Chapter Sixty-Two: Gu Yang

At the foot of Slender Bamboo Peak, Shen Qingyun saw Qiao Xinran and Qiao Xinyu standing gracefully at the crossroads, their gazes drifting up the mountain from time to time, as if searching for something.

...

“Brother Qingyun, congratulations on becoming a true disciple!”

Seeing Shen Qingyun appear, Qiao Xinyu rushed over as eagerly as a young swallow returning to its nest, stopping before him with a bright smile.

“Mr. Shen, congratulations on becoming a true disciple.”

Qiao Xinran, ever gentle and refined, approached and addressed him as well.

Shen Qingyun nodded to them, but before he could speak, Qiao Xinyu piped up, “Brother Qingyun, are you heading to the Divine Firmament Hall?”

“Oh?” Shen Qingyun raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He hadn’t said a word about it—how did she know?

Hands on her hips, Qiao Xinyu’s curvaceous figure was accentuated as she stood tall.

She said, “Brother Qingyun, do you want to know how I knew?”

“Of course!” Shen Qingyun replied with a laugh.

“Xinyu, if you want Mr. Shen to praise you, you might as well say so directly,” Qiao Xinran said helplessly, casting a knowing glance at her sister. The bond between them was so close she could guess her thoughts.

“Oh?” Shen Qingyun looked at Qiao Xinyu with interest. “What happened?”

Qiao Xinyu cleared her throat, imitating a certain elder of the Cangyun Sect, then announced slowly, “My sister and I have also become true disciples!”

“Not bad at all!”

Shen Qingyun didn’t hold back with his praise, showering Qiao Xinyu with compliments until she was utterly delighted.

Qiao Xinran spoke at just the right moment, “Mr. Shen, would you like us to take you to the Divine Firmament Hall?”

Qiao Xinyu, coming back to her senses, nodded eagerly, “Yes, yes, Brother Qingyun hasn’t been there before—he’ll definitely get lost.”

Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but smile wryly at that—did she think everyone was as directionless as her? Still, he nodded. “Very well, then I’ll trouble you to lead the way.”

“Hehe, Brother Qingyun, are you planning to walk there?” Qiao Xinyu asked, her face full of mischief.

Shen Qingyun was taken aback. “Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all.” Qiao Xinyu waved her hands. “Then let’s walk. We’ll go with you.”

Shen Qingyun gave her a long look, vaguely sensing something off.

...

Before the Divine Firmament Hall, crowds surged. By the time Shen Qingyun arrived with the Qiao sisters, there was no way forward—the hall was surrounded on all sides, packed so tightly that not even water could seep through. What’s more, the disciples encircling the hall all exuded extraordinary auras.

Seeing the crowd, Shen Qingyun frowned. How was he supposed to get in?

Noticing his expression, Qiao Xinyu giggled quietly.

This earned her a glare from Shen Qingyun. Clearly, she had known this would happen.

Qiao Xinran, meanwhile, offered a polite bow. “Please don’t take offense, Mr. Shen. This is why Xinyu asked if you planned to walk here. We’ve attended the true disciple induction at the Divine Firmament Hall ourselves, and it was just like this. In the end, our master had to help us get in.”

“So you have a way in?” Shen Qingyun picked up on her meaning.

“Naturally.”

Qiao Xinran nodded, then turned to her sister. “Xinyu.”

“Understood!” Qiao Xinyu replied, sweeping her slender hand. A spinning lotus flower appeared before them.

Shen Qingyun was a little surprised—they even had their own flying artifacts now.

As if sensing his thoughts, Qiao Xinran explained, “Mr. Shen, as true disciples, we can each have a flying artifact custom-made at Blazing Valley, free of charge.”

Shen Qingyun nodded, then studied the slowly rotating lotus. It was just the right size for one person to stand upon.

After gazing at the lotus for a moment, he turned to Qiao Xinran. “Where’s your flying artifact?”

“Ah?” Qiao Xinran was startled, a slight blush coloring her cheeks—her demeanor suddenly a little shy.

“My sister’s artifact is just like mine, so Brother Qingyun, you have no choice today,” Qiao Xinyu said with a grin.

Shen Qingyun was speechless.

Maybe I should try something else.

He glanced at the crowd—no one had noticed him yet; all eyes were fixed on the hall. So Shen Qingyun decisively chose to use the flying artifact.

Ah, well—it’s true what they say: never say never.

Dressed in white Daoist robes and standing atop a pink lotus, Shen Qingyun looked every bit like an immortal, the hem of his robe fluttering gently, one hand clasped behind his back.

“Look, he’s here!”

At the sound of a soft exclamation, the crowd before the Divine Firmament Hall surged. Countless eyes turned to Shen Qingyun, standing on the lotus.

“So that’s Shen Qingyun? No wonder he seems unfamiliar—I’ve never really heard of him in the Cangyun Sect.”

Someone whispered a comment.

Others cupped their hands respectfully and said, “Congratulations, Senior Brother Shen, on becoming a true disciple!”

...

Shen Qingyun nodded to those who spoke, acknowledging their congratulations. Whether heartfelt or merely for show, since he’d accepted their good wishes, it was only proper to respond.

“So that’s Shen Qingyun—the legendary figure of Slender Bamboo Peak!”

Amidst the well-wishing, a faintly mocking voice sounded, dampening the festive air.

Shen Qingyun looked down. On the left side of the innermost circle before the hall stood several disciples, their expressions indifferent, out of place amid the excitement. Among them, Shen Qingyun noticed, was Xing Wuque.

When Xing Wuque caught his eye, he smiled and nodded in greeting.

Seeing him, Shen Qingyun understood—those around him must be disciples from Slender Bamboo Peak.

Judging by their demeanor, it seemed that many of his fellow peak disciples weren’t convinced he deserved to be a true disciple.

What Shen Qingyun didn’t know was that their discontent wasn’t with him becoming a true disciple, but with him being named chief of the peak.

There were many capable disciples on Slender Bamboo Peak—why should Shen Qingyun be chief, just because he’d defeated fourteen Foundation Establishment cultivators?

Still, since he’d noticed, he might as well go over.

Stepping off the lotus, Shen Qingyun approached Xing Wuque. “Senior Brother Xing.”

Xing Wuque waved his hand with a smile. “Don’t call me senior brother—after today, I’ll be calling you senior!”

He then gestured to the disciple beside him. “Come, Junior Brother Shen, let me introduce you. This is the second-in-command of Slender Bamboo Peak, Gu Yang.”

Seeing Gu Yang unmoved, Xing Wuque nudged him with his elbow. “You see the chief—give him a greeting!”

Gu Yang glanced at Shen Qingyun coolly. “He’s not chief yet. Not until the induction ceremony.”

“Chief and true disciple aside, I’m more interested in you, Junior Brother Shen.”

Sensing the fighting spirit in Gu Yang’s eyes, Shen Qingyun’s own gaze sharpened. Did Gu Yang want to fight right here before the Divine Firmament Hall?

After staring at him for a while, Gu Yang turned and left, the crowd parting for him.

Xing Wuque explained, “Don’t take it personally, Junior Brother Shen. Gu Yang has had his eye on the chief disciple position for a long time. He’s a good person, really!”

Shen Qingyun nodded in understanding—the hostility made sense now.

Still, he needed to ask—how had both the true disciple and chief positions ended up landing on him?

“Disciple Shen Qingyun, entering the hall for induction!”

Xing Wuque was about to speak again, but an elder’s voice rang out from within the Divine Firmament Hall, cutting him off. He waved Shen Qingyun onward. “Go on!”

Shen Qingyun nodded, turned, and strode toward the grand hall.