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Chapter 35 Conversation between the Master and Disciple
On this day, Zhang Sanfeng brought a child to find Xiao Ning.
"Senior brother is here! Quickly, please invite him in! Oh, isn't this Xiao Wuji?"
Upon seeing the two arrive, Xiao Ning went up to greet them.
I hope I didn't bother you!
Zhang Sanfeng casually replied, then bowed to Zhang Wuji and said, "Wuji, this is your grand-uncle, quickly pay your respects!"
Zhang Wuji obediently kowtowed and said, "Wuji greets Grandmaster Uncle, I kowtow to you!"
Xiao Ning gently supported him with both hands and said in a gentle voice, "Good child, get up quickly!"
"Yes, Grandmaster Uncle!"
Zhang Wuji did as he was told and got up from the ground.
After inviting Zhang Sanfeng to sit down and serving him tea, Xiao Ning asked, "Senior Brother, it's rare for you to visit me. Is there something you need today?"
Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and smiled, "After Wuji was injured by the Xuanming Divine Palm, his body is weak. This old Daoist plans to have him practice your Nine Yang Divine Skill. What do you think, Junior Brother?"
Xiao Ning was both amused and exasperated: "I thought it was something serious, but it turns out it's like this. I've already given the Nine Yang Divine Skill manual to Junior Nephew Song. If anyone in the sect wants to practice it, just make a rule, and if a disciple meets the requirements, let him practice. There's no need to come and ask me specifically, is there?"
On second thought, he widened his eyes and tentatively asked, "Senior brother, you're not going to ask me to teach you, are you? No way!"
Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and asked unhurriedly, "Junior brother, what's wrong with that? With your unparalleled martial arts skills, you should find a successor, shouldn't you?"
Xiao Ning shook his head frantically: "No way, I'm still so young! Let me teach apprentices, maybe in a few more years!"
Seeing that he firmly opposed it but did not completely rule it out, Zhang Sanfeng had no choice but to give up, thinking that there would be other opportunities in the future.
"Very well, junior brother, if you ever want to take on a disciple, just let me know!"
Xiao Ning chuckled, glanced at Zhang Wuji who was standing ramrod straight, and then, as if struck by a thought, he lowered his head and said to Zhang Wuji, "Little Wuji, your master and I have something to discuss. Why don't you go outside and play for a bit?"
Zhang Wuji nodded as if he understood, "Okay, Grandmaster Uncle, Wuji understands!"
He turned around, said goodbye to Zhang Sanfeng, and walked out.
Seeing Zhang Wuji leave the room, Zhang Sanfeng asked, "Junior Brother, is there something you want to say?"
Xiao Ning stood up, put his hands behind his back, and sighed, "When I saw Xiao Wuji just now, a thought flashed through my mind, but I don't know if it will work. I was just about to discuss it with you, senior brother."
Zhang Sanfeng immediately became interested. He knew that this junior brother always acted in a wildly imaginative and audacious manner. Whether it was right or wrong, he was at least bold enough to think and act.
"Junior brother, why don't you tell me? Let's discuss it together!"
Xiao Ning nodded, then asked a strange question: "Senior brother, what are the individual characteristics of your seven disciples?"
"Disposition?"
Zhang Sanfeng was taken aback, wondering what he was trying to imply, but he still answered truthfully: "Each of the seven of them has their own strengths!"
Then, he slowly said, "Elder Brother Yuanqiao is deeply versed in the principles of the I Ching, possessing a detached and far-reaching vision, but he is also extremely rigid, not the best choice for sect leader."
"The second brother, Lianzhou, is diligent, hardworking, honest, and dutiful, but his achievements in martial arts are limited, and he is unlikely to reach the Innate Realm."
"My third brother, Daiyan, is shrewd and capable. He has never failed in any task I entrusted to him. It's just a pity that even if he is cured, he is crippled."
"The fourth brother, Songxi, is exceptionally intelligent, the wisest among the seven; however, his comprehension is only average, merely mediocre."
"The fifth son, Cui Shan, is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possesses the highest comprehension. It's a pity he wasted ten of his prime years overseas; what can be done?"
"The sixth son, Li Ting, is weak-willed and his internal strength cultivation is mediocre, but his swordsmanship is the most proficient."
"In recent years, Xiao Qisheng Valley has focused on practicing external martial arts, only knowing the external but not the internal, which means he has gone astray!"
Although Zhang Sanfeng spent many years in seclusion, at least nine out of the twelve months of the year there, he knew his seven disciples very well.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning pondered it carefully and found that it was exactly as he had known. He couldn't help but smile and say, "Senior Brother's insight is indeed correct. The thought that just arose in my mind was related to the Fifth Elder, Cuishan!"
Zhang Sanfeng glanced at him, becoming even more curious, and asked, "What is that idea of yours? Just say it directly. Being so secretive is not straightforward at all!"
Xiao Ning dodged the question: "Haha! Senior brother, don't be impatient! Let me ask you another question: what do you think of the Ming Cult?"
They've kept us in suspense again.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng rolled his eyes and then fell into deep thought.
After a long pause, he carefully said, "As far as I know, the Ming Cult was introduced to the Central Plains during the Wu Zhou period. It is also known as Manichaeism. They worship the sun and moon, and their followers prefer white clothing. They advocate vegetarianism, abstaining from alcohol, and naked burial. They emphasize unity and mutual assistance, referring to each other as brothers and sisters."
"During the early Song Dynasty, believers were spread all over the country, especially in Huainan, Liangzhe, Jiangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian and other places. They constantly organized peasant uprisings, the most famous of which were the Fang La and Wang Nianjing uprisings."
"Now, the number of believers is even greater, numbering in the hundreds of thousands!"
"Among them are many experts, from the sect leader Yang Dingtian, the two carefree envoys, the four great Dharma Kings, the five wandering immortals, the five elemental flag masters, and so on. Which one of them is not a well-known first-class expert in the martial arts world!"
"However, if this continues, the evil will rise and the righteous will fall, which is not a blessing for our righteous path!"
Zhang Sanfeng was, after all, a seasoned veteran who had lived for over a hundred years. He knew all the major forces in the martial arts world like the back of his hand, and he paid particular attention to the Ming Cult, the leader of the evil sects.
After all, the world is in chaos, and the two sides might become mortal enemies one day. It's always better to know in advance than to sharpen one's sword at the last minute.
Xiao Ning smiled mysteriously: "So, in order to solve this great scourge of the Ming Cult, the burden will ultimately fall on my nephew Cuishan!"