Taking a Master (Please Read On)

White Tiger Martial Arts School, beside the main hall.

Fang Hu and Fang Yue waited there.

They had entered through the back gate, so naturally they were much slower than the Wang Family Uncle and Nephew, who had ridden straight in through the front gate.

Moreover, only after arriving did they learn that the uncle and nephew had also come to seek a master and become disciples.

So the two of them could only wait.

"The master of the White Tiger Martial Arts School is my master, Elder Zheng. Once we go in, you must be respectful."

"When you meet someone, remember to salute."

Fang Hu explained the rules and various details to Fang Yue.

As he spoke, he saw several people emerge from the main hall. Some of the faces were familiar—they were fellow disciples from long ago.

Yet these people seemed not to see him, nor did they glance in this direction.

They simply chatted and laughed as they left.

After waiting a while longer, a disciple called Fang Hu inside.

"Fang Yue, wait here for now."

With that, Fang Hu entered the main hall.

Though Fang Yue was somewhat puzzled as to why only Fang Hu had been called in, this was clearly not the time to ask.

Business came first. Once it was done, they still had to hurry back.

The round trip was several hundred li, and the roads were not peaceful either. It was better to return early.

"Second Senior Brother!"

Fang Hu first cupped his fists toward Chen Tong in salute. After observing all the proper courtesies, he asked, "Second Senior Brother, where is Master?"

"Master is tired today and resting. He isn't seeing anyone."

Chen Tong's tone was flat. There was no fluctuation in the way he looked at Fang Hu; he regarded him like a stranger, his gaze full of distance.

"Junior Brother Fang, did you come here intending to take on a disciple?"

"That's right. He is my nephew from the main family. His talent is decent enough, and he has the heart for martial arts, so I wished to take him in and teach him."

Fang Hu nodded and hurriedly replied.

"Mm."

Chen Tong pondered briefly before looking at Fang Hu. "However, Junior Brother Fang, do you know that among the formal disciples of White Tiger Fist, given your current circumstances, you can only take one disciple?"

"If you decide to accept him, then you will no longer be able to pass White Tiger Fist down to your son. Ah, this is a new rule set by Master. Those of our generation are to accept disciples according to our cultivation. With your cultivation, you can only have one formal disciple."

"That is why I only called you in first."

After saying this, Chen Tong picked up the tea beside him and lightly blew across its surface, in no hurry for Fang Hu's answer.

Would he choose his own son, or his nephew?

Who was closer and who more distant? There was no need to compare.

It was not hard to choose, yet neither was it an easy choice.

Of course, he could have another junior brother of White Tiger Fist accept a disciple instead, but that would take up someone else's quota. Who would help for no reason at all?

As for Chen Tong himself, he naturally had no such restriction, but he certainly would not accept Fang Hu's son or nephew.

Fang Hu's aptitude was merely ordinary. What talent could his younger relatives possibly possess? Even if they did have talent, years of inadequate nourishment would waste it away.

How could he possibly accept a disciple whose future achievements were destined to be limited?

"Second Senior Brother, I... understand."

Fang Hu took a deep breath. For a moment, he hesitated, unable to make a decision.

Previously, disciples under White Tiger Fist could take three apprentices. He had never expected the rules to change when he came this time.

Restricting disciples from accepting apprentices was only to be expected.

If there were no restrictions and disciples could take apprentices freely, vicious competition might arise, since the number of people able to study martial arts was limited.

If accepting apprentices were opened up, people could learn the true teachings without even coming to the Fist School. The school would be unable to sustain itself at all.

But with this change, Fang Hu was truly caught between advancing and retreating.

He took a deep breath, and his gaze quickly hardened with resolve. "Second Senior Brother, I've made up my mind. I choose to accept my nephew."

"Mm, good. Since you have decided, have him come in."

Chen Tong did not try to persuade him and immediately had someone summon Fang Yue.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick,

Fang Hu left the White Tiger Martial Arts School with Fang Yue, naturally through the back gate again.

They had entered through the back gate, and they left through the back gate.

They did not disturb many people as they departed just like that.

"Uncle Fang Hu, Master, are we heading back now?"

Following Fang Hu, Fang Yue asked softly.

He had also noticed that Fang Hu seemed to be in low spirits after leaving the White Tiger Martial Arts School.

"Mm. We'll return to Uncle-Master Zhang's home, bring Er Gou and Zhang Shu, then go back together," Fang Hu replied evenly.

"We're taking Senior Sister Zhang too? She's returning with us?" Fang Yue asked.

Zhang Shu was going with them to Daliushu Village?

What was going on? Daliushu Village was some remote, impoverished backwater. Its environment was incomparably worse than Xiahe County Town.

Her family was wealthy; eating meat at every meal here was nothing unusual.

But if she went to Daliushu Village, she could only eat flatbread and wild vegetables with them. Could this young lady endure such a hard life?

Though Fang Yue could tell that Senior Sister Zhang Shu did not have the spoiled habits of a wealthy young lady, he still did not believe she could bear this kind of hardship.

Then why was Zhang Shu going with them to Daliushu Village?

Surely Uncle-Master Zhang was not sending his own daughter there just to experience country life?

"That's right. Zhang Shu will return with us. Your Uncle-Master Zhang has official business outside for the next three months. He isn't comfortable leaving your senior sister home alone, so he is letting her stay with us for a while," Fang Hu explained.

Fang Yue nodded to show that he understood.

So that was it. No wonder this wealthy young lady was going with them to Daliushu Village.

The next day, just as dawn broke.

Outside Zhang Residence.

"Father, I'll never make you angry again. Can't you let Shu'er stay?" Zhang Shu asked, eyes red as she looked at Zhang Boyang.

"Nonsense. You're only going away for three months, then you'll be back. Who said we didn't want you anymore? Stop spouting rubbish here."

Zhang Boyang kept a stern face and refused to look at Zhang Shu crying.

When he thought of what he was about to do, he knew he could not leave his daughter here alone.

If word leaked out, his daughter might be in danger.

So no matter how reluctant he was, he had to harden his heart.

Still, he took out a money pouch and handed it to his daughter.

"Father, are you angry with me? I'll never put chili peppers in your rice again."

"Scram, scram, scram! Get lost already!"

It would have been fine if she had not brought that up, but the instant Zhang Shu mentioned it,

Zhang Boyang bristled. Zhang Shu had put so many chili peppers in that bowl of rice that his lips were still somewhat red and swollen from the heat.

They said daughters were their fathers' little padded jackets, but his daughter's jacket was definitely full of holes and let in the wind.

Zhang Boyang "furiously scolded" her and was about to "make a move."

But Zhang Shu had already darted aside.

"Father, then I'll leave with Uncle Fang first. Take good care of yourself."

The tears on Zhang Shu's face had vanished who knew when.

Aside from her still-reddened eyes, there was no sign that she had ever cried.

Please read on, please read on!!!