Chapter 790: Xiao Yan takes He Zuming as his master

I came out of the room and called Xiao Yan over.

Xiao Yan limped over.

"Zhao Ge, what's up?"

"Xiao Yan, He Zuming, do you know?" I asked Xiao Yan.

"He Zuming, are you the He Zuming who does Feng Shui and fortune-telling?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Yes, that's him. You also know his relationship with me. Back then, it was he who introduced me to Wen Han."

"Xiao Yan, I want to discuss something with you."

"He Zuming recently told me he wants to find a disciple to pass on his mantle, but after looking around, there's no suitable candidate—young people aren't willing to learn these things."

"Yesterday, I suddenly thought of you."

"You are a very self-respecting person, unwilling to live off handouts,"

"but your body is limited."

"So I mentioned you to He Zuming, hoping he could take you as his disciple."

"If you study with him for a few years, you'll be able to support yourself." I said, looking at Xiao Yan while smoking.

After Xiao Yan heard me finish,

his tears came out,

"Zhao Ge, I'm so grateful to you, always thinking of me. I just wonder if He Zuming won't despise me."

"Xiao Yan, why would you think that? He Zuming is actually praising your wisdom. Come on, follow me inside—today you'll perform the apprentice ceremony." I finished opening the room's door.

He Zuming saw Xiao Yan come in,

laughing happily as he stood up,

"Xiao Yan, do you still recognize this old man?"

"He Zuming, I certainly know you. In the past, you often did fortune-telling and Feng Shui for the Amusement Hall."

"I never expected to meet you again in Huaihai." Xiao Yan hurried over and grasped He Zuming's hand.

"Back then was back then, now is now."

"Alas, mountains rarely meet, but people easily encounter."

"Xiao Yan, this is our fate." He Zuming said, holding Xiao Yan's hand.

"He Zuming, Zhao Ge just told me everything—thank you for taking me in and giving me a livelihood." Xiao Yan said, tears falling again.

"He Zuming, I've already made things clear to Xiao Yan, letting him become your disciple."

"Today we happen to have wine and dishes,"

"I'll act as a witness in the middle,"

"let Xiao Yan perform the apprentice ceremony for you." I said, laughing from the side.

"Xiao Yan, Zhao Ge told me—do you have any other thoughts? Are you willing to become my disciple, this old man?" He Zuming asked.

"I certainly am. I'll now address you as Master, and accept Xiao Yan's bow."

After Xiao Yan finished speaking, he kowtowed three times to He Zuming.

He Zuming quickly helped Xiao Yan up,

then said to Xiao Yan: "Xiao Yan, since you have become my disciple,

we are now in a master-disciple relationship.

From now on, I will impart knowledge to you, which will include verbal criticism; you must endure it.

I have drifted half my life and have no property.

Following me, you cannot become rich and noble,

maybe you can only scrape together a meal.

and you can't accomplish anything else."

"One day as a teacher, forever as a father. Old man, rest assured,"

I will support you in your old age.

I thank you from the heart, Master,

I believe you will guide me onto the right path." Xiao Yan said, holding He Zuming's hand.

I quickly said: "He Zuming, Xiao Yan, the apprentice ceremony is done—let Xiao Yan sit."

"Come, today Xiao Yan's apprentice ceremony makes us very happy—let us three have a drink."

I finished speaking and raised my wine cup.

"Zhao Ge, wait a moment—I want to bring three cups of wine to my master to express my feelings." Xiao Yan said.

"Good, Xiao Yan, you're serious, not bad, you know etiquette well. Just a token is fine—I can't drink three cups." He Zuming laughed happily.

After Xiao Yan brought He Zuming three cups of wine,

He Zuming took out a copper compass from his bosom,

"Xiao Yan, when I became a disciple, my master gave me this compass to pass on the trade. Alas, I have accomplished nothing in my life, somewhat failing my master's teachings."

"Today I hand the compass to you; from now on, you should carry forward our Cloth Gate's legacy."

Xiao Yan received the compass from He Zuming's hand, examined it carefully, then cautiously placed it on his person.

"He Zuming, what is the Cloth Gate? I've never heard of it." I asked He Zuming.

"Jianqiang, you don't know much—this is Martial World business; in the past, the Martial World was divided into the Eight Great Gates,

that is, the Cloth, Skin, Color, Hang, Wind, Hemp, Swallow, and Sparrow Gates.

The Cloth Gate refers collectively to divination, physiognomy, and Feng Shui.

The Skin Gate is for selling medicine,

Color Gate is about performing tricks. Hanging Gate refers to martial skills, also called Technique Gate.

Bee Gate refers to a sect that swindles with a swarm of bees.

Drug Gate refers to people who swindle using medicine. Swallow Gate is about swindling using looks.

Sparrow Gate, also known as Depraved Gate, refers to a sect that specializes in wicked deeds; kidnapping and extortion are what this gang does.

Cloth Gate is the largest sect in the Martial World, also the leader of the Upper Four Gates, a sect that makes a living in the Martial World through genuine strength.

Other sects all like to use fishy smells to swindle people.

Jianqiang, you are not an insider, so I cannot tell you too much.

These words, I will later teach them specially to Xiao Yan." He Zuming laughed.

"Mr. He, Xiao Yan just called you master and took you away; if I had known earlier, I would also have become your disciple,"

"Let you teach me." I also laughed.

"In the Martial World, Cloth Gate does not casually accept disciples."

"Jianqiang, you are not that kind of person; you cannot handle this sect's livelihood."

"Xiao Yan can,"

"he has this wisdom root." He Zuming said.

"Xiao Yan, from now on study well with your master; hear that, he praises you for having wisdom root." I said to Xiao Yan.

"Thank you, master, for the praise."

"I don't understand any of this; I am a very stupid person; master, if I don't understand, you should hit me hard." Xiao Yan hurriedly said.

"Learning is not about being hit; one should enjoy happiness, as the ancients said, 'Learning and practicing from time to time, is it not joyful?'"

"This means joyful learning, letting people fully experience the joy of learning."

"Because the knowledge I teach are all common sense from life,"

"Physiognomy is recognizing people,"

"it is being able to understand a person's inner heart, what kind of person they are,"

"you can tell at a glance their character, their family."

"Divination is challenging the unknown,"

"Why do people do divination? Because they are lost and need someone to point them a path."

"And you are that person who points the way."

"Think about these, how could you not be happy?"

"Because you are helping people, Feng Shui is the same."

"What we do, everything is toward goodness."

"Xiao Yan, this is the first lesson I am giving you,"

"that is to experience the joy in learning." He Zuming said while looking at Xiao Yan.

"After Xiao Yan finished listening, he happily nodded,"

"What the master teaches is, Xiao Yan understood, whether doing things or studying, one must let oneself feel the joy therein; only then can one fully learn knowledge."

"It is not the painful education I had when I was in school, which was for the sake of exams."

"Ha ha, Xiao Yan is right, but also not; our society must have that kind of education, otherwise we would have no way to select talent, and could not uphold social fairness."

"What I told you are two ways; they cannot be generalized." He Zuming happily laughed.

"He Zuming is a person who can see through everything, including the education he spoke of, which is actually like this."

"At this moment I hurriedly said: 'Mr. He, let's drink wine.'"

"Xiao Yan, pour wine for your master."

"Today, you have a master."

"Mr. He has a disciple."

"I also followed along learning Martial World knowledge."

"Come, let's drink a cup. After finishing this cup, I have important matters to say."

"After I finished speaking, I raised the wine cup and gave a toast to He Zuming."