3 Accepting a Master (1/2)
Yun Bei Fen woke up especially early the next morning. The sun hadn't even risen when he slipped out of bed and hurried to the hall. He wanted to make sure that he hadn't just imagined the old man that came by last night.
Baili Chao was standing in the courtyard at that time and looked up at the now clear, blue sky, contemplating the ways of Heaven. For all those years he stayed in the Teng Yong Sect he had always paid close attention to the children they took in, always in the hope of making one of them his last disciple. He had never found someone he felt a connection with though. Now, upon leaving the sect for the first time in so long, he actually met this little boy and immediately felt what had been lacking so far.
What could this be called if not fate? It was as if Heaven had wanted him to wait for this person. If that was so, then he would put all his energy into guiding him. This boy, he would make sure that he became a mighty cultivator!
Baili Chao smiled and wanted to head back into the house when small, hurried steps sounded behind him. He turned and a little figure threw itself onto him.
”Grandpa!”
Baili Chao blanked. ”Ah? What did you just call me?”
”Grandpa.” Yun Bei Fen looked up at him with his big eyes and smiled.
Faced with this adorable child Baili Chao didn't really know what to say. He crouched down in front of him and patted his head. ”Why are you calling me that?”
Yun Bei Fen pondered and finally his face lit up. ”Because you're old!”
Baili Chao gave a cough and patted the boy's shoulder. So it was really true that a new-born calf wouldn't be afraid of the tiger. Well, the boy didn't even know what exactly a cultivator was so it was to be expected. This too was something he'd have to slowly teach him.
”How about you go and make me a cup of tea?”
”Mn.” Yun Bei Fen nodded and hurried back into the house. He rummaged around the kitchen and finally returned with a cup. He stopped in front of Baili Chao and held it up.
The cultivator looked at the cup. Not even a bit of steam was rising from it. This obviously wasn't the hot tea he had expected. He could probably count himself lucky if he had gotten lukewarm tea instead of a cold one.
Baili Chao cleared his throat. ”Yun Bei Fen, you know if someone wants to become the disciple of a cultivator he will present him with a cup of tea. So, do you want me to be your master?”
Yun Bei Fen tilted his head and pondered the question. In the end, he decided that he didn't know enough yet. ”Is having a master like having a grandfather?”
Baili Chao smiled wryly. What did that child have with grandfathers? ”Not quite. It's more like having a second father. In regards to cultivation, it's often said that being a master for a day is like being a father for life. Your master will teach you everything you need to know just like how your real father would do.”
Yun Bei Fen nodded. He didn't have his real father anymore. Having another father didn't sound so bad. ”Alright. I accept.”
Baili Chao's jaw dropped. What did this rascal mean, he accepted?! It was obviously the master who accepted the disciple, not the other way around!
When the cute little boy in front of him lifted the cup higher up he couldn't say anything though. Ah, never mind, this child was so young he just didn't understand yet. In a few years, he would probably be embarrassed because of what he did today.
Baili Chao took the cup and gulped down the content. His face blanked the moment the liquid ran down his throat. Never mind that this was cold. How could this even be called tea? This was obviously plain water!
Baili Chao had tears streaming down his cheeks. But what could he do now? He handed the cup back to Yun Bei Fen and patted the boy's head. ”Alright, Xiao Fen. You can bring the cup back. Let's wait for your uncle to get up to say farewell. After that, I'll bring you to the Teng Yong Sect.”
The boy nodded but didn't go.
”What is it?”