v4c18: Leader of the Next Generation

Xi Kong’s mind was still whirling as they retired from the meeting room.

They had seen only enough of the crystal to confirm its contents, yet even those moments had been heady. To see the past, the full glory of the Ancients, had been something he never thought he would witness again after that brief moment in the Dueling Peaks where he had seen a woman that looked like Xiulan in an ancient artifact.

Now, they had a name for her, Honoured Ancestor Ruolan. The progenitor of their line, the creator of their style of cultivation. The woman had oozed bewitching elegance and sublime charisma…

And she could have been Xiulan’s sister. Their bloodline had bred true, save for the fact that his daughter was slightly taller.

To think, after all these years… they would be able to see the basis of their own style. It was truly a momentous day, in all regards.

There were, however, formalities to consider. Xi Kong knew that they had been slightly unorthodox, with them immediately going into seclusion so that Xiulan could speak with them—it was even disrespectful, considering that they were playing host to a fellow Sectmaster.

“Thank you for allowing our… emergency meeting, Sectmaster Liu. We meant no disrespect,” Xi Kong said to the new leader of their ally as they waited for the feast to be served. The hall was already packed with their disciples and while Xi Kong’s Elders were present, it was known from the furrows of their brows that they were not entirely present.

“Xianghua is fine, Sectmaster Cai! This one knows all about emergency meetings, and I look forward to continuing our Sects’ close relationship!” the young woman replied from her place of honour on Xi Kong’s right.

It was strange to think of her as the Master of the Misty Lake Sect—he had just gotten used to Bingwen after all, but Xianghua wore the mantle well. She was not cowed or nervous in the slightest, even sitting with men and women decades her senior. Power came off her like the mist off a lake, ever-present, yet not oppressive even now that she had stopped holding back. She attracted many glances from the Verdant Blade’s disciples… though not entirely for her power. She was clad in the designs of the Tribes, all but shouting at the top of her lungs her attachment to one of Master Jin’s apprentices—Gou Ren, he believed the lad’s name was.

Liu Xianghua’s boldness hadn’t faded at all. Well, she would certainly keep Xi Kong on his toes. He also knew that their close relationship all depended on how much they supported Xiulan.

His daughter was truly blessed to have such fine comrades.

“I hope you shall return the favour, Xianghua,” he replied, and the woman flashed him a smile.

Xi Kong turned his attention to their other guests. They all seemed in good spirits as they spoke with the Petals, their most promising disciples in generations. He looked at them all, feeling their power, and took a deep breath.

Things would certainly be changing quickly from now on.

Soon after there was the gong from the kitchens, signaling the start of dinner. The cooks had been preparing since Bolin had noticed Xiulan’s return yesterday, pulling out all the stops to welcome their Young Mistress back home. The air was heady with the scent of meat and spices.

Xi Kong rose to his feet and began to speak. “Today, we shall have three toasts. First, we welcome Sectmaster Liu Xianghua from one of our finest allies, the Misty Lake Sect!”

“We pay our respects to the Sectmaster!” the disciples and servants chorused, and Xi Kong nodded approvingly.

“Next we welcome back our daughter, who had gone to heal herself from the damage she had sustained during the Dueling Peaks Tournament. Today, she returns to us, more powerful than when she had left!”

Instead of formality, this time there were cheers and whistles as Xiulan looked on, mildly amused.

“And finally, we welcome our honoured guests. Please, partake of our hospitality—you shall want for nothing so long as you are within our walls.”

Rou Tigu, Tie Delun, Rags, Loud Boy, and the two new ones, Yin and Zhang Fei, all looked around and nodded back to the warm welcome.

The feast began—there was music from the servants, and a few of the disciples had agreed to a bout as some entertainment. The mood was light as they ate, though Xi Kong noticed his daughter looking slightly confused at the dessert selection. There was a rather obvious item missing.

Xi Kong kept his face neutral, and instead watched as the disciples sparred with each other. Eventually, Tigu shot to her feet and had a bout with An Ran, trading pointers with the woman.

The wild-looking girl was a surprisingly good teacher.

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But aside from some small talk with Xianghua… he was waiting. Waiting for the end of dinner, and to be able to go back into his room.

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The feast ended, and all of them retired for the night. Well, most of them. An hour past when the servants dimmed all the light crystals and lamps, Xiulan found herself outside her father’s room. She knocked on the door, and her father opened it with a small smile on his face.

“May I sit with you a while, father?” Xiulan asked.

“Of course, Xiu’er,” Her father replied, and opened his door the rest of the way. In doing so he revealed the missing dessert—lotus paste mooncakes. Both of their favourite.

It’s been a while since we’ve done this, Xiulan thought to herself. She settled onto a cushion beside his low table as her father went to ignite some sandalwood.

The last time he had invited her to his quarters like this had been eleven years ago now. A week after her mother had left to return to her cultivation journey. They’d sat together, eating mooncakes, like they used to do with her mother… but it hadn’t been the same. There had been a void between them.

After that… Xiulan had thrown herself into her cultivation. And the pleasant nights of talking until Xiulan fell asleep were over.

Her father settled behind her, and she felt something start to ghost through her hair. Her old comb. It was too small now.

“Tell me everything you need to, daughter,” her father murmured, his rich voice filling her ears and the sandalwood filling her nose.

For the first time in a long time… they were just father and daughter once more.

So Xiulan started to talk. She told him of her time recovering. She told him about Jin and Meiling’s child, and of the fact that she was his greatest aunt. Her father snorted with amusement when she said how Xiaode preferred Xiulan’s hair to all others. She spoke of her journey, and how it was leading her group.