Thanks for Master's Gift

Autumn came, and leaves fell.

He'd guarded this little Martial Arts Hall through who knew how many springs and autumns.

The traffic before his door never ceased, bustling and crowded. Yi Feng had long since become intimately familiar with the customs and local color of this other world.

"Ah, time to eat. Guess I'll order takeout!"

Yi Feng got up and waved toward the beef noodle stall across the street. The waiter opposite snapped his fingers and called out, "Master Yi, just wait there. It'll be right over."

Yi Feng smiled and nodded, then lay back down in his recliner.

"Ah, takeout every day. What I need is a wife!"

The sun was blinding. Yi Feng narrowed his eyes and watched the young ladies at the rouge shop by the street. He couldn't help sighing. "Meng Tian hasn't come to see me lately, either. She's always thinking about joining a sect to cultivate, but she doesn't have the talent for it. How nice would it be if she just followed me and became the lady boss? Once my luck turns and I take in a couple of disciples, people could even call her Master Wife."

Before long, the waiter from across the street came over carrying a bowl of beef noodles.

The portion was as generous as ever.

"Here, take the money." Remember this website in one second: http://

Yi Feng tossed the money over.

"Master Yi, it's only a bowl of beef noodles. Why would I take your money?" The waiter returned it with a smile. "When my old woman fell and hurt herself last time, we had to rely on you to help."

"Fine, then I'll eat this bowl for free."

Yi Feng didn't stand on ceremony. The common folk from one end of the street to the other knew him well. Having lived two lives, he understood the ways of the world. Whenever someone had bruises or sprains, he would help them out, and he often gave aid to the beggars wandering nearby as well.

So he had a bit of prestige in this area.

Though he'd never truly taught a disciple, he was worthy of being called Master Yi.

"You little beast, get the hell out!"

Just then, something happening not far away caught their attention. A ragged little boy had been thrown out of a Qingshan Sect hall.

"No, I want to cultivate! Please, let me join the Qingshan Sect!" Though the boy was only fourteen or fifteen, he was astonishingly resolute. Ignoring the scrape on his face, he knelt before the Hall Elder and shouted firmly.

"Take a look at your own aptitude. You think you can join my Qingshan Sect? Get lost!" The Hall Elder kicked the boy in the chest and shouted, "Brat, I'm warning you for the last time. If you dare come again, I'll throw you to the dogs!"

"What's this?"

Yi Feng frowned.

"Ah, that kid's pitiful too." The waiter sighed. "Who knows where he came from? These past few days, he's practically worn through every Qingshan Sect hall. I guess he really doesn't have any aptitude!"

Yi Feng felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow.

Cultivation was just that cruel. Without talent, you were nothing.

It was still better to be like him. Being a grandmaster, even without lofty ambitions, was a pretty good way to live.

Blood seeped from the corner of the boy's mouth. Clutching his chest, he coughed violently, his steadfast gaze fixed on the tightly shut doors, filled with unwillingness.

Only after a long while did he drag his heavy feet away in dejection.

Perhaps noticing Yi Feng and the waiter's attention, he looked up as he passed the door. He glanced at the beef noodles in Yi Feng's hand, swallowed, then looked away and continued on.

But after taking only two steps, he halted and bent down to pick something up from the ground.

He looked around, lingering for a moment on the beef stall across the street. Gritting his teeth, he finally turned his gaze back toward Yi Feng.

"Shopkeeper, I picked up a gold coin at your door. Is it yours?" The boy walked over, and there was indeed a gold coin in his grimy little hand.

Yi Feng and the waiter exchanged a look.

Both saw disbelief in the other's eyes.

Yi Feng suddenly felt ashamed. The world was simply like this. Though he sympathized with the little boy's plight, there was nothing he could do to help. Yet the boy's character made him feel inferior.

It was obvious that he was already starving, yet he still held fast to such principles.

"That's right, this gold coin is mine." Yi Feng nodded. If he hadn't guessed wrong, it was the one that deadpan woman had given him.

The boy extended his little hand farther forward.

But Yi Feng didn't take it. Instead, he smiled faintly at him. "It's yours now."

The boy was stunned. He gratefully bowed to Yi Feng, then hurried toward the beef stall across the street.

"You've got a customer," Yi Feng said to the waiter beside him with a smile.

"Master Yi, your merits are boundless."

The waiter gave Yi Feng a thumbs-up and ran across the street.

"Remember, give him a bigger portion. Put anything he can't pay for on my tab..."

The little boy wolfed down the food. After finishing one bowl, he found himself still wanting more. He licked his lips, wishing to continue, but seeing that he only had one gold coin, he could only hold himself back.

Prices here weren't cheap. One gold coin was only enough for a bowl of beef noodles.

Just as he was about to stand, the waiter brought him another heaping bowl.

"Shopkeeper, this is...?" the boy asked in surprise.

The waiter smiled and glanced in Yi Feng's direction. The boy followed his gaze, his eyes glimmering.

After a moment of silence, he continued devouring the noodles.

Watching this scene, Yi Feng smiled, covered his face with his palm-leaf fan to block the glaring sunlight, and leaned back into his recliner.

"Benefactor above, please accept Zhong Qing's bow. Please, Benefactor, take me as your disciple."

Suddenly, the little boy's voice came from beside him. Yi Feng turned his head and saw the boy kneeling on the ground, looking at him with a face full of determination.

"You want me to take you as my disciple?" Yi Feng asked in surprise.

"Yes. I've thought it through. I have no aptitude and simply can't enter the Qingshan Sect. But not only have you shown me kindness, Benefactor, you also run a Martial Arts Hall. Please grant my wish."

As he spoke, Zhong Qing heavily knocked his head against the ground again. "As long as Master grants my wish, Zhong Qing is willing to serve Master like a dog or horse."

Yi Feng clicked his tongue softly.

He hadn't expected the first person to ask him to become their master would come under such circumstances.

So be it!

Leaving aside the child's character, that sheer grit alone made him hard to refuse.

"All right, I accept." Yi Feng nodded.

"Thank you, Master, for granting my wish." Zhong Qing immediately knelt in thanks, then without another word carried Yi Feng's empty noodle bowl back to the stall across the street.

"What a sensible child."

An auntie-like smile spread across Yi Feng's face. Since this was his first disciple, he couldn't neglect him. After Zhong Qing returned, Yi Feng brought him into the inner room.

"You use a saber, right?" Yi Feng asked, looking at him.

"Yes!"

Zhong Qing lowered his head. The rust-covered broadsword at his waist had long since given him away.

"Master doesn't have much to give you. This saber, I'll give it to you!" Yi Feng took out a long saber and held it out to Zhong Qing.

The moment the saber emerged, light flowed over it, carrying a thread of intimidating aura.

Of all the weapons Yi Feng had forged, this saber was the one he was most satisfied with. He had no use for it anyway, so giving it to his disciple was only fitting.

"Thank you, Master, for this gift."

Zhong Qing couldn't put it down and hurriedly bowed in thanks.