"A child?"
"Where are your parents?"
Inside Ye Martial Arts Hall, Hall Master Ye looked Shen Changchuan up and down as he stood respectfully before him. A trace of puzzlement appeared in his eyes as he spoke.
He could not help finding it strange.
Normally, those who came to learn martial arts were brought by their parents. At the very least, an elder would accompany them.
Yet this boy had come knocking all by himself. That was rather unusual.
"My remote mountain village is a long way off. Worried about the dangers of traveling at night, they returned early after bringing me here."
"The elders in the city happened to have matters to attend to. They leave early and return late, busy all day without a moment to spare, so I came by myself rather than disturb them over important affairs."
Shen Changchuan casually made up an excuse and calmly faced the other man's scrutiny.
Shen Changchuan did not particularly care about this.
If the other party insisted that an elder had to bring him here before he could enter and study martial arts, he could simply go to Locust Tree Alley and ask Zhang San's wife to help him out.
And if that still did not work, he could always spend some money to hire someone to temporarily pose as his elder.
There were plenty of ways.
Seeing that Shen Changchuan spoke smoothly and with orderly logic, appearing quite mature, Hall Master Ye found it understandable that his elders had allowed him to come alone.
So he did not press the matter further.
"Do you know the rules for Ye Martial Arts Hall to accept disciples?"
Hall Master Ye did not waste any more words and went straight to the point.
"Please enlighten me, Hall Master."
Shen Changchuan cupped