"Oh, it's the dean. Please, come in!" Seeing that it was Zhang Qingyuan, Zhan Hongling hurriedly welcomed him inside.
She left the door open.
Once inside, Zhan Hongling hurried to pour tea.
She brought it over and set it before Zhang Qingyuan. Accepting the tea, Zhang Qingyuan asked, "Elder Sister Zhan, have you settled into working at the academy?"
"Thank you for thinking of me, Dean. Everything's been good."
"That's good. If there are any problems, let us know promptly. Our academy needs to make improvements quickly too, to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble."
"Yes, yes, of course."
Zhan Hongling nodded in agreement, wondering all the while what exactly the dean had come for. Had he really just come to check on a subordinate?
Zhang Qingyuan took a sip of tea, then set it down. Without letting him keep speculating, he asked, "I haven't come for anything else today. I just wanted to ask you, Elder Sister Zhan, whether you have any plans for your son Ma Shou's future."
Delight rose in Zhan Hongling's heart, and she couldn't help thinking, Has he noticed my son's talent and decided to take him as a disciple?
She couldn't help thinking that way. After all, her son had only just shown his talent, and the dean had already come calling.
Of course, he might have meant something else, but she thought that unlikely. He had probably taken an interest in accepting a disciple.
Having worked at Tianyang Martial Dao Academy for so long, she knew more or less what its future plans were.
Although most of these students would eventually be picked up by various factions and businesses, or venture out into the martial world on their own after graduating,
the Tianyang Sect would also take in any promising seedlings it encountered.
Zhang Qingyuan had mentioned this when the academy opened.
Tianyang Martial Dao Academy was merely a subsidiary of the Tianyang Sect. Any promising seedlings it encountered would certainly be recruited into the parent company.
In other words, some promising seedlings would eventually be taken as disciples by the elders, joining the Tianyang Sect and becoming part of it.
Her son was so outstanding-had the dean come to sound her out in advance?
After analyzing it all in her head, Zhan Hongling finally said, "We don't really have any plans at the moment. Quite a few major escort agencies that were on good terms with my late husband have contacted me, but I don't want him escorting caravans again."
Zhang Qingyuan said, "I understand, I understand."
"Dean, do you... have some plans, for my son?" Zhan Hongling even put her words in reverse order.
Having spoken, she looked at him expectantly.
Zhang Qingyuan said, "Here's the thing. As you know, I'll definitely be taking disciples in the future, and I think Ma Shou is a fine boy.
"You also know the Tianyang Sect's situation. Right now, there are only the seven of us brothers. We'll certainly need to recruit second-generation disciples, so I wondered, Elder Sister Zhan, whether you'd be interested in having Ma Shou join our Tianyang Sect?"
"Well..." Zhan Hongling visibly brightened, so excited that her words became muddled. "What's there to discuss? Since you think highly of my boy, Sect Master, of course I'm interested. This... oh my, thank you for your favor, Sect Master Zhang!"
"Don't agree just yet. We should see what Ma Shou thinks too. We need to respect the child's wishes."
"Him?" Zhan Hongling said. "He's just a little brat. What opinions could he have? I'll make the decision for him.
"Don't worry, Sect Master. I'll go find him in a moment."
"No, no, no. We need to respect the child's wishes. As parents, we all hope our sons will become dragons, but sometimes we need to respect their choices too. Just let things take their course," Zhang Qingyuan urged again.
"Oh, don't worry, Sect Master. What other ideas could he possibly have?"
"How about calling him over now so I can ask him?"
"All right. Please wait a moment, Sect Master. I'll go right now."
With that, Zhan Hongling immediately stood, excused herself, and bustled out.
When he found Ma Shou, he and Liu Sidao were just coming out of the scripture repository, each having chosen a secret manual.
Ma Shou was a little surprised to see Zhan Hongling. At the academy, apart from their earlier classes, his mother had hardly bothered with him.
"Mother, what brings you here?"
Brother Dao, beside him, also greeted her. "Hello, Teacher Zhan."
"Oh, hello." After answering Liu Sidao, she turned to her son. "Hurry and come back with me."
"Did something happen?" Seeing his mother in such a hurry, he frowned as he asked.
"Something good. Come back with me first."
"All right." Ma Shou looked at Brother Dao. "I'll head back with my mother, then."
"Go ahead."
After they parted, Zhan Hongling took Ma Shou by the arm and walked briskly toward the dormitories.
Ma Shou was left in a fog by his mother's behavior, with no idea what had gotten into her.
He hurriedly asked, "What exactly happened?"
Zhan Hongling smiled. "The dean is in my room!"
"Huh?" Ma Shou immediately stopped walking and asked, "Wait, what are you calling me back for?"
Zhan Hongling rolled her eyes at her son, not knowing what went through this child's head all day.
"As if the dean would take a fancy to me! You're the one he's interested in!"
"Huh?"
Ma Shou asked in surprise, "What does the dean see in me?"
Zhan Hongling said, "What else? He sees your talent, of course. He wants to take you as his disciple."
"Really?"
"Would I lie about that?"
Ma Shou was both astonished and delighted. Astonished because this was an opportunity countless people dreamed of, and delighted because that opportunity had actually fallen into his lap.
Of course, he felt this only made sense. After all, I'm so amazing, aren't I?
Seeing her son's expression, Zhan Hongling felt this should be a sure thing.
She reminded him, "You know what to say when we get there, right?"
Ma Shou nodded repeatedly. He knew all too well.
Seeing her son being so obedient, Zhan Hongling finally felt completely at ease.
Before long, mother and son returned to the dormitory. Seeing Zhang Qingyuan still drinking tea inside, she hurriedly pulled her son into the room. "Sorry for the wait, Dean."
"No rush, no rush."
Zhang Qingyuan looked at Ma Shou. He looked spirited and handsome.
"Hello, Dean." Ma Shou behaved very obediently.
Zhang Qingyuan nodded with a smile. Looking at him, he said with a smile, "I imagine your mother has already told you why I've come, so I won't keep you guessing.
"Your talent is among the best in the entire academy. You could say it's quite remarkable.
"Although I'm the dean of Tianyang Martial Dao Academy, I'm also the sect master of the Tianyang Sect.
"So I've come to ask whether you'd be willing to join the Tianyang Sect and become my disciple."
Excitement surged through Ma Shou as he listened. He wanted to agree immediately, but suddenly thought of someone: Liu Sidao.
At the academy, he and Liu Sidao were very close. Especially after the competition, there was quite a sense of heroes appreciating heroes between them.
So he hesitated, feeling that if he agreed, wouldn't he be letting Brother Dao down a little?
Seeing him remain silent, Zhan Hongling grew anxious. She hurried over and gave him a pat. "The dean is asking you a question."
As she spoke, she kept signaling him with her eyes.
"It's all right. Let the child think it over," Zhang Qingyuan said with a particularly kindly smile.
Ma Shou raised his head. Thinking of Brother Dao, he said conflictedly, "Dean, there's something I'd like to ask you."
Zhan Hongling was almost frantic enough to cry. Why does this wretched child have so many questions? She began glaring at him.
"It's all right. Ask away."
Ma Shou said, "I'm not the most talented student in this year's intake. Liu Sidao came first in the last competition. I wanted to ask, Dean, why aren't you choosing Liu Sidao?"
After hearing his words, Zhang Qingyuan understood at once. A young man's sense of loyalty.
Zhang Qingyuan was very pleased with his answer. Someone who could share sweetness and bitterness, and face hardship together, at least had no problems with his character.
"Liu Sidao's talent is certainly top-tier too, but your mother is closer at hand, isn't she? Naturally, I asked you first."
"Then Liu Sidao...?"
"If I said I didn't want to choose him, what would you choose?"
"I..." Ma Shou hesitated again.
Zhan Hongling sighed inwardly. This wretched child is exactly like his dead father!
He was like a completely different person from when he had offered incense back then...
Zhang Qingyuan stopped teasing him and smiled. "Don't worry. With talent as good as Liu Sidao's, of course I'll choose him."
Ma Shou froze for a moment, then his grin spread wider and wider. "I'm willing!" he said excitedly.
"Good. Then don't tell anyone else yet. Keep it a secret."