and said.

"This is where our ancestor rests. You should return as soon as possible and not disturb his peace."

Master Shuiyue's eyes lit up as he looked at the old man's expression as he turned around. He wanted to say something, but Su Ru stopped him.

"Senior brother, we have disturbed you, farewell."

As Su Ru spoke, she pulled Master Shuiyue over. Tian Buyi bowed to the old man and followed him out. Before leaving, he forcibly dragged Zeng Shuchang, who was extremely excited, out with him.

After watching the figures of the group disappear into the distance, the old man couldn't help but sigh softly.

"When old friends meet, why not say a few more words? Or do you think I, your senior brother, am so petty?"

Dao Xuan Zhenren's voice came from behind Wan Jianyi. Upon hearing this, Wan Jianyi threw the broom in his hand at Dao Xuan Zhenren and glared at the old man who knew the answer but was pretending to be ignorant.

After Dao Xuan Zhenren took the broom, he simply chuckled softly, gently swept the ground, and sighed in a low voice.

"Sometimes, sweeping the floor seems quite relaxing."

"Then why don't you come here and sweep the floors with me for the rest of your life?"

Wan Jianyi paused, chuckled, and said something that Dao Xuan Zhenren immediately burst into laughter.

Are you blaming me? Sometimes, I can't help it either. Maybe it's just fate.

……

On the mountain path, Master Shuiyue gently shook off Su Ru's hand, took a deep breath, and sighed.

"Junior sister, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. As for Senior Brother Zeng, perhaps we shouldn't have kept what happened back then from him."

"What happened back then? What happened? Is it related to Senior Brother Wan?"

Zeng Shuchang said excitedly. Tian Buyi nodded slightly and told him the secret of his master Tianchengzi and the Zhuxian Sword a hundred years ago. Zeng Shuchang's expression changed repeatedly as he listened.

In the end, Zeng Shuchang couldn't help but sigh, not knowing what to say.

Who was at fault back then? And who can be blamed?
"However, at least Senior Brother Wan is still alive. Senior Sister, from now on, you can go to the Ancestral Hall to pay your respects on the anniversaries of Master's death, Grandmaster's death, and Uncle-Master Tianchengzi's death. Senior Brother Headmaster will certainly not stop you."

Su Ru spoke softly, and Master Shuiyue's eyes lit up upon hearing this. She nodded gently and said understandingly.

"It's getting late, let's all return to our peaks. Don't let this matter leak out for now, otherwise, our senior brother the sect leader will definitely be in trouble."

"Why have I never seen you so considerate of your senior brother, the sect leader?"

Tian Buyi couldn't help but sneer, and then quickly left, which made Master Shuiyue's expression change in anger, and Zeng Shuchang was so frightened that he hurriedly followed.

(End of this chapter)