Chapter 6: Master, Accept This Disciple

However, when she saw the deep look of disappointment in his eyes, an inexplicable sense of guilt welled up in her heart. She truly never expected that, after so many years, she would actually be able to meet him again! Whether this was the Underworld or a dream, she did not want to see that look of disappointment in his eyes again this time. She wanted to make some amends for her ignorance back then.

"Sir, are you still willing to accept Wanqiu as your disciple?" The words escaped her lips before she could stop them.

"Ah!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room was stunned! Yu Niang even cried out in shock. Even Tang Wanqiu herself was startled—was that her own voice? Why had her voice become so tender and youthful?

Only a flash of pleasant surprise crossed Lin Ye's eyes. The reason he had stayed at the General's Manor was precisely for this child. However, the child had always been playful, and the General and Madam doted on her so much that he had felt awkward bringing up the matter of taking her as a disciple.

He never expected that after having a nightmare, this child would actually take the initiative to ask to be his disciple. He had truly struck gold this time. Fearing she might change her mind, he hurriedly confirmed, "Does the Third Young Lady truly wish to be this old man's disciple?"

"Master, please accept this disciple's bow!"

Tang Wanqiu flipped herself off the ground and immediately kowtowed to Master Lin to formally join his sect.

"Yu Niang, quickly, bring some tea!"

General Tang was the first to react, immediately ordering the maid to serve tea. Others thought Master Lin was merely a skilled physician, but only General Tang knew that this Master Lin was a true eccentric genius.

He had once pleaded with Master Lin several times to take his two sons as disciples, but he had always been rejected by Master Lin on the grounds that there was no predestined bond between master and disciple. He never imagined that today, this third girl, spurred by some unknown shock, would actually come to seek him out as her teacher. What surprised him even more was that Master Lin did not object.

Worried that Master Lin might change his mind, he hurriedly had the gentleman drink this "disciple tea." Only then would the apprenticeship be considered official. As for whether a woman studying medicine and martial arts conformed to the mainstream social values of the time, he truly didn't consider it that much. This showed just how much General Tang doted on this daughter.

Lin Ye sincerely wanted to take this disciple, so naturally, he would not go back on his word. Seeing the General's impatience to have the disciple serve him tea, he was more than happy to go along with the flow.

"General, Qiu'er, she..." Madam Tang regained her senses and wanted to say something, but she was stopped by General Tang's gaze. Madam Tang had always followed her husband's lead; seeing her husband's persistence, she remained silent, letting the father and daughter carry on with their antics.

"Master, please drink your tea!" Tang Wanqiu took the tea from Yu Niang's hands and offered it with both hands.

"Good!" Lin Ye drank the apprenticeship tea and joyfully helped his disciple up from the ground.

"Good disciple, get up quickly! Come, sit properly. Your master will check your pulse."

When Tang Wanqiu reached out to let her master check her pulse, she was once again shocked by her hands, which had shrunk by more than a size. What on earth was going on? Even if she had come to the Underworld, it shouldn't have resulted in her hands becoming smaller, right? Furthermore, her parents were still so young, Yu Niang had also become smaller, and she still called her "Miss."

Could it be that she was still in a dream? A dream returning to the year she was nine? That would explain why Doctor Lin was still alive and why she herself was just a child. She couldn't help but sigh once more—dreams were truly wonderful!

However, when the same dream is experienced for several consecutive days, and all the people and events are so incredibly real, even a dream becomes reality.

After three days of dazed confusion, Tang Wanqiu was finally able to confirm that she was not in a dream, but had truly returned to the past—returned to her childhood.