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Chapter 1: I Don't Want to Take on Disciples, But He Offered Too Much
Chapter 1: I Don't Want to Take on Disciples, But He Offered Too Much
"Master, here is my gift for you as your disciple!"
The young man respectfully placed three purple sandalwood boxes in front of Li Xuan.
"You've got the wrong idea. I'm not some reclusive master, and I don't take disciples. Please take your gifts back."
Li Xuan replied with a slight headache.
The young man's name was Xu Yan, a rich young master from the county town. His family background made Li Xuan, who had traveled from another world, envious. However, Xu Yan wasn't the brightest, mistaking him for a reclusive master and insisting on becoming his disciple.
It had been over a decade since he traveled to this world. With no system or cheats to aid him, he hadn't even ventured beyond the small mountain village. To make matters worse, he was now the only one left in the village.
The village was surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides, with only a narrow passageway about ten feet wide as an entrance. It was an ideal place for those seeking seclusion. The village's ancestors had moved here to escape the wars that ravaged the land.
Nowadays, with no wars to worry about, the younger generation in the village yearned for more than a mundane life in the mountains. One by one, they left to seek their fortunes elsewhere.
The nearest town was a hundred miles away, and the journey was treacherous, especially as it involved passing through a dense forest known for its vicious tigers and beasts.
Over the years, the village's population dwindled. By the time Li Xuan arrived, there were only about a dozen households left, mostly consisting of elderly residents.
Including Li Xuan, there were only five young men in the village, and none of them were content to stay. They all dreamed of leaving the village to seek a better life in the city, and Li Xuan was no exception.
However, the journey was perilous, especially the thirty-mile stretch of the Evil Forest, known for its savage tigers and beasts. Several young men from the village had lost their lives there.
One day, ten years ago, a villager who had left to seek his fortune returned. He came back to take his mother to the city, claiming that he had learned a technique to kill tigers and that he was no longer afraid of the tigers in the Evil Forest.
So Li Xuan and a few other young men from the village set out with him.
While the Evil Forest was notorious for its tigers and beasts, with luck, one could pass through unharmed and avoid any encounters.
Li Xuan's group was not so lucky.
A majestic tiger with a mottled coat appeared.
The man who claimed to have learned the tiger-killing technique immediately brandished a dagger, let out a roar, and charged forward, attempting a slide tackle...
Li Xuan was the only one who managed to escape, returning to the small mountain village in a miserable state. He always believed that he survived because when he saw the man attempting the slide tackle, he had the presence of mind to turn and flee without hesitation.
That tiger-killing technique was utterly unreliable, essentially delivering oneself to the tiger's jaws!
From that day on, Li Xuan was the only young man left in the village. Over the next ten years, the elderly villagers who had lost their loved ones passed away one by one, until half a month ago when Li Xuan bid farewell to the last remaining elder.
Looking at the empty village, now inhabited only by himself, Li Xuan felt a mix of sadness and resentment. Other travelers to this world had risen to greatness or possessed extraordinary backgrounds.
And what about him?
He couldn't even leave this small mountain village!
With no system or cheats, he feared he would end up growing old alone in this village.
"Sigh, I thought I could be like those in the web novels, a sword-wielding hero traversing thousands of miles, slaying demons and cultivating to become a saint, revered for eternity. Guess I thought too highly of myself."
Li Xuan sighed inwardly, mocking himself, "Can't even leave this village, and here I am dreaming of conquering the world with my sword. Ha!"
It was this self-mockery that Xu Yan, who had somehow found his way to the village, overheard. Hearing the latter part about "a sword traversing thousands of miles," he mistook Li Xuan for a reclusive master and immediately knelt down, pleading to become his disciple.
"Master, I've finally found you! Please accept me as your disciple and teach me the ultimate divine skill!"
"What?!"
Li Xuan was startled, his eyes widening as he stared at the sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy dressed in fine clothes and carrying a long sword at his waist. He was taken aback by the boy's fervor.
"I am Xu Yan from Donghe County. Since childhood, I've aspired to find the true path of martial arts. Today, by fate's blessing, I've encountered you, and I count myself fortunate. Please accept me as your disciple, Master. I promise to diligently cultivate and never disappoint your legacy!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Li Xuan's face wore a confused expression as he watched the boy's fervent and respectful kowtows. His first thought was: This kid isn't quite right in the head!
No matter how Li Xuan tried to refuse and deny being a reclusive master, Xu Yan refused to believe him and insisted on becoming his disciple. His zeal made Li Xuan's head ache.
"Look around you. We're surrounded by steep cliffs, and the scenery is idyllic. This is clearly a place for those seeking seclusion. If you're not a reclusive master, why would you live here alone?" Xu Yan argued.
"Senior, please accept me as your disciple. I will not disappoint your legacy!" Xu Yan continued to kowtow, his eyes burning with fervor and determination.
"I'm not a reclusive master, I don't know how to cultivate, and I don't take disciples. You've truly mistaken me for someone else..." Li Xuan replied helplessly. He wondered how this young man, Xu Yan, had managed to find his way through the treacherous Evil Forest to reach the small village.
Had Xu Yan lost his mind in his quest to find a reclusive master?
"I understand now!" Xu Yan suddenly stood up, his face lit with realization. "Becoming a disciple is a momentous occasion and cannot be taken lightly. I shall return shortly with the proper gifts for the occasion!"
Before Li Xuan could react, Xu Yan dashed off, soon disappearing from view.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
During this time, Li Xuan had been regretting his missed opportunity to gather information about the outside world from Xu Yan. He had even hoped to use this chance to find a way to leave the small mountain village.
But he never expected Xu Yan to return, and with gifts to beseech him to become his master!
No matter how much Li Xuan denied it, Xu Yan remained steadfast in his belief that he was a reclusive master.
Li Xuan didn't want to lie, especially not to someone with an extraordinary background like Xu Yan. Without any cheats or systems to back him up, the consequences of being exposed could be dire.
So, he refused and denied repeatedly, but to no avail. Xu Yan was as stubborn as a bull, convinced that Li Xuan was the reclusive master he sought.
"Senior, here are three hundred taels of gold. I know that material possessions may not interest you, but gifts are essential for becoming a disciple. Please accept this small token of my sincerity!" Xu Yan opened one of the boxes, revealing thirty neatly stacked gold ingots.
Li Xuan's eyes flickered towards the gold, and he swallowed hard, his heart wavering. But he eventually clenched his jaw and said firmly, "I won't take you as my disciple! I'm not a reclusive master, and I'm not much older than you!"
"Senior, your appearance may be youthful, but I'm certain that you've achieved a high level of cultivation, hence your youthful looks!" Xu Yan remained unwavering in his belief. He opened the second box.
"This is a thousand-year-old wild ginseng from my family's collection. It is my second gift to you, Senior. Please accept it!"
Li Xuan's mouth watered as he gazed at the wild ginseng in the box. Its roots were intact, resembling a human form, and its delicate aroma filled his nostrils, making him feel invigorated.
A thousand-year-old wild ginseng was undoubtedly a rare treasure. The village elders had once said that a hundred-year-old wild ginseng could prolong the life of a dying person by three days, boosting their vitality and longevity.
If a hundred-year-old ginseng had such remarkable effects, then a thousand-year-old one would surely be even more potent.
Li Xuan's heart wavered, but he gritted his teeth and continued, "Please take it back. I'm truly not a reclusive master, nor do I know how to cultivate!"
Xu Yan opened the third box. "Senior, this is the Nine-Leaf Primordial Herb. It is my third and final gift to you!"
Nine-Leaf Primordial Herb!
Li Xuan found it hard to look away. The village elders had spoken of this herb, passed down through generations—a legend among medicinal herbs. It was said that the Nine-Leaf variety was the most potent, and that consuming it would grant one freedom from illness, endless mental clarity, and a prolonged lifespan of twenty years, without the frailty of old age.
It was a treasure rarely seen in the world!
Li Xuan gazed at the herb, its jade-white color resembling a lingzhi mushroom, with nine purple petals growing from its stem. He took a deep breath and forced himself to look away, letting out a sigh as if he were a sage.
"Very well! It seems our meeting was destined to be. As your master, I shall accept your gifts!" Li Xuan relented, unable to refuse the generous offerings any longer.
(End of Chapter)
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