The relationship with recorded named disciples is far more casual; they are taught whatever the mentor wants to teach them, and the disciples cannot call them “Master,” only “Gentleman.” There is affection between recorded named disciples and their mentors, but it’s not as profound as with a Direct Disciple.
Nevertheless, Mo Hua was very grateful that Mr. Zhuang was willing to take him on as a recorded named disciple.
Mr. Zhuang nodded, “You may go back today. Come here tomorrow, two hours after dawn, and I will start teaching you some formations.”
“Yes, Gentleman!”
Mo Hua bowed again, this time with the bow reserved for a disciple to a mentor, and then bid farewell to Mr. Zhuang, leaving his courtyard with a spring in his step.
As Mo Hua walked down the mountain, he found that Instructor Yan was still waiting at the base. Learning that Mr. Zhuang had agreed to take Mo Hua as an apprentice, he breathed a sigh of relief and said with satisfaction,
“It’s your good fortune that Mr. Zhuang values you so highly. You must cherish this opportunity. Mr. Zhuang is a respected figure; you must show him great respect.”
“Yes, Instructor,” Mo Hua replied.
As the two walked down the mountain path, Mo Hua suddenly asked with curiosity, “Instructor, have you been to Mr. Zhuang’s courtyard? What did you see when you passed by that narrow path?”
Instructor Yan turned his head, silently looked at Mo Hua for a moment, and then said,
“As I walked past that narrow path, I vaguely saw some visions. These fleeting images told me that Mr. Zhuang was willing to take you as his disciple, and that in the future, you would become an outstanding Formation Master.”
Having said this, they had reached a fork in the road where Tongxian City lay ahead.
Instructor Yan looked at Mo Hua and then said solemnly, “Mo Hua.”
Mo Hua turned around, and Instructor Yan paused before saying,
“A Formation Master seeks the Heavenly Dao; however, the Heavenly Dao is boundless, while human life is finite. Only by passing down formations from generation to generation can cultivators possibly unravel the Heavenly Dao, and thus, formations can benefit all beings.”
“One day in the future, should you become a top-tier or even superior Formation Master and meet cultivators who are kind-hearted and talented in formations, I hope you will also be generous with your guidance. The way of formations is like water; it must be passed down to flow far and wide, or else it will become stagnant.”
Mo Hua suddenly felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. He bowed to Instructor Yan and said earnestly, “This disciple will remember!”
Instructor Yan’s expression was one of relief.
Unable to help himself, Mo Hua asked, “Instructor, are you leaving Tongxian City?”
Instructor Yan nodded, “I can’t stay in Tongxian Gate any longer, and I have some personal matters to attend to. I will be leaving soon.”
“Will I be able to see you again?”
Instructor Yan looked into Mo Hua’s clear, dark eyes and smiled, “Let’s leave it to fate.”
Instructor Yan reached out and tousled Mo Hua’s hair, “You should head back early, go and speak with your parents.”
Mo Hua headed toward the city gate. After a few steps, he turned around and gave Instructor Yan another bow.
Instructor Yan waved his hand and said warmly, “Go on.” He watched Mo Hua until his figure shrank in the distance before turning to leave.
Meanwhile, Mo Hua also turned back, looked at where Instructor Yan had been, and deeply bowed once more.
The figure of Instructor Yan gradually disappeared, faintly vanishing into the misty and elusive mountains.