A flaw in his character?

Xiao Yan looked at Yao Lao with a sincere expression.

"Senior, I sympathize with what happened to you, and I truly do want to help you.

"It's just that my own abilities are lacking, so I dare not make you any promises."

Yao Lao said, "If you have the heart to help, I don't need any promises from you. Just do your best!"

Xiao Yan gave a sly smile. "If no promises are required, then I can agree to do my best, Senior.

"It's just that, Senior, my own abilities are lacking!"

Though Yao Lao was honest and kindhearted, he had lived a great many years.

After hearing Xiao Yan repeatedly mention making no promises and lacking the ability, he finally caught on to what Xiao Yan meant.

So you brat want the benefits without taking any responsibility, is that it?

Yao Lao nearly laughed in exasperation.

What a slippery little rascal!

His brow furrowed, and he instinctively felt displeased.

Someone so cautious, so pragmatic and calculating, was not to his taste.

He had lived his whole life openly and honorably. By nature, he preferred people who were straightforward, cheerful, and utterly sincere.

But when he thought of his former disciple, Han Feng, Yao Lao sighed again.

Compared with Han Feng, who had a human face but a beast's heart, saying one thing to his face and doing another behind his back, Xiao Yan was already far better!

Though he was cautious, pragmatic, and calculating, at least he harbored no crooked intentions and had principles in how he acted.

If he felt something was risky and feared he could not accomplish it, he would rather forgo the benefits than deceive Yao Lao with false promises!

Granted, after refusing to promise anything, he had tried to be clever, hoping to get the benefits without making a commitment.

But didn't that show that, deep down, this boy believed a promise, once made, had to be fulfilled?

From another angle, that too was a sign of honoring his word and valuing loyalty!

Looking at the maturity and caution on Xiao Yan's young face, so utterly at odds with his age, Yao Lao suddenly fell into a daze.

Perhaps something terrible had happened to this boy, making him so cautious and pragmatic at such a young age, afraid to trust anyone!

At that thought, Yao Lao sighed again.

Yao Chen, oh, Yao Chen!

You've already died once!

How can you still fall short of a twelve-year-old boy when it comes to maturity, steadiness, and caution?

The Dou Qi Continent is so cruel. How could there be so many people as pure as a clear breeze beneath a bright moon, so open and honorable?

Have you stood so high for so long that you've forgotten how you clawed your way up from the bottom?

Once he had thought it all through, Yao Lao finally adjusted his attitude.

Looking at Xiao Yan, Yao Lao said with a genial smile, "Young friend, I understand what you mean now.

"In that case, let me open the skylight and speak plainly, too.

"I wish to be resurrected, so I'm the one asking a favor of you.

"The materials needed for my resurrection are all found in extremely dangerous places. That is also a fact.

"Since I'm asking for your help, naturally I cannot insist that you disregard your own safety and venture into those dangerous places no matter what. That would be far too unfair to you.

"How about this? I can teach you everything I know. Once you've mastered what I teach and feel those places no longer pose a danger, you can go then.

"If, even after my instruction, you still feel those places are dangerous, you need never go. Would that be acceptable?"

Xiao Yan was overjoyed.

These were precisely the terms he wanted!

He had never expected Yao Lao to be so accommodating, saying exactly what he had hoped to hear!

He was secretly rejoicing, but when he turned and saw Yao Lao looking at him with a warm smile, something stirred in his heart.

In that moment, he suddenly understood something.

It was not that he had been so clever and maneuvered this elder into his trap. The elder was simply generous and kind enough not to hold it against him!

Xiao Yan immediately felt ashamed.

Xiao Yan, oh, Xiao Yan, he is so upright and treats you with such sincerity. Even if you're cautious, you shouldn't "bully the goodhearted" like this!

What harm would there be in showing a little sincerity of your own and offering some response to his goodwill?

After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and said to Yao Lao:

"Senior, I respect you as a man of virtue. If it is proven in time that you truly mean me no harm, then I am willing to do everything I can to find the materials needed for your resurrection.

"But, Senior, I must also be frank from the outset.

"If I feel the danger is simply too great and the task cannot be accomplished, then, for my own safety, I will still abandon the search for the materials. Please understand!"

Yao Lao stroked his beard and smiled with gratification.

I knew this child wasn't bad at heart!

Good!

Had you not said that, I would still have taught you, but I certainly wouldn't have exhausted all my knowledge and held nothing back.

Once my soul power had recovered sufficiently, I would naturally have found a way to leave and plan my resurrection myself.

Now that you've said this, I can at least teach you half of what I know in the days ahead.

Once I've examined your character and found it worthy, I can consider taking you as my disciple!

Yao Lao had never forgotten Xiao Yan's astonishing talent, nor had he stopped considering taking Xiao Yan as his disciple.

However, for one thing, his previous disciple had chilled his heart, and he had yet to decide whether to take another.

For another, Xiao Yan had never given him an opening to discuss becoming master and disciple.

Until just now, this little rascal had been scheming to take all the benefits without shouldering any responsibility!

But now, looking at Xiao Yan sincerely bowing with clasped hands and speaking from the heart, Yao Lao found him much more pleasing.

If, after some observation, this child's character truly proved good, he really could take him as his disciple!

After all, such talent was truly rare!

There's no hurry. Take it slowly. I'll have years ahead to spend with this child!

Given that much time, I'll surely be able to see his true character!

Then I can decide whether to take him as my disciple!

Three years later, on the mountain behind the Xiao Clan.

Yao Lao was glaring at Xiao Yan in utter exasperation!

"You little brat, there really is something wrong with your character! How did I end up taking a disciple like you?"

Now fifteen, his frame gradually filling out, Xiao Yan wore a playful grin beneath his sword-like brows and star-bright eyes.

"Teacher, you were harmed by my senior brother because you had too few trump cards back then! Of course I have to learn from your mistake and keep more trump cards up my sleeve!"

Yao Lao snapped, "Eight Extremes Collapse is a Mystic-tier High-grade Dou Technique with tremendous power. If you master its Eightfold Hidden Force, its power rivals an Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique!

"Why can't you just buckle down and master Eight Extremes Collapse? What other trump cards do you need to defend yourself and save your life? And the more underhanded, the better?

"I have none! I've lived my whole life openly and honorably. I don't have any shameless Dou Techniques like that!"

But Xiao Yan refused to give up.

"Teacher, you're the renowned Venerable Yao. What strange and unusual Dou Techniques haven't you collected?

"You must have something! Just teach your disciple one!"

Pestered until he had no temper left, Yao Lao finally sighed. "Yan'er, I'm not lying to you. I truly don't have any!

"I disliked the Dou Techniques that didn't suit my principles, so I sent them all to auction and sold them!

"Everything I kept is open and aboveboard!"

Gritting his teeth, Yao Lao added, "If nothing else will do, I'll give you a wisp of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame's essence. Surely that's enough of a life-saving trump card!"