Chapter Thirty-Five: Trial

Urged on by Hua Feng, their vehicle arrived at the primeval forests of Shennongjia within a single day. After stopping at the outer checkpoint, they were led on foot deeper into the woods. The ancient trees overhead blotted out the sky, so that although it was just past four in the afternoon, dusk had already descended.

The journey passed in near silence, the stifling atmosphere finally prompting Hua Feng to ask Shen Qiu, who walked beside him, “Master Shen, how long have we been living in these forests?”

“About five thousand years or so,” Shen Qiu replied. “These days, aside from the six elders who remain at the Tomb of the Six Sages of the Flame Emperor, all the other elders and most of the leadership of the Peasant School reside here.”

Yunmeng, surprised by the history of the Peasant School, interjected, “Don’t you ever get bored? And where are the other three hall masters?”

Shen Qiu answered, “To answer your question, miss—the hall masters of Gonggong, Chiyou, and the Four Peaks have all hurried back from distant provinces today to greet the new chivalrous leader. Usually, they’re scattered around the country. The Peasant School has its own supercomputer network, and everyone is equipped with a personal computer to connect to our internal system. Meetings and communications are typically conducted using 3D holographic projections. The six halls of Shennong’s main task is to help ordinary people improve their lives, offering aid to those in need wherever possible.”

Hua Feng couldn’t help but praise them, “Not only does Shennong’s lineage carry on and promote the culture of China, it also keeps pace with the times, developing its own technology and network. Remarkable. It seems the saying ‘Shennong never dies, the earth nourishes all things’ truly runs through the entire history of the Peasant School.”

“Yes, that’s really impressive. Heart gesture, heart gesture,” Yunmeng echoed.

After more than half an hour’s trek, Hua Feng caught sight of a cluster of modern, minimalist wooden buildings in the distance—a settlement large enough, by rough estimate, to accommodate two or three thousand people.

“That up ahead is our headquarters. Please follow me; I’ll take you to meet the elders of the council,” Shen Qiu said.

Hua Feng nodded and, together with Yunmeng, followed in Shen Qiu’s steps. The disciples on patrol paused to greet them, but Hua Feng waved them off, signaling that they should continue with their work.

Outside the council hall of the Peasant School’s headquarters, twenty elders and three hall masters had already assembled in anticipation.

“Do you think the new leader is up to the task?” one elder asked.

“Who can say?” another replied. “I myself have lived over a hundred and fifty years, but this is the first time I’ve seen a new leader appointed. Let’s just wait and see.”

“All right, enough muttering—they’re here,” said a white-haired elder, ending the conversation.

In the distance, Hua Feng and his companions approached, led by Shen Qiu.

Shen Qiu saluted the elders with a clasped fist. “Greetings, elders. This is our new leader, Hua Feng, and this young lady is his girlfriend, Shangguan Yunmeng.”

Hua Feng bowed deeply to the gathering. “Junior pays his respects to the elders and hall masters. I hope for your guidance in the future.”

Yunmeng followed suit, though she didn’t much care for making polite conversation with strangers; for Hua Feng’s sake, she forced herself to endure it.

“There’s no need for such formality, chivalrous leader, nor for the young lady. Please, come inside,” the chief elder said, gesturing them in.

Once everyone was seated in the hall, the chief elder spoke directly, “According to custom, the council must test the successor nominated by the outgoing leader, to see if he is fit to lead our hundreds of thousands and continue the legacy of the Flame Emperor. According to Master Shen’s report, you intend to travel to Australia to uncover the truth concerning our missing disciples.”

“That’s right,” Hua Feng replied.

“In that case, we have decided to make your journey to Australia your trial. If you can return with results that satisfy us, we will entrust to you all the resources that the Peasant School has accumulated over thousands of years. What do you say?” There was a cunning gleam in the chief elder’s eyes.

Hua Feng was startled. That there would be a test like this—none of the hall masters had mentioned it, not on Mount Longhu, nor on the way back. Clearly, despite its outward harmony, the Peasant School harbored more than a few who coveted the position he was about to inherit.

At all times, the allure of power is enough to make men vie for it—and the authority of the Peasant School’s leader was immense, commanding vast resources: luxurious cars, beautiful women, wealth, treasures—anything one could desire. But these temptations, deadly to others, held little appeal for Hua Feng. If not for his master’s dying wish—his savior—he would never have waded into these muddy waters. Now, like a man riding a tiger, he could neither advance nor retreat. But since fate had brought him here, he could not shrink back; only by pressing forward could he break through the barriers and enter a new world.

Resolving himself, Hua Feng replied, “I accept your challenge. I’ll treat this journey to Australia as my trial for succession. I promise to do my utmost and not betray the trust of the elders and hall masters.” His words rang with determination and an air of invincible resolve.

Yunmeng, witnessing this, could not help but silently cheer for him.

The elders, who had intended to give the newcomer a taste of hardship, were left with no choice but to offer a few awkward words of praise. The hall masters, who had been waiting to watch the spectacle, now set aside any hint of disdain and started to regard this young man in earnest—as someone who might soon become their leader.