At the height of sumr, the place where the West Wilderness Grassland ets Hidden Dragon Mountain is an endless expanse of rolling hills.
With the Spiritual Qi Revival, the life force of all things becos vigorous, the undulating hills covered in dense wild grass, resembling a green carpet spread over the earth.
A sudden breeze sweeps by, and the green wild grass sways like waves rushing forward.
Two figures riding fine horses slowly ascend the hills.
With a fla-shaped birthmark on his forehead and wearing an indigo robe, He Zhongyi closes his eyes slowly, feeling the scent of green grass mingling with the breeze.
Beside him, Mu Chang also gazes into the distance, eyes filled with the joy of a long-overdue reunion, taking a deep breath—
"The ruts of the cart wheels crush the sunset
A lone wolf on the horizon howls with crescent frost...
The wind from the Chile Plain blows over the old campsite, unable to dispel...
The lancholy smoke rising from the top of the felt tent..."
The deep, resonant singing carries forward with the prairie breeze.
He Zhongyi halts his horse, gazing into the distance, a faint sadness on his face.
Though he cannot understand the aning of the song coming from Mu Chang’s mouth, he is moved by the emotion in the voice.
"Pardon , Young Master Chongyi, seeing the grassland again, I couldn’t help myself for a mont."
The singing abruptly stops, and Mu Chang suddenly realizes he is no longer a free eagle on the grassland.
This ti they are not herding or drifting; there is a journey ahead with important matters to attend to.
"Elder Mu, no need to apologize. I actually find the song quite pleasant."
Mu Chang lightly shakes the reins, chuckles and sighs, "Every son of the Muhe Tribe can sing this ’Water Grass Chant’."
"What does Young Master Chongyi think this ’Water Grass Chant’ is about?"
He Zhongyi ponders for a mont and replies, "From the little I’ve heard, I’m not sure."
"But Elder Mu’s singing makes feel a bit lancholic, as if there’s a faint sense of longing..."
Mu Chang nods with a smile.
"Young Master, let’s go."
He Zhongyi pushes his horse to catch up, but seeing that Mu Chang shows no intention of singing more, he says:
"Elder Mu, you may continue."
"Young Master enjoys listening?"
He Zhongyi nods, "It’s very pleasant."
Mu Chang pauses upon hearing this and says, "Since Young Master enjoys it, I shall venture again..."
"The man on horseback, with a curved saber shining at his waist."
"Eyes watching the returning wild geese, flying over that Yao Mountain Ridge."
"The aroma of mother’s brewed milk tea, lingers in dreams always."
"Father’s long song taught, drifts towards Fla Lake Ridge..."
Two figures rush across the grassland on horseback, the lodious singing echoes in the wide open sky.
...
Black Water Pool, ancestral hall.
Shen Chongming sits at the chief seat, fingers gently scraping the tea froth on the lid of his cup.
Below, to the left, Zhao Jinhua with graying temples lowers his eyes, absentmindedly rubbing his aged palms.
The stewards from the remaining major clans are not as relaxed as he, each sitting with bowed heads, their thoughts unknown.
The atmosphere in the ancestral hall seems sowhat oppressive.
After a mont, an elder with white hair and beard sitting opposite Zhao Jinhua slowly raises his head and glances around.
Seeing no one at the table speaking, he shakes his head slightly, sighs silently, and cups his hands.
"Young Clan Leader, everyone’s here, shall we..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming pauses his hand movent slightly, then continues to scrape the tea froth, saying flatly, "Patriarch Lv, no need to rush, let’s wait a bit longer."
Upon hearing this, Patriarch Lv Cong of the Lv Family does not dare to say more and puts his hand down imdiately.
The others present, observing this, also lift their heads to look outside the ancestral hall.
Upon receiving the notice, the stewards of several affiliated clans had already arrived. They have been sitting here quietly for half an hour, while the leading Young Clan Leader Shen Chongming has not said a word.
No one knows what he is waiting for.
Another quarter of an hour passes quickly.
As everyone looks towards the ancestral hall exterior for the umpteenth ti, a figure clad in black runs inside hurriedly.
Seeing this figure, the stewards from the affiliated clans all tense up.
The black outfit identifies a disciple of the Clan Court.
In previous tis, whenever people from the Clan Court appeared in the cities governed by the major families, it signaled that the main house had likely discovered sothing.
As such, the clansn from the major affiliated clans would always feel inexplicably nervous upon seeing a disciple of the Clan Court.
Shen Chongming raises an eyebrow slightly, taking note of each person’s changing expressions.
After the Clan Court cultivator rushes in, he goes straight to Shen Chongming and bows.
"Young Clan Leader, everything is arranged."
Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming puts the lid back on the teacup in his hands and sits up straight slowly.
Except for Zhao Jinhua, the others visibly tremble, involuntarily holding their breath.
"Has the professor arrived?"
Glancing at the crowd, Shen Chongming turns to the Clan Court cultivator.
The cultivator cups his hands slightly, "The professor is on his way, should be..."
Before he finishes speaking, a figure suddenly treads through the void from a distance in the sky beyond the ancestral hall.
In the void appears an invisible stairway, Lu Zhiyuan’s wide scholar’s robe billows with the wind as he descends the steps.
The figure directly appears at the entrance of the ancestral hall.
Seeing this, Shen Chongming rises slightly and cups his hands in salute.
The others quickly stand and pay their respects, except Zhao Jinhua who remains with head drooped.
"Old Zhao..."
Beside him, the equally aged Liu Fang lightly tugs at his sleeve.
"Hmm?"
Zhao Jinhua jolts awake, glances around, then ets Shen Chongming’s half-smiling eyes.
"Pardon , Young Clan Leader, old age makes one drowsy easily..."
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