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The day the sect held its annual disciple selection tests was one of anticipation and excitement, but also contention. Every decade, disciples from all over the cultivation world gathered to prove their worth, compete for the chance to join one of the prestigious peaks. Yet, on this particular day, an unusual scene stole everyone's attention.
As the tests were in progress, Qing Jing Peak Lord descended gracefully onto the main courtyard. Carrying a child in one of his arm's, no older than eight, with delicate features, wide eyes, and an unassuming presence.
The boy clutched the hem of the peak lord’s robes, his silence only amplifying the murmurs and whispers spreading through the gathered crowd.
The sect elders, peak lords, and disciples alike turned their attention to the duo, their expressions shifting between confusion and thinly veiled displeasure for interrupting the test.
This child Jīn Lùxiù had not participated in the rigorous tests, nor had he been seen before.
Yet, here he was, brought in by the elusive Qing Jing Peak Lord as if he were an exception to the rules.
"Qing Jing Peak Lord," one elder spoke up cautiously, unable to mask the curiosity in his tone.
"May we ask about this child? The selection tests are still ongoing."
The peak lord raised a hand to silence further questioning, his half-lidded eyes glancing over the gathered crowd with his usual air of indifference. His lips curved into a faint, almost playful smile.
"This young one," he began, resting a hand lightly on Jīn Lùxiù’s head, "will be joining my Qing Jing Peak as a disciple."
His words landed like a thunderclap, drawing sharp inhales and even a few quiet hisses of disapproval. The other peak lords exchanged glances, some frowning, others raising skeptical brows. The disciples were less restrained, their displeasure more openly displayed through whispers and sidelong glances.
Ignoring the mounting tension, the Qing Jing Peak Lord continued, his tone lighthearted as if he had not just disrupted the sacred tradition.
"There’s no need for tests in this case. Lùxiù is a good child—trust me on this. I'm sure all of you will grow to adore such an adorable disciple." As if to emphasize his words, he chuckled and reached out to pinch Jīn Lùxiù’s cheek, eliciting a slight flinch from the boy, though he said nothing.
The crowd bristled at his dismissive attitude. Questions hung in the air, but the peak lord offered no explanations, his words a firm dismissal of any dissent.
"He will be under my peak and my protection. That should be enough for you."
With that, he turned, the hem of his robes billowing as he began to leave, with the boy in his still arm's. Jīn Lùxiù never once looked at the crowd, his gaze fixed firmly downward on his lap as if their glares and whispers meant nothing to him.
The peak lord’s actions led many to speculate that he had a history with the child—perhaps he had taken him in long ago. Yet, no one dared to press further. The Qing Jing Peak Lord was known for his capricious nature and his ability to brush off conflict with maddening ease.
As the two figures disappeared from sight, the courtyard was left simmering with unresolved questions, suspicions, and lingering discontent. Whether this Jīn Lùxiù deserved his place in the sect was now a matter of debate, but one thing was certain.
Jin Luxiu would have to bear the weight of countless eyes, both curious and hostile, as he began his new life on Qing Jing Peak.