Chapter 2118: Reluctant to Leave
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After Muyun Long and the others left, Old Ma looked at everyone and said, “Muyun family’s withdrawal means that we are one short of the seven families. Now, we happen to have someone here who is an expert on divine techniques. I move to have him replace the Muyun family. What say you?”
Everyone instantly understood who Old Ma recommended.
Undoubtedly, he meant Ye Futian, who had taught Fang Cun the divine technique he also cultivated.
All eyes fell on Ye Futian as people in the village talked amongst themselves. Many agreed that Ye Futian did do a lot for the village. It would be a little overboard to nominate him as the village chief, but as long as he was willing to become a member of Four Corner Village, it would be acceptable for him to replace the Muyun family.
“What are you hesitating? Without the master, the village would never make it to this point. Are you saying that the master was less worthy than those devious people from the Muyun family?” Fang Cun couldn’t help but feel displeasure when he heard some dissenting whispers.
“Master Ye would indeed be the best candidate,” someone in the village spoke up for Ye Futian.
“Master Ye treated Duo Yu kindly, so that not only could he cultivate, but he also inherited the divine technique with Master Ye as his teacher. I support Master Ye,” someone else piped up. More villagers started to express their opinions. They were simple and innocent in nature, and now more were giving their approval when they heard these testimonials.
Old Ma then said, “Everyone, please take a stand.”
“Agreed,” Blind Tie uttered.
“I agree too,” Duo Yu added quickly.
“I’m fine with it,” Fang Gai said.
Now, four families had already agreed, which was more than half of the votes needed.
“I agree, too,” Shi Kui of the Shi family nodded his approval as he looked towards Ye Futian.
Only the Gu family, which had always been closer to the Muyun family, had not yet expressed its position. Gu Huai, the head of the Gu family, now set his eyes on Ye Futian and said, “I have no objection.”
“Perfect!” Old Ma said with a smile, “Now that everyone has agreed, it’s decided. Master Ye, please.”
Ye Futian looked at Old Ma with a resigned smile. He had wanted to stay behind the scenes, but Old Ma seemed insistent in getting him involved. He had no choice but to walk up to the chair and faced everyone in Four Corner Village, saying, “Ye Futian, thank you for your trust.”
The sight pleased many people, especially for Ye Futian’s disciples. The four youths smiled brilliantly. It seemed that they were able to keep the master in the village after all.
Xia Qingyuan and the others were glad as well. They were the only outsiders who were allowed to participate in this discussion. Now Ye Futian had completely integrated into the village and became one of its members.
“Master Ye, the matter regarding the Muyun family has been resolved, but now cultivators from all sides are in the village. If we chase them out directly, we will probably offend the entire Shangqing Domain. What do you advise?” Old Ma asked Ye Futian. He was giving him a tough problem to solve right off the bat.
This matter was indeed difficult to resolve. Any little carelessness would cause serious trouble.
“Let everyone know that the Four Corner Village is the same as before, opening up once every four years. The top forces in Shangqing Domain may select a chosen few to enter the village to cultivate. Before this, only people of great luck may enter the village. Now, it can be changed so that only people with perfect Great Path may enter the village and limit their time inside the village.”
Ye Futian slowly said, “In addition, from now on, Four Corner Village will operate like other forces inside Shangqing Domain, as a principality in its own right. If any cultivator from any forces wishes to enter the village outside the four-year period, they may notify the village of their intent to visit. They may visit once the village has approved their request.”
From now on, the village would be the same as the other top forces in the Shangqing Domain. It would become a force based in the Four Corner Continent, and as such, it would not always be available to the outside world. A window every four years was a prudent choice and a good buffer. It was similar to what they had done in the past to avoid such changes from being opposed by other forces.
“That’s doable.” Old Ma nodded in agreement.
The others also nodded. Ye Futian’s idea was a pretty good one, taking the needs of both sides into consideration, as well as the feelings of all the principalities in the Shangqing Domain. If they were not satisfied with this decision, it would be unreasonable on their end.
After all, those principalities themselves would not be so willing to give unlimited access to the outside world themselves.
Since the Four Corner Village decided to contact the outside world, they would exist as an entire principality in itself and no longer as a simple “village.”
Everyone in the village nodded in agreement as well and approved Ye Futian’s proposal. The other six presented no differing opinion, so the matter was considered unanimously approved.
“How long is the proper duration of cultivation for those principalities to stay inside Four Corner Village?” Shi Kui asked.
“Let’s make it seven days. From this time forward, and starting from today, all forces may stay in the village for seven days. After this time, they may not re-enter for four years.” Old Ma spoke, and everyone nodded in agreement.
“Since the decision has been made, let’s inform them,” Shi Kui added, not knowing how people from other forces would react after hearing this and whether or not they would accept Four Corner Village’s decision.
If they chose not to accept it, the whole thing could be thornier than expected.
“Today’s discussion has concluded. You may leave now,” said Old Ma. Immediately, everyone in the village dispersed. The leaders would now communicate the decision to outsiders and leave ordinary villagers out of it.
After the people in the village dispersed, Old Ma and the others paid their respect in the direction of the private study by bowing slightly. As they were leaving, the teacher still did not show any interest in the matter. However, the teacher must have seen everything that transpired and would undoubtedly appear when he felt the need to intervene.
The group returned to the ancient tree. Now, people from all forces knew that this ancient tree was extraordinary, so most of them had gathered here to cultivate, trying to comprehend the tree.
People from all forces stood up when they saw Old Ma and the others approaching. They had some ideas as to the kind of decision that Four Corner Village had made.
A man walked out of the group, and it was Fang Gai. He looked at the crowd and said, “Four Corner Village summoned the people in the village to discuss matters internally, and decisions have been made. You are all aware that the Four Corner Village today is different from how it was before. Great changes have taken place, and the ban has been lifted so that more and more people now entered the village. Today, Four Corner Village has decided to step out of this corner of our world and assume its place as a principality within the Shangqing Domain. As such, it would be unsuitable for everyone to continue staying in the village to cultivate. Not long ago, the village made a joint decision…”
Fang Gai informed everybody of their decision, and the crowd was silent after he spoke.
The Four Corner Village that decided to be part of the world would become a major principality in the Shangqing Domain, and its potential was endless.
No one responded, but everyone had their own thoughts about the matter. The Four Corner Village, isolated from the world and yet a part of it, meant completely different things to them. It may directly influence the power structure of the Shangqing Domain.
Furthermore, Donghuang the Great once sought to cultivate at Four Corner Village, which was part of its history.
“For many years, Four Corner Village has always been above the world. As a holy land in the Shangqing Domain, even the Great Emperor himself has issued orders to prevent anyone causing trouble inside the village. For many years, people from all forces came to the village to seek enlightenment and had always treated the village with respect. Now, Four Corner Village wants to dismiss all these forces with just a few words, given us only a few days every four years to cultivate inside the village; isn’t that a bit too extreme?” A voice was heard, and the speaker was none other than the cultivator from the Nanhai family. He had been the first to resist the decision.
“The day of the sacrifice happens once every four years. In reality, no one would gain anything from entering the village. Normally it’s only every four years during this time that y’all would come here looking for opportunities. The day of the sacrifice only lasts a few days, so there really isn’t much change to speak of. In addition, since Four Corner Village has now decided to join the world, it will become a principality in its own right. Friends of the village who want to come to cultivate may simply let us know in advance, and we will definitely host you with hospitality. However, if all you wanted was the right to come and go as you please, let me ask you this: would the Nanhai family allow that on their own land?”
Fang Gai asked rhetorically, then ignored the man as he didn’t much care about his reaction.
Nanhai Wuji smiled and said, “It seems that the village is determined to drive us out. In that case, let’s cherish these last few days here.”
No one said anything more. However, Ye Futian had a feeling that these people were communicating through voice transmission with each other.
No one questioned or objected openly further. This land belonged to Four Corner Village, and the village had the right to make its own decisions without anyone’s input. Unless they meant to take over the village, all they could do was remain silent.
But the displeasure in this silence could be felt distinctly.
Watching these people continued to cultivate, Fang Gai frowned slightly. He felt a little uncomfortable, feeling a sense of suppression.
This silence, on the contrary, was ominous. Would these forces withdraw after seven days?
What were they planning on doing?
Right now, no one knew the answer.
The Muyun family did not leave the village; only Muyun Shu was expelled. They had ordered Muyun Shu to be sent to the Nanhai family. As for the others, they were still waiting. Perhaps they were waiting to see what would happen in Four Corner Village after seven days?
Watching everyone’s reaction, Ye Futian realized that this matter would not end so easily!