Path of the Sect Leader

Chapter 162: Bai Xiaosheng’s Farewell

The Wei family’s beast-ship route from Shandu to Linked Waters used second-tier vessels. Slower than Artifact & Talisman Alliance’s third-tier shuttles, it required two ground stops for rest. The journey stretched longer—perfect for Qi Xiu. He spent most of it holed up in the cabin with Minniang and Yue’er.

They arrived back at Immortal Grove Hollow still flushed and disheveled. Bai Muhan took one look at Yue’er—hair now pinned in a married woman’s style, walk carrying a new sway, eyes bright with a radiance that hadn’t been there before—and understood everything. She shot Qi Xiu a long, meaningful glare before pulling him aside.

“Father is leaving next year no matter what I say. How do we handle this?”

Qi Xiu sighed. “I made a promise with him years ago. I can’t go back on my word and beg him to stay. He’s always doted on little Zhan Chou most—lean into that.”

Bai Muhan wanted to cling. Qi Xiu understood Bai Xiaosheng’s reasoning too well to join her in desperation.

In White Mountain, Bai Xiaosheng was a name people whispered. He could either spend the rest of his life hiding inside Chu Qin Sect like he had for years, or develop skin thick enough to shrug off every sneer and spit. His face wasn’t actually that thick. Ten years of public humiliation in Black River Market had carved a wound too deep to face every day. Leaving—flying far away—was the only way he could pretend to be a normal person again.

Bai Muhan couldn’t see past her own pain. Qi Xiu, cornered by her pleading, finally walked slowly into the Scripture Pavilion to speak with the man himself.

“You came.”

Deep inside the pavilion, Bai Xiaosheng stood beside a massive rosewood desk, practicing forms with careful precision. When Qi Xiu appeared, he stopped, turned, and began preparing an exquisite tea set with deliberate calm.

“Muhan came to me again. You’re really leaving? You know I’d keep you here in a heartbeat…”

Bai Xiaosheng handed over a steaming cup. His expression drifted somewhere far away.

“No need to discuss it. The more you push, the lower I’ll think of you.”

He paused.

“A truly strong mind might choose to stay and endure. Mine isn’t. So I have to go.”

Qi Xiu fell silent.

Bai Xiaosheng picked up an unmarked book from the desk and tossed it over.

“Zhao Yao came to me once. She took Gu Ji’s incomplete Monkey Form manual and developed new variations. I found them interesting—polished them a bit. Finished today. Should rate mid-to-low first-tier. You decide the name.”

Qi Xiu had practiced the original Monkey Form himself. He opened the pages and scanned.

Bai Xiaosheng kept talking.

“That monk Kong Wen—three schools in one head, sharp eye, solid knowledge. Teaching Qi Refining disciples? No problem. Handing Chu Qin’s promising kids over to him puts my mind at ease. He’s not great at tailoring instruction, but when it comes to grinding foundations, he’s better than me. And he knows plants and beasts. You’re getting a bargain.”

Qi Xiu flipped pages while answering. “He’s only staying a decade or so. Not permanent. And the timing… feels too convenient. Leaves me uneasy.”

“Fair point. Whatever Chu Qin lacks, he just happens to provide. Almost scripted.” Bai Xiaosheng paused. “Heard you’re giving him nothing but that first-tier monkey for ten years of service?”

Qi Xiu chuckled. “Bought the thing dirt cheap in Qi South City’s black market—maybe fifteen second-tier stones. Heterochromatic Golden Silk Monkey isn’t supposed to be anything special. But back during that arena fight, when it flashed both eyes, Si Wenyu’s shield just… dissolved. Nothing in the books mentions that ability. Must be a mutant strain. I lucked into it.”

He closed the manual.

“This version is cleaner, more combat-efficient than the original Monkey Form. Better close-range options too. Since Zhao Yao built on Gu Ji’s foundation, let’s blend their names—‘Yao’ and ‘Ji’—and the meaning ‘within reach.’ How about Remote Reach Body Art?”

Bai Xiaosheng clapped once. “Perfect.”

He pulled out a fresh cover, brushed Remote Reach Body Art across it in bold strokes, bound the book carefully, and placed it on the shelf reserved for Chu Qin lineage texts. Ever since the Green Stream raid and Flowing Flower’s partial return of old Chu Qin materials, the shelf had filled somewhat. Still mostly mid-to-low tier—edible but forgettable. No wonder Flowing Flower gave it back so easily.

They talked a long time. Eventually Qi Xiu excused himself. Bai Muhan still waited outside the door. He shook his head once. She understood. He returned to his grass hut alone.

Bai Xiaosheng was a Foundation Establishment elder. What he wanted, Bai Muhan ultimately couldn’t stop.

The following year passed quietly for Chu Qin Sect.

Minniang and Yue’er—sometimes Kan Qin—kept Qi Xiu busy in bed when the mood struck, but cultivation came first. After Foundation Establishment, three-to-five-day meditation sessions became routine. The bedroom games grew less frequent than before.

…

North of Shandu, south shore of Death Marsh.

Bai Xiaosheng halted the small group seeing him off—Bai Muhan, Zhan Chou, Bai Guangyi, and Qi Xiu. His voice cracked despite his effort to keep it steady.

“This is far enough. Who knows—maybe we’ll meet again someday.”

“Father!”

Bai Muhan was already sobbing. “How can you be so heartless?”

He didn’t answer. Turned away. Raised a hand in silent farewell. Then he stepped onto his Moon Shadow Mysterious Ice Sword and drifted into the distance.

Watching him go left a hollow place in Qi Xiu’s chest. But there were matters that refused to wait for grief.

First: Ice Chalice Flower harvest.

One third-tier stone per bloom—Chu Qin’s biggest reliable income outside windfalls. The flowers opened only one night a year and required cultivators to pick. Everyone, young and old, stood ready. The spiritual field wasn’t large; extra hands helped. They brought in sixty-nine blooms.

Mo Guinong’s absence had left the fields untended for a stretch. Fewer flowers were inevitable.

Second: internal position reshuffle.

With Bai Xiaosheng gone, Kong Wen took on both Transmission Instructor and Spiritual Plant Manager—still without salary.

Bai Xiaosheng’s Scripture Pavilion duty passed to Yu Denou. The old man’s age made constant travel impossible; the quiet post let him retire in comfort. His Ceremonial Manager role went to Shen Chang. Shen Chang’s Ceremonial Deacon position rotated to Yu Shang. Li Tan became Beast Taming Manager. All Black River Market positions were dissolved except Market Manager (Bai Muhan) and Market Deacon (rotating among the juniors for training).

Qi Xiu shed his remaining titles. Immortal Grove Hollow Territorial Manager → Yu Jing. Black River Territorial Manager → Qin Weiyu. Grand Storehouse Manager → Wei Minniang. Qi Xiu kept only Sect Leader and Secret Vault Manager. Wei Minniang’s Immortal Grove Hollow Affairs Manager passed to Qi Zhuang.

Zhao Yao and Qin Sigao were old enough but stuck at the second Qi Refining bottleneck—too risky to split focus. The rest were still too young.

Third: preparation for next year’s Black River Market arena tournament.

Almost every disciple was stuck below Qi Refining sixth layer. Especially the seven strongest—Qin Weiyu, Mo Jianxin, Zhao Yao, Qin Sigao, Zhang Shishi, Wei Minniang, Bai Muhan—all jammed before the second bottleneck. The sect’s deepest sore spot.

Qi Xiu called an internal sparring tournament to select three Qi Refining representatives.

Youth division first. Zhan Chou dominated—undefeated. Prize: a first-tier mid-grade Azure Jade Sword, the very first Mo Jianxin ever forged. Balanced, steady, slightly slower than Illusory Moon Spirit Sword but superior in every other way. Perfect match for Daoist techniques. Once Mo Jianxin produced more, Qi Xiu planned to issue Azure Jade Swords as standard sect gear—replacing everyone’s Illusory Moon blades.

The adult division lacked fire. Led by Wei Minniang, the veterans fought listlessly—sloppy, comical mistakes everywhere. Qi Xiu frowned deeply.

The juniors, though, went all out.

Chu Wuying versus Zhang Shishi was the highlight. Chu Wuying flickered in and out of his Multi-Shadow Pavilion, illusion and reality swapping so smoothly that Zhang Shishi’s heavy tower-and-shield style hit nothing but air. Zhang finally conceded with a helpless shrug.

The final pitted Mo Jianxin against Qin Sigao.

Qin Sigao—after taking Zhao Yao’s top-grade first-tier Entangling Silk Sword from Green Stream—had combined it with several pavilion sword manuals. He broke free of brute spiritual-power clashes, developing his own style: swordplay that flowed with intent, disciplined and elegant, hinting at real mastery.

Mo Jianxin’s mixed roots were offset by his freakish talent insights this year. Bright Moon Hanging High cleared his mind. Illusory Moon Shroud dulled the opponent’s movements. Illusory Moon Spirit Sword synced perfectly with his natal gift.

The duel unfolded in dazzling sword-light—blades weaving attack and defense without ever clashing directly. High-level swordsmanship on full display.

Whenever Qin Sigao was threatened, a massive white spider phantom rose behind him. Entangling Silk Sword shot webs that bound Mo Jianxin’s blade.

Mo Jianxin countered with repeated Illusory Moon Shroud. Qin Sigao could only grit his teeth.

Kong Wen watched, nodding. “Both have bright futures in the sword path. Qin Sigao excels at talent synergy with technique. Mo Jianxin’s natal sword match is near-perfect, and his gifts simply overpower.”

They fought on—until the difference in resources showed.

Mo Jianxin earned steady income from every artifact he forged for sect use or sale, plus his Refining Manager stipend. Qin Sigao, still an outer disciple, couldn’t match that depth. Sensing no end, Mo Jianxin threw a handful of talismans. Explosive finish. First place secured.

The fight ended. The crowd dispersed. But the bottleneck remained—seven of Chu Qin’s best still trapped.