Chapter 52: Meeting Guests

The courtyard inside was quiet, but appeared very casual, and the three people had different thoughts about the scenery. The single pool and single scene were also just ordinarily exquisite, without any fluctuations of spiritual power, unlike a great cultivator's residence.

Mister Zhuang was also different from what they imagined. Although he had a handsome and elegant appearance and had experienced the vicissitudes of wind and frost, he seemed to lack a bit of the temperament they imagined.

Aunt Xue's expression was respectful, and she was secretly pondering in her heart.

Before leaving, the Madam had shown her a portrait. In the painting, the man stood with his hands behind his back at a mountain peak, like an immortal sword whose sharpness had been fully unleashed. That kind of arrogant momentum, looking down on the world and the heavens, as if "I alone am revered," almost made people dare not look directly.

The current Mister Zhuang was lying on a bamboo chair, leisurely rocking, looking very... lazy.

If she hadn't seen the portrait, she would almost dare not believe it was the same person.

Despite this, Aunt Xue still did not dare to have the slightest contempt. She respectfully handed a token and a jade slip to Mister Zhuang.

"The Madam asked me to give this token and this letter to Mister before leaving. She said Mister will know at a glance."

Mister Zhuang looked at the token, then looked at the jade slip, and chuckled softly:

"Truly my good junior sister, still remembering me even like this, not forgetting to find trouble for me."

Mister Zhuang turned his head to Aunt Xue, "Tell your Madam when you have time, that women who scheme too much are prone to aging."

Aunt Xue lowered her head, not daring to answer.

Mister Zhuang then looked at Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, nodded and said: "Their qualifications are indeed superior, it's not unworthy..." Mister Zhuang stopped halfway through his sentence.

Aunt Xue didn't know what Mister Zhuang wanted to say, but seeing Mister Zhuang appreciate Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi's qualifications, her face involuntarily showed a joyful expression, "Then Mister..."

"I don't accept direct disciples. At most, I can make them nominal disciples." Mister Zhuang put down the jade slip, "If they are willing, they can stay. If not, they can go back."

This point was indeed within the Madam's expectations. Aunt Xue remembered the Madam's words before leaving:

"My senior brother is stubborn by nature. He will certainly do what he has promised, and no amount of begging will help with what he hasn't promised. But he can also be soft-hearted. As long as he loosens his mouth, just slowly wear him down. If you can't be a direct disciple, be a nominal one. If you can't be a nominal one, it's good enough to stay and pour tea and hand water. As long as he remembers the relationship, he will take in Zixi and Zisheng sooner or later."

Aunt Xue hurriedly said: "To be taken as a nominal disciple by Mister is already a heaven-sent opportunity, how could we be unwilling?"

"Mm," Mister Zhuang nodded, "Then the worldly rituals are exempted. Just calling me 'Mister' is enough."

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi performed the kneeling and bowing ritual to Mister Zhuang and shouted, "Greetings, Mister."

Mister Zhuang looked at the two children, his expression momentarily dazed.

He vaguely saw two children, a handsome boy and a beautiful girl, performing the apprenticeship ritual to a white-haired old man. In his ears, the children's immature voices still echoed, "Greetings, Master."

Mister Zhuang came back to his senses, a trace of self-mockery flashed across his face, and he continued:

"I don't have so many rules here. Your mother's attainments in array skills are not low, she should have taught what she should. You have also passed the age of array enlightenment and more or less have some foundation. Just learn on your own. If you have questions, come and ask me, but one point, don't disturb me when I'm closing my eyes to comprehend the dao."

"I also have a nominal disciple here, named Mo Hua. You should have seen him. Get along well with him yourselves."

After speaking, Mister Zhuang waved his hand, "Go down. Come up the mountain at Chen hour every day and go down at You hour. Other times are free. If you don't understand something, go find Mo Hua."

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi then bowed and left. The three of them left the bamboo house and arrived in the courtyard.

Aunt Xue felt that things were smoother than she had expected, so smooth that it was somewhat casual.

Moreover, she didn't know why Mister Zhuang had always refused to see them before, but after these days, he was willing to see them and simply took Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi as apprentices.

Aunt Xue frowned in confusion.

"Could it really be as that child Mo Hua said, that Mister Zhuang acts based on fate? Mister Zhuang not seeing us was because the fate had not yet arrived. Now that he has seen us, is it because the fate has arrived?"

Aunt Xue walked and walked, then saw Mo Hua sitting under the large locust tree, seriously looking at an array book on a small table.

Aunt Xue felt that Mo Hua being taken as a disciple by Mister Zhuang must have some extraordinary qualities, and Bai Zixi and Bai Zisheng also wanted to know what Mister Zhuang taught.

The three of them walked to Mo Hua's front and found that Mo Hua was staring at an array book without blinking.

Mo Hua, who was always concentrating on his book, heard the movement at this time and lifted his head, discovering it was the Bai Zisheng siblings. He then said: "You've seen Mister Zhuang?"

Aunt Xue said: "That's right. We also need to thank Young Master for your words before, otherwise, we would have probably waited in vain for many days."

"I'm not a Young Master, just call me Mo Hua." Mo Hua waved his hand, "Moreover, if you want to thank someone, you should thank Mister. It has nothing to do with me."

At this moment, Bai Zisheng, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't help but ask: "The book you are looking at... is 'Introduction to Five Elements Array Basics'?"

Mo Hua nodded.

Bai Zisheng said in confusion: "Following Mister Zhuang, you actually only learn this? This is the array enlightenment book used by children in our clan who are three or four years old..."

Mo Hua was somewhat unhappy.

Questioning himself was fine, but not questioning Mister Zhuang.

Mo Hua retorted: "Then was this book written by three or four year old children?"

Bai Zisheng was stunned for a moment, "No, it wasn't. Although these basic array books seem simple, because they involve important principles, most of them are compiled by some great cultivators who are quite accomplished in array skills."

"Since they were compiled by those great cultivators, how can they be looked down upon? The simpler things are, the deeper the principles they contain. The great dao is simplified, returning to original simplicity. Even high-level great arrays are composed of the most basic array patterns."

Mo Hua imitated Mister Zhuang, putting on a profound and mysterious appearance.

But after all, his experience was still shallow, and he only managed to learn three or four points of the demeanor, but it was enough to bluff Bai Zisheng.

Bai Zisheng suddenly realized, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Mo Hua was completely different.

However, after a moment, he said in confusion again: "Your cultivation is so low. You look like you're only two or three years younger than me and Zixi, but why do you only have Qi Refining third layer cultivation? Normally, you should at least be at Qi Refining fifth or sixth layer..."

Mo Hua felt that this person was a bit annoying. People who were full of nonsense had more to say. He still preferred the look of someone who was hungry and had no energy to speak.

Mo Hua didn't really want to pay attention to him. Aunt Xue, who was on the side, said apologetically:

"Sorry, Zisheng's words were a bit abrupt. May I ask what needs to be done when you are Mister Zhuang's disciple?"

Bai Zisheng wanted to argue about something, but Bai Zixi also glanced at him lightly, so Bai Zisheng swallowed his words back.

Mo Hua didn't mind either and said: "You don't need to do anything. Just cultivate and learn on your own every day. When Mister has free time, you can go and ask for guidance. But don't disturb Mister when he's sleeping."

Bai Zisheng couldn't help but ask: "Is Mister's attainment in array skills really high? I see that this courtyard is very ordinary and doesn't use any special arrays. Shouldn't the residences of general array masters be full of arrays?"

Mo Hua asked him back: "If Mister Zhuang's attainment in array skills wasn't high, why would you go through such hardships to become Mister Zhuang's disciple?"

Bai Zisheng said: "That's of course because..."

"Young Master!"

Aunt Xue stopped Bai Zisheng. Bai Zisheng also realized he had made a slip of the tongue, so he perfunctorily said: "Because I had only heard about it before, I haven't personally witnessed it, so I'm asking you."

"Oh~"

Mo Hua looked at him suspiciously for a moment and didn't say anything else.