Standing in the Family

Ji Shichen didn't want Si Ming to be too smug, so she feigned difficulty. "But what I've learned in my life isn't just Divine Arts, there's also archery. The 'Divine Archery,' which combines the two, is the core of my martial arts. It's difficult to master everything by specializing in only one technique."

Si Ming sighed, "A genius like you, Uncle-Master, comes along only once in a century. If you set your standards so high, you won't find a suitable successor even in thirty years. It's like the story I just told you; if you insist on finding someone as excellent as yourself, you're destined to end up empty-handed."

Upon hearing this Ji Shichen chuckled and shook her head, saying, "Since you're flattering me so diligently, I'll reluctantly accept it."

Si Ming gave Liu Qingqing a look, and the latter, not being slow-witted or dull, immediately understood and was about to kneel down to become his disciple.

"Master, please..."

"Wait a minute, there's something I need to make clear to you," Ji Shichen said, raising her hand to stop him. "My Lineage has sent clansmen to ask me to be their disciples in the past, but I refused them all. After all, they were all dull-witted and none of them were worthy of my attention. And I didn't want to take on any disciples so early. Now that I'm taking you as my disciple, they'll definitely think I'm siding with outsiders. And since they won't dare to cause trouble for me, they'll come after you instead."

Si Ming interjected, "Are there any Spirit Transformation among your clansmen?"

"No."

Si Ming understood and said, "As long as they don't kill him, it'll be fine, right?"

Ji Shichen threw the book at him like a projectile, saying irritably, "You are not allowed to interfere in this matter. This is a test I'm giving my disciple."

Then he said to Liu Qingqing, "You must resolve this through your own strength, otherwise you will fail. Even if you fail, I will still acknowledge you as my disciple, but in the future I will only teach you Divine Arts skills."

Liu Qingqing nodded and said, "This disciple understands."

Si Ming rubbed the spot where he had been hit, then shamelessly stepped forward to congratulate him, saying, "Congratulations, Uncle-Master, on gaining such a fine disciple! Your extraordinary skills have a worthy successor!"

Then, slapping his palm, he exclaimed, "Ah, seeing this scene reminds me of the time when Murong Martial Uncle Ling took Junior Sister Martial Uncle Ling as her disciple. Don't let her quiet and reserved nature fool you; she's a true heroine. She's never hesitant or coy. If she takes a liking to someone, she'll say she wants to take them as her disciple—clean and efficient! And after accepting her as a disciple, she'll present her with the divine weapon 'Moon God's Tear' as a gift. She's not stingy at all—generous and thoughtful!"

He shook his head, looking on with longing. "Such a heroic spirit is something even we men admire!"

Ji Shichen glanced sideways and said silently, "You continue acting."

But Si Ming's skin was as thick as a city wall. Even if he felt embarrassed by such a gaze, he was a manic person who got more excited the more people stared at him. The best way to deal with him was to ignore him rather than try to confront him.

"As it turns out, Martial Uncle Ling Murong achieved the Spirit Transformation stage at the tender age of twenty, making her the youngest Nascent Spirit Transformation in the history of our Mohist School. Upon reflection, Murong's achievements are largely due to two factors: first, Martial Uncle Ling's unreserved and generous teaching, even imparting the Cambrian Spear Art which Junior Sister Murong had no interest in; and second, Martial Uncle Ling's generous gift of the Moon God's Tear, which helped Murong Sister Murong overcome numerous tribulations. This is how the story of the student surpassing the master came to be."

Si Ming spoke with a strong and forceful voice, accompanied by various body language gestures to liven up the atmosphere, just like a celebrity giving a motivational speech.

Ji Shichen sighed and conceded, "Fine, fine. I didn't say I wouldn't give her a gift. It's just that I wasn't prepared today and don't have anything presentable. I can't very well give her my Mercury Staff, can I? I can give it to her when the formal apprenticeship ceremony is held in the future."

Although the Mohist School rejected elaborate rituals, they did not advocate abolishing all etiquette. It was rare for them to completely eliminate them like Yan Jinghong. For example, the Confucian School believed that children should observe three years of mourning after the death of their parents, while the Mohist School believed that three days of mourning was sufficient.

According to the Mohist School, filial piety should still be observed, but it should not interfere with normal life. It should be simplified. Nobles had fertile land and serfs, so they could still live comfortably for three years while observing mourning. However, commoners would have starved to death long ago if they observed mourning for three years.

However, Confucian School wouldn't care about such things. They would only say "rites do not extend to commoners," mocking commoners for not understanding etiquette. Of course, this is not because all Confucian School are "why don't they eat meat porridge?" but because their positioning is very clear. They know that they need to please the nobles and officials, not the common people. They have to speak for whichever side they are on.

"Of course, if you insist on having it now, then I can only give you a few of my treasured books." Ji Shichen's face was filled with the enthusiasm of preaching.

"Then let's forget about it, there's no rush." Si Ming decisively refused on Liu Qingqing's behalf.

What precious book? Is it about Liu Bei? Is the title "The Strongman Locks Up a Man," "Man on Top of Man," or "Struggling to Be a Rider"?

Si Ming suddenly felt a little regretful. He had pushed his own sister into a pit. Had he done something wrong? Thinking about it carefully, Senior Zhu Hao was actually a good candidate. He was kind and friendly, but his skills were not relevant to Liu Qingqing. If he became Zhu Hao's disciple, he could only learn Internal Cultivation. He would have to ask others for favors to learn the specific martial arts moves.

After everyone had left, Si Ming used the excuse of taking Liu Qingqing home to find an opportunity to be alone with her.

"I'm sorry, I made this decision for you without consulting you. If you're not satisfied, we can talk to Senior Zhu Hao. I can refuse Senior Ji on your behalf."

"No, I'm very happy." Liu Qingqing shook her head. "Everyone says you're thick-skinned, but I know you never ask for favors. You always use your thick skin on your enemies. Even my mother says you have a strong sense of pride and won't easily bow your head. Today, you acted crazy and fawned over your seniors for my sake. Although I felt sorry for you, I couldn't help feeling happy."

She quickened her pace, took a few more steps forward, turned around, placed her hands behind her back, leaned slightly forward, and said, "I don't want to be left behind and enjoy safety alone anymore. I want to help you like Murong Qing, and fight alongside you. So I will become Senior Ji's apprentice and study hard to learn her skills so that I can be qualified to stand by your side as soon as possible."

At this moment, Liu Qingqing, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, seemed to radiate holy light, her presence exceptionally strong. Si Ming was momentarily mesmerized by her beauty.

Chapter 710 Status in the Family

"Is the next book finished?"

Si Ming looked at Auntie Liu, who was standing in front of him urging him to finish his manuscript, with a blank expression.

I, the Mad Ink, punched the Demon King and kicked the Moth Emperor, charged in and out of the human-demon battlefield seven times, killing so many demons that they feared me and everyone turned pale at the mention of my name. I also thwarted the conspiracy of the Heaven-Defying Society, protected the Divine Pillar, and safeguarded the safety of the people of the Sea Continent. Why am I still being pressured to write a manuscript when I get home?

But he couldn't kick her out yet, and he couldn't lose his temper, because the person urging him to finish the manuscript was his future mother-in-law. Si Ming felt incredibly frustrated.

How could I have been so foolish as to choose writing novels as a side job? If I had chosen to plagiarize songs, I could easily have written a hundred words to appease people now.

Si Ming felt that things couldn't go on like this. He had to stand up straight and learn to be assertive. He wasn't going to be someone's son-in-law, so there was no need to be subservient. There's a saying in "Dream of the Red Chamber" that goes, "In all family matters, it's either the east wind prevailing over the west wind, or the west wind prevailing over the east wind." Even if you're my future mother-in-law, don't think you can keep putting pressure on me forever!

Si Ming jumped up from his chair, slammed his hands on the table, striking a pose as fierce as Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain, and said in a deep voice, "Do you know how many important matters of the world await my resolution?"

Auntie Liu narrowed her eyes slightly and said slowly, "I've heard that besides my daughter, you also have ambiguous relationships with quite a few other girls."

Si Ming slammed his forehead on the table with a thud, pleading, "Please give me a little more time!"

Sweat poured down his forehead. He couldn't help it; he had a guilty conscience. Although the law allows for multiple teacups for one teapot, he couldn't say that so confidently in front of the girl's parents.

Although Si Ming felt that Auntie Liu probably already knew this and probably didn't object much, otherwise she would have turned against him long ago, he had no choice but to obediently stand at attention and take the beating if she wanted to use this matter to control him. After all, he had been flirting with her daughter not long ago.

Auntie Liu found a chair, sat down, and said, "Hurry up and start writing. I'll stay here 24/7. You can leave whenever you're finished."

Si Ming looked up, revealing a husky-like smile, and said, "Auntie Liu, I don't know if you've heard, but a few days ago I found a master for Qingqing, the famous Falling Star Diviner. I heard there's going to be a formal apprenticeship ceremony. Do you think we need to prepare anything?"

Auntie Liu looked thoughtful. "Ji Shichen, the Falling Star Diviner and the High Priest of the Mohist Religion, is indeed the most suitable Spirit Transformation Grandmaster to teach Qingqing. You've put your heart into it; the disciple-acceptance ceremony cannot be taken lightly and must be treated with utmost seriousness."

"So, Auntie Liu, you see, about this novel..."

"So you need to hurry up and not delay my daughter's important life event."

Wait, this isn't the result I expected!