Senior Disciple Brother

Since they didn't have to get up early for training the next day, Zhao Ping'an and several of his senior brothers and sisters stayed with Master and Mistress until the moon was high overhead.

Mostly, the younger disciples had been pestering Master and Mistress to tell them stories about their days roaming the martial world.

For example, what happened when they came across bandits in the mountains? How did they negotiate with them, and what did they do when talks broke down and a fight started?

How did they deal with local thugs and bullies in the city?

And so on...

These were more than just stories. Through them, Master and Mistress were teaching their disciples how to handle the many different situations they might encounter in the martial world.

If there was no need to fight, they should avoid fighting whenever possible. No one would follow the code of honor of the martial world; any underhanded trick might be used, and there was no way to guard against them all.

Violence should always be the last resort.

Zheng Hetong also taught them that once they did fight, they must show no mercy and must wipe out the roots of the problem!

Otherwise, trouble would be endless!

Before they knew it, it was late at night. Only after Master drove them away did the disciples reluctantly leave the East Courtyard and return to the West Courtyard.

Early the next morning, Zhao Ping'an got up as usual. After striking a tree trunk five hundred times in Deep Forest, he returned to have breakfast.

About half an hour after breakfast, Senior Disciple Brother Ji Xiangming came back, carrying two enormous bundles on his back.

"Senior Disciple Brother is back!!!"

After breakfast and a short rest, Zhao Ping'an had just arrived in the woods behind the house to practice striking a tree trunk again.

He had taken off his shirt and was getting into position when he heard Second Senior Disciple Brother's voice calling from afar.

"Hm? He's back so early?"

Zhao Ping'an's eyes lit up. He quickly grabbed his clothes and put them on, then ran toward the courtyard.

In the East Courtyard's reception hall, a young man about six feet tall, with a straight-backed build, sharp brows, and bright eyes, sat in a chair beside Zheng Hetong.

It was none other than Zhao Ping'an's Senior Disciple Brother, Ji Xiangming!

"Master! I came back this time to ask you for a favor."

After much hesitation, Ji Xiangming rubbed his hands, somewhat embarrassed, and spoke to Zheng Hetong, who sat at the head of the room.

"Oh? What is it that you need to ask me for?"

Zheng Hetong immediately perked up and asked curiously.

He knew his eldest disciple very well. Not only was he straightforward by nature, his aptitude was above average, too. In all the years since joining the sect, he had never once asked for anything.

"Xiangming, if you have something to say, just say it. Why are you hemming and hawing? If your Master won't help you, your Mistress will!"

Seeing that Ji Xiangming was still reluctant to speak, Zhao Xiuyun, seated beside Zheng Hetong, encouraged him.

"Thank you, Mistress! Well, there's a girl I've taken a liking to, but there's a bit of a gap between our backgrounds. I'm afraid her family won't agree, so I wanted to ask you..."

Ji Xiangming's face flushed red, and he spoke with some embarrassment.

"A girl? Here in Nanling City, is there really a girl unworthy of a direct disciple of the Blazing Blade Sect? You haven't taken a fancy to the City Lord's daughter, have you?"

At Ji Xiangming's words, Zheng Hetong's eyes brightened, and he asked curiously.

His eldest disciple was already twenty-three, old enough to marry. He and his wife had been discussing where they might find a suitable girl for him, and now it seemed he had found one himself.

"That's right, Xiangming. Whose daughter makes you feel you're not good enough for her?"

Zhao Xiuyun was just as curious.

"Right, Senior Disciple Brother! Tell us, and we'll help you figure it out!"

"Come on, Senior Disciple Brother, tell us!"

Cui Kang'an and Mu Yunmeng started egging him on, too.

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

Ji Xiangming stammered.

"Uh..."

The hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone knew that Mistress Zhao Xiuyun had fallen out with her family, and that the Zhao Family despised martial sects.

Who would have thought...

When Zhao Ping'an walked in, he saw a roomful of people sitting in silence.

"What's going on? Why is everyone so quiet?"

Zhao Ping'an looked around, puzzled, and asked.

"It's nothing, it's nothing! Xiangming, we'll talk about your matter later. You hardly ever come back. Have you eaten? Should I go make you something?"

Zhao Xiuyun knew her smile looked strained, but with everyone in the room watching her, no one would speak unless she did.

"No need to trouble yourself, Mistress. I've already eaten breakfast. I'd like braised silverback fish for lunch!"

Ji Xiangming hurriedly stood up and waved his hands.

He knew he had caused trouble for Master and Mistress again, but whenever night fell and all was quiet, he couldn't stop himself from missing that lovely figure. He simply couldn't rein in his longing.

"All right, go chat with your junior brothers and sisters. Your Master and I have something to discuss."

Zhao Xiuyun waved to them, signaling for them to leave.

"Master, Mistress, we'll take our leave!"

Knowing there was no point in staying, they all rose and bowed.

Zhao Ping'an was utterly confused by the scene and couldn't make head or tail of it.

"Uh, I..."

"Come on, Little Fifth!"

Zhao Ping'an was about to say something when Senior Sister Mu Yunmeng dragged him outside.

"Brother Tong, I want to go back and see them..."

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

Over the years, she had never suffered much. Though she could no longer live in the finery of a young lady as she once had, she still had food and clothing enough, a few thoughtful disciples, and a husband who loved her. She felt that her life was good.

But home would always be a thorn in her heart. Sometimes, when she lay awake at night, memories of every little thing back there would come flooding back.

"Sister Yun, when do you want to go back? I'll go with you. Whether your father kills me or carves me up, I'll accept whatever he decides!"

Zheng Hetong rose and took his wife's hand, his voice low but firm.

"What are you saying? Kills you or carves you up? If you die, I won't live on without you!"

"Bah! Bah! Bah! Don't say such unlucky things. Die? We're going to live to a hundred!"

The couple stood there in the hall, talking on and on.

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

"Yeah, and mine!"

As soon as Third Senior Sister Mu Yunmeng and Fourth Senior Disciple Brother Liu Zhe returned to the West Courtyard, they stretched out their hands toward Ji Xiangming, holding them right in front of him.

"Haha, I've got them, I've got them! Everyone gets one! Here, this is yours, Junior Sister! It's a hairpin carved from fine jade!"

At the stone table by the door, Ji Xiangming opened one of his bundles, took out an exquisite wooden box, and opened it. Inside lay a simply styled jade hairpin, green all over and crystal clear.

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

Mu Yunmeng quickly took it, her pretty face lighting up with a smile.

"Liu Zhe, this one's yours. You wanted a copy of the Latent Dragon Ranking, didn't you? I asked someone to get one for you from Prefecture City."

Ji Xiangming took out a finely made book about an inch thick. Three large, flourishing characters were written across the cover: Latent Dragon Ranking!

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