Chapter 56: Stand Up Straighter
Outside the bamboo house, Han Shuangjiang watched the departing duo, then glanced at the bowls and chopsticks on the wooden table, murmuring in her heart, “Aren’t they going to eat first?”
She was actually a bit hungry.
Night fell, and fireflies could still be seen on Medicine Mountain.
Chu Huaixu walked briskly ahead, with the young handyman following closely behind.
Xu Ziqing had wanted to say something a few times but was not good with words.
He didn’t understand how he had become a registered disciple in such a muddle, nor why this benefactor had suddenly helped him.
Was it truly out of appreciation for talent?
But that day, when he was practicing palm techniques, his benefactor had shown no expression, merely saying indifferently, “Hmm, quite good.”
The clean-cut youth shook his head, deciding not to dwell on what he couldn’t understand. Regardless of the reason, he was determined to seize this opportunity to cultivate.
“Father, Mother, little sister, grandmother, Ziqing will avenge you all!” he vowed again in his heart.
With this thought, his gaze towards Chu Huaixu held a trace of gratitude.
Meanwhile, Niu Yuanshan was pacing back and forth in his room.
“Should I go check the bamboo house?” the old ox pondered, his heart filled with indecision.
Since Li Chunsong had driven everyone away from the cold pond, no one knew exactly what had happened afterward. Although Niu Yuanshan had wisely taken the lead in leaving, he was still concerned about the matter.
Therefore, he had kept his Divine Sense spread out, monitoring the path Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang would take from the cold pond back to the bamboo house.
The result was Han Shuangjiang returning alone. This led Niu Yuanshan to firmly believe that the phenomenon originated from Chu Huaixu!
“I wonder what opportunity this boy has obtained,” old Niu mused, a pleased smile appearing on his face. From the perspective of the Organization, Chu Huaixu had even alerted the sect master this time! “This newcomer, within such a short period after joining, has managed to leave an impression on the Daoist Sect master.”
“And he successfully acquired the opportunity that belonged to the Daoist Sect and has been assimilated by someone within our Organization!”
“This is a great contribution indeed!” Niu Yuanshan thought repeatedly, deeply moved. “With such a monstrous talent, it is a blessing for our Organization!”
“Perhaps, he can truly infiltrate the core circle of the Daoist Sect one day. At that time, the role he can play will be immensely significant.” Niu Yuanshan had labored diligently in the Daoist Sect for many years, being the most serious, responsible, and diligent among the nine stewards. However, he was well aware that the position of steward was his limit. This made him realize that he was not qualified to lead such a monstrous newcomer.
“What I can do is protect him at all costs before he fully matures.”
“Even if… I have to stake my old life!” Niu Yuanshan said solemnly in his heart.
He continued pacing back and forth in his room, unaware if Chu Huaixu had returned to the bamboo house. The middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and large eyes raised his hand again and slapped himself hard.
“Third article of the ‘Admonishment’: Do not harbor excessive curiosity towards fellow practitioners!” he recited repeatedly in his mind.
This newcomer possessed a strangely potent power, easily leading people to make mistakes. Just as he made up his mind not to go to the bamboo house, a handyman from the courtyard knocked on his door, informing him that Chu Huaixu wished to see him.
Niu Yuanshan immediately pushed open the door and rushed out, moving so quickly that he used his movement technique, turning into an afterimage, which stunned the handyman in the courtyard.
“He came to me himself, so this doesn’t count!” old Niu thought.
Upon seeing Niu Yuanshan, Chu Huaixu immediately bowed and said, “Disciple greets Steward Niu. Disciple has not failed the steward’s expectations and has obtained what Senior Lei Wenyan left behind in the Secret Realm – the Profound Heaven Fetal Respiration Pill!”
The higher echelons of the Daoist Sect wanted him to conceal his innate divine abilities, but there was no need to hide the matter of the Profound Heaven Fetal Respiration Pill. On the contrary, it was necessary to make a public display of it for things to make sense. For Chu Huaixu, Niu Yuanshan had helped him obtain the key to enter the Secret Realm, so it was only right to report this matter to him, as he felt indebted to Niu Yuanshan.
“Good, good, good!” A look of utmost relief spread across Niu Yuanshan’s face with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and he couldn’t help but gently pat Chu Huaixu’s shoulder. He immediately reacted and asked, “Have you taken the Profound Heaven Fetal Respiration Pill? Do you need me to guard you?”
“I have already taken it and benefited greatly,” Chu Huaixu replied with a smile.
“That’s good, that’s good.” Niu Yuanshan thought for a moment and didn’t ask how much his cultivation had improved.
Xu Ziqing, lacking much cultivation knowledge, listened on, completely bewildered. However, he could vaguely understand that his master, whom he should call “Master,” might have just accomplished something astonishing. The young handyman’s respect for him grew.
“Come in and sit for a while,” Steward Niu invited.
“I will not disturb you, Steward. Disciple is here on official business,” Chu Huaixu said.
“Oh? Tell me about it.” Chu Huaixu pointed to the young handyman behind him and said, “Elder Six asked me to find Steward Niu to arrange Xu Ziqing’s identity as a registered disciple.”
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing felt a surge of nervousness.
“Hmm? Isn’t that the handyman from your courtyard?” old Niu recognized him immediately, as he had gone to pick up Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang with Liu Tianfeng that morning.
“Indeed. He has a natural talent for the Eight Trigram Palm; he learns it as soon as he sees it and grasps its essence after just a few viewings. Disciple feels it would be a pity for him to remain just a handyman,” Chu Huaixu said earnestly, implying he was recommending him.
Hearing this, old Niu, the undercover agent, felt that this小子 might be developing his own subordinates! He was already consciously cultivating his own faction! Although he also didn’t take mortal martial arts seriously, he thought Chu Huaixu’s idea was excellent. The two exchanged glances, showing great tacit understanding.
Niu Yuanshan immediately took out a token for a registered disciple and said, “I will personally process his file tomorrow. Give me a drop of fresh blood now, and I will refine his Life Token.”
Chu Huaixu looked back at the young handyman behind him and then said with displeasure, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank Steward Niu!”
Xu Ziqing quickly complied and went through the admission process.
While refining the Life Token, Niu Yuanshan also examined the Spiritual Embryo. “A False Spiritual Embryo?” old Niu was an honest person; once he understood, he didn’t voice it aloud, lest the youth feel embarrassed.
After everything was completed, the clean-cut youth looked at the registered disciple token hanging from his waist, still feeling somewhat dazed. “I… I’ve entered the Daoist Sect just like this?” He felt as if he had been struck by overwhelming happiness.
Seeing that everything was settled, Chu Huaixu prepared to slip away, “Steward Niu, Shuangjiang is still waiting for me. We’ll head back now and bother you again some other day.”
“Alright, no problem, no problem.” Niu Yuanshan smiled warmly as usual. After they parted, he returned to his room and, after a while, remembered something. “This new disciple hasn’t chosen his Meridian-Opening Stage Cultivation Technique yet.”
“It’s fine, he can go to the Scripture Pavilion to choose for himself tomorrow.” This diligent ox didn’t worry too much about it. Little did he know that Chu Huaixu already had plans.
On the way back, Chu Huaixu looked at the little shadow following him and felt that this protagonist of the world seemed too timid, which made him quite displeased!
“Can you stop being so timid and always hiding behind people?”
“Listen carefully: from now on, stand up straighter and step forward more! Don’t embarrass me when we go out, understand?” He acted like an elder brother. The protagonist of the world should have the demeanor of a protagonist! Why did he seem so sensitive and self-conscious?
The clean-cut youth, whose shoulders were slightly hunched inward, suddenly received a reprimand. He shivered and instinctively straightened his head and chest. “Yes!” he replied loudly, then, the former young handyman tentatively lowered his voice and said softly, “Senior Brother.”
“Mmm.” Chu Huaixu nodded with satisfaction, accepted the address, and continued walking forward briskly. Han Shuangjiang is probably waiting for me to go back for dinner, I’m starving.
Xu Ziqing watched his tall receding back, repeatedly reciting the instructions in his heart. “Stand up straighter, step forward more…”
Upon returning to the bamboo house, the three began to dine as usual. After dinner, Xu Ziqing washed the dishes, while Chu Huaixu, like a master, did nothing. After finishing the chores, he called the clean-cut youth into the room.
As Xu Ziqing walked in, his heart skipped a beat. He saw a jade slip and a small booklet placed on the wooden table in front of Chu Huaixu. Three grand, flowing characters were engraved on the jade slip—”Sword Refining Art”!
(PS: Second update, please vote for the monthly ticket~)
(End of this chapter)
