Chapter 53: Su Miaoqing Wants to Leave Too?

A shocked silence fell over the hall.

By the old laws of the Wentian Sect, disciples who completed their novice training were indeed permitted to descend the mountain and travel the world to temper their Dao. However, the True Martial Assembly—the most important inter-sect competition—was only 2 years away.

Xiao Yifeng had grown rapidly, yes, but in the eyes of the Elders and his seniors, he was still the little Junior Brother who had just hiked up the mountain. No one expected him to volunteer for such a dangerous journey at this critical juncture.

Take Su Miaoqing, for example. She had reached Foundation Establishment long ago. Yet, because of her youth and her status as the daughter of the Hall Masters, she lacked neither Dharma Treasures nor Immortal Artifacts. There was no need for her to risk her life in the mortal realm, and no one questioned her staying.

Su Qianyi frowned, assuming his disciple was getting ahead of himself.

He waved a hand dismissively. “Xiaofeng, you are still young. Although you have reached the Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation, your foundation is still shallow. There is no rush to travel the world. Wait a few more years.”

Lin Ziyun nodded in agreement, her voice gentle. “Your Master is right. Don’t be impatient. As for the Assembly, your Senior Brothers and Sisters will uphold the honor of Wuya Hall.”

Xiao Yifeng looked at his Master and Mistress.

The image of their faces superimposed with memories from his past life. He remembered the slow, agonizing decline of Wuya Hall. He remembered how, despite their high cultivation, his Master and Mistress were constantly mocked by the other Hall Masters because their disciples were weak.

He remembered how, after his Master ascended and passed away, Wuya Hall disintegrated, vanishing into the dust of history, never to rise again.

In this life, the heavy burden of the sect’s honor rested entirely on their shoulders.

They took me in when I was nothing. They protected me. How can I watch Wuya Hall fall into ruin again?

Xiao Yifeng stood up silently. He walked around the table to where Su Qianyi and Lin Ziyun sat.

Thud.

He dropped to his knees, his forehead pressing against the floor.

The sudden movement startled them. Lin Ziyun stood up instinctively. “Xiaofeng, what are you doing? Get up, child!”

She reached out to help him, and the surrounding disciples stood up in confusion, unsure of how to react.

Xiao Yifeng kept his head lowered, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion.

“Master, Mistress… This disciple knows his abilities are meager. Yet, my heart burns to share your burdens. I was born from humble roots, a nobody. It was only by your grace that I survived and found a home here. There has not been a single moment where I have not thought of repaying this mountain of debt.”

He choked back a sob, adding grit to his voice.

“The True Martial Assembly is approaching. If I am fortunate enough to establish my Foundation, I cannot miss this chance. I only wish to bring glory to Master and Mistress in the rankings. I beg you… please grant me this opportunity!”

Lin Ziyun froze, her hand hovering in the air. She looked at the boy kneeling before her, moved beyond words. Su Qianyi had been harsh to him, yet Xiao Yifeng remembered every scrap of kindness they had shown.

“Xiaofeng…” She sighed, her eyes softening. “Get up. You are too young to carry such weight. Wuya Hall has your Senior Brothers and Sisters. We have Dharma Treasures. We aren’t so poor that we need to send a child out to scavenge.”

Xiang Tiange stepped forward, his voice earnest. “Junior Brother, listen to Mistress. If the sky collapses, your Seniors are here to hold it up. You don’t need to push yourself so hard.”

“Exactly!” Su Miaoqing chimed in, pointing a chopstick at the imaginary enemy. “Don’t be in such a rush. As for that Xuan Yi guy? When the time comes, Senior Sister will beat him up for you! I can take ten of him!”

But Xiao Yifeng remained kneeling, immovable as a statue.

Su Qianyi’s face darkened. He slammed his cup down.

“Xiao Yifeng!”

The coldness in his voice cut through the room.

“Do you think you’re invincible just because you reached Qi Condensation Grand Perfection? Do you think your Senior Brothers and Sisters are all mediocre trash? Do you think you are the only one in Wuya Hall capable of upholding our honor?”

The accusation was heavy. Xiao Yifeng’s heart skipped a beat.

“Disciple does not dare!” he said quickly. “Senior Brothers and Sisters possess abilities that far surpass mine. I am painfully aware of my own insignificance.”

He paused, then looked up, meeting Su Qianyi’s gaze with burning intensity.

“But Master… your kindness is too great. You and Mistress have abilities that reach the heavens; I cannot help you with your cultivation or sect duties. Fighting for a high rank in the Assembly is the only way I can think of to repay you. Please, Master… let me go!”

Su Qianyi glared at him. The boy was stubborn as a mule—oil and rice wouldn’t enter.

“Fine!” Su Qianyi laughed in anger. “It seems your wings have hardened. You think you can fly on your own now. If your mind is made up, I won’t stop you. I won’t give you an excuse to say I held you back from greatness.”

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “Pack your things and leave in 2 days. But listen well: if you miss the registration for the True Martial Assembly, don’t bother coming back. I want to see just how you plan to bring me glory! Now get up! Do you need me to lift you?”

Su Qianyi flicked his sleeve and sat back, turning his face away.

Joy surged through Xiao Yifeng. He knocked his head on the floor heavily. “Thank you, Master! This disciple will not disappoint you!”

Su Qianyi merely snorted.

Lin Ziyun looked at her husband with a bitter smile. She knew his temper; once he decided, there was no changing it. She looked down at Xiao Yifeng tenderly. “Alright, get up now.”

Xiao Yifeng scrambled to his feet.

But before the dust could settle, a clear, defiant voice rang out.

“Dad! Mom! If Xiaofeng can go down the mountain… then I want to go too!”

The room went dead silent.

“Nonsense!”

CRACK!

Su Qianyi slammed his palm down on the armrest of his chair, shattering the wood into splinters. His face, usually fair, turned a furious shade of iron-green. He glared at his daughter, his chest heaving.

Su Miaoqing flinched violently. She had never seen her father this angry. She bit her lip, tears welling up, but the stubbornness in her eyes didn’t fade.

Lin Ziyun grabbed her daughter’s arm, terrified she would say something to escalate the situation. “Qing’er, stop it! I know you can’t bear to part with Xiaofeng, but don’t provoke your father right now!”

“If I can’t go, I can’t go!” Su Miaoqing screamed, shaking off her mother’s hand. “You just want to tie me to this mountain for the rest of my life!”

She turned and fled the dining hall, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Lin Ziyun looked at her husband. Su Qianyi sat amidst the ruins of his chair, his expression stony, his gaze gloomy as stagnant water. He was truly enraged.

She sighed, gave the disciples a helpless look, and chased after her daughter.

The dining hall was left in an excruciatingly awkward silence.

Xiao Yifeng, the instigator of this mess, stood frozen. The Senior Brothers looked at the floor, the ceiling, anywhere but their Master. Standing was wrong. Sitting was wrong.

“What are you standing for?” Su Qianyi barked, not looking at them. “Sit! Eat!”

Everyone sat down instantly, terrified to breathe too loud.

The rest of the meal tasted like chewing wax. They sat on pins and needles, shoveling rice into their mouths mechanically, praying for the meal to end.

Meanwhile, in the backyard garden.

Lin Ziyun found her daughter sitting in a stone pavilion, staring blankly at the moon.

Seeing her mother approach, Su Miaoqing’s stoic mask crumbled. Her face twisted into a mask of grievance, tears spilling over her cheeks.

Lin Ziyun’s heart ached. She sat down and pulled Su Miaoqing into her embrace, stroking her hair.

“Qing’er, don’t blame your father. We are just worried. You are a girl, and you’ve never left our side. The world outside is chaotic and cruel.”

Su Miaoqing pulled back, wiping her eyes furiously.

“Why can Xiaofeng go? Why can the Senior Brothers go? Xiaofeng is younger than me! And you’re the one who always says it, Mom—who says women are inferior to men?”

Lin Ziyun opened her mouth, then closed it. She had indeed said that.

After a long pause, she sighed. “Xiaofeng is going to seek his opportunity for Foundation Establishment. He needs to find his own path. You… you have everything here.”

She looked at her daughter’s tear-stained face and relented.

“Stop crying. Listen, Mother promises you. After the True Martial Assembly concludes, I will let you go down the mountain to travel. I will convince your father myself.”

Su Miaoqing sniffled, looking up with wide, hopeful eyes. “Really? You aren’t lying to me?”

“When has Mother ever lied to you?” Lin Ziyun smiled helplessly. “If I say it, I will do it.”

“Mom, you’re the best!”

Su Miaoqing threw her arms around Lin Ziyun’s neck, burying her face in her mother’s shoulder.

Lin Ziyun hugged her back, relieved that the storm had passed. She gently stroked her daughter’s back, a gentle smile on her lips.

Because of the angle, she didn’t see the glint of cunning flashing in Su Miaoqing’s eyes.