Chapter 343: Choices
Chapter 343: Choices
After Master Luo finished speaking, he got up to take his leave.
"Mr. Mo, I'll take my leave now. Take your time to consider the offer. You don't have to decide in a hurry."
He heaved a sigh again as he continued, "The path I offered is a good one in my opinion, but it may not be the best. You have many choices, so choose the one that suits you best."
Master Luo indeed had Mo Hua's best interests at heart.
In the following days, Mo Hua also came to understand what Master Luo meant by "having many choices."
Small and large sects and clans from the neighboring states had all sent invitations to Mo Hua.
Some invited him to become an instructor in formation techniques; others directly promised him an elder position. Some factions were fervently inviting him to "join them in their grand endeavors and strive for innovation," while certain families even wanted him to marry into their clan, including paintings of their youthful and pure, or coquettish and charming, female cultivators along with their invitations...
Mo Hua didn't say much about this, but Liu Ruhua was especially angry.
She threw all the paintings into the stove and said to Mo Hua,
"Those families that try to entice with beauty are not decent ones. Don't even think about going there!"
"If you're looking for a partner, find a decent and virtuous girl."
Mo Hua felt helpless and said, "Mom, it's too early for that..."
"Prevention is better than cure!" Liu Ruhua said sternly.
"Alright..."
A few days later, Zhang Lan also came to find Mo Hua.
"I have a few things to tell you."
Zhang Lan sat at their usual spot in the eatery, ordering a pot of wine and several dishes of meat. As he drank, he began to speak to Mo Hua.
"You're not trying to rope me in as well, are you?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled.
Zhang Lan, his thoughts exposed, choked on his wine. After thinking for a moment, he nodded, "To be subtle about it, we can call it 'forming a good connection.' To be blunt, yes, it is indeed trying to rope you in."
"The Zhang family?" Mo Hua asked.
Zhang Lan sighed, "Not just them."
He then took out a document, "This is a personal letter from the Chief. You can become a disciple of a sect directly under the administration of the Dao Court."
"Under the Dao Court?"
"Yes, directly affiliated with the Dao Court, tasked with cultivating talents for the Dao Court. Only those with connections within the Dao Court can enter, and each city's Chief has a limited number of recommendations, which is quite rare..."
"Then it must be very valuable," Mo Hua commented.
"Of course," Zhang Lan nodded, "This is also a token of the Chief's goodwill. In the future, if he encounters any difficulties, you must not stand by idly."
"Rest assured, I get along well with the Chief, so I'll definitely help him!" Mo Hua promised.
Zhang Lan nodded in satisfaction.
"Can you enter the Dao Court administration after graduating from the sect?" Mo Hua asked.
"Not necessarily," Zhang Lan replied.
Mo Hua was slightly taken aback.
Zhang Lan explained, "It also depends on the situation. Generally speaking, as long as you cultivate diligently, have a decent temperament, and your conduct is not extreme, you can enter the Dao Court administration after graduating."
"And it's not restricted by identity," Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua, "As an outsider, it would be difficult for you to enter the Dao Court administration. But if you join through these sects directly under the Dao Court, it will be much easier."
"There are so many loopholes..." Mo Hua couldn't help but complain.
"Of course," Zhang Lan took a sip of wine, his gaze turning slightly stern, "Those who set the rules always leave some loopholes to benefit themselves. The ordinary cultivators below are unaware of these rules and can't get past the threshold, so they can only bash their heads and bleed."
"The cultivators above, however, are familiar with these loopholes and can easily bypass the barriers."
"That's why those outsider cultivators, no matter how talented they are, may not fare better than those mediocre cultivators from well-informed families."
Mo Hua nodded in agreement.
If it weren't for Zhang Lan telling him these things, he would have never known about them.
"What if it's an unusual situation?" Mo Hua asked further.
"Then there are two possibilities," Zhang Lan answered, "One is that the person's talent is too poor and their cultivation is too lacking, to the point of being hopeless."
"Such people can only enter the Dao Court sects through connections. Unless they have more connections, they shouldn't even think about getting a position in the Dao Court administration."
"The other possibility is that the person has exceptional talent and their cultivation is also outstanding. These cultivators may have the opportunity to directly enter the Central Dao Court, rather than just the local administration."
Mo Hua was astonished, "The Central Dao Court? Not just the local administration?"
"That's right," Zhang Lan nodded, "But you can forget about that."
"Is my spiritual root too inferior?"
"Yes."
Zhang Lan added silently to himself before continuing, "However, your spiritual root and physical body... they are indeed lacking."
Zhang Lan tried to soften the blow, but Mo Hua could tell from his expression that when he said "lacking," he meant "severely lacking."
Mo Hua didn't blame him, though. He was aware of his shortcomings when it came to his spiritual root and physical body.
After sharing this, Zhang Lan changed the subject, "This is an invitation from the Dao Court. It's up to you whether you want to accept it or not. Now, let me tell you why you should join the Zhang family..."
Zhang Lan didn't beat around the bush as he laid out the conditions: the status and prospects the Zhang family could offer, as well as the formation techniques they could impart.
"As for marriage, if you join the Zhang family, you'll likely have to marry within the family."
"However, if you marry a distant branch, your partner will have to take your surname, and so will your children."
"But if you're willing to enter the family by changing your surname, you can marry a direct descendant. You and your future children will have to change your surname, but in return, the family will treat you as their own, and you will truly become a part of the Zhang family..."
...
Zhang Lan left no stone unturned as he explained the ins and outs of joining a family to Mo Hua.
After finishing, Zhang Lan changed the topic again, "What I've said so far is my duty as a disciple of the Zhang family, and what I ought to say."
"Now, what I'm about to say is my personal opinion."
Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua with a solemn expression, "Do not change your surname, and unless it's absolutely necessary, do not rely on any family for support!"
"Changing your surname means forsaking your identity and losing yourself to gain success and prosperity. Unless there's a compelling reason, it's best not to do it."
"Without changing your surname, your path in the cultivation world is wide open, and you can go anywhere. But if you change your surname and join a noble family, you'll step into a deep, bottomless pool of stagnant water."
"It's better to be a wandering immortal crane than a dragon or fish trapped in dead water."
"Moreover, in my opinion, there isn't a family in this world worthy of you changing your surname for, not even my Zhang family!"
Mo Hua was taken aback by Zhang Lan's words, never expecting that he valued him so highly. He felt grateful for Zhang Lan's goodwill.
As Mo Hua gradually solidified his decision to never join a noble family or change his surname, Zhang Lan's words took another turn, "Of course, if you really want to change your surname, then change it to Zhang..."
Mo Hua looked at him with a complicated expression.
Zhang Lan sighed helplessly, "Why let the sweet dew flow to another's field?"
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" Mo Hua asked, at a loss for words.
Zhang Lan waved his hand dismissively, "Those are just minor details. Don't worry about the specifics, as long as you understand the general idea."
"If that's truly unacceptable, then as a second or even third option, you could consider the Yang family..."
A hint of disdain flashed across Zhang Lan's face.
Mo Hua asked curiously, "Are the Zhang and Yang families not on good terms?"
"The Zhang and Yang families have a great relationship. It's just that I don't get along with that Yang Jiyong kid."
Zhang Lan spoke seriously, "The Yang family's disciples are valiant and experienced in battle, and they are worthy of admiration..."
"Except for Yang Jiyong, that kid..."
"With your expertise in formations, you could achieve great things on the battlefield. Joining the Yang family and having their backing would also serve you well in the Dao Soldier Court."
"However, following the Dao soldiers into battle would be much more arduous and dangerous."
"Think it over carefully..."
Having said that, Zhang Lan also left the decision to Mo Hua, telling him not to rush his choice. He quickly finished the wine and meat, then bid farewell.
As a Registrar of the Dao Court, he could usually get away with being lazy, but with the appearance of the seal and the relocation of the cultivators, he now had a lot more work on his hands.
Zhang Lan said his goodbyes to Mo Hua and turned to leave, but he paused to glance back at the eatery, feeling a sense of heaviness in his heart.
He had grown accustomed to eating and drinking at this place.
After the relocation, he would have to leave as well.
As a disciple of a noble family, he couldn't mingle with the rogue cultivators of Tongxian City. Most likely, he would return to his family or seek a more promising position elsewhere.
Once he left, he might never again experience this simple yet lively atmosphere.
He might never taste these wines and meats again, nor would he find another young cultivator like Mo Hua to chat and joke with...
(End of Chapter)
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