15 A Beautiful Young Man (1/2)

Baili Chao took a moment to process what Yun Bei Fen had said and suppressed another sigh. Ah, this boy! He might look like a young man now but he was obviously still a child at heart!

”You. Is that the only reason you delved into cultivation like that for the past years?”

Yun Bei Fen wanted to nod but reconsidered at the last moment and shook his head. ”Of course not! I've taken all of Master's teachings to heart. Cultivating earnestly is repaying all of Master's kindness!”

Baili Chao looked at his disciple. He had the urge to rap him on the head but finally, he only reached out and patted him. ”Don't try to sweet-talk me. You're doing it all because of that senior martial brother Mei of yours.” He sighed. ”Well, whatever your reason is if it makes you stronger so you'll be able to survive in this world, then your Master doesn't mind. As for that Mei Chao Bing, he shouldn't be angry with you. Actually, he came by a few times to ask how you were doing.”

”Really?” Yun Bei Fen perked up, happiness written all over his face.

Baili Chao smiled wryly. Ah, would his disciple also look so happy if someone told him that his Master had come by every day to take a look at how things stood? Well, never mind. He probably didn't want to know the answer. Since the day his disciple had seen Mei Chao Bing for the first time he had only been able to occupy the second spot in his heart. Nothing would change about that anymore.

Baili Chao nodded. ”Yes. So stop worrying already and let's go to the Sect Master's palace. The other Elders probably brought their disciples over already.”

”Mn!” With his Master's promise that Mei Chao Bing wasn't angry at all, Yun Bei Fen had no reason to stay burrowed in this room. Ah, he really wanted to go! Maybe he would see his senior martial brother Mei at the Sect Master's palace?!

Before Baili Chao knew what was happening his disciple had jumped to his feet and pulled him up while he was at it.

”Let's go, Master! We shouldn't let Sect Master Zhang and the other Elders wait!” Then he ran ahead to the door.

Baili Chao's lips twitched. ”You mean we can't let Mei Chao Bing wait.” He shook his head, sighed and followed his disciple over to the Sect Master's palace.

Naturally, the other Elders and all their disciples had already arrived. There were even a lot of disciples from the inner sect that didn't have a Master yet. And, of course, there was also that person.

Yun Bei Fen's gaze zeroed in on Mei Chao Bing and he stopped right in the door. Baili Chao had to grab his little disciple by the shoulder and drag him to the side as inconspicuously as possible. Well, the dragging part went quite well but for the inconspicuousness … He might as well have come in playing the flute or beating a drum. Everyone standing close to the door turned around and started to whisper, their gazes lingering on Yun Bei Fen.

Baili Chao wanted to curse. The boy had already been a very cute child when he found him in the Xiao Xi Town back then. He had had a pair of big, dark eyes, a slightly upturned nose, and a round face even though you couldn't call him chubby. Looking at him you just wanted to pinch his cheeks or rub his head and carry the child home.