How Could Taking a Disciple Be Called Hoodwinking?

"No."

Prince Ding blurted out the refusal. If Xiao Chen took his secondary consort away, wouldn't he become the laughingstock of the entire Liang Kingdom?

Everyone would think he had driven the Xiao family's qilin child away.

Even the royal family would be displeased with him.

When that happened, let alone ascending to the throne, he would struggle to find a foothold in the Liang Kingdom.

Xiao Chen frowned slightly. "Your Highness, I don't believe I asked you, did I?"

"You..."

Prince Ding was left speechless by Xiao Chen's words.

He badly wanted to slap this unfilial son, but he held himself back. Never mind that he was no match for Xiao Chen.

Even if Xiao Chen stood still and let him strike, he wouldn't dare lay a hand on him.

Seeing that father and son were like fire and water, Xiao Chen's mother hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Chen'er, how can you speak to your father like that?"

"Hmph!"

Prince Ding gave a feeble-sounding snort, as though he had suffered some great grievance.

When Xiao Chen heard his mother speak, he said, "If you want to bring Father along, Mother, that would be fine too."

Prince Ding: "..."

What would I go to Dao-Seeking City for? Isn't it great being a prince here?

Xiao Chen's mother saw through her husband's thoughts at a glance.

"Chen'er, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm old. Going to Dao-Seeking City would only hold you back.

"Here in Prince Ding's Estate, I want for neither food nor clothing, and servants take care of me. You don't need to worry so much.

"As long as you're doing well at the Dao-Seeking Academy, that's enough."

Xiao Chen knew he couldn't persuade his mother. After all, this wasn't the first time he had asked her to leave Prince Ding's Estate, but she had refused every time.

"Mother, you can stay in Prince Ding's residence if you want, but my mother absolutely cannot be treated like this!"

On the surface, he was speaking to his mother, but his words were really meant for his father, who stood nearby.

Prince Ding hurriedly said, "Chen'er, rest assured. From this day forward, your mother will be my principal consort, and you will be my legitimate son."

"Hmph!"

Xiao Chen snorted coldly. "There's no need for that. Just give my mother the treatment she deserves. And as for the people who bullied us before, you must give her an accounting, or I'll deal with them myself!"

With that, he led his mother toward the front courtyard.

Phew...

Only then did Prince Ding breathe a sigh of relief.

Unlike Prince Ding, the principal consort was already scared out of her wits.

She had made life difficult for Xiao Chen and his mother at every turn. Now that Xiao Chen's fortunes had turned, her good days were over.

She had never even considered begging Prince Ding for help. Let alone Prince Ding-even her own family would abandon her when faced with the Dao-Seeking Academy.

If she wanted to keep her child safe, her only remaining option was to kneel and beg for mercy.

Early the next morning.

Princess Ding came to offer a humble apology and beg the secondary consort's forgiveness.

Xiao Chen's mother did not make things difficult for the principal consort. She simply said, in an even tone:

"From today onward, all grievances between us are wiped clean. Let our well water not intrude on the other's river water."

Princess Ding hurriedly knelt to thank her.

Prince Ding, meanwhile, had all the servants who had bullied the secondary consort in the past put to death.

Xiao Chen did not interfere much when he learned of this. He knew his mother was kindhearted, and since she had chosen to forgive, he would respect her wishes as her son.

If anyone in Prince Ding's Estate made things difficult for his mother again, he would deal with them himself.

After the Liang Kingdom's disciple-recruitment ceremony ended, Xiao Chen did not accompany the people from the Dao-Seeking Academy to the Great Wei to recruit disciples. Instead, he went out to temper himself with Liu Yue'er.

Smack!

"I'm better off not reading this lousy book!"

At the Dao-Seeking Academy, in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.

Chu Feng tossed the book in his hand to the ground, revealing the two large characters for Spring and Autumn on its cover.

The more he read it, the more dissatisfied he felt.

"I really miss the days when those two brats were at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute! They were both cultivation maniacs, but at least they brought a little life to the place."

Now that he was the only one there, Chu Feng really wasn't used to it.

Maybe I should hoodwink another disciple into joining the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.

No, that's not right. How could taking a disciple be called hoodwinking?

I'm the man who nurtured the Dao-Seeking Academy's number one heaven's chosen.

But the heads of the other institutes all seem to have a bit of a problem with me now. If I go and pick someone openly, they'll definitely be on guard against me.

Where should I go to find someone?

The words "Dao-Seeking City" soon flashed through Chu Feng's mind.

Although it wasn't currently the time for the Dao-Seeking Academy to open its gates and recruit disciples,

but he was, after all, one of Dao-Seeking Academy's institute heads now.

Each year, he had one quota for specially recruiting a disciple from outside.

He hadn't been qualified to use it before, but the academy head had said earlier that the Miscellaneous Dao Institute now received the same treatment as the other institutes.

That meant he could use the quota.

At the thought, the corners of Chu Feng's mouth curled up slightly. He would go use that quota right away.

He picked up the Spring and Autumn Annals from the ground and returned it to its place.

Then he changed into a set of ordinary clothes, found the longsword he used to show off with, and flew straight off on it.

An hour later.

Chu Feng arrived in Dao-Seeking City.

Since he had come down from the direction of the Dao-Seeking Academy, he naturally didn't have to pay an entrance fee.

After entering the city, Chu Feng didn't hurry to find a disciple. Instead, he found a tavern, ordered a tableful of dishes, and began to eat.

After all, taking a disciple was a matter of fate.

Besides, there was a Life and Death Arena in Dao-Seeking City.

People dueled at the Life and Death Arena every day, both to settle their grievances and to attract the Dao-Seeking Academy's attention.

Some of Dao-Seeking Academy's disciples had been accepted precisely because they had displayed extraordinary talent at the Life and Death Arena.

Just as Chu Feng was enjoying his meal, the conversation at the next table caught his attention.

"Eat faster. Kuang Sandao and Young Hero Ling's duel will be starting soon."

"What's the rush? Doesn't the duel start in an hour?"

"What do you know? If we get there late, there won't be any good spots left. They're both renowned heroes in Dao-Seeking City. Even important figures from the Dao-Seeking Academy have taken notice of them. There are bound to be plenty of people watching their duel."

"Good point. Let's finish this cup and go."

"..."

Listening to their conversation, Chu Feng was immediately intrigued. Why not go take a look?

He called out, "Waiter, the bill."

"Coming!"

The waiter soon came over to Chu Feng.

"That'll be five low-grade spirit stones, honored guest."

Chu Feng took five low-grade spirit stones from his storage bag and set them on the table. Then he asked, "Which way is the Life and Death Arena?"

Although he had visited Dao-Seeking City a few times, he had never been to the Life and Death Arena.

The waiter said, "Honored guest, just follow this street east and you'll see the Life and Death Arena."

"Many thanks."

With that, Chu Feng stood and headed toward the Life and Death Arena.

In less than half an hour, Chu Feng spotted a huge fighting platform, with a flag bearing the three large characters for "Life and Death Arena" hanging beside it.

By the time he arrived, people were already packed around it, three rows deep inside and three rows deep outside.

Chu Feng glanced around and soon discovered that there was a teahouse across from the Life and Death Arena.

The owner of this teahouse really knows how to do business.

He turned and headed straight for the teahouse, but its ground floor was also packed.

Chu Feng called a waiter over. "Waiter, are there any seats left?"

The waiter asked, "May I ask if you are from the Dao-Seeking Academy, honored guest?"

"Does it make a difference?"

Chu Feng asked in return.

The waiter replied, "The second floor has been reserved by people from the Dao-Seeking Academy. If you're from the academy, honored guest, you may naturally go upstairs for tea."

"What a coincidence. I am from the Dao-Seeking Academy."

As he spoke, Chu Feng headed straight upstairs.

He had just reached the foot of the stairs when two people stopped him.

"Please show us your identity token, senior brother, so no one can take advantage of our reserved seats."

Chu Feng had changed clothes and hadn't brought his token at all. Just as he was considering whether to leave, a voice rang out.

"Are you two blind? You don't even recognize Chief Chu?"