Path of the Sect Leader

Chapter 105: Journey to Lian Shui City

Qi Xiu figured he'd wrap up the shopping in Black River Market—grab the water refinement manuals, materials, whatever Mo Jianxin needed. Done.

Bai Xiaosheng and his daughter shot that down flat.

"If you're hunting water forging arts or anything water-related," Bai Muhan said, "us White Mountain folks head straight to Lian Shui City. It's under the Lian Shui Alliance—stock's deep, prices fair, and..."

She flashed a shy grin. "Zhan Yuan and I... well, because of Father's mess, our wedding stayed quiet. We've been itching for a proper getaway somewhere scenic. Lian Shui territory's laced with lakes and springs—three big lakes, eighteen famous fonts, six hot springs alone. Top spot for White Mountain getaways. Long haul, sure, but shuttles run steady from Artifact Talisman City. Safe ride all the way. Why not swing by, Sect Leader? Zhan Yuan and I could tag along—piggyback on your errand, play tourist a bit."

Their wedding had been hushed—Bai Xiaosheng's baggage saw to that. Just a small dinner among friends at Black River Peak holdings. Qi Xiu missed it, buried in Immortal Grove Hollow drama. Owed them, really. And if it lined up with sect business? Win-win.

"You two lovebirds go enjoy. I'll sit this out." He pulled a storage pouch, handed it to Zhan Yuan. "Stones inside—handle the buys, haul it back."

Zhan Yuan reached—Bai Muhan blocked smooth.

She laughed. "Sect Leader, where's your sense of romance? You and Sister Wei just tied the knot, then split across peaks. Barely see each other. Why not seize the chance—make it a trip?"

"I..."

Qi Xiu scratched his cheek, awkward. He knew the score. Wei Minniang treated him like thin air most days. Shared outing? Pipe dream.

"Forget it. She'd never go for it."

Bai Muhan winked. "Depends who's asking. Me? Piece of cake. Watch this."

Married bliss suited her—softened edges, fuller curves. She swayed off toward Black River Peak, mission in tow: fetch Wei Minniang.

Qi Xiu felt a quiet spark of hope flicker. Protested half-hearted, then let it ride.

With her gone, he and Zhan Yuan drifted to business talk. The old Wang family shop—Zhan Yuan revived it after the takeover. Stocked decent spirit herbs from their pouches at first, flipped a few wholesale deals. But no steady cheap supply? Momentum fizzled. Prime location or not, it scraped by now, like the spirit tea house—barely breaking even.

"That's the lay of it."

Business soured Zhan Yuan quick. Ever since Qi Xiu unlocked his knack for it, he'd leaned hard—Dao path blocked, so commerce became his hill to climb. Cared deep. But outgunned by giants like Guang Hui Pavilion? No contest. Frustration etched his face.

"Heard the arena opens every decade—reshuffles Black River Market stakes."

News to Qi Xiu.

"They'd cough up meat already swallowed?"

Skepticism laced his tone. Big players didn't spit bones, let alone chunks. Chu Qin shoved aside last time—nearly starved on scraps. Still rankled.

"Details fuzzy—just whispers." Zhan Yuan leaned in, voice dropped. "Greed's endless. Everyone figures they deserve bigger slices. Last round, some sects lowballed it—sent scrubs to fight. Now watching Guang Hui rake it in? Regret's biting hard."

"Means fiercer scraps next time. Our shot? Slim."

Qi Xiu ran numbers. Arena hit three and a half years after Chu Qin relocated—five and a half years back. Next? Four and a half out. He Yu might contend by then. Rest? Stagnant.

"Shame. Just me and He Yu advancing these years. Row against the current—stand still, you sink. We're still too small."

Zhan Yuan nodded heavy. Years grinding market connections, faces known—but no sect muscle behind? Looked down on, always. Chafed bad.

"Everybody out—guess who's here!"

Voice hit first. They stepped out.

Wei Minniang lingered behind Bai Muhan, slight hesitation in her stance. Hand in little Wei Yue'er's, plain robes as ever—clean lines, subtle beauty. Quiet grace like orchids in a hidden valley. Outshone Bai Muhan's warmth effortless.

"Here... already?"

Qi Xiu blanked—hadn't bet on success. Words tangled.

"Mm."

Soft hum. She turned, fussing Yue'er's collar. Left him hanging.

Bai Muhan rolled her eyes—sect whispers caught the marriage's odd chill. She jumped in, bright. "Crew's assembled—let's roll. But first: ditch the reds. Lian Shui crawls with loose cultivators. Chu Qin scarlet stands out. Sister, lose the plain too—vacation vibes. Brighten up."

No arguments. She herded mother and daughter toward market stalls—clothes, jewelry hunt.

Qi Xiu and Zhan Yuan trailed, glorified pack mules.

Every shop: Bai Muhan coaxed tries, paraded Wei Minniang out. "Sect Leader—verdict?"

Goose-yellow palace gown, faint red cloud embroidery. Second-tier Magnetic Light Kingfisher Step-Shaker pinning hair. Graceful, stunning—poised yet soft.

Qi Xiu stared.

"Gorgeous."

Stammered honest. Wei Minniang flushed, ducked back in—emerged plain again, cool as frost.

"Mama, pretty clothes for me too!"

Yue'er, tiny but fierce on beauty. Ignored? No way. Dove into mom's arms, wheedled loud.

Wei Minniang indulged total—picked outfits quick.

Bai Muhan shot Qi Xiu a look. He nodded, bought the yellow gown quiet—wrapped neat.

"Yours."

Outside, he offered. She accepted graceful—thanks soft, tucked away.

Stroll wore on. Bai Muhan's whispers, Yue'er's chatter—Wei Minniang thawed slow. Walls eased.

Cultivators or not, shopping flipped switches. Women—big, small, high, low—turned relentless. Black River's modest clothiers and jewelers? Three females ravaged them dawn to dusk.

Somewhere along, Wei Minniang snagged a cyan Daoist robe. Presented it back.

Qi Xiu blinked, floored. Slipped it on.

Decade leading—Insight into One's Own Heart humming, realm and mind sharpened, brushes with death honing edges. Face ordinary by birth, but no stall peddler anymore. Relaxed authority now, seasoned steel beneath.

Cyan fit perfect—added immortal flair, quiet nobility.

"Damn, Sister—eye like a hawk. Never knew cyan suited Sect Leader this sharp."

Bai Muhan teased. Wei Minniang pinked again, murmured: "Just... red overwhelms him."

Qi Xiu flushed inside. Nobody mentioned? Come next year—excuse ready: swap Chu Qin's standard scarlet for cyan.