Chapter 340: Chapter 57: Changing Senior Sister, Starting from Leading by Example
Qingluo Peak Daoist temple, inner meditation chamber.
In front of the stone wall where Su Jian had closed himself off, An Zhisu kneeled on a meditation cushion, eyes closed in prayer, her lips moving slightly.
After a long while, she stood up and began to clean the chamber.
Once the cleaning was finished, An Zhisu left the meditation chamber and went back into the temple.
From the main hall, Lin Duanshan’s laughter could be heard:
“…Ling Yunpo, so it was you causing mischief. That day when Senior Sister An suddenly became so talkative, I had thought she was just being cryptic,” he laughed.
“Say no more.” Ling Yunpo appeared somewhat helpless, “I don’t understand why everyone always assumes the worst about her. My senior sister has never done anything against heaven or reason, so how has she become a person of heinous crimes?”
“Could it be that in the Shushan Shangqing Faction, having overly powerful swordsmanship is also not allowed?”
“That’s not the reason,” Lin Duanshan sighed. “Ling Junior Brother, the monthly stipend for Qingluo Peak has been reduced to its original level, right?”
Ling Yunpo was slightly startled and asked,
“How did you know?”
Lin Duanshan offered a brief explanation, and Ling Yunpo immediately understood.
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After he had secured the second position on the Immortal Sword Ranking and became known as “Po Yun Sword Immortal,” the situation within Shushan for Qingluo Peak had improved.
In actuality, this improvement was not due to his strength—how could strength alone exceed that of Golden Core or Nascent Soul High Rank Cultivators? Qingluo Peak didn’t even have a single High Rank Cultivator!
What truly made a decisive impact was when the Guest Elder of the Guan Family from Shushan took notice of Ling Yunpo during their sword-seeking mission.
In short, Qingluo Peak had gained the protection of a noble figure.
However, with the last Sun Sword Master, Ouyang Zhao, setting impossible conditions, the heart of the Guan Family Elder grew cold, and he announced a temporary end to the sword-seeking mission, which also meant that Ling Yunpo had lost his value.
Therefore, after the trip to the Southern Border ended, the various other peaks began to stir, aiming to claim the interests that originally belonged to Qingluo Peak.
Reducing the monthly stipend… was their most direct way of testing the waters.
After the reduction, the lack of response from the Guan Family Elder indicated that he indeed no longer had the time or inclination to pay attention to Ling Yunpo.
Thus, the various peaks finally confirmed that Qingluo Peak had returned to its original state of “having no master.”
As this news spread, those who, because of the Guan Family Elder’s presence, had not dared to openly show enmity towards An Zhisu now naturally resumed their original attitudes.
Coming to this realization, Ling Yunpo sighed and sincerely thanked Lin Duanshan.
Lin Duanshan repeatedly said there was no need to thank him and after a slight hesitation, he added:
“Also, I’ve heard that there have always been some within the higher echelons of Shushan who disapprove of Qingluo Peak.”
“Disapprove?” Ling Yunpo asked in astonishment.
He knew Lin Duanshan’s way of speaking; whatever the reason for the animosity of the various peaks, whether it was hatred for Su Jian or coveting the resources of Qingluo Peak, Lin Duanshan would have stated it directly.
Instead of using the very ambiguous term “disapproving.”
Unless this person with disapproval held a position within Shushan of such a degree that even a hint of it leaked by Lin Duanshan could have a severe negative impact on Mount Jin Gang…
Alarmed by this thought, Ling Yunpo quickly changed the subject and chatted for a few more moments with Lin Duanshan.
Seeing that he didn’t press the issue, Lin Duanshan also had his own suspicions.
After a brief conversation, Lin Duanshan took his leave.
“Senior Sister, come out,” Ling Yunpo sighed and said.
An Zhisu emerged from the inner chamber, her brow furrowed with worry, and said,
“Junior Brother, is the situation really that bad for Qingluo Peak now?”
“It’s not really like that,” Ling Yunpo consoled her, “You could say there’s been a slight setback, but it’s still much better than when I first joined Qingluo Peak.”
“I’ve already thought it through. Those who should be hostile towards us will remain so; but we need to win over those who are friendly toward us, mainly the Foundation Establishment disciples we’re acquainted with.”
“What counts as being acquainted?” An Zhisu asked seriously.
“We’ve interacted with them, and the relationships are fairly harmonious,” Ling Yunpo replied offhandedly.
“If you’re talking about interactions, I’ve actually fought with all of them,” An Zhisu responded earnestly, “But there might not be many with whom the relationships are harmonious.”
Ling Yunpo fell silent.
No, what I meant by interactions wasn’t sword fighting…
How could relationships be harmonious after you’ve beaten them black and blue?
Of course, Ling Yunpo with his indomitable persona wouldn’t blame An Zhisu for this, so he simply smiled and said:
“Birds of a feather flock together, people are grouped by likeness. Some despise the strong because they’ve been defeated, but others choose to befriend the strong to improve their own strength.”
“Senior Sister, look at Lin Duanshan, Duan Fenhai, Guan Shanyue—they didn’t harbor any resentment towards you simply because they lost to you in a sword match or were even injured by you, did they?”
“They haven’t been injured by me,” An Zhisu recalled, “Mostly, after a few exchanges, they would be at a disadvantage, see no hope for victory, and straightforwardly admit defeat.”
“Those who were injured by me are the ones who stubbornly resisted until the very end. Master said that against such enemies, one must decisively land heavy blows…”
Ling Yunpo fell silent again.
Wait, if they’re still resisting at the very end, that means they have a grudge against you!
Your ruthless moves cut off their Life-bound Sword Artifact, and so their masters, Daoist Companions, and friends and family end up holding a grudge against you… isn’t this how a vicious cycle of vengeance starts?
“Ahem, Senior Sister,” Ling Yunpo sighed, “try not to be so heavy-handed with fellow disciples from now on.”
“Alright,” An Zhisu nodded in agreement.
“Also,” Ling Yunpo continued, “since Senior Sister is the top of the Immortal Sword Ranking, why hasn’t anyone invited her to go on an expedition?”
Considering Kunlun’s Qiu Changtian, back then he brought great prestige to his fellow disciples, known as ‘Chief Qiu, the Epitome of Urgency and Righteousness’, eventually admired by tens of thousands, with friends and family spread throughout the Kunlun Mountain Range. How could it be that our Shushan’s Chief Disciple is in such a constrained position?
“Ahem,” An Zhisu coughed, feeling slightly uncomfortable, “For some reason, indeed no one has invited me…”
Before she finished speaking, Duan Fenhai descended outside the Taoist temple on a streak of Sword Light, shouting:
“Is Junior Brother Ling here?”
“Please come in!” As soon as Ling Yunpo heard that a “potential ally” had arrived, he quickly invited him in.
Duan Fenhai came in, dusty from travel, and said:
“Junior Brother Ling, do you have any free time to join me in exploring a secret realm?”
“Of course, I have time!” Ling Yunpo thought to himself how timely this was and quickly shot Duan Fenhai a meaningful look, “And my Senior Sister has time too. How about we go together?”
“Senior Sister An is actually willing to go?” Duan Fenhai asked in surprise.
In the past, we’ve privately invited her so many times, and whether it was for sword training or drinking, we could never entice this distinguished personage… Ah, but with Junior Brother Ling here, it’s indeed different.
Even the last trip to the Southern Border seemed to be because she was worried about Junior Brother Ling going alone, so she accompanied him…
Ling Yunpo, sensing something amiss, cast a doubtful look at Senior Sister An.
“Actually willing,” what does that mean?
“Ahem!” An Zhisu quickly put on a smile and said affectionately, “What reason would I have to be unwilling to go on an expedition with my fellow disciples?”
Duan Fenhai, looking at her smile, couldn’t help feeling a chill, and hastily said:
“That’s wonderful, then. Tomorrow at noon, I’ll come to Qingluo Peak to find you both!”