Chapter 13: Lavish Wealth and Unbridled Confidence
“Junior sister! He captured me because he’s looking for the person who crushed the celestial dog with a single palm strike,” the Third Senior Brother signaled to Zhuang Yun with a glance.
Jiang Mingxu felt embarrassed. “Uh, well, last time Lake and I saw someone at Mount Nanhua take down five star beasts. When I went back to find that path, I couldn’t locate it.”
“By chance, I passed by today and spotted him—he looks quite similar to that person. I asked him, but he wouldn’t say, so I brought him along, thinking that if the person you’re looking for knows him, he’d definitely come to find him...”
“Oh, so you’re trying to find our master,” Zhuang Yun smiled playfully, her tone casual.
“That man is your master?!” Lake asked again. “Is that old man at the Black Factory—the one who split a watermelon in half with one strike—also your master?!”
Zhuang Yun nearly choked on her tea. Regaining composure, she nodded. “Naturally.”
Jiang Mingxu and Lake exchanged a glance. They had finally found him!
“May I ask if your master is still accepting disciples?” Lake asked eagerly.
Zhuang Yun really did choke this time. “No! No! Our master is exalted—he wouldn’t accept disciples so easily.”
“Besides, his whereabouts are unpredictable; even we disciples rarely get to see him,” she added.
“If there’s a chance for an introduction, we can negotiate terms,” Jiang Mingxu said sincerely. He truly wanted to meet.
Zhuang Yun’s half-closed eyes suddenly widened. Pretending to contemplate with difficulty, she said, “If you want to meet our master, it’s not impossible.”
“But there’s a price,” she stretched out her hand, about to say five hundred star coins.
“Five hundred thousand star coins?! Deal!” Lake eagerly slapped her hand in agreement, afraid she’d back out.
My goodness, earning so much just for a meeting! Zhuang Yun looked toward Lin Yiwen with an expression that seemed to say: Your friends are truly foolish with money.
Afterward, Jiang Mingxu and Lake led everyone on a tour of their private base.
The base’s gates slowly opened, revealing a dark corridor leading deeper inside.
Inside the warehouse, various mechas were neatly arranged like sleeping steel beasts, eagerly awaiting the moment to be awakened.
From light reconnaissance mechas to heavy battle mechas, each embodied cutting-edge technology and exquisite craftsmanship.
Nearby was a repair workshop filled with countless mecha parts and energy cores.
Zhuang Yun thought to herself, “I’m definitely making a good friend here!”
Jiang Mingxu introduced, “Lake and I are currently at the Mecha Preparatory Academy in District 11. We’ve passed the psychic ability test and plan to enroll at the Pasa Knights Academy next month. How about you?” He glanced at Lin Yiwen, who was trailing at the back.
Lin Yiwen replied calmly, “I didn’t pass the psychic ability test.” Naturally, he couldn’t attend school.
Jiang Mingxu’s eyes flickered with regret. Such talent, tragically thwarted!
He knew Lin Yiwen had once been a shining figure, cut down before his potential could bloom.
Lake looked at Zhuang Yun expectantly, hoping to become classmates with the disciple of such a reclusive master, perhaps even learning a thing or two.
---
“As for my senior brother and me—we naturally cultivate at the Taoist temple,” Zhuang Yun said lazily.
“Ah, since you can operate mechas, why not pursue formal schooling?” What a waste! So many people strain for the chance but are forever denied because they lack A-grade psychic powers.
“No money...” Zhuang Yun made an excuse. She knew well she couldn’t leave the sect’s affairs unfinished.
Lin Yiwen saw through her lie at once. Last time, the Pasa Academy’s admissions officer offered her a free spot, but she didn’t take it.
“No money is easy to solve. Just have your master kill a few more star beasts, and the money will come,” Lake suggested.
“But lately, no valuable star beasts have appeared,” Zhuang Yun sighed.
“By the way, I heard from my dad that the recent sudden appearance of star beasts at Mount Nanhua is because the beast den’s barrier was broken, causing high-level star beasts to flood in.”
“Usually, when a beast den breaks, it goes through a process, sending out signals that the military’s detection systems can pick up, allowing troops to kill the beasts directly.”
“But at Mount Nanhua, the beast den breaks without warning. Since you live nearby, be careful.”
Unconsciously, Jiang Mingxu had revealed some military secrets.
“How do you know so much?” the Third Senior Brother asked curiously.
“Because his dad is the newly appointed G33 Star Administrative Governor!” Lake chimed in.
All eyes turned to Jiang Mingxu.
No wonder they were so well-off!
Jiang Mingxu smiled sheepishly under their gaze. “Don’t look at me like that. My dad hardly pays attention to me.” He quickly changed the subject. “I saw a bounty mission in District 9 recently. After we meet your master, maybe we can join a bounty hunter team and make a good profit.”
Hearing the prospect of money, Zhuang Yun immediately perked up. “Alright, the meeting with the master is set for... tomorrow! Let’s meet tomorrow!”
The next day arrived as promised. Lake and Jiang Mingxu dressed up carefully and arrived at the appointed time to meet Zhuang Yun’s master.
To welcome the first guests in over a decade, Zhuang Qitong stood with his three disciples in a line, took out the highest-grade Taoist robes from the bottom of a box, held a fly whisk, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly, expressing a traditional Taoist welcome.
The four wore expressionless faces but were inwardly ecstatic.
Who were these people? Walking ATMs! Half a million star coins! That single event was worth years of income from the repair shop!
Lake looked around and asked, “Where’s Zhuang Yun?”
The Third Senior Brother was ready with an answer, calmly replying, “Junior sister Zhuang Yun is the master’s final disciple and has been waiting in the hall for you two.”
The two entered the hall, where a solemn yet serene statue of Zhuang Zi stood silently. They didn’t see the person from the mountaintop earlier but found Zhuang Yun kneeling on a round mat woven from rushes.
Surely, a reclusive master doesn’t reveal himself lightly.
There were two more mats behind her, clearly reserved for Lake and Jiang Mingxu. Without a word, they closed their eyes and knelt, saying, “Please accept us as your disciples, Master!”
Today, Zhuang Yun used a mind-transmission spell, allowing the words she spoke to be heard throughout the room. The time was limited to three minutes—quick and decisive!
---
“Young men, I acknowledge your sincere intentions, but accepting disciples is no trivial matter,” the deep voice resonating from the Zhuang Zi statue carried the weight of ages.
“The Dao follows nature, relying on fate and understanding. Not everyone can enter my sect, nor can it be achieved by impulse.”
They stood, straightened their clothes, and bowed respectfully again.
“Disciples understand and only ask for a chance to prove themselves,” Jiang Mingxu spoke first.
Lake followed earnestly, “I too am willing to prove myself through persistent effort, hoping to earn Master’s favor.”
“Very well. Zhuang Yun has truly inherited my teachings. I shall have her teach you a set of mental cultivation techniques to see if you are destined for the Yun Yin Sect.”
“Remember, the path of cultivation is no overnight feat. Only with perseverance can one glimpse the great Dao.”
“Return now... return...” Zhuang Zi’s voice echoed through the hall like ancient bells.
“Follow me!” Zhuang Yun led them to an open space.
“Today, Master wants me to teach you the ‘Taiji Divine Skill’! A secret technique of our sect, rarely passed on. Come, follow my lead!”
“One watermelon...”
“Cut in half...”
“You take one half...”
“I take the other half...”
...
Zhuang Qitong and the other three watched from the side. The conscientious eldest senior brother said, “Master, isn’t it a bit dishonest to fool them like this?”
“How is it dishonest?” Zhuang Qitong retorted.
“Isn’t it true that Junior Sister Zhuang Yun defeated the star beasts with one punch?”
“Yes!”
“Isn’t it true that the Master personally taught this mental skill?”
“Yes!”
“What’s wrong with collecting a little tuition then?”
“Nothing!”
Zhuang Qitong nodded in satisfaction. “That’s the way it is!”