In the past one hundred years, Zhao Layue had broken through three Cultivation states and reached the upper state of the Broken Sea, becoming a truly powerful swordsman. As a result, Aoyama had experienced some subtle but important changes. These minor changes accumulated and would erupt soon.
As Yuan Qijing was in Zhaoge City, Fang Jingtian became the person with the highest status among the nine peaks of Aoyama. He had been fair and steady over the years, winning the hearts of the people. After a long time of preparation, he proposed to appoint a new sect master, which was supported by many elders and disciples, but also met with many objections.
The disciples of Aoyama still remembered that there was a great grandmaster who was sleeping in Zhaoge City.
Who would believe Fang Jingtian's claim that Jing Jiu was not the Grandmaster Jingyang but the All in One Sword Devil?
Since Zen Master and Lian Sanyue had admitted the fact, how could they deny it?
Zhao Layue was behind closed doors, and Gu Qing was in Zhaoge City. Shenmo Peak didn't say anything, and Tianguang Peak was the most vocal opponent. Zhuo Rusui even came out from behind closed doors once.
Faced with the opposing voices, Fang Jingtian was still calm. He didn't suppress the opposing voices by force, but gave a convincing reason.
Regardless of whether Jing Jiu was the Immortal Jingyang or the All in One Sword Devil, the Aoyama Sect wouldn't have a sect master as long as he didn't wake up in Zhaoge City.
The Aoyama Sect needed a new sect master.
No matter whether it was Fang Jingtian, Guangyuan Zhenren, or someone else …
Over the last one hundred years, the Aoyama Sect didn't have a sect master. Yuan Qijing stayed in the Royal Palace all the time, and the peaks acted on their own, which had a great impact on the sect. Even Zhuo Rusui, who was the most troublemaker, couldn't object to Fang Jingtian's reason.
The next question was, how should the new sect master of Aoyama be chosen?
The elders and disciples of Shiyue Peak started reading the mountain of sect rules, trying to find the rules that were more favorable to Guangyuan Zhenren.
Standing on the top of Tianguang Peak, Elder Mo Chi sighed and couldn't form a sentence.
Shanghai De Peak was silent.
The disciples of Liangwang Peak and the sword practitioners of other peaks were rushing back to Aoyama from all over the continent.
The final decision would be made at the Aoyama Sword Trials in early spring next year.
…
…
After listening to Yuan Qu's report, Zhao Layue asked, "Where is Gu Qing?"
Yuan Qu said, "Big Brother Gu Qing is supervising the state in Zhaoge City. Fang Jingtian asked him to come back a few times, but he didn't listen."
"It's right that he didn't come back," said Zhao Layue.
Yuan Qu continued, "Ping Yong-Ka and Apiao suddenly disappeared eighty years ago. No one knows where they went, but Zen Master sent a message saying that we shouldn't worry about them."
Zhao Layue had vaguely guessed where the two little guys had gone, asking, "What is Tong Yan's opinion on this matter?"
Yuan Qu said, "Big Brother Tong Yan showed us the way back when we besieged Cloud-Dream Mountain. The Zhongzhou School didn't say anything about it, but secretly gave the order to kill him. He went to the hermit peaks after he came back. I haven't seen him for a long time."
Zhao Layue asked, "Is Zhuo Rusui still behind closed doors?"
Yuan Qu said, "Big Brother Zhuo started behind closed doors three years later than you. I don't think he will come out soon."
Zhao Layue asked after a moment of silence, "How is he doing?"
She always asked the most important question at the last moment.
Yuan Qu said, "The Immortal Sect Master hasn't woken up yet. In the beginning, Zen Master guarded him for ten years. Later, Shui Yue Nunnery guarded him for ten years, Bu Qiuxiao guarded him for ten years, and Senior Master Guangyuan guarded him for ten years after he broke through the Cultivation state."
"Whose turn is it now?" asked Zhao Layue.
"Bu Qiuxiao," answered Yuan Qu.
Zhao Layue thought that Liu Shisui should be there as well, so she gave up the idea of going to Zhaoge City right away.
The Guocheng Temple, Shui Yue Nunnery and Yimaozhai guarded Jing Jiu in Zhaoge City not only because they respected the Immortal Jingyang and had a personal relationship with him, but also because they wanted to show their attitude to the Zhongzhou School, hoping to intimidate them. Only by doing so could the peace of the world be maintained.
Of course, the most important thing was that Yuan Qijing was still alive.
It was said that the Royal Palace of Zhaoge City didn't need to activate the formation to cool down the temperature even in the middle of summer, because there was endless snow falling in that side hall.
Zhao Layue remembered clearly that Jing Jiu had told her that Yuan Qijing and Liu Ci had only a few decades left to live.
She and Jing Jiu were standing by the cliff edge of Shenmo Peak when he said that.
It happened more than one hundred years ago.
Yuan Qijing should have left a long time ago, but why was he still alive?
…
…
In the early autumn, the braziers were lit in the hall.
Zhaoge City was much colder than the south, but it shouldn't be so cold. Yet, those palace servant girls and eunuchs seemed to be used to it.
It was because Yuan Qijing was in the royal palace.
Of course, all the palaces in the royal palace had their own formations, which could make it feel like spring all the year round. However, the owner of this palace preferred nature and the feeling of being surrounded by a stove.
Royal Concubine Hu had been the Royal Dowager for one hundred years, but she still had an innocent expression on her face, like a young girl. "When are you going back to Aoyama?" she asked Gu Qing.
"I'm not going back," said Gu Qing.
Everybody knew that the Royal Dowager and the Governor of the State were the staunchest allies, and this relationship had been maintained for more than one hundred years. Yet, they still felt like strangers to each other. At least, they weren't familiar with each other, let alone intimate with each other.
Even when they were talking, they stood at a distance of more than one hundred feet. If it were an ordinary person, he or she wouldn't be able to hear what they were talking about.
The scene looked a bit odd.
The palace servant girls and eunuchs in the royal palace had changed many times, but they all knew that this was the rule of the Royal Dowager and the Governor of the State.
The palace servant girls served the tea and retreated to the outside of the hall.
Empress Hu looked at Jing Jiu and said worriedly, "If Fang Jingtian becomes the new sect master and summons you back, you will have no choice but to obey his orders."
"Yes," said Gu Qing.
Empress Hu suddenly understood something, and said with a faint smile, "So you will become Cultivation partners with Zhen Tao before next spring, right?"
Sect Master Shui Yue Nunnery had finally broken through the Cultivation state a few years ago and became an important figure of his generation.
If Gu Qing could become Cultivation partners with Zhen Tao, and the relationship between the Shenmo Peak and Shui Yue Nunnery, he would have a powerful ally.
Under such circumstances, even if Fang Jingtian became the sect master of Aoyama, he wouldn't be able to harm Jing Jiu easily.
Many years later, if Gu Qing wanted to compete with Zhuo Rusui or someone else for the position of the sect master of Aoyama, Zhen Tao would be of great help.
"I did have to consider the time."
Gu Qing didn't deny what she said, and said, "But that's only one aspect. I really like Lady Zhen Tao."
"Men are so realistic. What do you mean by 'like'?" Empress Hu looked at him and said mockingly.
Gu Qing said calmly, "Empress Dowager, please be careful with your words."
"I said that, I take it back."
Empress Hu leaned on the couch and looked outside the window.
Gu Qing also looked outside the window.
The two didn't say anything else.
The palace was silent.
The scene was strange.
Silence. They looked outside the window.
There was nothing outside the window.
After an unknown period of time.
Empress Hu said softly, "Then are you going to leave me like this?"
Gu Qing turned his head.
The setting sun shone on the palace wall on the other side of the window, and on her face.
It didn't add any color.
Her eyes were a bit red.
Filled with tears.
…
…
(The name of the chapter "Outside the Window" is not from the song of the same name by Dou Wei, but from the movie of the same name by Lin Qingxia, or Qiong Yao's first novel.)
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