Path of the Sect Leader

Chapter 117: New Order in Chu Qin

Qi Xiu pulled out the prepared tokens, handing them around one by one.

Himself: Sect Leader, Treasury Steward, Steward for Black River and Immortal Grove Hollow territories, Deacon for the secret vault.

Bai Xiaosheng: Guest Elder, Teaching Steward, Scripture Pavilion Steward.

He Yu: Inner Disciple.

Zhang Shishi: Outer Disciple, Enforcement Steward.

Zhan Yuan: Outer Disciple, Black River Market Steward.

Yu Denou: Outer Disciple, Rites Steward.

Wei Minniang: Outer Disciple, Mountain Gate Affairs Steward for Immortal Grove Hollow.

Mo Guinong: Outer Disciple, Spirit Planting Steward.

Mo Jianxin: Outer Disciple, Artifact Refining Steward.

Bai Muhan: Outer Disciple, Deacon for the herb shop, tea shop, and Chu Qin inn.

Qin Weiyu: Outer Disciple, Mountain Gate Affairs Steward for Black River Peak.

Pan Rong: Outer Disciple, Scripture Pavilion Deacon.

Shen Chang: Outer Disciple, Rites Deacon.

Yu Jing: Outer Disciple, Territory Deacon for Immortal Grove Hollow.

Ming Sansheng: Hired mortal, Teaching Deacon.

Ming Jiu: Outer Disciple, Teaching Deacon.

The rest—still kids—got no assignments yet.

With that sweep, roles locked clear. Next: assets.

Mo Guinong took the spirit fields and planting supplies.

Mo Jianxin the cold springs and refining materials.

Zhan Yuan and Bai Muhan the market properties, stock, capital.

Bai Xiaosheng the pavilion and its books.

Yu Denou the festival gifts, visitor supplies.

And on.

Qi Xiu kept daily necessities, his pair of [Peachwood Ghost-Slaying Swords], the [Exquisite Pagoda], the nameless compass. Everything else—Wang family spoils, sect earnings over twelve years—funneled straight into the treasury.

Clean slate. All that grind, not a spirit stone tucked away for himself.

From now on, sect output, treasury goods, pavilion texts? Earn them with personal stones or contribution points. No more free handouts from the leader's whim.

"Alright. Roles set. Back to work, everyone."

Meeting over. The upheaval settled into something structured—Chu Qin finally wearing a tighter frame.

He Yu and Zhan Yuan headed back to Black River. Mo Guinong tended fields as always. Bai Xiaosheng vanished into the pavilion, emerging only to teach or answer questions—otherwise, ghost.

Most kept old jobs, but lines drawn sharp. Perform well? Better pay, points piling up, fewer shackles, higher stipends. Little pushback. Rolled out smooth.

Top priority now: relocating mortal kin.

Wei Yue'er couldn't stay in the spirit-land hall with her mother anymore. Pick a spot outside the qi veins, build quarters for future Elders' and Sect Leader's families. Move her there.

Zhang Shishi's folk and others? Barred from the gate entirely. New compounds near the borders.

Gate affairs: Wei Minniang's headache.

Territory outside: Qi Xiu and Yu Jing's.

Husband and wife barely crossed paths. Ten days of chaos later—done. Families settled in fresh homes.

The gate quieted again, newborn cries and toddler chaos shipped downhill.

Wei Minniang chose a spot for Yue'er: backed against hills, facing a stream, close enough to the hall for quick visits. She couldn't bear full separation. Outside cultivation hours, she camped there mostly.

Qi Xiu wrapped external mess, headed over. Half a month bottled up—sparks flew the second they met. Bodies crashed fierce, sweat and gasps echoing long.

Cool night air settled afterward. They tangled close, trading murmurs.

"You don't blame me?" Qi Xiu traced fingers through her hair, guilt nagging. "Kicking Yue'er out... and things'll tighten up money-wise."

If something happened to him? Nothing left for them.

"Blame you? No. You did right."

She lay limp across his chest, spent from his enthusiasm. Voice soft. "Compared to Yue'er, Zhang Shishi's brats got it worse—way out past the gate. But those kids wailed nonstop. Too noisy. Good riddance."

Hearing her take it in stride warmed him deep. This woman—beautiful, sensible, wildfire in bed...

"Marrying you? Best luck I ever scraped together."

"Me too..."

She squeezed tighter. "I want a child with you. A boy, strong enough to carry the line. But years now... nothing."

His hand paused on her skin. Offspring hadn't weighed on him much. He soothed. "It'll come. When fate says yes, it happens. When it says no... well, still happens."

She laughed at the twist, pinching his side. "Your Fortune Seeking and Calamity Avoidance Art's getting sharper. If fate says no, how yes? All that calculating—why no breakthrough for you?"

He exhaled slow. "These two years? Buried in sect nonsense, endless details. Wouldn't have handed full reins to Bai Xiaosheng otherwise. Would've dragged my path down. Now it's wrapped—I can finally seclude proper. Should break through fine."

"Then I'll slip away with Bai Muhan to Hehuan Sect while you're shut in. Sightsee a bit... and maybe figure out why neither of us has caught yet."

"Careful there. Hehuan's no demon cult, but hardly upright Daoists." He rolled, pinning her again, hunger stirring fresh. "Better to handle it ourselves..."

"No..."

She pushed half-hearted, giggling. "You've picked up too many tricks these years. Leave me wrecked every time."

His face fell as he flopped back. She softened quick. "If I come back empty again... take concubines like Zhang Shishi."

He considered serious, shook his head. "Nah. Different from him. I've got real shot at Foundation—no rush. And you? Plenty for me. Daoist here, not some scholar who'd die without heirs."

Truth in his words melted her sweet. She steered talk elsewhere. "Speaking of—why no proper wife for Zhang Shishi yet? Man's not young."

Him... Qi Xiu snorted soft. "Trying to one-up Zhan Yuan. Zhan snagged a Foundation daughter on Qi Refining cultivation. Zhang's dead set on landing a cultivator bride too..."