Lin Mu observed ng Bai closely, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"You don't like it?" he asked, his tone playful.
ng Bai imdiately shook his head, his voice hurried. "I do! I do! I do!" He repeated the words anxiously, as if afraid Lin Mu would take back whatever he had done to him.
Lin Mu chuckled. "Then that's good."
ng Bai swallowed hard, his curiosity burning. He looked down at his hands, still feeling the lingering traces of the changes within his body. "How… How did you do it, though?" he asked, hesitating before voicing his next thought. "Did you feed a ridian-expanding elixir? Or maybe a Toxin-Purging Pill?"
Lin Mu shook his head. "Nothing of that sort. I manually cleared out your ridians and infused pure Spirit Qi into you, replacing the impure Qi you had accumulated over the years."
ng Bai took a step back, his mind reeling at the revelation.
'He replaced all my Spirit Qi? My entire cultivation base, built up over years, was replaced in re minutes?' he thought, finding it utterly unbelievable.
Even legendary physicians and grandmasters of alchemy required powerful pills and elixirs to purify soone's ridians and Qi, and even then, the process was not as seamless. Yet Lin Mu had done it effortlessly, without any external aid.
'Just who is he? A divine physician? A hidden immortal? A celestial being in disguise?' ng Bai's imagination ran wild, conjuring countless possibilities.
Regardless of what Lin Mu truly was, one thing beca clear in ng Bai's mind: he could not afford to let go of such an opportunity.
'I'll hug his thigh even if it costs my life!' ng Bai resolved, his determination burning brightly in his eyes.
Without hesitation, he fell to his knees with a loud thud and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Master!" he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
Lin Mu was taken aback by the sudden action. He had not expected such an imdiate and dramatic response.
"I, ng Bai, swear to follow you to the ends of the world, even if it costs my life!" the boy declared with unwavering conviction.
For the first ti in a long while, Lin Mu found himself at a loss. He wasn't sure what to do or how to react.
A familiar voice chuckled in his mind.
"Hahahaha! Well, now you have to take responsibility," Xukong said with amusent.
Lin Mu sighed internally. "Senior," he acknowledged.
"I was deep in cultivation for just one session, and you already managed to obtain a follower? To think you would be this fast," Xukong said, his laughter still lingering.
Lin Mu shook his head slightly. "I just found him interesting, and he seed to have so talent in formations," he admitted. "I thought it would be a good experience to teach him for a bit."
Xukong's voice turned serious. "You do know what this ans, don't you? Taking in a disciple is not sothing trivial. Karma ford through such a bond is deep, and once it is sown, it cannot be uprooted so easily."
Lin Mu fell silent at those words, understanding the gravity of the situation.
In the cultivation world, it was common for powerful figures to take in disciples. Many sects were built upon such traditions, with elders and grandmasters raising countless students over their lifetis. Yet, for Lin Mu, the matter was far from simple.
He carried nurous secrets, so of which could shake the very foundation of the world if revealed. Dangers lood over him constantly, and taking in a disciple ant that person would inevitably be caught in his battles. His enemies could use them as a weakness, a leverage point against him. He wasn't the type to abandon his own, so protecting a disciple would beco yet another responsibility added to his burden.
But at the sa ti, a disciple could also beco a strength rather than a weakness. If trained well, they could beco a powerful ally, soone who could stand by his side against whatever dangers the future held.
Lin Mu took a deep breath, contemplating the decision. "Should I take him in?" he mused aloud.
Xukong's response was calm. "That is up to you. But teaching others can help you grow as well. Instructing soone else forces you to refine your own understanding, to master your techniques in ways you might never have considered before. I've learned a lot from you, too. Now I finally understand why a certain soone urged to take in a disciple long ago," he added, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
Lin Mu remained deep in thought as ng Bai continued kneeling before him, his head pressed against the ground in complete sincerity.
Minutes passed before Lin Mu finally made his decision.
'I have to face threats and challenges regardless of whether I take in a disciple or not. While having one might add to my burdens in the short term, in the long run, they could beco a valuable asset—a comrade who can stand beside .'
With that thought, Lin Mu spoke, his voice steady. "ng Bai."
ng Bai imdiately straightened, his face still lowered in reverence.
"Yes, Master!" he answered resolutely.
Lin Mu studied him carefully. "Do you truly wish to follow ?" he asked. "Know this: the path you choose will not be easy. Danger will always be close, and your life will be at risk simply by association with ."
ng Bai t Lin Mu's gaze without hesitation. "I do! No matter what dangers co, I will face them head-on. If soone dares threaten you, I will deal with them myself. And if they try to use against you, I shall gladly lay down my life!" His words rang out with unwavering resolve.
Lin Mu smiled, pleased with his courage. "Very well," he said. "Then you, ng Bai, shall be my first disciple!"
THUD! THUD! THUD!
ng Bai kowtowed thrice, his forehead hitting the ground with loud, resounding knocks.
"I, ng Bai, swear to the heavens that I shall forever be Master Lin Mu's disciple!" he vowed solemnly.
User Comments
0 comments from readers