The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 79

The boy carefully tore the steamed bun he had bought with the copper coins he had begged for that morning into small pieces and fed it to his younger brother.

"Don't worry, even though Mom and Dad are gone, I won't leave."

Although the younger brother's clothes were also very dirty, his face and hands were very clean.

"elder brother……"

The younger brother doesn't seem to speak very well; he can only utter these two words.

"Ye Ying?"

A voice rang out, startling the boy. He turned around and saw someone standing next to him.

"You...you're from the Huashan Sect?"

The boy was initially a little scared, but after seeing Jiang Ning's appearance clearly, he remembered that he had tried his luck two days ago to sign up to join the Huashan Sect, and he had met Jiang Ning before.

Jiang Ning nodded: "Pack your things and come back to Mount Hua with me."

The boy was stunned at first, then incredulous the next second.

"Can I join the Huashan Sect now?"

The boy was very excited.

His parents were killed last year by bandits who roamed Pingliang and Fengxiang prefectures. His family was destroyed and he begged in the city with his two-year-old brother. Later, he heard that the bandits had been wiped out by the Huashan Sect. The boy longed for the Huashan Sect. When he heard that the Huashan Sect was coming to Pingliang Prefecture to recruit disciples, he tried his luck. Unexpectedly, his dream came true.

But after the initial joy, the boy became somewhat hesitant.

"Can I bring my younger brother along?"

Jiang Ning glanced at the child next to her who was holding the boy's finger and nodded: "Okay."

The boy's eyes were filled with joy.

After bringing the boy and his younger brother back to the inn where the Huashan Sect was staying, Jiang Ning headed to his next destination.

The location was a village ten miles outside the city, but Jiang Ning did not bring anyone back this time.

The family he visited was indeed an ordinary family, but after getting to know them and observing them, he found that the people in the family were not of good character.

Jiang Ning left after telling them that his child did not meet the Huashan Sect's recruitment requirements.

Another day has passed.

After conducting an on-site investigation in Jiangning, he found only two people on his list who met the requirements: the boy who was begging and a child from a kind-hearted family.

Lin Pingzhi and his group have almost finished their investigation. Each of them is accompanied by several children, making a total of fourteen, including the two-year-old boy from Jiang Ning.

"what?"

When Lin Pingzhi and the others saw the little boy, they were also surprised, as such a young child was not within their recruitment scope.

"This is his younger brother, who is not on the Huashan Sect's recruitment list."

Jiang Ning offered an explanation.

The others suddenly realized.

"I originally thought we could fill all the positions this time."

Lin Pingzhi smiled helplessly.

Of the thirty openings, only thirteen were actually qualified after on-site investigations, eliminating more than half.

This is mainly because the standards set by Jiangning are too harsh, and very few people can meet them all. If they were relaxed a little, there would be more than enough for 13, let alone 100.

However, Jiang Ning attached great importance to this first large-scale recruitment of disciples for the Huashan Sect. He preferred to have fewer but better disciples than to recruit inferior ones. These disciples were the future of the Huashan Sect, and their character and temperament had to be up to standard, including their families.

If their families bully the villagers, even if they are brought up the mountain and strictly disciplined, they themselves may be able to abide by the rules, but their parents may drag them down.

The requirements for recruiting disciples may be relaxed later, but it's better to be strict for the first time.

"Thank you for your help these past few days, fellow disciples."

Jiang Ning smiled at Lin Pingzhi and Liang Fa and the others.

They have indeed been working hard these days, busy with registration and investigation, which has taken a lot of effort.

Lin Pingzhi and the others shook their heads, indicating that it was alright.

"Now that we've recruited enough disciples, let's return to Mount Hua."

Although the goal was not achieved, Jiang Ning did not intend to stay any longer. Thirteen was enough, but Linghu Chong and Feng Buping might have recruited too many.

Moreover, Jiang Ning plans to visit the Qingcheng and Emei sects in Sichuan after returning to Huashan.

Lin Pingzhi and the others had no objections. Although they were not afraid of being tired, it was indeed very energy-consuming.

They plan to have the Huashan disciples who didn't come this time come if the Huashan Sect recruits disciples again next time.

Having decided to set off, Jiang Ning began his journey early the next morning.

These children were all quite young, so Jiang Ning specially hired a horse-drawn carriage for them, and it took them about seven days to return to Mount Hua.

When Jiang Ning and his group returned to Mount Hua, Linghu Chong and Feng Buping's team had already returned.

"Master, these are the thirteen children I recruited in Pingliang Prefecture who are qualified to join the Huashan Sect."

Zhengqitang.

Jiang Ning said to Yue Buqun.

Yue Buqun nodded slightly and looked at the children below the hall. He was stunned when he saw that there was a two-year-old child among them.

Jiang Ning explained, "This is Ye Ying's younger brother, and he is not among the disciples to be recruited."

Jiang Ning pointed to the boy named Ye Ying.

"He only has himself and his younger brother left at home."

Yue Buqun nodded and said, "I see. Then let's keep him at Mount Hua for now, and when his younger brother is a little older, we'll hand him over to the people of Huaming Village at the foot of the mountain to raise him."

Upon hearing that he would be separated from his younger brother, the boy named Ye Ying looked somewhat nervous, but when he heard that he was only leaving his brother in the village at the foot of the mountain, the boy breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, let them rest for a day, and we'll all start the training tomorrow."

Yue Buqun stood up and waved his hand, instructing a female disciple to take the children to a side hall to rest before eating.

Only Jiang Ning and Yue Buqun remained in the room.

Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning and suddenly asked, "Are you getting ready to set off?"

He was referring to Jiang Ning's talk of going to Sichuan last year.

Jiang Ning nodded: "This disciple plans to leave in a few days."

Yue Buqun frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "I will go with you after I finish dealing with what I have to do."

But Jiang Ning shook his head.

"I'll go alone."

Chapter 122: Entering Sichuan

Yue Buqun looked at him in surprise: "Why?"

The Huashan Sect is too busy right now and can't do without Yue Buqun. Besides recruiting so many disciples, they also need to renovate the Huashan Sect's buildings, all of which require someone to oversee them.

Mount Hua now needs Yue Buqun to oversee things.

Compared to these matters, Jiang Ning's trip to Sichuan is a minor one. Moreover, Jiang Ning is now capable of handling Yu Canghai on his own, and it's easier for him to act alone. There's no need to bring Yue Buqun along.

Yue Buqun pondered for a moment, his expression hesitant.

He wasn't worried about Jiang Ning being in danger outside.

Given Jiang Ning's current strength, he certainly has the ability to protect himself. As long as he is not besieged by multiple masters, he can roam the martial world without any problems.

What he was worried about was Jiang Ning's temper.

Jiang Ning is a man who cannot tolerate any wrongdoing. If he discovers someone committing evil, the consequences are simply...

After a while.

"Ok."

Yue Buqun nodded.

He felt that Jiang Ning had spent the past year cultivating his character on Mount Hua, and his temper should have improved considerably, so he thought he would be fine on this trip.

However, Yue Buqun still cautioned, "Be cautious in everything you do, and think thrice before you act."

Jiang Ning nodded: "Don't worry, Master."

At this point, Jiang Ning remembered something and said to Yue Buqun, "I also plan to visit the Emei Sect when I go to Sichuan this time."

"Emei Sect?"

Yue Buqun was taken aback.

What's the point of visiting them?

Jiang Ning said, "I want to try to see if I can invite them to fight against the Demonic Sect."

Yue Buqun was taken aback.

To be honest, over the years, the Emei Sect's presence has become increasingly less noticeable, even less active than the Qingcheng Sect, leading people to believe that the Emei Sect is no longer as prominent as the Qingcheng Sect.

Yue Buqun pondered for a moment and said, "More than a hundred years ago, the Emei Sect was also a major sect, on par with my Huashan Sect, Shaolin, and Wudang. However, the Emei Sect gradually declined, and its disciples rarely ventured into the martial world anymore, keeping a very low profile. If you were to try to unite with the Emei Sect, they might not agree."

There are many righteous sects, such as Kunlun, Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei. However, among the righteous sects, only the Five Mountains Sword Sect is fighting against the demonic sect. Some righteous sects, such as Kunlun, have close ties with Shaolin and rarely confront the demonic sect.

The Demonic Sect is now a powerful force, and it has a blood feud with the Five Mountains Sword Sect, but it doesn't have much hatred for these sects. The Emei Sect probably doesn't want to get involved in this mess.

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "It's just a trial, we don't necessarily have to force them to join."

If you can persuade someone, then do so; if they really don't want to do it, Jiang Ning won't force them.

Yue Buqun nodded: "Alright."

After all, the Emei Sect was once a major sect, and winning them over would be a significant aid.

Jiang Ning was about to leave when Yue Buqun stopped him.

"Ning'er."

Jiang Ning turned around and looked at Yue Buqun: "What are your instructions, Master?"

Yue Buqun lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said to Jiang Ning, "Don't let the lineage of the Qingcheng Sect be severed."

Yu Canghai and his disciples deserved to die, but the Qingcheng Sect is also a major Taoist sect with a history of hundreds of years. Perhaps a few villains will emerge in the process, but this cannot negate the entire Qingcheng Sect.

Jiang Ning nodded: "Okay."

After receiving the reply, Yue Buqun was relieved and waved to Jiang Ning that he could leave.

He's very busy, renovating buildings and teaching disciples; he can't do without any of these things. He's currently swamped with everything.

After a short rest overnight, Jiang Ning prepared to set off.

……

"Why don't you start running?"

Jiang Ning looked helplessly at Maodou beneath him.

At this moment, Maodou grinned widely, stuck out his tongue, and was sweating profusely.

After hearing Jiang Ning's words, it took two symbolic steps and then stopped.

It had been staying on Mount Hua all this time, and although it had been playing around, it hadn't been getting much exercise and had become quite chubby. Jiang Ning was going to take it down the mountain to help it lose weight.

Jiang Ning rolled over and looked at Maodou, who looked as if his body had been hollowed out, speechless.

I'm already exhausted after running such a short distance.

"You need to straighten up. You need to lose weight properly this time you come down the mountain, otherwise people who know you will think I'm riding a donkey, and people who don't will think I'm riding a pig."

Maodou was displeased upon hearing this. He spurred himself on and ran a few steps, but stopped again after a few seconds, looking utterly exhausted.

……

Mount Qingcheng is located in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, which is nearly 2,000 kilometers away from Mount Hua. It took Jiangning more than 20 days to reach Sichuan by making frequent stops along the way.