As dusk approached, Ye Nan was escorted by two disciples into Lingxiao Pavilion.
The sights along the way left him speechless. Everywhere he looked, the Qingxiao Sect exuded power and splendor. The sect's grand halls, its glowing formations, and the aura of countless disciples—all of it showed how extraordinary this place truly was.
A question gnawed at his heart. If Master really came to seek revenge against Qingxiao Sect, why does the sect seem so calm and unguarded?
Could I be mistaken? Maybe Master didn't come to pick a fight after all…
Yes, that must be it. If his master truly had been Qingxiao Sect's enemy, these disciples would've already beaten him bloody, not politely brought him up the mountain.
As he recalled the scenes on his way up Qingxiao Mountain—the graceful female disciples like fairies, the proud young men with sharp eyes—Ye Nan couldn't help but feel envious.
If only I could train in a sect like this…
When they entered Lingxiao Pavilion, he saw a group seated around a long table, about to dine.
His gaze was immediately drawn to the man at the center—Li Qingqiu.
Ye Nan froze, astonished. He had never seen someone with such an ethereal presence. Li Qingqiu's features were elegant and refined, his demeanor calm and unworldly. It felt as if an immortal had stepped out of a painting.
If there truly are immortals in this world, Ye Nan thought, they must look like him.
Li Qingqiu glanced at him and spoke in an even tone. "You're Mo Li's disciple, Ye Nan, aren't you?"
Ye Nan blinked and hesitated. "Who is Mo Li?"
"That blind old man who was your master," Zhang Yuchun said, his tone sharp as he studied Ye Nan.
He believed loose ends should be cut cleanly—either wipe them out or pretend nothing happened. But his Senior Brother had ordered that this boy be brought up the mountain alive. He couldn't fathom why.
Ye Nan's heart skipped. "Where's my master? What happened to him?" He didn't care about Qingxiao Sect's overwhelming pressure anymore—he only wanted to find Mo Li.
"He's dead."
The words left Li Qingqiu's mouth like cold steel.
Ye Nan's body trembled violently, his face paling. It felt as if the heavens had collapsed. He stood there, unable to accept it.
Li Dongyue, Wu Man'er, Li Sijin, Yang Jueding, Yuan Qi, Yuan Li, and the three Xiao brothers all turned their eyes toward Ye Nan, each with a different expression.
Li Qingqiu spoke again, his voice calm but cutting. "Your master came here under orders from the Qi Clan of Cangzhou, searching for the Qilin. He was captured by our disciples. Afraid he'd expose the Qi Clan, he chose to take his own life. Later, you'll be allowed to see his body—consider it your last farewell as his disciple."
Ye Nan felt the world tilt. His eyes went red. "Why should I believe you?" he growled. "How do I know you didn't kill him yourselves?"
Li Qingqiu looked at him with mild indifference. "If we killed him, you'd already be dead as well. Why would we bother bringing you up the mountain alive? You've only been his disciple for a year. Your martial skills are barely above common level. Tell me—what possible threat could you pose to Qingxiao Sect? What would I gain by lying to you?"
Ye Nan opened his mouth but found no words.
Yang Jueding leaned back slightly, his tone steady. "Kid, this is the martial world. People die. Your master took on someone else's job, and he paid the price. Our Sect Master letting you see his body is already a kindness. If you were in his place—someone tried to steal from you, you killed them—would you go out of your way to comfort their family afterward?"
Those words stabbed deep. Ye Nan's chest heaved, anger and grief churning with nowhere to go.
"Take him away," Li Qingqiu said.
The two disciples bowed and led Ye Nan out of the courtyard.
When they were gone, Zhang Yuchun frowned. "Senior Brother, why keep him alive? Why bring him here at all? That's not like you."
Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what is my style?"
Zhang Yuchun blinked, suddenly unsure whether to answer.
Li Sijin smirked and said, "Ruthless. You never leave loose ends."
Li Qingqiu turned and shot her a glare. "When have I ever been that violent?"
Zhang Yuchun rolled his eyes but said nothing. Only his youngest junior sister dared tease their Senior Brother like that. If he'd said the same thing, Li Qingqiu would've smacked him on the spot.
Li Dongyue spoke softly, "Actually, Senior Brother was being merciful. Ye Nan's situation… it's similar to ours."
Her quiet remark made both Zhang Yuchun and Li Sijin pause. For a moment, guilt flickered in their eyes.
"Enough," Li Qingqiu said at last. "Let's eat."
He didn't give Ye Nan another thought. If the boy sought revenge, it would only mean his death.
Qingxiao Sect could not afford arrogance, but neither could it act out of excessive caution.
Li Qingqiu had already read through Mo Li's memories—he knew Ye Nan had no allies, no power, no family. There was no threat in keeping him alive.
What truly concerned him was the Qi Clan and whatever they were trying to "nurture."
Mo Li had never seen the creature himself. He'd only been ordered to capture the Qilin and bring it back.
The Qi Clan's secrecy was frightening. Even after decades of service, Mo Li had never met their true leaders nor discovered the location of their main family. He knew nothing of their real purpose.
…
Night faded into dawn.
The next morning, Yuan Qi entered Lingxiao Pavilion with Xue Jin following behind. After delivering his message, Yuan Qi departed, leaving Xue Jin to wait quietly.
A short while later, Li Qingqiu appeared, returning from his training in the back mountain forest.
Upon seeing him, Xue Jin saluted respectfully.
Li Qingqiu nodded and got straight to the point. "Xue Jin, I need you to go to Cangzhou and investigate the Qi Clan. Find out what they're raising. Remember—know your limits. Keeping yourself alive is the top priority. Even if your identity is exposed, that doesn't matter."
"Understood!" Xue Jin answered without hesitation.
Li Qingqiu patted him on the shoulder. "Go."
As Xue Jin left, Li Qingqiu watched his back with satisfaction. If only the sect had more people like him.
There were many geniuses in Qingxiao Sect, but few who were steady, reliable, and willing to act.
He stayed in the courtyard a while longer, admiring a newly planted peach tree swaying gently in the breeze.
After about the time it took for one incense stick to burn, Yuan Qi returned. "Sect Master, Ye Nan requests to see you."
Li Qingqiu nodded. "Let him in."
When Ye Nan entered again, the fear and confusion of the previous night were gone.
His face was calm now, his eyes clear and steady. It was as if he had become an entirely different person.
Ye Nan walked all the way to stand before Li Qingqiu, then suddenly dropped to his knees, startling even Yuan Qi.
"Please, Sect Master, take me in. I have nowhere else to go."
His voice was steady and low. When he lifted his head, his eyes were clear and firm.
Li Qingqiu studied him for a moment before saying, "If you wish to join Qingxiao Sect, you may. Go to the Spirit Management Hall and take the disciple examination first."
Ye Nan hesitated, then asked, "Sect Master… aren't you afraid I might seek revenge?"
"If you truly carried revenge in your heart, why bother testing my response?"
Li Qingqiu's calm retort silenced him. Ye Nan bowed deeply, knocking his head to the ground three times, then rose and followed Yuan Qi away.
After they left, Li Qingqiu turned and returned to his cave dwelling to cultivate.
There were countless matters that demanded his attention, but to him, the most important was still his own strength.
Inside the stone cave, he sat cross-legged upon the stone bed. Spiritual energy surged madly toward him, filling the air like a roaring tide.
After one hour, he slowly opened his eyes and summoned the Dao Lineage Interface, locating Ye Nan's new entry.
This was the true benefit of accepting Ye Nan. If the boy harbored resentment or deceit, his loyalty would expose it, and Li Qingqiu could eliminate the threat before it ever took root.
[Name: Ye Nan]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 16]
[Loyalty (Sect Master/Sect): 72/84 (Max: 100)]
[Cultivation Aptitude: Fair]
[Comprehension: Unranked]
[Fate: Born Hero, Sudden Enlightenment]
[Born Hero: Naturally kindhearted and upright. Loves helping others. Deeply admires the heroes of the martial world and yearns to become one himself.]
[Sudden Enlightenment: Possesses poor comprehension, but once faced with life and death, will awaken suddenly and grasp an immortal art suited to himself.]
…
Loyalty this high?
Li Qingqiu was surprised. But when he read the details of the Born Hero fate, understanding dawned.
So, the boy truly is worth molding.
He hadn't taken Ye Nan in for any special reason—mostly out of pity. But in Mo Li's memories, Ye Nan had always been helping others, even when it brought him trouble. Only Mo Li's superior martial skill had kept him alive this long.
Perhaps it was that very chivalrous spirit that moved Mo Li to accept him as a disciple in the first place. At the beginning, Mo Li had ignored the boy's pestering. But after Ye Nan helped several villagers and refugees, Mo Li had changed his mind and started teaching him martial arts.
Now, seeing no hint of hostility or deceit in his loyalty, Li Qingqiu could finally relax.
He resumed his cultivation, quietly considering where best to place Ye Nan.
Although the boy's aptitude and comprehension weren't outstanding by Qingxiao Sect's standards, the Sudden Enlightenment fate made his potential unpredictable. What if he truly achieved a great immortal art someday?
Li Qingqiu first thought of his fellow disciples—his junior brothers and sisters. Each of them was cultivating different aspects of strength, and a good disciple under their care could further those efforts.
After some thought, he decided to entrust Ye Nan to Li Dongyue.
She was gentle by nature, steady and kind. Under her, Ye Nan would not stray from the righteous path. Moreover, she already guided a budding Human Dao Patriarch, which meant Ye Nan could benefit from her experience in teaching.
…
Autumn deepened across Qingxiao Mountain.
A piece of news soon spread through the sect.
The Jiangzhou Golden Serpent Cult, the target of the sect's earlier mission bounty, had been completely annihilated by the True Disciples—none survived.
Many disciples swelled with pride at Qingxiao Sect's might and precision. But others whispered that such cruelty was excessive.
Their doubts vanished when the Spirit Management Hall posted an official notice revealing the truth: the Golden Serpent Cult had planted spies within the sect and spread rumors throughout the martial world, claiming Qingxiao Sect had fallen to demonic ways.
Once the facts were clear, outrage turned to satisfaction. Though a few disciples still hesitated to believe, the vast majority felt vindicated.
For the first time, the issue of infiltrators was openly acknowledged across the entire sect. The revelation that spies might hide among their peers made everyone more alert—and more loyal.
…
Later that day, past noon.
In a quiet forest clearing, Li Qingqiu was instructing the three Xiao brothers in sword techniques when Zhang Yuchun hurried over.
He bowed slightly. "Senior Brother, is it wise to place Ye Nan in the Spiritual Treasury Hall? After all, his master died right before our eyes."
Li Qingqiu didn't stop his movements. "Don't worry. The boy's heart is pure. He knows right from wrong."
Zhang Yuchun frowned. "If you're wrong, let me take him into the Spirit Management Hall. I'll keep an eye on him personally."
Li Qingqiu shook his head. "Forget it. You've already judged him in your heart. If you train him, you'll only push him further from us."
Zhang Yuchun sighed. "All right, I'll keep watch from a distance."
He knew that once his Senior Brother made a decision, no one could change it. Still, he couldn't help but add, "Sixth Junior Brother has helped the Pei Clan unify Dongling Prefecture, and Guzhou is about to fall under Qin Clan control. If those two sides clash, Senior Brother… who do we support?"