I Just Wanted to Follow Yang Guo's Example and "Ride My Master"

"Exactly! My dad said that anyone who could recognize the value of this wood was a mysterious, powerful immortal who could summon the wind and rain," Hao Shuai said wistfully. "So my dad hopes I'll become their disciple."

"Your dad certainly knows his stuff." The woman nodded. "But what if you never meet anyone to ask?"

"My dad said that if no one recognizes its value, I should just head straight to Mount Mao or Mount Longhu," Hao Shuai continued, making up more about his dad.

"Uh... Your dad made quite thorough arrangements." The woman had grown a little curious about this imaginary father of Hao Shuai's, who had managed to plan his son's affairs so reliably.

Indeed, with a five-hundred-year-old lightning-struck peachwood in hand, as long as the prestigious sects like Mount Mao and Mount Longhu weren't blind, they'd take Hao Shuai in. They already had plenty of disciples, after all, so one more wouldn't matter.

Besides...

The woman studied Hao Shuai carefully. He was not only handsome, but also bright-eyed and evidently intelligent. Even if he was a little older than usual—eighteen or nineteen—he was still a fine piece of jade to be shaped into a cultivator.

With the lightning-struck wood and his natural talent, as long as Hao Shuai went up the mountain, he could become a core disciple, even if he wasn't personally taught by the masters of Mount Mao or Mount Longhu.

"What do you think, miss?" Hao Shuai asked. "I don't know if I'm suited to studying the Dao, but I'm very good at serving tea, doing laundry, cooking, making beds, and so on."

"And keeping you warm in bed!"

Of course, Hao Shuai only added that last part silently in his heart.

Hao Shuai was rather glad he'd dressed plainly and modestly today