Chapter 80: The Ancestral Altar
Shi Hao saw a large palanquin being escorted by soldiers.
An old woman, her figure resembling a crumbling mud pagoda, sat cross-legged inside the palanquin.
Four burly women, their bodies surprisingly muscular despite being female, carried the palanquin.
Eight beautiful women, dressed in colorful, exotic, wool garments, their faces covered with veils, walked before and behind the palanquin, singing and dancing, scattering flower petals and ribbons, attracting the attention of passersby.
Two young women, dressed in exquisite, gold-woven robes, their faces veiled, carrying pearls and jade, walked before the palanquin, between the dancers and the carriers.
To Shi Hao’s surprise, one of the young women was Yue Ya’er.
The daughter of the Yue Ke Tai family, one of the four great barbarian families.
Shi Hao looked around and saw two military officers, their bearing suggesting considerable skill, leading the escort, maintaining a security perimeter.
The soldiers cleared a wide path for the palanquin, pushing the crowd to the sides.
This made Shi Hao wonder about the old woman’s identity.
Even Yue Ya’er, a young lady of such high status, was acting as an attendant, carrying flowers and leading the procession.
Dàxīng City was a frequent haunt of high-ranking officials and nobles, and the people were accustomed to such displays.
After the procession passed, the crowd quickly dispersed, some commenting on the extravagant display for an old woman.
But Shi Hao knew that the old woman, and the entire procession, were not to be trifled with.
He saw two martial artists hurrying towards the procession, leaping over the crowd and onto the rooftops.
As they jumped down from a roof, one whispered, “Quickly inform the higher-ups. Grandmother Ba of the Ancestral Altar has arrived.”
They quickly disappeared.
Shi Hao repeated the name silently, “Ancestral Altar?”
He recalled having heard the name mentioned once or twice in Jin Prefecture.
He whispered to Xu Xiaoyan, “Do you know about the Ancestral Altar?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Ancestral Altar? What’s that? Is it edible?”
Shi Hao shook his head. Even Xu Xiaoyan, with her vast knowledge, hadn’t heard of it.
It seemed the Ancestral Altar wasn’t a martial arts sect but likely some secretive organization within the barbarian court.
And who were those two martial artists? Why were they so concerned about the arrival of Grandmother Ba of the Ancestral Altar? And what was Yue Ya’er’s role in this “Ancestral Altar”?
They left the street and returned to Floating Cloud Monastery.
The atmosphere within the monastery was strangely subdued, unlike the previous day.
The children were still practicing their forms, but no one was instructing them. They moved listlessly, their attention wandering.
Even the children sensed something was amiss.
The Daoist priests were gathered in the inner courtyard, whispering among themselves.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged glances and went inside, looking for Chen Yan’er, but they couldn’t find her.
They saw several elderly men, including Chen Yan’er’s grandfather, sitting in a corner, sighing.
Xu Xiaoyan asked, “Grandpa Chen, where’s Yan’er?”
Old Chen said, “She’s probably in the inner courtyard with her aunt.”
The abbot, Chen Chenyun, was Chen Yan’er’s paternal uncle, so the “aunt” he referred to was naturally the abbot’s wife, Madam Wang.
Xu Xiaoyan asked, “Grandpa Chen, what happened here? Why does everyone seem…”
“They’re here!” someone shouted.
The Daoist priests, their faces grim, drew their swords and rushed out.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged glances and followed them. The children were pulled aside. A group of people entered through the main gate.
At the front was a tall, thin Daoist priest with a high forehead, a sword at his waist.
He was followed by a diverse group, some dressed as Daoists, others as Confucian scholars, seemingly from different sects and schools.
The Daoist priest looked around and sneered, “I’m still your senior brother. Are you really going to point your swords at me?”
A young Daoist priest shouted, “Kou Deqiu, you left Floating Cloud Monastery. Why have you returned?”
Kou Deqiu barked, “Is that how you address your senior brother?!” His figure blurred.
The young Daoist priest felt a sharp pain on his face as he was struck, blood trickling from his mouth as he staggered back. The others also retreated in alarm.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged glances. Kou Deqiu clearly possessed a seventh-rank foundation, while the young Daoist he had struck was at most ninth-rank, and a weak one at that. The difference in their strength was obvious.
And the other Daoists in the monastery, although some were skilled, none had reached the ninth rank. They could only help the injured young man, glaring at Kou Deqiu but not daring to speak.
Someone hurried out from the inner courtyard, “Senior Brother, what are you doing?”
It was Chen Chenyun, the abbot.
Kou Deqiu sneered, “Chenyun, long time no see! I heard that after my father’s death, you declared yourself abbot and seized control of Floating Cloud Monastery?”
Chen Chenyun frowned, “Master appointed me as his successor before he died. Several of our brothers were present and can testify.”
One of the Daoists said, “That’s right. We were all there. We can all confirm that Master passed the leadership to Senior Brother Chenyun.”
Kou Deqiu snorted, “Who knows if you’re all colluding? Did you report this to the authorities? Did you inform the Chongxian Sect?”
Chen Chenyun frowned, “This is an internal matter of Floating Cloud Monastery…”
Kou Deqiu said, “So you just decided among yourselves? Then I have to wonder if you all conspired to murder my father and seize control of the monastery.”
A Daoist priest couldn’t help but shout, “Senior Brother, you’re slandering us!”
A short, fat Daoist priest calmly stepped forward from behind Kou Deqiu, “Nephew Deqiu’s suspicions are not unfounded. Without any official record, it does seem suspicious. It’s possible you all colluded.”
Chen Chenyun and the others looked at him. The fat Daoist priest stroked his short beard and smiled, “I am Tan Danzi of the Chongxian Sect.”
Chen Chenyun and the others paled. With the Chongxian Sect backing Kou Deqiu, their situation was dire.
Tan Danzi turned and introduced the others, “This is Master Tang Zhijing of the Sacred Confucian Academy, this is Daoist Qinghong of the True Martial Sect, this is Master Mu of the Demon Subduing Altar…” They were all relatively well-known figures in Dàxīng City.
Tan Danzi said, “We’ve come here to ensure fairness. Floating Cloud Monastery, no matter what, is a Daoist sect, a long-established sect in Dàxīng City. Although it has declined, it shouldn’t be controlled by such underhanded methods.
“Nephew Deqiu is the senior disciple of Floating Cloud Monastery and the son of your former abbot. After his father’s death, you should have invited him back to discuss the succession…”
Someone couldn’t help but say, “He defied Master’s wishes and joined the Six Gates, causing Master to die of anger…”
Tan Danzi sneered, “What’s wrong with joining the Six Gates? He’s serving the court, serving the country. If that’s a crime, are you suggesting Floating Cloud Monastery is rebelling against the court?”
The Daoist priest who had spoken shrank back, silenced despite his anger.
Tan Danzi continued, “Nephew Deqiu is risking his life serving the court, bringing honor to Floating Cloud Monastery. A hundred years ago, Floating Cloud Monastery was a powerful sect in Dàxīng City. Its decline is due to people like you, clinging to outdated traditions, lacking ambition.
“And you even conspired to usurp the leadership while he was away…”
Chen Chenyun suddenly said, “Don’t spout nonsense, Daoist. Many people in the monastery can testify that Master appointed me as his successor before he died. The Chongxian Sect claims to be the orthodox leader of the Daoist sects. Is this how you operate, publicly slandering and accusing people without proof?”
Tan Danzi snorted but didn’t reply. Tang Zhijing of the Sacred Confucian Academy stepped forward, his hands clasped behind him, “Daoist Tan Dan is simply concerned about the future of Floating Cloud Monastery. Your former abbot choosing his junior brother as his successor instead of his senior disciple is highly irregular.
“We’ve come here for the sake of justice in the martial world!”
He tapped his walking stick on the ground as he spoke, the sound echoing.
A girl’s voice suddenly rang out, “You speak of justice, yet you barge in here with a mob, accusing people without proof. Isn’t this just bullying?”
Her words voiced everyone’s thoughts, and the monastery disciples echoed her sentiment,
“That’s right!”
“They’re just bullies, hiding behind high-minded words.”
“Justice? It’s people like them who are corrupting the martial world!”
Tang Zhijing, angered by their defiance, looked around, trying to identify the girl who had spoken.
But her voice seemed to come from everywhere, sometimes from the east, sometimes from the west, making it impossible to pinpoint her location.
The monastery disciples, already indignant, grew louder.
Kou Deqiu shouted, “Silence!” He forcefully suppressed their voices and stepped forward.
He sneered, “I am the senior disciple of Floating Cloud Monastery, and that’s the truth. Floating Cloud Monastery was once a righteous sect. During its decline, it should be led by someone capable of restoring its former glory, not someone who just teaches children useless flowery forms, turning a once-respected sect into a second-rate martial arts school.”
He snorted and looked around disdainfully, “But I’m not unreasonable. We were all brothers once. I’ll give you a chance…”
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