Taking a Disciple

Yang Chen walked atop his flying sword, the crimson Saint-Slaying Sword glimmering with a red halo.

As vivid as fresh blood.

He silently looked down at the young man below, his expression calm.

"I'm unwilling to accept this!"

The young man gave a miserable smile. His already frail body swayed as though it might collapse at any moment.

"Is that Hall Master Yang?"

Several Cold Moon Palace disciples around the valley spoke in low voices.

Ever since Yang Chen had become the Hall Master of Human Hall, he had remained hidden within Human Hall and never shown himself. Other than that one time he had killed a chicken to warn the monkeys, today's disciple acceptance ceremony was his only appearance.

For a moment, the gatekeeping disciples had failed to recognize him.

"Greetings, Hall Master Yang!"

Though Yang Chen's reputation was not particularly remarkable throughout Cold Moon Palace, the sect rules still required them to pay their respects.

Yang Chen gave a slight nod and looked at the young man.

"What is your name?"

"Zhang Xiaofan!"

Yang Chen's expression turned somewhat strange.

"You really are fated with the character 'Fan,' aren't you?"

"Let me ask you this: why do you wish to join Cold Moon Palace?"

"I don't want to see my father bullied by others. I don't want to see my younger sister coveted by those wolves with savage ambitions. I want to become stronger. I want no one to ever be able to bully my family again. I only want to protect my family properly!"

Zhang Xiaofan spoke with conviction.

Yang Chen smiled faintly.

"Do you know that the path to becoming stronger is climbed step by step over the corpses of others? Are you not afraid?"

"Do you know that on the great path of cultivation, every step