Wei Tu's Refusal

With Martial Graduate Dan's silence.

The atmosphere in the living room gradually grew quiet. Inside the window, one could even hear the faint rustling of bird wings in the courtyard... All eyes subconsciously turned to Wei Tu, eager to hear how the disciple accepted by Martial Graduate Dan would respond.

Most people, or rather, ninety-nine percent of them, wore expectant expressions, hoping Wei Tu would agree according to Martial Graduate Dan's wishes.

This included Dan Yan Gong, the sole son of the Dan family, who had previously been at odds with Dan Fang.

The Dan family members could tell that the old master was remaining silent now because he didn't want to force Wei Tu to agree, lest it damage their master-disciple relationship.

—Since he hadn't explicitly refused Dan Fang's request, his unspoken meaning was quite clear.

Even without this, the Dan family could guess the old master's intentions.

As people age, they all hope their legacy will continue, and their proud skills will be passed down to their descendants.

Dan Yi Wu was the descendant the Martial Graduate Dan valued to inherit his martial arts within the family.

Everyone in the room understood that Martial Graduate Dan had taken Wei Tu as a disciple with the intention that once Wei Tu achieved official status, he would protect the Dan family's foundation.

While Wei Tu agreeing to teach Dan Yi Wu martial arts wasn't directly related to this, it could still reveal whether Wei Tu was "purely filial."

If he wouldn't help with "small matters," then whether Wei Tu could step forward in a time of the Dan family's life-or-death crisis would be questionable.

"This matter..."

After a moment of silence, Wei Tu finally spoke. He bowed slightly and said, "This matter is entirely up to Master's command."

As his words fell.

Everyone frowned inwardly.

Having spent over a month with Wei Tu, they knew that although his demeanor was respectful, they also knew that this disciple who could win Martial Graduate Dan's favor was by no means a dullard who couldn't discern good from bad or understand people's thoughts.

They unanimously believed that Wei Tu's answer could have been phrased better, more brilliantly, and more pleasing to Martial Graduate Dan.

Even a refusal...

—For example: "Master's cultivation is deeper, and he is more suited to teach Yi Wu than I am. I cannot embarrass myself and disturb Master's joy in doting on his grandson."

That would have been acceptable!

"Entirely up to my command?" Martial Graduate Dan raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze falling on Wei Tu.

As Wei Tu bowed his head, Martial Graduate Dan, seated on his chair, found his eyes level with Wei Tu's.

However, the former was looking at people, while the latter was looking at his own toes and the ground.

They did not make eye contact.

"I understand your thoughts now." After a moment, Martial Graduate Dan withdrew his gaze and told Wei Tu to stand up, no longer needing to bend over.

Judging people by their faces, Martial Graduate Dan was confident he didn't possess that ability, but after interacting with Wei Tu for so long, he knew Wei Tu's character and could guess some of his thoughts.

—Wei Tu didn't want to be perpetually dependent on him, his Master, and the Dan family.

This was evident in his actions within the Dan family... he never asked for anything beyond knowledge.

Saying "entirely up to Master's command" implied that while he would repay kindness, he, Wei Tu, was not a servant of the Dan family to be ordered around at their whim.

Of course, this statement also carried a hidden meaning: only he, his Master, had the right to command Wei Tu; the rest of the Dan family did not.

"After I die, Wei Tu should be someone the Dan family can rely on," Martial Graduate Dan mused inwardly, having figured everything out.

He had lived this long, and although he didn't believe he had the ability to discern people, he could still gauge the goodness or wickedness of hearts with considerable accuracy.

Furthermore, even someone as stingy as Li Yaozu thought highly of Wei Tu, going so far as to personally deliver Wei Tu to him to study martial arts...

Martial Graduate Dan did not believe Li Yaozu was blind in this regard.

"If Yi Wu wants to learn martial arts, when you leave after the New Year, leave Yi Wu with me. I will personally teach him."

"Wei Tu still has the Martial Arts Examination to deal with and won't have time. The County Examination is in February, the Prefectural Examination in April, and the Dao Examination in September or October. He won't be free."

After waiting a moment, Martial Graduate Dan took a deep breath and said to Dan Fang in an irrefutable tone, "Dan Fang, you will leave Yi Wu with me."

"Father?" Dan Fang exclaimed in surprise.

This time, her desire for the family's boxing manual was genuine, and her wish for Dan Yi Wu to become Wei Tu's disciple was also true.

True teachings are worth a word; false teachings fill a thousand books.

The Dan family's ancestral boxing manual was worth a fortune, not some common item. It could be sold or kept as a family heirloom.

As for having Dan Yi Wu become Wei Tu's disciple...

Dan Fang wasn't blind. Having stayed at home for the past one or two months, she knew how much hope Martial Graduate Dan placed on Wei Tu.

If Wei Tu succeeded in the Martial Arts Examination, he would undoubtedly be a prominent figure in Qingshan County in the future. Whether used as a shield for her family or to revitalize the family business through his connections, it would be a highly profitable endeavor.

But the prerequisite was that she had to establish a connection with Wei Tu, and Dan Yi Wu was an excellent medium.

However, her grand plan had been thwarted at the most crucial step.

Martial Graduate Dan had refused!

"Father, there's no need to rush. Let's wait until Brother Wei finishes his exams. Yi Wu still has two more years to grow..." Dan Fang's voice softened again, and she pleaded with Martial Graduate Dan in an almost begging tone.

She didn't believe Martial Graduate Dan couldn't see the pros and cons of this.

It had nothing to do with Wei Tu.

From now on, once Martial Graduate Dan left, the Dan Family and Wei Tu would inevitably drift further apart. Whether this old friendship could endure then was unknown.

"I'm not old yet. If Yi Wu genuinely wants to cultivate martial arts, he doesn't need Wei Tu."

Uncharacteristically, Martial Graduate Dan righteously refused Dan Fang's plea this time, unmoved by familial affection.

Hearing this.

Dan Fang pursed her lips and fell silent. She searched her mind, unable to find a suitable rebuttal. She then turned to look at Madam Shan Min, who was sitting beside Martial Graduate Dan, hoping to use Madam Shan Min's words to persuade Martial Graduate Dan again.

She knew Martial Graduate Dan always valued Madam Shan Min's opinion and wouldn't easily disagree.

However—

Something unexpected happened again.

Madam Shan Min didn't follow her anticipated script. Instead, she let out a soft hum, frowned, and said a conciliatory word.

"Alright, youngest daughter. There's plenty of time. If Yi Wu and Brother Wei hit it off, it won't be too late for Brother Wei to teach him then..."

Although this statement seemed to smooth things over, Dan Fang knew in her heart that the matter of her son, Dan Yi Wu, becoming Wei Tu's disciple was dashed, completely rejected by the elderly couple.

"They even sent a horse, so why won't they agree to this..." Dan Fang stood in the living room, unable to quite understand.

The horses in the Dan Family's stables, even the old ones, were fine steeds. Un-gelded, good horses, worth a considerable sum.

One horse could fetch nearly a hundred taels of silver.

And her plea, from any angle, was beneficial to the Dan Family. It would cost nothing more than the elders' words, certainly less than a hundred taels of silver.

"Also, don't even think about the boxing manual. Unless Yi Wu can master five stances or learns martial arts from me, and I teach him personally, this matter is non-negotiable," Martial Graduate Dan added.

After speaking, Martial Graduate Dan waved his hand, signaling for Dan Fang and her husband to withdraw.