The Tai Fu Sect's Encounter
Before a rugged mountain ridge, three figures emerged slowly: two Taoists and a young, slender youth.
"We're finally here!" the younger Taoist exclaimed, stretching his arms dramatically.
Tian Fan followed the youth's gaze. A long staircase carved into the mountainside ascended to an expansive temple-like structure barely visible at the top.
"Is that the Tai Fu Sect?" Tian Fan asked the younger Taoist curiously.
"That's right!" The young Taoist, Li Yunyang, nodded eagerly. He rubbed his stomach with a dramatic groan. "We've been walking all day, and I'm starving!"
Smack!
Before his words settled, a swift slap landed on the back of his head. The elder Taoist, holding his fly-whisk with authority, glared at his disciple.
"You little rascal! Have some dignity! You're the sole direct disciple of me, the master of the Tai Fu Sect and the Sect Leader's senior brother! Show some self-respect!"
Li Yunyang rubbed his head with an exaggerated pout. "Oh, dignity? Like when you—"
"Enough!" The elder Taoist clapped a hand over his disciple's mouth before he could finish. "You're hungry? Fine, let's go eat. No need for chatter!" With a hearty push, he nudged Li Yunyang up the stairs and gestured for Tian Fan to follow.
Watching the master-disciple antics, Tian Fan chuckled. Despite their bickering, their camaraderie was undeniable.
At the peak, a young disciple clad in gray robes hurried to greet them.
"Senior Brother Li, ah! And Uncle Master, you've returned?" The disciple respectfully greeted Li Yunyang and the elder. When his gaze landed on Tian Fan, he hesitated.
"Uncle Master, who might this be?"
Before Tian Fan could respond, the elder Taoist stepped forward, slapping a hand on Tian Fan's shoulder. "Haha! This is my newly accepted disciple from my travels. What do you think? Outstanding, right?"
Tian Fan stared at him, speechless. This old fraud! He wanted to call him out but held back—mostly because he knew he couldn't beat him.
"Impressive as always, Uncle Master! While you rarely accept disciples, those you do are always exceptional!" The gray-robed disciple bowed slightly to Tian Fan, his tone laced with admiration.
Unable to discern Tian Fan's cultivation, the disciple assumed it far exceeded his own. The elder Taoist, hearing the praise, beamed with pride.
"Alright, enough chatter. Is there food in the kitchen? We've been traveling all day and are famished!" Li Yunyang interjected, eager to change the subject.
"Yes, Senior Brother. There's plenty left," the young disciple assured him.
"Good. Let's eat!" Li Yunyang took the lead, guiding Tian Fan and his master toward the kitchen.
The food at the Tai Fu Sect was simple—bland, even. Compared to the rich delicacies Tian Fan was accustomed to in the Longteng Empire, it was borderline pig feed. Yet today, with his spirits lifted, even the plain fare tasted delicious.
"Ah, I'm stuffed!" Li Yunyang stretched with satisfaction. He turned to Tian Fan, asking, "Brother, what's your name?"
"Tian Fan. Just call me Tian Fan," he replied between bites.
"Alright, Old Fraud, go arrange a room for Brother Tian Fan," Li Yunyang said casually, looking at his master.
Pfft!
Tian Fan nearly sprayed his tea. Old Fraud? He thought it, but hearing a disciple call his master that outright stunned him.
"What the hell! Am I the master, or are you?" The elder Taoist glared at his cheeky disciple.
"You brought him here; you deal with it!" Li Yunyang shot back without hesitation.
The two stared at each other, fuming. Watching this master-disciple duo bicker, Tian Fan sighed, feeling both amused and exasperated.
"Fine, fine! I'll go!" The elder Taoist waved a hand in surrender and shuffled off, muttering to himself while clutching his wine gourd.
After their meal, Tian Fan followed Li Yunyang to his new lodgings. The sect's wooden cabins were modest, situated on a quiet hillside. To Tian Fan's surprise, the area seemed sparsely populated. Aside from Li Yunyang and his master, the surrounding cabins appeared empty.
"This is your room," Li Yunyang said, pointing to a simple cabin adjacent to his own.
Before Tian Fan could unpack, a young disciple arrived, bowing respectfully. "Brother Tian Fan, the Sect Leader requests your presence in the Grand Hall."
Tian Fan's expression stiffened. He didn't need to think hard to figure out who was behind this sudden summons. "Damn that old fraud!" he muttered under his breath.
The Tai Fu Sect's Grand Hall was modestly adorned, far from the splendor of the Longteng Empire's imperial halls. However, it still exuded a dignified air befitting a sect.
"Please, enter," a calm, resonant voice called from within.
Pushing the doors open, Tian Fan saw a middle-aged man seated at the hall's center. Clad in azure robes, the Sect Leader emanated an overwhelming presence far surpassing the elder Taoist's. His cultivation was undoubtedly at the Hunyuan Realm.
Seated to the side was none other than the elder Taoist, grinning shamelessly. Tian Fan's gaze lingered on him, his thoughts unreadable, but the elder Taoist averted his eyes, feigning innocence.
"Tian Fan, is that your name?" The Sect Leader's tone was steady yet commanding.
"Yes," Tian Fan replied respectfully, suppressing his irritation.
"I hear you've become a disciple of my junior brother Lin Yunzi?"
"Uh, Sect Leader, about that—"
"Indeed, he has!" Lin Yunzi interjected, beaming.
"No, that's not—" Tian Fan began to explain, but the Sect Leader cut him off.
"Good! You're fortunate to have such a teacher. Stay in the Tai Fu Sect and cultivate well. The sect will not mistreat you."
"But, actually—"
"That's enough. I have important matters to discuss with your master. You may leave. Consult your senior brother if you encounter difficulties." With a wave of his hand, the Sect Leader dismissed Tian Fan, leaving him no room to object.
Standing outside the hall, Tian Fan stood in stunned silence before muttering, "Damn it... that old fraud!"
Inside the Grand Hall, the Sect Leader chuckled. "Well done, Junior Brother! Another fine addition to our sect. Your eye for talent is impeccable!"
If Tian Fan could see the Sect Leader now, he'd be dumbfounded. Gone was the dignified leader; in his place was a grinning trickster, mirroring Lin Yunzi's shameless demeanor.