Chapter 83: Found the Memorial Tablet?

The so-called Supreme Elder was just a lie he concocted to motivate Li Qingran to cultivate and improve her strength. In reality, the Sword Pavilion had no Supreme Elder, let alone one surnamed Chen.

But now, what should he do?

Li Qingran's master was afflicted with a strange poison and might not have much time left.

It didn't feel right to just leave it be.

But if he got involved, he didn't have the resources to spare…

"Qingran, was it your idea to tell me this, or your master's?" Su Qinian decided to hold off for now and first probe the situation.

"It was both my master's idea and mine!" Li Qingran bowed again. "May I ask if the Pavilion Master has any way to help my master? This disciple is willing to do anything!"

Su Qinian was at a loss.

Well, this was a fine mess.

Taking in a disciple had somehow led to the Sword Pavilion acknowledging a Supreme Elder?

Was this appropriate?

Was this… right?

Given the complexity of the situation, Su Qinian decided to play it safe. He probed further, "When I joined the sect, that Supreme Elder had already left to travel the world. I only know his surname is Chen, but I don't know his full name…"

"My master's name is Chen Huaian!" Li Qingran quickly added.

"Ah, I see. Then come with me to the sect's ancestral hall. I'll try to find out which Supreme Elder he is so we can figure out a solution based on his cultivation level."

Su Qinian thought to himself that the ancestral hall was filled with memorial tablets of deceased ancestors, as well as those who had left the sect and whose fates were unknown.

If they went to the ancestral hall and didn't find a memorial tablet for an ancestor surnamed Chen, he could simply say it was a case of mistaken identity, and the matter would be over. Then he could give Li Qingran another motivational lie, encouraging her to focus on improving her strength. This way, he'd kill two birds with one stone.

It wasn't that he was selfish.

It's just that the Sword Pavilion couldn't afford to get involved in such matters right now.

Resources were dwindling, and there wasn't enough to spare for others.

Li Qingran didn't understand why they needed to confirm her master's identity, but she held onto hope and obediently followed Su Qinian to the ancestral hall.

The Sword Pavilion's ancestral hall was old and worn.

But it was kept spotlessly clean.

Li Qingran noticed a female sword cultivator sweeping the courtyard, which was covered in fallen leaves. She wore plain white robes, her hair was silver, and her tall, slender figure was bathed in the morning light. Her fair face seemed to glow with a soft radiance, untouched by the passage of time.

For a moment, Li Qingran felt as if time itself had merged with this female sword cultivator.

"Senior Sister Lin." Su Qinian clasped his hands and bowed slightly to the female sword cultivator.

This was the first time Li Qingran had seen Pavilion Master Su act so formally.

"Hmm." The female sword cultivator merely nodded lightly, seemingly indifferent to their arrival. Su Qinian didn't explain her identity to Li Qingran, instead quickly leading her into the ancestral hall.

The hall was filled with memorial tablets. Despite the hall's dilapidated state, each tablet was meticulously cleaned, as if they had just been placed there.

Unconsciously, Li Qingran thought of the transcendent female sword immortal in the courtyard, whom the Pavilion Master had addressed as "Senior Sister." It must have been her who had taken such care of the tablets, keeping them so pristine.

Su Qinian lit three incense sticks, placed them in the incense burner, and bowed three times to the tablets. Then he turned to Li Qingran and said, "Let's split up and look. Remember, don't move the tablets. You can look, but don't touch!"

Li Qingran nodded solemnly, her face tense. "Don't worry, Pavilion Master. This disciple won't touch them!"

"Good. You're well-behaved, so I won't keep an eye on you."

The ancestral hall had more than one level. Su Qinian casually wandered up to the second floor, planning to stall for a bit.

After all, he was certain there was no memorial tablet for an ancestor or senior of the Sword Pavilion named Chen Huaian.

Li Qingran searched carefully through the hall, growing more anxious with each passing moment.

Especially when she didn't find her master's name among the tablets of the Chen lineage.

Time ticked by.

Su Qinian descended from the top of the ancestral hall and saw Li Qingran's anxious expression. Though he felt a pang of guilt, he hardened his heart and said, "Well, did you find your master's memorial tablet? If not, perhaps I was mistaken. Ah—! Getting old does that to you. Sometimes memories get mixed up."

Li Qingran kept searching, ignoring him.

She even went through the tablets behind Su Qinian that he had already "searched."

Her eyes were red, her lips tightly pressed together, determined to check every single one again.

Su Qinian didn't stop her, just patiently continued, "Qingran, even if your master isn't a Supreme Elder of our Sword Pavilion, I'll still try to offer some help. You don't have to…"

"Found it!"

A cheerful voice cut off Su Qinian's unfinished sentence.

"What?!" Su Qinian turned around, his face filled with disbelief.

He saw Li Qingran tightly clutching a memorial tablet, her red-rimmed eyes glistening with tears, a relieved smile on her face. "This disciple… this disciple found my master's memorial tablet!"

…

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