Even if this master is a bit lazy, spends a bit too much time in "seclusion," Mu Hanyan still feels it was worthwhile to apprentice under him, truly worthwhile.
"Is there anything else?" Gong Hongru asked with irritation as he noticed Mu Hanyanâs cunning smile.
"Master, am I now officially a disciple of Long Yan Academy? What should I do tomorrow?" Mu Hanyan asked. Having lived two lives, she hadnât studied at any academy before and really didnât know what to do.
"You can just ask Tan Yu about those matters. If you have any confusion during cultivation, go to the study in the back of the academy. All my lifetime cultivation insights are there. Unless the sky is falling, donât disturb my seclusion lightly." Gong Hongru yawned again, speaking impatiently.
"Oh." Mu Hanyan stopped smiling and responded with a look of bitterness. This master is terrifyingly lazy indeed.
"Sir, Iâve been in the academy for ten years, but my cultivation has hardly progressed. According to the rules, itâs time to leave the academy. Iâve returned this time to bid farewell to you." Tan Yu also wore a look of bitterness, pitifully gazing at Gong Hongru.
"I had forgotten. Youâve been idle for so many years following me; itâs time to go out and experience the world. There are still some elixirs and cultivation methods in my study; feel free to copy whatever appeals to you and take it with you. But donât spread them outside, or it could lead to mortal danger." Gong Hongru patted his forehead as he remembered.
"And you guys, youâve been in the academy for quite some time, and your cultivation hasnât improved at all. You should also take a look, find a suitable technique to copy, and venture out after a while to find your own path." Gong Hongru paused and then addressed the Yu Shulin Feng brothers.
"Sir..." Tan Yu and the others looked teary-eyed at Gong Hongru, clearly not wanting to leave, yet unsure how to express it. Instinctively, they glanced at Mu Hanyan, hoping she could plead on their behalf.
"Master, Iâm not familiar with life at Long Yan Academy, and with you busy in seclusion, if they leave, I wonât even have anyone to ask for directions. Could you think of a way to let them stay?" Mu Hanyan pleaded with Gong Hongru, unable to bear the pitiful look of the group.
"Itâs simple to have them stay; just take them as disciples." Gong Hongru saw through Mu Hanyanâs intentions and nonchalantly suggested.
"Is it that simple?" Mu Hanyan paused slightly.
"Absolutely not. Definitely not," Tan Yu and the others were taken aback, shaking their heads vigorously as Mu Hanyan was in shock.
"Anyway, Iâve given you the method. Whether they stay or not depends on you. Iâm going into seclusion and will visit friends in a few days. You all can discuss among yourselves if thereâs anything you need." Gong Hongru said and then walked towards the inner room.
"Whoosh!" In a flash, a chubby little Exotic Beast appeared on Gong Hongruâs bodyâit was Mu Hanyanâs Little Auspicious Beast.
"Eh, whatâs this?" Gong Hongru pinched the Little Auspicious Beast by the scruff, intrigued, gazing at its pig-like nostrils. The little guy rarely opened its eyes wide, curiously looking at him.
One person and one beast stared at each other, with big eyes meeting small in a uniquely amusing scene.
"Master, this is my Sword Pet." Mu Hanyan quickly spoke, fearing Gong Hongru would crush the Little Auspicious Beast.
"So itâs your Sword Pet. This little creature has a fate with me; Iâll take care of it for a few days." Gong Hongru said, casually tossing the little creature onto his shoulder as he leisurely entered the room, and the little fellow calmly stayed on his shoulder, affectionately nudging his neck.
As for Mu Hanyan, she had long been forgotten in the process.
"How strange, this fellow usually ignores us, but now itâs so close to Master?" Huayue and the others looked surprised.
Mu Hanyan had had this Little Auspicious Beast for quite a while and had grown familiar with Huayue and the others. Usually, it wouldnât let anyone else touch it except Mu Hanyan, yet now it was unexpectedly hanging onto Gong Hongru.
"I guess they both like to sleep late... oh no, itâs due to seclusion." Mu Hanyan mused after a long moment, finally accepting the reality of being cast aside by the Little Auspicious Beast. It was the only possibility she could think of.
As if to validate Mu Hanyanâs statement, soon the room was filled with thunderous "seclusion" snores from both human and beast.
To avoid disturbing Gong Hongruâs "seclusion," Mu Hanyan and the others tiptoed out of the room.
"Young Master Mu, donât take Lord Gongâs words seriously. At worst, weâll just leave Long Yan Academy. With our strength, we wonât starve, and we will surely find ways to make a living." Back in their courtyard, Tan Yu urgently told Mu Hanyan.
"Why?" Mu Hanyan had thought they were unwilling to let her be their master out of pride, given that they were of similar age. Being friends was fine, but being master and disciple might be too much. Yet seeing their worried faces now, she realized she might have misunderstood; there might be another reason.
"Young Master Mu, did you think we were reluctant due to pride and thus didnât want to apprentice under you?" Tan Yu chuckled wryly and continued, "In the Holy Court Continent, the strong are revered. Anyone capable can be a master. Itâs not strange for a five or six-decade-old cultivator to study under a twenty-something expert. Moreover, though weâre called Outer Disciples, weâre essentially just servants. Being able to apprentice under you is actually something weâd desire. But becoming a master or disciple at Long Yan Academy isnât that simple."
"Oh, whatâs the matter exactly?" Mu Hanyan asked curiously.
"At Long Yan Academy, not just anyone can accept disciples. Only by defeating the Palace Guardian Beast Soul in the Beast Soul Hall can one have the qualification. Like Lord Gong and Lord Long Congyuan, the academy mentors; they only attained the right to accept disciples after defeating the Palace Guardian Beast Soul. Some mentors, though they possess unique skills, yet having not defeated the Palace Guardian Divine Beast, do not have the qualification to accept disciples." Tan Yu explained frankly.
Upon hearing this, Mu Hanyan recalled that while there are many mentors at Long Yan Academy, few participated in the recent enrollment selections to accept disciples. Turns out many do not have the qualification to accept disciples at all.
"Is the Palace Guardian Beast Soul very powerful?" Mu Hanyan suddenly thought of the Qiongqi Temple in the Exotic Beast Valley and grew more curious.
"More than powerful. Itâs said that since the founding of Long Yan Academy, few have defeated the Palace Guardian Beast Soul below the realm of Great Sword Master, especially students. Many self-proclaimed exceptional talented swordsmen have perished in the Beast Soul Hall or been severely injured with their lives ruined. Some even in the Great Sword Master Realm have met their end." Tan Yu said.