Chapter 150: A Sudden Enlightenment
As dusk approached, Ye Nan was brought into the Lingxiao Courtyard by two disciples.
Along the way, what he saw gave him a certain understanding of the Clear Sky Sect.
Prosperity and power could be seen everywhere.
He could not help but feel confused.
If his master had truly come to the Clear Sky Sect seeking revenge, then why did the sect seem completely unguarded?
Could it be that he was overthinking it, and his master had not come to seek revenge at all?
Indeed, if his master were truly an enemy of the Clear Sky Sect, these two disciples would surely have made him suffer already.
Recalling the sights along the way up Clear Sky Mountain — the female disciples as graceful as fairies, the spirited male disciples — their bearing filled Ye Nan with admiration.
If only he could train in such a sect, how wonderful that would be.
Entering the Lingxiao Courtyard, Ye Nan saw a group of people sitting around a long table, about to eat.
His gaze was immediately drawn to Li Qingqiu, who sat at the center.
Ye Nan was stunned — he had never seen anyone so transcendent in temperament.
Li Qingqiu’s features were so striking that he seemed as if he had stepped out of a painting.
If there truly were immortals in this world, they must look like this.
So thought Ye Nan.
Li Qingqiu glanced at him and said, “You must be Ye Nan, disciple of Mo Li?”
Ye Nan snapped back to his senses and asked cautiously, “Who is Mo Li?”
“He’s your master — the one who’s blind,” Zhang Yuchun replied, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
His thought was simple: either cut the grass and root or pretend nothing had happened.
Yet, the senior brother had asked to bring this boy back, and he could not fathom the reason.
“My master… what happened to him?” Ye Nan hurriedly asked, ignoring the oppressive aura of the sect.
All he wanted was to find his master.
“He’s dead.”
Li Qingqiu spoke plainly.
The words struck Ye Nan like thunder.
His whole body trembled as he struggled to accept it.
Li Dongyue, Wu Man’er, Li Sijin, Yang Jueding, Yuan Qi, Yuan Li, and the three Xiao brothers all looked at Ye Nan, each with different expressions.
Li Qingqiu continued, “Your master was entrusted by the Qi Family of Cangzhou to come to my Clear Sky Sect in search of a Qilin. He was captured by our disciples. Fearing the exposure of the Qi Family, he chose to end his own life. Later, someone will take you to see his body, so you can bid him a final farewell. It won’t be a wasted bond between master and disciple.”
It felt as though the sky had collapsed.
Ye Nan’s eyes turned bloodshot.
He gritted his teeth and asked, “Why should I believe you? How do I know my master wasn’t killed by you?”
Li Qingqiu’s gaze remained calm.
“If we had killed him, you would be dead already. Or better yet, we wouldn’t have bothered bringing you up the mountain at all. You’ve only been his disciple for a year, and your martial skill is ordinary. Tell me — how could you possibly threaten the Clear Sky Sect? What reason would I have to deceive you?”
Ye Nan opened his mouth but found no words to refute him.
Yang Jueding turned toward him and said, “Kid, this is the martial world. People die. Your master took on a task for others and had to bear the price. The fact that our Sect Master lets you see him one last time is already mercy. If you were in his place and someone came to steal your belongings, what would you do? Would you dare to inform their family after killing them?”
These words pierced deeper than a blade.
Ye Nan’s heart ached with suppressed fury.
“Take him away,” Li Qingqiu ordered.
The two disciples saluted and led Ye Nan out.
Once they were gone, Zhang Yuchun asked, “Senior Brother, why did you keep him alive and bring him up the mountain? That’s not your usual way of handling things.”
Li Qingqiu glanced at him.
“And what exactly is my way of handling things?”
Zhang Yuchun blinked but dared not answer.
Li Sijin chuckled.
“You kill without blinking and always cut the grass at its roots.”
Li Qingqiu turned and glared at her.
“Am I really that ruthless?”
Zhang Yuchun curled his lip — only Junior Sister dared speak to him that way.
Had he said it, Senior Brother would have surely punished him, regardless of his current position.
“Senior Brother is just softhearted,” Li Dongyue suddenly said.
“Ye Nan’s experiences are much like ours once were.”
Zhang Yuchun and Li Sijin froze for a moment, then felt a pang of guilt.
Li Qingqiu waved his hand.
“Enough. Let’s eat.”
He no longer thought about Ye Nan.
Even if the boy held a grudge against the Clear Sky Sect, that would simply be his own death wish.
The Clear Sky Sect could not afford to be arrogant, but neither could it afford excessive caution.
Li Qingqiu had seen Mo Li’s memories and confirmed that Ye Nan was utterly alone — that was why he had made this decision.
What concerned him far more was what exactly the Qi Family was raising.
Mo Li had never seen the thing in question — only received orders to capture a Qilin from the Clear Sky Sect.
The Qi Family was cautious indeed.
Even after decades of service, Mo Li had never met their core members, nor knew the location or purpose of the clan.
——
The moon fell, and the sun rose.
The next morning, Yuan Qi led Xue Jin into the Lingxiao Courtyard.
Afterward, Yuan Qi left, instructing Xue Jin to await the Sect Master.
After a while, Li Qingqiu returned from the forest behind the mountain.
Upon seeing him, Xue Jin immediately saluted.
Li Qingqiu told him about the Qi Family and said, “I need you to go to Cangzhou and investigate them. Find out what exactly they’re nurturing. Remember, act within your limits — preserving your life is the top priority. Even if your identity is exposed, it doesn’t matter.”
“Understood!”
Xue Jin replied firmly without hesitation.
Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and dismissed him.
Watching Xue Jin’s departing figure, Li Qingqiu felt reassured.
If only the sect had a few more people like Xue Jin.
Talented individuals were plentiful, but those who handled matters reliably were few.
He remained in the courtyard, admiring the newly planted peach tree.
A stick of incense later, Yuan Qi returned and reported that Ye Nan sought an audience.
Li Qingqiu agreed.
When Ye Nan entered the Lingxiao Courtyard again, his nervousness from the previous day was gone.
His face was calm — as though he had become a different person.
He approached Li Qingqiu, knelt down directly, and even Yuan Qi was surprised.
“Please, Sect Master, take me in. I have nowhere else to go,” Ye Nan said in a deep voice, eyes filled with determination.
Li Qingqiu looked at him.
“If you wish to join the Clear Sky Sect, then go to the Free Spirit Hall and take the disciple examination first.”
Ye Nan asked, “Sect Master, aren’t you afraid I bear resentment?”
“If you truly bore resentment, why would you test me?”
Li Qingqiu’s counterquestion left Ye Nan speechless.
He immediately kowtowed three times and followed Yuan Qi out.
After they left, Li Qingqiu also departed, returning to his cave dwelling to cultivate.
Though many matters vied for his attention, his own cultivation remained paramount.
Back in his cave, he sat cross-legged upon the stone bed, spiritual energy surging into him wildly.
An hour later, he opened his eyes and called up his Dao Lineage interface, locating Ye Nan’s profile.
That was the benefit of taking Ye Nan in — if the boy truly harbored resentment, he would have no loyalty toward Li Qingqiu or the sect, and Li Qingqiu could eliminate the threat early.
【Name: Ye Nan】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 16】
【Loyalty (to Sect Master / Sect): 72 / 84 (Max 100)】
【Cultivation Aptitude: Good】
【Comprehension: Mediocre】
【Fate Traits: Born Hero, A Sudden Enlightenment】
【Born Hero: Pure-hearted and kind, delights in helping others, reveres heroes of the martial world, and yearns to become one respected by all.】
【A Sudden Enlightenment: Dull-witted in comprehension; must face life-and-death ordeals to attain enlightenment and grasp a cultivation art suited to oneself.】
——
Such high loyalty?
Li Qingqiu was surprised, but when he read the “Born Hero” description, he understood.
So the boy was indeed worth nurturing.
He had taken Ye Nan in simply out of pity.
In Mo Li’s memories, Ye Nan had always helped others, often causing himself trouble — fortunately, Mo Li had been strong enough to protect him.
Perhaps it was precisely this chivalrous heart that made Mo Li finally accept him.
At first, Mo Li had ignored his pestering completely, but after seeing him aid several villagers and refugees, he had chosen to teach him martial arts.
Now, certain that Ye Nan posed no threat, Li Qingqiu was at ease.
While cultivating, he pondered who to entrust Ye Nan to.
Though Ye Nan’s aptitude and comprehension were unremarkable within the Clear Sky Sect, his fate trait “A Sudden Enlightenment” made his potential unpredictable.
What if, one day, he truly comprehended an extraordinary immortal art?
Li Qingqiu first considered his junior brothers and sisters, thinking of ways to strengthen the forces under their command.
After some thought, he decided to place Ye Nan under Li Dongyue’s care.
Li Dongyue was gentle and would not let him stray onto the wrong path.
Moreover, she already had a Human Dao Patriarch growing under her tutelage.
——
As autumn deepened, a piece of news spread throughout the Clear Sky Sect.
The Gold Snake Sect of Jiangzhou, once under bounty by the sect, had been annihilated by the True Transmission Disciples — none survived.
Many disciples felt pride in the sect’s power and decisiveness, while others thought it too ruthless.
But soon, the Free Spirit Hall posted an announcement exposing how the Gold Snake Sect had planted spies within the sect and spread rumors in the martial world calling the Clear Sky Sect demonic.
Once the truth came out, though a few disciples still harbored doubts, the majority felt vindicated.
For the first time, the matter of spies was revealed to the entire sect — that even within their ranks, infiltrators from other sects might hide among them.
It made everyone more cautious toward their fellow disciples.
That afternoon, beneath the forest canopy, Li Qingqiu was instructing the three Xiao brothers in swordsmanship when Zhang Yuchun hurried over.
“Senior Brother,” he said, “you’ve assigned Ye Nan to the Spirit Finance Hall — isn’t that unwise? After all, his master died before our very eyes.”
Li Qingqiu looked ahead and replied, “Don’t worry. The boy has a good heart and knows right from wrong.”
“If not, then transfer him to the Free Spirit Hall. I’ll personally keep an eye on him.”
“Forget it. You already have a preconceived distrust of him. If you were to guide him, it would only estrange him from the sect.”
“Fine,” Zhang Yuchun sighed.
He knew that once Li Qingqiu made a decision, no one could change it.
He would simply keep a close watch on Ye Nan later.
He added, “Sixth Brother has helped the Pei Clan unify Eastern Tomb Province, while Guzhou is about to fall under the Qin Family’s control. Senior Brother, if those two powers clash, which side should we aid?”