74 Apprenticeship

Seeing that Zhou Xiaoli had arrived, Yuan Zhengchun stood up and walked out with a smile.

“I knew you could find this place! I was right, hahaha.”

Yuan Zhengchun’s laughter was vigorous and powerful. He did not seem to be of his age at all.

Zhou Xiaoli walked into the courtyard and said with a smile, “Old man, have you ever thought that the village chief must know where you live? I could have asked him about it.”

Yuan Zhengchun stroked his beard and stood under the eaves. He smiled confidently. “No, you won’t ask for directions.”

“Ah, you trust me so much?”

Yuan Zhengchun laughed again. “No, no. I believe in my own judgment.”

“How is it? Have you thought it through?”

Zhou Xiaoli stood in the courtyard with her hands behind her back and asked, “Why do you insist on taking me as your disciple?”

“I knew you would ask about this.” Yuan Zhengchun stroked his beard and looked at Zhou Xiaoli. He said seriously, “Kid, your physiognomy is the most peculiar I’ve ever seen. Your entire physiognomy seems to be floating in the clouds, and it’s unpredictable. I’ve lived for so long, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a physiognomy.”

Zhou Xiaoli thought that it was probably because she had reincarnated that her face was so strange.

“So, you insist on taking me in as your disciple because my physiognomy is peculiar?”

Yuan Zhengchun shook his head. “Not entirely. It’s mainly because I calculated that my destined disciple had appeared. I happened to meet you, and you happened to be talented. You’re the disciple I’ve been looking for all these years.”

“So, kid, have you thought about it?”

Zhou Xiaoli smiled and took out an oil paper bag from behind her. “Look, I even brought my apprenticeship gift.”

Yuan Zhengchun was taken aback at first, but he was instantly overjoyed. He clapped his hands together and said, “Alright, there’s no time like the present. Today is a good day, so let’s do the apprenticeship ceremony today!”

Zhou Xiaoli said, “…Alright, since I have already brought the gift to become your disciple, I don’t have to bring gifts the next time then.”

“Aiyaya, listen to this. What kind of disciple did I take in? She hasn’t even acknowledged me as her master and she’s already unwilling to give me a gift.” Yuan Zhengchun pointed at Zhou Xiaoli and smiled dotingly.

Zhou Xiaoli said, “Sigh, I’m such a stingy person. It’s not too late for you to think about it before you become my master.”

Yuan Zhengchun: “No! You? Who asked that you are my destined disciple? Even if you’re a crook, I’ll admit it.”

As he spoke, he tidied up his appearance and sat on the chair in the main hall.

Beside him was the tea that he had prepared long ago. It could be seen that Yuan Zhengchun had already calculated that she would take him as her master today.

After that, Zhou Xiaoli took him as her master, served him tea, and knelt in front of the ancestral tablets to listen to his teachings. Everything was done in one go, and the apprenticeship ceremony was over.

The master and disciple were not particular about formalities.

“Here, this is for you.” After the apprenticeship, Yuan Zhengchun took out a box from his clothes and handed it to Zhou Xiaoli. “This is the apprenticeship gift I have for you. See if you like it.”

Zhou Xiaoli looked over and saw a palm-sized red wooden box lying in Yuan Zhengchun’s hand. Although she could not see what was inside,

but judging from the faint spiritual energy around the box, it was definitely a treasure.

As expected, after opening it, she saw a red jade pendant inside. The jade was crystalline and delicate, emitting a sparkling luster.

The jade pendant was carved into a small koi fish. The tail was in a wagging position as if it was swimming.

Yuan Zhengchun tapped the jade pendant and said proudly, “I carved it myself. It’s consecrated. Take good care of it. At the critical moment, it may be able to help you.”

“In that case, I’ll accept it. Thank you, Master.” Zhou Xiaoli’s eyes were filled with surprise. She accepted the gift without hesitation.

She found the koi jade pendant to be very pleasing to the eye, right from her first glance at it.

At this moment, Yuan Zhengchun thought of something and said, “I had wanted to make a compass for you personally, but I saw that you already had one the day before yesterday?”

Zhou Xiaoli nodded. “Yes, I made it myself.”

She thought of something and added, “When I was very young, I once lost my way on the mountain and met an old Taoist priest who taught me how to do it.”

When the original Zhou Xiaoli was six years old, Zhou Guihua and the children in the village tricked her into going up the mountain. It was not until night time that Zhang Lan found her and brought her home.

As for what the original Zhou Xiaoli had encountered on the mountain, it was all up to Zhou Xiaoli now to explain.

In any case, Yuan Zhengchun did not suspect anything. He nodded and said, “This is your fate.”

“Where’s your compass? Let me see it.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xiaoli handed the compass she carried with her to Yuan Zhengchun.

“Yes, you did well, but there are some small flaws.”

“The compass is very important to our sect. It’s most important to use it only when fated and to use it appropriately. Leave this compass with me and I’ll help you repair it. You can use this in the future.”

Zhou Xiaoli nodded in agreement. “Master, when are we going to start class? Do we start now?”

Yuan Zhengchun could not help but smile. “Why are you so anxious now? Not now. Someone will come over later.”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Immediately after, Zhou Xiaoli heard Wei Chiyu’s voice.

“Master Yuan, I brought you the tea you wanted.”

Zhou Xiaoli was quite surprised to hear this voice.

Looking at the door, she realized that it was indeed Wei Chiyu!

The two of them looked at each other. Wei Chiyu also recognized Zhou Xiaoli, and a trace of surprise appeared on his face.

On the other side, Yuan Zhengchun walked over after hearing about the tea. “Aiyaya, good, good. There’s more tea to drink.”

“Yes, this is the taste.” After Yuan Zhengchun took the tea, he remembered to introduce the two of them.

“Ah, that’s right. I forgot to introduce you. Chiyu, this is my new disciple. You should know each other.”

Wei Chiyu had always paid attention to Zhou Xiaoli. When he heard Yuan Zhengchun’s words, a hint of a smile appeared in the corners of his eyes. “Oh, so you’re my senior sister.”

“S-Senior Sister?” Zhou Xiaoli’s eyes widened in shock as she looked at Yuan Zhengchun in disbelief. “Master, no, didn’t you say that you had not taken in any disciple before?”

Yuan Zhengchun explained, “Oh, it’s like this. Chiyu is a pitiful child…”

Wei Chiyu was sent to the Lu family when he was five years old.

However, Old Madam Lu was mean and treated Wei Chiyu very harshly. She often did not give him food for a few days at a stretch.

There was once when he was so hungry, Wei Chiyu, who was only five years old then, braved the snow and went up the mountain to find food.

He almost froze to death in the snow and was saved by Yuan Zhengchun who happened to pass by.

After knowing about the child’s experience, Yuan Zhengchun felt pity for him. Coincidentally, he was hiding from his enemies at that time, so he stayed on the mountain and asked him to come up the mountain to look for him when he was hungry.

As days went by, Yuan Zhengchun realized that this child was very smart.

He started to teach him his skills, intentionally or unintentionally. Even his martial arts skills were taught by Yuan Zhengchun.

It could be said that if Yuan Zhengchun had not saved him and taught him his skills, Wei Chiyu might not be able to stay alive until now.