Chapter Thirty-Five: Taking on a Disciple

Chapter Thirty-Five: Taking a Disciple

Li Jiankui's subordinates were blocked outside. With a signal from him, they returned to his side at once.

Li Yue'e and her husband could never have dreamed that Ye Rulong would come to their place.

His second uncle and the others craned their necks, eager to see this legendary Ye Rulong and discover what kind of extraordinary figure he truly was.

Li Jiankui was equally astonished. Though he was a local powerhouse, Ye Rulong was the true ruler of the ancient city. Despite their acquaintance, they rarely interacted. It was unthinkable that Ye Rulong would visit today.

He hurriedly opened his arms and greeted him with a beaming smile. "Well, what wind brings you here?"

But Ye Rulong didn't so much as glance at him, heading straight for Shi Bai.

"Young Master! What a coincidence to meet you here!" Ye Rulong grasped Shi Bai's hand warmly, reverent as a fan meeting his idol.

A hush fell over the room.

Li Yue'e, her husband, Li Jiankui, his second uncle, Zhang Kangkang, and every employee in the hall felt their minds explode in that instant.

"My heavens!"

"They really know each other!"

"This kid wasn't lying!"

...

Li Jiankui's eyes flickered with shock—not because they knew each other, but because Ye Rulong had completely ignored him.

What did this mean? It meant that in Ye Rulong's mind, Shi Bai was far more important than he!

So who was Shi Bai, this youth who appeared barely seventeen or eighteen? What was his true identity?

"Master Ye!" Li Jiankui couldn't help but speak up. "This young man claims to be your teacher?"

Ye Rulong was taken aback. "Teacher?" He looked at Shi Bai in bewilderment.

Seeing his confusion, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I told you! How could such a young guy possibly be Master Ye's teacher!"

"This kid must've been lying after all!"

...

But just then, Ye Rulong's bewildered expression suddenly transformed into delight. "Teacher?!" He seized Shi Bai's hand. "Young Master! Are you saying you wish to take me as your disciple?!"

The room fell silent once more.

Li Yue'e, her husband, Zhang Kangkang, his second uncle, Li Jiankui, and all the hall's employees felt their minds explode again.

"So Ye Rulong actually longs to become Shi Bai's disciple!"

Shi Bai smiled and helped Ye Rulong to his feet. "I see you as upright and kind-hearted, and fate has surely drawn us together. Accepting you as a disciple is in accordance with destiny. So, are you willing?"

"Willing! Absolutely willing!" Ye Rulong nodded fervently, joy radiating from his face, so much that he seemed almost out of control from afar.

Yet Ye Rulong cared nothing for appearances, for he knew full well what it meant to become Shi Bai's disciple.

It was no joke—Shi Bai was someone who could heal broken bones and restore shattered stones, a true immortal! If he could be Shi Bai's disciple, it wasn't just the prospect of immortality—even a small favor from Shi Bai would be enough to benefit him for a lifetime. How could he not be overjoyed?

Suddenly, he tried to kneel before Shi Bai. "Teacher, please accept your disciple's bow!"

Shi Bai was startled and quickly helped him up. "What are you doing?"

Ye Rulong looked on with utmost respect. "Since I am taking you as my teacher today, I must perform the proper ceremony."

"Ah!" Shi Bai shook his head at once. "You're so advanced in age. Kneeling to me just isn't right! People might think I'm bullying the elderly!"

He firmly helped Ye Rulong upright. "Listen carefully: from now on, you need not kneel before me or call me 'teacher.' Just call me 'Young Master.' We'll keep the reality of master and disciple, but not the outward form. Do you understand?"

Ye Rulong looked gratefully at Shi Bai. These words gave him all the dignity he needed. Indeed, he was a man in his seventies or eighties; to kneel and bow to a teenager would be utterly inappropriate.

He bowed respectfully. "I will follow Young Master's wishes in all things."

A fresh wave of astonishment swept the crowd, and Li Yue'e nearly fainted.

What had happened today was far beyond their comprehension: a martial arts master in his seventies or eighties, the king behind the scenes of the ancient city, was acknowledging a mere youth as his teacher—and doing so with utmost reverence.

Was this still the Celestial Empire? Was there any sense left in the world?

Shi Bai then drew out a book. Its cover was ancient, its pages yellowed and brittle, as if it were a relic from ages past.

"Today you become my disciple. I haven't prepared much, but fortunately, this piece of toilet paper hasn't been used up yet. Take it as a gift for our first meeting."

The crowd was stunned, uncertain what to make of this. But when Ye Rulong took the book and glanced at it, he was immediately shocked, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

...

"This!... This!..."

Everyone was filled with surprise and doubt, staring at the book. Just then, Li Jiankui cried out, "The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!"

"What?!"

The hall erupted in uproar. People were nearly losing their minds—what was going on today? First, the old man bowed to the youth, then tears were shed, and now a piece of toilet paper turned out to be the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!

Li Jiankui's mind was almost unable to process it. He knew Ye Rulong's character well: always strong, unyielding, and dignified. How could such a man possibly bow to a youth?

The strangest thing was that the youth had suddenly produced the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms—one of the most famous martial arts manuals! In an age when all such secrets had vanished, to obtain a copy of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms was as valuable as acquiring the plans for an atomic bomb!

If Ye Rulong were a fraud, it might make sense, but his inner strength and aura were undeniably that of a master. In that case, the youth truly was his teacher! And the manual was truly a martial arts treasure!

At this thought, Li Jiankui's heart suddenly skipped a beat. How terrifying must this youth's power be?

Ye Rulong accepted the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and immediately bowed to Shi Bai, "Teacher, your kindness and virtue, I will never forget! From now on, I will train diligently to repay your guidance!"

Shi Bai hurriedly pulled Ye Rulong up, his face stern. "What's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you not to kneel or call me 'teacher'? Why are you still doing this?"

Ye Rulong quickly bowed his head, like a child who had erred. "Forgive me, Teacher. This gift is simply too great! If I don't call you 'teacher,' I can't find peace!"

Shi Bai smiled helplessly, putting his hands behind his back. "What's the big deal? It's only the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. No need to fuss over it."

The crowd shut their eyes in shock. No need to fuss? If the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms weren't worth fussing over, what was?

Li Jiankui looked at Ye Rulong, nearly driven mad with envy. If he could obtain the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, he wouldn't fear anyone—not just in the ancient city, but across the whole country. But now, Ye Rulong had gotten it.

With this, the gap between him and the Ye family was almost impossible to bridge.

He couldn't help but wonder: How did the Ye family meet Shi Bai? Who was Shi Bai, really? He seemed ordinary, with no martial arts power, yet he could casually produce the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

Just then, Ye Rulong said, "Teacher, was it this man who bullied you earlier?"

As soon as Ye Rulong spoke, everyone turned pale. Was he about to stand up for Shi Bai?

Shi Bai smiled faintly. "That's right."

Ye Rulong let out a thunderous shout, a blue aura erupting around him, his hair and clothing billowing as if caught in a storm. "Li Jiankui! Come forward and accept your fate!"