"Master, let me go for the next match."
After inspecting the betting operations that An Yi and his group had set up at the casino, Xiang Wan, carrying a large bag of silver, immediately placed bets on the upcoming sect competition. Tu Hongye followed behind her, hurriedly making requests to her.
Xiang Wan glanced at him sideways but didn't say anything.
Xiang Wan knew a thing or two about what this kid was thinking. He didn't want the Three Pure Ones Sect to grow stronger, so he would definitely lose this competition. She had to think of a way to force Tu Hongye to win.
Educating dissenting disciples directly with force is both physically and emotionally damaging. A more subtle approach, like using a softer, more gentle method, is less effective and presents a real challenge.
The casino was quite crowded, and Xiang Wan's continued betting attracted a lot of attention. After she left, people came over one after another, all asking about the betting amounts.
"Disciple, what is the tenet of my Three Pure Ones Sect?" Xiang Wan walked solemnly down the street after leaving the gambling den.
The weather was sunny today, and the streets were bustling and lively.
Asking this question out of the blue, Tu Hongye frowned and thought for a moment before replying, "Exorcising evil spirits and vanquishing demons?"
Xiang Wan remained noncommittal, then pointed to the kite stall beside her, "Look what's that?"
Where she pointed, a group of bright and pretty girls were watching kites, their faces radiant with youthful energy.
Tu Hongye was puzzled. "They're just a group of girls, aren't they?"
"Heaven and earth are divided into upper and lower, and all things are divided into yin and yang. Only when yin and yang are in harmony can all things be born, and humans are no exception. The Daoist teachings say that women are yin and men are yang. When yang is dominant and yin is weak, it leads to violence; when yin is dominant and yang is weak, it leads to gentleness. Hong'er, I see that you have been too fiery these days. If you cannot release your murderous energy in the competition, then I will choose a good marriage for you. Only when yin and yang are in harmony can the teachings of our Sanqing Sect be passed on. If you have a son or daughter, they can also inherit your mantle. The Sanqing Sect is not like the Pingyang Sect or the Qingshui Sect, which only focus on one side. At that time, I will name your child and teach him carefully, so that our Sanqing Sect will have a successor."
The sun was blazing, and standing in the street for a while would make you sweat profusely, but Tu Hongye felt inexplicably cold all over, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
"Master, what did you say? Say it again!" Tu Hongye squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, his eyes no longer seeing the surrounding turmoil.
“Hong’er, you’ve reached the age where you can get married. I’d like to take this opportunity to find you a good girl,” Xiang Wan said earnestly.
"You want to kick me out?" Tu Hongye roared, his eyes instantly turning red. "Just because I stopped you, you want to kick me out?"
"Hong'er, your teacher..."
"Is establishing the Sanqing Sect so important to you that you can even abandon so many years of master-disciple relationship?"
"No, listen to me..."
"I've done so much for you, and in the end, I'm not even as good as a street thug. What use am I to you? What use am I to you?"
"You've misunderstood, I just wanted to..."
"Since I was five years old, you have been my only family, Master. Now, for the sake of the sect competition, you want to abandon me. You're so kind!"
Xiang Wan really didn't want to admit that this was the disciple she had painstakingly taught, who would suddenly think such inappropriate things at the slightest disagreement and become so extreme.
"My disciple? Hongye!"
Xiang Wan grabbed Tu Hongye, who was about to explode, and dragged him to a secluded street corner. How could she possibly manage someone so irritable and easily angered, who only listened to half of what she said?
"Tu Hongye, listen to me carefully. Now that I've accepted you as my disciple, you can only ever be my apprentice for the rest of your life!"
She shoved Tu Hongye against the wall, and Xiang Wan spoke to him with extreme emphasis, each word spoken with utmost seriousness.
Things were fine before; a few words were enough. There was no need for all this coaxing and promises now. It's giving me a headache!
Tu Hongye slowly raised his stiff head, the hurt in his eyes stimulating Xiang Wan's nerves.
He hugged Xiang Wan tightly, resting his chin on her shoulder, and choked out, "Master, don't abandon me."
"Okay, we won't abandon them."
Xiang Wan gently patted his back, softly comforting him.
I just wanted to motivate my apprentice to work harder, but how did I end up touching on his sensitive spot?
Besides, even after he got married, he was still her apprentice. How could that be considered abandoning him?
At this point, Xiang Wan no longer wanted to explain.
Explanations are useless; I doubt Tu Hongye would listen anyway.
"I don't want to get married, I just want to stay by my master's side."
That coquettish tone inexplicably warmed Xiang Wan's heart.
"Alright, if you meet someone you like in the future, I'll..."
"No, I never want to get married in my life."
Feeling awkward, Xiang Wan comforted her with amusement, "Don't speak too definitively. Let's talk about it later, okay?"
Why worry about this? When he grows up and realizes how good women are, he'll definitely stop thinking this way.
Xiang Wan comforted her young apprentice, and also comforted herself.
Tu Hongye held Xiang Wan tightly, his eyes deep and dark as ink, hidden from her view.
After one round of competition, many sects were eliminated. Among the remaining sects, in addition to the top three sects and some established sects, there were also quite a few new talents like Xiang Wan.
During the preparation for the second competition, many sects extended olive branches to Xiang Wan, wanting to recruit her into their sects, but Xiang Wan politely declined them all.
The first round was just a trial run; many people hadn't yet shown their true abilities, so the three major sects naturally had no intention of recruiting them. However, other slightly weaker sects were trying every means to lure people in. Who knows, they might just stumble upon a great opportunity?
Of course, Xiang Wan also wanted to recruit people, but she wasn't so direct. Anyone she deemed worthy of consideration had to possess both intelligence and good character. Even if their own abilities weren't particularly outstanding, as long as they were properly trained and placed in the right position, they could play a significant role.
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