Chapter 93 — The Talisman Painter Who Guards the Village

Title Returned

The large hall of Tông Vân Các, where Diệp Sương had once stood amid a ring of accusers, was now decorated differently, with flags hanging from every pillar and morning sunlight streaming through the large windows in warm streaks across the brick floor.

Diệp Sương stood in the middle of the hall, wearing a neat inner-disciple uniform, her heart pounding in a way completely different from the fear of the trial the previous year. Today, the Council of Elders officially announced the complete removal of all charges that had weighed heavily on her, restoring her reputation and what she had lost.

*

"In the name of the Council of Tông Vân Các elders," Thư Khải Dương announced, his voice echoing through the hall, "I officially declare Chu Diệp Sương completely innocent of all charges and restore her full status as a disciple, along with all the honor she should receive for the victories she achieved during her recent journey."

Applause echoed throughout the hall, not only from close friends like Âu Bội Nhi and Chung Nhã Trúc, but also from the disciples who were once cautious and even doubted it in the darkest days.

Diệp Sương stood in the middle of the applause, feeling a strange warmth creeping into her chest, completely different from the loneliness of her first day of admission, when she had been a country child standing in the corner of the hall, afraid of every questioning gaze. She looked for Thanh Việt in the crowd and saw him looking at her with undisguised pride; in that moment, all the burdens of the days of slander seemed to lighten.

*

"Furthermore," Thư Khải Dương continued, "considering your exceptionally outstanding contributions, the council unanimously agreed to promote you to the position of True Disciple, an honor reserved only for a few people with the most outstanding talents and virtues in the sect, and at the same time pave the way for you to become an elder in the near future, inheriting the position once held by Elder Tạ Vân Khê."

The entire hall once again echoed with admiring whispers. It was the highest honor a disciple could dream of, a direct path to the highest power and position in the entire Tông Vân Các.

*

Diệp Sương stood still for a long time, feeling the weight of that suggestion, then bowed her head in ceremony, her voice echoing clearly in the silent waiting hall.

"I would like to thank the council for this trust," she said, "but I would like to decline the position of True Disciple, as well as the path that leads to the seat of elder in the future."

The whole hall suddenly fell silent in surprise. Thư Khải Dương frowned, unable to hide his surprise. "Can you explain why?"

*

"I don't refuse because I think I'm not worthy," Diệp Sương said, her voice calm but determined. "I refuse because I believe I can serve the sect and Cửu Vân better in another way, without being bound by the rules and administrative responsibilities that come with the elder position."

She paused for a moment, remembering the first years of struggling to integrate among the disciples of noble families, remembering the contemptuous eyes of Wei Bá Tuân, and remembering Mr. Tám Mực, who had no less talent than anyone else but was never accepted by any sect because of his poor circumstances. "I used to be a country kid, almost never had the chance to step foot in this place," she continued, her voice low. "If it weren't for Elder Tạ Vân Khê personally coming down to Tùng Lĩnh Village, I probably would never have learned what I know today. I don't want this method of symbiotic healing to remain a secret for one person or one sect. I want it to belong to everyone who needs it, regardless of background or where they stand in this hierarchy."

*

An older elder in the council, who still held more or less conservative ideas, voiced skepticism. "If that method is widely taught, without careful selection like the traditional sect does, is there a risk of falling into the hands of those who do not have enough temperament to use it properly?"

Diệp Sương turned to look at him, unfazed. "I think it's that old-fashioned careful selection that allows someone like Lỗ Khắc Viên to creep into the bottom of the system, while leaving people like Mr. Tám Mực out just because they don't have enough money or connections. Believe me, the best way to avoid repeating that mistake is not to tighten the gate further, but to widen it, accompanied by transparency and proper supervision, instead of secrecy and privilege." The elder was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly without further objection.

Diệp Sương looked around at the faces in the council, realizing that not everyone was completely convinced, but at least no one was in a hurry to dismiss what she said simply because of her background, as when she first set foot on the mountaintop. That, she thought, was a significant step forward, even though it was still far from the goal.

She looked up, her eyes scanning the entire hall, stopping at each familiar face that had accompanied her throughout the long journey. "I want to spend time and energy to build a place that teaches the method of symbiotic healing to anyone willing to learn, not only sect disciples, but also those on the border, those of the Vụ Ẩn clan, those who have never had the opportunity to enter a large sect like this because of their background."

*

Thư Khải Dương was silent for a long time, his eyes held a deep thought, then nodded slightly, a rare smile appeared on his lips. "I think," he said, "Elder Tạ Vân Khê, if she were still alive, would be more proud of this decision than any position you could accept. I approve, and the sect will fully support your plans, in whatever form you need."

*

After the ceremony, Âu Bội Nhi pulled Diệp Sương to a corner of the yard, unable to hide her admiration and worry. "Are you sure about this decision?" she asked. "The position of elder is something that not everyone has the opportunity to be offered."

"I'm sure," Diệp Sương replied, smiling. "I remember you once told me, not everyone needs to be on the front line to make an important contribution. I think, for me right now, teaching others how to do what I've learned is much more important than sitting on the decision-making council."

*

Chung Nhã Trúc, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "You always have a different perspective than the rest," she said, her voice filled with respect. "That's exactly why what you did was so special."

Wei Bá Tuân, standing not far away, also walked closer, his voice a bit hesitant but sincere. "If you really open a teaching place like that, remember what I said. I want to be one of the first to enroll, even if I have to start over from the most basic lessons."

*

Diệp Sương looked around at the faces surrounding her - friends, former opponents, people who had gone through so many challenges with her to get to this day - a feeling of complete warmth rose in her heart, completely different from the loneliness of the thirteen-year-old girl who first set foot on Vân Tiêu Peak that year.

Thanh Việt walked over and stood beside her, his eyes filled with wordless support. "So," he said softly, "your next step has a clear direction."

"Our next move," he corrected, taking his hand. "What about you? Your father still wants you to continue the family's military career."

Thanh Việt pondered for a moment, looking out at the large yard in front of him. "Father no longer forces me to follow that path, since what happened in Lệ Dương. He said, he has seen enough to understand that family honor does not have just one form." He turned to look at it, his eyes sincere. "I think, I will stay at the sect, continue my work at Cảnh Linh Đài, but I am also willing to support you whenever your teaching place needs my ability to sense Linh Mạch. Our two paths, although not completely overlapping, can still go parallel."

*

Miên Trà and Du Khinh, listening to the story from the beginning, also contributed. "Chief Lãnh Vũ has agreed," Du Khinh said, "that the Vụ Ẩn clan will send some young people to study with you, if you really open a class. It's time for the two sides to learn to understand each other, instead of just stopping at an alliance in battle."

"I will be the first student to enroll," Miên Trà added, smiling brightly, making the whole group couldn't help but laugh, dispelling some of the solemn atmosphere that remained after the ceremony.

Standing in the middle of that circle of friends, Diệp Sương suddenly remembered what her grandmother Chín Lài had told her before she first left the village: if she drew a spell to save someone, she would save them. She thought, perhaps opening a teaching place was also a way to save the day, not just to save a life in a moment of danger, but to save a perspective that had been deeply rooted for generations, about who deserved to be given a chance and who did not.

Diệp Sương looked around at the faces surrounding her once again, fully feeling the warmth of a second home that she had painstakingly built over the years, then looked up at the clear blue sky above Vân Tiêu Peak, where the morning sunlight was spreading, illuminating a future with many things yet to be written, but for the first time in a long time, full of hope instead of anxiety.