Taking a Master

Elder Wu narrowed his eyes at the flying darts on the target. With his eyesight, it was naturally not difficult for him to see that the darts had sunk three-tenths of the way into the wood. Their force was already far from weak.

He subconsciously looked at Qin Fang again... The boy was like a bamboo pole. Though he had been fed into looking a little fairer these past days, he was still dry and skinny... because last time, Elder Wu had not prepared any meat for him.

The boy had been a refugee and had long been starving. When Elder Wu treated his injuries, he had already discovered that Qin Fang's stomach had some problems. Coupled with his frail body, he could not handle food that was too rich and greasy, or serious trouble might arise.

That was why Elder Wu had first used lighter foods such as sorghum rice to nurse him for a while. Only after his body had naturally adjusted could he eat heavily oiled foods and properly restore himself.

So Elder Wu knew very well that Qin Fang's body should still be quite weak.

Yet he could throw such powerful flying darts?

Elder Wu narrowed his eyes.

With his discernment, he could naturally tell that Qin Fang did not possess even half a shred of martial skill. His footing lacked roots, floating and weak, and his hands bore none of the marks left by years of practicing darts.

In just over ten days, less than twenty days, he had truly mastered flying darts? Not only were they powerful, they even had a certain degree of accuracy?

Elder Wu was somewhat astonished.

Yet he gave nothing away, merely watching Qin Fang...

At that moment, Qin Fang was staring fixedly at the half-side of pork on the handcart, his eyes practically glowing green...

"Move the things inside."

Elder Wu said nothing more and instead called to the guileless young man.

"Sure thing."

The guileless young man answered and began moving the goods. As he entered the door, he even gave Qin Fang an honest smile.

Qin Fang came back to his senses and nodded in return.

Then he also began helping. Before long, they had moved everything from the handcart into the courtyard.

Once they were done, Elder Wu took out several copper coins and handed them to the guileless young man. The youth accepted them happily before taking his leave.

After the courtyard gate closed, Qin Fang kept staring at the pork, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of saliva...

Ever since transmigrating here, he had not eaten a single meal of meat.

And in his previous life, he had never been happy without meat...

Just imagining that plump, jiggling, glistening braised pork... he felt as though his stomach were roaring...

"Were you practicing flying darts just now?"

At that moment, Elder Wu's voice suddenly rang out.

Qin Fang returned to his senses and, with tremendous willpower, dragged his gaze away from the meat. He looked at Elder Wu, who was watching his target.

"Mm." Qin Fang nodded.

"Have you practiced before?" Elder Wu asked.

"No." Qin Fang shook his head.

Elder Wu raised an eyebrow and thought for a moment before saying, "Throw them once for me to see."

Qin Fang was somewhat puzzled, unable to understand why Elder Wu had suddenly made such a request.

But after thinking about it, he still nodded. He walked to the target and removed the flying darts.

On the Panel, his "Hidden Weapons (Flying Darts)" had now reached "Initiation Stage, 487 points." It was only a little over ten points away from reaching the Minor Accomplishment Stage.

The flying darts he threw now were not only forceful, but their accuracy was also somewhat assured.

He could not achieve a hundred shots, a hundred hits, but within five meters, he could basically hit the bullseye.

At this rate, it would take at most another day to reach the Minor Accomplishment Stage...

To be honest, he was rather looking forward to the enlightenment at the Minor Accomplishment Stage.

What sort of gain would this flying-dart enlightenment bring?

Would it make the darts even more powerful?

Or would it improve their accuracy?

After retrieving the darts, he naturally stepped back five meters. Elder Wu watched with narrowed eyes.

Then he saw Qin Fang lightly exhale, his expression turning focused.

The next moment...

Whoosh!

With a flick of his hand, a flying dart shot out like an arrow from his grasp.

After the sound of wind tearing through the air, a thunk rang out as it instantly struck the bullseye.

This level was already commonplace to Qin Fang. Without pausing, he took another dart and flicked his hand to send it flying...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Thunk, thunk, thunk!

Three sharp impacts sounded in succession.

All four flying darts embedded in the bullseye had struck it with perfect precision.

That was a full five-meter distance. Qin Fang, who had no cultivation whatsoever, could truly make every dart hit?

An ordinary person might not even hit the target from one meter away, let alone five...

Elder Wu's astonishment deepened.

"Boy, come here."

Elder Wu suddenly beckoned to Qin Fang.

Qin Fang was puzzled, but he still walked over.

Then Elder Wu suddenly grabbed his arm. Under Qin Fang's stunned gaze, he began feeling the bones in both his hands inch by inch.

...Both arms were skinny as kindling, almost without muscle or fat, just a layer of skin pressed against bone. Even Qin Fang himself found them hard on the hand when he touched them.

Elder Wu examined him carefully. Not only did he feel Qin Fang's arms, he also felt his back.

Qin Fang looked utterly confused, unable to understand what Elder Wu was doing.

Still, he did not resist.

After examining him for a while, Elder Wu lowered his hands, his expression thoughtful.

A moment later, he confirmed once more, "You truly only practiced for a little over ten days?"

Qin Fang nodded.

Elder Wu fell into thought.

"Elder Wu?"

Seeing Elder Wu remain silent for so long, Qin Fang asked in confusion.

Elder Wu came back to himself. He looked at Qin Fang, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked with narrowed eyes, "Boy, do you want to cultivate martial arts?"

Qin Fang was initially stunned. But before Elder Wu could react, Qin Fang had already dropped to his knees with a thump. While Elder Wu was still frozen in surprise, he knocked his head against the ground three times.

"Huh?"

Elder Wu was taken aback. But he had only gotten out a single "Huh?" before the boy had finished kowtowing.

Then a respectful voice immediately followed.

"This disciple, Qin Fang, pays respects to Master!"

No, I never said I was taking you as a disciple!

Elder Wu's eyes widened.

I merely asked casually. You brat really climbed right up the pole the moment I handed it to you?

Elder Wu stared wide-eyed at Qin Fang.

Qin Fang's expression was thoroughly respectful.

"..."

Elder Wu was speechless for a while.

He had forgotten.

This brat was exceedingly sly.

As a refugee, grievously injured and trapped in a desperate situation, he had still managed to find a way to break the deadlock and survive in a short time.

Though the aftereffects had been considerable... if their places were exchanged and Elder Wu had fallen into that boy's circumstances, he might not have done any better.

And Elder Wu knew Qin Fang's current situation very well... who knew if the boy had been racking his brains these past days over what to do.

His words had undoubtedly handed Qin Fang a bamboo pole.

...How could he not climb it at once?

Thinking of this, Elder Wu looked utterly helpless.

Yet Qin Fang still wore an expression of utmost respect.

Elder Wu was choked with frustration, but he really had been the one to say something so easily misunderstood first.

This...

Take him as a disciple?

Elder Wu furrowed his brow.

To be honest, he had not had such intentions before.

But now...

He truly began considering it seriously.

This boy's intelligence and will were both exceptional. Though they had not interacted much, Qin Fang's speech and conduct were nothing like those young assistants at Spring Return Hall.

And in just over ten days, he had managed to gain some understanding of flying darts despite never having touched them before...

Though he seemed to have only barely entered the door, he had figured it out himself. It showed that his comprehension was extraordinary.

Though his bone structure and natural aptitude were somewhat poor.

Still, with such comprehension and proper cultivation, reaching Bright Force in a few years should not be much of a problem.

It was just his temperament and character...

Elder Wu was somewhat conflicted.

But after a moment, he still let out a light sigh.

"You brat are quite clever and slippery... Get up first."

Qin Fang respectfully said, "Yes."

Only then did he climb to his feet.

Elder Wu looked at Qin Fang, who stood a head taller than him, his face full of helplessness.

After a pause, he said, "Taking a disciple is no small matter. But since you have already kowtowed, and it truly was this old man who first..."

"Forget it. This old man will temporarily accept you as a registered disciple. But as for formally taking you as a disciple... this old man still needs time to think."

In this ancient world, the relationship between master and disciple was an exceedingly intimate one.

A formal apprenticeship even came with an entire set of complicated and solemn rites.

As the saying went, "A master visits a disciple for three years; a disciple visits a master for three years." A master taught the skills and principles needed to establish oneself in the world and conduct oneself properly. The disciple, in turn, was responsible for carrying on the master's legacy, even caring for him in old age and seeing him through his final days.

It was practically equivalent to a father-son relationship.

Heaven, earth, ruler, parents, master.

These were figures worthy of being placed upon the altar!

For such an important relationship, one naturally had to thoroughly examine and confirm the other's character, temperament, and every other aspect.

How could it be decided so easily?

And how long had Qin Fang known Elder Wu?

At most, a month.

What understanding or trust could there possibly be between them?

All they could see were a few things on the surface.

But since Elder Wu had opened his mouth and Qin Fang had climbed right up the pole, given Elder Wu's status, he could not bring himself to refuse outright.

Still, the necessary warning had to be given.

"However, do not think that after becoming this old man's disciple, this old man will handle everything for you... Some matters that you should deal with yourself, you must still deal with yourself... This old man does not take disciples merely to invite trouble upon himself."

Elder Wu warned him seriously.