"Master wants to see me?"
Seeing Su Chen's bewildered expression, Li Mo felt helpless, but still nodded. "Of course. Did you forget something?"
That only left Su Chen even more confused.
Seeing this, Li Mo slapped his forehead and sighed, rubbing his brow. "You mastered Iron Wire Fist ages ago. What do you think Master wants to see you for?"
Hearing this, Su Chen suddenly understood. "Master wants to take me as his disciple?"
"Mm." Li Mo nodded slightly.
Then he gave Su Chen a strange look. After Hong Ming had taken Qin Hao as his disciple, Qin Hao had been over the moon.
But now that it was Su Chen's turn, there was hardly any expression on his face. He even looked a little tired.
What on earth was this guy busy with every day?
Busy enough to forget something this important, so that his senior brother had to remind him?
"Forget it. Come to the Martial Hall tomorrow. Master picked tomorrow as the auspicious day."
Li Mo reminded him earnestly.
Su Chen nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'll definitely be there tomorrow."
Although Su Chen sounded utterly certain, Li Mo still felt a little uneasy, so he added, "Don't forget like last time. This apprenticeship concerns your reputation and your future income."
"Senior Brother, what do you mean?" Su Chen asked.
Li Mo asked in return, "Do you know why Master chose an auspicious day to hold an initiation ceremony for his new disciple?"
Su Chen shook his head.
Li Mo didn't mind. He explained:
"The initiation ceremony isn't something only our Hong Family Martial Hall does. Pretty much every well-known martial hall in the city does it.
There are two purposes. First, it formally makes you Master's disciple and declares that you're now an official student of the Martial Hall.
Second, it publicizes your strength, so you can use it to get a backing arrangement with a gang or a shop and earn extra income.
You seem pretty short on money. After tomorrow, some small gangs or shops might come looking for your protection. Then you can charge them a fee for your backing."
Hearing this, Su Chen, who hadn't taken the matter seriously at first, immediately looked moved.
He couldn't help it. He was broke!
Su Chen repeatedly assured Li Mo that he would definitely show up tomorrow, but Li Mo still said he'd come get him in the morning.
Then he told Su Chen a few more details about the apprenticeship before finally leaving.
After Li Mo left, the sky gradually darkened.
Su Chen took a bath, then went out to eat.
After dinner, he returned home. With a rare moment of free time, he didn't just sit around. Instead, he took out the Medical Codex Zhu Yan had given him and began reading.
Five minutes later, Su Chen closed the thick Medical Codex with a helpless sigh.
It wasn't that he didn't want to read it. He just couldn't understand it.
The Medical Codex was too broad and filled with too much information. It wasn't at all suited to a beginner like Su Chen.
It was more like a notebook, recording the distilled knowledge of medicine. You needed a certain foundation to understand it.
"Forget it. I'll put it aside for now. In a few days, I'll find some time to buy a few basic medical texts and learn the fundamentals first."
The night passed without incident.
Just as Li Mo had said, he arrived the next day as promised.
Seeing Su Chen's outfit, he clicked his tongue in admiration. "Sure enough, clothes make the man. You look much more spirited in a well-fitting outfit like this. All right, let's go."
With that, he led Su Chen through the streets, and the two arrived outside the Martial Hall.
"Senior Brother Li Mo!"
When they entered the Martial Hall, several disciples who had come for morning practice greeted Li Mo, then turned their gazes toward Su Chen.
Clearly, word that Hong Ming was taking Su Chen as his disciple had already spread through the Martial Hall.
"He's Su Chen, right? He looks even younger than Senior Brother Qin Hao."
"Not only is he young, Senior Brother Su is talented, too. I heard he cultivates even faster than Senior Brother Qin Hao."
"Really?"
"Of course! Haven't you noticed that Senior Brother Su never comes to the Martial Hall to practice?"
"I have, but what does that prove?"
"Idiot. Senior Brother Su cultivates this quickly without even coming to the Martial Hall. What else could that tell you about his talent?"
"Now that you mention it, Senior Brother Su Chen is terrifying!"
The courtyard grew noisy at Su Chen's arrival.
Just as when Qin Hao had become a disciple, no one was focused on their training. Everyone's attention was on Su Chen instead.
Inner courtyard.
Li Mo brought Su Chen over. Hong Ming had been waiting for them for some time.
"Master, Junior Brother Su has arrived," Li Mo said respectfully.
Hong Ming nodded, then turned his gaze to Su Chen. "Hold out your hand. Let me have a look."
At that, Su Chen stepped forward and stood before Hong Ming. He held out his hand, controlling the Iron Wire on his arm.
"The color's a little darker. Looks like you've been practicing it for a while." Hong Ming nodded with satisfaction, then asked, "Su Chen, are you willing to become my disciple?"
"This disciple is willing."
"Good!"
Hong Ming nodded with satisfaction and had Su Chen and Li Mo prepare for the initiation ceremony.
Before long, Zhou Tao and the others arrived. Qin Hao was among them.
When Qin Hao saw Su Chen, his expression was clearly a little awkward, but he still greeted him.
Besides Zhou Tao and the others, there was also a stranger Su Chen hadn't met before.
"She's Fang Rou, the new disciple Master took in a while back. You weren't here then, so you don't know her. If you'd come to become his disciple sooner, she'd be your junior sister."
Taking advantage of a lull, Li Mo quietly introduced her to Su Chen.
Su Chen looked toward Fang Rou and saw her watching him with a pair of bright, limpid eyes.
When Fang Rou noticed him looking at her, she smiled warmly and greeted him.
Soon, the apprenticeship ceremony began. It was no different from Qin Hao's ceremony.
They explained a few rules, introduced the disciples, and then served tea and bowed to the master.
About half an hour later, Su Chen officially joined the school and became Hong Ming's tenth disciple.
Zhou Tao and the others offered their congratulations, congratulating both Hong Ming and Su Chen.
They had lunch at Hong Ming's home as well. Afterward, everyone took their leave.
"Junior Brother Su, Master told me to spar with you. Let's start this afternoon. We can see how far you've gotten with your fist technique."
Li Mo led Su Chen to the inner courtyard's designated training area and spoke.
Su Chen was thinking about how to politely turn Li Mo down when he heard footsteps approaching.
"Junior Brother Li Mo, I have something to discuss with Junior Brother Su." Zhou Tao smiled broadly.
Li Mo glanced at Su Chen, then silently stepped aside. He had a faint idea what Zhou Tao wanted.
Nearby, the corner of Qin Hao's mouth twitched imperceptibly, but he kept quiet.
"Junior Brother Su, are you free tonight? I've set up a banquet at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant and wanted to invite you along, so we can strengthen the bond between us fellow disciples." Zhou Tao smiled.
Hearing this, Li Mo looked at Su Chen, seeming to want to say something, but in the end he let out a quiet sigh.
Seeing Su Chen hesitate, he had already guessed what Su Chen would choose. Though he felt helpless, he respected his decision.
At that moment, Su Chen cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the invitation, Senior Brother. But I have something important to take care of, so I'm afraid I can't make it. Please forgive me."
At his words, Zhou Tao's smile stiffened slightly, but he soon gave a soft laugh. "In that case, I won't press you."
With that, he took Qin Hao and the others and left.
"Junior Brother Su, you..." Li Mo looked at Su Chen with a complicated expression after seeing him turn Zhou Tao down.
He hadn't expected Su Chen to look straight at him and say quite earnestly, "Senior Brother Li Mo, are you free tonight?"
Li Mo froze and looked at Su Chen. Su Chen continued, "It's my treat, but not at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant."
"I am."
For some reason, his nose stung, but he still nodded.
"Good. I'll come find you then."
With that, Su Chen turned and left.
Li Mo was left standing there, utterly bewildered. Come find me?
By the time he came to his senses, Su Chen had already disappeared, leaving Li Mo to laugh helplessly. "That kid!"
Before you continue