Chapter 177: Spreading Branches and Leaves
Having actually agreed to take Wang Yixing as a registered disciple, Gao Yu’an, after sobering up, had no recollection of ever saying those words. It wasn’t until Xiang Jiannan, with a gloating tone, repeatedly proved it, that he decisively explained that he was confused at the time due to being drunk, and it was just a joke.
He wanted to expel Wang Yixing from the sect, the reason being that he couldn’t drag a good family’s son into a pit of fire.
“You’ve already accepted the kowtow, can you really go back on your word, Old Man?”
While speaking, Xiang Jiannan had just finished making dinner. He felt that the old Taoist shouldn’t go back on his word. During the argument, Xiang Jiannan almost spilled the ginger tea in his hand.
Gao Yu’an had just come out, leaning on the door frame. He solemnly reminded him of this good news once again, watching his master dumbfounded as if struck by lightning, while secretly gloating inside.
He didn’t mind having another junior brother, a registered disciple. Compared to himself, Wang Yixing was still free.
The main point of conflict was the reason the old Taoist wanted to go back on his word: he couldn’t drag a good family’s son into a pit of fire. Was he saying that he himself wasn’t a good person? The old and young men of Ping’an Town all knew that he, Xiang Jiannan, was a famous law-abiding citizen. He couldn’t agree with his master’s words. The old man didn’t care about his reputation, but that didn’t mean the younger generation would follow suit and not care.
As for whether Ping’an Temple was a pit of fire, that remained to be seen in the long term. Although in his heart, he felt that the old Taoist was telling the truth.
In a moment of desperation, he revealed the truth, having a very clear understanding of their Taoist temple.
“As your Teacher didn’t see it, it naturally doesn’t count.”
Stretching out his right hand, waiting for Xiang Jiannan to bring the ginger tea to him, seeing that his disciple held an opposing view, Gao Yu’an sat on the stone stool, weak and powerless:
“As your Teacher knows what Wang Yixing has in mind, he’s just eyeing the things on this Old Taoist! This child has no affinity with the Great Dao. If his name isn’t removed, it will ultimately harm him.”
I’m also eyeing them, but I didn’t get them.
Handing over the ginger tea and watching the old Taoist gulp it down, seeing his complexion slightly regain its rosy color, Xiang Jiannan then sat down on the stone stool opposite him.
He had prepared today’s dinner, mainly using the leftovers from lunch.
Li Si had walked out of the backyard about an hour and a half ago, looking clear-headed. Before leaving, he spoke a few heartfelt words to him:
“I didn’t expect that our Fu Mo Si’s messenger pigeons were so chewy. I didn’t know it after all these years.”
“Old Taoist Priest’s alcohol tolerance is about the same as mine. It’s late, no need to see me off. Remember to tell your master for me that today’s wine was good.”
His figure quickly disappeared after leaving the temple, leaving him with a very direct feeling. After today’s farewell, the messenger pigeons in the Fu Mo Si would probably be in trouble after Li Si returned.
“This reason isn’t appropriate. Wang Yixing was so excited at the time that he broke his head from kowtowing.”
Recalling the scene of Wang Yixing kneeling on the ground, excitedly taking him as his master, the sound of his head hitting the ground echoed in his mind. Xiang Jiannan turned his head and said to Gao Yu’an while holding his chopsticks.
He didn’t know if Wang Yixing had an affinity with the Great Dao, but he just thought that the old Taoist shouldn’t be so cruel.
Regardless of whether he was sober at the time, the fact that he agreed to take Wang Yixing as a registered disciple couldn’t be faked.
He had only just accepted him a few hours ago and was already going back on his word. Such an action would greatly hurt a good family’s son’s feelings.
The old Taoist was doing this as if he was admitting that he had no credibility. It might not matter to him, but he should think about the long term.
The disciple acceptance ceremony had already been held. It wouldn’t be so easy to get rid of him. What you sow, you shall reap.
“Why didn’t you stop Master at the time?”
Hearing Xiang Jiannan speak so sincerely, Gao Yu’an had no mood to touch his chopsticks. He couldn’t help but complain:
“If As your Teacher had wanted to accept a disciple, I would have agreed long ago. Why wait until today.”
“Disciple, you should have woken As your Teacher up.”
“I did, you couldn’t hear me.”
At this moment, feeling extremely comfortable because of the old Taoist’s annoyed expression, not knowing why he was so resistant, Xiang Jiannan helplessly spoke the truth.
He had indeed reminded his master to think twice before, but who knew that the old Taoist wouldn’t give him, Xiang Jiannan, any face.
He had originally taken Wang Yixing to find a way to refuse, but who knew that upon entering the backyard, he would see his master still sitting on the stone stool in a daze.
After Wang Yixing once again took the initiative to state his intentions, he agreed without even thinking.
Afterwards, despite his repeated dissuasion as a formal disciple, he leaned to the side and held the disciple acceptance ceremony.
“Seeing your sincere attitude, I, Gao Yu’an, will make an exception today and accept you, Wang Yixing.”
“For now, you will be this Old Taoist’s registered disciple. Hurry up and kowtow to As your Teacher and offer tea! Disciple, go boil some water…”
Although only he, Xiang Jiannan, witnessed it, the words were not light, and he even made a guarantee at the end.
“This Old Taoist has very high demands for his disciples, but since I’ve agreed, there’s no going back on my word.”
“As your Teacher was really drunk today.”
After listening to Xiang Jiannan’s soft muttering, Gao Yu’an let out a long sigh towards the sky, seemingly out of ideas.
Afterwards, his figure flickered as he returned to the house, not even eating dinner. The light in the room flickered several times.
Xiang Jiannan felt that it didn’t have to be like this.
It was just accepting a registered disciple, there was no need to make it seem like he had made a big mistake. When he really made a big mistake, the old Taoist wasn’t so melancholy.
The night passed without a word.
The next day, he got up early, carrying his broadsword and opened the temple gate. Xiang Jiannan was slightly startled by the scene before him.
A group of people were standing below the steps outside the temple, their expressions not looking good. He could basically call out all of their names, including the heads of the major households in the town.
After he walked out of the Taoist temple, the group immediately went up the steps. After greeting him, they started clamoring to go inside and talk to the old Taoist.
“Master hasn’t finished getting ready yet.”
He could feel that the crowd was suppressing their anger. When he came out to open the door, the old Taoist was practicing his fist in the backyard. Xiang Jiannan, holding his Guan Yu’s Blade in one hand, spoke up to dissuade them.
He knew it was Wang Yixing’s fault. This kid, no matter how enlightened he was, was still the town’s big loudspeaker.
The matter of taking a master yesterday must have been spread around after he returned, otherwise it wouldn’t have caused such a big commotion.
He wasn’t the only one in Ping’an Town who wanted to be the old Taoist’s disciple. He had already anticipated this situation last night.
“We just want to ask Old Taoist Priest why he didn’t notify us about such a big matter as accepting a disciple.”
“My Erniu is obsessed with Daoist arts. Today, he finally got his chance, Little Taoist Priest…”
“Senior Brother, my mother asked me to bring you some eggs. If it’s not enough, there are more at home.”
“Go, go, go, you can’t even recognize a few characters. What are you doing here, joining in the fun early in the morning? Senior Brother, sorry for disturbing you, may I ask when our master will be finished with his work?”
“Everyone, please don’t argue, let’s go inside first!”
They were completely giving Xiang Jiannan face. After several pushes and shoves, they entered Ping’an Temple. The crowd, eager to take a master, didn’t voice the resentment in their hearts.
They were very dissatisfied that Wang Yixing could become Gao Yu’an’s registered disciple. A cart driver, what right did he have?
Since he could successfully enter the old Taoist’s sect, they naturally didn’t need to say more.
Who didn’t have some comprehension?
This was not going to end well. He had accepted one Wang Yixing, and there were thousands upon thousands more.
Watching the crowd leave while holding his Guan Yu’s Blade, thinking that it wasn’t appropriate to enter the temple for a while, Xiang Jiannan smiled bitterly.
The worst had already happened. He didn’t have the ability to deal with so many people for his master. He could only choose to avoid them and wait for the temple to quiet down before doing anything else.
The old Taoist was probably worried about this yesterday as well. The best solution at the moment was probably to accept everyone in the future, to quell the public anger for now.
They were just registered disciples. One was no different from a hundred, just giving them a title. Who were these people coming now? Why was the leader also wearing a Taoist robe?
“Senior Brother, good morning!”
After getting closer, he was holding fruit in his hand. The Taoist robe on his body looked extremely awkward. Pei Dafa opened his mouth and smiled:
“I’ve already asked my family to prepare food. After the master acceptance ceremony later, you and Master can come to my house for a meal.”
“I, Pei Dafa, am not like Second Senior Brother. After taking a master, he even forgot the most basic etiquette!”
“You’re the town magistrate, how can you enter the Taoist sect!”
Not expecting that Pei Dafa would also join in the fun, thinking about the clear rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Xiang Jiannan was convinced.
Pei Dafa couldn’t possibly not know this. The town magistrate was also an official, and he had a chance in the earlier years.
“I’m not anymore starting today. Before coming here, I already submitted my resignation to the county. How can a mere town magistrate’s position compare to the Great Dao that I’m about to comprehend!”
Speaking with disdain, hearing the noise in the courtyard, Pei Dafa immediately became a little anxious. Relying on the fact that he hadn’t completely resigned, he crossed the threshold with a smile as the first one to enter.
However, the peach wood short sword on his back wasn’t secured properly. Before its owner could even enter the temple, it fell to the ground with a clang. If Xiang Jiannan hadn’t bent down and picked it up in time, it would have been crushed into pieces by the crowd in an instant.
