Becoming Mu Chen's Disciple

Tang Wulin's somewhat rough hands clutched the letter tightly. When he read the final sentence, his eyes could no longer hold back the tears, and two streams spilled forth.

The next moment, he wanted to rush out of the workshop, but he had barely reached the door when he ran straight into Mang Tian's chest.

Mang Tian gently held Tang Wulin by the shoulders, his own eyes faintly reddening. He had never had a child of his own, and Tang Wulin had trained in forging under him for several years. How could years of constant companionship not have stirred some affection in him? In his heart, he had long since come to regard Tang Wulin as his own child.

"Wulin, your parents are safe. They've only left for a while. You have to stay strong and grow stronger while they're gone. Then you can go welcome them home, all right?"

Warm tears poured from Tang Wulin's eyes, one large drop after another. Longing, worry, and every other emotion mingled in those tears.

Mang Tian said no more to persuade Tang Wulin. He simply drew him gently into his arms and let Tang Wulin's tears soak through his clothes.

At a time like this, crying was the best way to let it all out.

Na'er was gone. Mom and Dad were gone, too. I was all alone. I had no home anymore.

No one knew how long it took before Tang Wulin's sobs finally began to subside.

"Do you want to find them?" Mang Tian asked softly.

Tang Wulin raised his head. His eyes were red as he nodded firmly.

"If you want to find them, the first thing you have to do is grow stronger. The force that took your parents away is no ordinary force. Until you're strong enough, you won't even qualify to enter its ranks," Mang Tian said gravely.

"Thank you, Teacher! I'll grow stronger!"

Tang Wulin had been resilient since childhood. Once he had let his emotions out, he gradually steadied himself.

Mang Tian nodded with satisfaction, then accompanied Tang Wulin as he finished the final piece of metal for the Hundred Refinement commission.

The Blacksmith Association.

Tang Wulin had just handed in his forging commission and tucked a stack of Federal Coins into his Storage Soul Tool.

"Wulin!"

Tang Wulin suddenly heard a familiar voice and immediately turned around.

"President Mu!" Tang Wulin looked at Mu Chen before him in surprise. He hadn't expected to see him at the Blacksmith Association today. After all, he'd heard others say that President Mu rarely showed up there.

"Don't overthink it. I was waiting for you," Mu Chen said as he walked over to Tang Wulin.

"President!" Mang Tian greeted Mu Chen respectfully.

Mu Chen smiled and nodded in reply.

"Waiting for me?"

"Wulin, I was the one who told the president I'd be coming here with you today," Mang Tian said.

"Teacher, is there something you need?" Tang Wulin asked, puzzled.

"Let's go upstairs first. There is something important to discuss," Mu Chen said.

Before long, the three of them had arrived at Mu Chen's office.

"Wulin, can you already perform Thousand Refinement?" Mu Chen asked from behind his desk.

Tang Wulin's expression shifted slightly, and he glanced at Mang Tian.

Mang Tian nodded. "Just tell him the truth."

"Before I came to Eastsea City, I could just barely perform Thousand Refinement," Tang Wulin answered honestly.

Even though Mu Chen had been prepared for this, he was still astonished when he heard Tang Wulin's answer.

Nine years old. The child before him was a genius who could perform Thousand Refinement at just nine years old!

"Wulin, don't get worked up about what I'm about to say. Whether you agree is entirely up to you," Mu Chen said solemnly, composing himself.

Tang Wulin was a little confused, but he still nodded.

"I want you to become my disciple!" Mu Chen said gravely.

"What?" Tang Wulin thought he must have heard wrong.

"I want you to become my disciple!" Mu Chen repeated.

Tang Wulin looked back at Mang Tian, but Mang Tian showed no particular reaction. He wasn't even surprised.

"President, Mang Tian is my forging teacher, and that can never change. Please forgive me for refusing your kind offer," Tang Wulin said firmly.

Mu Chen smiled. "This is exactly what your teacher, Mang Tian, wanted me to propose."

"What?" Tang Wulin stared at Mang Tian in disbelief. "Teacher, you..."

Mang Tian sighed softly. "Wulin, it's true. I was the one who brought this up with the president."

"Teacher, why?" Tang Wulin nearly thought that Mang Tian was going to abandon him, too.

"I'm only an ordinary Level Four blacksmith, with ordinary talent. Your forging talent is exceptional. You can perform Thousand Refinement at nine, and you're a genius who could one day reach Divine Craftsman. There's nothing more I can teach you, and I don't want to hold you back. In my opinion, aside from that Divine Craftsman, the only person on the entire continent who can teach you is a Saint Craftsman like the president." Mang Tian looked at Tang Wulin with mixed emotions.

"Teacher, I would never betray my master. I'll always be your disciple." Tang Wulin's face was resolute. In his heart, abandoning his teacher was unthinkable.

"Good grief, why are you two being so sentimental? You're making me look like the bad guy. Mang Tian, didn't we agree that we'd both be Wulin's forging teachers? How did this turn into betraying your master?" Mu Chen watched the pair with a pained expression. At that moment, he felt as though he had become the villain.

"You'll both be my teachers?" Tang Wulin was baffled by Mu Chen's words. "Shouldn't someone have only one teacher?"

"Wulin, why are you so rigid at such a young age? What's that saying? 'Gather the strengths of a hundred schools and avoid their weaknesses.' Mang Tian will always be your first forging teacher, but it's true that he can't teach you much more. If you want to grow stronger, you should learn from the strengths of others, don't you think?" Mu Chen felt as though he was practically begging Tang Wulin to become his disciple. In the past, he wouldn't take on disciples even when people begged him. How had things come to this?

Mang Tian also tried to persuade him. "Wulin, just agree to the president's offer! Only the president can help you go further on the path of forging. If you grow stronger one day, then as your first forging teacher and the one who guided you onto the path of forging, I'll have all the more reason to be proud of you. Don't you think?"

"This..." Tang Wulin still hesitated.

"Wulin, have you forgotten what you said in the workshop just now? Don't you want to grow stronger? If you become a Divine Craftsman one day, then with a Divine Craftsman's standing on the continent, any force will have to show you some respect."

Mang Tian's words made Tang Wulin think of his parents. If he became a Divine Craftsman, he would have the power to protect the people he loved.

With that thought, Tang Wulin's expression turned resolute, and he knelt before Mu Chen.

"President, please accept me as your disciple. I want your guidance so I can go further on the path of forging."

Mu Chen beamed as he helped Tang Wulin to his feet. "Hahaha! From today on, you're my disciple, Mu Chen's. Come to the Blacksmith Association every weekend, both days, and I'll personally guide you in forging."

"Thank you, Teacher!" Tang Wulin bowed deeply once more.

Mang Tian watched the scene with heartfelt satisfaction. He truly hoped Tang Wulin would go further along the path of forging. That way, he could also see for himself what the legendary Heavenly Forging was like!