Lu Qian secretly thought, "This is bad."
Earlier in the arena, driven by anger, everyone cast aside many things, only remembering that they were fellow disciples, sharing some camaraderie. But now, as they continued to move away from the Black Stone Marketplace, suppressed memories began to resurface, devouring the new impressions completely.
Lu Qian said aloud, "Senior Sister Qingfeng, could you cover for me for a moment?"
Jiang Qingfeng rose and stood at the boat's prow, giving Lu Qian a helpless look before saying softly, "It's about Senior Brother Yu."
So it's still about Senior Brother Yu... Lu Qian realized, smiling bitterly and helplessly.
This Senior Brother Yu was an upright and reliable person, he entered the sect at the same time as Tan Hong and his wife, and they were close friends, calling each other brothers. Without his help, the escape team wouldn't have succeeded in breaking through. But later on, Lu Qian and he had serious disagreements during the journey.
At that time, Lu Qian was narrow-minded, seeing Senior Brother Yu as a threat to his position due to the support he received from fellow disciples, hence he refused to listen to Yu's suggestions on many matters. One day, Senior Brother Yu suggested going southeast, but Lu Qian insisted on heading southwest. Unable to resolve their dispute, Lu Qian, using his authority as Sect Leader, forced everyone to go southwest.
Shortly after they departed, they ran into the search parties of the Wang Family from Quyang and Ziluo Mountain. Senior Brother Yu and several others bravely held off the rear, but were eventually exhausted and killed. Tan Hong and his wife had a heated argument with Lu Qian and left the team.
Recalling this now, Lu Qian felt deeply guilty. Objectively speaking, having just escaped from Yun Mountain, there were many obstacles and pursuers; even if they had gone southeast as Yu suggested, it might not have been a clear path, perhaps even encountering new dangers. But no matter how you look at it, the deaths of several senior brothers were undeniably connected to his decision.
However, now was not the time to drown in self-recrimination.
Lu Qian sat beside Tan Hong and his wife and said sincerely, "The deaths of Senior Brother Yu and the others are all my fault."
Zhang Lemei angrily retorted, "Of course it's your fault! If it weren't for you—"
"Lemei!" Tan Hong interrupted her, closing his eyes in pain, "Don't talk about the past anymore."
Lu Qian shook his head instead, "Of course we need to talk about it, and we must make it clear. The past is like a deep wound filled with rotten flesh and pus; if we don't reopen and clean it, it will never heal."
Tan Hong and Zhang Lemei were both stunned, expecting Lu Qian to avoid this topic, yet he resolutely brought it up. Then he continued, "When the master handed me the Sect Leader's Ring, I was extremely fearful. I didn't know how to be a Sect Leader; I hadn't even served as a steward within the sect."
"Back then, I was selfish, foolish, arrogant, and short-sighted, totally unworthy of the Sect Leader's Ring."
Tan Hong and his wife listened quietly, even Qingfeng slowed her pace and turned her head. Baitao quietly approached and hugged Lu Qian's arm.
"Along the way, I made numerous mistakes, causing fellow disciples to be killed; these are my sins. From that perspective, I should resign from the Sect Leader position."
"Junior Brother!" Jiang Qingfeng called softly.
"But then what?" Lu Qian said in a deep voice, "Don't forget, the Wang Family from Quyang and Ziluo Mountain dogs are relentlessly pursuing us, wanting to extinguish Yunshan Sect completely!"
"If I resign, would the enemies spare us? Could Yunshan Sect return to the Mountain Gate? Could Senior Brother Yu and the others be resurrected?"
"It's my sin, and I should be the one to atone for it!" Lu Qian raised his left hand, the Sect Leader's Ring shimmering with a green light, "The dead are gone, I can only carry the past mistakes with me, and fight with all my strength for a future where Yunshan Sect can reopen the Mountain Gate and our enemies can pay with their blood!"
Everyone was shocked.
"Senior brothers and sisters in the netherworld surely hope to see us unite and revive Yun Mountain, rather than abandon each other, depleting Yun Mountain's last vitality."
"When Yunshan Sect flourishes again, when revenge is taken, whatever punishment the senior brothers and sisters wish to impose on me, I will willingly accept!"
Everyone fell silent, and after a long time, Tan Hong spoke, "Junior Brother Lu, when you were absent earlier, Junior Sister Qingfeng said many good things about you. Initially, we didn't quite believe her, but now after experiencing these events, you've indeed changed a lot. At least, you wouldn't have uttered these words before."
"In the arena, you used Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation to wield three Silver Needles, and defeated a powerful enemy. My wife and I were amazed and delighted. At least in cultivation, the former Sect Leader wasn't wrong about you. In the Cultivation Realm, whoever has the bigger fist is right. With your Dual Spiritual Roots, your future holds more promise than ours with Residual Spiritual Roots. I acknowledge your position as Sect Leader."
"Old Tan!" Zhang Lemei furrowed her brows. She wanted to say something, but Tan Hong shook his head and continued, "Junior Brother Lu, I understand your intention. But my wife has had enough of wandering. These days, hiding and running has been difficult; otherwise, we wouldn't have competed on stage for five hundred Spirit Stones."
With tears in her eyes, Zhang Lemei, and Jiang Qingfeng felt heavy-hearted. Senior Brother Tan Hong, usually reticent, rarely spoke so much today. He mentioned having difficulties, which must be substantial, compounded by the fact that during injuries he had to request Healing Elixir from others, appearing to be in dire straits.
Tan Hong held Zhang Lemei's hand tightly, "We also have many old injuries; we want to find a place to settle down, recuperate and then make plans. When we reach Songling Square, let's part for now, allow us some stability to think things through."
Lu Qian fell silent. He knew Tan Hong and his wife held deep grievances, and a few words wouldn't remove them or bring them back into the fold.
After careful thought, Tan Hong and his wife's situation differed from Qingfeng's sister. Qingfeng was inherently kind-hearted, and with a younger sister, naturally inclined to stay with familiar members. Whereas Tan Hong and Zhang Lemei, being a couple, had the closest relationship as a small unit, needing less dependency on the larger team and possessing greater independence.
Understanding this chapter, Lu Qian sighed inwardly, stopped being insistent, and shifted the conversation to ask about their future plans, easing the atmosphere. Tan Hong and his wife relaxed, and after a few casual exchanges, the atmosphere became more relaxed.
A few hours later, they saw the archway of Songling Square in the distance.
Generally, marketplaces are disguised by special Illusion Arrays to prevent mortals from entering. Mortals see nothing on the ground, but cultivators flying in the air can see the market archway.
Jiang Qingfeng knew the time for farewell had arrived, feeling reluctant, she engaged Zhang Lemei in conversation. Lu Qian controlled the Flying Ship to descend near the archway, noticing several cultivators gathered at a notice board on the side.