A middle-aged man appeared with a young girl around fifteen or sixteen years old.
The girl had snow-white skin and an exquisitely beautiful face, with long eyelashes framing a pair of bright and lively eyes.
Curiously, she asked the stern-looking middle-aged man, "Uncle, can't I become your disciple?"
The middle-aged man turned back and replied, "I already have three direct disciples and five inner disciples under my tutelage. I'm afraid I don't have the time to teach you."
"Fortunately, Brother Shao of Tianyu Peak only has two disciples. If you want to become an apprentice, you can be his direct disciple."
"Since Brother Shao and his eldest disciple are away, I've brought you here to meet his second disciple first."
The girl blinked her eyes, puzzled. "Why do I have to meet the second disciple before becoming an apprentice?"
The middle-aged man hesitated, then said, "It's easier for you to become a disciple if you establish a good relationship with him first."
The girl looked at the middle-aged man. "Uncle, you don't seem sincere. Are you lying to me?"
Just as the man was about to respond, he looked ahead and said, "We're here."
Following the direction he pointed, the girl looked over.
Not far away, there was a clearing with a large tree standing in the middle.
On one of its branches sat a small bird, about the size of a fist, with bright red feathers. It looked adorable.
Under the tree, there was a hammock swaying back and forth, where a young man lay leisurely.
As they approached, the girl noticed that the young man seemed to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. He had a handsome face with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.
He was absorbed in reading a device known as a Tianji Tablet.
As her uncle approached, he greeted the young man with a smile, "Shaoqing!"
The tone sounded somewhat flattering, as if he were trying to please the young man.
The young man shifted his gaze from the tablet, glanced at the middle-aged man and the girl, and replied, "Oh, it's Uncle Xiao. Are you looking for my master?"
"My master isn't here, and neither is my senior brother."
After saying this, he shifted comfortably in the hammock, continuing to sway.
The girl was surprised by how casually the young man addressed her uncle.
Her uncle, Xiao Chuang, was the peak master of Chiyue Peak and had reached the Nascent Soul stage. Not only was he a top expert in the Lingxiao Sect, but he was also a renowned figure in Qizhou.
Yet here he was, speaking to this young man with an ingratiating tone?
Xiao Chuang then turned to the girl, "Xiao Yi, this is the second disciple of Tianyu Peak, Lü Shaoqing. You can call him Second Senior Brother."
Although Xiao Yi didn't understand what was so special about this young man, she obediently followed instructions.
In a sweet, melodic voice, she greeted, "Hello, Second Senior Brother!"
Her voice was as melodious as an oriole's song, and Lü Shaoqing couldn't help but glance at her a couple of times.
Xiao Chuang smiled and said to Lü Shaoqing, "Shaoqing, what do you think of this girl?"
Lü Shaoqing quickly replied, "Uncle Xiao, if you're looking for my master or senior brother, come back tomorrow. They'll return then."
"I'm very busy right now and don't have the time."
He then jumped off the hammock and attempted to leave.
But Xiao Chuang quickly grabbed his arm. "Don't run."
"I have a favor to ask."
Lü Shaoqing, sounding worried, said, "Uncle Xiao, we have no enmity. Don't cause me any trouble."
"You're even using beauty as bait, but I don't understand any of this. I can't help you."
Xiao Yi stood there, feeling exasperated.
Xiao Chuang explained, "I just want Xiao Yi here to become a disciple of Tianyu Peak. I'd like your help."
Hearing this, Lü Shaoqing immediately calmed down and shook off Xiao Chuang's hand.
"Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? You scared me."
Xiao Chuang couldn't help but laugh and said helplessly, "You, kid, why are you so lazy? Can't you learn from your senior brother?"
Lü Shaoqing replied, "One senior brother is already enough to give our master a headache. If there were another like me, our master might just hang himself."
"I'm doing this for his own good."
Xiao Chuang was speechless but got back to the point, "Help us out. Make it easier for Xiao Yi to become a disciple under your master."
Lü Shaoqing gave Xiao Yi an odd look, studying her up and down for a moment.
He then asked, "Girl, what's your relation to Uncle Xiao?"
Xiao Yi replied, "He's my uncle."
Lü Shaoqing asked again, "By blood?"
Xiao Chuang, enraged, retorted, "What kind of question is that? Of course, she's my blood niece!"
Lü Shaoqing remarked, "If she's your blood niece, why are you sending her to Tianyu Peak? What's going on?"
"Does her father owe you money and refuses to pay?"
Xiao Chuang raised his hand, ready to strike. "Do you believe I won't smack you to death?"
Xiao Yi was also speechless as she looked at her uncle. "Uncle, is it really as bad as he says?"
Xiao Chuang scolded, "Don't listen to him. Becoming a disciple of Tianyu Peak is definitely a good opportunity for you."
Xiao Yi blinked as she looked at Lü Shaoqing.
With a sincere expression, Lü Shaoqing said to her, "Girl, you'd better go back and ask your father if he did something to offend your uncle."
Xiao Chuang's palm began to glow white, ready to strike at Lü Shaoqing. "If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll smack you."
"Now tell me, how can she become a disciple of Tianyu Peak?"
Lü Shaoqing replied, "If she wants to become a disciple, she should speak with my master. Why are you asking me?"
Xiao Chuang explained, "We need to get past your senior brother first."
"Think of a way for me."
Lü Shaoqing shrugged. "There's no way to get past my senior brother. I can't help you with that."
He looked completely helpless.
Xiao Chuang raised two fingers. "Two hundred lower-grade spirit stones."
Lü Shaoqing's eyes lit up briefly but then he put on a troubled expression. "But this is my senior brother we're talking about. It's not easy to get past him."
Xiao Chuang added another finger. "Three hundred."
Lü Shaoqing responded instantly, "Five hundred. Pay up, and I'll tell you right away."
Xiao Chuang handed him a hundred. "Here's a deposit. You'll get the rest once you tell me the plan."
"Uncle Xiao, can't you be more straightforward?"
Xiao Chuang snorted. "You think I don't know your tricks? Do you really think I've been a peak master all these years for nothing?"
Lü Shaoqing sighed and muttered, "Uncle Xiao, you've misunderstood me deeply."
"Fine. To get past my senior brother, you just need to—"