CHAPTER 78
The Initiation Ceremony
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Ye Qinghan cradled Li Shiyao's small head, her face brimming with affection.
"Of course, Sister likes Master. She loves Master very much, very, very much."
Li Shiyu stared thoughtfully into Ye Qinghan's eyes, as if searching for some clue within them.
Yet beyond the love and reverence for her Master, nothing else stirred within those fox-like eyes.
With that, Ye Qinghan turned and returned to the Main Hall to see her master.
"Qinghan, have you explained everything?"
Ye Qinghan briefly adjusted her robes and composed her expression before nodding. "I've explained everything to her and given her time to think."
"You seem quite fond of her." Su Cheng sat nearby, sorting through the six ceremonial gifts prepared for the second disciple's initiation.
As the senior disciple, Ye Qinghan naturally had to prepare a gift for Li Shiyao. Unlike Su Cheng, Ye Qinghan felt no doubt that Li Shiyao would back down.
The gift had been prepared long ago and now lay quietly in its box.
Hearing her master's words, Ye Qinghan turned to look at him, returning a meaningful expression: "Really?"
[Isn't it obvious? If anyone else dared make me wait for them, you'd have blown your top ages ago!]
【But seeing Qinghan have such a close friend, and Shiyu being such a good kid, is actually pretty nice.】
【Though this one seems a bit tsundere? What's there to be shy about?】
After a long moment, Li Shiyu slowly stepped into the Main Hall. Her expression was resolute, her gaze sharp, all traces of her usual childishness and cuteness gone.
Ye Qinghan and Su Cheng both remained silent, though not out of arrogance. Since this was a formal initiation ceremony, it was only proper for the master to speak first.
She moved gracefully to the center of the hall, gazing from afar at Su Cheng seated high above, then at Ye Qinghan beside him.
Her resolve was set. All that remained was this final act of kneeling!
"Master, Shiyu bows in respect!"
"… " Seeing Li Shiyu enter with such solemnity, they'd thought this girl was finally taking things seriously. And indeed!
"Um… that is… Sister Qinghan…"
Su Cheng chuckled. He'd hoped Dumb Yao might perform her initiation rites with a bit more solemnity, but clearly he'd hoped for too much.
【Well, this is more like you, Shiyáo. If you ever became truly serious, your master might lose sleep over it.】
"Shiyao, there's no need to rush. Take your time. The initiation ceremony is merely a formality. Your master doesn't place much importance on it."
"Thank you, Master." Li Shiyu was now incredibly nervous, fully aware she'd said the wrong thing.
Ye Qinghan chuckled, surprised to see this Da Yao actually nervous. He stepped forward to guide his junior sister, Li Shiyu.
Ye Qinghan skipped all the complicated steps. Lingxian Hall didn't place much emphasis on such formalities, and neither did the master.
"Please, my direct disciple Li Shiyu, perform the three kowtows to pay homage to your master."
"First bow: Reverence for the Way of the Master, establishing virtue and character."
It was Li Shiyu's first time paying homage to a master, and she'd never pondered such things before. Yet now, without hesitation, she simply followed her senior sister's instructions, performing the kowtowing ritual with proper decorum.
"Second bow: Transmitting knowledge and imparting wisdom, guiding and resolving doubts."
Li Shiyao's expression was solemn, yet her mind drifted to wedding ceremonies—didn't they also involve three bows?
Clearing her mind of such thoughts, Li Shiyao performed the bows earnestly. It felt like a promise—once she became a disciple, she would be a good one.
"Third bow: Grateful for the master's kindness, heaven and earth bear witness."
Huh? No reciprocal bows? Shouldn't it be: first bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents, and third… a mutual bow between husband and wife?
Li Shiyu felt it was a bit unfair—why was she the only one bowing for so long? But then she remembered Sister Qinghan saying to respect the master, and it seemed right after all…
"Rise." Ye Qinghan smiled as she stepped forward, helping her little junior sister up with an indulgent look.
Su Cheng understood it was his turn. Gathering his thoughts, he spoke.
"Disciple Shiyao possesses a pure heart and a keen, eager mind. I hereby accept you as the second direct disciple of Lingxian Hall."
"The way of the master lies in imparting the Way, teaching knowledge, and resolving doubts."
"The way of the disciple lies in guarding against arrogance, guarding against impatience, respecting the master, and loving learning."
"Having entered my door, I shall treat her well, imparting all my knowledge, passing on my lifetime of learning through both words and deeds, and holding her to strict standards."
"May Shiyao cultivate diligently, honor the teacher and the Way, master immortal arts, and attain the Great Dao."
"Master—Su Cheng."
These words moved Li Shiyu to the point of tears. She felt a pang of guilt, ashamed of her earlier indifference.
Clearly, both her master and senior sister held her in such high regard, and the Sacred Mountain itself placed great importance on the initiation ceremony. Yet it was only now that she truly grasped the significance of becoming a disciple.
Li Shiyu performed another bow of gratitude, this time truly accepting this master.
Ye Qinghan's smile flickered imperceptibly before he presented the tea that had been prepared in advance.
"Please, my direct disciple, serve tea to your master."
The two disciples stood side by side, their lovely faces each possessing a distinct charm—one captivatingly alluring, the other radiating serene grace.
Li Shiyao adopted the serene, virtuous expression of a devoted wife, carefully cradling the teacup as she approached with grace. In that moment, she truly exuded the aura of a wise and capable wife, leaving Su Cheng momentarily lost in thought.
Taking the cup slowly, Su Cheng smiled with satisfaction.
[It seemed everything was predestined. Heaven's will leaves no room for human choice, yet human resolve may still overcome fate.]
"The initiation rites are complete!"
The initiation ceremony at Lingxian Hall was unique, with slight variations in its proceedings. For instance, the master's return gift was presented after the ceremony concluded.
Truthfully, Su Cheng hadn't been keen on the ceremony at all. For someone who dreaded hassle, it seemed like a nightmare.
Yet, since he was taking on a disciple, perhaps this was an indispensable step for both parties. Perhaps every time they recalled this moment, it would become a memory with special meaning.
He recalled when he had taken Ye Qinghan as a disciple. The day before, he had been picking up vegetable scraps at the market. With no one to officiate, Ye Qinghan had sought out his master herself, performing the three kowtows to formally become his disciple.
Ye Qinghan had brewed the tea herself and served it herself. This hapless master knew nothing about such things.
Perhaps it was Qinghan who taught him how to be a master.
Su Cheng merely sipped lightly. Though it was the finest Wudao tea, now cooled it carried a hint of bitterness.
But Su Cheng didn't mind. This period of waiting was precisely to ensure Shi Yao didn't blindly join the Lingxian Hall. Instead, she understood what she was doing and made her decision after careful consideration.
"Shiyao, your master has prepared six ceremonial gifts for you as tokens of your initiation into the sect."
Li Shiyu was genuinely surprised. She'd never heard of such gifts before—otherwise, she wouldn't have been so conflicted!
"I didn't expect gifts! Master, are they tasty treats?"
"No."
"Then what is it?"
Su Cheng didn't rush to answer, merely waving his hand to signal Ye Qinghan to fetch them.
Before long, Ye Qinghan returned from Su Cheng's quarters with the prepared six gifts, also divided into the upper three and lower three.
"The upper three gifts are: the Chaos Bell, the Graceful Glow Skirt, and the jade pendant I prepared for you as my direct disciple."
The lower three gifts: a pair of ankle bells tied with red cords, a gourd of unknown purpose, and a life-saving immortal pill identical to Ye Qinghan's.
Su Cheng didn't elaborate much on the lower three gifts, but since they were all prepared by him for Li Shiyao, they were bound to be peculiar…
Ye Qinghan recognized the upper three gifts: the Mind-Binding, Body-Binding, and Emotion-Binding artifacts. Yet the Desire-Suppressing Bracelet, which her master had never explained in detail, possessed the power to suppress demonic nature.
Ye Qinghan understood her master simply didn't want her causing trouble outside, which was why he hadn't revealed this.
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