Love & Redemptio Chapter 32: Becoming an Apprentice

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Becoming an Apprentice

Today, three Chapters will be posted in succession~ Here's the first one~

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Returning to her own yard, Chu Yinghong could see from afar two girls dressed in white with red borders standing at the gate. Xuanji stared at them for a while before she rembered that was the attire of the disciples from Yuyang Hall.

Yuyang Hall was managed by Aunt Hong, so it seed Aunt Hong indeed had sothing to discuss with her.

She ambled over, and the two girls at the gate, one tall and the other short, smiled when they saw her, "The new junior sister has arrived! Master has been waiting for you inside for a long ti! Hurry in!"

The new junior sister? She was bewildered.

Seeing her still dazed, the two of them urged her, "Hurry up! Don't make Master wait too long, she's quite frightening when she gets angry."

Xuanji let out an "oh," and just as she was about to enter, she paused, then raised her head and smiled softly at them, saying gently, "Thank you, sisters."

Seeing her so adorable and pitiful, their hearts had already softened, and they were all delighted that Yuyang Hall would gain such a beautiful junior sister.

As Xuanji pushed the door open, she heard laughter coming from inside, including Aunt Hong's and also her father's and mother's. She tentatively poked her head inside and saw all three of them there, with Zhong Minyan and Linglong sitting beside them.

Linglong, with sharp eyes, had already seen Xuanji peeking timidly from behind the door and imdiately jumped up, calling out, "Sister is here! Why are you hiding over there! Co on over!"

After she finished speaking, she ran over and warmly pulled her in front of the three adults, smiling and saying, "Uncle Master, sister is here."

Xuanji quietly called out, "Father, Mother, Aunt Hong."

Chu Lei frowned, "How can you be so informal! What's this 'aunt' and 'uncle' all of a sudden!"

Scolded by him, Xuanji imdiately shrank her shoulders and said no more.

Chu Yinghong quickly smiled and said, "Brother, don't bla her. It was

who asked Xuanji to call

Aunt Hong, it's more affectionate. I truly regard her as my own niece."

With that, she beckoned Xuanji over, "Co here to , you seem to have grown taller since I saw you last."

Xuanji, with her head and neck nestled in her embrace, was thoroughly enjoying the closeness, like a cat, almost purring with a swish of her would-be tail.

He Danping said with a smile, "Since when have you beco so close to my daughter that I, her mother, didn't even know it."

Chu Yinghong gently stroked Xuanji's soft long hair, saying softly, "I didn't realize before what a good child she was, one can't help but love her."

Linglong, seeing how affectionate Chu Yinghong was with Xuanji, tugged at her sleeve coquettishly, "What about ? Uncle Master, can I also call you Aunt Hong?"

Just as Chu Yinghong was about to answer, Chu Lei, sitting by her side, had already frowned, "All of you lack discipline, no more fussing. We have serious matters to attend to today, so sit quietly."

Linglong, ever the epito of a timid mouse in the presence of her father, instantly lost her fire and obediently sat back down.

Chu Lei cleared his throat, speaking softly, "Xuanji, you are already eleven years old. You've squandered years on Shaoyang Peak without any progress."

Xuanji thought that they had gathered so many people today just to reprimand her, and her face imdiately fell, losing interest in cuddling with Chu Yinghong.

"Fortunately, your Uncle Master thinks you are a promising seedling," Chu Lei changed his tone, "Since you haven't learned much on Shaoyang Peak, it seems this place isn't suitable for you. How about you follow your Master to Little Yang Peak and officially beco her disciple? From now on, no more laziness or negligence, understood?"

As these words were uttered, not only did Xuanji stare in shock, but even Zhong Minyan and Linglong were stunned.

"Daddy, are you sending Sister away?" Linglong was the first to exclaim, "I won't accept this! Why does she have to leave Shaoyang Peak! If you need to send soone away, then send

and Sister both to Little Yang Peak!"

"Nonsense!" Chu Lei's face darkened, and he said sternly, "Who's sending whom away! You're all disciples of the Shaoyang Sect! Be quiet and sit back down!"

Linglong, about to cry, said in a trembling voice, "It's obviously about separating Sister from us, and yet you say it's not sending her away. Little Yang Peak is so far, it takes half a day just to see each other, not to ntion whether we'll be able to et in the future!"

He Danping sighed, "Linglong, don't say any more! This is a good thing, so why cry and make a fuss? You're really behaving like a child."

Zhong Minyan also took Linglong's hand, signaling her not to get agitated, finally convincing her to sit back down.

"Xuanji, would you like to go to Little Yang Peak with Aunt Hong?" Chu Yinghong asked gently as she stroked Xuanji's head.

She stood still for a mont, then said, "I'd like to, but... I'll also miss Linglong and the others."

Chu Yinghong smiled and said, "Silly child, it's not like you won't see them ever again. As long as you wish, you can co back to see them every day."

After thinking it over seriously, she finally nodded, "Okay, then I'll go to Little Yang Peak with Aunt Hong."

Chu Yinghong had prepared many reasons in case Xuanji was unwilling, but was delighted to see her so readily agree, and turned to Chu Lei, "Sect Leader, after the Flower Pinning Conference concludes, I will take Xuanji with ."

Chu Lei nodded, "Xuanji, if you are to follow your martial aunt to Little Yang Peak, you can't keep calling her auntie. She is formally accepting you as a disciple of Yuyang Hall; you should address her as 'Master.'

Xuanji was sowhat reluctant, but still quietly called out, "Master, Master."

Chu Yinghong, overjoyed, took hold of her hand, grinning like a blooming stead bun.

He Danping, standing to the side, laughed, "Calling her 'Master' is not enough. To be formally accepted as a disciple you need to kowtow and serve tea—that's the proper way of performing the rite. Eldest brother, wouldn't you agree?"

Chu Lei nodded, and Chu Yinghong hurriedly said, "There's no rush for that, we can perform the formal rites once we are at Yuyang Hall."

She knew that a child like Xuanji had her own thoughts; she may seem pliable, but one must not force her to do things she dislikes. If the initiation created aversion in her, even if Yinghong beca her master, teaching her well would be impossible.

Thus, the matter was settled, to the satisfaction of all three adults. Chu Lei and He Danping had always been vexed by their lazy daughter, reluctant to punish her too harshly and knowing that neglect was detrintal to her, they were relieved that Chu Yinghong was willing to take her as a formal disciple. Chu Yinghong was well-versed and skilled in many areas, and they believed she would know how to teach Xuanji, far better than their own rigid thods.

While they were pleased with the outco, suddenly, Linglong said, "Daddy, I want to go to Little Yang Peak too, to beco a disciple of the martial aunt!"

Everyone was startled, especially Zhong Minyan, who was so anxious he didn't know what to do.

He Danping sighed, "This child is being willful today. Why leave the comfortable Shaoyang Peak for Little Yang Peak?"

Linglong said anxiously, "Then why does my sister have to go! I don't care, I won't be separated from her! If she goes there, I want to go too!"

Chu Lei's face beca stern as he barked, "Stop talking nonsense! With the Flower Pinning Conference these past days, I haven't had ti to check on your sword techniques, and yet here you are making a scene! Next ti I review your practice, if even one move is not perfect, you will go to your room for reflection, and you won't co out until I say so!"

This rebuke was too much for Linglong, and she couldn't bear it; bursting into tears, she stomped her foot and yelled, "Daddy is biased! Daddy is a big anie!" After her outburst, she ran out, and Zhong Minyan, due to the Sect Leader's presence, didn't dare to chase after her, feeling as if his chest was burning with urgency.

Seeing He Danping distressed, Chu Lei said, "Leave her be! She's beco too spoiled, utterly lawless! We'll deal with her after she cools down for a few days."

Seeing her husband speak up, He Danping had no choice but to let it go.

So it was, with only two days left till the final round of the Flower Pinning Conference, on a clear and sunny afternoon, Xuanji beca Chu Yinghong's disciple, marking the end of her carefree days on Shaoyang Peak.

Of course, that is a story for another ti, and shall not be discussed for now.