Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 28 Disciple, you need to stand up straight!

Wan Qizhang's singing, recitation, acting, and fighting brought tears to Chang Ping'an's eyes.

Of course, Chang Ping'an wasn't moved by the sight of his mother's belongings in the box; rather, he was simply touched by the memory.

But Wan Qizhang wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. He deliberately patted Chang Ping'an on the shoulder and continued to flatter him, saying, "Xie Yan's matter is settled, but your father, Hero Chang's matter, cannot be easily forgotten. The murderers who killed Hero Chang were Smiling Maitreya and Mad Arhat. These two offended too many people in Da Xiao and have long since fled the Xiao Kingdom. However, I have already issued a bounty, offering rewards for their heads. I believe it won't be long before Brother Chang's enemies are all brought to justice!"

Zhang Chengdao then understood that his cheap apprentice had more than one enemy!
That's right. What Chang Ping'an said back then was that Xie Yan deliberately lured his enemies to his door, which led to the death of Chang's father. Obviously, the real killer of Chang's father was someone else, and Xie Yan can only be considered an accomplice.

So, it seems I still have to help my cheap apprentice deal with these enemies—that's how it's always set up in novels, right? Once the protagonist gets revenge, he'll basically reach a milestone and achieve unparalleled power, at which point he can comfortably rely on his apprentice's reputation to win!
Before Chang Ping'an could speak, Zhang Chengdao pressed on, "The Smiling Maitreya and the Mad Arhat? What are their backgrounds?"

Wan Qizhang replied, "In response to Immortal Zhang, one of these two came from Dajuekang Temple in the Western Regions, and the other from Daxiangguo Temple. However, both of them were expelled from the temples for breaking the precepts. One is skilled in fist and palm techniques, and the other is skilled in staff techniques. More than ten years ago, they were both martial artists with the cultivation level of the seventh rank. I don't know what happened to them now."

Zhang Chengdao was somewhat surprised to hear a familiar name—there was a Great Xiangguo Temple in another world?

Wait, there's Buddhism in this other world? Could it be that this martial arts and cultivation world also has a prince from Kapilavastu?

But this isn't the time to dwell on that. Zhang Chengdao asked again, "Um... do you know where they went?"

"Well... there's no news yet for the time being, but since the reward notices have already been sent out, we should have some results soon. I'll come back to report to Immortal Zhang then!"

Wan Qizhang shamelessly added, "Senior Fang is also an elder in the manor, a family member. Brother Chang is not an outsider either. Since you, Immortal Zhang, are Brother Chang's master, you are also my elder. Please accept my filial piety as a junior!"

As he spoke, Wan Qizhang waved his hand behind him, and the disciples of the Sword Forging Manor hurriedly began to move things, unloading the boxes, sacks and even a processed pig and a few chickens and ducks from the carriage, and even stuffing a basket of salted fish!
Zhang Chengdao could tell just by smelling the aroma!

Seeing this, he couldn't help but marvel.

Otherwise, how could he be a young master of a manor? His licking skills are truly impressive!
And look, their own cheap apprentice has already been licked clean—

"Young Master, you are too kind. I should thank the Sword Forging Manor for the bounty. However, if you have any news about those two, please let me know. I will personally kill my enemies to comfort my father's spirit in heaven."

Chang Ping'an's eyes were slightly red, and he was still holding a sword prototype from the box in his hand.

"Of course, of course, then I won't bother Immortal Zhang any longer,"

As Wan Qizhang spoke, he took out a gleaming gold invitation from somewhere and handed it to Chang Ping'an: "This is an invitation to the White Stone Martial Arts Tournament of my Sword Casting Manor. I, Wan Qizhang, will be waiting for you two at Sword Casting Manor!"

Chang Ping'an was caught off guard by Wan Qizhang's actions and was dumbfounded when he was handed the invitation. He hurriedly turned his head and looked at Zhang Chengdao, unsure of his master's intentions.

Zhang Chengdao nodded helplessly, signaling Chang Ping'an to accept the invitation, before replying to Wan Qizhang, "Since Ping'an doesn't care, I won't either. As for the martial arts tournament, I'll consider it myself. You may go now!"

"Ah, thank you very much, Immortal Zhang! I'll take my leave now!"

Wan Qizhang seemed very pleased. He bowed deeply once more before calling to the others and driving the carriages down the mountain.

After everyone had gone, Chang Ping'an clutched the invitation and stammered, "Master, I..."

Zhang Chengdao waved his hand and said, "I have no connection with the Sword Forging Manor. How you deal with them is up to you. There's no need to act like a child." "Thank you, Master. After all, the Sword Forging Manor raised me for many years, and it's also my mother's sect. Since those who were my enemies are dead, I don't want to create more enmity. Besides..."

Chang Ping'an glanced at the sword blank in his hand, his voice lowering considerably: "Besides, I haven't always been wronged in the manor..."

“Ping An, now that you have joined the sect, I have some things to tell you now.”

Zhang Chengdao thought for a moment and decided that he couldn't let his cheap apprentice continue to be so clingy—this was his first disciple! If he didn't stand up for himself, how could he help him train other disciples in the future!

Chang Ping'an was startled and put down the sword blank in his hand with a thud. He stood up straight and said, "Master, please speak!"

"Since I entered the mortal world (transmigrated), you are my first disciple and the founding disciple of our sect. In the future, if you have junior brothers and sisters, you should stand up and take on the responsibility of teaching them, and you should also have the ability to handle the affairs of the sect."

Chang Ping'an was startled upon hearing this. He only knew that his master seemed to always be alone, but he never expected that he was actually the "founding disciple". Just as he was feeling somewhat apprehensive, he heard his master continue:

“When your junior brothers and sisters enter the sect in the future, if they have any questions, they can still rely on you. But as the senior brother, who will you rely on? You can't rely on your teacher for everything, can you?”

Zhang Chengdao practically had the words "You need to stand up straight" etched on his face.

"Therefore, you must learn to make your own decisions in all things. Our sect doesn't have any unnecessary rules, just one: everything should have a law. This law is the law and standard in your heart. Cultivating immortality starts with cultivating the Tao, refining the body starts with refining the heart. If the Tao is not right, the path to immortality is not right, and if the heart is not sincere, then cultivating immortality is just a foolish thought."

Chang Ping'an immediately knelt down and bowed deeply: "This disciple has learned much!"

Unexpectedly, Zhang Chengdao shouted sternly, "Stand up!"

Chang Ping'an was startled again, and stood up straight in a flash, looking at Zhang Chengdao with a blank expression.

Zhang Chengdao sighed.

He didn't expect an ancient person from a feudal society to have any awareness beyond their time, even if they were a chosen one with the protagonist template.

But he cannot allow himself to be assimilated, or even to feel complacent about becoming a slave owner.

"If there's nothing I can't tell others, and I have no greedy desires to ask for anything from others, why should I kneel?"

"Disciple...disciple..."

Zhang Chengdao's words left Chang Ping'an completely bewildered.

"Our sect has no custom of kneeling or bowing, and the custom of kneeling or bowing is forbidden."

After adding a sentence, Zhang Chengdao's tone softened: "Alright, you can tidy up these things. If there are any that are prone to spoilage, put them out separately, and I will collect them later. The ones that aren't prone to spoilage can be put into the warehouse. I'll go plant the wheat first!"

If we don't plant enough, the yield after three days probably won't be enough to feed our apprentices!
……

(End of this chapter)