Officially Taking on an Apprentice

Officially Becoming Master and Disciple

Qiangu Wuji was a bit bewildered.

What on earth was this?

Why was he acting like some creepy old uncle, talking about the color of burlap sacks? Wasn't the Body Sect a righteous sect? When did it turn into a kidnapping ring?

"Hmm, looking at how you little one look like a little girl, don't worry, I'll find you a cuter sack. I guarantee I won't let you think it looks ugly."

Qiangu Wuji's face darkened, and he was left speechless.

"Senior Mu Ye, please stop joking. If you were to kidnap me, my family would definitely not let you off."

"Tsk~"

Mu Ye clicked his tongue.

Although Qiangu Wuji's words made him somewhat annoyed, they were the truth.

Kidnapping or whatever would only bring trouble to the Body Sect. Unless he wanted to endure the full-force retaliation of the entire Spirit Pagoda, along with two Limit Douluo, it was impossible for him to do such a thing.

The moment he thought of Qiangu Wuji's identity, Mu Ye felt a headache coming on.

Why did such a genius have to be the child of those two people? What kind of dumb luck did the Spirit Pagoda have?

"Senior Mu Ye, I am a member of the Spirit Pagoda, so I certainly cannot join your sect, but becoming your disciple is something I can do."

Just as he was feeling incredibly regretful in his heart, Qiangu Wuji spoke up again in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Mu Ye glanced at him and said indifferently.

"If you don't join my sect, how can you become my disciple?"

Qiangu Wuji looked straight at him and said earnestly.

"I grew up in the Spirit Pagoda since I was young. That place is my home, and I certainly cannot betray it. You surely wouldn't want the disciple you take in to be a traitor, would you?"

Mu Ye nodded. He couldn't deny this point. If Qiangu Wuji had expressed without hesitation that he would leave the Spirit Pagoda to join his sect, he would have had to consider whether or not to take him as a disciple.

"However, although I cannot leave the Spirit Pagoda, I have always admired you and your Body Sect, Senior Mu Ye. So, if you don't mind, I can become your nominal disciple."

"A nominal disciple?" Mu Ye murmured to himself, then immediately reacted, "Wait, how do you know my identity?"

"Well, I quite like learning about the rumors on the continent, and I have always revered you as the only person on the entire continent whose mecha and Battle Armor are both at the peak. My goal is to become as formidable as you in the future."

Anyway, flattery didn't cost anything. If he buttered him up a bit more now, maybe he'd be so happy that he'd end up teaching him the core secret techniques of the Body Sect?

As it turned out, his flattery was quite successful. Just like that, under his barrage of praise, Mu Ye began to feel a bit floaty.

"So I'm actually that famous?"

"Haha," he laughed, waving his hand and saying, "Easy, easy. As long as you study with me for a period of time, I guarantee you'll be able to become as formidable as me."

"Study with you? Does that mean you've agreed?"

Qiangu Wuji was overjoyed.

Mu Ye puffed out his beard and glared, pretending to be fierce as he said.

"You admire me this much; do you really think an old man like me would make things difficult for a little brat like you? Alright, why haven't you called me teacher yet?"

Qiangu Wuji wasn't stupid; he quickly bowed and called out respectfully.

"Teacher."

"Haha, good. From today on, you are my disciple. In the future, I will do my utmost to teach you."

Having performed the apprenticeship ceremony and received Mu Ye's acknowledgment, the two were now officially master and disciple.

Mu Ye looked at Qiangu Wuji and said solemnly.

"Due to your identity, I cannot force you to join my sect. But even though you are only a nominal disciple, I still want you to remember one thing: as my disciple, you must always put the sect first."

"Don't worry, Teacher. I will definitely not forget to carry forward the Body Sect."

Qiangu Wuji nodded solemnly.

This wasn't just empty talk. Since he had given his word, he would do his best to fulfill it.

"Alright, you should head back for today. I will be staying here for a while. From now on, come see me every day after school. I will lay the foundation for you as quickly as possible, and strive to get you officially initiated sooner."

"Understood, Teacher. I'll be heading back now."

Qiangu Wuji bowed once more and bid him farewell.

Mu Ye didn't say anything, merely nodding silently.

Just like that, Qiangu Wuji left, and the room fell quiet once again.

Mu Ye walked to the window and, through the glass, watched the young boy in the distance below.

At this moment, the frivolous look on his face vanished, replaced by a sense of gravity.

"It seems Zhen Hua really recommended an incredible disciple to me this time!"

Regarding Qiangu Wuji, what he was most satisfied with wasn't actually his talent, but his maturity, which was so starkly different from his outward appearance.

Earlier, he had only shown a hint of hesitation, and the boy had keenly sensed it and thought of the most secure way to remedy the situation.

Adding the matter of becoming a nominal disciple later on made him look at the boy in a whole new light.

"That little guy must have sensed that I actually had the thought of kidnapping him back with me just now, right?"

That's right; in truth, when he asked Qiangu Wuji what color sack he preferred earlier, he wasn't just joking—he had genuinely entertained the idea.

Qiangu Wuji's subsequent offer to become a nominal disciple was likely a graceful exit strategy he provided after sensing those intentions.

Mu Ye had to admit that it was an excellent compromise; it satisfied his desire to take on a disciple while avoiding the possibility of forming a blood feud with the Spirit Pagoda.

With such exceptional personal talent combined with a mature ability to handle affairs, there was no way a genius like this could fail.

Mu Ye couldn't help but look forward to it: to what heights would this young man lead the future Body Sect?

"It really makes one look forward to the arrival of that day!"

By the time Qiangu Wuji returned home, the sky had turned completely dark.

In the living room of the old residence, Leng Yaozhu was sitting upright on the sofa, clearly waiting for him. Seeing him return, she stood up nervously and began asking him one concerned question after another.

It was mostly asking why he had been gone for so long and whether he had encountered any danger.

Even though Qiangu Wuji insisted repeatedly that he was fine, Leng Yaozhu remained uneasy and kept pressing him for details.

Helpless, he recounted the entire sequence of events, including the true identity of Mu Ye.

After listening, Leng Yaozhu was somewhat surprised.

"It was actually him?"

"Mom, you won't blame me for agreeing to be his disciple without asking you first, right?"

Qiangu Wuji looked at her cautiously, feeling a bit worried.

Leng Yaozhu smiled and tapped him on the forehead.

"Why would I blame you? My son is so smart; you surely know how to gauge the situation yourself."

"Besides, learning from him isn't a bad idea. I've heard of him; although his cultivation isn't much to speak of, he has deep attainments in both Battle Armor and mecha."

Only she, a Limit Douluo, could describe his cultivation as "not much to speak of."

After all, Mu Ye was a level 94 Title Douluo.

Hearing this, Qiangu Wuji breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Leng Yaozhu might not approve once she found out.

It seemed she was quite open-minded after all.

"Oh, that's right, Wuji, did you see Gu Yue when you were coming back?"

Just as he was thinking this, Leng Yaozhu suddenly changed the subject and asked.

"Gu Yue?" Qiangu Wuji was stunned for a moment. "What happened to Gu Yue? Isn't she at home?"

"No, Gu Yue said she was worried about you just now, so she went out to look for you. How could you not have seen her?"

"Gu Yue went to look for me?"

Qiangu Wuji was stunned once again. What was going on here?