https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-28-A-True-Advocate-for-Gender-Equality/12619653/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-30-Old-Stories-and-the-Dragon-Sect-s-Martial-Arts/12619655/
Chapter 29: Just Call Me Young Master Jing
The morning after, Xueheng got up early, got ready, and made breakfast for Neko, who was still asleep. He then set out immediately, taking the bus to the Dongcheng District and arriving at the office building that housed the Canglong Dojo.
As he stepped off the elevator on the seventeenth floor and entered the main door, he saw the qipao-clad receptionist from the day before sitting at the front desk.
Xueheng walked up to the desk and knocked gently on the table. With a smile, he greeted, "Good morning."
The receptionist, who had been dozing off and secretly playing on her phone, was startled. She quickly hid her phone and stood up, recognizing Xueheng.
"Good... Good morning, Young Master Xue," she stammered.
Young Master?
Xueheng wasn't used to this somewhat decadent address.
He waved his hand dismissively and humbly said, "No need for such formality. Just call me Young Master Jing; that's enough."
Receptionist: "..."
That title seemed even more excessive than 'Young Master'.
Nevertheless, she immediately obliged, forcing a sweet smile, "Yes, Young Master Jing~"
"Aye," Xueheng acknowledged, feeling much more at ease now.
Yesterday, after defeating Zhushan Ying, a personal disciple, Li Qi had immediately announced that he would accept Xueheng as his disciple, adding another personal disciple to the Canglong Dojo.
From that moment on, Xueheng became the youngest personal disciple of the dojo, ranking only below Li Qi, the master of the dojo. All the ordinary disciples had to address him respectfully as 'Little Senior Brother', and even non-disciple staff members had to refer to him as 'Young Master'.
'It feels like I've suddenly jumped across social classes...' Xueheng thought to himself as he left the reception area and walked into the dojo.
The receptionist watched his retreating figure until he disappeared from view, feeling a sense of loss as she finally sat down.
Xueheng made his way straight to the training hall.
It was still early, and only a handful of diligent ordinary disciples were present. Upon seeing him, they greeted him respectfully, addressing him as 'Little Senior Brother'.
This was one of the reasons why Ning Fengwan had suggested the 'challenging the dojo' approach. After witnessing his strength and talent yesterday, no one would dare to complain about such a young and gifted youth suddenly becoming a personal disciple.
"Little Junior Brother~ Over here!"
Xueheng turned at the sound of a voice calling him and saw the handsome young man, one of the personal disciples.
"Senior Brother," Xueheng acknowledged with a nod and a smile.
The young man, Chen Fuguang, returned the smile and introduced himself, "My surname is Chen, and my name is Fuguang. You can just call me Senior Brother Chen."
"Follow me, Little Junior Brother. I've been waiting for you for quite some time now," he said, leading the way out of the training hall.
Xueheng followed closely behind.
As they walked, Senior Brother Chen continued, "As a personal disciple, you'll have your own dedicated cultivation room. I've already prepared it for you. From now on, you can practice in your room. Let me show you around first."
Xueheng nodded in appreciation, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
"By the way, Senior Brother Chen, where are the Master and the other senior brothers and sisters?" Xueheng asked curiously.
"Master Li has an appointment with a doctor today," Senior Brother Chen explained with a smile. "He has some old leg injuries that need regular check-ups. He'll be back soon. As for the other senior brothers and sisters..."
"Let me introduce them to you," he continued. "Currently, there are four personal disciples in the dojo, including me, the fifth. Yesterday, you met Zhu Shanying, the sixth and the youngest after you. The other two you met are the first senior brother, Meng Boshang, and the fourth senior sister, Meng Qingjiao."
"Are they related?"
"Xueheng asked, recalling their similar appearances and expressions.
Chen Fuguang smiled and nodded. "They are father and daughter. The first senior brother was the first to join the dojo. He later married and had a daughter, Meng Qingjiao. Because of her exceptional talent, Master Li took her under his wing as well."
"We personal disciples have our tasks and responsibilities. It was a coincidence that all four of us were present yesterday. The first senior brother and fourth senior sister shoulder more responsibilities, so they left after you departed yesterday. They haven't returned yet, and Junior Sister Zhu is accompanying Master Li to the doctor..."
As they spoke, they turned a corner and arrived in an elegantly decorated corridor with a vintage charm. Xueheng looked up and saw seven doors on either side of the corridor, three on the left and four on the right. Each door had a plaque with Chinese numerals, neatly arranged from one to seven.
"Master Li's name is Li Qi, so when he established the Canglong Dojo over twenty years ago, he declared that he would take on seven personal disciples. Hence, no matter how many times the dojo has relocated, there will always be seven cultivation rooms prepared during renovations."
Chen Fuguang added with a hint of emotion, "Little Junior Brother, with your arrival, our Canglong Dojo is finally complete."
They stopped in front of the door marked 'seven'. Chen Fuguang pushed the door open.
The room beyond was spacious, covering an area of about eighty square meters. It had expensive-looking mahogany flooring, and the room was almost devoid of furnishings, offering an unobstructed view.
"This cultivation room is yours from now on," Chen Fuguang said, patting Xueheng's shoulder. He then changed the subject. "Well, I have something important to attend to, so Little Junior Brother, feel free to explore the dojo. Master will be back soon."
Xueheng nodded and smiled. "It seems personal disciples are indeed very busy. Senior Brother Chen has to go to work early in the morning as well."
Chen Fuguang waved his hand. "Not really. I met a wealthy woman at a bar last night, and we agreed to exchange insights on martial arts today..."
Xueheng: "..."
...
Chen Fuguang hurried off, but Xueheng didn't wander around. Instead, he stayed in the cultivation room and sat down to practice the Breathing Technique.
As his skill levels in areas related to physical fitness increased, and with the gradual cultivation of his internal energy, his body's adaptability to the Breathing Technique had greatly improved.
Now, he could perform the basic Breathing Technique cycle about twenty times before feeling strained.
[You practiced the Breathing Technique once. Fitness Experience +16]
[You practiced the Breathing Technique once. Fitness Experience +16]
After two cycles of the Breathing Technique, half an hour had passed when a frail, elderly voice suddenly spoke from beside him:
"There's a trace of the Golden Wind Dojo's Breathing Technique in your foundation. Where did you learn it from?"
Xueheng opened his eyes and was surprised to find Master Li Qi, seated in his wheelchair, right next to him. He had no idea when the master had arrived; he was like a ghost.
Xueheng quickly stood up and bowed respectfully. "Master."
After a moment, he added, "I have a classmate who used to be a disciple at the Golden Wind Dojo. He taught me."
Master Li nodded and smiled. "No need to be so formal. I was just asking casually. You're Ning Fengwan's little boyfriend, so apart from being your master, we also have another layer of connection."
Xueheng was taken aback but didn't refute the "little boyfriend" label. Instead, he asked curiously, "Master, what's your relationship with Fengwan?"
Master Li thought for a moment, his expression turning nostalgic. "I suppose you could say... I wanted to be her grandfather but ultimately couldn't fulfill that role."
Xueheng: "Ah?"
...
Happy Chinese New Year to all the readers!
(End of Chapter)
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