All Heavens: A Role-Playing System Starting from Tianlong

Chapter 149 Taking on Apprentices

Seeing Kou Zhong's disheveled appearance, Li Qiushui covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes crinkling.

Zhang Cheng watched from the side, shaking his head helplessly. He noticed that Li Qiushui's entire demeanor seemed different ever since she arrived in this world.

She not only became more lively, but also seemed to have become more energetic and ambitious. She might not have had the leisure to tease Kou Zhong like that before.

The sword light flew extremely fast, and in a moment it landed near the dome that Zhang Cheng had previously built.

At this moment, Zhong Ling and the others also returned. Noticing the commotion, they all crawled out from the dome to watch.

At the same time, Kou and Xu were also observing the strange building that had appeared out of nowhere, and the women who were filing out of it.

When Kou Zhong saw Wang Yuyan and Li Qinglu, who looked almost exactly like Li Qiushui, he couldn't help but shudder again. He was clearly quite frightened earlier and had developed a psychological aversion to that face.

Wu Xingyun's gaze swept over the two men. Seeing that their clothes were tattered and their chest muscles were clearly visible, yet they showed no signs of being emaciated, he couldn't help but transmit his voice to Zhang Cheng, "You're saying these two are orphans who have been starving since childhood?"

Her tone was full of suspicion. Zhang Cheng looked at her with an expression that seemed to say, "Is this guy eight years old?" and found it amusing.

He had noticed it when he first saw the two boys. Although they were not as exaggerated in size as he was, they were by no means the kind of physique that a thief or beggar who was starving could have. They were more like the rich young masters who had practiced martial arts since childhood at the Shilong Martial Arts School.

Recalling the strange appearance of the stone dragon, Zhang Cheng pondered for a moment and replied telepathically, "Either these two are exceptionally talented, or this world itself is abnormal."

After listening, Wu Xingyun remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Kou and Xu again before he transmitted his voice, "Won't we become strange if we stay in this realm for too long?"

Zhang Cheng sensed the worry in her voice and comforted her telepathically, "Don't worry. Doesn't the *Taiyin Zhenjie* record a method for body cultivation, leading to 'ice-like skin and jade-like bones'? If you cultivate step by step, you'll only become more and more beautiful."

Upon hearing this, Wu Xingyun's expression softened slightly, and he said no more. After comforting Wu Xingyun, Zhang Cheng turned his gaze to Kou and Xu.

When Kou Zhong saw Zhang Cheng looking over, he immediately scrambled to his feet, straightened his tattered clothes, and, imitating what he had seen in plays, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his face full of smiles: "Please, Immortal Brother, accept us two as your disciples and teach us immortal techniques!" As he spoke, he was about to kneel down, and he also grabbed Xu Ziling with his hand.

Zhang Cheng raised his hand to support them, and a gentle force lifted them up.

"I am not a deity, but a martial artist. However, if you wish to become my disciples, I am willing to accept you."

Upon hearing this, the two asked in unison, "Is it really possible?"

Zhang Cheng explained, "To be honest, I possess a rare treasure. This item is destined for the two of you, and it's possible that only you two in the entire world can unravel its mysteries. That's why I specifically sought your help to solve it."

As payment for getting this done for me, you may make a reasonable request, which I will try my best to fulfill. If you wish to exchange this request for me to take you as my apprentices, that is also acceptable.

Upon hearing this, Kou Zhong turned to look at Xu Ziling beside him. Although he was usually loud and boisterous, he was never hesitant when it came to important matters.

Given the current situation, it's naturally more worthwhile to become an apprentice and latch onto the coattails of a "god" than to make a one-time offer.

He winked at Xu Ziling desperately: Young Master Ling, say yes!

Xu Ziling seemed oblivious to Kou Zhong's wink, instead stepping forward, clasping his hands in greeting, and asking, "Senior, before I agree, may I ask you a few questions?"

"Go ahead and say it!"

Xu Ziling organized his thoughts and slowly asked, "What exactly is this so-called extraordinary treasure, Senior? What will you do after you obtain its secrets?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng suddenly smiled.

"Are you worried that you two might inadvertently aid and abet evil?"

Zhang Cheng pulled out the "Longevity Manual" from his pocket again. "Don't worry, I hope you can help me decipher this martial arts manual called 'Longevity Manual'."

"I see." Xu Ziling nodded upon hearing this, then asked, "Senior, what if we two lads don't have the ability you described and can't decipher this 'Longevity Mantra'?"

Zhang Cheng put the "Longevity Manual" back into his robes, his tone calm: "You can rest assured about this matter. Even if we can't decipher it, I won't hold it against you."

On the contrary, the very process by which you deciphered this object for me was an immense stroke of luck.

"Then I have no further questions. Young Master Zhong, is there anything else you'd like to ask?" Xu Ziling looked at Kou Zhong beside him.

Kou Zhong had been listening from the sidelines the whole time, and by now he had calmed down from the shock of this inexplicable opportunity.

He thought for a moment, then asked, "Senior, you said before that you would try your best to fulfill our wishes. Given your status, surely you wouldn't accept us as disciples but then not teach us any real skills, just to fool us, right?"

"You can rest assured about that. I haven't taken on any disciples yet. If you two become my disciples, you will be my personal disciples."

During the late Sui Dynasty, the phrase "personally transmitted disciple" carried immense weight, considered equivalent to "father and son."

Therefore, after hearing this, Kou and Xu had no more doubts. They exchanged a glance and knelt down together. "Master, please accept our bow."

Zhang Cheng raised his hand again, using his internal force to interrupt the two's movements.

"Don't rush to become disciples. Whether you can become their personal disciples depends on whether you can unravel the mysteries of the Longevity Manual. However, I can take you under my wing for now and temporarily register you as disciples of the Free and Unfettered Sect."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were overjoyed upon hearing this. In this way, even if they didn't become direct disciples in the end, being ordinary disciples would be much better than stealing chickens and dogs in Yangzhou City.

Kou Zhong's eyes darted around, and he leaned closer again: "Um—Master, we only know about the Free and Unfettered Sect, but we don't know your esteemed name yet. And who are these seniors beside you?"

Zhang Cheng glanced at him and said, "My surname is Zhang, and my given name is Cheng. I am the head of the Xiaoyao Sect. As for the people around me, apart from this one who is an elder in your sect, the rest are your master's wives."

He pointed at Li Qiushui and then gestured towards Mu Wanqing and the others.

"Huh?" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling opened their mouths wide at the same time, their eyes sweeping over the row of women, and they were immediately dumbfounded.

"What's the problem?" Zhang Cheng's voice remained calm. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling quickly shook their heads, saying in unison, "No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Kou Zhong then added, "The sect leader is mighty!" Zhang Cheng ignored him.