Chapter Fifty-Seven: Apprenticeship

Jiang Yan murmured to himself in confusion, “Why are there more disciples joining?”

Tang Wan raised her brows in a surprised smile and asked with a gentle laugh, “Senior Brother Sect Leader, could it be that more youths from Qingyang Town have come up the mountain?”

Jiang Yan glanced at Ning Qian and Sun Yang. Sun Yang hurried forward, patting his chest as he assured them that the youths from Qingyang Town had already received instructions from himself and Ah Qian not to follow and seek apprenticeship anymore, so those coming today must not be from Qingyang Town.

Mu Yun's round face was full of smiles, his gaze occasionally wandering over the golden-eyed eagle, as he fawned over Jiang Yan, “Sect Leader, why not let me go down the mountain to receive them? Then we’ll know for sure.”

Yun Ying broke free once more from Tang Wan’s embrace, darting to Jiang Yan’s side, tugging at his hand as she pleaded, “Senior Brother, Ying’er wants to ride the big eagle and go out too.”

Mu Yun’s intentions were exposed by Yun Ying, and he couldn’t help but scold her in embarrassment, “Little Sister, you should say we’re going down to greet the visitors, not to play. Really, if you say it like that, Sect Leader won’t let us use the golden-eyed eagle.”

Jiang Yan looked at Mu Yun’s crestfallen face and with a sweep of his robe, Mu Yun and Yun Ying both landed on the broad back of the golden-eyed eagle. Jiang Yan’s words, wrapped in spiritual energy, carried over, “Junior Brother, take good care of Little Sister. And while you’re at it, bring the disciples waiting to be apprenticed up the mountain.”

“Wow!” Mu Yun cheered, grabbing Yun Ying and guiding the golden-eyed eagle down the mountain.

“Whoosh…” The Howling Sky Dog and Howling Soul Dog, one black and one white spiritual beast, leapt onto the eagle’s back one after another.

Jiang Yan led Sun Yang and Ning Qian back to the main hall of the sect, where they settled onto meditation mats. Tang Wan stood by Jiang Yan’s side. Jiang Yan glanced at Ning Qian and Sun Yang and spoke gently, “Since I have promised to take you both as disciples, I will not break my word. Now, you have several choices: first, you may apprentice under me; second, you may choose another uncle as your master. The choice is yours.”

Ning Qian stepped forward, knelt before Jiang Yan’s mat, and asked, “I have a question, Sect Leader. What is the difference between apprenticing under you and apprenticing under an uncle?”

Jiang Yan’s brows rose, his tone colder, “If you apprentice under me, you will be a disciple of the Sect Leader. You must set an example for all the disciples—in cultivation, skills, and formations, you must be ahead of them. If you fail, you risk being expelled. If you apprentice under one of the uncles, such expectations do not apply.”

Ning Qian bowed deeply, “I wish to apprentice under the Sect Leader and lead the disciples.”

Jiang Yan turned his gaze to Sun Yang, signaling for his answer.

Sun Yang’s expression flickered with panic; after a long pause, he bowed deeply, his tone uneasy, “I… I don’t really know which elder to choose. I just want to be a disciple of an immortal, so I can have some prestige when I go down the mountain.”

Jiang Yan was taken aback. This Sun Yang’s purpose for joining Huashan was so simple. “Sun Yang, if your wish is so modest, you need not apprentice under Huashan. I have already granted you the position of Qingyang Town Magistrate, which fulfills your desire.”

Sun Yang quickly kowtowed, “Sect Leader, please reconsider. I do wish to apprentice under Huashan. Although being magistrate would bring me glory, I came up the mountain with Ah Qian, and we should advance and retreat together. If Ah Qian apprentices under Huashan, I should as well. This way, we can help each other in the future.”

Jiang Yan looked wordlessly at Sun Yang, who continued to kowtow. If it were anyone else, Jiang Yan would have expelled them directly, but Sun Yang had saved his life; whatever his requests, Jiang Yan could not refuse.

Tang Wan looked gently at Sun Yang, stepped closer to Jiang Yan’s mat, and spoke softly, “In that case, Sect Leader, why not let Sun Yang apprentice under Junior Brother Mu? Mu enjoys leisure and doesn’t demand much in cultivation, which suits Sun Yang’s temperament.”

Sun Yang prostrated fully, kowtowing in thanks, “Many thanks, Elder. I am willing to apprentice under Elder Mu.”

…

At Huashan’s mountain gate

Zi Su watched the ugly-faced young disciple at the gate with growing anxiety. Her second junior sister’s injuries were worsening, yet this Huashan youth refused to let her ascend.

“Little brother, when will your Sect Leader allow us to go up?” Ding Ning’s face grew darker, as if she wished to force her way up the mountain.

Nanmen Luo opened his eyes slightly, looking at the girls with disdain and impatience, “Why are you in such a hurry? Huashan is steep. If you insist on carrying this woman up the mountain, never mind meeting our Sect Leader, but the jostling alone might kill her.”

Nanmen Luo straightened, glanced back at the mountain gate, pride in his tone, “Most importantly, Huashan is not a place just anyone can barge into. The sect’s protective array just destroyed a Tianshan cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. If you think you can surpass that level, you’re welcome to try.”

“But you haven’t sent anyone up the mountain to inform Mr. Jiang. When can we go up?” Ding Ning interrupted impatiently.

Nanmen Luo gave her a sidelong glance, “Our Sect Leader knows everything within a thousand miles. If old friends come to seek help, how could he not know? I admire Jiang Yan deeply—controlling the protective array from a thousand miles away to slay a Tianshan expert, and knowing when someone is coming to seek apprenticeship from atop the mountain.”

As for the girls, Nanmen Luo was certain his senior brother already knew. Perhaps he had already sent someone down to escort them, or if no one came, it meant his brother did not wish to see them. Nanmen Luo thought proudly to himself.

“But…” Ding Ning began again.

“Enough, Sixth Sister.” Zi Su cut her off sharply. “Since this young man says so, we will wait here. If Mr. Jiang wishes to see us, someone from the mountain will come down to lead us up.”

“But…” Ding Ning tried again, but Zi Su’s fierce glare silenced her.

…

“Mu Yun of Huashan greets the lady heroes.”

The women of the Violet Robe Sect were restlessly waiting, when a deep, warm voice sounded from above.

They looked up to see a black eagle with golden eyes, wings fluttering as it descended. On its broad back stood a gentle-faced, chubby youth; before him was a delicate little girl cradling a white puppy, with a black puppy at her feet.

The plump youth clasped his hands together in salute from afar. Zi Su returned the gesture, raising her voice, “Zi Su seeks an audience with Mr. Jiang. I beg you, sir, to help us and let us see Mr. Jiang, so my junior sister may be saved.”

Mu Yun frowned slightly. The Sect Leader said there were apprentices, but these women seemed to already have a sect; were they merely seeking help?

“The Sect Leader ordered me to receive those seeking apprenticeship. Are you here to apprentice under Huashan?” Though puzzled, Mu Yun followed Jiang Yan’s instructions. If these women were not seeking apprenticeship, he was not obliged to bring them up. As for the injured one, he could at least take her.

Zi Su’s beautiful face creased in surprise as she looked at the youth in the sky. She did have the intention to seek apprenticeship; if Huashan truly had the strength to challenge Tianshan, it would not be a bad move. The ugly-faced youth had said the protective array had destroyed a seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivator, and Jiang Yan’s performance that day, along with Tang Wan’s recognition of Huashan’s strength, convinced her. But how did Mr. Jiang know she had the intention to apprentice…

“If Mr. Jiang can avenge the Violet Robe Sect, Zi Su is willing to apprentice under Huashan.” Zi Su declared firmly to Mu Yun.

“Woof woof…” The Howling Sky Dog, perched on the eagle’s back, suddenly barked down below.