Sunlight broke across the land, sweeping over the town of Seven Peaks at the mountain's foot.
Inside an inn, the black-robed woman sat across from a gray-robed elder, her face etched with impatience.
"You work fast. I arrived just yesterday, and you've already found me by morning."
Her tone was cold, leaving the gray-robed elder helpless.
The elder appeared to be over seventy, with age spots on his face. He sighed. "Young Miss, please stop acting on impulse. With your current martial arts, going up to the Seven Peaks Alliance would only end badly. And I've learned that something major has happened there. Anyone who provokes them now will face a frenzied counterattack."
"What happened?"
The woman asked, her mind involuntarily conjuring Li Qingqiu's image. She was intensely curious about what he'd intended to do at the Seven Peaks Alliance.
The elder's expression grew grave. "Last night, the First Alliance Master of the Seven Peaks Alliance, Lü Dou, was murdered in his own quarters. Word is another Alliance Master died trying to intercept the killer."
The woman's face changed dramatically. Shock registered in her eyes. Suddenly, it all made sense.
So that explained the massive commotion at the Alliance last night.
But...
Killing Lü Dou?
How had he managed that?
She recalled how Li Qingqiu had flicked her sword away with a single finger, and thought perhaps he did possess such strength.
But he was so young. How could he be that powerful?
Did he master some technique to preserve his youth or alter his appearance?
The more she thought, the more unsettling it became. This was Lü Dou they were talking about—a supreme expert whose every move shook the foundations of Gu Prefecture's martial world.
And he'd been killed inside his own sect. Unfathomable.
She looked at the elder and asked quickly, "Who did it?"
The elder shook his head. "Unknown. The Alliance disciples claim the killer had three heads and six arms, like some demonic deity descended from the heavens, unstoppable. He also took two children—perhaps that was his purpose."
The woman rolled her eyes. "Three heads and six arms? You believe that?"
"I'm only relaying what the Seven Peaks people said." The elder shrugged.
He paused, then spoke earnestly. "Young Miss, the Seven Peaks Alliance is about to be engulfed in a massive storm. Internal power struggles, external enemies taking advantage. The matter troubling you might resolve itself. Why risk getting involved?"
A cold smile crossed the woman's face. "With Lü Dou dead, my troubles have indeed resolved themselves. Don't worry. I'll return with you today."
The elder sighed with relief and nodded, stroking his beard.
After a moment's hesitation, the woman asked, "Can you have someone investigate who killed Lü Dou? I just want to know his name."
"I'll try. But with the darkness of last night, learning his name won't be easy." The elder agreed without much thought.
The woman's mind replayed Li Qingqiu's face and voice. Curiosity bloomed within her.
Who was this mysterious figure, boldly coming to the foot of the Seven Peaks Alliance, then going up the mountain to kill?
What grudge did he hold against them?
...
After leaving the Seven Peaks Alliance, Li Qingqiu traveled several hundred miles before finally resting in the mountains to recover his spiritual energy.
He then used the Resurrection Ghost Immortal Needle to stabilize little Yuan Li's condition while Yuan Qi gathered fruit and water on the mountain.
After a day's rest, they resumed their journey, avoiding the main roads and encountering no one.
With Gale Skill, Li Qingqiu's pace was swift—not as fast as a carriage, but not far behind.
When they finally reached the foot of the Azure Firmament Sect's mountain, Li Qingqiu breathed a sigh of relief.
Gazing at the imposing peaks ahead, Yuan Qi was puzzled. Why did it feel like they were going deeper and deeper into the wilderness?
In his understanding, martial sects should be near towns, for convenience in recruiting disciples and, as he'd experienced, dominating the local populace.
"Once we're up the mountain, don't mention the Seven Peaks Alliance to anyone. Don't say I went there either. You're just orphans I found among the refugees and brought back. Understand?"
Li Qingqiu walked ahead, carrying Yuan Li. A large pack was strapped to his back—supplies bought when they'd passed through a town yesterday.
Yuan Qi, following behind, nodded. "I understand, Big Brother. Don't worry. I won't cause you any trouble."
Li Qingqiu began describing the Azure Firmament Sect. Yuan Qi had never heard of it. Learning that most disciples were young filled him with anticipation.
In the Seven Peaks Alliance, he'd only encountered adults, and adults always bullied him. He dreaded entering another environment full of grown-ups.
Hearing about the Azure Firmament Sect, Yuan Qi's courage grew. He started asking questions nonstop. Li Qingqiu patiently answered each one.
From the mountain's foot to the sect gate was a long journey—half a day's walk.
Ten days had passed since Li Qingqiu killed Lü Dou.
Dusk was approaching.
Li Qingqiu looked at the Azure Firmament Sect's mountain gate. Though not as imposing as the Seven Peaks Alliance's, it felt familiar. The tension in his heart finally released.
He spotted a child squatting at the gate, playing with stones. It was Li Sifeng.
"Sifeng, slacking off again?"
Li Qingqiu's voice carried. Li Sifeng shot up and turned around.
Seeing his face, Li Qingqiu couldn't help but laugh.
Half a month later, Li Sifeng's face was still black and blue in patches. Thankfully, no swelling remained. But when he smiled, the gaps where teeth had been knocked out were simply hilarious.
Li Qingqiu stifled his laughter immediately.
He couldn't laugh. That would be too cruel. After all, Li Sifeng had been injured defending the sect.
"Senior Brother!"
Li Sifeng shouted joyfully and dashed down like the wind. His loud voice alerted the disciples inside.
By the time he reached Li Qingqiu, Yang Jueding, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Xu Ning had already bounded off the cliff face and arrived at the gate. Their lightness skills made Yuan Qi stare.
"Been behaving yourself?" Li Qingqiu ruffled Li Sifeng's hair, smiling.
Li Sifeng hugged him tightly around the waist, sobbing. "Senior Brother, I was so worried! Why were you gone so long? I thought you'd abandoned us..."
More and more disciples poured out of the sect. Seeing Li Qingqiu, they were all overjoyed. Li Qingqiu noticed six unfamiliar faces—the six Qin family children.
He'd seen their names appear on the Daoist Legacy panel a couple days ago. Unfortunately, their aptitudes were ordinary, with no special Destinies, so he hadn't paid much attention. He didn't even remember their faces.
Jiang Zhaoxia landed swiftly beside Li Qingqiu, scrutinizing him carefully. Satisfied he wasn't injured, he relaxed.
Li Sijin also hugged Li Qingqiu, beaming. Li Dongyue stood nearby, tears glistening.
Yang Jueding exhaled in relief. He'd been concealing the truth about Li Qingqiu's destination—the Seven Peaks Alliance—and the pressure was becoming unbearable. Thank heavens Li Qingqiu was back.
"Senior Brother, where did you go? Why so long?" Jiang Zhaoxia asked, his tone reproachful.
Li Qingqiu smiled. "Didn't I tell Yuchun? I was patrolling the mountain. Got tied up with something else along the way. Oh, let me introduce you. The boy behind me is Yuan Qi. The one I'm carrying is his younger brother, Yuan Li. They're disciples of the Azure Firmament Sect now."
At this, everyone's attention shifted.
Yang Jueding approached Yuan Qi, studying him closely. Yuan Qi shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
Xu Ning's growth had proven Li Qingqiu's judgment. Not just Yang Jueding—all the disciples were curious what talent this new boy possessed that had caught their Sect Master's eye.
Zhang Yuchun stared at Li Qingqiu, brow furrowed. Wu Man'er just grinned foolishly as usual, saying nothing.
"Alright. Let's go inside. Get some food ready for us."
Li Qingqiu cut off their murmuring and urged them along. The group chatted and laughed as they ascended. With so many young, energetic disciples, once the conversation started, it was hard to stop.
"Senior Brother, let me carry the child."
Li Dongyue came to his side and spoke softly.
Li Qingqiu didn't refuse and handed Yuan Li to her.
Back in the courtyard, Zhang Yuchun took Yuan Qi to bathe. Li Dongyue and Li Sijin took Yuan Li.
Li Qingqiu sat at the table, studying the six Qin family children standing together—four boys, two girls, all eleven years old. Finding six children of similar age demonstrated the Qin family's thriving lineage.
Under the Sect Master's gaze, the six were nervous. Before they left, Qin Jue had instructed them strictly: obey at the Azure Firmament Sect. Whoever got sent back early would face severe punishment.
"Come, sit down. Introduce yourselves."
Li Qingqiu offered a warm smile and beckoned them over.
Seeing his smile, the six relaxed and came forward, introducing themselves one by one.
Li Qingqiu chatted casually with them, building rapport.
Three of the Seven Sons of Azure Firmament handled the cooking. They worked quickly, soon bringing steaming dishes to Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu didn't wait for Yuan Qi. He began eating.
Yang Jueding sat nearby, desperate to question Li Qingqiu, but with others present, he had to hold his tongue.
After a while, Zhang Yuchun, Yuan Qi, Li Dongyue, and the others arrived in the courtyard. Everyone in the Azure Firmament Sect gathered—twenty-four people in total.
Far from the Seven Peaks Alliance's multitude, but Li Qingqiu felt content.
He believed that in ten years, every one of these disciples would stand on their own.
Li Dongyue sat on Li Qingqiu's other side, propping her chin on her hand. "Senior Brother, seeing you return like that reminded me of Master. Years ago, when he brought Sifeng and Sijin back, he looked just like you—carrying Sijin in his arms, with Sifeng trailing behind."
Her words made Zhang Yuchun, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Wu Man'er nod. They began reminiscing about Lin Xunfeng.
This piqued the other disciples' curiosity even more. What kind of heroic figure was that Grandmaster?
Yang Jueding spoke up. "Lin Xunfeng was indeed chivalrous and righteous. But his contribution to the Azure Firmament Sect wasn't great. Since its founding, the sect never massively recruited disciples. So I'd say the Azure Firmament Sect now has nothing to do with the past."
Li Qingqiu glanced at him approvingly. In just a few days, Yang Jueding had learned to read the room.
Zhang Yuchun added, "That's right. Master abandoned us and left. From now on, the Azure Firmament Sect has only one Sect Master. We are the new Azure Firmament Sect. Senior Brother just keeps the old name out of sentiment."