Apprenticeship to Ruan Hao

Xu Xian felt wonderful; his back no longer ached, and his hands no longer hurt.

Everything was under control.

Ruan Hao took a drag from his pipe, glanced at the youth, and said leisurely, "Selling it to you wouldn't follow the rules, but just giving it to you wouldn't be reasonable. So, we need to find another way."

Xu Xian echoed, "Mhm, mhm."

"A person has to know how to be flexible, right?"

Xu Xian agreed, "Exactly."

"I thought about it. If I give it to you as an apprenticeship gift, wouldn't that be perfectly reasonable?"

Xu Xian slapped his thigh. "That's incredibly reasonable."

Ruan Hao chuckled. "Then start kowtowing."

Xu Xian didn't even think about it.

"Alright!"

He was about to kneel on the spot when he suddenly snapped out of it. He looked at Ruan Hao blankly and asked in a daze, "Senior, it's not a holiday or a festival. Why am I kowtowing?"

Ruan Hao exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Kowtowing to one's master is only natural."

Xu Xian was stunned. "Master?"

Ruan Hao said playfully, "That's right. An apprenticeship."

"Apprenticeship for what?" Xu Xian asked, knowing full well the answer.

Ruan Hao rolled his eyes and said irritably, "If you don't become my disciple, why on earth would I give you an apprenticeship gift?"

Xu Xian fell silent.

Wasn't it said that Master Ruan Hao never took outsiders as disciples, only his own family?

How come...

It changed when it came to him?

Could it be another rumor?

There was only one explanation: he was simply too outstanding.

It was unexpected, yet it made sense.

Seeing Xu Xian hesitate, Ruan Hao couldn't help but find it amusing.

The number of people who wanted to be his disciple was at least three thousand, if not ten thousand. He was a 9th-grade spirit forging master and a powerhouse at the late stage of the great ascension stage. Taking him as a master was no different from a meat pie falling from the sky.

"What, you're unwilling?"

Xu Xian looked conflicted. "Uh..."

Ruan Hao's expression became imposing, his eyes widening like copper bells. "Are you looking down on this old man?"

Xu Xian hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare."

"Then what are you hesitating for?"

Xu Xian's throat bobbed. He glanced at the forging table and said honestly, "This forging business... I'm afraid it might be a bit too bitter."

"Bitter?" Ruan Hao was puzzled. "You're afraid of hardship?"

Xu Xian said seriously, "I am!"

Ruan Hao understood. So his reluctance was because he was afraid of the hard work!

To be fair, forging was indeed very bitter work.

He laughed heartily. "Haha! It's right to be afraid. Since you're afraid, you definitely need to become my disciple."

Xu Xian didn't understand. "I don't follow?"

Ruan Hao said word for word, "I will lead you to break through your limits!"

"Uh—"

Ruan Hao urged, "Stop dazed. Kowtow."

Xu Xian looked at the old man before him. A mental battle raged in his mind before he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine!"

With that, he knelt.

"Master on high, please accept your disciple's three bows!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Ruan Hao laughed brightly. "Hahaha! Good disciple, get up!"

Xu Xian climbed to his feet.

Ruan Hao casually tossed a storage bag, which landed right against Xu Xian's chest. Xu Xian scrambled to catch it.

Ruan Hao took another puff of his pipe and said with a kindly face, "The Blazing Red Jade is yours."

Xu Xian remained calm in the face of the reward, cupping his hands in a bow.

"Thank you, Senior!"

"Hmm?" Ruan Hao's expression turned displeased.

Xu Xian quickly corrected himself, "Thank you, Master!"

Ruan Hao's face changed in a second, and he squinted. "Don't let it happen again!"

"Understood!"

Ruan Hao emptied his pipe and stood up. He patted Xu Xian's shoulder with his broad palm, showing his approval without reservation.

"Good lad, you've got a sturdy build."

Xu Xian looked up at him.

Ruan Hao walked past him toward the forging table. With a wave of his hand, the Star-Forging Hammer flew over, and he caught it easily. He examined it for a moment and said with a sigh:

"In my life, I, Ruan Hao, have only ever taken three disciples. Two were my sons, and one was my grandson. By rights, you should be the fourth. But they are no longer here, so you are my eldest disciple."

Xu Xian faced the old man and remained silent. He knew about this.

In fact, his agreement to become Ruan Hao's disciple had much to do with this matter, beyond just the items in his hands. He didn't want this poor old man to have no one to carry on his legacy.

He possessed the Pupil of Insight.

Even though he couldn't see through a cultivator at the great ascension stage yet, he could keenly capture changes in others' emotions.

Just now, when Ruan Hao wanted to take him as a disciple, he saw the expectation in the old man's eyes.

So, he agreed.

Even if... perhaps, possibly, it would be very bitter!

Besides... the scene of Ruan Zhong dying before his eyes was something he could never shake off.

That big guy had such a simple, honest smile!

Ruan Hao walked back with the heavy hammer and said to himself:

"People in the sect spread rumors that my skills aren't shared with outsiders, and that I only take my own family as disciples. Nonsense!"

"Tell me, which successful person in this world doesn't want someone to succeed them? Especially a craftsman like me."

"I didn't take any because not a single one could catch my eye. As a 9th-grade spirit forging master, I either take no one or I take the best. Being too casual would only disgrace my face and ruin my family's reputation in the future."

"Of course, my two sons and my grandson weren't that great either, but there was nothing I could do. They were my own family, my own flesh and blood. What use was there in disliking them? It wasn't too much for me to open a back door for them... But the rumors kept spreading until they said I only take family. Can you believe how ridiculous that is?"

Xu Xian rubbed his nose and agreed, "It is indeed ridiculous."

Ruan Hao stopped in front of Xu Xian and looked down at him. "You're different. You're a talent, kid. You've got great strength and a sense of righteousness. Your character is beyond reproach. I value talent, which is why I'm taking you in. Do you understand?"

Xu Xian nodded. "I understand!"

Ruan Hao's gaze softened, and he thrust the Star-Forging Hammer directly in front of Xu Xian. "Take it."

"Huh?" Xu Xian was stunned. "For me?"

"Yes!" Ruan Hao raised his voice. "From now on, you will inherit my lineage."

"But..."

To be honest, he had already taken the Blazing Red Jade. Taking this high-tier heaven-grade weapon as well made him feel genuinely awkward.

Ruan Hao didn't care about any of that. He was as stubborn as iron and shouted out loud.

"Xu Xian."

"Present."

"Take the hammer!"

"Yes!"

Xu Xian stopped hesitating and took the Star-Forging Hammer with both hands. For some reason, at that moment, he felt the hammer in his hands was even heavier than when he had held it with one hand earlier.

Ruan Hao stood with his hands behind his back, his face full of kindness. He laughed heartily.

"Alright, go build your tower. When you're done with your business, come report to me!"

Xu Xian stowed away the Star-Forging Hammer and gave a deep, formal bow.

"This disciple shall obey Master's command!"

Ruan Hao looked up at the sky and laughed.

Xu Xian bid farewell to Ruan Hao and left the forging workshop.

Ruan Hao watched him from the courtyard until his silhouette completely vanished at the end of his vision before looking away.

He muttered to himself, "Tsk tsk, what an imposing young man. He's exactly like I was in my youth!"

Even though Xu Xian had taken two of his treasures, Ruan Hao was in an excellent mood.

It was the most refreshing day he had had in a long time.

After leaving the forging workshop, Xu Xian flew off on the wind, feeling deeply moved along the way.

Recalling what had just happened, he couldn't help but whisper:

"There really is no comparing one person to another."

Becoming the Sword Ancestor's disciple got him absolutely nothing; he had to be self-reliant.

Becoming Ruan Hao's disciple resulted in treasures being shoved in his face until his hands were full.

Where was the logic in that? He didn't think too much about it, but he didn't feel it was a bad thing either.

One more master meant one more path.

Moreover, Ruan Hao was a Guest Elder, so it didn't conflict with the sect's disciple system.

Feeling the bag at his waist, the youth was full of spirit.

"The stage is set. The Sword Tower can be completed!"