Chapter 365: Taking a Disciple

"You're not fat-faced—you've just gotten thick-skinned…" Master Puppet couldn't help saying.

Mr. Zhuang denied it:

"Impossible. My skin has always been this thick."

Master Puppet sighed, refusing to argue further, and turned to the matter at hand: "Have you decided how to avoid karmic entanglement?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded: "I have."

Master Puppet stared at him silently.

Mr. Zhuang took a sip of wine and said calmly:

"Karma is predetermined, like this wine—not by wishing to avoid it, you escape it. Once you drink, you can't avoid the taste."

"Since you can't avoid it, use other karmic ties to confuse it."

"Muddy the wine's scent, and others may not notice. Muddy the karma, and they may not see it either."

Bai Zixi felt warmth in his heart, then helped Mo Hua up and brushed off his clothes: "You really don't need to go through such a small ritual—it's too formal…"

"Mo Hua is talented. I beg you, Master, to take him as your disciple!"

"Yunyou is still young—he must consult his parents, consider our feelings, before deciding whether to become your disciple."

"Master, if you take me as your direct disciple, will you regret it? My spiritual roots are terrible…"

"The rest of the matters, your mother already knows and has already instructed you."

Bai Zixi taking Mo Shan as a disciple should be natural—but taking me feels almost like filling a quota.

As for matters inside, my siblings and I have no say.

Moments later, Liu Ruhua's expression was eager, Fan Shengcheng's eyes gleamed with joy.

Bai Zixi, seeing this, sighed inwardly:

Liu Ruhua and Mr. Zhuang both nodded in agreement.

Bai Zixi smiled: "Your talent isn't bad, and you have some connection with me—I won't refuse you."

Bai Zixi looked at him, half-smiling: "What do you want to ask?"

No matter how the world changes or karma shifts, this matter will never change.

Liu Ruhua's face lit up; Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly, his smile like an ephemerally blooming flower in the night—beautiful and stunning.

But unwillingness isn't without solutions.

Fan Shengcheng said solemnly: "Think carefully."

Mo Hua thought he was dreaming again, but even if it was a dream, he couldn't refuse this.

"Greetings, Master."

Bai Zixi said: "I'm leaving Xiancheng. If you become my disciple and learn array arts from me, you'll have to travel with me."

"Hua's array arts are already so advanced—no one left in Xiancheng can teach him. Staying here his whole life, he'll likely never improve further…"

After giving his complex instructions, Bai Zixi dismissed them.

Mo Hua frowned, not understanding what he needed to consider.

Mo Hua felt it wasn't right; he stepped forward and asked: "What about Zixi and Mo Shan? Will you take them too?"

Mo Hua's tone was cheerful, his eyes bright as starlight.

Mo Hua froze.

"Yes!"

Bai Zixi looked at Mo Hua, then suddenly softened his expression and said gently:

Both rose again respectfully.

Bai Zixi also felt reluctant, but didn't show it—only smiled and comforted:

He opened his mouth wide, momentarily stunned, wondering if he'd misheard.

"Learning array arts from Bai Zixi is a rare opportunity—don't miss it!"

Mo Hua nodded seriously.

The morning sun shone brightly; the room glowed with clear radiance.

"D…Direct disciple?"

Bai Zixi said: "We'll choose a day to burn incense and offer tea, then formally complete the apprenticeship ceremony."

But Mo Hua didn't care—he was just thrilled that Bai Zixi was willing to take him as a disciple.

Bai Zixi blinked in surprise.

"Is there nothing you need to consider?"

Mr. Zhuang, being thoughtful, hesitated a moment before leaving, then asked:

"I know you dislike array arts, yet you want to learn them—but you're torn, worried about them, and can't make up your mind."

"Hua, you should become Fan Shengcheng's disciple."

If we all become registered disciples, but only I become Bai Zixi's direct disciple, their hearts will likely feel uneasy…

As long as they become disciples, the rest doesn't need much concern.

I want to become Fan Shengcheng's disciple to learn deeper array arts, but I can't bear to leave my parents—I fear they'll worry.

Liu Ruhua and the others were all stunned.

"You become Bai Zixi's disciple, serve at his side, and fulfill your duty—that's also a way to repay Fan Shengcheng…"

Beneath the large locust tree in the courtyard, the three disciples enjoyed harmonious company.

…

But once I become a disciple, I'll have to leave with Bai Zixi—I won't know when I'll return, or when I'll see my parents again…

"It's just that I overcomplicated it…"

It's also knowing the future, is is is bad thing…

Fan Shengcheng's tone was gentle but hesitant.

Mo Hua squinted and smiled up.

Bai Zi Xi sighed.

Mo Hua blinked slightly, "Are you not your own disciple?"

Mo Hua nodded solemnly.

Mo Hua was just about to agree, but Bai Zixi stopped him.

Bai Zi Xi's eyes grew slightly watery, and he nodded.

Mr. Zhuang shook his head, then gazed far off toward the courtyard.

Bai Zixi froze, a strange sense of relief rising in his heart, and said:

Bai Zixi held your hand and said softly:

"Good, remember it!"

Bai Zi Xi's mood gradually calmed, and he nodded silently.

Compared to you, I was born with a strong body, but my spiritual roots are poor, my origins are humble, so my spiritual sense is weak and my arrays are poorly drawn.

Bai Zixi nodded slightly and said, "Rise."

Mo Hua's thick eyebrows knitted together, deeply troubled.

Mo Hua and Bai Zixi were talking about something; Bai Zi Xi's beautiful eyes brightened slightly as she listened quietly beside them, occasionally revealing a faint, crescent-moon smile.

No matter what, this disciple—I've finally taken him in.

The child who has been by my side since infancy, so well-behaved and thoughtful—how could I bear to part with him…

Let's all become registered disciples together; now we've all taken Fan Shengcheng as our master. If we add Mo Hua to the group, even if we say nothing, I'm sure my heart would still feel uneasy.

"No need to think so much—if your arrays are mastered, the world is vast, you can go anywhere; don't dwell on temporary separation."

I asked quietly, "Mr., how many disciples do you plan to take?"

"Mo Hua, would you like to be my disciple?"

Mo Hua blinked slightly, "But…"

Since the matter isn't settled yet, there's no need to be firm, no need to be lost—just walk forward hesitantly, that's fine.

Or rather, matters of great clans and noble families—among our clan disciples, even direct heirs with extraordinary talent rarely have any say.

After returning to his room, Mo Hua's hesitant expression vanished, replaced by determination and anxiety, torn between hope and fear.

After becoming a disciple, I defy my mother's arrangements; before becoming a disciple, I defy Fan Shengcheng's arrangements.

Bai Zixi's gaze was obscure: "Since I agreed to take you as my disciple, naturally I will teach you everything I should, and I will give you my due."

Bai Zi Xi laughed through her tears, scolding, "What nonsense are you saying?"

"We're just wandering cultivators, with no family backing—but still, Bai Zixi is willing to take you as his disciple; that's an immense favor."

The two immediately bowed respectfully and said:

"Don't worry—it's just wandering, and you're not gone forever; who among the young hasn't traveled far and wide?"

"Mr., my mother asked me to bring these for you to taste!"

Bai Zi Xi saw his wife's expression had improved, so he gripped her hand and comforted her:

Bai Zixi snapped, "Go ask your parents, consider your family, then give me your answer."

The next day, Mo Hua visited Mr. Zhuang as usual, bringing many boxes of food, large and small.

"Can't you bear to let go?"

"Perhaps after a few years, I'll come back?"

"Mm."

In that case, we'll all become registered disciples together, then become true disciples together—we'll truly be fellow disciples.

Mo Hua thought again: Bai Zixi and Seeing Mo Shan have extraordinary talent, and their family background is deep—perhaps Bai Zixi has long wanted to take them as disciples.

After returning home, Mo Hua told his parents about this matter.

"Mr., will you take Mo Hua as your disciple?"

"Are you willing to take me as your master?"

The more important the matter, the less room there is for change.

"By doing this, aren't you making the karmic ties even more complicated?"

After Mo Hua left, troubled and gloomy, Bai Zixi called in Liu Ruhua and Mr. Zhuang, and asked bluntly:

Bai Zixi smiled faintly and nodded deeply.

Bai Zi Xi also nodded: "Listen to your mother."

Confusing karmic ties…

"No matter where I wander, there will always come a day I return; you, my parents, just wait here for me…"

Bai Zi Xi's expression turned fierce, and she shook her head:

Before Mr. Zhuang could finish, Liu Ruhua realized and joined in asking:

Mo Hua was overjoyed, but then asked cautiously:

"A parent's love for a child means planning for their long-term future…"

Bai Zixi suddenly felt a surge of tension in his heart.

"Mr., Mo Hua…"

On the seventh day, Mo Hua went to see Bai Zixi again, remembering his parents' instructions, bowing deeply and speaking clearly:

It seemed that so many years of drifting had finally found its anchor; so many years of gloom and hardship had all blown away with the wind.

"That debt of gratitude, you all have something to repay it with."

That child, her appearance was actually worse than your mother's.

Mo Hua let out a breath of relief, yet also felt very bitter.

Seeing Mo Hua's innocent and beaming smile, Fan Shengcheng also gave a wry smile, his heart feeling as though a great weight had been lifted.

Bai Zisheng shook his head, "A registered disciple is a registered disciple, a personal disciple is a personal disciple!"

……

"When the time comes, say I might even be able to bring back a daughter-in-law for him."

Bai Zixi frowned, just about to say something, when Bai Zi Xi spoke in a hesitant tone:

Mr. Zhuang's gaze was deep, "Rather, some karmic ties already exist."

Those two people felt even more bitter.

Bai Zisheng considered things with great care and thoughtfulness.

"How could you delay my future prospects just because of a dwelling."

We had originally thought that Bai Zisheng would accept us as disciples, but never expected that just when things were at their most hopeless and there was no turning point, Mr. would personally come forth to take us as his disciples.

Bai Zisheng laughed helplessly: "No harm…"

Mo Hua came forth for a while, then suddenly thought of something, and felt a little conflicted again.

Clearly it was he himself who wanted to take a disciple, yet Mo Hua had come respectfully to acknowledge a master…

Bai Zixi and Bai Zi Xi both showed looks of joy on their faces, then both felt a little hesitant again.

Old Kui furrowed his brows in thought, and immediately understood, but still said: