Chapter 72: Taking in a Disciple |
“Come on, let’s talk in the main hall.” Lu Fengmian withdrew his hand and walked forward.
Junior Sister Yun followed beside him.
Xiao Jin trailed slightly behind.
After walking for a while, Junior Sister Yun suddenly spoke.
“That outer sect… disciple.” Her voice remained as cold as ever. “Your name is Xiao Jin?”
Hearing this, Xiao Jin hurriedly nodded. “Y-Yes, Senior Sister Yun.”
Senior Sister Yun said nothing more and merely glanced back at him once.
That gaze could not really be described as either friendly or unfriendly.
Yet, for some reason, Xiao Jin felt that this Senior Sister seemed to remember him.
That was the residence of Venerable Lingxuan. Lu Fengmian had already sent word to his master that he would be returning today.
Even though he knew the absentee manager would probably not receive a warm welcome, proper etiquette still had to be observed.
The doors to the main hall stood wide open.
The moment Lu Fengmian stepped inside, he saw Venerable Lingxuan sprawled lazily across the main seat.
He leaned against the backrest bonelessly, one hand supporting his head while the other rested on the armrest. His eyelids were half-closed, looking as though he could fall asleep at any moment.
Hearing footsteps, he lazily lifted his eyelids and glanced toward the entrance.
Without any energy whatsoever, he greeted them, “Oh, you’re finally back.”
Lu Fengmian had long since become accustomed to his behavior.
“Disciple Lu Fengmian brings Junior Sister Yun and Junior Brother Xiao Jin to greet Master.” He stepped forward and bowed. “During this secret realm expedition, this disciple did not fail his mission. All disciples who accompanied us returned safely. Master may rest assured.”
Junior Sister Yun also bowed in greeting, and Xiao Jin quickly lowered his head and copied her.
Venerable Lingxuan waved his hand.
“Enough with the formalities.” He yawned. “Just listening to all that makes me sleepy.”
Expressionless, Lu Fengmian straightened back up.
Still propping up his head, Venerable Lingxuan’s gaze passed over Lu Fengmian and landed on Xiao Jin behind him.
He sized him up from top to bottom before lazily saying, “So this is the little gift you brought me?”
Xiao Jin felt as though that gaze had become tangible, examining him from head to toe. He subconsciously lowered his head, and his palms began sweating.
Little gift? Was he talking about him?
Without changing expression, Lu Fengmian introduced him. “Master, please take a look. Although Junior Brother Xiao Jin hasn’t been in the sect for long, his temperament is resilient and he cultivates diligently. During the secret realm training, this disciple discovered that he possesses special meridians—”
“Alright, alright.” Venerable Lingxuan interrupted him after listening for only a few sentences. “I’ll accept him.”
Xiao Jin froze.
It felt as though he had been struck by some enormous shock, leaving him completely unable to react.
Huh? What? Accepted?
Lu Fengmian quietly poked him.
Xiao Jin abruptly snapped back to his senses. His entire body jolted as he heavily dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Venerable One, for not casting me aside! Disciple Xiao Jin will definitely cultivate even harder from now on and will not disappoint your expectations!”
Venerable Lingxuan glanced at him and casually nodded.
“Mm, very good.”
A gust of wind swept by, and the three of them suddenly felt darkness flash before their eyes. When they regained their senses, they were already standing outside the hall.
At some unknown point, the doors of the hall had closed shut. Only a drifting voice remained:
“Fengmian, since you brought him back, you can arrange everything yourself.”
Then all fell silent once more.
Lu Fengmian stood expressionlessly outside the hall. He was already used to it. Truly, completely used to it.
Standing outside the hall, Xiao Jin still looked utterly dazed.
That was it… over already?
He looked at the tightly shut hall doors, then at the calm Lu Fengmian beside him and the still-expressionless Junior Sister Yun.
Just like that, he had become the Sect Master’s disciple?
【Ding, detected an increase in the number of core members.】
【Current total core members: approximately 210 units.】
【Recognition from Luo Xia Peak core member Xiao Jin has been obtained.】
【Current main quest (Year Four) progress: 20%. Approved core member units: 43 people.】
Lu Fengmian expressionlessly turned toward Xiao Jin and said, “Come on, I’ll arrange a courtyard for you.”
Luo Xia Peak was enormous. Aside from the two courtyards occupied by Lu Fengmian and Junior Sister Yun, there were still many vacant guest courtyards.
Lu Fengmian selected one not far from his own residence. He pushed open the gates and brought Xiao Jin inside for a look.
“How about this place?” he said. “I’ll arrange for someone to send bedding later. If you need anything, just say so.”
Standing in the courtyard, Xiao Jin’s gaze wandered around blankly, still somewhat dazed. Mechanically, he nodded.
Lu Fengmian gave a few more instructions before leaving together with Junior Sister Yun.
Gradually, the courtyard became quiet again.
Xiao Jin sat on the stone bench, staring blankly at the courtyard gates.
I was the Sect Master’s disciple, personally accepted by Venerable Lingxuan.
Then in the future…
Wouldn’t that make him Senior Brother’s direct junior disciple-brother?
Not the kind of junior brother where “we belong to the same sect, so I call you Senior Brother,” but a true direct junior brother from the same master and same lineage!
Thinking of this, Xiao Jin couldn’t help grinning foolishly.
Lu Fengmian and Junior Sister Yun walked side by side along the mountain path.
As the setting sun descended, this was the most beautiful moment upon Luo Xia Peak.
The entire mountain peak seemed plated in gold. Beneath their feet rolled a sea of clouds dyed with dazzling colors by the evening glow.
In the distance, layers of mountains overlapped one another, their outlines soft as ink paintings. Even the vegetation along the roadside appeared especially delicate beneath the halo of sunset light.
This was the best place in the sect to watch the sunset, and also the origin of Luo Xia Peak’s name.
The lingering rays of the sunset stretched their shadows long across the mountain path.
Wind blew in from afar, carrying with it the scent of night.
After walking for a while, Lu Fengmian spoke.
“Junior Sister Yun.”
Senior Sister Yun lifted her head to look at him.
“Master accepted another new disciple,” Lu Fengmian turned to meet her eyes. “Will you feel upset about it?”
Junior Sister Yun’s footsteps paused slightly. Lowering her gaze, she considered the question seriously.
“No.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter how many disciples Master accepts.”
Lu Fengmian looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
Junior Sister Yun pursed her lips.
“As long as…” she said softly, “as long as I’m still Senior Brother’s junior sister, that’s enough.”
Lu Fengmian seemed to understand the meaning hidden within her words. He bent down slightly until they were at eye level.
“Junior Sister Yun, you will always be my junior sister,” he said. “No matter how many disciples Master accepts, that will never change.”
Junior Sister Yun raised her head and met his gaze.
After a long while, she softly replied, “Mm.”
The setting sun slowly sank below the horizon, and the last traces of twilight gradually faded away. One after another, the two figures disappeared into the end of the mountain path.
Early the next morning, Lu Fengmian rose at dawn.
The sunlight had only just climbed onto the window lattice when he had already dressed neatly and pushed open the door to head outside.
There was no helping it. During the few days he had been away, far too much work had piled up.
He first went to the administrative hall.
The moment Steward Zhou saw him, his eyes lit up. He hurried over carrying a stack of jade slips and lowered his voice as he said, “Senior Brother, you’ve finally returned.”
Lu Fengmian accepted the jade slips and began reviewing them, selecting the ones that required urgent handling and explaining matters one by one.
After leaving the administrative hall, he headed to the dining hall.
Master Zhao was busy in the back kitchen. Upon seeing him arrive, he quickly brought over a bowl of freshly cooked spirit porridge for him to taste.
Lu Fengmian took a sip, nodded, and said, “The temperature is just right.”
Master Zhao narrowed his eyes in a smile and said that during the time Senior Brother had been away, everything he cooked had seemed to lack something.
Leaving the dining hall, Lu Fengmian headed toward the Scripture Pavilion.