Chapter 87

Even someone as meticulous as Guangren did not expect Yan Aihou to suddenly say such a thing. His smile froze on his face, and he began to ponder how to deal with the situation that followed.

In everyone's view, no matter how it was calculated, Wu Mian should now bow and kneel on the ground. By recognizing this master, Wu Mian would theoretically become an ancestor figure to Guangren and his followers. Previously, these people had been putting on a show, entangled in the issue of the lost treasure of the fangshi lineage. Now, if Wu Mian recognized this master, all the problems would be instantly resolved. If his master is a disciple of the first Great Fangshi, what's the problem with a few insignificant items? Are you still talking about the return of the treasure? Kneel down, bow, and call him a few nice names first.

After hearing Yan Aihou's words, Wu Mian pursed his lips and turned to give Yan Aihou a sidelong glance. This look was all too familiar to Gui Gui. When they first met in the Miao territory, Wu Mian had the same look after learning about his relationship with Xu Fu. With the understanding he had of this unreasonable white-haired man over the years, Gui Gui almost guessed what he would say next.

Sure enough, after a pause, Wu Mian said in his characteristic tone to the first Great Fangshi, "How could you be so blind to fall for him?"

I knew this little bastard would act unpredictably! Gui Gui was seething inside. Before Wu Mian could finish, he interrupted, "Hahaha, I already told you, the one with the eye disease is the third Great Fangshi, Bai Xi of the State of Lu. He's young but has a poor memory. How many Great Fangshis are there? You can still mix them up?"

As he spoke, Gui Gui wiped his cold sweat and gave Wu Mian a meaningful look, praying that this Wu family ancestor wouldn't cause any more trouble.

Fortunately, Wu Mian understood Gui Gui's thoughts. After a dismissive shrug, he remained silent. Yan Aihou, in the form of Qiu Biao, had interacted with this white-haired man for many days and understood his character to some extent. The first Great Fangshi gave a strange laugh and said to the little doll Ren San he was holding, "It seems I'm offering my warm face to a cold ass. These days, it's not easy to take on a disciple. Tell me, what should I do?"

"How many times have I told you? Don't ask a ginseng spirit about human affairs!" Little Ren San frowned at Yan Aihou, but among these people, he only found Wu Mian tolerable. After being captured by Gui Gui and the others, he had escaped thanks to Wu Mian's hint. The ginseng spirit blinked and, after a pause, looked at Wu Mian while speaking to Yan Aihou, "I'm puzzled, can't you humans figure this out? Now you're begging him to be your disciple. If he refuses, keep begging. If once doesn't work, try twice. If standing doesn't work, kneel. I don't believe you can beg so shamelessly without annoying him. He can't fight you, and if he gets annoyed, he might agree to be your disciple in a fit of anger. Don't put on that Great Fangshi act. It's long expired and not worth much."

"You speak so highly of him, if you weren't of a different kind, I'd think you were his son." Yan Aihou couldn't bear to hear more from Little Ren San. He interrupted with a bitter smile, glanced at Wu Mian, and said, "Alright, since you mistook me for the blind Bai Xi, we have no master-disciple destiny. Since we can't be master and disciple, let's be fellow disciples."

Before he finished, Yan Aihou pointed at Wu Mian's position. A powerful force then immobilized Wu Mian, as if he were bound by dozens of ropes, unable to move or speak.

After immobilizing Wu Mian, Yan Aihou turned to the disciples of the fangshi lineage and said, "Disciples of the fangshi lineage, today Ji Ai is taking on a disciple on behalf of my late master. Wu Mian will be admitted to the fangshi lineage. From today on, Wu Mian will be the last disciple of my late master Yao Chen."

Stunned, the crowd watched as Yan Aihou turned to Guangren and said with a smile, "Young disciple Guangren, although I am just a spirit and not in the position of Great Fangshi, I still have the right to take on disciples on behalf of my late master, right?"

After a long silence, Guangren sighed heavily and then led his disciples to bow deeply to Yan Aihou, saying, "Young disciple Guangren congratulates Ancestor Yao Chen on taking on a disciple. I am not in the position of Great Fangshi, and there are still matters to attend to in the fangshi lineage. Please forgive me for not being able to participate in the ceremony."

With that, Guangren turned and left with his disciples without looking back.

Guangxiao, Guangyi, and Guangti exchanged glances. Guangyi used a secret communication method to tell Guangxiao and Guangti, "Guangren just left? Even if Yan Aihou is the first Great Fangshi, he's just a spirit in a human body. His magic might not be stronger than ours. Any two of us could defeat him."

"Your Great Fangshi isn't afraid of Yan Aihou," Guangxiao said with a half-smile, looking at Guangyi. After a pause, he continued in a whisper, "Guangren is afraid of the former Great Fangshi who is still at sea. Who knows when he'll get tired of the sea and return? Before, he could bypass Yan Aihou and directly target Wu Mian. Now, if he acts, it would be considered betraying the master."

Just as Guangxiao finished, Guangti, the only woman among the three, suddenly sneered. She didn't use the secret communication method but directly said to her two senior brothers, "Today is truly boring. You two can stay and observe the ceremony. I'll leave with my disciples. Don't contact me unless necessary."

With that, Guangti didn't even greet the first Great Fangshi. She gave Wu Mian one last look and left with her disciples. Of the four major forces that came, only Guangxiao and Guangyi were left awkwardly.

Seeing that the two Guang disciples had no intention of leaving, Yan Aihou smiled and said, "What, do you still have something in mind for Wu Mian?"

"Great Fangshi, you misunderstand," Guangxiao smiled and bowed deeply to Yan Aihou. After the bow, he continued, "Today's events were due to Guangren's deception. The disciples truly didn't know you were here. Encountering such a significant event as Ancestor Yao Chen taking on a disciple, the disciples naturally want to stay and observe the ceremony and offer congratulations."

"Guangxiao, if I hadn't known you since you were young, I might have believed you," Gui Gui said, sighing in relief as half of the Guang disciples left. However, since Guangxiao and Guangyi didn't leave, the old man remained cautious. He smiled at the two and said, "Since it's the old ancestor taking on a disciple, you two disciples shouldn't just observe the ceremony empty-handed. Why don't you and your disciples go and prepare some appropriate gifts, including fine wine and livestock, and then come back to observe the ceremony?"

Guangxiao laughed and looked at the silent Guangyi. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. He slapped his forehead and said to Gui Gui and the others, "Look at my memory. My position here seems inappropriate. Master Xu Fu once said I should change my allegiance. Since today is the great day of Ancestor Yao Chen taking on a disciple, I will also leave the fangshi lineage."

At this point, Guangxiao's voice turned somber. He looked at the indifferent Guangyi and said to Yan Aihou, "I have one more thing to tell the Great Fangshi. Before the former Great Fangshi Xu Fu crossed the sea, he entrusted some items to Wu Mian. After I change my allegiance, he asked me to find Wu Mian and retrieve the items."

Saying this, Guangxiao turned to Guangyi and said, "Senior Brother Guangyi, can you vouch for me?"

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