Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

Frankly speaking, Song Youxiang is not likable either in appearance or personality. Under normal circumstances, no one would choose such a person as a disciple.

If Song Changsheng had not saved Jiang Shuming's life twice, he would probably have turned back the moment he saw Song Youxiang.

There is no way, after all, this is not a world that relies solely on connotation.

As a talisman master, his disciples are his face. Although they don't have to have outstanding looks, at least they shouldn't be disgusting to others.

It would be fine if he didn't have good looks, but it would also be fine if he had good temperament. However, Song Youxiang has neither. If he accepted such a person as his disciple, how could he show off in the future?

Seeing Song Changsheng's words were so sure, Jiang Shuming didn't want to offend him, so he said reluctantly: "Since Daoist Zixu has so much confidence in you, a junior, then Jiang will give it a try."

After that, he turned his gaze to Song Youxiang who was standing beside him and said, "Little boy, I have a talisman that I created myself. I will show it to you later. You need to draw the talisman within an hour. Don't ask for its spirit, but its shape.

This talisman is not difficult. If you can't draw it within an hour, you should just go back with Daoist Fellow Zixu. I would rather have nothing than something useless."

Jiang Shuming spoke very rudely, and anyone with a discerning eye could hear his contempt for Song Youxiang.

His words were like a sharp thorn that pierced deeply into Song Youxiang's heart, but she had already gotten used to it. From childhood to adulthood, she had heard all kinds of unpleasant words, and this person's words were already considered polite.

But this doesn't mean that she considers herself mediocre, because she never thinks she is worse than anyone else!
What's more, she now represents Song Changsheng's face and the dignity of the Song family. No matter what, she can't go back in disgrace.

Thinking of this, she mustered up her courage and came to Jiang Shuming, saying in a deep voice: "Master, please teach me!"

Jiang Shuming didn't waste any words. With a wave of his sleeves, a piece of neatly cut talisman paper appeared in front of him. He picked up the red brush, and the ink danced on the tip of the brush. The brush moved like a dragon and a snake. In an instant, a talisman had been drawn.

Perhaps he intended to discourage Song Youxiang, so he sped up the drawing process deliberately, making it difficult for ordinary people to even see it clearly, let alone learn it.

"Little kid, can you see clearly?"

Song Youxiang's face tensed up, and he nodded and said, "I see it clearly."

"Heh." Jiang Shuming sneered, thinking that Song Youxiang was just showing off. This talisman was not the first time he used it for testing, but so far no one had been able to draw it within an hour, not to mention that he had deliberately sped up the drawing process.

It is no exaggeration to say that even he himself might not be able to see clearly at this age.

He didn't say much. Whether he was being stubborn or not would become clear after an hour.

With a flip of his palm, a specially made incense appeared in his hand. He lit it and stuck it into the ground, saying, "If you can draw this [Golden Sword Talisman] before this incense burns out, I will accept you as my disciple."

Song Youxiang respectfully took the talisman from him, then walked aside, took out paper and pen and started drawing.

"Master Jiang, what you did was a bit unkind." Song Changsheng saw through Jiang Shuming's little thoughts at a glance and exposed them immediately.

"Fellow Daoist Zixu is wrong. It is true that I have increased the difficulty, but real gold is not afraid of fire. If she doesn't even have this ability, how can she inherit my mantle?" Jiang Shuming stretched out his hand, twirling his beard, and said with a smile.

Song Changsheng looked at him unhappily but didn't say anything. Jiang Shuming was already very kind. Although he nominally accepted him as a disciple, he was actually teaching him according to the standards of a personal disciple.

After graduation, you can freely decide whether to stay or leave.

Such a ridiculous condition is unheard of. It completely treats Jiang Shuming as a "big enemy". If it weren't for the two times he saved his life, there would be no room for negotiation.

Since they have agreed, then let's set the standard higher, it doesn't matter.

Anyway, he has confidence in Song Youxiang's talent.

Seeing that he looked so confident, Jiang Shuming felt a little unsure and thought to himself, "Could it be that this girl is really a genius in talismans?

If that’s the case, then it’s not…”

Song Changsheng did not notice the change in Jiang Shuming's expression. At this moment, all his energy was focused on Song Youxiang.

Time passed by minute by minute, and half an hour had passed. Song Youxiang was still staring at the talisman drawn by Jiang Shuming, with his hand holding the pen suspended in the air, not falling down for a long time.

Seeing this, Jiang Shuming, who had just felt a glimmer of hope in his heart, once again lost his opinion of Song Youxiang. In his opinion, even if Song Youxiang didn't see his demonstration clearly, he could always copy it. There was still a chance if he tried a few more times.

Even if he fails in the end, at least he has tried his best, and he won't say anything.

But half an hour had passed and she hadn't made a single stroke. This "negative" attitude made Jiang Shuming very dissatisfied. He felt that he was wasting his time coming here today.

Compared to him, Song Changsheng was not in a hurry at all. He returned to the flying boat by himself, sat at the low table and drank by himself, with a leisurely look on his face and a smacking sound from time to time.

Jiang Shuming couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so he approached Song Changsheng and asked, "Daoist Zixu, are you here to tease me today?"

"Master Jiang, why do you say that? Do you think I, Song, have a lot of free time?" Song Changsheng spread his hands. There were still a lot of things in the clan that needed his attention. How could he have so much free time?

"But this..."

"Don't worry, Master. Haven't you heard that you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry? It's still early. When the incense is burned out, you can leave or stay as you like. Song will not stop you."

He had said so much, Jiang Shuming didn't say anything more and just sat down at the low table.

Song Changsheng smiled and took out the wine glass to pour him wine, and also took out two plates of side dishes to go with the wine.

The two of them ate and drank, and the fragrant cigarette on the ground soon burned to the end.

With only the last quarter of an hour left, Song Youxiang, who had been standing like a sculpture for a long time, finally moved. The talisman pen in her hand moved lightly across the talisman ink, and the wolf hair was instantly dyed red.

Her face was tense, her expression more determined than ever before, she put down the pen, moved it forward, and put it to rest.

The movements were crisp and neat, without any delay, and completed in one go, with an indescribable momentum.

Jiang Shuming on the flying boat was immediately attracted by this scene. At this moment, he finally began to face up to this ugly and timid girl.

Seeing this, Song Changsheng poured him another glass of wine and said with a smile, "Master Jiang, how about this junior Song, is he worthy of your attention?"

Jiang Shuming drank the wine in the cup without blinking his eyes, and said from the bottom of his heart: "Fellow Daoist Zixu, I admit that I made a mistake. Judging from the fluency of drawing the talisman, this woman has surpassed many talisman masters of the older generation. If the talisman she draws can be 70% similar to mine, I will accept her as my disciple!"

"Hahaha." Song Changsheng burst into laughter and said confidently: "Master Jiang, just go and verify it. I will definitely not let you down." Although Song Changsheng had said similar words many times, the feeling at this moment was completely different from before. Jiang Shuming had already put away his inner contempt.

He stood up, waved at Song Youxiang and said, "Girl, come forward."

Song Youxiang returned to the flying boat with the talisman still wet with ink, and respectfully presented it with both hands, saying, "Master, please correct me."

Jiang Shuming looked at her carefully again, nodded and said, "You are very good."

After saying that, he took the talisman drawn by Song Youxiang from her hand with great anticipation. After just one glance, his brows furrowed deeply.

He glanced at Song Youxiang without saying anything, but began to walk around unconsciously with the talisman in his hand. As time passed, his brows became deeper and deeper, and a thoughtful look occasionally appeared in his eyes, which made Song Changsheng, who was standing beside him, look puzzled.

Unfortunately, he knew very little about the art of talismans. With his keen eyesight, he could only see that there were differences between the talismans drawn by Song Youxiang and Jiang Shuming. He could not see more and did not know whether they were good or bad.

About a cup of tea later, Jiang Shuming, who had been pacing back and forth, suddenly stopped. His frown relaxed, and was replaced by a look of surprise.

"I see, I see, that's right, this stroke should have landed here. No wonder I always felt that this talisman lacked lethality. It turns out there was something wrong with the way it was drawn. Hahaha, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

Jiang Shuming was like a madman, his face full of excitement, dancing and laughing, muttering some unclear words, which made Song Changsheng frown. He quickly pulled the somewhat bewildered Song Youxiang aside and called out:
"Master Jiang, Master Jiang?"

Hearing his call, Jiang Shuming gradually calmed down. He put the talisman away again and again, looked at Song Changsheng excitedly and said: "Daoyou Zixu, your junior is a well-deserved genius!

Not only did she draw the [Golden Sword Talisman] within an hour, she also corrected the mistakes I made in this talisman. Do you know what this means?"

Song Changsheng smiled when he heard this and said, "Of course I know what this means, otherwise I wouldn't have brought her here."

"You knew it a long time ago?" Jiang Shuming glared and said in dissatisfaction, "If that's the case, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Song Changsheng smiled mischievously and said, "It's just empty talk. You can't believe me even if I tell you. Seeing is believing. Now that you have seen it with your own eyes, you know I am not teasing you, right?"

"I have been judging others by my own standards. I hope Fellow Daoist Zixu please don't take it to heart." Jiang Shuming immediately shook his head like a rattle and apologized decisively.

"It's okay, it's okay. Song can understand. Don't delay. Hurry up and pay your respects to your teacher."

As he said that, Song Changsheng gave up his seat.

Jiang Shuming did not agree immediately, but came to Song Youxiang and said in a friendly manner: "Child, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Song Youxiang subconsciously glanced at Song Changsheng. Seeing the encouragement in his eyes, she immediately stopped hesitating and said in a crisp voice, "Junior is willing!"

"Hahaha, okay, okay." Jiang Shuming laughed out loud and walked to the first seat and sat down.

Seeing Song Youxiang still standing there, Song Changsheng quickly handed her the spiritual tea he had prepared in advance and said, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and pay your respects to your master."

Song Youxiang finally reacted, holding the tea and kneeling in front of Jiang Shuming respectfully, he said: "Disciple Song Youxiang, serve tea to Master."

Jiang Shuming took it with a smile, and then watched Song Youxiang kowtow to him three times and nine times, then he drank a sip of tea with a smile, stretched out his hand to help Song Youxiang up, and said with emotion: "I am very happy that I can find such a good disciple to inherit my mantle today, and I have no regrets in this life!"

Seeing his completely different performance before and after, Song Changsheng couldn't help but sigh that one has to be thick-skinned to be a good person.

"You are becoming my disciple today, so I have to express my gratitude. This is a third-level lower-grade [Amulet]. My dear disciple, take it and use it for self-defense."

Looking at the priceless third-level talisman in front of him, Song Youxiang was so shocked that he was speechless. He waved his hands and said, "Master... Master, this is too valuable. I can't take it."

Seeing this, Jiang Shuming couldn't help but feel even more satisfied, thinking to himself: "What a good child! I almost made a mistake."

"This is a gift from your teacher, just accept it."

Song Changsheng also chimed in, "Youxiang, you can't refuse a gift from an elder."

"This..." Song Youxiang hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the [Amulet] and said, "Thank you, Master."

"Don't be too polite, don't be too polite."

Seeing this, Song Changsheng couldn't help but laugh and said, "Master Jiang, are you satisfied with this disciple?"

"Satisfied, very satisfied." Jiang Shuming now likes everything about Song Youxiang.

"Song has brought you such a good disciple. Master Jiang, please remember this favor from Song."

Hearing this, Jiang Shuming blew his beard and glared, "Fellow Daoist Zixu, please stop confusing right and wrong. It's clear that you owed me a favor, so how did it become that I owed you a favor?"

He is happy, but he is not stupid.

Although this person is his disciple, he is actually still a member of the Song family. He is just a free babysitter. In comparison, the Song family is taking great advantage of him.

"Hahaha, just kidding." Song Changsheng laughed and then changed the subject, "I'm handing this person over to you, fellow Taoist. I hope you don't waste her talent."

Jiang Shuming said solemnly: "Since you have accepted me as your master, I will naturally do my best. With Xiang'er's talent, it is only a matter of time before she surpasses me."

"Thank you, fellow Taoist." Song Changsheng bowed solemnly.

Jiang Shuming accepted it calmly.

After that, Song Changsheng called Song Youxiang aside and said, "There is only so much the family can do for you. The future path will depend on you alone."

Song Youxiang's eyes were filled with tears. He knelt down in front of him and said in a sobbing voice: "Please rest assured, Patriarch. I will work hard to learn the skills and serve the family after I have learned them."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Take this jade slip. If you want to go home or encounter danger, just crush it. Even if we are thousands of miles apart, I will take you back!"

Looking at the jade slip in front of him, Song Youxiang could no longer suppress his inner emotions and burst into tears...

...(End of chapter)