He was Zhang Xukai, Grandmaster Shen's head disciple. Alongside his shizun, Zhang Xukai had made a name for himself for the past twenty years. Many people referred to him as "Grandmaster Zhang", but Zhang Xukai rejected this honorary title out of filial piety.
For as long as Grandmaster Shen still wandered the mortal realm, Zhang Xukai did not dare to be placed on the same level as his shizun. He repeatedly said that he was not worthy of it.
Never mind that Grandmaster Shen rarely made his appearance for the past years and only pulled strings from the shadows.
Zhang Xukai was not alone. He was actually accompanied by the groom, the current Baiyueshan Sect Leader, Bai Lianjue. The two men scanned the sea of stunned faces before Zhang Xukai spotted the person they were looking for.
They then cleaved their path among the sea of banquet participants with eyes full of determination. The fine hairs on Disciple Su's body stood up almost immediately. He was done for. They were all done for.
Zhang Xukai probably heard that someone out here was badmouthing his shizun, and he was here to kick both disciples out of Baiyueshan Sect.
The sect leader was not going to help them.
He probably only tagged along to make sure that the punishment was carried out to Zhang Xukai's utmost satisfaction.
Disciple Wang, meanwhile, was snoring loudly in the most disgraceful manner.
Disciple Su, trembling from head to toe, took the initiative to throw himself to the ground and kowtowed in front of the elders conscientiously.
"Greetings to Sect Leader! Greetings to Master Zhang!"
Zhang Xukai furrowed his brows at Disciple Su for a brief moment before he walked past the trembling disciple and stopped in front of the other guest.
"Shizun," he called out softly. "Why are you sitting out here?"
Disciple Su's head snapped upward in horror. He almost broke his neck when he glanced back at the man, whom Zhang Xukai just referred to as his shizun.
It was that guest!
The one who endured Disciple Wang's drunken harassment and heard his entire slurred tirade against Grandmaster Shen.
He was actually Grandmaster Shen in flesh!
Grandmaster Shen, Shen Ruizhe, who retained his youthful appearance despite his advanced age, tilted his head slightly and glanced at Disciple Su's horrified face. The gentle curve of his lips belied a disaster waiting to unfold.
"It was too hot inside," Shen Ruizhe reasoned. "The ceremony is over. Do you need me for anything?"
His eyes traveled between Zhang Xukai and Bai Lianjue. The latter seemed a little embarrassed.
"No, of course not, Foster Father. I didn't see you in your seat, so I thought that you probably encountered something unpleasant outside."
Upon hearing Bai Lianjue's words, Zhang Xukai immediately directed his gaze toward the kowtowing disciple on the ground and his drunk, snoring shixiong.
"Shizun, did these little disciples offend you?"
Bai Lianjue's face morphed into a mask of fury before anyone confessed to their crime.
"Forgive me for my failure in educating them, Foster Father. I will deal with them at once!"
Although he did nothing wrong per se, Disciple Su began bumping his forehead against the hard stone floor in a mixture of exasperation and apprehension.
"This disciple is wrong! This disciple apologizes! Grandmaster Shen, please have mercy!"
Shen Ruizhe shook his head and heaved a sigh.
"No one offended me. We just had a pleasant talk with each other, that's all. What are you scaring your disciples for?"
"Apologies, Foster Father. I was just concerned about you."
Shen Ruizhe's lips pulled into a bitter smile.
"There is nothing to be concerned about. This is your big day. Enjoy it."
He pushed himself off the table and walked toward Disciple Su, who was cowering on the ground in fear.
"Stand up already. No one is punishing you."
Shen Ruizhe pulled at Disciple Su's elbow and helped him to his feet. He then turned toward Zhang Xukai.
"I am a little tired. Why don't we go back now?"
Zhang Xukai gave a stiff nod in response.
"You haven't been feeling well these days, Shizun. It's good to go back and rest."
Bai Lianjue appeared a little disappointed because his foster father was leaving so soon, but he had no good excuse to keep him around for much longer. In the end, he merely cupped his fists before Shen Ruizhe and bowed his head in deference.
"Foster Father, please take good care of your health."
"Hmm. You too. Congratulations again on this marvelous wedding."
Zhang Xukai gave Bai Lianjue a friendly pat on the back.
"See you again, Brother Bai."
Bai Lianjue nodded with a smile. "En, please take good care of Foster Father for me, Brother Zhang."
Zhang Xukai and Shen Ruizhe left Mount Baiyue behind, riding on Zhang Xukai's gigantic golden lion.
When the beast headed west to Taihe Mountain, Shen Ruizhe tugged at Zhang Xukai's elbow and said, "Don't go back yet. Today is the third day of the week."
Zhang Xukai furrowed his brows.
"Shizun, you are not feeling well today. Just visit him another day."
The word "him" was spoken with dripping disdain, enough to show how much Zhang Xukai despised this particular individual.
"That won't do," Shen Ruizhe said with a light chuckle. "You know that I always keep my promises."
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Author's note :
*munching grapes*
All your first times will be taken by Mo Zhiyuan, Shen Shen~
If my dear readers are wondering why I picked surname Shen for this novel's ML, it's because this author wants Shen Jingwei to play the role of Shen Ruizhe in his next drama~
Shen Jingwei : *chokes* Another cultivation drama??? Have I not suffered enough???
Author : Nope.