Who died?
The head of the Inheritance Hall, or the Dean?
On the way, Fang Qingyuan mulled over this question. The bell had tolled nine times, a sign that someone of great importance had passed. Ordinary disciples weren't afforded such a tribute, so it could only be one of the two remaining high-ranking members.
'We've only had two or three peaceful months, and now something's happened again.'
By the time he reached the summit, all the disciples of Tianshan Villa had gathered. For an event of this magnitude, everyone who wasn't in death seclusion was required to attend.
Fang Qingyuan stood at the very back. He looked at the crowd before him, feeling it was much sparser than usual.
The disciples were all silent. After the recent string of upheavals, most of them had grown numb. Only Jiang Kui, standing at the front, cut a lonely and desolate figure from behind.
At this sight, Fang Qingyuan's heart trembled. 'Could something have happened to the Dean?'
Before Fang Qingyuan could think further, Zhao E Lian stormed out of the grand hall. He reined in his temper slightly upon seeing the assembled disciples, but then his expression grew even more ferocious, as if he had just remembered something. He shot a glance back at the hall, then summoned his Golden Silk Silver-backed Manta Ray, stepped aboard, and vanished in the blink of an eye.
After he left, Lechuan emerged with a smile on his face. Accompanying him was a white-haired elder.
However, the elder walked in front with Lechuan following behind, a clear sign that the elder's status was higher than Lechuan's.
Addressing the disciples, the elder spoke calmly.
"I am Huo Wu of the Beast Taming Sect. Dean Jiang was gravely injured in the last battle and has unfortunately passed away today. The position of Dean will now be filled by Lechuan."
Hearing this, Lechuan suppressed a smile. He bowed his head to Huo Wu and declared:
"I, Lechuan, swear to manage this place well, guard the Southern Border for the main sect, and for Uncle Huo—"
Huo Wu cut off Lechuan's pledge of loyalty with a wave of his hand and said:
"That's enough. If you're going to thank anyone, you should be thanking Dean Jiang. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be sitting in this position. Business here is concluded, so I will return to Zongshan. I'm entrusting Little Hu to your care."
Without waiting for Lechuan to respond, Huo Wu rose into the air and vanished from sight.
Only after Huo Wu had been gone for some time did Lechuan lower his hands from their formal bow. He then ushered a young man out from the grand hall and introduced him to the disciples.
"This is Huo Hu. At such a young age, he is already a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. From this day forward, he is the new head of Precepts Peak."
Despite being given the position, Huo Hu looked thoroughly displeased. He opened his mouth, about to refuse, but then he recalled Huo Wu's words and shut it again.
'Since the old man told him to work on his temper, he'd just have to listen.'
After making arrangements for Huo Hu, Lechuan proceeded to fill the other vacant positions. Watching him work, Fang Qingyuan was surprised to realize that Lechuan actually had some skill.
'But I don't understand how the position, which should have gone to Zhao E Lian, suddenly ended up with Lechuan.'
'Thinking back to Zhao E Lian's expression, he must have suffered a bitter, silent defeat. He and Lechuan were once close allies against Wei Tong, and now, in the blink of an eye, they were about to become sworn enemies.'
'Furthermore, the Elder Dean had run Tianshan Villa for decades, only to suddenly die like this. The hidden story behind his death was probably full of twists and turns.'
'Gravely injured? Ask any of the disciples; I doubt a single one of them believes it.'
But Fang Qingyuan wasn't interested in any of this. Nor did he dare to be. He was afraid of getting caught in the crossfire of these Golden Core masters' struggles just by being nearby, let alone trying to understand the details.
Fang Qingyuan looked at the beaming Lechuan and then at the very reluctant Huo Hu, who had an arm slung forcibly around his shoulders. He sighed to himself.
'Now the dust has truly settled. I hope the coming days can be as peaceful and joyful as the last ten years, free from any more turmoil.'
....
The Elder Dean's funeral was an especially grand affair. He had run the villa for decades, made friends far and wide, and was known for his warm, approachable nature. The cultivators of the surrounding region all held him in high regard.
The funeral rites lasted for over a month. Finally, Jiang Kui led a few of her martial siblings in escorting the coffin, preparing to return his body to his ancestral home for burial.
Dean Jiang's ancestral home wasn't in the Southern Border, but the region had become his second home. He was originally a disciple of the Jiang Family from Qi Dong City. It was a mystery how his branch of the family had ended up in the Southern Border, let alone how he had become a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect.
Qi Dong City was located in the heart of the Central Plains, a place where Confucianism held sway, while other schools of thought like Daoism and Buddhism were in decline.
This likely explained why Dean Jiang had been able to run Tianshan Villa in such an orderly fashion, setting it apart from the other sects and families of the Southern Border.
Whether he was out of place or simply true to himself, Dean Jiang was now dead. The new dean was a dyed-in-the-wool Beast Taming Sect member, and who knew what direction Tianshan Villa would take under his leadership.
After busying himself with the Elder Dean's funeral, Fang Qingyuan finally found some free time to visit the Grand Precepts Hall and find its new head, Huo Hu, to receive his promotion mission.
When he arrived, Huo Hu's eyes lit up the moment he heard someone was there to receive a promotion mission. He said excitedly:
"This mission isn't difficult. Just go to the Endless Forest and catch a few Demon Tigers for me."
Fang Qingyuan was stunned. 'Go to the Endless Forest to catch Demon Tigers? Isn't that just a death sentence?'
'How did the previous head of the peak die? You're the new one—do you not know, or are you just playing dumb? Asking a mere Qi Refining Fourth Level Junior Cultivator like me to go catch a Demon Tiger... how can you even say that with a straight face?'
'Becoming an Inner Sect Disciple isn't worth dying for.'
Seeing the look on Fang Qingyuan's face and watching him turn to leave, Huo Hu hurriedly called out:
"I know the mission is difficult! As head of the peak, I have a duty to protect my disciples. That's why I'll go with you."
Seeing Huo Hu's expression, it slowly dawned on Fang Qingyuan what was happening. 'So he's just using a disciple's promotion mission as an excuse to sneak out and have some fun.'
'If you want to go, just go. Why make it so complicated?'
But Fang Qingyuan couldn't possibly know of Huo Hu's predicament. The Huo Family's Ancestor had ordered him to work on his temper, and Lechuan was reporting his every move back, watching him like a hawk.
For the past month, he had been cooped up in the Precepts Hall, and he was going stir-crazy. Now that an opportunity to get out had finally presented itself, there was no way he was going to let it slip by.
Fang Qingyuan didn't know what was going through the young man's head, but even with Huo Hu accompanying him, he still didn't dare enter the Endless Forest.
'In the Endless Forest? Forget a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator—I wouldn't feel safe even with a Golden Core Ancestor watching my back.'
So, Fang Qingyuan said:
"This disciple has suddenly realized that my cultivation is still quite lacking. I believe I should wait until I've broken through a few more levels before attempting the promotion mission."
Seeing his chance to escape slipping away, Huo Hu grew desperate. He suddenly unleashed the powerful spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, making Fang Qingyuan's heart leap into his throat.
It felt like being stared down by a ferocious tiger, as if his throat could be torn out at any second.
Thankfully, Huo Hu retracted the pressure as quickly as he had released it. He seemed to realize he had acted inappropriately. Fang Qingyuan was his subordinate, someone who was supposed to call him Martial Uncle, not an enemy to be intimidated.
"Are you alright? My bad."
Fang Qingyuan was taken aback to hear Huo Hu apologize. 'This Foundation Establishment Uncle really is just a kid at heart, to actually say sorry.'
Then, Huo Hu added:
"Don't worry. You don't have to go into the Endless Forest for this mission. Just wait for me outside. Once I've caught the Demon Tigers, your mission will be considered complete. How about it?"