After dealing with Xun San's matter, Elder Daochen suggested everyone disperse.
"Since the Discipline Hall has already resolved the issue, I think we shouldn't linger here. Everyone should go about their business."
Elder Daochen said cheerfully.
He was the most senior among them, even Elder Daoqian had to call him senior brother. Once he spoke, others could only nod in agreement.
Elder Daoqian followed Elder Daochen's lead.
"Hall Master Liu, take your people back. My senior brother and I will also return to our respective quarters for a short rest. We have morning lessons later."
Hall Master Liu of the Discipline Hall quickly agreed and respectfully saw the two elders off.
Initially, Daochen and Daoqian left together, but later Daochen found an excuse to part ways with his junior brother.
"Daoqian, when nature calls, I can't hold it any longer. I'll go ahead."
Daochen's excuse was quite perfunctory.
But Daoqian looked understanding, considering their age.
"Please, senior brother."
He cupped his hands and watched his senior brother leave. Daochen started off slowly, walking leisurely as if hindered by age.
Once out of Daoqian's sight, he made a sharp turn and sped up, moving with surprising agility, showing no signs of old age.
He moved so quickly that he nearly collided with someone.
The person exclaimed, and it was none other than Tao Mian, who had come for a meeting.
Tao Mian swiftly dodged three steps, reacting quickly.
"I thought it was some reckless youngster from the Tongshan Sect," Tao Mian remarked in surprise. "Elder Daochen, at your age, moving so fast might strain your back."
Daochen gestured for Tao Mian to follow him without speaking further. They weaved through a grove of paulownia trees and finally arrived at an elegant courtyard.
The courtyard was deep and tranquil, surrounded by paulownia trees and a few clusters of bamboo. This was Elder Daochen's residence within the Tongshan Sect, rarely disturbed by others.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Daochen led Tao Mian inside.
Uncertain of Daochen's intentions, Tao Mian had not brought Shen Bozhou and Li Fengchan along, leaving them with Ah Jiu.
Daochen invited Tao Mian to a room with a shrine and handed him three sticks of incense.
"Here, young man, hold these three sticks of incense and bow three times to the shrine."
"…For blessings?"
"To take a disciple."
"You want to be my disciple?"
"You have quite the imagination, young man."
"…"
Tao Mian initially held the incense without reacting, but upon hearing "take a disciple," he was greatly shocked.
"Old… sir, why the sudden idea to take a stranger like me as a disciple?"
Daochen stroked his long white beard.
"The incident with Xun San barging into the Discipline Hall might have something to do with you. Though I'm old, my memory is still sharp. There's no one like you in the Tongshan Sect. So why did you sneak in?"
"I… have my own reasons."
Elder Daochen smiled, his small eyes turning into slits with his wrinkles.
"Rest assured, I mean you no harm and sincerely wish to take you as a disciple.
The mountain-guarding formation of Tongshan Sect is no decoration. You dismantled it without alerting anyone, showing great skill.
Outside the Discipline Hall, you used illusions to hide the presence of three people. And Xun San's punishment might have been influenced by you. I won't blindly protect my sect's disciples. The Tongshan Sect has long needed reform."
From Daochen's words, it seemed he was dissatisfied with many things in the Tongshan Sect, proving there were still sensible people within the sect.
However, Tao Mian was a bit conflicted.
How should he hint to Daochen that he was actually older than him?
"Elder Daochen, you must understand, some things aren't as simple as they seem. Just like what you see of me now isn't what I truly am."
He spoke a long string of words, almost like a tongue twister. Daochen's distinct white eyebrows furrowed together.
"Are you saying appearances can be deceiving?"
Tao Mian nodded repeatedly.
"Could it be," Daochen's thoughts took a surprising turn, "could it be you're a woman disguised as a man?"
"…"
Tao Mian didn't bother explaining, took three steps back, and cupped his hands as he exited.
"Elder, I have matters to attend to, I won't disturb you further."
"Hey, wait! That was just a joke."
Daochen resumed his smiling demeanor.
"Becoming my disciple won't cost you anything, and you'd be my only disciple. I'm the top elder in the Tongshan Sect, even the sect leader can't beat me."
"Then why aren't you the sect leader?"
"I'm lazy, the sect leader has many responsibilities."
"So you rank first in the sect competitions, and he ranks second?"
"Of course, I'm second. He's the sect leader, how could I overshadow him?"
Ah, so it's all about politics.
"Then I won't follow you," Tao Mian thought he could use this as an excuse, "If I were to take a master, it would be the number one in the Tongshan Sect, and you're not quite there."
He spoke bluntly, but Daochen wasn't offended.
"Though I can't be the sect leader, I can support you to become one."
"…?"
Hearing this, Tao Mian was even more eager to leave.
There were two things he despised most in life: people making empty promises and people setting him up for trouble.
Besides, he couldn't even manage being someone else's master, so how did a simple outing turn into him becoming someone else's disciple?
Seeing him about to leave, Daochen offered another condition.
"I know the whereabouts of the gold-inlaid jade necklace you want."
"…"
Tao Mian halted.
He knew about the dismantling of the mountain-guarding formation, and he knew why Tao Mian came to the Tongshan Sect…
Could this old man have been tailing them the whole time last night??
He turned back, eyes full of suspicion.
As if looking at a pervert.
Elder Daochen calmly pointed to his eyes and then his ears.
"I've lived in this Tongshan Sect for many years. Even if a small bug dies here, it won't escape my notice."
"…Then I should run even more, who knows if others know I snuck in?"
"You can rest assured," Elder Daochen said with a smile, "this is my unique skill."
The old man's words were cryptic and mysterious. Tao Mian thought again about the gold-inlaid jade necklace Daochen mentioned.
"You just want me to be your disciple and then compete for the sect leader position?"
"Exactly."
Tao Mian pondered.
"I have my own sect, it's not appropriate to take you as my master. However, if you want me to fight someone, I can do that, I won't lose."
He spoke with confidence, and though his words were boastful, they inexplicably made people want to believe him.
Elder Daochen also compromised.
"If you can prevent one person from becoming a candidate for sect leader, then I can tell you the whereabouts of that piece of jewelry."
"Who?"
"Huang Lianyu."
Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead.
Discord:https://discord.com/invite/ua2A852bws