Taking a Master

Taking a Master

The old man lightly tapped Little Fang on the head with his cane and said with a smile, "Let me tell you another secret. Once you see an immortal, don't bother with anything else—just kowtow."

"Then have the immortal take you as a disciple."

"If you have an immortal affinity, then one day you'll become an immortal flying back and forth through the skies."

The old man's eyes were cloudy, carrying a trace of wistfulness. He silently sighed that time passed like light, and he had failed to seize that sliver of opportunity to become immortal.

Little Fang did not listen to the old man. Instead, he stared blankly into the distance.

Above the Snow Mountain, a figure was slowly drifting down, like a feather.

Following Little Fang's shocked gaze, the old man looked over. With just one glance, a plan formed in his heart.

After looking around, he found that everyone in the Snow Mountain expedition ahead was trudging onward with their heads down.

At that moment, the old man made a shushing gesture at Little Fang and quietly led him toward where the figure had fallen.

Only after they had completely separated from the group did the old man say to Little Fang, "Your immortal affinity has arrived. As long as we save that immortal, even if you don't become an immortal, you'll enjoy wealth and glory for the rest of your life."

"Do you understand everything I said?"

"What does wealth and glory mean?" Little Fang asked innocently. He only knew that the pastries and snacks in town were expensive.

"It means you'll be able to eat meat at every meal."

For some reason, the old man's eyes were dazzled for a moment. In that instant, he seemed to see Light in Little Fang's eyes.

In an instant, Little Fang was filled with vigor.

"Remember, you can't tell anyone about this. If the immortal is alive, then even if I have to exhaust these old bones of mine, I'll help you fight for that immortal affinity."

"If the immortal is dead, find a good place with favorable feng shui and bury him."

There was another sentence the old man did not say: before burying him, he would search out everything of value.

"I understand, Grandfather," Little Fang said seriously. His mind was now full of fantasies about a life where he could eat meat at every meal.

An hour later, the grandfather and grandson finally found the immortal who had drifted down from the sky.

"Grandfather, this immortal looks so ordinary," Little Fang said as he looked at the plain-featured Xu Fan.

"Stop talking so much. Save the immortal first."

Looking at Xu Fan in his Daoist robe, Little Fang gritted his teeth and began searching for useful tools nearby.

In the end, the old man used rope and some dead branches to make a simple stretcher. Only after exhausting all their strength did they drag Xu Fan back to Little Fang's home.

The moment they entered, a skinny little girl of about six rushed into Little Fang's sight.

"Big Brother, I'm scared. A Big Black Dog wants to bite me," the Little Girl cried.

"It's fine. I'll go beat that Big Black Dog to death later," Little Fang said firmly.

"Big Brother, who is this uncle?" the Little Girl asked, pointing at Xu Fan lying on the stretcher.

"This is our wealth and glory. If we save him, we'll be able to eat meat every day."

As Little Fang spoke, he and the old man carried Xu Fan onto the only bed in Little Fang's home.

"Little Fang, just cook some thin porridge every day and feed it to the immortal. There's no need to call a physician."

"An immortal's illness is not something they can treat."

As the old man spoke, he took out two qian of broken silver and handed it to Little Fang.

"For the time being, don't go up the mountain to gather herbs. Just keep taking care of the immortal," the old man repeatedly instructed, as though he were making up for his own past regrets.

After explaining everything, the old man rose and left Little Fang's home.

"Luosheng, I've repaid your life-saving grace. Whether your family can produce an immortal now depends on the fortunes of those two children."

In the days that followed, Little Fang and his younger sister did as the old man had instructed. Since Little Fang's home was rather secluded, no one came by.

Half a month later.

One noon, Little Fang was massaging Xu Fan's arm. This was the method the old man had taught him.

The Little Girl rested her chin on her hands beside him, watching her brother work.

"Big Brother, when do you think we'll get to live a life where we eat meat every day?"

"Once this immortal big brother wakes up," Little Fang said to his sister with a smile. Yet he felt somewhat discouraged inside. It seemed that a life of eating meat every day was still far away.

At that moment, Xu Fan slowly woke up. Without moving his body, he began sensing his surroundings.

From Little Fang and the Little Girl's conversation, Xu Fan learned what had happened to him.

Good thing someone saved me. If I'd been left on the Snow Mountain, wouldn't I have been done for? Xu Fan thought.

During the time Xu Fan had been unconscious, he had been fighting the Death Soul Worm within his Soul Space.

At first, taking advantage of Xu Fan's weakness, the Death Soul Worm directly devoured more than half of Xu Fan's soul. Only when he was about to be completely consumed did he react. Then, in the vast and boundless Soul Space, he began a battle of wits and courage with the Death Soul Worm. Only now had he completely eradicated that Death Soul Worm.

After confirming that there was no danger nearby, Xu Fan slowly opened his eyes.

"Kid, you won't get any tips massaging like that," Xu Fan said slowly. After being unconscious for half a month, his whole body was somewhat stiff, and his mouth felt a little dry.

Xu Fan's words instantly interrupted the Siblings' longing for a beautiful life.

The instant Little Fang heard Xu Fan speak, he remembered Grandfather's instructions. Without another word, he pulled his sister down to their knees and began kowtowing continuously.

"Immortal, please take us as your disciples."

Little Fang's forehead struck the ground with loud thuds. Even Xu Fan felt pain just watching him. This foolish youngster was putting real force into those kowtows.

Xu Fan got up and helped the Siblings to their feet, taking the opportunity to inspect their aptitudes.

The younger sister had Three Spiritual Roots, while the older brother had Four Spiritual Roots. In this Great Cultivation World, they barely qualified to serve as cannon fodder.

"Why do you want to take me as your master?" Xu Fan sat on the bed and began the three questions of accepting disciples. This also acknowledged that the Siblings were qualified to become his disciples, not to mention that they had saved his life.

More importantly, he was now qualified to take disciples within the sect. After passing the assessment, his disciples would become Outer Sect Disciples of the Heavenly Gate Sect.

"We want to eat meat every day," the Siblings said in unison.

Xu Fan looked at their sincere, yearning expressions. Mm, they had passed this test. Only by facing the Great Dao head-on could one become immortal.

"What do you think an immortal is?"

Xu Fan had just wanted to ask the second question, but in the end, he did not ask it. What could two children possibly know?

"Alright, I'll ask you one crucial question." Xu Fan's expression turned solemn.

"Please speak, Immortal."

Purple Spiritual Light emerged from Xu Fan's fingertip as he lightly pointed it toward the Siblings.

"A person's nature cannot be changed. This is my final test."

Looking at the Siblings, who had already fallen into the Dream World, Xu Fan said calmly, "If you pass my test, I will take you as my disciples."

"If you fail, I will grant you a lifetime of wealth and glory."

After checking his entire body, he found that aside from the Magic Artifacts he had deployed in the sky, everything else remained. Not one of his four Storage Bags was missing.

Xu Fan's gaze toward the Siblings grew even gentler.

End of this chapter