Tai Fu Sect

Before a mountain range, three figures slowly appeared: two Daoist priests and a handsome young man.

"At last!" exclaimed the younger Daoist priest with a sigh.

Tian Fan looked ahead, where a long staircase led up the mountain to a large temple-like building.

"Is that Tai Fu Sect?" Tian Fan asked the young Daoist priest.

"Yes, that's right. After walking all day, I'm starving!" The young priest, rubbing his belly, nodded in agreement.

"Snap!"

As soon as the young priest finished speaking, he got a slap on the head from the older Daoist, who was holding a feather duster. The elder scolded, "Come on, you're my only direct disciple from Tai Fu Sect's Supreme Master. Show some ambition, will you?"

The young priest, Li Yunyang, showed disdain, "You talk about ambition, but you still steal..."

Before he could finish, the old Daoist covered his mouth and said, "Alright, since you're hungry, let's not dwell on it. Let's go up the mountain to eat."

Without further ado, the old Daoist pushed Li Yunyang forward and signaled Tian Fan to follow. Tian Fan smiled, seeing the good relationship between the master and disciple.

"Brother Li, oh? Uncle Master, you're back?" A young disciple in a grey robe ran over when the trio arrived at the temple.

Li Yunyang had reached the Condensing Spirit stage, hence he was referred to as 'Brother'. The young disciple greeted the elder Daoist and looked puzzled at Tian Fan, "Uncle Master, who is this?"

The elderly Daoist, disguised as an old man, glanced at him, then patting Tian Fan's shoulder, laughed heartily, "Haha, this is the new disciple I took in during my travels. Not bad, right?"

Tian Fan, seeing the old Daoist's sly demeanor, wanted to scold him for tricking and taking advantage of him. But then he realized he couldn't beat the old man.

"Uncle Master is impressive. Although he takes few disciples, they are all outstanding talents," said the young disciple, unable to discern Tian Fan's cultivation.

The old Daoist burst into laughter, his face blooming with joy.

"Alright, is there still food in the kitchen? We've been walking all day and are quite hungry," Li Yunyang, trying to change the subject, said, for he was indeed very hungry.

"Yes, Brother Li," the young disciple replied with a smile.

"Then let's go eat," said Li Yunyang, leading his master and Tian Fan to the sect's kitchen.

The food at Tai Fu Sect was very plain, nothing compared to the delicacies of Longteng Imperial Palace, but Tian Fan enjoyed it nonetheless. Good mood made everything taste better.

"Ah, I'm full," Li Yunyang stretched lazily and asked Tian Fan, "Brother, what should I call you?"

"Tian Fan. Just call me Tian Fan," he replied while eating.

"Oh, old swindler, go arrange a room for Brother Tian Fan," Li Yunyang said to the old Daoist drinking wine.

"Pfft!"

Tian Fan, who was drinking water, spat it out upon hearing this. He thought of the old Daoist as a swindler too but had never said it outright. And Li Yunyang, the old Daoist's disciple, was calling his master an old swindler!

"Damn it, am I the master or are you?!" The old Daoist shouted angrily.

"Damn it, you brought him here!" retorted Li Yunyang, staring back defiantly.

"Alright, alright, I'll go arrange it," the old swindler said helplessly, walking out with his wine gourd.

"You really talk to your master like that? Aren't you afraid he'll beat you up?" Tian Fan whispered to Li Yunyang after the old man left.

"No, my master is a good person despite his bad habits. We've always been like this," Li Yunyang replied after sipping some tea.

Soon after, Tian Fan and Li Yunyang left the kitchen. The old swindler had arranged accommodation and asked them to settle in. Their journey to the lodgings was uneventful, with Tian Fan observing many practicing disciples, though he felt they were more sunbathing than training.

After a few days at Tai Fu Sect, Tian Fan was informed that the Sect Master wanted to meet him.

"Damn that old swindler," Tian Fan cursed, knowing what this was about.

He was then led to a grand hall, modest compared to Longteng Imperial Palace but still quite ornate. Left alone at the entrance, a middle-aged voice beckoned from inside, "Young man outside, please come in."

The voice belonged to a powerful individual, Tian Fan surmised. The man inside was certainly a high-level cultivator, judging from his presence. Tian Fan composed himself and entered, immediately noticing the middle-aged man in a green robe sitting at the head of the hall, radiating a powerful aura, definitely at the Mixed Yuan Realm, far surpassing the old swindler.

His gaze then fell on the old Daoist, who was grinning at the side. Seeing him, Tian Fan clenched his teeth in frustration, and the old Daoist turned his head away, pretending not to see.

"Tian Fan? That's your name, right?" asked the middle-aged man calmly.

"Yes," Tian Fan replied, keeping his demeanor respectful, unlike with Li Yunyang.

"Are you the disciple of my junior brother, Lin Yunzi?" the Sect Master inquired.

"Senior Sect Master, actually..."

Before Tian Fan could finish, the old swindler interrupted, "Sect Master Brother, my second disciple is a bit shy. Don't mind him."

Tian Fan tried to explain, "No, actually…"

But he was cut off again by the Sect Master, "Yes, it's common for young cultivators to be timid. Just cultivate well in Tai Fu Sect. We won't treat you unfairly."

"No, actually..."

"Alright, your master and I have matters to discuss. You may leave to cultivate. If you have any questions, ask your senior brother." The Sect Master brushed his sleeve, sending Tian Fan out, and the door closed behind him.

"Fuck! Damn it all!"

Tian Fan was dumbfounded at first, then cursed loudly as he walked away. He realized he was getting rude, probably influenced by Li Yunyang and his master. He thought about it and headed back to his quarters.

Atop Tai Fu Sect's main hall, the Sect Master burst into laughter, "Haha, junior brother, you have a great eye for talent, tricking, ahem, attracting such a fine young man."

If Tian Fan were present, he would have been appalled. The Sect Master, who had appeared so dignified and authoritative, was now laughing wickedly, just like the old swindler – a complete ruffian with no hint of a sect leader's grace.