Guiye Song Yuanzong, the junior martial brother of Duan Wuyu and Chang Wude's master, could be considered the elder with the highest seniority in Wuliang Daoist Temple, which indicated his immense age.
Forty to fifty years ago, Wuliang Daoist Temple was not as popular as it is now. The temple had only a few dozen people at the time, and life was very difficult.
Shi He, also known as Daoist Mu, the master of Duan Wuyu and Chang Wude, had five martial brothers. Song Yuanzong was his fifth junior brother, the youngest and most talented among the five.
Daoist Mu also had six disciples: Duan Wuyu, his eldest disciple; Wang Xue, his second; Gongsun Xiuliang, his third; Chang Wude, his fourth; Sima Boyong, his fifth; and Wu Weizi, his sixth.
However, thirty years ago, Daoist Mu had passed away, and he passed the position of Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple to his eldest disciple, Duan Wuyu.
More than ten years ago, their second senior brother, Wang Xue, also followed their master. This year, Gongsun Xiuliang passed away in Huadu Prison. Now, only Duan Wuyu, Chang Wude, Sima Boyong, and their sixth junior brother Wu Weizi remained.
When Daoist Mu brought Gongsun Xiuliang back to Wuliang Daoist Temple, his talent in medicine was favored by Daoist Mu's fifth junior brother, Song Yuanzong, and third senior brother, Ren Daozi.
Speaking of Ren Daozi, he was a miracle doctor of Chinese medicine. Gongsun Xiuliang's Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles were learned from Ren Daozi. Therefore, Gongsun Xiuliang inherited his mantle and practiced medicine his entire life.
However, Sima Boyong also studied medicine under Ren Daozi!
At that time, Song Yuanzong treated Gongsun Xiuliang as his own son, not only thinking of him in every way but also guiding him extensively in martial arts.
Therefore, the senior and junior martial brothers at the time all thought that Gongsun Xiuliang was more like Song Yuanzong's personal disciple rather than Daoist Mu's.
Now, Guiye was so grieved and distressed upon hearing the news of Gongsun Xiuliang's death. He even wished that Gongsun Xiuliang could return to visit him. However, he had already departed, making it difficult for Guiye to accept.
Wan Yunting, standing by at this moment, naturally did not know about the deep feelings between his master Gongsun Xiuliang and Guiye from the past. However, seeing Guiye's strong reaction upon hearing the news of his master's death, he realized that his master and Guiye must have had a deep bond.
Chang Wude raised his head, his red eyes looking at Guiye, and said, "Uncle-Master Song, Xiuliang junior brother has passed away."
"How can that be?"
Guiye's wrinkled old face trembled slightly. He hit the stone platform with his right hand, full of regret, and said, "How I wish he had stayed in the sect back then. But he inherited Senior Brother Ren's medical skills and said he wanted to help the suffering people below the mountain. I never expected that parting would be forever. Alas..."
"Uncle-Master Song, please accept my condolences..."
Duan Wuyu and Chang Wude consoled him.
"Enough, enough. You all may leave."
Guiye immediately stood up, waved his hand, turned, and lifted the curtain to enter.
Seeing this, Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan helped Chang Wude up. He sighed as he watched Uncle-Master Song enter, then turned to Wan Yunting and asked, "Why are you two here?"
"Well, Zi Hang wanted to take us to the mountain to enjoy the scenery, so we came to burn incense for the ancestors." Wan Yunting replied.
Chang Wude pointed to the incense on the stone platform, "Then let's light the incense and pay respects."
Wan Yunting nodded, went over to pick up a pack of incense, and then asked Li Zihang how many sticks each person should burn. "Nine sticks per person."
So, Wan Yunting lit twenty-seven sticks, with Chang Wude and Kang Nuolan each taking nine. They knelt on the three meditation cushions on the ground and performed the three kowtows and nine bows to the ancestors of Wuliang Daoist Temple.
"Alright, you go play now."
After paying respects, Chang Wude waved them away, letting Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan go play with Li Zihang and the others, while he, Duan Wuyu, and Yang Jingyi remained.
Soon, the three climbed to the summit of Mount Wuliang. Li Zihang pointed to the vast, continuous mountain range behind them, its slopes covered in a layer of white snow, creating a magnificent and expansive landscape that was truly awe-inspiring.
"The scenery is truly beautiful."
Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan couldn't help but take out their phones to take pictures. Li Zihang smiled and said, "This is the Kunlun Mountain range, but this is just the tip of the iceberg."
Wan Yunting put down his phone and immediately asked Li Zihang, "Zi Hang, can you tell us about Guiye?"
"Guiye?"
Li Zihang shook his head slightly and said, "Actually, I don't know much about Guiye's past. Ever since my master brought me to the mountain gate, I've known that Guiye has always been the tomb keeper for the ancestors. Moreover, he has a very peculiar temper. When other senior and junior martial brothers come to see him, he ignores them. He even dares to scold my master and doesn't show respect to anyone."
Wan Yunting chuckled, "So, Guiye is the elder with the highest seniority in our sect, right?"
"Yes."
Li Zihang nodded and said, "My master said that Guiye should be one hundred and twenty-five years old this year!"
"Whoa, one hundred and twenty-five years old, yet his body is still so robust. It seems his martial arts are unfathomable."
Wan Yunting was shocked to hear this. He knew that the deeper one's martial arts, the better their health and the longer their lifespan.
"Yes, Guiye's martial arts are very powerful. My senior sister and I often come up to ask him for advice. Especially my senior sister, she is considered Guiye's personal disciple." Li Zihang said.
Wan Yunting nodded, but he was more curious about the relationship between Guiye and his master, Gongsun Xiuliang.
After admiring the scenery on the mountaintop for a while, the three descended.
They returned to the Daoist temple around noon and went directly to the dining hall for lunch. They happened to see the Abbot Duan Wuyu, his wife Yang Jingyi, and Uncle-Master Wu Weizi dining and drinking with Chang Wude. Upon seeing the three return, they were invited to join them.
"Junior Brother Chang, you have truly taken in a martial arts prodigy."
Duan Wuyu looked at Wan Yunting, who was sitting next to Chang Wude, and said with a smile, "I heard he has already reached the early stage of Dan Jin in martial arts. Is that true?"
"Ha, yes."
Mentioning Wan Yunting, Chang Wude couldn't help but puff out his chest with pride, as if Wan Yunting were truly his personal disciple whom he had personally taught. He smiled and said, "He has good luck. He only broke through to Hua Jin some time ago and entered the Dan Jin stage."
Wu Weizi, sitting beside Duan Wuyu, looked at Wan Yunting with surprise and asked Chang Wude, "Senior Brother Chang, how old is your disciple? He has already reached the Dan Jin stage in martial arts?"
Yang Jingyi, sitting next to Duan Wuyu, looked at Wan Yunting and said with a gentle smile, "He looks only about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, right?"
"Yes."
Wan Yunting politely nodded and smiled.
"That's impressive, Senior Brother Chang."
Wu Weizi said with great surprise, "When we were twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, we were only at the early stage of Hua Jin. Senior Brother Chang, you broke through to the late stage of Hua Jin and entered Dan Jin at the age of thirty. Your disciple has reached the early stage of Dan Jin at such a young age, he is definitely a martial arts prodigy."
"Indeed, no one in our generation could break through to Dan Jin at such an age, nor could anyone in our master's generation. And the young people nowadays have even worse martial arts aptitude."
Duan Wuyu said, looking at Wan Yunting with a smile, "But you managed to break through to Hua Jin and enter Dan Jin before the age of thirty. You are truly a once-in-a-millennium, exceptionally gifted talent."
Such high praise made Wan Yunting feel a little embarrassed. He smiled humbly and said, "Abbot Uncle-Master, you flatter me. I just have good luck."
Yang Jingyi smiled and said, "Such a rare young talent, if he can spar with the young talents from other sects during the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, it would be a good thing."
"Yes."
Duan Wuyu nodded and said to Wan Yunting with a smile, "Little Wan, you will represent our Wuliang Daoist Temple at that time and spar with the young talents from other sects, so that people from those sects will know that although Wuliang Daoist Temple is a small sect, it can also produce martial arts prodigies."
"Sparring?"
However, Wan Yunting was bewildered. He looked at Chang Wude beside him. Chang Wude waved his hand and said, "Every ten years, during the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, representatives from other sects are invited to celebrate together, and young disciples from the sects will also be sent to spar and exchange ideas. It is actually just a friendly competition. Senior Brother Duan asked you to participate, so you should give it a try then."
"Okay."
Wan Yunting understood and smiled, nodding.
"Dad, Mom, Uncle-Master and I are back."
At this moment, a girl wearing a white knee-length down jacket ran in. She had long black hair cascading down, a fair oval face, and bright, lively eyes. Her nose was straight, and her beautiful cherry-red lips were curved upwards, making her look very charming and cute.
She looked very much like Yang Jingyi, as if they were carved from the same mold. She was Duan Wuyu and Yang Jingyi's daughter, Duan Yingying.
"Yingying, why are you back too?"
Seeing her daughter, Yang Jingyi stood up, happily taking her hand.
Duan Yingying smiled happily, "I'm back to attend the Ancestor Worship Ceremony and to see you, Dad and Mom."
"Hehe, you little girl, why didn't you call me beforehand when you came back?" Yang Jingyi was very happy, not expecting her daughter to return so suddenly.
"Hehe, I wanted to surprise you!" Duan Yingying said with a playful and cute smile.
Chang Wude and Wan Yunting curiously looked at Duan Yingying. Duan Wuyu then smiled and said, "Junior Brother Chang, this is my daughter Duan Yingying."
"Oh."
Chang Wude put down his chopsticks, surprised that Senior Brother Duan had a daughter after so many years.
"Yingying, this is your Uncle-Master Chang. Come and greet him." Duan Wuyu turned to his daughter behind him.
Duan Yingying then looked at Chang Wude and Wan Yunting with her big, striking eyes and said, "Dad, is this the Uncle-Master Chang who left our sect back then, as you mentioned?"
"Yes," Duan Wuyu nodded.
Duan Yingying then smiled politely and said, "Hello, Uncle-Master Chang."
"Good, good."
Chang Wude nodded with a smile and said to Duan Wuyu and Yang Jingyi, "Senior Brother Duan, I didn't expect you to have such a young daughter. You are truly blessed."
"Hehe, born late in life," Duan Wuyu chuckled.
At this moment, Wei Ping walked in and called out, "Master, Uncle-Master Sima is back."
"Oh."
Duan Wuyu then stood up to look. He saw a group of people walking in from outside, led by an elderly man wearing a black thick cotton coat. His half-white short hair was neatly combed.
His ruddy old face was free of wrinkles. Beneath his thick black eyebrows, a pair of small eyes gave him a sinister and cunning impression. He was clean-shaven, and when he smiled, he looked like a wolf in sheep's clothing, old and cunning. He was none other than Sima Boyong!