Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 299 Becoming the Sect Leader?
On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon looked up.

It is auspicious to receive wealth and open a business, but inauspicious to break ground, bury, or hold a funeral.

Baju, in the northern part of Jiannan Province, Daejangwa Province.

The people of Bazhou City were overjoyed and crowded towards the Qin King Temple.

The second day of the second lunar month is the day when people in the Sichuan and Chongqing area celebrate the Dragon King Festival. The streets and alleys are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

In the Sichuan region, the Qin King Temple has a very rich and complete Qin King belief. Legend has it that Qin King had two dragon kings under his command, one in charge of the mountains and the other in charge of the water.

It is unclear when it started, but the Dragon Head Raising Festival on the second day of the second lunar month has become associated with the two Dragon Kings, the Green Dragon King and the White Dragon King. On this day, the people of Sichuan and Chongqing hold a grand Dragon King Festival. In addition to preparing three kinds of sacrificial animals, local officials also write sacrificial texts to bless the year with good weather and peace.

Of course, besides the Azure Dragon King and the White Dragon King, the people also created four generals and eight envoys as subordinates for the King of Qin. In some places, they even gave him a Queen of Qin. These legends were very popular in the Sichuan and Chongqing area. The main point was that the people made up these stories for their own enjoyment, completely ignoring the fact that the real King of Qin, He Yu, was actually just a figurehead.

Similar customs existed in the Qin region before, but the Zhou state suppressed them to some extent, which led to the extreme veneration of the Qin king in the Bashu area and the flourishing of various festivals related to the Qin king.

Before the entire Jiannan Circuit became affiliated with the Da Changhe Kingdom, Bazhou was under the jurisdiction of Shannan West Circuit. However, as several countries and forces fought each other to the death, the "circuit" system was gradually abandoned, and Shannan West Circuit ceased to exist.

Bazhou is now effectively controlled by Tang Zhongfu, the military governor of Jiannan Circuit. Although nominally under the rule of the Great Changhe Kingdom, it is practically a self-contained country. The military governorship has been passed down through generations by the Tang family. The entire Jiannan Circuit has become the private property of the Tang family.

The Great Changhe Kingdom had considered resolving this issue, but the Tang family, also known as the Tang Clan, held immense power throughout the Jiannan region. Furthermore, Jiannan's geographical location was crucial; if pushed too far, the Tang family could either side with the Zhou Kingdom (before its fall) or the Chu Kingdom, posing a serious threat to the Great Changhe Kingdom. With its natural defenses gone, and its martial arts and military strength far inferior to those of the Chu and Zhou Kingdoms, the situation would become critical.

Therefore, the emperor of Da Changhe Kingdom could only turn a blind eye and treat Jiannan Road as a tributary state—as long as they didn't rebel, they could do whatever they wanted.

At this time, in front of the Qin King Temple in Bazhou City, colorful paper lanterns were hung for miles around. Performers and acrobats bustled about, each displaying their unique talents. Small vendors carrying loads on shoulder poles and pushing carts filled the open space in front of the temple, their cries of "Sweet treats, pastries, drinks—you name it!" filling the air. The streets were packed with people, a scene of utter desolation.

Tang Mao'er was walking down the street, marveling at how many years it had been since she had seen such a grand spectacle.

Tang Mao'er's real name is Tang Yinxiang. She is Tang Xiaoyu's apprentice, whom he raised from childhood. She is only nineteen years old this year. Because Tang Xiaoyu's crying was as soft as a kitten's when he adopted her, she was nicknamed "Mao'er" (meaning "cat").

Tang Yinxiang last visited the Dragon King Festival three years ago. After breaking through to the seventh rank, she was taken back to the Tang Sect by her master to undergo seclusion. When she came out after the seclusion, her master was gone again. So, it has been three years since she has properly walked into the bustling city streets!

If it weren't for her master sending a message asking her to come to Bazhou ahead of time, this year's Dragon King Festival would probably have to be held at the Tang Sect again...

As Tang Yinxiang was reminiscing, she suddenly felt someone pinch her buttocks.

She turned her head and saw a lean man with moles on his face raising his eyebrows at her smugly, looking arrogant and saying "What can you do to me?"

Tang Yinxiang sneered inwardly, but showed no anger on her face. Instead, she gave him a sweet smile, blinked, and then turned around and gracefully walked into a nearby alley.

Upon seeing this, the man with the mole was overjoyed and hurriedly squeezed through the crowd, chasing after Tang Yinxiang into the alley.

For some reason, the figure in front of him, who looked like a frail woman, was walking very fast. He had to run and pant to keep up.

Only when the clamor of the Dragon King Festival faded away and the alley became increasingly secluded did the beautiful woman in front of him finally come closer.

"Why are you following me?"

Tang Yinxiang suddenly turned her head, her eyes curving into two crescent moons, and two small dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her look charming and innocent.

"Good sister, I see you're all alone. Why don't you come with me? I'll take care of you—"

Seeing that the place was remote and a dead end, the man was suddenly filled with evil thoughts and pounced forward with a lewd grin.

Before the man could take two more steps forward, a bamboo-like stick flew through the air and struck him hard in the chest, sending him flying and crashing into the wall of the alley.

Then, the man slid to the ground like a lump of mud, and then vomited blood incessantly, clearly suffering from serious internal injuries.

"what?"

She hadn't even had a chance to teach this person a lesson, so someone had already made a move?

Tang Yinxiang looked curiously in the direction from which the stick had flown and saw a very familiar figure.

"Master!"

She was both surprised and delighted, and quickly ran over, then threw herself into Tang Xiaoyu's arms, sobbing, "Master, Master, I thought you weren't coming back... Waaaaah..."

"What did you say!"

Tang Xiaoyu gave Tang Yinxiang a hard tap on the head, then rolled her eyes at her and scolded her angrily, "If you're bullied, retaliate on the spot. If you can't beat him, you can run away. You lured him here. What if you can't beat him? You'll be in trouble! It's a dead end, you can't even run away from here! Have you forgotten what I taught you?"

"Ouch!"

Tang Yinxiang screamed in pain and said aggrievedly: "Of course I lured him here because he didn't have enough energy. He hit me as soon as we met. Unfortunately, I still dream about you, an old woman, every day!" Tang Xiaoyu hit Tang Yinxiang again and said, "I'll beat you up if you talk nonsense again!"

"oops!"

Tang Yinxiang called out again, and then saw Tang Xiaoyu turn around and lead the way. At the same time, she reached out and retracted the bamboo-shaped staff, saying, "Follow Master, what are you standing there for!"

Tang Yinxiang hurriedly followed, circling around Tang Xiaoyu from left to right and then from right to left, scrutinizing Tang Xiaoyu's face from head to toe. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master, Master, why are you disguised when you come back? Aren't you uncomfortable?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Tang Xiaoyu's hands, which had no wrinkles at all, and her eyes widened in shock: "You even did your hands and feet done? Master, don't you feel uncomfortable being covered up?"

"Your master is now a 'cultivator,' a cultivator of immortality, why would he need to disguise himself?"

Tang Xiaoyu rolled her eyes again, tilted her head smugly, and explained, "The lifespan of cultivators is very long, and this is what I look like right now!"

"Really?"

Tang Yinxiang reached out and touched her master's skin in disbelief. As expected, it was not as rough as the fake skin of the disguise. It was still warm and the touch was indeed that of real skin!

"Get your paws off me!"

Tang Xiaoyu disdainfully pulled Tang Yinxiang's hand away and said, "The only reason I came back this time, besides arranging things for the Tang Clan, is to take you to White Stone Mountain, do you know that?"

Tang Yinxiang nodded: "You said it in your letter, of course I know!"

"Yes, we also need to recruit a few talented individuals from the Tang Clan to come with me. This time, we'll move the sect to the north!"

Tang Yinxiang asked in confusion, "Sect? Which sect? The Tang Sect? Or our Tomb Guardian Sect?"

"Of course it's the Tomb Guardian Faction! What does the Tang Clan have to do with me!"

Tang Xiaoyu glanced at Tang Yinxiang and added, "Also, I've taken in two more disciples, so you have two junior brothers now! But these two aren't from the same sect as you; they belong to the White Stone Immortal Sect, just like me, so you won't be interacting with them for the time being!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Yinxiang disregarded the matter of junior brothers and eagerly asked, "Master, I haven't had a chance to ask yet, how did you really enter the White Stone Immortal Sect? What will happen to our Tomb Guardian Sect?"

Tang Xiaoyu shrugged: "Whatever happens, happens. We can just change the name later. Didn't I say in my letter that the Qin King's tomb is guarded by the Qin King himself? It has little to do with us anymore, so there won't be any tomb guardians in the future!"

Tang Yinxiang asked hesitantly, "Then I'll become a member of the White Stone Immortal Sect too?"

"What a pipe dream! We forgot to invite you to the Immortal Affinity Gathering at the beginning of the year. You'll have to wait at least another year for the next one. It's not worth it!"

Tang Xiaoyu also felt some regret for not bringing her disciple, Tang Yinxiang, to the White Stone Immortal Sect for the trials before the Immortal Affinity Conference in January. However, remembering Zhang Chengdao's words, "Since you had a disciple before, why not simply move your sect to the vicinity of White Stone Mountain and establish a new sect there, and teach the Dao of Immortality there as well?" she wasn't so disappointed. Instead, she said to Tang Yinxiang, "Later, we'll move the sect to the north, change the name 'Tomb Guardian Sect,' and you'll be the founding leader of our sect, honoring the Sword Saint as your ancestor!"

Tang Yinxiang's eyes widened again, and she pointed at herself with her mouth agape: "Huh? Me? I'm going to be the founding leader of the new sect?"

"Since your master will be cultivating the path of immortality in the future, how could I possibly let you continue down the dead end of martial arts? In the future, you will be the sect leader, and you can recruit a few young disciples from the Tang Clan to become your disciples, establish a sect next to the White Stone Immortal Sect, and at least get a share of the spoils!"

Tang Xiaoyu said, "My master, oh, you mean the sect leader of the White Stone Immortal Sect, he said a long time ago that as long as you cultivate to the Core Formation stage, you can open a small sect or establish a sect outside. Although I obtained my Core Formation stage by taking shortcuts, I still meet the requirements, so I can also establish a small sect outside. When the time comes, you can think of a name for yourself and change it!"

"Me? I want to? No, no, no!"

Tang Yinxiang shook her head vigorously: "Since you can establish a sect outside, then you should be the sect leader yourself! How could I be a sect leader? I have no experience!"

Tang Xiaoyu replied, "So I have experience? I still need to learn formations at the White Stone Immortal Sect, how can I have time to be the sect leader?"

Tang Yinxiang retorted, unconvinced, "How can you say you have no experience? It's not like you've never managed the Tang Clan before!"

Tang Xiaoyu said shamelessly, "That happened hundreds of years ago! I've long forgotten about it!"

Tang Yinxiang was utterly helpless: "But, but I'm only at the seventh rank of cultivation, I can't be the sect leader!"

"What are you afraid of? What's a seventh rank! We'll be a cultivation sect from now on. From today onwards, you'll follow me to cultivate. When you become the sect leader, um... you should be able to reach the Qi Refining stage... That's enough, that's enough. Anyway, most of the disciples of the White Stone Immortal Sect are only at the Qi Refining stage. They can even beat Grandmasters. They can cultivate later!"

"Qi Refining stage? Isn't that the lowest level of cultivator described in the 'White Stone Immortal Dao Book'?"

How do you know about this?

"The book I asked Tang Zhongfu for! He said there are plenty outside, and you left a message saying you were going to Baishi Mountain, so I just glanced at it. Master, are you really a cultivator now? In the Core Formation stage? That's amazing!"

"It's true, truly true, more real than gold! You'd better cultivate diligently with me, and we'll become one of the earliest cultivation sects in the world..."

(End of this chapter)