Chapter 17: Guan Zhong

  Ling Qingyan walked out of this fiery red scorching space, his heart was a bit disturbed, and he didn't notice that behind him, the burning stone gate seemed to have wisdom, slowly falling down without human control.

  After turning several corners, he returned to the vast night pearl under which was a space as bright as daytime. Ling Qingyan's mood had changed and he no longer felt the same way as when he arrived. His face calm, he walked up to the white-robed old man who seemed to have been waiting for him.

  "Senior!"

  Ling Qingyan looked at the old man with courtesy. Although he knew that his elder brother might be of a higher generation than this white-robed old man, but he was him, and his elder brother was his elder brother. In Ling Qingyan's heart, he couldn't treat this old man as a junior after all. If it were according to the previous life, if he really did that, he would "shorten his lifespan"!

  "Little brother, please, no need for the courtesy," said the white-robed old man, his face suddenly changing color as he slightly bowed. "I am Guan Zhong, the mentor of the current master of the Tianjian Sect and the previous master of the Tianjian Sect. You have a deep connection with our 'Ancestor', so I absolutely cannot accept being called 'senior' by you."

  Guan Zhong had already received the transmission from Tuoba Xiu when Ling Qingyan was about to come out, and knew that Ling Qingyan was going to leave. He waited here for this reason. After all, Ling Qingyan's identity is special now, in order to make it convenient for Ling Qingyan to handle things within the Tianjian Sect, he also needs to explain some things to Ling Qingyan, giving Ling Qingyan a suitable identity within the Tianjian Sect.

  "The previous generation's master?"

  Ling Qingyan was shocked, he had never thought that the old man who had brought him to the fiery red hot space door with a face full of caution would be the previous generation's sect master of the Tianjian Sect. Ling Qingyan had originally thought that this old man was just a senior elder-level figure from the previous generation. Recalling the previous generation's sect master's cautious attitude towards his older brother, for a moment, Ling Qingyan became even more curious about the identity of the older brother he had just acknowledged.

  Big brother, could it be that you are a senior from the previous generations of the Tianjian Sect? Otherwise, how can you bear the title of "Old Ancestor"?

  "Alright," Ling Qingyan smiled helplessly, looking at Guan Zhong: "From now on, I'll call you 'Old Brother Guan', don't refuse me again, unless you want me to 'shorten my lifespan'!"

  The old man seemed to want to veto, and Ling Qingyan added the following sentence. At this time, Ling Qingyan also didn't insist on calling Guan Zhong "senior", after all, he also knew that since Guan Zhong was the previous master of the Tianjian Sect, he must have his own principles, and at the same time, Ling Qingyan did not want to become a senior to this hundred-year-old old man.

  "Shorten one's lifespan?"

  Guan Zhong was taken aback and obviously did not understand what Ling Qingyan meant.

  "Anyway, we each have our own, that's all!" Ling Qingyan smiled wryly, only then remembering that what he had said earlier was a term from his previous life.

  Guan Zhong saw that Ling Qingyan was so persistent, and had no choice but to acquiesce. At this time, he also did not dare to displease Ling Qingyan too much, after all, Ling Qingyan had seen the old ancestor who lived in seclusion in "Yan Dong" and had a close relationship with him. Although Tuoba Xi's previous transmission to Guan Zhong did not explain his exact relationship with Ling Qingyan, the four words "do not underestimate" in Tuoba Xi's speech were worthy of Guan Zhong's deep consideration. An old fox who had lived for over a hundred years would certainly know the weight of these four words.

  "Little brother you..." Guan Zhong had just opened his mouth when he was directly interrupted by Ling Qingyan.

  "Stop calling me 'Old Brother', just call me 'Qingyan' and we'll be fine. As warriors, why bother with so many rules? As long as we're true to ourselves, that's all that matters. Titles are just titles!" Qingyan's brow furrowed slightly before relaxing into a calm expression.

  Guan Zhong, the previous master of the Tianjian Sect, would not have been so timid and fearful. However, when it came to those seniors in the "Yandong", he had no choice but to be cautious. At this moment, seeing Ling Qingyan, a young man who could be so carefree, the caution on his face instantly turned into nothingness, and a comfortable smile appeared on his face. "Good, good. Qingyan is right! It's actually me, the older brother, who has been too serious!"

  "Guān Lǎo Gē, what are you waiting for me here?" Ling Qingyan had just come out and noticed Guān Zhòng standing there, staring at the passageway, obviously waiting for him, so he asked.

  "It's like this, after all your current identity is a bit special, so earlier when I had my little disciple find you, I claimed that I wanted to take you as my apprentice, which also gave you an identity. Qingyan, you shouldn't mind me taking advantage of you, haha!"

  At this time, Guan Zhong also returned to his usual carefree self and started laughing with Ling Qingyan.

  "How could it be," Ling Qingyan also smiled, "it's better this way, otherwise I really don't know how to position myself in the Tianjian Sect."

  Indeed, Ling Qingyan knew that his elder brother was a senior of the Tianjian Sect, and even had an extremely high status, to the point where the previous generation's sect master of the Tianjian Sect also showed great respect towards him. However, if he were to appear in front of the Tianjian Sect's disciples as his elder brother's younger brother, it would be hard to predict what kind of chaos would ensue. The identity that Guan Zhong had given him, however, was more to his liking. Although at his age, bearing the identity of the current Tianjian Sect sect master's junior brother was also somewhat intimidating, it was still much better than his current identity.

  "My two disciples, I have already instructed them. In the future, if you have any matters, just go to them directly and they will listen to my words," said Guan Zhong with a smile on his face as he mentioned his two disciples.

  He couldn't help but feel proud, his eldest disciple's true strength was slightly inferior, yet his swordsmanship was unmatched among the purple-grade warriors in the Chongwu continent; and his younger disciple, not only a high-ranking purple-grade warrior, but also managed the Tianjian Sect extremely well, to the point where the current Tianjian Sect had subtly surpassed its former glory under his leadership.

  "Uh-huh."

  Ling Qing did not nod in response to what was said, he also knew that Guan Zhong's words would bring him great convenience in the future at Tianjian Sect.

  Ling Qingyan chatted with Guan Zhong for a while, then claimed that he was a bit tired today. Guan Zhong personally escorted him out of the Sword Tomb and sent him to the entrance. After Ling Qingyan repeatedly promised to come and meet with Guan Zhong when he had time, Guan Zhong smiled and re-entered the dark passage.

  After bidding farewell to Guan Zhong, looking at the slowly falling stone gate with the words "Sword Tomb" engraved on it, Ling Qingyan couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

  This morning, I first went to Jian Xiao Ge with the mood of being accepted as a disciple by Jian Xian Lao, and then was brought here by Zong Zhu Lian Jun. After that, I was taken to that fiery red strange space by Guan Zhong, and also acknowledged the mysterious man "Tuoba Xiū" as my elder brother.

  Everything that happened today, Ling Qingyan felt as if he was in a dream.