When someone entered, the young woman lifted her eyes slightly. Her gaze was gentle, without the timid coyness of an ordinary young woman.
She spoke softly:
"What can I get for you, sir?"
Her voice was crisp and clear, like a mountain spring.
"I'd like a few decent pastries, nothing too fancy. Sorry for the trouble, miss—could you recommend some?"
Chen Feng said.
The young woman nodded, then turned and took several kinds from the wooden rack. She introduced them:
"The osmanthus cake is light and refreshing, the Cloud Slice Cake is elegant, and these Jujube Paste Crisps are quite good too. They're all our shop's specialties."
As she spoke, her fingertips lightly pinched the pastry paper. When she lowered her eyes, her lashes cast faint shadows beneath them.
It was clearly just a humble pastry shop.
Yet somehow, it had an air of refined elegance.
"Then I'll take all of them."
Chen Feng watched her wrap each one. She folded the oil paper into neat squares and tied them with string, her movements practiced.
"That'll be two silver taels in all. Here you are, sir."
Chen Feng's mouth twitched. These pastries were actually that expensive.
His tuition at the martial arts school had only been two taels.
Luckily, he'd brought enough money.
After paying, Chen Feng quickly left. He still had to buy celery, red beans, and a few other things. If he didn't hurry, he might be late.
What Chen Feng didn't know was that not long after he left,
an acquaintance stepped into the pastry shop.
It was none other than Meng Zhaowu.
"Older sister, Father wants you to come back and give him some advice..."
The Inner City, Zhou Manor.
Tall walls of gray brick enclosed a spacious compound. A plaque hung high above the gate, the words "Zhou Manor" written across it in bold, flowing strokes.
The roof corners swept upward like wings, and the layered brackets were all exquisitely crafted.
Just inside the entrance stood the Hanging Flower Gate, its beams carved with intricate patterns. The brick carvings on the lintel were elaborate, depicting flowers, birds, and beasts so vividly they seemed alive.
The lattice windows beneath the corridor were carved with geometric patterns and curling vines. They kept out the wind and rain while lending the place an elegant air.
Every ornament was orderly and imposing, a clear sign of the family's deep pockets.
Inside the hall, Zhou Bingzhong sat upright in the chief seat to the north, his expression solemn. His disciples sat on either side below him.
Yao Xingzhi sat to the left, with the others arranged by seniority.
Chen Feng noticed a handsome, refined stranger. He was probably his Third Senior Brother, Lu Jinghong.
At the very end sat a graceful young woman in a pale green dress, her slender figure as straight as bamboo.
She was his Fifth Senior Sister, Su Wanqing.
An incense table had already been set up, with a stick of elegant incense burning atop it, its smoke curling upward.
Chen Feng stepped forward.
He took three sticks of incense and bowed before the Former Master Tablet and the Ancestor's portrait in the hall.
Then he placed the incense in the burner, walked back to the cushion in the middle of the hall, and knelt upright.
"Chen Feng, you are gifted, steady, and hardworking. I wish to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"
Zhou Bingzhong said in a deep voice.
"This disciple is willing."
"Now that you have joined my school, you must keep your heart true and your conduct upright, and never slacken in your efforts. You must not turn against your Fellow Disciples, betray your master, abandon the path, or commit evil. Can you do this?"
Chen Feng's voice rang out, clear and resolute:
"This disciple, Chen Feng, joins the school today. I will abide by my master's teachings, honor my master and respect the path, and strive diligently in all I do."
Then he performed the formal rites, bowing three times.
When the ceremony was complete, he rose. The Fifth Senior Sister beside him offered him a freshly brewed cup of tea. Chen Feng held it in both hands and stepped forward.
He bowed and presented the tea steadily to his master.
In a low voice, he said:
"Please have some tea, Master."
Zhou Bingzhong accepted it with both hands and drank it in one go.
With that, the ceremony was complete.
[Apprenticed to Zhou Bingzhong... Experience +1200]
Chen Feng finally let out a breath of relief.
It was all real.
He had become the Dragon Walk Martial Arts School's sixth Personal Disciple!
Zhou Bingzhong smiled as he helped Chen Feng to his feet.
"I heard from your Senior Brother that you broke through to the Blood Refining Realm yesterday. You're truly diligent. I know your circumstances, and how much you carry on your shoulders. But you mustn't push yourself too hard in martial arts. You need to relax from time to time as well..."
"This disciple understands."
The other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters all looked at Chen Feng with smiles.
"Master, Chen Feng has prepared a gift for you too."
Second Senior Brother Yao Xingzhi spoke up.
Chen Feng came to his senses. He'd been so nervous that he'd almost forgotten. He had Second Senior Brother to thank for the reminder.
He quickly brought out the gift he'd prepared and presented it with both hands.
"This disciple bought some pastries. I hope you won't mind them, Master."
Zhou Bingzhong couldn't hide his delight. "Good child. I'm very happy that you put your heart into this. I have something for you too."
"Xingzhi!"
Zhou Bingzhong held out his hand.
Yao Xingzhi took out a jade pendant and handed it to Zhou Bingzhong.
Zhou Bingzhong accepted it and passed it to Chen Feng.
Chen Feng took the pendant. It was about the size of a goose egg, lustrous and flawless, with the faintest green sheen shimmering across it in the light.
Cloud patterns were lightly carved on the front, while a tiny inscription for "calm the mind" was etched on the back. Its edges were smoothly polished, and a plain dark-green cord was threaded through it.
"This is something I prepared for you. Wear it often. It can calm the mind and steady the spirit."
"Thank you, Master!"
Chen Feng was deeply moved.
He could tell at a glance that this pendant was no ordinary thing.
"Chen Feng, as your Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, we've prepared gifts for you too."
Chen Feng turned and saw his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters smiling as they brought out the gifts they had carefully chosen.
But when Second Senior Brother Yao Xingzhi heard them, an awkward look appeared on his face.
His smile froze.
It seemed he hadn't expected the others to have prepared gifts for their junior brother too.
The first to step forward was Third Senior Brother Lu Jinghong.
"Not bad, not bad. Handsome and dashing—you're almost as good-looking as me."
Lu Jinghong gave Chen Feng's shoulder an approving pat.
"Your Senior Brother here is a simple man. Here's fifty taels of silver. Keep it safe."
Lu Jinghong knew about Chen Feng's situation, so he decided to give him silver, hoping Chen Feng wouldn't be troubled by material things.
Now that he was a Personal Disciple, he'd at least need a new set of clothes.
And entering the Blood Refining Realm meant greater expenses.
His master had always hated gifts of gold and silver. As the Third Senior Brother, Lu Jinghong naturally wanted to ease Chen Feng's worries.
Chen Feng took the purse.
Inside was a whole, heavy silver ingot!
The comforting weight left Chen Feng stunned. He couldn't help swallowing.
In his heart, he cried, Senior Brother, I'm a simple man too.
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Lu Jinghong smiled. "Glad you like it. You can use this money to have a blacksmith forge you a weapon."
"No need for a weapon. I've already prepared one for Junior Brother."
Zhao Shanyue stepped closer and brought out the Fine Iron Knuckle Duster he'd prepared.
It was jet black and gleaming, solid and heavy. The moment Chen Feng held it, he felt a cold, hard Killing Intent radiating from it.
It fit snugly over his knuckles, its size just right for his hand, as though it had added a skeleton of iron to his fingers.
Chen Feng was delighted. "Thank you, Senior Brother."
He usually practiced martial arts barehanded, so he'd been in need of a weapon.
Last came Fifth Senior Sister Su Wanqing. She walked over to Chen Feng with a smile and said happily:
"I'm finally not the youngest anymore! Junior Brother, I asked a tailor shop in the city to make you some clothes. I'll have them delivered in a few days."
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
After Chen Feng thanked each of them in turn,
Fifth Senior Sister Su Wanqing skipped over to Yao Xingzhi's side and gave him an amused look, smiling brightly.
"Second Senior Brother, didn't you prepare a gift for Junior Brother?"
Yao Xingzhi's smile stiffened.
"This... who, who said I didn't?"
"Then what did you prepare?"
The other Senior Brothers watched Yao Xingzhi as if they were enjoying a show.
Chen Feng was just about to help his Senior Brother out when Yao Xingzhi said:
"I-I prepared to teach Chen Feng staff techniques!"
But Su Wanqing, who had been all smiles just a moment earlier, puffed up with anger as soon as she heard Yao Xingzhi say he was going to teach staff techniques.
"You're still teaching people? I trusted you the other day, and ended up bedridden for half a month! Now you're going to torment Junior Brother too!"
Chen Feng's mouth twitched. He seemed to have heard this story before.
"That was because you lacked talent! I can tell Junior Brother has a gift for it!"
Yao Xingzhi retorted.
"You stinky Senior Brother!"
Su Wanqing lightly punched Yao Xingzhi.
Seeing this, Master Zhou Bingzhong couldn't help bursting into hearty laughter.
For a time, the hall was filled with laughter and warmth.
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