I'll write a manual called the Sunflower Manual, and the entire martial arts world will turn in

The kitchen in the backyard of Yong Sheng Martial Arts School.

Xie Yu squatted by the basin, her sleeves rolled up high, revealing a section of her thin forearm. She washed the dishes one by one, and after washing them, she wiped them with a dry cloth, then stacked them neatly on the cutting board.

The more hopeful she felt about life, the more she cherished her job.

After the dishes were cleared away, Fatty Liu, the kitchen manager, came over to inspect them.

Fatty Liu inspected the bowl, wiped it with his hand, and smelled it. "These bowls and chopsticks are for the instructors; they still smell. Wash them again!"

Actually, Xie Yu had washed the dishes very clean, but since Liu Pangzi was in charge, he always wanted to flaunt his little bit of power.

Xie Yu had no choice but to bite the bullet and take out the hundreds of ceramic bowls to wash again.

"What's all this noise about?"

A cheerful voice rang out, and it was Wei Xiang striding over.

"Master Wei, what brings you here?" Steward Liu immediately bowed and greeted him, explaining the reason, "The servants are ignorant, so I gave them a little reprimand to prevent them from breaking the rules."

Wei Xiang frowned deeply: "You don't need to come anymore."

Manager Liu was overjoyed, instinctively ignoring the crucial pronoun, and immediately put his left hand on his hip and pointed at Xie Yu with his right: "Did you hear that? Master Wei has spoken, you don't need to come anymore..."

Ok?

Before he could finish speaking, Steward Liu finally realized what he had done. His face flushed crimson, and he knelt down with a thud. "Master Wei, I don't know what I've done wrong..."

Wei Xiang ignored Steward Liu and stepped forward to help Xie Yu up. "Are you Xie Yu?"

Xie Yu said timidly, "Yes...yes. Master Wei, it's all my fault, I didn't wash the dishes properly."

Wei Xiang laughed and said, "It's just a few broken bowls, it's nothing. From now on, you'll take care of managing the backyard. Qiu Lan has been in the backyard for several years and is familiar with all the affairs. From now on, she will be your assistant to help you manage the trivial matters of the backyard."

what?

Xie Yu and Steward Liu were both stunned, staring at Wei Xiang in disbelief.

Wei Xiang said, "Your brother Xie An is a genius. He just dominated the year-end competition in the front yard and broke through the Ming Jin level. He is truly a pillar of the martial arts school. This matter is settled."

pat.

Manager Liu slumped to the ground, muttering to himself: Mingjin!

He'd only been at the martial arts school for six months, yet he'd already broken through the Ming Jin realm. Didn't that mean he could become the master's personal disciple? Should he be addressed as "Master Xie"?

Thinking of this, Manager Liu wished he could slap himself a few times.

Xie Yu stood there blankly.

Others only saw Xie An's outward glory, but Xie Yu knew the hardships his brother had endured.

The image of my brother, who practiced swordsmanship in spring and autumn, and boxing in summer and winter, who spent his days and nights practicing martial arts in the courtyard, and who even went to hunt dragon kings to raise money for the little leader's martial arts training, involuntarily came to mind.

Brother, you've finally made it through!

Thinking of this, Xie Yu could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down his face.

Wei Xiang squatted down and patted Xie Yu on the shoulder. "Get ready, and you'll start taking over the management duties soon. With Qiu Lan helping you, don't worry about not doing a good job. It's New Year's Eve today, so go home early to celebrate the New Year."

Xie Yu bowed with tears in his eyes: "Thank you, Master Wei."

After saying this, Xie Yu rushed away.

Upon exiting the backyard, one sees Xie An standing in the snow, dressed in a coarse cloth coat and carrying a Tang sword at his waist.

"elder brother!"

Xie Yu threw himself into Xie An's arms.

Xie An patted Xie Yu's head: "Why did you come out so early today?"

Xie Yu recounted the events, concluding, "A man named Master Wei promoted me to the position of steward of the backyard and gave me half a day off to go home for the New Year."

"That's Wei Xiang, the master's personal disciple. He's very thoughtful. Let's go buy some meat and pastries to send to Uncle Zhao and Aunt Huilan, and then go back for the New Year." Xie An led Xie Yu to the street to buy pastries and meat from Wufangzhai. They then delivered them to Zhao Bing and Aunt Huilan on the sampan at the dock.

After visiting the elderly couple, the two returned to the street to buy New Year's goods in preparation for the holiday.

Xie Yu was overjoyed the whole way and kept asking questions.

Facing his sensible youngest sister, Xie An didn't hide anything and told her everything about Xiao Bi.

"Brother, the abbot wants to take you as his personal disciple, why are you still hesitating? Does brother have a better plan?"

Xie An naturally didn't have any better plans.

He felt that Chen Lutang was already his number one servant, and there was always a sense of unease in him about rashly acknowledging him as his master.

In this world, martial arts especially emphasize the master-disciple relationship. In the martial arts world, the two words "master and disciple" carry more weight than a mountain.

The old saying goes, "Teach your apprentice, and you'll starve." This isn't just about fearing the apprentice will steal your livelihood; it's about the fear of passing on your skills to the wrong person. If someone with a wicked heart learns the skills and uses them to bully the good and do evil, they'll ruin the family's century-old reputation and disgrace their ancestor!

The so-called ten years of service to the master is not just about doing hard labor, but also about the master testing one's character and tempering one's impetuousness.

Once you join a sect, you're part of the family; your master and mistress are like your own parents. You have to take care of them in their old age and see them off when they die.

You must endure your master's beatings and scoldings; you must be the first to step up when your master's family is in trouble; you must take care of your master when he is old and paralyzed, cleaning up his excrement and urinating and serving him at his bedside! If enemies come to the door, you, as a disciple, must protect your master from disaster and blows.

Conversely, once a master accepts you as a disciple, they must impart all their most treasured skills without reservation, plan for your future, and support you in establishing yourself and your family. If your disciple gets into trouble, the master must risk their life to save them!

This is what is meant by "a teacher and student are like father and son".

It's not just talk; it's a rule that flows in our blood and a belief that's etched into our bones!

This legacy is too great for Xie An to make a decision lightly.

"This matter is of great importance, and I need to think it over further. Let's discuss it after the New Year."

"Um."

The brother and sister bought chicken, duck, fish, meat, pastries, fruits, and a pot of wine. They went home and cooked a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.

Xie Yu, who was only fourteen years old, poured Xie An a cup of wine and filled his own cup as well. "Congratulations, brother, on breaking through the Ming Jin realm. I heard from Sister Qiulan that from now on, when you see brother, you should call him Master or Grandpa."

Xie An raised his wine cup and clinked it with Xie Yu's. "That's all just what outsiders say. I'll always be your brother. After the New Year, Xiao Yu will be fifteen. From now on, you won't have to do hard labor anymore. When Xiao Yu is a few years older, I'll find you a good husband."

"I'm still young, I don't want to get married."

After dinner, Xie An, accompanied by Xie Yu, prepared offerings of rice and meat and went to the side hall to worship the memorial tablets of his parents.

Splash!

Xie An poured a bowl of wine in front of his father's memorial tablet. "Father, your son has come to pay his respects. May you be free from illness and disaster in heaven. Now that I have broken through the Ming Jin point, I will have no shortage of ways to make a living. Xiao Yu has grown up and is a beauty in the making. In the future, I will definitely find a good husband for Xiao Yu and marry her into a wealthy family. I will never let Xiao Yu suffer any injustice."

Xie Yu knelt down with tears in her eyes, "Brother, after this New Year, we will definitely be safe and sound."

Xie An murmured, "Peace and safety year after year...that's good."

Before long, a loud knocking sound came from the entrance of the bookstore.

Xie Yu instinctively shrank his neck. "Brother, could it be the Dragon King Gang?"

"Don't be afraid, I'll go open the door."

Xie An slung his Tang sword over his shoulder, tucked the dagger into his sleeve, and then went to open the door.

Squeak.

As the door opened, a familiar figure stood in the snowy night outside.

"Master Chen, what brings you here?"