Shen Ruizhe contracted a high fever that night, one that refused to yield no matter what medicine Zhang Xukai fed him.
Shen Ruizhe's body, initially healthy and strong, had been ravaged by countless battles against demons over the years. Even the most formidable statue would crumble eventually, and Shen Ruizhe was not a god.
Zhang Xukai personally attended to his shizun. He did not let anyone stay alone with Shen Ruizhe for whatever reason. The disciples moved about in Shen Ruizhe's bed chamber under his constant scrutiny, creating a palpable tension, thick enough to cleave with a sword.
After three days, Shen Ruizhe finally opened his eyes.
"Shizun, you are finally awake!"
Overjoyed, Zhang Xukai grabbed his shizun's cold hand and squeezed it.
Shen Ruizhe stared at Zhang Xukai blankly for some time before he muttered, "Ah, yes. We need to talk about the succession of the peak master position."
Zhang Xukai was rendered speechless by Shen Ruizhe's first words upon waking up.
"Shizun, you have just woken up. Can we not wait? The most important thing right now is to recover your health..."
"Zhang Xukai."
Shen Ruizhe's stern voice shut Zhang Xukai up in a flash.
"I don't have much time left, you know that very well."
Zhan Xukai clenched his fingers into fists. He knew that. Of course, he knew that. But Shen Ruizhe had been holding on for the past ten years. He thought that maybe his shizun's cultivation had already broken through the barrier between life and death. Maybe he did not have to die. Maybe...
Still, these maybe's did nothing to save Shen Ruizhe. Nothing would.
Shen Ruizhe closed his eyes for a second before he opened them again, gazing upon his head disciple with unconcealed fondness.
"I am going to write down the names of prospective peak master candidates across the sect. Invite them all to Jinlian Peak for one final assessment."
"... Yes, Shizun."
Zhang Xukai did not dare to dawdle. As soon as he received the list from Shen Ruizhe, he summoned all of them without delay.
The senior disciples were obviously confused at the unexpected summons. The Seven Pillars Sect used to have seven peak masters during its glorious days. Now that the sect had just revived, everyone was pretty happy with having Shen Ruizhe as the de facto sect leader around. Why must they elect new peak masters so quickly, so suddenly?
"Could it be that Shen Shishu is..." a senior disciple muttered, but the others quickly chastised her.
"Don't speak nonsense."
"Shen Shishu is as strong and formidable as always."
"Nothing is going to happen."
The senior disciple who did not manage to speak to the end bit her lip in indignation.
Yes, the sect could not afford to lose Shen Ruizhe. Therefore, no one was allowed to entertain any negative thoughts.
Shen Ruizhe had always been known for his quick and efficient methods. From the day he re-established the sect, he had been keeping a close eye on all disciples, specifically the ones who entered the sect ten years ago.
After nurturing these promising talents for ten whole years, he could see prosperous days ahead for the sect.
One by one, the young peak masters were established, save for the position of Jinlian Peak Master, which Shen Ruizhe still occupied.
The new peak masters officially took up their positions three days after Shen Ruizhe awoke from his fever-induced coma. Given the huge gap in experience and seniority, they all felt strange sitting at the same level as Shen Ruizhe. When the other disciples looked up at them, they became so nervous that they might just vomit on the spot.
But Shen Ruizhe remained calm and composed.
"The prestigious title of Peak Master carries a heavy burden and an immense amount of responsibilities," he said to his fellow, much younger peak masters.
"Yes, Shishu," they all answered in unison.
"That being said, I expect you all to start thinking not only on your behalf but your peak members' behalf."
"Yes, Shishu," came the answer again.
In fact, that was the most difficult thing to do. These disciples were used to competing with each other for favor. After they took up the position, would they be able to treat their former rivals favorably?
Words meant nothing if they were not put into practice.
Shen Ruizhe could not help but sigh heavily when he scanned the young, expectant faces looking up at him.
"The next years are going to be quite difficult, Xukai," he told his head disciple after the appointment ceremony was over.
Zhang Xukai readily agreed.
"But Shizun is here, so Shizun will be able to oversee their growth."
"Hmm."
Zhang Xukai's heart sank when he saw the light furrow between Shen Ruizhe's brows.
Surely Shen Ruizhe did not expect baby birds to start hunting for food after they were pushed out of their nest...?
That night, having taken care of critical affairs in the sect, Shen Ruizhe fell sick again. Unlike the previous breakout of fever, this time he kept drifting between the state of sleep and lucidity. And he started giving Zhang Xukai various instructions. The kind that a sick man made when his death was drawing near.
"You must take good care of Jinlian Peak in the future, Xukai."
"After me, you are the second person who has stayed in the sect the longest. You need to help the other peak masters to the best of your abilities."
"You must enforce harmony between the peaks, don't let petty matters disrupt the peace we work so hard to achieve..."
"I know, Shizun, I know. Please, stop talking," Zhang Xukai said with tears in his eyes when Shen Ruizhe refused to let go of his burden even at his deathbed.
"And about... Zhiyuan..."
As soon as Mo Zhiyuan's name fell into the conversation, Zhang Xukai's heart hardened into stone.
Shen Ruizhe, panting heavily, stared at Zhang Xukai with glassy eyes.
"I know that you... you two do not get along, but he... you two used to be studying cultivation under my watch."
Zhang Xukai gritted his teeth in disdain.
Mo Zhiyuan was the disaster that befell the mortal realm. He deserved to die a thousand times for the countless evil he wrought. He did not deserve to occupy Shen Ruizhe's mind to the very end!
"Do me a favor," Shen Ruizhe said before coughing into his fist, "continue visiting him on the third day of every week. Ninety years is such a long, long time. If you keep him appeased, you will have enough time to rebuild the sect..."
Another wave of violent cough engulfed Shen Ruizhe, followed by a burst of fresh blood from his throat.
"Shizun...!"
Zhang Xukai left his seat to help Shen Ruizhe, but the latter used the opportunity to grab his head disciple by the lapels and forced the younger man to look at him.
"Don't tell him anything about my death. Just prepare yourself well in these ninety years. The road ahead is... perilous..."
Tears welled up in Zhang Xukai's eyes. In his forty years of life, he had only ever shed tears for this shizun of his.
"Shizun," he sobbed. "Shizun, please don't leave me, alright? The Seven Sky Pillars Sect needs you. The entire cultivation world needs you. You have to stay alive."
A weak smile pulled at Shen Ruizhe's lips.
"I am sorry," he whispered. "I wish that I could accompany you for a lifetime."
"You can," Zhang Xukai insisted. "Please, Shizun. You have been holding on so well for the past ten years. Shizun..."
"There is no feast that would not end," Shen Ruizhe softly said. His grip slackened and his hand slowly glided off Zhang Xukai's front.
"Shizun..."
Zhang Xukai's tears fell like rain. He clasped both hands around Shen Ruizhe's cold hand and cried like a child.
Shen Ruizhe's eyes were locked onto his grieving disciple, his heart overflowing with tender warmth.
This is also good, he thought to himself.
The rest depends on fate.
Relief washed over Shen Ruizhe after he said everything he needed to say and did everything he needed to do. And then, with no burden tying him to the mortal realm, he passed away peacefully with Zhang Xukai by his side.
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Author's note :
Are you crying? Awwww.
If you are used to this author's writing style, you should be prepared for the worst!
*whips*
Okay, I am done abusing you. I am here to invite you to support me on Patreon. Find me under "Lu Shui", you won't miss me. In return, you will get to read up to chapter 10 (so far). I am updating every 4 days for now, ehehe~
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