Chapter 992 - 547: As the Heart Desires (Double-Length)

"So... you don’t want to take Miss Yun as a disciple?" Xu Chang’an said, noticing the shiny ruler in Li Zhibai’s hand. He sighed, walked over and lowered himself, then continued, "I know your status is high, sir, but Miss wouldn’t care about these... isn’t it the most suitable?"

"You have thick skin now." Li Zhibai glanced at the ruler in her hand, then at Xu Chang’an.

The ruler’s intimidation had neared zero.

"Isn’t it because of your indulgence, sir, that I dare to be so cheeky..." Xu Chang’an paused, "Of course, I’m just spoiled by your favor."

"You, truly are greedy." Li Zhibai chuckled, shaking her head.

Then Xu Chang’an understood.

The teacher knew he was basking in favor, so he didn’t need the position of a disciple.

Exactly.

For him, in Li Zhibai’s mind, he no longer needed the title of disciple, hence wanting Yun Qian to also benefit from Li Zhibai.

That’s why Li Zhibai thought he was greedy.

"Sir, when it comes to matters concerning Miss, it’s always my top priority." Xu Chang’an forced a laugh, "You... know that."

"Ms. Yun has her own blessings." Li Zhibai said.

"...Mm." Xu Chang’an replied.

Somewhat disappointed.

Because just with Li Zhibai’s words, it was a clear refusal, indicating... her refusal to take Yun Qian as a disciple.

Xu Chang’an was disappointed but also felt it was rightful.

"Then about your idea of accepting a disciple, sir..." Xu Chang’an soon realized, his eyes widened slightly.

"Have you figured it out?" Li Zhibai smiled mysteriously, "Chang’an, who do you think I want to take as a disciple?"

Xu Chang’an: "..."

He stopped speaking.

Xu Chang’an knew too well who Li Zhibai would choose as a disciple. Perhaps there was once Senior Wen, but... Senior Wen had students.

"It’s... me." Xu Chang’an sighed deeply, accepting his fate.

He finally understood why the teacher’s attitude towards him had changed; he was about to shift from student to disciple.

In his previous life, a disciple was akin to half a son.

In today’s world, with the teacher having no partner and being of an old-school nature, his disciple would probably be seen as a successor, the closest relation.

"Not willing?" Li Zhibai was actually delighted inside, but put on a frown.

"Dare not." Xu Chang’an gave a wry smile, "Sir, isn’t this kind of a waste of a treasure?"

He was happy, but his happiness was limited.

"What, you think you took Ms. Yun’s place?" Li Zhibai hit the nail on the head.

"Somewhat." Xu Chang’an leaned on the railing.

At this moment, how could he not realize Li Zhibai was jesting with him?

But Li Zhibai’s decision to accept him and not Yun Qian was not a jest, it was the truth.

"No objections?" Li Zhibai asked.

"Is ’regret’ allowed?"

"Greedy."

Li Zhibai smiled helplessly, "No wonder Tong Jun called you greedy."

Xu Chang’an thought it was simply because he knew the teacher liked him, hence his greed.

"Rest assured, regarding Ms. Yun’s teacher, I will oversee it." Li Zhibai gave Xu Chang’an a reassuring statement.

"This... is good too." Xu Chang’an nodded.

A master is different from others.

To be Yun Qian’s master, with Li Zhibai overseeing it, is indeed reassuring.

"..." Li Zhibai looked at Xu Chang’an’s expression, finding it odd... Becoming a disciple was such an important and serious matter, yet here they were on a brothel’s painted boat, in the breeze and night scene, making the decision.

This was her first disciple in life.

In all likelihood, also her only disciple in the future.

But upon thought, Li Zhibai realized that the notion of accepting Xu Chang’an as a disciple didn’t require much fuss, ’coming naturally’ was the best way to describe it.

In Xu Chang’an’s mind, there was no awareness of becoming Li Zhibai’s disciple; after all, to him, disciple or student, it was just a change of title.

"Sir, why have you suddenly decided to take a disciple?" Xu Chang’an asked.

Li Zhibai pondered and said, "On a whim?"

Moving with the heart’s desire, aligning with ’Dao’s nature, was Li Zhibai’s way.

"...Mm." Xu Chang’an had no words.

Going with the flow was his teacher’s nature.

"When?" Xu Chang’an inquired again.

"There’s no rush for this." Li Zhibai smiled at Xu Chang’an, giving him an unwelcome premonition.

Li Zhibai planned for Sikong Lixu to first let Xu Chang’an adapt to the hierarchy elevation, so naturally, the disciple ceremony could not be hurried; they had to wait until Xu Chang’an adapted, and until Zhu Pingniang and Qinling reconciled enough to attend the banquet together.

"Chang’an, being my disciple, are you prepared for the pressure you’ll face?"

"Pressure?" Xu Chang’an smiled wryly.

He could guess, it was nothing more than a matter of hierarchy.

But what pressure could he fear?

For Xu Chang’an, any hierarchy pressure didn’t matter; even if the sky fell, there were elders to handle it. Truly, the only pressure greater than from outsiders was what Li Zhibai gave him.

What hierarchy; didn’t the way the teacher constantly referred to ’Ms. Yun’ put the greatest pressure on him?

So, the disciple matter wasn’t important in Xu Chang’an’s mind; what truly made him feel uncomfortable... was simply ’taking’ the title of disciple from Miss Yun, which was stifling.

"You have a nice attitude." Li Zhibai was somewhat surprised by Xu Chang’an’s attitude, but seeing his stifled expression, she couldn’t help but want to laugh.

Did the fact that she couldn’t become Yun Qian’s master make the young one so uncomfortable?

"I’m also someone who grew up with Miss’s care." Xu Chang’an shook his head, then asked, "Sir, in the future... should I address you differently?"

"Address differently?"

"Call you Master."

"..." Li Zhibai was silent. Being a Daoist cultivator, she had often heard the term ’Master,’ but never quite liked it.

Thus she asked.

"Chang’an, how long did it take for you to change from calling Ms. Yun ’Miss’ to ’Partner’?"

"Well... I still haven’t changed." Xu Chang’an twitched at his eye, then seeing the smirk on Li Zhibai’s lips, he smiled bitterly, "Student understands."

Even as a disciple, he would continue calling Li Zhibai ’Sir.’

"This might not follow the rules." Li Zhibai slightly frowned.

"Sir, if I can’t change, it means I’m not following the rules." Xu Chang’an said earnestly.

"I didn’t mean to make you bear the blame." Li Zhibai mused, "However, not bad."

Truly, hearing Chang’an’s ’Sir’ was her favorite.

"So, my addressing you as ’Master’ is all for show?" Xu Chang’an asked suddenly.

Upon reflection, becoming Li Zhibai’s disciple wouldn’t change their relationship at all, so... the only possible reason was to show outsiders that Li Zhibai had accepted a disciple, echoing Xu Chang’an’s guess that Li Zhibai planned to "re-enter the world."

"For show?" Li Zhibai looked at Xu Chang’an curiously, nodding, "You could say that."

Perhaps there were indeed many reasons before.

"Your talent is truly, truly good." Li Zhibai half-leaned on the railing, "Threats may arise after this."

"So... it’s for the sake of the student." Xu Chang’an stood straight.

Thank you, sir.

Xu Chang’an didn’t need to know what trouble he might face, but now, with Li Zhibai telling him, any grievance, regret, or helplessness vanished completely.

Because if it was to grant him a legitimate ’identity,’ this disciple status could only be his, it couldn’t be Yun Qian’s.

She just wanted to tell everyone.

Chang’an is her disciple.

He’s not a child without anyone backing him.

She would protect her only disciple, not let him be bullied.