Senior Disciple Brother

Since they didn't have to wake up early to practice tomorrow, Zhao Ping'an and several senior disciples accompanied their Master and Mistress until the moon was high in the sky after dinner.

It was mainly the disciples who pestered their Master and Mistress, wanting to hear stories from when they roamed the jianghu.

For example: encountering bandits before a certain mountain, how they negotiated, and how they fought when words failed.

How they dealt with ruffians encountered in the city.

And so on...

These weren't just stories; their Master and Mistress were using them to teach the disciples how to handle different situations they might encounter in the jianghu.

Try not to resort to violence unless absolutely necessary. No one will show you any jianghu etiquette; any underhanded tactic could be used, and it would be impossible to guard against.

Fighting should always be the last resort.

Furthermore, Zheng Hetong also taught them that once they decided to fight, they must not show mercy and must eliminate the threat completely!

Otherwise, it would lead to endless trouble!

Time slipped away unnoticed until late at night. Driven away by their Master, the disciples reluctantly left the East Courtyard and returned to their own West Courtyard.

The next morning, Zhao Ping'an woke up early as usual. After hitting a tree trunk five hundred times in the depths of the forest, he returned to eat breakfast.

About half an hour after breakfast, Senior Disciple Brother Ji Xiangming returned carrying two large bundles.

"Senior Disciple Brother is back!!!"

After eating, Zhao Ping'an rested for a while before heading into the woods behind the house to hit some more trees.

Just as he took off his shirt and got into position, he heard Second Senior Disciple Brother's voice calling from a distance.

"Hmm? He's back this early?"

Zhao Ping'an's eyes lit up. He quickly picked up his clothes, put them on, and ran towards the small courtyard.

Inside the reception hall of the East Courtyard at this moment, a young man about 1.8 meters tall, with a straight posture and sharp eyebrows, was sitting in a chair below Zheng Hetong.

It was Zhao Ping'an's Senior Disciple Brother, Ji Xiangming!

"Master! Your disciple has returned and wishes to ask you for a favor?"

Ji Xiangming struggled for a long time, rubbing his hands somewhat awkwardly, and said to Zheng Hetong, who was seated in the place of honor.

"Oh? What is it? It actually requires you to ask me?"

Zheng Hetong's interest was immediately piqued, and he asked curiously.

He knew his eldest disciple well. Not only was he straightforward, but his aptitude was also above average. In all the time since he joined the sect, he had never asked him for anything.

"Xiangming, just say what you need. Why are you hesitating? If your Master doesn't help you, your Mistress will!"

Seeing Ji Xiangming still looking hesitant, Zhao Xiuyun, sitting beside Zheng Hetong, encouraged him.

"Thank you, Mistress! It's like this, I've taken a liking to a girl, but there's a bit of a difference in our status. I'm afraid her family might not agree, so I wanted to ask you..."

Ji Xiangming's face turned red, and he spoke somewhat bashfully.

"A girl? In Nanling City, is there any girl that a direct disciple of our Blazing Blade Sect can't be worthy of? You haven't fallen for the City Lord's daughter, have you?"

Hearing Ji Xiangming's words, Zheng Hetong's eyes lit up, and he asked curiously.

His eldest disciple was already twenty-three years old and of marriageable age. He and his wife had been discussing suitable girls, and he hadn't expected him to find one himself.

"Yes! Xiangming, what is it about this girl that makes you feel unworthy?"

Zhao Xiuyun also asked curiously.

"Yeah! Senior Disciple Brother, tell us, and we'll help you brainstorm!"

"Senior Disciple Brother, hurry up and tell us!"

Cui Kang'an and Mu Yunmeng also started to chime in.

"This... it's, it's, it's your niece, Mistress, Zhao Manling!"

Ji Xiangming stammered.

"Uh..."

A silence fell over the hall for a moment. Everyone knew that Mistress Zhao Xiuyun had fallen out with her family, and the Zhao family detested jianghu sects.

Who would have thought...

Zhao Ping'an entered and saw a room full of silent people.

"What's wrong? Why is no one talking?"

Zhao Ping'an looked around and asked in confusion.

"It's nothing, nothing! Xiangming, we'll talk about your matter later. You've finally come back, have you eaten? Shall I go make you something to eat?"

Zhao Xiuyun knew her smile was strained, but everyone in the room was looking at her. If she didn't speak, no one else would.

"No need to trouble you, Mistress. I've already had breakfast. I'd like to have braised silver-backed fish for lunch!"

Ji Xiangming quickly stood up and waved his hands.

He knew he had caused trouble for his Master and Mistress again, but every time he was alone late at night, he couldn't help but think of that figure, and he couldn't stop himself.

"Alright, you and the other disciples can go chat. Your Master and I have a few things to discuss."

Zhao Xiuyun waved her hand at them, signaling them to leave.

"Master, Mistress, we shall take our leave!"

Knowing their presence wouldn't help, they all got up and bowed.

Zhao Ping'an was completely bewildered by the scene, utterly clueless.

"This, I…"

"Let's go, Little Fifth!"

Before Zhao Ping'an could say anything more, his Senior Sister Mu Yunmeng pulled him out.

"Brother Tong, I want to go back and see…"

In the silent hall, Zhao Xiuyun's eyes reddened as she looked at her husband and spoke softly.

She hadn't suffered much over the years. While she couldn't live in luxury like the young ladies of noble families, she had enough to eat and wear. With a few sensible disciples and a loving husband, she felt her life was good.

But home was always a thorn in her heart. Sometimes, when she couldn't sleep, she would be unable to stop herself from recalling every little detail of her home.

"Sister Yun, when do you want to go back? I'll accompany you. Whether it's killing or dismemberment, I'll let your Father-in-law decide!"

Zheng Hetong stood up and took his wife's hand, his voice deep and firm.

"What are you saying? Killing or dismemberment? I won't live on if you die!"

"Pah! Pah! Pah! Don't say such disheartening things. What's with dying? We're going to live a long life!"

The couple stood in the hall, talking incessantly.

"Senior Disciple Brother! Where's my gift?"

"Right, right, mine too!"

Upon returning to the West Courtyard, Third Senior Sister Mu Yunmeng and Fourth Senior Disciple Brother Liu Zhe immediately held out their palms to Ji Xiangming, bringing them directly in front of his eyes.

"Haha, yes, yes, I have them all! Here, this is for you, Junior Sister! A hairpin crafted from fine jade!"

At the stone table by the entrance, Ji Xiangming opened the travel pack he carried, took out an exquisite wooden box, and opened it. Inside lay a simple, elegant hairpin, entirely green, crystal clear, and lustrous.

"It's so beautiful! Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother!"

Mu Yunmeng quickly took it, her delicate face instantly beaming with joy.

"Liu Zhe, this is for you. Didn't you want a copy of the Latent Dragon Ranking? I asked someone to get you one from the Prefecture City."

Ji Xiangming took out a slim, exquisite booklet. Three large characters were written on it in a flamboyant style: Latent Dragon Ranking!

In the corner, a line of small vertical text read: Compiled by the Heavenly Machine Pavilion!