146: Chapter 146 Could Junior Sister Be an Illegitimate Child?

No!

This couldn't be a test from the Grandmaster.

Although she was young, she wasn't an innocent girl who knew nothing of the world.

How could a Grandmaster take their grand-Disciple as a Disciple?

But if this truly was the Grandmaster's assessment...

Then should she refuse?

Pei Siyao's eyes were filled with anxiety as she looked around, seeking a correct answer.

In the next moment, her gaze fell upon Xiong Hongyou.

This cheap Revered Master of hers had to give her at least some hint.

However, when she looked over, Xiong Hongyou's mouth twitched slightly without making a sound.

In fact, just as Xiong Hongyou was about to open his mouth, a sharp gaze landed on him, making a chill run down his spine.

How could Xiong Hongyou not know? This was his Revered Master's version of "affection."

Unable to get the answer she wanted from Xiong Hongyou, Pei Siyao could only brace herself and ask, "Are you not my Grandmaster?"

Master Tianlan did not answer Pei Siyao's question directly. Instead, he turned to Xiong Hongyou and said, "Xiong Hongyou, you brat, you haven't even finished your own apprenticeship. Why are you trying to take a Disciple?"

Xiong Hongyou said with a face full of grievance, "Revered Master, didn't you say I was idling around every day? You said the Legacy of our Xunfeng Lineage was on the verge of being severed and told me to take a Disciple as soon as possible to settle my mind."

Master Tianlan said, "I am still alive and well; how could the Xunfeng Legacy be severed? It seems you, brat, have been badmouthing your Revered Master behind my back quite a bit. It's a good thing I discovered it in time."

"Our Xunfeng Lineage has strict requirements for taking Disciples. How can it be done so haphazardly? To enter my Xunfeng Lineage, one must be personally assessed by me."

Xiong Hongyou defended himself, "Revered Master, you never said that before. How about this? Let's let it slide this time. In the future, if I take another Disciple, you can assess them personally."

Master Tianlan raised an eyebrow and glared at Xiong Hongyou. "Let it slide? I haven't even punished you yet, and you're already pushing your luck. From now on, if you dare say another word, I'll punish you by sending you to the Cliff of Reflection."

Xiong Hongyou lowered his head and muttered, "You said..."

At this moment, Xiong Hongyou felt something collapsing in his heart.

Usually, didn't his Revered Master grant his every request?

Wasn't he his Revered Master's most pampered little Disciple?

What was wrong today?

Revered Master actually wanted to punish him by sending him to the Cliff of Reflection.

To the side, Yun Hong watched all of this silently, a hint of sympathy appearing in his eyes.

Once upon a time, was he not the same? Back then, like Xiong Hongyou, he had also been the Junior Brother.

But now, he had been reduced to a mere tool for playing chess.

Presumably, his Junior Brother would walk the same path as him.

The past was too painful to recall.

This drop from heaven to Hell...

This Senior Brother has already endured it for thirty years.

Junior Brother, I'm waiting for you to join me.

As if sensing Yun Hong's gaze, Xiong Hongyou turned back and looked at him.

Their eyes met, and both saw that subtle, imperceptible sense of mutual recognition in the other's gaze.

It was as if the fates of the two were intertwined.

At that moment, Master Tianlan looked at Pei Siyao again, his face full of a kind smile. "Xiong Hongyou took a Disciple without my permission and didn't hold a formal apprenticeship banquet, so the Revered Master-Disciple relationship between you two doesn't count."

Now, Pei Siyao finally understood. This white-bearded old man truly wanted to take her as his Disciple.

A Xiantian Master taking the initiative to accept a Disciple...

This was a scenario so many Martial Artists would fight tooth and nail for, something they couldn't even dream of. Yet, Pei Siyao did not agree immediately.

If other Martial Artists saw this scene, they would likely be driven mad with jealousy.

Even if one's ancestral graves were smoking with good luck, they might not encounter such an opportunity.

Pei Siyao hesitated for a moment before slowly asking, "Then... do I need to pass an assessment before I can join your sect?"

Master Tianlan said with a benevolent face, "If others were to join my sect, they would naturally need an assessment, but you do not."

Listening to their Revered Master's words, Yun Hong and Xiong Hongyou couldn't help but grumble in their hearts.

Was this even human speech?

What did he mean by saying *they* needed assessments?

This differential treatment—was this really the gap between people?

They were his real Disciples!

If they weren't people of this era, they would have definitely burst out with profanities.

Double standards! Absolute double standards!

They remembered that when they first joined the sect, Revered Master was nowhere near this pleasant and kind.

Anyone else would have definitely agreed in a heartbeat.

But Pei Siyao still asked cautiously, "Then... do you have any requirements for me?"

Facing a Xiantian Master, she was still somewhat nervous.

In truth, having a Grandmaster of Meridians as a Revered Master already satisfied her. What she worried about more was that a Xiantian Master, with such high status and great strength, might have even stricter requirements.

If she couldn't meet them, would she be punished like the two pitiful Senior Brothers beside her?

Master Tianlan said, "To enter my sect, I have only one requirement for you: you must not betray your Revered Master, destroy the lineage, or harm your fellow Disciples."

One couldn't say this requirement was low; it was the most basic rule imaginable.

What kind of requirement was that?

Hearing this, both Yun Hong and Xiong Hongyou couldn't help but roll their eyes.

If they hadn't joined the sect first, they might have actually believed him.

Wasn't this...

Aren't there eighteen sect rules...

At this moment, Pei Siyao no longer hesitated and respectfully performed a salutation. "Disciple Pei Siyao pays respects to Revered Master."

Master Tianlan was extremely happy and laughed loudly. "Hahaha! From today onwards, you are the ninth Disciple under my, Tianlan's, name. Take this token first. Within the Academy, if anyone dares to make things difficult for you, just take out this token. Of course, if you encounter other troubles while I am away, you can also take this token to seek help from other Academy Elders."

In the next moment, Master Tianlan flicked out a token. The token hovered in mid-air, flew forward rapidly, and landed with unerring precision in Pei Siyao's palm.

Although Pei Siyao didn't know the significance of this token, hearing Master Tianlan's words, she understood that it was likely an identification plaque of sorts.

Taking the token, Pei Siyao immediately thanked him, "Thank you for your kindness, Revered Master."

After giving her thanks, Pei Siyao finally examined the token in her hand.

The token was a simple, dark gold color, hard and heavy in texture. The front was carved with complex and mysterious patterns, resembling mountains and rivers, or perhaps the arrangement of stars, faintly exuding an extraordinary aura. On the back, an ancient seal script character was engraved; though the strokes were slightly worn, she could still recognize the form of the character: Lan.

"Lan... does it represent Revered Master's lineage?" Pei Siyao wondered to herself, but she didn't ask directly.

Pei Siyao didn't know the meaning of the token, but how could Yun Hong and Xiong Hongyou not know?

They never expected that Revered Master would give his personal token directly to the Junior Sister.

This was not the normal treatment for a Disciple.

The two looked at each other, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

The Junior Sister couldn't be Revered Master's illegitimate daughter, could she?