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

Jiang Ning has been cultivating his mind and body on Mount Hua for some time now, occasionally giving lessons to Liu Zhao, who sometimes comes to listen in. He came again today.

Have you had lunch?

Yue Buqun asked with a smile.

Jiang Ning shook his head. "Not yet."

Yue Buqun said, "Then you should take Zhao'er and Lie'er and their son to eat."

Jiang Ning nodded and left with the others.

Watching Jiang Ning's departing figure, Yue Buqun's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.

It's already April 17th, and there are only three days left until Jiang Ning's birthday.

Thinking of this, Yue Buqun turned and left, but when he saw Lu Dayou on the road, he called out to him.

"Master."

Lu Dayou quickly bowed.

Yue Buqun instructed, "Chong'er is still facing the wall on the Cliff of Contemplation. Go up and call him down. I have something to discuss with him."

Back when he was still at Mount Emei, Yue Buqun punished Linghu Chong by making him spend three months facing the wall at the Cliff of Contemplation when he returned to Mount Hua. Linghu Chong was also willing to do so. After returning, he didn't need Yue Buqun to urge him. He packed a few clothes and went up the Cliff of Contemplation as if he knew the way well. He is still facing the wall now.

Lu Dayi was taken aback and quickly replied.

"Yes, Master."

After Yue Buqun left, Lu Dayou didn't dare to delay and went straight to the Jade Maiden Peak Cliff of Contemplation. When he met Linghu Chong, Linghu Chong was drinking.

"Tsk tsk."

Linghu Chong sat on a rock, holding a wine cup in one hand and a wine jar in the other, taking sips every now and then.

"Although I said I would quit drinking before, having a couple of drinks shouldn't be a problem. Anyway, I'm on the Cliff of Contemplation, and my master won't come up here."

Linghu Chong chuckled.

"Luckily, I was smart and left a few jars of wine on the Cliff of Contemplation."

Just as Linghu Chong was taking a small sip of wine, Lu Dayou's voice rang out from down the mountain.

"Senior Brother!"

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong's hand trembled, and he immediately put away the wine cups and jars. He moved swiftly, and by the time Lu Dayou arrived at the summit, he had almost finished packing up.

"Sixth Junior Brother, what are you doing at the Cliff of Repentance?"

Linghu Chong acted as if nothing had happened.

Lu Dayou, without any suspicion, said, "Senior Brother, Master sent me to find you. He said he has something to tell you and wants you to go down and find him now."

Linghu Chong was taken aback.

"Master is looking for me?"

He was meditating peacefully on the Cliff of Contemplation, and hadn't done anything wrong, so why was Yue Buqun looking for him?

Lu Dayou nodded repeatedly: "That's right..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Dayou suddenly realized something was wrong, sniffed the air a few times, and looked hesitant.

"Why does it smell like alcohol?"

Upon hearing Lu Dayou's words, Linghu Chong didn't have time to think and quickly interrupted, "I understand. Let's go down the mountain now, so as not to keep Master waiting."

Lu Dayou pressed on, "Senior Brother, can you smell it...?"

"no!"

Linghu Chong made a decisive move, pulling Lu Dayou down the mountain, Lu Dayou's voice still echoing in the air.

"Hey, hey, senior brother, slow down."

After descending Jade Maiden Peak, Linghu Chong did not rush to Suoyoubuwei Pavilion. Instead, he quickly changed his clothes and vigorously dissipated the smell of alcohol from his body. After sniffing himself and finding no smell, he then went to Suoyoubuwei Pavilion.

Along the way, Linghu Chong pondered why Yue Buqun wanted to find him. When he arrived at You Suo Bu Wei Xuan, he found Yue Buqun reading a book in the main hall, clearly waiting for him.

"Master, I am late, please forgive me."

Linghu Chong entered the house and bowed.

Upon hearing this, Yue Buqun put down the book in his hand, looked at Linghu Chong and was about to speak when he suddenly realized something was wrong. He sniffed the air, his expression changed, but then disappeared.

A smile appeared on Yue Buqun's face.

"Chong'er, sit down."

Linghu Chong, unsure of Yue Buqun's meaning, sat down nervously.

"Chong'er, how long have you been on Mount Hua?"

Chapter 474: Heart-to-Heart Talk Between Master and Disciple (Bonus Chapter 2)

As soon as Linghu Chong sat down, he heard Yue Buqun ask him this question.

Linghu Chong was even more puzzled, wondering what Yue Buqun really meant, and spoke up without hesitation.

“Master, I came to Mount Hua with you when I was a teenager, and it has been more than ten years since then.”

"More than ten years..."

Yue Buqun looked at Linghu Chong with a dazed expression, as if he were seeing that boy from more than ten years ago again.

"It's been so long."

Yue Buqun whispered.

Upon hearing his words, Linghu Chong was also lost in memories, a sad expression appearing on his face.

He lost both his parents when he was young. It was Yue Buqun who took him to Mount Hua and accepted him as a disciple. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't know where he would be begging.

"Chong'er."

Yue Buqun was the first to regain his senses and said.

"Master, Chong'er is here."

Linghu Chong quickly replied.

Yue Buqun looked at him, seemingly pondering what to say, and after a while said, "You are the first disciple I took in, and the eldest brother of all the Huashan disciples. Logically speaking, there are some things you should have received. However, there is something I must tell you now. Will you complain about your master after hearing it?"

Upon hearing Yue Buqun's words, Linghu Chong had a premonition that what Yue Buqun was talking about was getting closer and closer to what he had been thinking.

Before he could even think, Linghu Chong heard Yue Buqun's next words and immediately stood up.

"Master, Chong'er wouldn't dare!"

Yue Buqun looked at him, seemingly unsure of what to say, and after a long while said, "I plan to have Ning'er succeed as the head of the Huashan Sect in the future."

Upon hearing Yue Buqun's words, Linghu Chong's eyes widened as if struck by lightning, and he remained stunned for a long time.

Seeing him like this, Yue Buqun knew that Linghu Chong was experiencing a great shock.

“Chong’er, you have followed me to Mount Hua since you were a child. You are diligent and hardworking in your training. As the eldest disciple among us, you should logically succeed me as the leader of the Mount Hua sect. However…”

Yue Buqun's expression remained calm.

"You have a free and unrestrained personality. If I were to let you take over as the head of the Huashan Sect, it would not be good for you."

Hearing Yue Buqun's words, Linghu Chong didn't know what to feel; he couldn't explain it.

At this moment, his mind was filled with Yue Buqun's words about passing the throne to Jiangning.

It's bound to happen...

Ever since Jiang Ning's martial arts skills surpassed his own, and Yue Buqun mentioned Jiang Ning more and more often, he had a premonition.

Linghu Chong couldn't quite describe the feeling, but he felt a pang of sorrow, as if some things and some people were about to leave him.

Seeing his absent-minded appearance, Yue Buqun felt a pang of pity, but then hardened his heart.

He had already made his decision and would not change it because of others.

"Master."

Linghu Chong spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.

“Junior Brother Jiang Ning is calm and capable, and is more outstanding than me. In my opinion, Junior Brother Jiang Ning is more suitable to be the leader of Huashan Sect.”

Yue Buqun nodded.

It would be better if Linghu Chong thought this way; otherwise, there might be a rift between his two disciples.

Yue Buqun looked at Linghu Chong, thought for a moment, and said, "Chong'er, you and Shan'er have known each other since childhood. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you're childhood sweethearts, just like real siblings..."

Upon hearing Yue Buqun's words, Linghu Chong felt a sharp pain in his chest, a feeling even stronger than before, as if it were about to overwhelm him.

Brother and sister... Brother and sister...

Linghu Chong was lost in thought.

But Yue Buqun continued speaking.

"Although you are as close as siblings, I already know that you and Shan'er are in love, so I have decided to betroth Shan'er to you."

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong's eyes widened, and he stared at Yue Buqun in disbelief, his lips trembling slightly.

"Master..."

Yue Buqun was slightly surprised to see him like this: "What? You're unwilling?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Linghu Chong knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Thank you for your kindness, Master!"

Happiness came too suddenly, and Linghu Chong's feelings at this moment were indescribable.

He originally thought that after Yue Buqun let his junior brother Jiang Ning take charge of the Huashan Sect, he would also marry Yue Lingshan to Jiang Ning. Unexpectedly, Yue Buqun was willing to let him marry Yue Lingshan. This unexpected turn of events made Linghu Chong so excited that he couldn't even finish his sentence.

Seeing his agitation, Yue Buqun seemed to understand something, and his expression became somewhat strange.