Chapter 6 Part 1
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Chapter 6 Part 1: Recasting the Glory of Bai Lian! (1)
As the beautiful sunset bathed the sky and flocks of birds flew in groups, the evening scenery offered a serene beauty that was worth admiring.
This was once a typical scene in the Taicang Basin, where the leisurely lifestyle was the norm. However, after the calamity that followed, everything had turned to dust.
It was evening, and near the mountain pass, the stacked firewood was set alight.
The flames flickered, casting shadows that illuminated the faces of the surrounding refugees. Their faces, though different in appearance, all wore the same expression: melancholy, agony, exhaustion… and even despair.
Intermittent explosions could be heard from the bonfire.
There was no conversation; everyone silently consumed the dry rations in their hands.
Ten days had passed. They had traveled eastward along the Yuanqing Mountain Trail, and they were nearing the end of their physical and mental endurance, as well as the depletion of their food supplies.
Yet, half the journey still remained before they could escape the Taicang Basin.
“We will die if things continue like this,” murmured a young man sitting on the bluestones, not bothering to eat.
His hair, clean but without fragrance, looked disheveled from frequent scratching, resembling a bird’s nest.
He, too, was approaching his limits.
His gaze fell on the white embroidered flower pattern on his clothes. Faith alone, without strength, could not achieve the greatness of “that person.”
Ten years ago, he was also a refugee.
On the road where cries echoed through the sky, he had lost his last loved one.
He had witnessed countless horrors: children and women sold, acts of cannibalism, plunder, and slaughter…
Eventually, he had walked out of that hellish place. With a bit of luck, he became a cultivator.
But he was different from the others.
He didn’t desire a long life or power. He only wanted to do everything in his power to alleviate the suffering of the people.
As a mere rookie in the Qi Refining Stage, he had no ability to control the weather, and his lack of resources meant he couldn’t produce powerful magic seals.
Thus, he had no choice but to lead these refugees in their escape.
Unfortunately, all of this seemed to be coming to an end.
The food he had was nearly gone, yet he could not abandon these people to search for provisions.
If he left, the last pillar of hope for these people would collapse.
[If one lacks determination, one cannot survive.]
“It seems this is where I belong,” the young man muttered, leaning back and gazing at the night sky.
His fingers never left the intricate pattern embroidered on his garment.
It wasn’t just any ordinary pattern.
Though he felt fear and confusion, touching that pattern made all his fears seem insignificant.
Suddenly, a voice as clear as spring echoed across the wilderness.
The young man snapped his eyes open to see… a rabbit? No, a young lady bending down, looking him directly in the eyes.
The starry night sky was barely visible that evening, as mist drifted through the air. Whether it was death qi or something else, he couldn’t tell.
Yet, perhaps it was this very encounter that had made everything seem extraordinary long ago.
His heartbeat raced.
His fingers, tracing the pattern, suddenly felt a searing heat, as if the power stored within hope had awakened.
“Bai, Bai, Bai… Bai Lian, you are Saint Bai Lian!”
The young man rose to his feet, his expression filled with disbelief.
Bai Lian hesitated for a moment before nodding in acknowledgment.
She wanted to deny it, but the intensity of his gaze made her understand that denying it would be futile.
The young man, upon receiving her confirmation, broke into an ecstatic dance.
It was as if a long drought had been quenched by sweet rain.
His weary, dying eyes now gleamed with hope.
“My name is Fang Yan,” he exclaimed, “I recently joined the Bai Sect. I had the honor of listening to Martial Brother Gongliang Shu’s teachings.”
Bai Lian froze in place.
What did she just hear?
Gongliang Shu?
It was probably the beggar she had encountered when she went to pick up the fifth Martial Sister. Bai Lian vaguely remembered Gongliang Shu as a villain from “The Battle of the Gods.” After defecting from Thousand Sword City, he transformed into a Blood Demon and cut down dozens of Elders and the Supreme Elder from the four major sects.
If Bai Lian, as “Elder Martial Sister,” didn’t grow stronger, Gongliang Shu would eventually meet his end at the hands of the four sects.
But this was reality, not a game.
The upheaval in Gucheng County had completely changed Gongliang Shu’s life.
His master, Gu Jiu, had died, and he could no longer join Thousand Sword City. Without the sword skills of that city, his obsession had not grown to monstrous proportions.
Without that obsession, he would not have become a Blood Demon.
If this Gongliang Shu was indeed the same person…
Now, he had completely gone astray and joined an organization called the “Bai Sect.”
It was a curious development… but it was also gratifying.
Wait!
Bai Lian’s gaze suddenly sharpened, fixing on Fang Yan.
She emphasized, “Bai Sect?”
Fang Yan nodded eagerly, “Bai Sect!”
Bai Lian suddenly felt a sense of foreboding rise in her chest.
Her intuition, though not based on divination, often proved eerily accurate.
Tremulously, she asked, “Which character is the ‘Bai’ you mentioned?”
Fang Yan chuckled, “Naturally, it’s Your Highness the Saint’s surname!”
Bai Lian’s mind reeled, but she kept her composure.
She didn’t want to discuss the ominous title of “Your Highness the Saint” for now.
What concerned her more was this “Bai Sect.”
Before she could ask further, Fang Yan jumped in and explained, “Bai Sect isn’t a traditional sect; it’s a loose organization. It’s similar to secular academic sects, where cultivators and mortals gather out of admiration for Your Highness. The Bai Sect promotes the spirit of the Holy King, with no leaders, Elders, or disciples. Everyone is equal, and the only difference is the depth of knowledge.”
Bai Lian’s smile disappeared entirely.
She wanted to grab Fang Yan by the neck and demand, “Damn it, who exactly is scheming against me behind my back?”
She had already risen so high, so high that even while she slept, she could not shake the feeling of insecurity.
“Are these people so cruel that they think my death wasn’t fast enough, and now they want to push me higher?”
At that moment, the jade rabbit, nestled in Bai Lian’s chest, perked up upon hearing these words.
Bai Lian was truly remarkable, worthy of the title!
Hmm. These people have discernment; they know only the title “Your Highness the Saint” is worthy of Bai Lian.
The jade rabbit raised its front paws in a small, congratulatory gesture.
But just as it began to make a move, Bai Lian pushed the rabbit back into her “valley.”
“Go and eat your grass,” Bai Lian muttered.
The jade rabbit felt wronged, but could only remain silent.
Bai Lian managed a strained smile, about to inquire further about the origins of the Bai Sect. However, Fang Yan preemptively spoke again, revealing the answer.
“By the way, I almost forgot to mention. Bai Sect was founded by Zhao Haiya, a senior brother of the Tianji Sect, and Gongliang Shu, an unaffiliated cultivator. Initially, Martial Brother Zhao didn’t intend to do this, but Brother Gongliang felt that fighting alone wouldn’t promote the spirit of the saint. After some discussions, the two of them decided to establish Bai Sect…”
Bai Lian’s heart sank.
It was Zhao Haiya.
The truth hit her like a slap in the face.
“Damn it!” she muttered inwardly.
The “traitors” were everywhere.
Was there anything more despairing than this?
Outsiders’ slander had never affected Bai Lian, but…
Thanks to Martial Sister Zhao (Tong) Yao and Martial Brother Zhao Haiya, she had been praised all the way from “Star Lord” to “Immortal Emperor.”
Damn it.
Surely, they were siblings, weren’t they?
Bai Lian was so furious, her hair almost standing on end.
The philosophy of the Bai Sect was to benefit the common people, guided by the “Spirit of Master Bai Lian.”
To use Fang Yan’s words: human energy is limited, so Bai Sect’s followers believed their Master Bai Lian should focus on important matters while they helped the ordinary people.
[Master Bai Lian loved everyone in the world.]
Bai Lian, who was enraged, couldn’t help but scold in her mind.
