Little Apprentice, Drop Some Gold

[Upcoming novel, gong lead]

Yu Kaiyang was once a white-clad sword immortal, aloof and otherworldly, his robes fluttering in the wind.

But when one wave of new disciples after another came rushing at him, shouting things like, "My aloof master, love me once more!" Yu Kaiyang was so shocked he burned all his white robes overnight. From then on, he drank every day, dressed in gorgeous red, and after scaring off the new disciples, decisively shut himself away to cultivate in seclusion.

Many years later.

When a metal ball calling itself the System woke him from his meditation, Yu Kaiyang stared at it in bafflement.

After hearing that one swing of his sword had reduced the ashes of the protagonist's golden finger to nothing, and that the world's Heavenly Dao was on the verge of collapse, Yu Kaiyang shrugged. "If it's gone, it's gone. Life and death are fated. Why cling to anything?"

System: You'll die!

Yu Kaiyang: Oh.

System: Your entire sect will die too!

Yu Kaiyang remained expressionless.

The System scratched at its code. When it scanned the wine jars buried beneath the peach tree outside Yu Kaiyang's cave, inspiration struck. It shouted, "When the small world falls apart, you'll never be able to brew your peach blossom wine again!"

Yu Kaiyang was horrified and hurriedly asked, "How do we fix this?"

The System pondered for a moment, then waved its code. "Since you destroyed the protagonist's golden finger, why not take its place and become his second golden finger?"

Yu Kaiyang hesitated briefly, then slowly nodded.

On the day of the disciple-acceptance ceremony, Yu Kaiyang lowered his eyes and looked down at the ragged, pale little wretch before him. After studying him closely, he gave a cold laugh.

"This seat's flowers die, and its beasts perish. Are you sure you want to join my sect?"

The little wretch stayed silent, then bowed. "Greetings, Master."

"Fine, fine." Yu Kaiyang tipped his head back for a swig of peach blossom wine. With the alcohol going to his head, he casually tossed something down. "Let's get one thing straight: I won't be raising a disciple. Here's your waist token. If you get hurt, go complain to the sect leader. Don't bother me."

The little wretch lowered his head and meekly agreed.

Several years later.

Seeing several bloody scratches across the face he'd raised to be as fresh and fair as jade, Yu Kaiyang flew into a rage. He smashed his wine jar, reeking of alcohol, and drunkenly demanded, "Who did this?!"

The little wretch lowered his head and said nothing. When Yu Kaiyang asked again, he replied, "It happened while we were playing. The spirit cat belonging to Uncle-Master Yaoguang scratched me."

Kaiyang slammed the door and left. Half an incense stick later, he was passed out in the peach tree outside.

The next day, rumors spread throughout Qingyun Sect: Some ruffian had appeared out of nowhere on the mountain. He barged into Immortal Venerable Yaoguang's cave, stole nothing and hurt no one, but shaved the immortal's spirit cat down to a mohawk before strolling away.

Qin Sheng: ...

Meanwhile, the culprit, dressed in a flamboyant red robe and reeking of wine, leaned down and took his young disciple's chin in hand, grinning recklessly. "I finally got revenge for you. So tell me, little A-Sheng, how are you going to thank your master for his noble deed?"

Qin Sheng, whose name meant "sound," was silent.

After a long while, the only disciple in Kaiyang's sect tugged gently at his master's robe. His ears flushed red, his voice trembling at the end. "...Master, dote on me."

When he first joined the sect, everyone in Qingyun Sect said that Immortal Venerable Kaiyang's Dao heart was shattered and he was about to die and merge with the Dao. Whoever became his disciple would inherit the fortune Immortal Venerable Kaiyang had accumulated over a thousand years.

As the only disciple of Immortal Venerable Kaiyang, young Qin Sheng tossed and turned night after night, secretly vowing to be a good and filial disciple, cultivate diligently, and find the finest treasures in the world to prolong his master's life!

Many years later, Kaiyang, still alive and kicking like an old turtle, stood in his fluttering red robes, holding an empty wine jar, and pleaded with his disciple, "Disciple, spot me another month's allowance!"

Qin Sheng said expressionlessly, "There's nothing left. Master has already taken the next 127 years of his allowance. Uncle-Master Tianquan says the books are in the red. There's no more money."

Kaiyang glanced at Immortal Venerable Yaoguang, who was sitting close with his disciple, calling each other "Master-Daddy" and "Disciple-Baby." After a moment's thought, he pitched his voice high and sweet. "Disciple-Baby, give me some coins~"

Qin Sheng: ...!!

In an instant, the dignified and handsome chief senior disciple of Qingyun Sect turned bright red.

His ears a faint pink, Qin Sheng abruptly shoved his entire purse into his master's arms. His gaze darted away as he tried to sound calm.

"This is everything I own! Ahem, that's all there is... If Master keeps buying drinks on credit, we might end up begging on the street someday."

[Reading Guide]

☆ An older gong, evenly matched with his partner. The pairing is a flamboyant red-clad drunkard gong x a white-clad, black-hearted white lotus and child of the Heavenly Dao shou.

☆ I'll add more if I think of anything else ouo

Theme: The pursuit of the Great Dao is, in truth, a journey of tracing one's origins, questioning one's heart, and remaining steadfast.