47: Apprenticeship at Chaoyang Cave

After Qin Yue listened to the conversation between Teacher Yan and the Senior Brother guarding the gate, he developed a good impression of Chaoyang Cave!

The young man's casual attitude in handling matters indicated that the owner of Chaoyang Cave was very lenient in managing his Disciples.

Perhaps a strict Master could teach more accomplished Disciples, but Qin Yue didn't need a Master's supervision at all.

He felt that a relaxed environment would allow him to Cultivate freely according to his own wishes.

Qin Yue's estimation from outside the garden was correct; the garden was indeed very large. Although Teacher Yan and Qin Yue found it inconvenient to run in someone else's residence, they weren't slow just walking!

Even at such a fast pace, they still walked for twenty minutes before reaching Immortal Master Yan's Alchemy Room.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Alchemy Room, Teacher Yan stepped forward and knocked. The door was opened by a young man in a scholar's robe. Seeing Teacher Yan, the young man cupped his fists and bowed, saying,

"Senior Brother Yan, are you looking for Master? Master is currently refining medicine and will only be able to see guests after a while."

After speaking, the young man in the scholar's robe exited the Alchemy Room, closed the door behind him, and then said to Teacher Yan and Qin Yue, "Senior Brother Yan, please come with me to the garden to wait! Master will come to find us after he finishes refining medicine!"

The Senior Brother spoke softly, but his actions were not at all sluggish. After speaking, he led Teacher Yan and Qin Yue out of the Alchemy Room's courtyard, turning a few corners until they reached a garden.

The garden was enormous, with exotic flowers and plants, rockeries and pavilions, trees and ponds, and birds, insects, and fish.

In Qin Yue's eyes, this garden was even more beautiful than some tourist attractions in his previous life.

The young man led Teacher Yan and Qin Yue into the pavilion, then went to fetch a teapot and tea set. While boiling water and brewing tea, he chatted idly with Teacher Yan.

This young man was not at all as timid as his appearance suggested; instead, he was very talkative. For a time, Teacher Yan and he chatted happily, and time passed unknowingly.

Qin Yue, listening from the side, also felt he had gained a lot of knowledge. Just then, he heard someone walking from the direction they had come. He turned his head to look at the intersection of the path.

The young man and Teacher Yan, seeing him turn, also looked in that direction. A middle-aged man of medium height, slightly plump, and richly dressed emerged from the intersection.

Teacher Yan and the young man both stood up, one calling him Elder Brother and the other calling him Master, both cupping their fists in salute.

Seeing this, Qin Yue knew this was Teacher Yan's cousin. But why was Teacher Yan's cousin so much younger than Teacher Yan?

He saw Teacher Yan stand up and followed suit. However, he didn't know how to address him appropriately, as he hadn't formally become a Disciple yet, so he just cupped his fists without speaking.

"Zhongli, why have you come? Didn't you accept a teaching assignment from the Martial Arts Academy? It shouldn't be finished yet!"

This was also the first time Qin Yue learned that Teacher Yan's name was Yan Zhongli.

Teacher Yan, seeing his Elder Brother ask him, showed a boastful expression,

"Elder Brother, the teaching assignment is indeed not yet complete. However, during this assignment, I discovered a truly promising talent.

This is the student I taught during this assignment. He Broke Through to the Liquid Transformation Realm at the Body Refinement Stage Two at an age of less than sixteen. This is a young Genius that hasn't appeared on Pill Refining Peak for many years.

Today, I brought him here for Elder Brother to see.

Although Elder Brother is known for turning stone into gold in teaching Disciples, my teaching is not inferior to yours, is it!"

Teacher Yan said, pointing at Qin Yue.

Teacher Yan's Elder Brother looked at Qin Yue.

He naturally knew what his cousin meant. Students graduating from the Martial Arts Academy needed to become a Disciple of a Divine Intent Realm Immortal Master, and his cousin did not have the qualification to accept Disciples. So, his cousin's visit this time was likely to have his student become his Disciple.

"Hmm, at such a young age, to be able to Breakthrough to the Liquid Transformation Realm at the Body Refinement Stage Two without haste, is indeed not easy. However, when I accept Disciples, I value character more than Aptitude. Since my cousin introduced you, I will first accept you as a Named Disciple. I will decide whether to accept you as an official Disciple based on your future performance. What do you think?"

Qin Yue glanced at Teacher Yan, who gave him no reaction. He knew Teacher Yan meant for him to decide for himself.

Qin Yue recalled all the things he had seen and heard since entering Chaoyang Cave. He no longer hesitated, knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and said, "Master above, please accept this Disciple's bow!"

This was actually Qin Yue's first Master in the true sense. Master Zhao in Shiqiao Village and Teacher Yan in the Martial Arts Academy were only teachers who taught him martial arts and Medicine Refining.

But this Master was different. Although he was only a Named Disciple now, once this Master was acknowledged, Qin Yue would be bound to Chaoyang Cave, sharing its prosperity and decline.

Seeing Qin Yue bow, Teacher Yan's Elder Brother nodded, "Rise. From today onwards, you are my, Yan Zhongyi's, Named Disciple."

Then he said to the young man in the scholar's robe, "Jiang Shang, take your new Junior Brother to arrange his living quarters and explain the rules of Chaoyang Cave to him."

"Yes, Master!"

After replying to Master, Jiang Shang turned to Qin Yue, "Come with me, Junior Brother Qin!"

Qin Yue first bid farewell to Teacher Yan, then took his luggage, sword, and followed Senior Brother Jiang Shang, turning and leaving the garden.

Walking behind Jiang Shang, Qin Yue felt a little reluctant. Bidding farewell to Teacher Yan so easily made him feel a bit down. The months of their acquaintance had made him truly regard this amiable old man as the closest person he had since his Transmigration. This teacher's selfless dedication had also given him a true sense of belonging in this world he had Transmigrated to.

However, Qin Yue wasn't worried about not seeing Teacher Yan again, because his newly acknowledged Master was Teacher Yan's cousin, and he believed they would have many opportunities to interact in the future.

After leaving the garden and walking a short distance, Senior Brother Jiang Shang led him to a small courtyard. Although this courtyard was more beautifully built, its layout was similar to what Qin Yue had in the Martial Arts Academy, with one room and a small courtyard, except that there were two more rooms compared to his time at the Martial Arts Academy.

Perhaps due to the needs of a Martial Artist's Cultivation, Qin Yue had lived in such houses with small courtyards all the way from Shiqiao Village.

"This will be your residence from now on, Junior Brother. Other Senior Brothers also live nearby, and you can visit them anytime.

The rules of Chaoyang Cave are actually quite simple, but there are a few key ones you must remember: first, you cannot betray your Master or ancestors; second, you cannot harm fellow Disciples; third, you cannot bully the weak; and fourth, you cannot collude with demons. These four are ironclad rules and cannot be violated. Everything else is minor.

Chaoyang Cave has no servants; we do everything ourselves. I will assign the tasks in the garden. Once I've prepared the new task list, I'll give it to you.

Everyone eats together, two meals a day, starting at 8 AM and 6 PM. We take turns cooking, each person for a week. If someone is on a mission, it will be postponed to the next person.

Mealtime is also our question-and-answer time. If you have any questions during Cultivation or Medicine Refining, you can bring them up during meals.

At other times, it's best not to disturb Master too much. If you have an urgent question, you can find me first, or you can find other Senior Brothers.

That's all for now. If Junior Brother has no other matters, please rest first. I will come to find you when it's time to eat and take you to the dining hall."