Chapter 6
Nineteen years since the Nine Lotus Immortal Sect's founding saw a thriving new generation
guided by First Elder Ming Ye and Second Elder Bao Yu. Their parents' legacy stood
testament in strong foundations and compassionate hearts cultivated equally with immortal
techniques.
Ming Ye observed his disciples reassuringly one spring morning before turning towards little
Bao Yu who smiled up brightly, wispy clouds drifting idyllically past her raised palms. Though
only eleven mortal years, remarkable aptitude and their parents' sacrificial ascension
spiritual legacy ensured rapid cultivation progress. Today she became the sect's youngest
Foundation Establishment cultivator ever.
Pride and nostalgia swelled Ming Ye's heart seeing innocence still evident in Bao Yu's smile.
He suddenly realized why Grand Elder Rong insisted years ago on passing sect leadership
to him swiftly so she could focus solely on unearthing more of their parents' obscured history
from before exile. There was no immortal realm technique to regain squandered time with
loved ones.
That afternoon, Ming Ye quietly sought out Grand Elder Rong in her secluded residence by
the lotus ponds. She hardly seemed surprised when Ming Ye solemnly swore to undertake
closed door cultivation until he reached Immortal Ascension to reunite with their heroic
parents, entrusting interim leadership to the capable second generation elders trained
compassionately by Bao Yu just as she once nurtured him.
Rong's eyes crinkled with penetrating empathy. "When have I ever bound your wings to one
place? We all walk the paths fate shapes for us." She held his conflicted gaze steadily. "But
remember, closed door isolation cannot stand eternally. Balance endures longer."
Bowing deeply in gratitude for her wisdom and support, Ming Ye retreated to formalize Bao
Yu's authority as interim sect master, the youngest ever to administer their thriving school.
Her radiant joy and determined focus convinced Ming Ye this temporary burden would only
nurture his talented little sister's outstanding potential faster.
That autumn he inaugurated Bao Yu's leadership and his own cultivation seclusion with a
solemn fare-thee-well banquet. Tender affection brimmed from the disciples and elders
equally towards the two siblings carrying on their parents' proud legacy. As seasonal breeze
tossed crimson maple leaves picturesquely around his restrictive chamber, Ming Ye floated
into unperturbed meditative trance towards higher immortal insights.
Outside, Bao Yu dedicated herself fully to managing sect affairs. Balancing rigorous
administrative decisions alongside gentle counselling for disciples' worries reminded her of
their venerable parents' unity of steel and silk. Smiling serenely through taxing days, she
absorbed every experience knowing one lifetime still held only glimpses of the wisdom their
First Elder brother pursued in ascension.
For five harmonious years, Ming Ye cultivated steadfastly, only Bao Yu's occasional visits
penetrating his unwavering focus. In turn she kept him updated concisely on their school's
new competitive admissions policy to balance broader recruitment against diluted teaching
standards, successful negotiations hosting the Inter-Sect Exchange Conference next spring
that promised invaluable exposure and connections, ongoing public works with the mortals
like new irrigation channels and medicinal access programs. Pride and confidence in his
little sister swelled with each victory she recounted modestly.
The sixth spring came early with cheerful golden sunrises. After senior disciples swept his
courtyard clear of fragrant winter plum blossoms, Ming Ye prepared to sink blissfully back
into another decade's secluded cultivation when hesitant footsteps heralding Bao Yu's chiming
voice interrupted his trance preliminaries.
Mind instantly alert to distraction after stringent discipline resisting random thoughts for years,
he blinked reluctantly outwards from contemplative depths to focus on his sister's slight form
trembling before his platform. Alarm shot through Ming Ye at Bao Yu's bedraggled state so
unlike her normal graceful poise. Ink stains dotted formerly pristine white robes while loose
tendrils escaped her forgotten hairpins. What calamity could shake unflappable Bao Yu so?
"Sister, what happened?" Ming Ye asked sharply, dismissing confinement spells to leap down
and steady her shaking shoulders.
Bao Yu's muted whimper nearly felled him on its own. "Elder Brother, I failed you and our
parents! Please punish me duly!" Her broken confession of botching the Inter-Sect Exchange
summit pierced Ming Ye more painfully than any demonic blade. He listened helpless as
self-recrimination poured from Bao Yu relentlessly about overlooking accommodations
capacity when deciding participant numbers then struggling coordinating everything alone
afterwards once summit dates were set, culminating finally in esteemed Black Jade Sect's
envoy storming off impossibly offended by unintended informal housing arrangements.
Voice ragged with bitterness towards herself, Bao Yu concluded hollowly, "Fleeing guests
and chaos still reign. Our sect's reputation lies in ruins by my disaster." Shoulders sagging,
she offered her most precious hairpin, a memento from their late mother. "I surrender this
token of leadership and will submit obediently to whatever sentence you decree."
The pin dangling accusingly between them shattered Ming Ye's heart anew. How could
stalwart little Bao Yu believe he would punish instead of comfort her now? Throat tightening
painfully, he realized these scant years bounded by chaos hardly nurtured his talented sister
beyond a fledgling's strength. Forsaking his own coveted immortal insights could not possibly
balance such profound failure illuminating only at this terrible precipice.
Wordlessly sinking to his knees and enveloping Bao Yu in a crushing embrace like when they
were innocent children, Ming Ye let anguished tears speak repentance on behalf of their
parents in heaven he still chased blindly. The only choice left was reorienting himself wholly
towards his only remaining family.
"Listen close Bao Yu." His stern tone broke no dissent. "Our parents' nobility came from
protecting people, not chasing immortality for its own sake. We have lost sight of this while
reaching hastily for fleeting external glories." Tilting her teary face up, Ming Ye smiled gently
with hard won wisdom. "I hereby resume full leadership responsibility. You will support me as
before. Let us together restore true foundations."
As afternoon faded golden into dusk, First Elder Ming Ye emerged to address his sect formally
for the first time in six years. None dared protest resumption of authority from little Junior
Sister Bao Yu despite her otherwise promising interim leadership. All disciples prostrated
deeply to welcome their true master's enlightened return. Speech modest yet power
absolute, Ming Ye's commands set their shaken school on swift path to internal reform.
External troubles refused waiting however. Upheavals triggered by offended esteemed Black
Jade Sect required comprehensive damage control. Over subsequent weeks, Ming Ye
worked dawn through midnight directing emergency envoys on diplomatic salvaging tours,
extensive gift deliveries and revised tournament participation to mollify outraged senior sects
now embroiled.
Meanwhile he ensured sect females safely relocated to subsidiary residence peaks lest
vengeful disciples target Bao Yu when inevitable investigations began into the summit fiasco.
After one fiery battle killing three Black Jade inner sect disciples in supposed challenge duels,
Ming Ye sealed protective boundaries with finality. None could threaten his little sister again
for youthful mistakes. Their parents' blood legacy would endure gloriously.
Years passed swiftly as Ming Ye governed the Nine Lotus Immortal Sect judiciously towards
triumph over lingering external grudges. Rigorous accountability and spreading fame for their
healers' unparalleled skills attracted more local clans and smaller sects into close alliance.
Safe behind consolidated power, Ming Ye directed resources comprehensively back towards
humble foundations - farms and schools for citizens alongside their thriving disciple ranks.
Little Bao Yu supported him earnestly as before but clearly would never resume full authority.
The venerated Third Elder now, none yet presumed upstaging her insights given memories of
past tumult. In any case Bao Yu devoted herself wholeheartedly to instructing their healers in
increasingly innovative treatments for obscure ailments. Seeing revitalized joy in the sister
he nearly broke once swelled protective pride anew in Ming Ye. They would leave far richer
legacies than originally imagined possible.
The Nineteen Year Calamity nearly shattered those hard-won hopes.
It began as whisperings of worrying incidents - villages plagued mysteriously with wasting
fevers beyond curatives...roving demonic cultivators ambushing night travellers across
provincial roads...abrupt gales devastating rice harvests already hindered by stunted output
from sick fields...
Ming Ye listened to each new report with mounting grim focus. Such concentrated misfortune
bespoke evil directives instead of natural chaos. He ordered emergency conscriptions of
both sect disciples and able villagers for intensive combat drill formations. Stockpiles of
medicines tripled while Yao Guai, their ancient beast spirit guardian, tightened perimeter
wards layer by layer. Grim as darkest nights before radiant dawns, the entire region girded for
siege.