I Am Your Natural Enemy

Chapter 556: Chapter 221: Indispensable, Maoshan Sect Disciple (5k)_3

They said it themselves, they also want to recruit more disciples, but unfortunately the standards have always been the same.

The number of people who meet the standards is always a bit more this year, fewer next year, and then none the year after.

After a few years, it’ll go up again—it’s all on and off.

I used to wonder, shouldn’t we just slightly lower the standards to bring in more people?

After meeting that Taoist this time, I finally understood.

Good thing those people from Mount Zhongnan back in the day strictly abided by the rules and didn’t make an exception for his talent.”

”What does Mount Zhongnan have to say about this incident?”

”Mount Zhongnan’s people have already come down the mountain to handle it, but they didn’t manage to catch him.

They also looked into it during the investigation earlier.

The senior over there seemed pretty regretful about it.

Said that Taoist really was talented, but he just wasn’t suited for Mount Zhongnan.

Back then, according to the sect rules, they expelled him, but actually left him a way out and recommended he go to other places without marital restrictions.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t figure it out himself, and after returning to the secular world, basically gave up cultivation. This year, he strayed onto the wrong path.”

”Did someone from Mount Zhongnan come to Nanwu County?”

”Not here yet.”

Wen Yan curled his lips and didn’t reply.

Even though the master leads you to the path and cultivation depends on one’s own effort, a person’s choices aren’t really the sect’s responsibility.

But what is a sect for?

Isn’t it supposed to teach and guide the disciples?

Wen Yan could understand that other people’s rules were definitely made just to avoid repeating mistakes.

But what he really didn’t get was—why can’t they be a little flexible as long as they’re not breaking the rules?

Fuyu Mountain actually has tons of rules too. Over the years, quite a few disciples have been sent down the mountain to make their own way in the world.

But even after leaving the mountain, if something really happens, the people from Fuyu Mountain still won’t just ignore it.

So after all these years, are you telling me every disciple who came from Fuyu Mountain is a saint, and none of them have ever made a mistake?

That’s not true—after all, once you get a few skills ordinary people don’t have, you’ll naturally get used to using what you’re good at to solve problems.

But none of it ever escalated to this level.

Wen Yan could understand it inside, but he still didn’t have a great impression of that Taoist from Mount Zhongnan.

They talk a good game, but it’s already been two days and not a single person has showed up to at least help take care of the body.

Their rules are just way too rigid—absolutely no human touch at all.

Even the Scorching Sun Department, which supposedly has the strictest rules and the most bureaucracy, is making an effort to keep up with the times.

Wen Yan didn’t say anything more; anyway, that was that for this matter.

He got in the car and headed back to Virtue City. As soon as they got off the highway, he saw a young Taoist in a yellow robe and a pure-yang headscarf standing in a clearing by the exit, burning incense in worship.

Looking in the direction that Taoist was facing, Wen Yan glanced at Feng Yao.

Feng Yao frowned slightly, took a look, and spoke.

”A disciple from Mount Mao here in Nanwu County for the martial arts tournament, his name’s Huang Zhiji, the outstanding one of the ’Zhi’ generation.

I heard he’s really talented with thunder skills, highly regarded by the Mount Mao Sect Master, who has already taken him in as a disciple.

In a few years, if his progress is good and he passes all the assessments,

the Mount Mao Sect Master might pass him the Lightning Thunder Punch.”

”The direction he’s paying respects to, that’s my family’s area.”

”Let’s go have a look.”

Feng Yao strode up, giving a distant cupped-fist salute.

Huang Zhiji placed the incense into the incense burner and immediately returned the gesture.

”Greetings, Secretary Feng.”

Then Huang Zhiji looked at Wen Yan, instantly breaking into a smile.

”I’m Huang Zhiji. With all that strong Yang energy on you, you must be Fuyu Wen Yan.”

”I’m Wen Yan.”

”I’ve heard so much! My master said it’s a shame you joined Fuyu Mountain, otherwise he would’ve tried to recruit you to Mount Mao. He’s been regretting it for a long time.”

”Senior really gives me too much credit. At most, I just dabble a little in martial training.”

Huang Zhiji was extremely polite, flattering him right from the start.

After chatting a bit and the pleasantries were over, Feng Yao pointed at the incense burner.

”This is...”

”Ah, to tell the truth, when I was young I actually cultivated at Mount Zhongnan and only later joined Mount Mao.

Back then, this senior brother looked out for me a lot. Now he’s lost his way and died with his path broken.

Since I’m in Nanwu County, I came to pay my respects.

But I was afraid of misunderstanding, so I didn’t dare approach too close.”

Wen Yan was a bit surprised. Well, damn, another one who originally came from Mount Zhongnan?

”He realized his mistake and suffered backlash, that’s all. Otherwise, there’s no one here who could’ve resolved this situation.”

Wen Yan kindly summarized the story, to keep others from thinking he was some kind of prodigy.

Huang Zhiji suddenly understood, and sighed with genuine regret written all over his face.

”I was actually just like that senior brother back then—if things had gone wrong, I might’ve walked the same path he did.

It’s just that I was a bit luckier; I happened to meet a Mount Mao elder who recognized my talent was indeed more suited for Mount Mao.

So before I grew up, they took me away.

So this time, I came both to pay respects to the departed and as a warning to myself.”

”That’s very thoughtful of you.” Feng Yao chimed in from the side.

After chatting a while, everyone went their separate ways. Wen Yan got back in the car and didn’t say a word.

Feng Yao glanced at Wen Yan, his eyes a little strange.

”Can you please not put on that face every time you see someone show up near Virtue City?

Not everyone wants to go down the wrong path.

Huang Zhiji’s got a promising future—no need at all to get himself involved with that evil path.”

”I didn’t say anything!” Wen Yan was speechless, he was just thinking about other stuff.

”Come on, I know you. That look on your face says you’re wondering if this guy snuck over here with ulterior motives.”

”Really, I wasn’t...”

”Look me in the eye and say that again.”

”...”

Wen Yan’s face went dark. Okay, fine, he really did think that just now.

But thinking it over, there’s really no need to be so paranoid. The guy’s the Mount Mao Sect Master’s disciple. With everything offered to him, he might not even bother to look at the rest.

”If you really want to know, in a few days at the final stage of the tournament, even if you don’t enter the ring, you can come and watch.”

”We’ll see then. Right now I just want to go home and sleep—I haven’t slept properly in days.”

Feng Yao chuckled, and didn’t say anything else.

On the other side, Huang Zhiji watched Wen Yan’s car drive off, took out a phone from his cloth bundle, and dialed out.

”Master, I just saw Fuyu Wen Yan.”

”Yes, his Yang energy is extremely strong. I can’t even tell what stage he’s at. The rumors aren’t exaggerated—he really is, including Qin Kun, the most talented in martial arts on Fuyu Mountain. You also wouldn’t guess he’s only been training a few months—it’s unbelievable.”

”That’s true, supposedly just like the stories go, he doesn’t have cultivation talent, but there’s a trace of Treasure Talisman divine essence on him.”

”My feeling is, as long as he can see me, I have no chance of winning; but if we keep our distance, then he really has no chance.”