Chapter Fifty-Six: Teacher

"Failure in your duties—go and accept your punishment yourself!"

From within the thatched hut, Chang Kong's stern voice echoed. The young man in the purple robe trembled involuntarily, then lowered his head. "Yes."

Shen Qingyun watched him descend the mountain, clutching his left eye, without the slightest ripple of emotion. Such an injury was nothing to a cultivator. With a touch of spiritual power, it would heal easily, leaving no lasting effect.

"Come in!"

Once the young man had gone down the mountain, Chang Kong's voice sounded again, this time directed at Shen Qingyun.

Shen Qingyun ran his hand lightly over his head and strode toward the hut.

Stepping inside, he found the interior far more spacious than the exterior suggested. Within, it rivaled the quarters of an ordinary inner sect disciple, though from outside, it appeared only four-fifths as large.

A small wooden table with two chairs stood in the room, a tea set arranged atop it. There was also a bookshelf and a bed—nothing more.

"You just walk in like that? Aren't you afraid I might have set up more challenges to trouble you?"

Seated cross-legged on the bed, Chang Kong's eyes remained half-closed as he spoke in an indifferent tone.

Shen Qingyun turned to face him, replying with a question: "Would the Grand Elder stoop to such deeds?"

Clearly, Chang Kong hadn't expected such a response. After a pause, he answered slowly, "Naturally, I would not."

Smiling, Shen Qingyun dropped himself into one of the small chairs. "Since the Grand Elder holds himself above such actions, what is there for me to fear?"

Then his smile faded, his expression turning solemn and dignified. He picked up a teacup and turned it absently in his hand. "But, Grand Elder, your recent actions have left me quite puzzled."

"In what way?"

Chang Kong, eyes still closed, responded with a question.

"The meaning."

Shen Qingyun glanced at him sidelong. "What is the purpose? If the Grand Elder wishes to test my abilities, you could do so yourself. Sending those inexperienced juniors—what amusement is there in that?"

There was nothing inherently wrong with Shen Qingyun’s words. Even if those disciples were at the Spirit Aspect realm, while he was only at the Qi Refining stage, if he wished, they'd be nothing more than punching bags.

Yet to the listener, it was a different matter. Chang Kong immediately caught the implication in Shen Qingyun's words. He opened his eyes, gaze sharp as a blade. "So, little one, you finally admit you’re an old monster occupying a new body?"

Chang Kong’s words were entirely within Shen Qingyun’s expectations. He chuckled softly. "If that’s what you wish to believe, Grand Elder, I have nothing more to say. But what I said before still stands: if you seek answers, you must pay the price. And you must consider—are you willing to pay that price?"

At these words, Chang Kong frowned. Shen Qingyun’s vague yet unmistakably threatening response left him feeling, for the moment, at a loss.

But this had never been his true objective anyway.

With a long sigh, Chang Kong said, "Enough. Who you are no longer matters."

Upon hearing Chang Kong’s sigh, Shen Qingyun’s lips curled up. "Then why did the Grand Elder summon me here? What is it you truly want?"

Since Shen Qingyun had broached the subject, Chang Kong spoke plainly. "Would you be willing to take me as your master?"

Shen Qingyun was slightly moved, and a trace of disdain flickered in his heart, though outwardly he showed nothing. "Does the Grand Elder really think I need to take you as my master?"

Chang Kong’s face remained unchanged, but he couldn’t help feeling both awkward and disappointed. He, the mighty Grand Elder of the Cangyun Sect, had lowered himself to ask for a disciple, only to be rebuffed.

Still, this was within expectations. Based on what he knew of Shen Qingyun, the young man had no need for a master. All he lacked were cultivation resources...

Resources?

The thought suddenly struck Chang Kong, and his mind began to turn.

"Don’t you want to know the benefits of taking me as your master?" he asked.

"No."

Shen Qingyun refused without hesitation, somewhat bemused. Was something wrong with this old man? Why was he so insistent on taking him as a disciple?

"I see."

A note of disappointment appeared on Chang Kong’s face, and he sighed.

Seeing this, Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but ask, "Why are you so eager to take me as your disciple?"

"Because you’re different from the other Cangyun disciples," Chang Kong replied. It was rare for him to desire a disciple after so many years, only to be refused.

Ah, the taste of disappointment...

"Different?" Shen Qingyun raised an eyebrow. "In what way?"

"You’re not afraid of me," Chang Kong said slowly. "Unlike the others, you remain calm not just before other elders, but even before me."

"I have taken on many disciples, but all of them fear me. So, I wish to take on a disciple who does not—one last disciple."

You could just be less severe, and your disciples wouldn’t fear you, Shen Qingyun thought silently.

Running a hand over his head, he said, "I will not take a master lightly. There are few in this world who can truly teach me. Until I meet one, I will not take a master."

He did not add that there might be none left in the world who could teach him—it would sound too arrogant. Even as it was, his words already bordered on arrogance.

Chang Kong almost wanted to rebuke him—did he know how vast the world was, and how many mighty figures there were? Yet he held his tongue. After all, even he could not teach Shen Qingyun...

Recalling the reactions of the elders in the Hall of Discipline, Shen Qingyun spoke again, "If I were to take you as my master, what would I gain?"

At this, Chang Kong’s eyes lit up. He cleared his throat. "There would be no shortage of benefits. I am the Grand Elder of the Cangyun Sect. If you became my disciple, your status would be beyond compare."

"But that’s not all. As my disciple, you would have privileges in many areas."

He paused, then emphasized, "Especially in terms of resources—you would receive far more than others!"

Seeing Chang Kong’s eagerness, Shen Qingyun was both amused and exasperated. Just how badly did he want him as a disciple? Still, he would be disappointed.

Shen Qingyun stroked his chin thoughtfully. The promise of superior resources was, admittedly, tempting.

He composed himself. "Perhaps there’s a compromise."

"Compromise?" Chang Kong was taken aback. "What kind of compromise?"

"I need cultivation resources, and the condition is that I must be your disciple, correct?"

Chang Kong nodded.

"Outwardly, I can address you as ‘Master.’ You can even announce to others that I am your disciple. But in truth, I won’t have performed the formal rites of apprenticeship. Would that suffice?"

Chang Kong considered it. To stabilize things for now, this arrangement would do. With careful cultivation, turning a nominal disciple into a genuine one would only be a matter of time. He nodded in agreement. "Very well, let’s do as you propose."

Thus, each harbored their own intentions.