Entering the Immortal Path, Cultivating a Hundred Arts Chapter 49: "Touching Master-Disciple Affection"

Luo Hu hurriedly grabbed him by the side and persuaded, "Master Shan, don't be hasty. Aren't I still here to help?"

Li Feng sighed, "Senior, how can I bear to trouble you once more? Let's just forget it."

"Your matters are my matters, Luo Hu. There is a solution to this problem."

"Really?"

Li Feng suppressed a smile and continued his performance.

If he refused to give up thirty percent of the profits, the other party probably wouldn't be this enthusiastic.

"Naturally, it's true."

Luo Hu was terrified that Li Feng would back out at the last moment and cost him the profits within his grasp.

Li Feng maintained an expression of consideration for the other man's sake.

"Won't this put you in a difficult position, Senior?"

"Not at all, not difficult in the least. Meeting you feels like finding a kindred spirit too late in life; we are closer than real brothers. By every rule of emotion and reason, I simply must give you a hand."

Having placated Li Feng, Luo Hu deliberately stepped away from Hong Ling and whispered into his ear, "Later, when we meet the three inspectors, just introduce yourself as the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Shan Chengyue, the founding hero of the Guiyuan Kingdom."

"Is that appropriate?" Li Feng asked.

"Rest assured, Patriarch Shan Chengyue has countless descendants. Even if someone wanted to investigate, it's impossible to trace them all."

Luo Hu was full of confidence and had no fear of the falsehood being exposed.

"Besides, my own ancestors had a blood relation with the progenitor Shan Chengyue, a fact the three inspectors are well aware of."

"Strictly speaking, the descendant you are playing is a generation senior to me."

Li Feng had anticipated this and showed no surprise.

"Senior, given this blood relation, it would be quite proper for me to call you little Hu, wouldn't it?"

Luo Hu nodded, "Proper, completely proper."

"When we meet the three inspectors later, just address me like that, and they will be even less suspicious."

Having concluded their arrangement, the two men entered the inner garden.

Hong Ling, due to her status, was barred from entering.

The scenery in the inner garden of the Danju Workshop could be called a peerless wonder in Anhe City.

It was rare for the three inspectors to visit together, so enjoying flowers and sipping tea was inevitable.

Luo Hu led Li Feng and guided him toward the rear garden.

"Respected Inspectors, the new alchemist of the Danju Workshop has arrived."

Li Feng bowed respectfully to the three men.

"This junior, Shan Zhang, pays his respects to the three masters."

The three inspectors possessed vastly different appearances and temperaments, yet each radiated an immensely powerful aura.

Among them, the inspector surnamed Liu had a square face, a middle-aged look, sharp glints in his eyes, and an overwhelming sense of dignity.

"Why does Master Shan address the three of us as masters?"

The inspector surnamed Liu asked aloud.

In the immortal cultivation world of the Guiyuan Kingdom, very few people used such a title.

Li Feng's remark seemed far too deliberate in trying to curry favor.

"In my early years, I was fortunate enough to receive teachings and clarification from the three masters in Xiling and Wushan. To this day, I benefit endlessly from it. Such a great kindness, how could I ever forget?"

The three inspectors had no recollection of Li Feng whatsoever, but that did not prevent them from feeling a sense of affinity toward him.

They had indeed conducted large-scale teachings in those two regions in the past.

In reality, during his early years, Li Feng was merely a mortal suffering in Qingfeng Town and did not know the three of them at all.

The only reason he could name these two places was because he had done his homework thoroughly in advance.

The Daoist surnamed Liu was still immersed in the grief of losing his son, and seeing someone of a similar age to his late son naturally stirred a sense of fondness.

"Put that way, Master Shan can be considered half a disciple of ours."

"When we imparted our dao back then, having a rising star like you makes us feel our efforts were not in vain!"

The atmosphere in the rear garden instantly turned harmonious.

What was originally supposed to be an interview session had long since transformed into a touching reunion between teachers and a student.

The inspector surnamed Liu gestured for Li Feng to take a seat.

"Taste some spiritual tea freshly brewed by this old man."

Li Feng respectfully sat down, took a small sip of the spiritual tea, and exclaimed in admiration, "Master's tea-brewing skills have improved vastly compared to the past."

Luo Hu listened with his heart in his throat, thinking that this brat was flattering the horse's hoof instead of its muzzle.

The inspector surnamed Liu's favorite hobby was undoubtedly tea arts, and for Li Feng to make such a comment—how was it any different from naked mockery?

Who could have expected that after Li Feng spoke, not only did the inspector surnamed Liu not get angry, but he burst into hearty laughter.

Li Feng had done his research and knew that the inspector surnamed Liu was passionately obsessed with tea arts, loving nothing more than to have others judge his brews, even though his actual skill was truly abysmal—he was the classic type who lacked talent yet remained endlessly enthusiastic.

Capitalizing on this trait and dropping remarks that stirred nostalgic memories made it remarkably easy to close the emotional distance.

"It seems you weren't spared from Daoist Liu's disastrous brews back in the day, my boy."

The other two inspectors stroked their beards and teased.

Li Feng put on an expression of painful memories too dreadful to recall, and to enliven the atmosphere, he said, "To be honest with you, masters, back then the students privately referred to you as the Tea Monster."

The inspector surnamed Liu had not conversed this freely in a long time, and once the floodgates of conversation opened, they could no longer be closed.

This had been the most pleasant day he had experienced in terms of mood for quite some time.

Luo Hu watched from the side with a heart full of deep emotion, realizing that this Master Shan was no ordinary person—he was a figure of substance capable of achieving great things and well worth roping in.

The group chatted right up until noon without the slightest intention of stopping.

Luo Hu couldn't help but remind them, "Respected Inspectors, Master Shan is here today to undergo an interview."

Li Feng seized the opportunity to chime in, "Little Hu is right. Public and private matters must not be mixed; this student must not delay the masters' time."

The three inspectors looked somewhat surprised at Li Feng's address toward Luo Hu.

Luo Hu promptly explained, "Master Shan is the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Patriarch Shan Chengyue and shares a blood relation with the Luo family. I am a generation junior to him."

The three of them experienced a sudden realization.

"We had no idea Master Shan possessed this lineage. You never mentioned it when we were lecturing back then."

Li Feng replied with modesty, "This student was incompetent and dared not stain the ancestors' reputations. Furthermore, my master instructed me that when venturing out into the world, one must guard against arrogance and impatience, and refrain from seeking empty fame."

The inspector surnamed Liu asked out of curiosity, "Who is your master, and where does he currently reside?"

"My master is the recluse Qingyan, a tier-three alchemist, currently residing in the Luoshan Kingdom."

Even though the other party did not ask for his rank, Li Feng intentionally revealed it.

"A truly brilliant teacher produces an outstanding student!"

The three of them had never heard of the title "Recluse Qingyan," but that did not diminish their trust in Li Feng.

Coming from the mouth of a tier-two alchemist, such a claim was difficult to doubt.

One had to understand that in the path of alchemy, lineage was paramount.

Without a master to guide one, trying to enter the field was harder than ascending to the heavens on the spot.

"Respected Masters, this student has one more plea to make and hopes you will grant it."

"Speak freely."

The three of them already harbored the intention of forging a deep friendship.

"Being newly arrived and unskilled in various matters, I wish to invite the masters to hold honorary titles at the Danju Workshop and occasionally offer guidance to this student."

"Of course, I certainly cannot let the masters put in effort for nothing. This student is willing to offer sixty percent of the Danju Workshop's monthly profits as a token of filial respect."

The three men were extremely satisfied; this was a sensible and tactful junior.

After a brief discussion among themselves, they gave their reply.

"Kid, we appreciate your good intentions, but sixty percent is far too much. Thirty percent will suffice."

Tears welled up in Li Feng's eyes, and he was deeply moved.

"The masters' benevolence touches this student's heart, but if word of this gets out, people will point at my spine and curse me for being unfilial."

The three inspectors immediately declared their stance, "Whoever dares to curse you is picking a fight with us."

"Besides, you are currently in the golden age of your cultivation, and you will need to spend spirit stones to manage various connections. It is only right that we elders support you a little."

The inspector surnamed Liu simultaneously cast a glance at Luo Hu.

"Daoist Luo, Master Shan is both our student and your senior. Aren't you going to express your stance?"

Luo Hu understood the underlying meaning.

"Inspector Liu, rest easy with a hundred hearts. Master Shan is my own kin; I would rather wrong anyone else than wrong him."