His disciples immediately crowded around, surrounding him and eagerly asking questions about his travels. Xu Yeping smiled slightly and spoke amiably about his experiences while also asking about their recent situations.
Such a good person shouldn't have ended up like he did in his previous life.
"Sect Leader, congratulations on your safe return," Shen Yanli said to Xu Yeping.
A flicker of surprise passed through Xu Yeping's eyes. How could he have imagined that the cold-as-ice Shen Yanli would say such words? In the past, she always seemed like a fleeting shadow, rarely seen, let alone waiting at the mountain gate to congratulate him on his return.
Although the aura of the person before him was not unusual, this was indeed Shen Yanli. But why did it feel so peculiar?
"Grandmaster Shen, I've heard you suffered serious injuries while accompanying Sect Leader Ye Huaqing to remove a demon in Penglai. Have you recovered?" Xu Yeping asked with concern.
Shen Yanli nodded slightly, "Recovered. Thank you, Sect Leader, for your concern."
"That's good," Xu Yeping nodded in relief, then he walked over to Chu Lin and patted his shoulder.
"Master Chu, I heard your mechanical techniques have greatly improved. It's truly commendable!"
"Thank you for your praise, Sect Leader. I'm still in the learning phase and not yet successful," Chu Lin replied humbly with a bow.
"Master Chu is always so modest," Xu Yeping laughed amiably.
Then the members of the sect returned to the mountain gate, gathering around Xu Yeping, asking questions and expressing care. With Xu Yeping's stories, there were moments of surprise, moments of admiration, and moments of sighs...
For the people on the mountain, Xu Yeping is not just their Sect Leader, but also family. No one is more concerned about the members of the sect than Xu Yeping. Without him, this sect might have dispersed long ago.
Back in the day, Shen Yanli was traveling at the base of the mountain when she met Xu Yeping by chance. Xu Yeping invited her to the sect with utmost sincerity, and touched by his sincerity, she agreed.
To her, the Qiongcang Sect was like a home, offering her a place to settle after wandering aimlessly.
Many disciples in the sect were orphans that Xu Yeping brought back from different places. Some were abandoned by their parents, some wandered during wartime, and others were saved by Xu Yeping when they were on the brink of starvation or illness.
Though the sect was not wealthy, under Xu Yeping's management, they managed to get by.
"Where's Mo Bai?" Xu Yeping asked as he sipped hot tea while sitting in a chair in the front hall, addressing Shen Yanli seated beside him.
"I've confined him," Shen Yanli replied blandly.
"Grandmaster Shen, although Mo Bai is mischievous, he has a pure heart. Punishing him too much may not be appropriate. Please release him soon," Xu Yeping advised sincerely.
Shen Yanli felt helpless, but since Xu Yeping had spoken, she took his words to heart, "Okay, I'll release him tomorrow."
Xu Yeping nodded, feeling relieved, as he looked over at Chu Lin and spoke slowly, "Master Chu, there's word that a plague has broken out along the river to the north. You have experience treating plagues, and I'd like you to take on this mission. Is that alright?"
"Certainly, I await Sect Leader's instructions," Chu Lin accepted the mission.
"Grandmaster Shen, there's trouble in White Cloud Village at the base of the mountain with demons causing unrest. This is a task assigned to our sect by the Demon Extermination Sect. I hope you can take Mo Bai and handle this. What do you think?" Xu Yeping sincerely asked Shen Yanli.
Shen Yanli recalled that in her previous life, she had handled this task with Mo Bai. The details were exceptionally dangerous, making her heart race in hindsight.
Seeing Shen Yanli not respond assumed she was unwilling, Xu Yeping thought to handle it himself, but just as he was about to speak, Shen Yanli said, "Alright, Sect Leader, you've just returned and must be fatigued. I will take Mo Bai for this task, as it's a good opportunity for him to gain experience, having never removed a demon before."
Xu Yeping nodded with satisfaction, "That's very good."
Shen Yanli remembered all she had experienced in her past life, and thought it would be great if she could use this chance to eliminate that Great Demon!
This time, I won't give you, Great Demon, the chance to redo everything!