Pie in the Sky
The so-called Supreme Elder?
It was nothing more than a fanciful lie Su Qinian had concocted to encourage Li Qingran to work hard on her cultivation.
In reality, there had never been a Supreme Elder in Jiange. Let alone one surnamed Chen.
But now, what should he do?
Li Qingran had brought up this fabricated “master,” saying he was poisoned and on the verge of death.
Su Qinian couldn’t just brush it off—it would look bad.
But helping out?
The Sword Pavilion didn’t have the resources.
A Test of Intentions
Su Qinian furrowed his brow and asked, “Qingran, was this your idea, or your master’s?”
Li Qingran bowed deeply and replied earnestly, “It was my master’s idea, but also my own. Sect Master, please, if there’s any way to help my master, I am willing to do it!”
Su Qinian felt a headache brewing.
“What now?”
Accepting this “disciple’s master” as some sort of Supreme Elder for Jiange? Was that even appropriate?
Trying to tread carefully, he said, “When I joined the sect, the Great Elder had already left to travel. I only remember his surname is Chen, but I don’t recall his full name…”
Li Qingran immediately perked up and added, “My master’s name is Chen Huaian!”
Su Qinian’s lips twitched.
“Ah, so Chen Huaian, is it? In that case, let’s go to the ancestral hall and see if we can find a tablet bearing his name. Once we confirm his status, I’ll determine how best to help him.”
The Ancestral Hall
The ancestral hall of Jiange was ancient, its structure weathered by time, but it was spotlessly clean.
As they approached, Li Qingran noticed a female swordsman sweeping the courtyard.
She had white hair, yet her face was smooth and ageless, glowing faintly in the morning light.
Her tall, slender figure carried an ethereal elegance, as though she had merged with the passage of time itself.
For a moment, Li Qingran felt a strange sense of awe.
Su Qinian gave a rare formal bow.
“Senior Sister Lin,” he greeted respectfully.
The swordswoman nodded slightly, showing no particular interest in the two of them.
Inside the Hall
The ancestral hall was filled with rows of tablets, each gleaming as though it had just been polished.
Li Qingran glanced back at the yard outside and thought of the mysterious swordswoman—she must have been the one caring for these memorials so diligently.
Su Qinian lit three incense sticks, bowed to the tablets, and said to Li Qingran, “Let’s search separately. Do not touch the tablets—just look at them. Understand?”
Li Qingran nodded solemnly.
“Don’t worry, Sect Master. I would never touch them.”
Satisfied, Su Qinian left her to search on the first floor while he went up to the second, thinking to himself, “There’s no Chen Huaian here. I’m certain of it. When she doesn’t find anything, I’ll just feign an apology and paint her another inspirational goal to work toward.”
The Search
Li Qingran searched carefully, going through the tablets one by one.
However, her anxiety grew with every passing moment.
Even when she reached the section dedicated to ancestors surnamed Chen, she still couldn’t find her master’s name.
By the time Su Qinian descended from the second floor, she was frantic, her eyes red and brimming with tears.
“Have you found your master’s tablet yet?” Su Qinian asked, feigning a look of concern. “If not, perhaps I was mistaken. Ah, it happens—people grow old, and their memories become muddled…”
But Li Qingran wasn’t ready to give up.
She ignored Su Qinian entirely, her lips tightly pursed as she combed through every remaining tablet.
Even the ones Su Qinian had already dismissed weren’t spared her scrutiny.
A Sudden Discovery
Just as Su Qinian was about to deliver a rehearsed line about providing support regardless of her master’s affiliation, Li Qingran’s voice rang out:
“Found it!“
Her excited cry stunned him into silence.
“What?!” Su Qinian turned around, his face full of disbelief.
Li Qingran approached, clutching a tablet tightly to her chest.
Tears streamed down her flushed face, but her expression was one of relief and joy.
“Disciple has found my master’s tablet!” she declared triumphantly.
Su Qinian stared at her, completely dumbfounded.
“What tablet is that?!”
“Who the hell is Chen Huaian?!”
