Shixiong - Older male fellow disciple of the same master.
Shidi - Younger male fellow disciple of the same master.
Shijie - Older female fellow disciple of the same master.
Shimei - Younger female fellow disciple of the same master.
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“I am your Master.”
The words were declared with such absolute certainty that the room went deathly still. Everyone in the infirmary, the Sect Master, Peak Master, and the other accompanying elders, all turned to look at the man who had laid such a claim to Yang.
The Sect Master’s face remained a mask of marble, but the atmosphere in the room felt curdled. Yang noticed the tips of Peak Master Zheng Yi’s ears flushing red as he stared at the speaker. But the elder who had spoken ignored the brewing storm and unflinchingly met the Sect Master’s gaze instead.
The Sect Master’s gaze, Yang noticed, kept moving between the Elder and the Peak Master.
All of them seemed to be in a three-way staring contest, but as the seconds bled into minutes, Yang noticed a few subtle expression changes on their faces and realised they were using some silent technique to communicate with each other.
Yang tossed a side glance at the other two elders, and this only confirmed his hypothesis for him, as he saw them watching the staring contest with rapt attention.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the tension broke as the Sect Master turned to him, his expression softening into a polite, composed mask.
“Disciple Chen Yang,” the Sect Master began in a smooth voice. “Both Peak Master Zheng Yi of True Talisman Peak and Peak Master Hua Yong of Soaring Cloud Peak have expressed a desire to take you in as a direct disciple.”
The Sect Master gestured to the two men, “Both were impressed by your ingenuity across all events you participated in. It has not gone unnoticed that you, despite being in the sect for less than a year, have managed to achieve enough proficiency in talisman craft to create your own inscriptions.”
The Sect Master assured him, “You are free to choose either, or indeed to decline both. You would neither be reprimanded for any choice you make nor would any offence be taken as a result of your decision.”
Yang was at a loss for words as his mind whipped up a storm of calculations.
On one side, there was Peak Master Zheng Yi, who was the logical choice. Yang had spent, if one counted his years in the Cardwriight World, which he did, two decades honing his craft and still had a long way to go on this path. Joining the True Talisman Peak just made sense. It was the best decision for him. Not to mention, his hope to create reusable talismans would be a lot more achievable with the backing of True Talisman Peaks' resources. As for his desire to learn other crafts, he could still learn them, he had seen formation peak disciples taking part in the talisman events. Nothing is restricting him to his peak’s main craft.
Then there was the alternative. Peak Master Hua Yong.
The Peak Master of the Soaring Cloud Peak.
This was the eccentric master of the unpredictable Senior Brother Jiang Zhen Hao and the enigmatic and terrifying Xiao Zhan. That was someone Yang had wanted to place as much distance between himself and as possible. He had, over the past few weeks, actively avoided even thinking about Senior Brother Xiao Zhan, operating on the theory that if he didn’t acknowledge the man’s existence, he wouldn’t materialize. And now he was being offered a position that would make him his Shixiong. No thanks.
Not to mention, the question of why Peak Master Hua Yong even wants him as his disciple in the first place? Peak Master Zheng Yi’s interest made sense. Yang had shown proficiency in talisman crafting, but Peak Master Hua Yong had no reason to want Yang.
Thankfully, he had a good excuse; his passion was in talisman crafting, and becoming part of the Talisman Peak was his dream come true. No way for Peak Master Hua Yong to know he was spouting nonsense.
Yang’s gaze met the Peak Master Hua Yong, who just smiled confidently at him, as he bowed his head to deliver his perfectly crafted, polite refusal.
“Peak Master, I am deeply honoured by your offer to become your disciple. But I am dedicated to talisman craft, and I feel it's best for me—” and choked as a sensation he hadn’t felt in decades surged from deep within his chest, forcing him to redirect gracelessly mid-sentence. “—learn talisman craft and other skills at your side, if you’d have me,” Yang gave the Peak Master a weak smile, his voice sounding hollow and alien to his own ears.
If he choked to death on his own word, it would be the most embarrassing death in the cultivation worlds' recorded history. But what can he do? The bloody bead didn't think he was already in a miserable enough situation; the bead decided mid-way through his carefully prepared refusal speech was the best time to warn him against his decision.
Yang then bowed his head apologetically to Peak Master Zheng Yi, unsure what more he could say. He had already given his rejection speech to Peak Master Hua Yong. What was he supposed to say to Peak Master Zheng Yi now? He had no valid reason for choosing Peak Master Hua Yong over him.
Yang glanced up at the Peak Master with eyes pleading for understanding after finally conjuring up a somewhat believable excuse. “Peak Master, I… I have a close bond with Senior Brother Jiang Zhen Hao. It would make me happy to join the same lineage as him.”
It was a rather flimsy and pathetic excuse that gave no credit to his thinking capabilities, but it was all Yang could come up with in such a time crunch.
Peak Master Zheng Yi’s eyes softened as he began to advise him, “Disciple Chen Yang, this is about your future; you must think this through. You—”
“Peak Master Zheng Yi.” Peak Master Hua Yong’s voice was pleasant and entirely unconcerned. “Since my disciple has already chosen, it's clearer that he is fated with the Soaring Cloud Peak.”
"Don't worry, I’ll help him reach the heights of the cultivation world,” said Peak Master Hua Yong in a rather smug tone.
The Sect Master kept quiet during the exchange and looked like a simple spectator before he turned to Peak Master Hua Yong, “Congratulations, Shidi, on acquiring a promising new disciple. Raise him well.”
Before turning to Yang, “Martial Nephew Chen Yang. Congratulations on becoming a part of the Inner Sect. In the cultivation world, your sect is your family, and your master, your father. See that you serve him well.”
Yang bowed his head to the Sect Master. “Disciple Chen Yang will follow the Sect Master's instructions.”
It was then that reality hit Yang like a physical blow.
He was now part of the Inner Sect, a direct disciple of a Peak Master.
A Core disciple.
And then he remembered, his new master Hua Yong was the most powerful Peak Master in the sect, even more than the Sect Master himself, and the Sect Master's own Shidi, which explained his calling Yang Martial Nephew. It was not mere courtesy but an accurate reflection of their relation in the lineage.
The Sect Master, Peak Master Zheng Yi and the other two elders left together. Yang was glad to see that at least Peak Master Zheng Yi, while clearly disappointed with the choice he made, didn’t appear angry.
Yang was also helpless. It's not like he could explain the actual reason for his decision. If it wasn't for the inner instinct nudge, which itself had surprised him, as it had been almost two decades since he felt it stir in this way. But his inner instinct, or rather the bead, had never led him astray.
This may look like an unwise decision, but Yang was sure that in the end it would prove itself to be the best one.
But that still leaves the question of why this Peak Master wanted Yang as his disciple.
Yang met the eye of his master, whose expression hovered in the range of amusement and assessment, “Interesting decision, Disciple Yang,” and Yang’s eyes widened, as his throat locked up.
“Do not look so worried, you are my, Hua Yong’s disciple, there is nothing you should fear.” The peak.. No, his master smiled at him as he added, “I will send Zhen Hao to accompany you and help make arrangements for your move to the Soaring Cloud Peak. Rest here for now.”
He turned towards the door and left.
Yang sat in the quiet infirmary, alone with his thoughts, trying to make sense of what exactly happened.
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