Watching the Mountain

Chapter 252: Chapter 160: Hidden Mountain

Xu Ran asked, a bit perplexed, "Isn’t that a good thing?"

Zhang Zhentian shook his head. "Senior Brother, you must have seen it for yourself. My new disciple is truly arrogant—the kind of arrogant that looks down on everyone and everything. I didn’t interact much with Senior Brother Ye Shan, but I feel that even he wasn’t this proud back in his day."

Xu Ran smiled faintly. "Isn’t it perfectly normal for a young man to be a bit proud? You said it yourself: he’s the most talented person the Sect has seen in centuries, perhaps even more talented than you. Take a look at all the young prodigies out there. Which one of them isn’t proud?"

"It’s that very pride that drives them to become powerful."

Zhang Zhentian stared at Xu Ran, taken aback. "So, Senior Brother, are you saying I should just let him be?"

Xu Ran shook his head. "I can’t give you any advice on that. He’s your disciple. You’re the one teaching him, not me."

"The only advice I can offer is this: he is your disciple, not your property. You can guide him, but you can’t turn him into another you."

"It’s just like with your grandfather and Teacher Qing Xuan back in the day. Even though you were a huge headache for them, they only wanted to temper you and encourage you to be diligent and hardworking. They never tried to change your personality, crush your spirit, or turn you into the person they wanted you to be."

"In fact, you must have realized that from start to finish, aside from keeping you from going astray, your grandfather and Teacher Qing Xuan never interfered too much in any other aspect of your life."

"That’s because, in their eyes, you had your own path to follow. You were meant to forge your own way, not retrace the steps they had taken."

Zhang Zhentian fell silent, carefully recalling his grandfather’s and Qing Xuan True Monarch’s attitude toward him back then. It seemed it was exactly as his Senior Brother had described.

When he was young, he’d given his grandfather a terrible headache because he lacked ambition and spent all his time getting into trouble with his friends.

Other than wanting him to work harder, his grandfather and Teacher Qing Xuan had never seemed to make many demands on him. At most, they would temper his disposition and his will, but they never forced their own beliefs on him.

He hadn’t understood it back then, but now that he had a disciple of his own, he finally appreciated the profound and well-meaning intentions of his grandfather and Teacher Qing Xuan.

’Especially Grandfather. If he had taken a different, more forceful approach back then and demanded I follow a path he laid out, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.’

As he thought of this, a ripple went through Zhang Zhentian’s heart. ’I’ve been loved so gently, so silently, ever since I was a child.’

Xu Ran watched Zhang Zhentian’s reaction with a faint smile. He felt especially gratified seeing him thinking so seriously and wrestling with the problem of how to teach his disciple, Li Daoyi.

Although True Monarch Flowing Clouds and Teacher Qing Xuan had taken the lead in teaching Zhang Zhentian back in the day, he himself had also been deeply involved.

He had personally participated in and witnessed Zhang Zhentian’s growth. Seeing him come this far, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.

After a long moment, Zhang Zhentian returned to his senses. He cupped his hands in a salute to Xu Ran and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. I think I know what to do now."

With that, he bade Xu Ran farewell and quietly departed.

「A few days after Zhang Zhentian’s departure, Shen Wuchen also appeared before Xu Ran.」

"Master Xu, I heard Senior Brother Zhang took on a disciple. Is that true?"

Hearing this, Xu Ran immediately guessed what was on his mind. "Why do you ask? Are you thinking of taking a disciple as well?"

Shen Wuchen admitted it frankly. "Senior Brother Zhang and I are both Supreme Elders of the Sect. Since he has taken a disciple, it’s only natural that I can too."

"You want to compete with him and see whose disciple is more impressive?"

Shen Wuchen didn’t say a word, but the look on his face made it clear that was exactly what he had in mind.

Xu Ran sighed at the sight. He could understand Shen Wuchen’s feelings. Having never been able to catch up to Zhang Zhentian in terms of raw power, it was only natural that he’d want to compete in this new arena now that he’d found it.

After a moment of thought, he said, "There’s nothing wrong with the idea itself, but I must tell you this: your Senior Brother Zhang is the world-renowned Evergreen Sword Saint. His disciple is another young prodigy, the likes of whom the Sect hasn’t seen in centuries, with a talent that equals or even surpasses his master’s."

"As for you... while your reputation is also considerable, you follow the path of the Flying Immortal Stream. Do you really think a young prodigy with that level of talent would be willing to follow you down that road?"

Shen Wuchen’s face went rigid at his words. After a long pause, he stated flatly, his expression hardening, "I will find a suitable disciple."

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