Chapter 1: I Don't Want to Take on a Disciple, But He Gave Too Much

"Senior, this is my gift for becoming your disciple!"

The young man respectfully placed three purple sandalwood boxes in front of Li Xuan.

"You've misunderstood. I'm not some reclusive master, and I don't take on disciples. Take it back!" Li Xuan said, slightly exasperated.

The young man's name is Xu Yan, a wealthy young man from the county town. His family background made Li Xuan, who had transmigrated to this world, quite envious. Unfortunately, the young man's mind wasn't very sharp, and he mistakenly believed Li Xuan to be a reclusive master, insisting on becoming his disciple.

Li Xuan had been in this world for over ten years. Without any system or cheats, he couldn't even leave the small village. Even worse, now he was the only person left in the village.

The small village was surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides, with only a narrow path about ten feet wide for entry and exit. It was a good place for seclusion, and the village's ancestors had moved here to avoid war.

Now, with no wars outside, the younger generation in the village was unwilling to live a mundane life in this small village and began to leave to explore the outside world.

The village was about a hundred miles from the nearest town, and the journey was fraught with danger, especially the dense forest that needed to be crossed, where fierce tigers and beasts often appeared.

Over the years, the village's population gradually decreased. When Li Xuan transmigrated, there were only a dozen households left, mostly elderly people.

Including Li Xuan, there were only five young men in the village, and none of them were willing to stay. They all wanted to leave the village and make a living in the city, just like Li Xuan.

Unfortunately, the journey was perilous, especially the thirty-mile stretch of the Evil Forest, where fierce tigers and beasts roamed. Several young men who left the village died in the Evil Forest.

One day ten years ago, a villager who had left to explore the outside world returned to the village, intending to take his mother to the city. He claimed to have learned the art of killing tigers and was not afraid of the fierce tigers in the Evil Forest.

So, Li Xuan and several other young men left the village with him.

Although the thirty-mile Evil Forest was home to fierce tigers and beasts, one could pass through safely if lucky.

Li Xuan's group was not so lucky.

A fierce tiger with a mottled coat appeared.

The man who claimed to have learned the art of killing tigers immediately brandished a sharp knife, roared, and charged forward with a slide tackle...

Only Li Xuan managed to escape and return to the small village. He always believed that he survived because he turned and ran first when he saw the man's slide tackle.

The art of killing tigers was too unreliable, sending him straight into the tiger's mouth!

Since then, the village was left with only Li Xuan as a young man. The elderly, who had lost their loved ones, passed away one by one over the years. Half a month ago, Li Xuan sent off the last elderly person in the village.

Looking at the empty village, Li Xuan felt a mix of sorrow and anger. Other transmigrants either rose against the odds or had extraordinary backgrounds.

And himself?

He couldn't even leave the small village!

No system, no cheats, he might have to spend his entire life alone in the small village.

"Ah, I thought I could become a mighty hero, wielding a sword to slay demons and monsters, achieving immortality and looking down on all. Clearly, I was dreaming too much."

Li Xuan sighed, mocking himself, "I can't even leave the small village, yet I dream of wielding a sword to traverse a thousand miles? Ha!"

It was this self-mockery that Xu Yan, who had somehow found his way to the small village, overheard. Hearing the phrase "wielding a sword to traverse a thousand miles," he mistakenly believed Li Xuan to be a reclusive master and immediately knelt down, wanting to become his disciple.

"Senior, I've finally found you! Please take me as your disciple and teach me the ultimate divine skills!"

"What?!"

Li Xuan was startled, his eyes wide open, looking at the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old, elegantly dressed young man with a sword at his waist. He was confused.

"Your junior, Xu Yan from Donghe County, has been determined since childhood to seek true martial arts. Today, I have the good fortune to meet you, and I hope you will take me as your disciple. I will work hard and not let your teachings down!"

Kneel! Kneel! Kneel!

Seeing the young man's fervent and respectful bow, Li Xuan was dumbfounded. His first thought was: This kid's brain isn't working right!

No matter how Li Xuan refused or denied being a reclusive master, Xu Yan didn't believe him, insisting on becoming his disciple. His fervent attitude made Li Xuan's head ache.

"I'm not a reclusive master, and I don't know any martial arts cultivation techniques. You've come to the wrong person. I'm still looking for someone to teach me martial arts!"

"Impossible!"

Xu Yan's gaze was firm, "Senior, don't lie to me. You must be a reclusive master!"

"Look, the village is surrounded by steep cliffs, with a beautiful landscape. It's clearly a place for seclusion. If you weren't a reclusive master, why would you live here alone?"

"Senior, please take me as your disciple. I won't let your teachings down!"

Xu Yan continued to bow, his eyes fervent and his gaze firm.

"I'm not a reclusive master, I don't know any cultivation techniques, and I don't take on disciples. You've really come to the wrong person..."

Li Xuan was helpless. How could this kid be so stubborn? He didn't even know how he managed to cross the Evil Forest and come to the small village.

To find a reclusive master, he must have lost his mind!

"I understand!"

Xu Yan suddenly stood up, looking enlightened.

"Taking on a disciple is a serious matter and cannot be done lightly. I will go back and prepare the gift for becoming a disciple!"

Before Li Xuan could react, Xu Yan ran off and quickly disappeared.

Half a month passed.

Li Xuan had been regretting not taking the opportunity to learn more about the outside world from Xu Yan, or even to see if he could leave the small village.

He never expected Xu Yan to come back again.

And he brought the gift for becoming a disciple!

Determined to become his disciple!

No matter how Li Xuan denied it, he firmly believed Li Xuan was a reclusive master.

Li Xuan didn't want to lie, especially to someone with a remarkable background. Without any cheats or systems, the consequences of being exposed would be dire.

So, he repeatedly refused and denied, but Xu Yan was stubborn, convinced that Li Xuan was a reclusive master, and nothing could change his mind!

"Senior, here are three hundred taels of gold. I know material things don't interest you, but the gift for becoming a disciple is necessary. This is a token of my sincerity!"

Xu Yan opened one of the boxes, revealing thirty neatly arranged gold ingots.

Li Xuan looked at the gold ingots, swallowed, and felt a bit tempted, but he gritted his teeth and firmly said, "I don't take on disciples! I'm not a reclusive master. Take it back. I'm not much older than you!"

"Senior, your youthful appearance is surely due to your cultivation, which keeps you young!"

Xu Yan still firmly believed Li Xuan was a reclusive master and opened the second box.

"This is a thousand-year-old ginseng, a rare treasure from my family. It is my second gift for becoming a disciple. I hope you will accept it!"

Li Xuan swallowed, looking at the thousand-year-old ginseng with its complete root and human-like shape. The faint ginseng fragrance entered his nostrils, and he felt a surge of energy.

The thousand-year-old ginseng was undoubtedly a rare treasure. The village's elders had said that a hundred-year-old ginseng could extend the life of a dying person by three days, greatly invigorating their vitality and extending their lifespan.

If a hundred-year-old ginseng had such effects, a thousand-year-old ginseng would be even more powerful.

Li Xuan felt tempted but gritted his teeth and continued, "Take it back. I'm really not a reclusive master, and I don't know any cultivation techniques!"

Xu Yan opened the third box, "Senior, this is the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi, my third gift for becoming a disciple!"

Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi!

Li Xuan couldn't take his eyes off it. The village's elders had said that the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi, passed down by ancestors, could cure all diseases, prevent mental exhaustion, keep hair black, and extend life by twenty years!

A rare treasure in the world!

Li Xuan looked at the jade-white, mushroom-like Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi with nine purple leaves on its stem. He took a deep breath, forced himself to look away, and sighed deeply.

"Fine! Since you've come here, it must be fate. I will take you as my disciple!"

Xu Yan gave too much, and Li Xuan couldn't bear to refuse!

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