Watching the Mountain

Chapter 374: Chapter 205: Reversal, Mountain Guardian

The man threw up his hands and said, ”Sir, you don’t really think we’re here to cause trouble, do you?”

”Come on. Among all of us here, the strongest is only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. We don’t have the guts to cause a scene, and even if we did, a single Elder could easily suppress all of us combined.”

He sighed helplessly. ”Besides, the Sect has been completely open and transparent about the distribution of the Dust-Sealed Stones. There have been no backroom deals or nepotism. The selection process is open to everyone in the Sect.”

”It’s not like ordinary disciples like us have zero chance at a Dust-Sealed Stone. We can get one if we make enough contributions to the Sect. Weren’t there about a hundred disciples with average talent who were given Dust-Sealed Stones because they had performed great service for the Sect?”

As soon as he finished speaking, another disciple stepped forward and chimed in, ”Compared to other sects, our Sect’s method of distributing the Dust-Sealed Stones is definitely the most generous and fair.”

”Exactly. And there are only so many Dust-Sealed Stones to go around. Of course they’re going to be distributed in the way that most benefits the Sect.”

”People like us won’t get very far, even if we survive to see the future golden age. We’d just hold the Sect back. It would be pointless to give the Dust-Sealed Stones to us.”

Hearing the disciples chime in one after another, the expression on Wang Xiaohu’s face grew even more stunned.

He had never imagined this would be the situation.

After a long moment, he let out a deep breath to compose himself. With a melancholy look, he asked:

”From what you’re saying, it sounds like you completely understand the Sect’s decision. If that’s the case, why are you still upset? Why are you here venting your frustrations?”

His question was met with a series of eye-rolls.

”Understanding it is one thing. Being upset about it is another.”

”More importantly, with the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment upon us, we can’t see any future for ourselves. Under these circumstances, it’s impossible not to feel some resentment. We’re just ordinary people, not saints. Of course we feel like it’s unfair.”

”But we also know that no matter what the future holds, life goes on. It’s time to get back to normal and cultivate diligently. If we don’t, we won’t even live long enough to see the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment.”

”That’s why we decided to gather here today—to get all our frustrations out at once. Then, starting tomorrow, we’ll go back to cultivating diligently, just like always.”

”No matter how the world changes, your life is your own. The only way to live longer and enjoy it more is to cultivate diligently.”

”This...” Hearing the disciples’ explanations, Wang Xiaohu was left completely speechless.

”How... how did you all come up with this idea?” he asked in a daze after a long pause.

Hearing his question, the disciples exchanged glances. Then, one of them stepped forward and said to him with a smile:

”Oh, this? It was an idea from Wang Zhenzhuan—Wang Zhenye, a True Disciple from our very own Qing Xuan Peak.”

”He saw how we were moping around all day, looking half-dead, so he suggested this to us.”

”And I have to say, it’s actually pretty effective. After yelling for a bit, I feel a lot better.”

Many of the other disciples voiced their agreement. They exchanged smiles, then ignored Wang Xiaohu and went back to cursing up a storm, venting all the Resentful Qi in their hearts...

Starting tomorrow, they would return to their normal lives.

Wang Xiaohu watched the disciples curse the Sect, oblivious to his presence, and for a moment, he couldn’t quite put a name to the emotions stirring within him.

He also had a vivid memory of the name Wang Zhenye. That was the man who spent his days flitting between beautiful women, living a life others could only envy.

He was the one who had stepped forward to berate Wang Xiaohu back when he had publicly condemned the Sect.

He stood there, the sound of the disciples’ cathartic shouting filling his ears. He listened for a long while before finally shaking his head and quietly walking away.

’If only I had been this accepting and insightful back then,’ he thought. ’Maybe the rest of my life wouldn’t have been so painful.’

A self-deprecating smile touched his lips. He had come to admonish these disciples, but instead, they had taught him a lesson he’d failed to grasp his entire life.

Halfway there, he stopped. He looked at the person who had appeared before him. After a moment of silence, his aged body trembled as he raised his hands in a salute and called out:

”Senior Brother Hidden Mountain.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly. Looking at Wang Xiaohu, whose remaining lifespan was visibly short, he felt a complex mix of emotions.

Regardless of his personal feelings about the man, Wang Xiaohu was an old acquaintance.

He always felt a touch of melancholy whenever he watched an acquaintance grow old.

Xu Ran looked at Wang Xiaohu, and after a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.

”Have you figured it out?”

He had overheard Wang Xiaohu’s earlier words. ’To say something like that... it means he’s truly had a change of heart.’

He felt a sense of relief at this.

Their first meeting had been born from an act of justice and kindness on Wang Xiaohu’s part. The fact that Teacher Qing Xuan had even considered taking him as a personal disciple proved that he once truly possessed a good and righteous heart.

Now, as Wang Xiaohu neared the end of his life, Xu Ran hoped the man could return to the person he once was, rather than departing this world with a heart full of resentment.