After hearing Hong Xiaoduo's words, Quan Jinghuai looked at her again: "We've only just met, are you really going to let them become my disciples?"
Hong Xiaoduo nodded: "Don't worry, I don't rely on time to see people's true character, but on my own feelings."
"Alright, with your words of encouragement, Madam Hong, I will accept these seven as my disciples today. I assure you, as long as they are willing to learn, I will teach them everything I have learned in my life without reservation." Quan Jinghuai was thrilled to see how much she trusted him.
"In that case, let's quickly say something to them as a teacher and get them up. The ground is too cold," Hong Xiaoduo reminded them with a touch of concern.
"Get up, everyone. This is my first time taking on apprentices, and I haven't made any preparations. I'll think about the teachings and instructions for you later." After Quan Jinghuai finished speaking, he reached out and picked up the youngest, Yaoguang.
Taking on apprentices is a big deal and a very serious matter. Even if you are excited at this moment, the rules still need to be set properly.
"Yes, Master." Tian Shu responded and stood up, and the other children followed suit and stood up as well.
Hong Xiaoduo reached out and took Yao Guang: "You want to learn too? Learning kung fu is tough."
Yao Guang said very seriously, "Mother, Yao Guang wants to learn. I'm not afraid of hardship. I want to become as powerful as you. In the future, when we encounter bad people, you can rest while I deal with them."
Hong Xiaoduo laughed and coaxed, "Yaoguang, it's not too late to say you don't want to learn now, but once you learn, you can't go back on your word."
Although she felt sorry for the children kneeling on the cold ground, Hong Xiaoduo knew that learning martial arts was a very difficult thing. Since they had already become apprentices to a master, she could only keep her heartache to herself no matter how he taught them.
"Mother, Yaoguang wants to learn, and Yaoguang will not go back on her word." Yaoguang stated very firmly.
Seeing her like this, Hong Xiaoduo didn't say anything more. It's good for a girl to learn kung fu so she can protect herself in the future.
"Alright, now that you've accepted a master, quickly line up and tell your master your names," Hong Xiaoduo said to the children as she put Yaoguang down.
"Disciple Hong Tianshu."
"Disciple Hong Tianxuan."
"Disciple Hong Tianji."
"Disciple Hong Tianquan."
"Disciple Hong Yuheng."
"Disciple Hong Kaiyang."
"Disciple Hong Yaoguang." The seven children stepped forward one by one to introduce themselves.
Looking at the seven handsome and spirited disciples, Quan Jinghuai grew increasingly pleased. After the seven disciples introduced themselves, he seemed to remember something and looked at Hong Xiaoduo: "The Big Dipper?"
Hong Xiaoduo smiled and nodded: "They didn't originally have official names, and there were exactly seven of them, so..."
"That sounds nice. They've all taken your surname now?" he asked again.
“Then how about we let them take your surname, Quan?” Hong Xiaoduo said generously.
"No, we'll take the surname Hong." Before Quan Jinghuai could say anything, Tian Shu spoke up first.
“We want to take our mother’s surname, Hong.” The other children immediately echoed.
Upon hearing this, Quan Jinghuai quickly said, "There's no need to change the surname; Hong is fine." Good heavens, he had only asked casually; he hadn't actually suggested that the children change their surname!
Even so, seeing the children's intense reaction, Quan Jinghuai still felt a little uncomfortable.
As the master, I am still no match for them, the "mothers"!
"Alright, alright, it's getting late, go and get some rest. I won't interfere with the kung fu practice starting tomorrow," Hong Xiaoduo urged the children.
Upon hearing this, the children said goodbye to their newly appointed master and went back to their tents to sleep.
"Hong Niangzi, you should go and rest too." Quan Jinghuai said when he saw Hong Xiaoduo adding water to the teapot again, showing no intention of resting.
Hong Xiaoduo retorted, "It's alright, you go to sleep. I'll stay here and catch up on sleep in the carriage during the day."
"Have you led them all this way like this?" Quan Jinghuai refrained from asking as soon as he heard this.
“No, not really. I rested with them when we stayed at the inn, but I’m worried about leaving them alone in the wilderness like this,” Hong Xiaoduo told her.
After hearing this, Quan Jinghuai felt even more sorry for her: "That was before. Now you have Quan Mou, so go in and get some rest."
"Then how about I wake up in the middle of the night and take your place?" Hong Xiaoduo still felt embarrassed about that.
"Don't worry, I'm a martial artist, I'll sense danger and wake up on my own," Quan Jinghuai said.
"Oh, I see." Hong Xiaoduo thought for a moment, then got up and walked towards the tent. After a few steps, she turned back and said, "From now on, call me Xiaoduo. You are their master now, so we are all on the same side."
"Okay," Quan Jinghuai replied with a smile.
After entering the tent and extinguishing the lantern, I lay down next to Yao Guang. Although the idea of having the children worship their master tonight was impromptu and somewhat hasty, the more I think about it now, the more I realize how wise I was.
Even if we don't say that the children can learn martial arts, they will be able to protect themselves and each other when they encounter danger in the future.
Most importantly, people in ancient times valued the relationship between teachers and students, and there was a saying that teachers and students were like fathers and sons.
With a master, even if the seven children suddenly disappear and leave this dynasty, wouldn't they still have their master's protection?
Hong Xiaoduo quickly fell asleep, but Quan Jinghuai, lying in a simple tent outside, was wide awake.
How did I become a master? How did I end up with seven disciples? It feels like a dream.
The eldest disciple is fifty years old this year, and he has only taken on three disciples.
My master, who is nearly eighty years old, has only taken in eleven disciples in his entire life. Yet, I, his last disciple, have taken in seven of them all at once!
When Master celebrates his 80th birthday, I'll take these seven young disciples to wish him a happy birthday. He'll be very pleased.
Before going to sleep, Hong Xiaoduo was thinking that when the seven children were learning martial arts in the future, she could also learn from them.
However, the next morning, she was the last one to get up again.
She opened her eyes, got up, and lifted the tent flap, seeing the children already practicing horse stance with their master.
"Mother's awake?" Yao Guang called out when she saw Hong Xiaoduo.
Upon hearing this, the other children immediately stood up straight and ran towards her, some bringing her water, some going into the tent to tidy up their bedding, and some taking down the tent.
On his first day as a master, Quan Jinghuai had just begun to get the hang of the job when his youngest disciple, Yaoguang, cried out "Mother!" and the disciples, who had been squatting in a horse stance very seriously, immediately dispersed.
Looking at the busy disciples, Quan Jinghuai felt extremely complicated and couldn't put his mind at ease. He and his fellow disciples were not like this at all!
The other disciples of the senior brothers are not like this!
When practicing martial arts, even if it's hailing from the sky, the disciple will remain standing still unless the master speaks.
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