Lu Chengfeng flipped over and landed on a large boulder, his voice resonating clearly in everyone's ears.
"Bixiao Peak has encountered consecutive incidents, and people's hearts are unsettled. As the Senior Brother, it is now my duty to shoulder the responsibilities of Bixiao Peak."
"If anyone wishes to seek refuge with other Outer Peaks or desires to descend the mountain, I will not stop you."
"In consideration of our many years of camaraderie, I offer a hundred taels of silver as travel expenses for everyone to find their own path."
"For those willing to stay on Bixiao Peak, every three days, I will teach the Bixiao Swordsmanship here at the Cyan Cloud Platform, and for those whose swordsmanship reaches the Fourth Layer, I will teach the Inner Cultivation Heart Method of Bihai Qingtian."
"If there are any doubts, I will impart all my knowledge to resolve confusion without holding back anything."
"At this point, whatever path you choose, please think it over carefully. My only wish is for everyone's safety and a bright future."
As his words fell, everyone present remained silent. Many had uncertain expressions on their faces, clearly unable to make a decision for the moment.
After a while, suddenly, a registered disciple lowered his head, blushing slightly, and said, "Senior Brother, my father is old and frail. A few days ago, he sent me a message, asking me to return home, get married, and have children to continue the family business, I..."
Lu Chengfeng smiled and said, "That's a good thing. Filial piety comes first among all virtues, and of the three ways to be unfilial, having no descendants is the worst. Going back to marry, have children, and continue the family business is the right path, and as your Senior Brother, I naturally support you."
He turned to instruct Li Mo, "Junior Brother, go to my courtyard and take all the silver notes from the third drawer of my wardrobe."
"Yes, Senior Brother," Li Mo agreed and quickly went.
"Thank you, Senior Brother, for understanding." The disciple felt relieved seeing that Lu Chengfeng did not blame him, and he smiled, "Senior Brother, there is no need for the silver. My family has some assets, and besides, in these years of learning within the sect, I've gained a lot. Taking silver with me would not be appropriate."
Lu Chengfeng climbed down from the boulder, walked up to him, and patted his shoulder, "The family's silver belongs to the family. A hundred taels of silver isn't much, but it's a token of my regard. It's not too much for fellow disciples."
"Senior Brother," the disciple was moved by these words and couldn't help but feel his eyes redden.
"Alright, don't overthink it. Even if you leave the mountain, you are still my Junior Brother. If you encounter troubles in the future, feel free to come back and find me," Lu Chengfeng promised: "As long as I can help, I will not refuse."
He then looked around at the other fellow disciples, "If anyone else wants to leave, just say it without any concerns."
After this, the fellow disciples who had been worried about being troubled or reprimanded finally felt relieved, and six others spoke up consecutively.
Some wanted to join other Outer Peaks, some wanted to descend the mountain and return home, while others went to become bodyguards for wealthy families or planned to join the government as official guards...
Seeing that everyone had found a direction, Lu Chengfeng also felt relieved. At this moment, Li Mo brought over a stack of silver notes, which were issued jointly by the Eight Great Banks of the world, bearing eight imprints and made of a special material that was extremely hard to counterfeit.
The stack of silver notes Li Mo brought over consisted mostly of notes with a face value of one hundred. A hundred taels of silver could be exchanged for a hundred strings of copper coins, an amount that for an ordinary family could be a lifetime's savings.
For the majority of people, a hundred taels of silver is already a considerable fortune.
Most of this silver had been accumulated by Lu Chengfeng during the eradication of the Black Wind Stronghold years ago, totaling over a thousand taels. He usually had little use for it, so he saved it up.
At this time, a total of seven registered disciples each received a hundred taels and were sent down the mountain.
Among the remaining servants, Lu Chengfeng kept only Granny Wang and Granny Sun for cooking and cleaning, and everyone else, besides receiving their agreed wages, was given an additional twenty taels and all were dismissed.
Only Li Mo, Su Wanqing, and the eldest registered disciple Luo Yong remained present.
Lu Chengfeng looked at Luo Yong, sighed, and clasped his hands, saying, "Senior Brother Luo..." Since he became the true inheritance of Bixiao Peak, becoming everyone's Senior Brother, it was the first time he called him this way.
Upon hearing this, Luo Yong hurriedly said, "I cannot accept this. Learning knows no age, the capable come first. Though I am older, you are the Senior Brother of Bixiao Peak, and I cannot bear the title of Senior Brother."
Without waiting for Lu Chengfeng to continue, he went on, "I have been living alone for many years and never thought of marrying again, so I might as well stay here on Bixiao Peak, which is a place to settle."
"If you don't mind, Senior Brother, I would like to stay here."
Lu Chengfeng felt quite sentimental, thinking of the kindness Luo Yong had shown him. Being a true elder of Bixiao Peak and remaining here for decades, it would be indeed too cruel to make him leave.
"So be it. Since you wish to stay, I will certainly not drive you away. From now on, it will be just us depending on each other," he said.
He didn't even bother asking Li Mo because he knew this young Junior Brother respected him as both a mentor and father figure, and anyone might leave, but not Li Mo.
Lu Chengfeng then turned to Su Wanqing, "Junior Sister, what about you? When do you plan to return to your family?"
The Su Family is a prominent clan in the south, with an illustrious background, inheriting the secret skill "Canglang Yin" across generations, wealthy in family assets, disciples spread far and wide, and an elder overseeing, making it one of the Prominent Families.
Lu Chengfeng could not have known the hidden filth within prominent families, only thinking that if Su Wanqing returned to her family, she could live as a well-to-do young lady, instead of the hardships she faced on the mountain now.
Su Wanqing opened her mouth slightly, feeling suffocated, as she had hoped he might say a few words to coax her into staying, but he seemed eager to have her leave.
She had always been gentle and docile, but at this moment, she couldn't help but her eyes turn slightly red, "Are you really so eager to drive me away?"
"Then I will leave!"
Saying this, she turned on her heels to leave.
Lu Chengfeng was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a reaction from his Second Junior Sister.
Standing nearby, Luo Suyi, being a woman with sensitive intuition, had noticed the difference in Su Wanqing's feelings towards Lu Chengfeng and nudged him, "Aren't you going to chase after her? Are you really going to let a young lady leave crying without saying a word?"
Only then did Lu Chengfeng come to his senses, and he quickly used his Lightweight Technique, taking three steps and turning them into two, catching up with ease, "Junior Sister, wait, did I say something wrong? I apologize to you."
Su Wanqing didn't know why she felt increasingly aggrieved the more she thought about it. She rarely shed tears growing up, yet now she couldn't hold back the tears streaming from her eyes, quickly blurring her vision.
Lu Chengfeng, whose inner strength and swordsmanship were now outstanding, caught up with just a few breaths and turned over to block Su Wanqing's path.
"Junior Sister, wait..."
Everything he had intended to say stopped abruptly, as he felt unspeakable heartache seeing Su Wanqing's tear-filled face.
Su Wanqing wanted to rush into his arms, yet... she had no reason or standing to do so.
She stopped, turning her face slightly to avoid letting this man see her in such a disheveled state, "I'm fine, I just feel a bit reluctant to leave for a moment."
"Senior Brother... Lu Chengfeng, you go back, I wish you and your wife boundless love and harmony, an abundance of children and grandchildren, and a long life together."
Even a fool would realize that something was off with Su Wanqing's emotions, and Lu Chengfeng was unwilling to let her leave like this. He recalled the many moments they had shared, slightly sighing.
"Wanqing, when did things between us become so formal?"
Such an overdue address, 'Wanqing,' completely overwhelmed Su Wanqing, causing her to squat down, wrap her arms around her knees, bury her head on her knees, and cry loudly.