Chapter 11: A Powerful Apprenticeship

Yun Ling’s heart stirred. She hurriedly jumped down from the rooftop, but because she failed to control her strength upon landing, she tumbled head over heels. Old Man Miao burst into loud laughter, then reached into his robes and pulled out a yellowed book. "Girl, I didn't lie to you. Call me Master, and I will give you everything I have."

Yun Ling scrambled up from the ground and sat cross-legged, glancing sideways at Old Man Miao. "Why do you want to take me as your disciple? An expert like you shouldn't be lacking students." With such great skill, such powerful abilities, and such a resounding reputation on the continent—ha, how could she not know the name of the Poison Doctor, Miao Buyi? She wasn't some ignorant village woman!

Old Man Miao gave an "hmph" and began to laugh, "hehehehe," returning to that lecherous manner of his. "Girl, now that you have accepted my hundred years of cultivation, plus this Poison Scripture, surely you can trade it to teach me your footwork?" The old man's eyes flashed with excitement. "Aiya, that footwork of yours is truly marvelous! I've been studying it for days and still haven't grasped it! It's such a headache!"

Yun Ling pondered for a moment. Since people from Chang'an had already been sent to make contact, her wish to live out her days in peace here would likely not be fulfilled. Since she had to return to Chang'an, having a formidable Master as a backer wouldn't be a bad thing!

"Alright!" Yun Ling stood up from the ground. "Watch closely!" Immediately, she slowed her pace, breaking down the entire set of footwork from beginning to end to demonstrate it to him. Old Man Miao watched intently the first time; by the second time, he began to follow her movements; and by the fifth time, he had completely mastered the essentials.

"Haha! Truly marvelous! Truly marvelous!" Whenever Old Man Miao got excited, he wanted to drink. He habitually reached for his waist, but the wine flask was gone. Just as his mood was souring, a clear, sweet aroma of wine drifted into his nose!

Yun Ling walked out of the house carrying an exquisite wine jar and two white porcelain cups. "Come, sit!"

Old Man Miao was itching with anticipation. As soon as he sat down, he reached for the wine flask, but Yun Ling shot him a sharp glare, and he immediately sat up straight.

The two cups were slowly filled. The aroma of the wine was nose-filling and refreshing, with a faint, peculiar hint of fruitiness.

Yun Ling picked up one of the cups and, unexpectedly, knelt down. "Master, please accept this disciple's bow!" After three loud kowtows, she respectfully offered the cup. "Master, please drink!"

Old Man Miao didn't care that she was performing a formal apprenticeship ritual. He snatched the cup with one hand and swallowed it in one gulp. One cup wasn't enough; he swallowed the other one as well. Still feeling unsatisfied, he proceeded to drain the entire jar.

Only after being satisfied did he smile and help Yun Ling up, sighing uncontrollably. "...I have a disciple..."

Once the master-disciple relationship was formally established, Yun Ling kindly reminded her master, "Old man, do you feel a surge of heat rapidly rising from your dantian?"

Old Man Miao nodded, somewhat puzzled. "How do you know?"

"Because," Yun Ling laughed mischievously, "that wine was deer penis wine!"

Old Man Miao's old face turned bright red. He pointed at his newly recruited disciple and began shouting and yelling in a rage, startling his wet nurse so much that she kept peeking out from inside. Seeing that he was only shouting and not actually attacking, she felt relieved enough to go back to her embroidery.

After a long while, once one had finished laughing and the other had finished shouting, this pair of freshly baked unscrupulous master and disciple both pushed off the ground, their figures soaring upward. In just an instant, they were already fifty zhang away.

"Yun Xiao Ling, wait for me..." Little Sister Eight flapped its wings, struggling to chase from behind, but the more it chased, the more exhausted it became. Finally, it was too tired to fly and began wailing in the wind.