Chapter 39: Xu Xian

  "Ripe?"

  This term made Ye Wenze stunned for a moment, but then he realized that the familiarity in Xu Xian's mouth actually referred to people in the martial arts world.

  As a relatively well-known literary figure, Xu Xian's social circle has always been limited to those who dance with words and ink among scholars. As his status in the literary circle gradually rose, he slowly came into contact with more high-level literary figures, but the people he knew were still literati, at most some county officials.

  But now he is about to enter a world that he had almost no contact with before, the only connection he has with this Jianghu circle is an old man whose name he doesn't know, and his own position as the leader of the Shu Shan sect...

  "It's better to join the Ye Zhangmen sect than to worship those who have never been seen and don't know their character. At least I still admire Brother Ye's personality!"

  Ye Wen didn't know what Xu Xian admired about him. Could it be that just because he had taken the law into his own hands for the sake of the Zhou family, this young master Xu who had never been in a fight thought of himself as a heroic champion of justice? Perhaps this was how the world of martial arts existed in the mind of this bookworm - taking pleasure in repaying debts of gratitude and settling scores with the three-foot green sword in hand.

  He didn't know that his guess was actually in line with Xu Xian's thoughts. He hoped to make a name for himself in the jianghu, precisely because of his admiration for the carefree and unrestrained nature of the jianghu heroes. Therefore, in his heart, if he were to enter the jianghu, he would certainly become a great hero who could bring justice to the people and eliminate evil.

  There are many schools today, but there aren't many that truly have a good reputation. Among them, many are well-known large schools in the Jianghu, and if you join these schools, you'll probably start from being a junior disciple. Not only will you not have any right to speak, you might not even have much personal freedom left, and your life may not be better than it was at home.

  As for those small sects, they are mostly some petty people, which makes Xu Xian look down on them. Perhaps the only one that can meet his requirements and is relatively close is Ye Wen's Shu Shan Sect.

  Moreover, he and Ye Wen also had some friendship, and they had a preliminary understanding of each other's temperament. This is much better than going to worship a stranger as a teacher. The only problem is that it is not known whether the Shu Mountain Sect is willing to accept him as a disciple.

  A school is not like a gang, it's not that someone has some ability and can be directly recruited as a member, then assigned a task and that's it.

  The sects are basically inherited with a master-disciple relationship, and Xu Xian is not sure if the Shu Mountain Sect still has elders in the world, otherwise his entry would be even more troublesome.

  "Then I'll just have to acknowledge this Brother Ye as my master, after all, the saying goes that 'the capable one is the teacher!' In terms of martial arts, I know I'm not a match for this Master Ye!"

  Xu Xian had made up his mind, but he didn't know that Ye Wen had already thought of a way to let him in. The two were still discussing some things about Xu Xian himself.

  "Xu Gongzi, although the Shu Mountain Sect is not a big sect, Xu Gongzi has skills on his body. If you really want to enter our mountain gate, please report your skills first!"

  Ye Wen also wanted to have a clearer understanding of Xun Xian, he only knew that this Xun Xian had learned some martial arts with an unknown old man, especially excelling in lightness skills, but what else he was capable of was completely unknown, taking advantage of this opportunity, it just so happened that he could ask clearly.

  Xu Xian stood up, looked around the very spacious main hall, and made a fist at Ye Wen: "In that case, I'll show off my skills to Ye Zhangmen!"

  As he spoke, his hands parted and formed a palm shape, directly performing a set of palm techniques - this palm technique was a mix of virtual and real moves that made people's eyes dizzy, and in the midst of unexpectedness, a heavy palm strike would be launched, if fighting against someone, it would be quite fierce.

  Ye Wen saw that Xu Xian's internal energy was insufficient, and although his palm technique was good, many of the sharp killing moves seemed to be unable to come out, originally having ten points of power, but Xu Xian could only bring out four.

  However, taking into account Xu Xian's quite uncommon lightness skills, and with the addition of this bewildering palm technique while moving back and forth, ordinary people would really find it difficult to catch up. Ye Wen himself estimated that he had to rely on his deeper inner strength to force Xu Xian to engage in a fierce and intense battle with him in order to have a chance to win against him.

  Xu Xian finished demonstrating a set of palm techniques, then smiled and said: "There's also an introductory breathing method and qinggong (light skill), Qinggong Ye Palm Gate has seen it before, but the breathing method can't be demonstrated!"

  Ye Wen nodded slightly, indicating that he didn't mind. He had known Xue Xian for a long time and had also seen his internal skills for himself. However, it was just a beginner's level, barely entering the door. But from what he said, he had mastered these skills several years ago, which showed that the breathing method wasn't some advanced internal skill either.

  The old man had originally only wanted to teach some simple things, so that Xu Xian's body wouldn't be so bad. But he hadn't expected Xu Xian to have a good aptitude, and with the old man knowing his time was limited, he hurriedly wanted to pass on what he had learned. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time, and in the end it was all for nothing. Although he told Xu Xian many things in one breath, Xu Xian hadn't had any foundation to begin with, and basically couldn't understand anything. In the end, the old man's entire lifetime of learning ended up being buried along with him, which is a shame.

  Ye Wen's hand unconsciously touched the ring on his right index finger, and he secretly thought: "If I didn't have this ring with me, I wouldn't worry about the secret manual of martial arts. It's a pity that this foolish scholar returned empty-handed from entering the treasure mountain!"

  Having a certain understanding of Xu Xian's kung fu, Ye Wen began to formally discuss with Xu Xian the matter of accepting him as a disciple.

  "My intention is that after five days, Xu Gongzi and Yue Ning, as well as Zhi Ruo, will all enter my Shu Shan Sect together!" Since it's just a matter of a few days before the initiation ceremony, Ye Wen decided to just get it over with in one day, and avoid any further trouble.

  "Naturally, I will follow the arrangement of Ye Zhangmen!" Xu Xian felt that it was nothing out of the ordinary, but he hadn't expected that there would be others joining him in becoming a disciple. He thought to himself: "Are there other fellow disciples? Why don't you let me meet them first?"

  Ye Wen was taken aback, then realized that Xu Xian had misunderstood and immediately explained: "Yue Ning is the son of Yue Shan's head of the Yue Mountain Escort Bureau, who has already decided to join my Shu Mountain Sect. Zhi Ruo is the little girl I found in Linshan County a few days ago, you've seen her too!"

  "Uh..." Xú Xián immediately understood. This time, it seemed that everyone except himself was a pair of children: "Is that so..."

  He thought to himself that he might only be able to accompany the little ones, and just as he was feeling a bit depressed, Ye Wen continued: "You are different from those two children, they are my disciples who worship me as their master, and are the next generation of disciples in Wushan Sect. As for you, Xu Gongzi... what I mean is that this time it's a substitute teacher accepting a disciple, and putting you under the gate of Wushan Sect. This way, Xu Gongzi will be my junior brother."

  Xu Xian was overjoyed upon hearing this, after all no one liked being a junior to a dwarf for no reason. If he could be of the same generation as Ye Wen, it would be even better: "This is best, what's with being a junior brother? I entered the sect late anyway, so being a junior brother is only fitting!"

  Ye Wen saw that Xu Xian had no dissatisfaction, nodded: "Since so, this matter is settled, I will go back and tell my junior sister, and make a good arrangement, after the wedding ceremony in a few days, you and I will be fellow disciples!"

  After finishing speaking, he looked out of the hall and found that it was already late, the sky had completely darkened. Sitting in the middle of the main hall, he could hardly see the outside scenery. If Zhao Shu hadn't come in to light the lamp just now, he and Xu Xian would probably be talking to each other with their eyes closed, staring at nothing but air.

  "It's getting late, and we haven't even had dinner yet! Let's go eat first!"

  After finishing speaking, he took Xu Xian to walk out of the hall. Xu Xian had now obtained Ye Wen's consent for him to become his apprentice, and his heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment. His mood had improved greatly, and he also felt extremely hungry. When he heard Ye Wen say they were going to eat, he chuckled twice: "Master Ye didn't mention it, I had almost forgotten that I hadn't eaten yet!"

  He has been busy talking to his father since he got home, and one unexpected thing after another, not to mention dinner, even lunch and breakfast have not been eaten. At this time, the stomach is already churning with hunger, if it doesn't fill up soon, it will faint from starvation.

  As soon as the two of them came out of the main hall, they saw Yue Ning standing at the door with a lantern. Seeing Ye Wen and Xu Xian come out, he immediately said: "Shifu asked me to guard here, if Shifu and the guest come out, I will tell Shifu that dinner is ready!"

  Ye Wen nodded in satisfaction with his new apprentice. Moreover, it was winter now, and the nights were cold. Not to mention that they were still on the mountain, this child had been frozen at the door for so long and yet remained respectful and obedient, never overstepping his bounds. It could only be said that the discipline of the Yue family was indeed very strict, having taught a child who understood etiquette.

  As for Yuen Ning not having formally entered the sect yet calling Ye Wen "Master", no one would mind this, anyway these were all already set in stone and wouldn't go wrong. Moreover, since Ye Wen had drunk the tea offered by Yuen Ning, it was normal to call him Master. Even if something unexpected happened during the formal entry ceremony later on, at most Yuen Ning couldn't be considered a disciple of Shu Shan Sect, but Ye Wen as his master was already settled.

  Yue Ning walked behind with a lantern, while Ye Wen and Xu Xian walked ahead. Along the way, Ye Wen asked his new apprentice a few questions: "Are you familiar with the environment within our sect?"

  "Master Shi and Aunt Zhao took their disciples on a tour today and have taken note of all the key locations!"

  "Has your accommodation been arranged?"

  "It's all arranged, but Aunt Zhao said there aren't many blankets and sheets on the mountain, so although we can make do for tonight, tomorrow we'll have to go down the mountain again to buy some more!"

  Ye Wen suddenly remembered that he hadn't prepared many of these miscellaneous daily necessities in the first place. He turned his head to tell Xun Xian, "Now that you mention it, I think you'll only be able to make do for tonight!"

  "It doesn't matter! But since we need to go down the mountain to buy things tomorrow, I think we should buy some more stuff and build a few more houses. Our sect seems a bit too empty!"