Chapter 323 - 155: Arrangements

The Cloud-Piercing Shuttle broke through the sea of clouds, speeding northeast.

Liang Cheng sat cross-legged inside the cabin, clutching the three scraps of cowhide paper in his hand.

’Now that Huang Tiancheng’s whereabouts are unknown, I might as well head back to the Main Courtyard first and retrieve the cowhide paper scraps.’

Then, Liang Cheng changed direction.

The Cloud-Piercing Shuttle turned into a streak of light, heading toward the Four Islands Alliance Headquarters.

「Half a day later.」

「Outside the mountain gate of the Four Islands Main Courtyard.」

The Cloud-Piercing Shuttle hovered mid-air, and Liang Cheng stepped down.

The disciples guarding the gate were stunned for a moment, then cried out in shock.

"Senior... Senior Brother Liang?!"

"Senior Brother Liang is back!"

News of Liang Cheng’s return instantly spread throughout the Main Courtyard.

Liang Cheng hadn’t even reached True Inheritance Peak when he saw several figures swiftly approaching.

Leading them was the Main Courtyard’s Headmaster, Zhong Lishuo, his hair and beard completely white, alongside Chen Xuanfeng.

Behind them followed a group of Elders, their faces flushed with excitement.

"Liang Cheng!"

Zhong Lishuo stepped forward and looked him up and down for a moment, his eyes wide with shock. Chen Xuanfeng’s gaze, however, was filled with deep gratification.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Chen Xuanfeng repeated the word "good" three times, so overcome he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Liang Cheng bowed respectfully. "This disciple greets the Headmaster, Master, and all the Elders."

Zhong Lishuo hurriedly stopped him.

"There’s no need for such formalities, no need at all."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within him.

"You joined the Penglai Sect, achieved Breaking Mortality and Forming Core, became a True Pill Pride, and now you’ve even been accepted as a Direct Disciple by the Peak Master of the First Peak..."

He paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"Since the Four Islands Main Courtyard was founded, we’ve never produced a figure of your caliber!"

The Elders behind him all nodded, their faces beaming with pride. Chen Xuanfeng, too, swelled with vicarious glory.

Liang Cheng said, "I’ve returned this time to retrieve a few things."

Zhong Lishuo nodded repeatedly.

"Your courtyard on True Inheritance Peak has been left empty. No one has gone inside, so you can rest assured."

Then, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Liang Cheng.

"Oh, right. You’re a Direct Disciple of the Penglai Sect’s First Peak now. Have you chosen your follower disciples yet?"

Liang Cheng was taken aback.

"Follower disciples?"

Seeing Liang Cheng’s genuine confusion, Zhong Lishuo was also slightly taken aback, a look of surprise on his face.

"You don’t know?"

Liang Cheng shook his head.

Zhong Lishuo couldn’t help but smile.

"It seems the Peak Master of Lie Mountain hasn’t had a chance to tell you yet."

"A Direct Disciple of the Penglai Sect can bring ten followers into the Sect."

"Regardless of their Cultivation level, as long as the Direct Disciple agrees, they can directly enter the Penglai Sect’s Outer Sect and become Official Disciples."

"In the future, these people will be bound to you, sharing in both your glory and your ruin."

"If you are strong, they’ll have status within the Sect. If you’re weak, they too will be looked down upon by others."

"That’s why you must be extremely careful when choosing your followers."

Liang Cheng’s heart stirred upon hearing this.

’I can actually get people into the Penglai Sect’s Outer Sect, regardless of their cultivation...’ The weight of the two words "Direct Disciple" truly hit him then.

Seeing that Liang Cheng understood, Zhong Lishuo glanced at Chen Xuanfeng. Taking the hint, Chen Xuanfeng said softly,

"Regarding the Main Courtyard... if you were so inclined..."

He trailed off, but his meaning was obvious.

Liang Cheng looked at Chen Xuanfeng, then at Zhong Lishuo, and then at the Main Courtyard disciples behind them, whose eyes were filled with anticipation.

"Rest assured, Headmaster."

"I will be sure to reserve a few spots for the Main Courtyard. Why don’t you prepare a list of candidates, and I can make the final selection from there?"

Hearing this, Zhong Lishuo let out a long sigh of relief.

"Good."

"That’s all I needed to hear."

He patted Liang Cheng’s shoulder.

"Go on, then. Go get your things."

...

「True Inheritance Peak, Private Courtyard.」

Everything was just as he had left it.

Liang Cheng pushed open the door and went to the front of the hidden chamber. He took out the scraps of cowhide paper. Combined with the three pieces he had just obtained from Qian Wanjing, he now had nine in total.

He pieced them together. The image was becoming more complete.

Only a final corner piece was missing.

He could make out a rough outline now, but he still couldn’t understand what it depicted.

Liang Cheng put the scraps away, calmed himself, and turned to leave the room.

Outside the courtyard, Chen Xuanfeng was still waiting.

Seeing him emerge, he smiled.

"Got everything?"

Liang Cheng nodded.

"Master, there is one more thing."

"Speak."

"I would like to make a trip back to Lin Wu City."

Chen Xuanfeng was slightly startled to hear this, then immediately understood.

"My mother is still in Lin Wu City. And there’s my master who first guided me onto the Martial Dao, Yang Wei, as well as a few old friends..."

Chen Xuanfeng smiled upon hearing this.

"Cheng’Er, you must understand, I would never make things difficult for you. If you’ve already decided on your candidates, simply saving a few spots for the Main Courtyard is a great kindness in itself."

"As for your mother, it is a son’s duty to be filial. Bringing her to the Penglai Sect would indeed be the safest and best course of action."

Liang Cheng nodded, then said farewell to Chen Xuanfeng.

...

「The next day.」

「Lin Wu City, Martial Arts Academy.」

Liang Cheng pushed open the familiar courtyard gate.

In the courtyard, Lady Ning was hanging laundry to dry. Yang Wei sat on a stone bench, holding a two- or three-year-old child and playing with him.

Hearing the sound, they both looked up at the same time.

The clothes in Lady Ning’s hands fell to the ground.

"Cheng’Er..."

Yang Wei stood up, still holding the child, the rims of his eyes turning red.

Liang Cheng stepped forward and dropped to his knees, touching his forehead to the ground.

"Mom, Master, I’m back."

Lady Ning rushed to help him up, her eyes scanning him from head to toe as tears streamed down her face.

"You’re thinner... thinner..."

Yang Wei clapped him on the shoulder, speechless.

’Back in Lost Soul Valley, if Liang Cheng hadn’t saved me, I would have been parted from the living forever.’

The child stared at Liang Cheng with wide, curious eyes.

Liang Cheng looked at him.

"Yang An?"

Yang Wei nodded.

"Yes."

Liang Cheng reached out and gently stroked the child’s head.

"He looks like his mother."

Yang Wei was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Liang Cheng straightened up and looked at the two of them.

"Mom, Master, I’ve joined the Penglai Sect and have been accepted as a Direct Disciple by the Peak Master of the First Peak."

"Direct Disciples can bring family and followers into the Sect. I’d like to take you both with me."

Lady Ning froze, not understanding the implications, but Yang Wei’s eyes went wide.