togophonebook Chapter 83 When Truth is Taken for Falsehood, Truth Becomes Falsehood
Chapter 83 When Truth is Taken for Falsehood, Truth Becomes Falsehood
That same evening, a series of unsteady footsteps could be heard outside the mountain gate.
Shen Qing scanned the area with his divine sense and found that it was the brothers Huang An and Huang Ning.
The two stood at the foot of the stone steps, feeling uneasy. They looked up at the mountain gate several times, then quickly looked down again.
Zhao Shoucheng led the two brothers into the Ancestral Hall, where they immediately knelt down and said, "Disciples Huang An and Huang Ning pay their respects to Grandmaster Uncle and earnestly request to return to the Qingyun Sect. We will live up to the sect's expectations in this life."
Shen Qing turned around and looked at the two of them. Considering their past relationship and the fact that they had always maintained a loyalty of over 60, Shen Qing did not cripple them.
"Are you two unaware of the sordid affair between Qingyun and the Huang family?"
The two brothers dared not delay and said repeatedly, "Grandmaster, the karmic ties between the Huang family and Qingyun have been settled. We beg you to have mercy and spare our brothers."
Shen Qing shook his head. He knew their intentions all too well: "Since you're here, remember your choice today. Once you join Qingyun, you must abide by Qingyun's rules, remember kindness and righteousness, and refrain from anger and hatred."
"Your disciples will remember!" the two brothers replied in unison, kowtowing to the ground, tears streaming down their faces, as if they had finally shed all their shackles.
Shen Qing instructed Zhao Shoucheng: "Place these two under the jurisdiction of the outer sect, and put them under the supervision of Wang Shouzhou. Treat them equally."
Zhao Shoucheng responded and led the two out of the Ancestral Hall.
The disciples in the courtyard looked at them with scrutiny but no disdain. When Su Shoujing brushed past them, he even nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
With red eyes, Huang An hurriedly returned the greeting and then quickly followed. From this moment on, he would no longer be a member of the Huang family, but a disciple of the Qingyun Sect.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the eve of the Lunar New Year, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys and firecrackers crackle intermittently, the festive atmosphere growing stronger.
Shen Qing stood on the edge of the cliff behind the mountain, looking down at the bustling scene of Qinghe County, his divine sense enveloping the entire Qingyun Mountain.
The aroma of dumplings filled the kitchen as the disciples chatted and laughed. Wang Shouzhou and Wang Shouan chopped firewood in perfect harmony. Zhong Xiu, who was on duty at the Ancestral Hall today, was wiping the memorial tablets alone, her movements meticulous and gentle.
Everything is moving in a positive direction.
On New Year's Day, before dawn, a pale blue morning light appeared on the horizon.
Shen Qing arrived at the Rift Valley in the form of Mo Wentian. Zhou Bo had already changed his clothes: he was wearing the Taoist robe that Shen Qing used to wear. His face was enhanced by the Illusion Technique, making him seven or eight parts similar to Shen Qing. His voice was somewhat hoarse and low after being treated with herbs in advance.
The two followed the path behind the mountain to the mountain gate. In front of the Ancestral Hall, fifty-two disciples were already lined up in neat rows. Bright candles burned and incense smoke curled up. The ancestral tablets of past generations were solemn and dignified in the candlelight.
Shen Qing stood before the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the expectant and excited faces. He spoke loudly, his voice resounding throughout the hall: "Today, I re-establish the Qingyun lineage. Before that, I announce to everyone that the fifth-generation sect leader of Qingyun, Shen Qing, is not dead."
The entire hall fell into a sudden, deathly silence, followed by uproar.
The crowd was both surprised and suspicious, whispering among themselves, but they quickly calmed down, after all, what their master said could not be false.
Shen Qing raised his hand to silence the commotion and slowly delivered the speech he had prepared:
"When Shen Qing saw Huang Yuanji return, he had a premonition that the Huang family would take action against Qingyun. For your safety, he found a way to send you down the mountain ahead of time."
"After that, he sent Uncle Zhou to the city to find me, while he himself went into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. However, due to the limitations of his foundation, he fell into a state of apparent death."
"Later, Uncle Zhou found me in the county town. After receiving Shen Qing's message, I rushed back day and night and found that your sect leader Shen Qing was not really dead. So I helped him wake up and gave him pills to help him break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Afterwards, I killed the Huang family father and son and reclaimed Qingyun Mountain. Shen Qing has now broken through his seclusion and returned."
Having said that, he looked up at the mountain and said, "Look at who that is."
Following their gaze, everyone saw a figure in a blue Taoist robe slowly approaching through the morning mist.
With steady steps and a handsome face, slightly pale, it was Shen Qing, who had "come back to life".
Zhou Bo walked slowly to the front of the Ancestral Hall, bowed to Mo Wentian, played by Shen Qing, and said in a hoarse but steady voice, "Uncle-Master, your disciple has returned."
Shen Qing stepped aside to give way, and said in a deep voice, "Now that the sect leader has returned, this position should belong to you."
Zhou Bo slowly walked to the center of the stage, turned to face the crowd, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "For the past two months, I have caused you all to wander and suffer. It is my incompetence, Shen Qing, that I owe you all an explanation."
A mountain breeze swept through the pine forest, and the entire area was completely silent.
"My master, Daoist Fushan, died at the hands of Huang Yuanji, and this feud has been settled by Uncle Mo. The Huang family has been executed, and Qingyun Mountain has been restored. Today, I am here not to summon you back as the sect leader, but as a person who has committed a crime, to earnestly request that you all return to Qingyun and continue our legacy together."
"Sect Master! We've been waiting for you to come back!" Wang Shouzhuo shouted, his eyes red, his voice so loud it echoed throughout the entire venue.
Everyone instantly broke down, laughter mingled with sobs, and the pent-up grievances, torment, and anticipation of the past two months were released in an instant.
A weary yet relieved smile appeared on Zhou Bo's lips: "From this day forward, Qingyun Sect will be re-established. I, Shen Qing, will once again take charge of Qingyun."
After saying that, Shen Qing turned around and knelt down first, performing the three kowtows and nine bows to the ancestral hall.
Zhong Xiu, Fang Xue, and Xu Ping followed closely behind. Zhao Shoucheng led all the disciples to kneel and pay homage to their ancestors, welcoming the sect leader back to his position and re-establishing the sect.
After the ceremony, Shen Qing transmitted his voice to Zhou Bo, announcing everyone's duties in his capacity as sect leader:
Zhao Shoucheng will serve as the senior disciple of the inner sect, in charge of all inner sect affairs. Lin Shouwei, Chen Shouxin, Zhong Xiu, Fang Xue, Xu Ping, Huang An, and Huang Ning will be the inner sect disciples.
Wang Shouzhou was appointed as the senior disciple of the outer sect, and Su Shoujing was appointed as the second senior disciple of the outer sect. They assisted in managing the outer sect disciples and regulating the sect rules.
Finally, he solemnly admonished everyone: "The sect has been re-established, and we must not forget the kindness and righteousness we have received. In the past, we were fortunate to be taken care of by the county magistrate, who provided us with jobs in the county government, the wine shop, and the academy. This act was both a favor and a duty. We, the disciples of Qingyun, should value relationships and righteousness, and also keep our promises. We must not abandon our integrity and duty just because we have returned to the mountain."
The disciples responded in unison, their voices echoing through the mountains and forests.
After the ceremony, everyone dispersed.
Disciples who were required to return to their posts at the county government office or shops were ordered to descend the mountain and uphold their faith and righteousness.
The disciples who remained on the mountain were busy cleaning up the grounds and tidying up the ancestral hall. They were busy but orderly, and the lively atmosphere and the righteous spirit of the sect filled the green mountain that had been silent for more than two months.
Zhong Xiu stood in the crowd, her eyes moist, but an unstoppable smile played on her lips.
Fang Xue gently took her hand, and the two smiled at each other. All the hardships were now in the past.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the sky was clear and the air was crisp.
All the disciples who were on duty down the mountain left, leaving only a few people on the mountain to manage affairs.
After the ceremony, following Shen Qing's instructions, Zhou Bo instructed Zhong Xiu, Fang Xue, Xu Ping, and the two Huang brothers to return to Qingyun Academy to clean the courtyard, repair tables and chairs, replace window paper, and prepare for the opening of the academy after the New Year.
"Next year, Mr. Sun will continue to run the academy, and you will all continue to be instructors, each fulfilling your duties as before," Shen Qing instructed calmly.
The two Huang brothers were filled with disbelief. They had thought they could only do odd jobs on the mountain, but they never expected to be able to work at the academy.
"You brothers should also go together. The academy is the foundation of the Qingyun Sect, and we should not separate ourselves from it."
The two brothers nodded emphatically and followed the others down the mountain quickly.
Finally, Zhou Bo disappeared from everyone's sight under the pretext of "going into seclusion to consolidate his cultivation."
Shen Qing, still posing as Mo Wentian, remained at the mountain gate, focusing on his cultivation and preparing to welcome the return of County Magistrate Zhao Yuanlang.