After the disciple recruitment ceremony concluded, several kind-faced cultivators led the newly initiated disciples, weaving through the well-arranged pavilions and terraces of the immortal sect.
They first brought these newly arrived youths to their respective bedrooms, and then led them to their respective martial arts training grounds.
Along the way, the cultivators patiently introduced the various sights and rules of the immortal sect, allowing the youths to gradually become familiar with this vast immortal sect, and immediately afterward, they distributed the exclusive training uniforms for the sect disciples.
Later on, the youths returned to their own bedrooms.
The bedrooms assigned to Ling Rong and Jiang Ruansheng were located very close to each other, so the two walked together, heading back to their rooms.
Jiang Ruansheng was extremely unfamiliar with the matters within the immortal sect, whereas Ling Rong was thoroughly acquainted with them.
Just as they reached the entrance of the bedrooms, a clear and bright voice came from behind, saying, “Please stay your steps.”
Jiang Ruansheng and Ling Rong subconsciously turned around, only to see the white-robed cultivator who had previously registered their identities standing not far away.
Ling Rong frowned, taking the lead to speak up and ask, “Is there something wrong?”
The white-robed cultivator wore a smile, his gaze landing on Jiang Ruansheng, asking, “You are called Jiang Ruansheng, correct?”
Jiang Ruansheng quickly nodded, asking politely, “Yes, I am, how should I address you, Senior Brother?”
“Just call me Ning Yu,” the white-robed cultivator, Ning Yu, said, adding, “By the way, Master has called you to go to his Yaoyue Palace, as he has something to discuss with you.”
When Ling Rong heard these words, his heart gave a sudden thump, sinking instantly.
He secretly pondered, wondering why Master would suddenly call Jiang Ruansheng to the Yaoyue Palace again.
“Where is the Yaoyue Palace?” Jiang Ruansheng scratched his head, looking completely blank as he asked.
“I will take you there,” Ning Yu said gently.
“Oh, okay, wait for me to return to the bedroom to drop off my luggage,” Jiang Ruansheng said, quickly turning around to rush into the bedroom.
He moved deftly to place his luggage properly, tidied up briefly, and then hurriedly ran back out, with beads of sweat lightly breaking out on his forehead.
“Brother Goudan, I am going to find Master now,” Jiang Ruansheng waved his hand toward Ling Rong, the innocent and naive smile still remaining on his face.
Hearing the name Goudan, a flash of awkwardness crossed Ling Rong’s face.
However, watching Jiang Ruansheng’s retreating figure as he followed Ning Yu into the distance, the worry in his heart quickly overshadowed that bit of awkwardness.
The Yaoyue Palace.
The palace doors were slightly open by a crack, and looking in from the outside, one could only catch sight of half the figure of the person sitting upright on the main seat.
That cold and stern countenance, even when only half revealed, exuded a chilling aura that made people shudder.
Jiang Ruansheng followed Ning Yu up the steps in front of the palace.
Ning Yu pushed open the door, cupped his hands in a respectful salute, and said, “Master, I have brought the person here.”
“Good,” Wen Pinglan responded, and his gaze softened a fraction when he saw that youthful face.
After Jiang Ruansheng entered the Yaoyue Palace, Ning Yu immediately backed out and closed the palace doors.
“Master, you called for me, is there something you need?” Jiang Ruansheng’s eyes were bright, staring at Wen Pinglan without blinking.
Looking at Jiang Ruansheng’s sparkling eyes, the memory of that brilliantly blooming peach tree deep in his mind suddenly burst into flower.
Two hundred years ago, a similarly tender voice had resonated amidst the rain of blossoms, saying, “Your disciple also hopes to one day be able to shield Master from the wind and rain.”
The eyes of the youth in his memory were also bright like this, reflecting the swirling peach blossoms, appearing even more brilliant than the stars.
“This master has something to bestow upon you,” Wen Pinglan withdrew his thoughts and said.
“Really!” Jiang Ruansheng’s eyes instantly grew even brighter, his pleasant surprise expressed clearly on his face.
Wen Pinglan nodded, his slender fingers reaching into his robes, pulling out a warm and moist jade pendant.
The texture of the jade pendant was delicate, and under the reflection of the soft light inside the palace, it emitted a faint glow, making it obvious at a glance that it was no ordinary item.
However, the edges of the jade pendant were exceptionally rounded, appearing as though they had been rubbed and worn down over time.
“This jade pendant is gifted to you,” he said, handing the jade pendant toward Jiang Ruansheng.
Jiang Ruansheng hurriedly stepped forward, receiving the jade pendant respectfully with both hands.
“Thank you, Master!” Jiang Ruansheng revealed a sweet smile.
Subsequently, he cupped the jade pendant carefully, sizing it up with scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Wen Pinglan’s gaze never moved away from Jiang Ruansheng’s face.
He stared intently at Jiang Ruansheng’s every expression, every trace of subtle change, trying to find that familiar shadow from this young face.
The obsession surged within the depths of his heart, wondering, Ling Rong, is it you,
Have you returned,
So many years have passed, are you still resenting this master,
If you see this jade pendant, will the resentment in your heart lessen slightly,
Jiang Ruansheng was excitedly inspecting the jade pendant, and when he gently flipped it over, he suddenly saw several delicate small characters engraved on the inner side, which read, “Gifted to beloved disciple, Ling Rong.”
He froze at first, and then his expression changed.
Seeing this, Wen Pinglan’s heart trembled, anticipating what kind of special reaction Jiang Ruansheng would have.
Unexpectedly, in the next second, Jiang Ruansheng raised his head, looking completely puzzled as he said, “Master, is this jade pendant of yours really meant for me?”
Wen Pinglan’s fingernails dug deeply into his palm, hurting to the point where blood almost welled out.
He forced himself to maintain composure, though his voice tightened uncontrollably, asking, “What is wrong?”
Jiang Ruansheng scratched his head and continued, saying, “The name engraved on this jade pendant is not my name, as I am called Jiang Ruansheng, not Ling Rong.”
He lifted his eyes, looking at his master’s suddenly pale countenance, belatedly realizing that these words might have touched upon some taboo, and subconsciously took half a step backward.
The palace suddenly fell into a dead silence.
Wen Pinglan stared fixedly at that young face, attempting to capture a familiar slyness from the subtle expressions.
However, the pure bewilderment in the depths of Jiang Ruansheng’s eyes was like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing the last trace of luck in his heart.
A trace of undisguisable disappointment instantly slid across Wen Pinglan’s eyes, and he said, “This master has not taken a disciple for a century, and you are the first disciple this master has accepted in a hundred years, so this master thought to give you something as a memento.”
“However, this master is usually negligent in managing belongings, and only this item on my person is somewhat presentable, so after a few days, this master will regrind a better jade pendant to gift to you.”
“Mm, okay,” Jiang Ruansheng nodded sensibly, raised a smiling face again, and asked, “Then this jade pendant,”
“You may hold onto it for now,” Wen Pinglan waved his hand and said.
Inside the bedroom.
Ling Rong sat on a chair, propping his head with one hand, his thoughts drifting further and further away.
Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open.
Ling Rong immediately withdrew his thoughts and stood up.
“Brother Goudan! I am back!” the youth’s voice was as cheerful as a bird just released from a cage.
Ling Rong lifted his eyelids, watching Jiang Ruansheng cover the distance in a few large strides to arrive before him, the excitement between the youth’s brows almost overflowing.
Ling Rong asked softly, “Did Master say anything to you?”
Jiang Ruansheng grinned, revealing a row of snowy white teeth, and replied impatiently, “Master did not say anything special to me, he just gave me a gift!”
“What gift?”
Without a second word, Jiang Ruansheng immediately reached his hand into his robes, carefully pulled out the jade pendant, held it up high, and said, “It is this!”
Ling Rong’s gaze followed Jiang Ruansheng’s hand, and the moment he saw the jade pendant, his pupils trembled violently, and his entire being froze in place.
This was,
This turned out to be the very jade pendant Master had given to him back then!
Ling Rong remembered that he had still been carrying the jade pendant on his person before his death.
Yet now, how did this jade pendant actually end up in Master’s hands,
Furthermore, looking at its appearance, it seemed that Master had meticulously preserved this jade pendant for a hundred years,