Free Web NovelChapter 292: Chapter 161: Closed-door Disciple
As for the reason for mooching meals, Min Wei refused to say, but Chen Cheng could guess a thing or two from what he already knew.
The reason was that his six wives didn’t seem to get along with each other, each living in their own separate residence.
Mr. Zheng could only accompany them in rotation, spending six straight days with one wife each day. Only on the seventh day could he have some peace and quiet for himself.
And it was often on that seventh day that if Mr. Zheng visited any one wife’s residence, it would cause the other wives to grow jealous and fight endlessly.
Therefore, to keep the peace, Mr. Zheng could only choose not to visit any of his wives’ residences. But eating alone wasn’t enjoyable, so he developed the habit of mooching meals.
He didn’t just mooch meals at Min Wei’s home, but also frequently at the homes of other Hospital Martial Artists or Martial Arts Hall Instructors.
All in all, it was a sad story.
Before long, the two of them arrived at the first wife’s residence.
Mr. Zheng, the first wife Gongsun Rou, and Mu Xiaowan had already been waiting for some time.
"Min Wei, what took you so long? I sent you to call for Chen Cheng, yet you delayed for such a while," the first wife, Gongsun Rou, complained.
Min Wei was uncharacteristically docile. He simply gave a bow and quietly slipped to the side.
Chen Cheng hurried forward and bowed.
"Greetings, Master. Greetings, First Wife."
Mr. Zheng nodded slightly, but the first wife, Gongsun Rou, wore a smile and greeted him warmly, "Since you’re here, let’s eat first."
With that, she led everyone into the main hall.
Though she called it a simple meal, the spread was quite lavish. Pork knuckle, chicken, duck, fish, mutton, an assortment of exquisite vegetable dishes, and even Demon Beast Meat covered the entire large table.
The standard was truly a bit too high; Chen Cheng immediately felt overwhelmed by the honor.
Mr. Zheng and the first wife, Gongsun Rou, took the seats of honor. Chen Cheng and Mu Xiaowan sat together, with Min Wei next to Chen Cheng. This fierce-faced, one-eyed giant of a man sat with impeccable posture, still appearing very docile.
Chen Cheng followed his example, also putting on a docile and honest appearance.
Mu Xiaowan wasn’t so restrained. Seeing the way Chen Cheng and Min Wei were acting, a cunning smile flashed in her eyes.
"My lord, look at this fine disciple you’ve taught. Why is he so timid now that he’s in my courtyard? They are two strapping men, yet they’re acting like little girls. It makes things feel so distant." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
The first wife, Gongsun Rou, shot Mr. Zheng a reproachful glare.
"Heh... so now this is my fault?" Mr. Zheng chuckled, then glanced at Chen Cheng and Min Wei. "You two don’t need to be so formal. Just eat and drink as you please."
"Alright!" Min Wei replied, and without further ceremony, he buried his head and began to eat and drink.
Chen Cheng was also a bit hungry, so he didn’t hold back either and began to eat.
"Much better!" Mr. Zheng smiled. He was just about to serve himself some food when the first wife, Gongsun Rou, moved first, placing a piece of braised pork knuckle into his bowl.
"Ah... I can get it myself." Mr. Zheng’s old face flushed as he hastily replied.
The first wife, Gongsun Rou, smiled. "We’re all family here, no need to be so distant. Don’t I always serve you food like this?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Mr. Zheng could only nod.
Gongsun Rou then jutted her chin toward the porcelain bowl in front of her, and Mr. Zheng, in turn, placed a piece of mutton in her bowl.
Only then did Gongsun Rou smile gently, like a newly favored young wife. "Thank you, my lord."
With that, she turned to Mu Xiaowan. "Xiaowan, you should also serve Chen Cheng some food."
"Yes." Mu Xiaowan nodded and, following their example, placed a piece of braised Demon Beast Meat into Chen Cheng’s bowl.
"Brother Cheng, eat more."
"Mm, knowing how to look after your own husband—that’s what makes a good wife." Gongsun Rou smiled with satisfaction, but her gaze then turned to Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng understood the hint. He also picked up a piece of fish, carefully removed the bones, and placed it in Mu Xiaowan’s bowl.
"Xiaowan, you eat too."
"Okay," Mu Xiaowan replied with a sweet smile.
"Mm." The smile on Gongsun Rou’s face deepened, and she added with praise, "Chen Cheng is also quite good."
Chen Cheng found Gongsun Rou’s reaction a bit strange, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. He could only smile and reply, "Thank you for the praise, First Wife."
Gongsun Rou said very amiably, "Chen Cheng, my residence is very spacious, with many empty rooms. Since you’re moving to the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, why not come find a side room in my courtyard and stay here?
That way, you and Xiaowan can also look after each other.
In your free time, I could also teach you some Martial Dao. My Phantom Sword Technique is not much worse than my lord’s Horizontal Training Technique."
Chen Cheng was taken aback and, for a moment, didn’t know how to respond.
After all, since he was moving to the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, he had already planned to have Mu Xiaowan live with him.
Moving into the first wife’s residence would be truly inconvenient.
"What, are you unwilling?" Gongsun Rou asked again when she saw Chen Cheng hesitate.
After careful consideration, Chen Cheng said solemnly, "Thank you, First Wife, for taking care of Xiaowan these past days. I will surely remember this kindness."
This was a polite refusal.
"Sigh..." Gongsun Rou let out a soft sigh, her face full of disappointment. "You’re just as proud as my lord. Fine, have it your way."
"Xiao Rou, you’re throwing a tantrum again!" Mr. Zheng gently patted Gongsun Rou’s shoulder. "Isn’t Xiaowan still at the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, cultivating Swordsmanship with you?"
Gongsun Rou murmured, "I was actually thinking of bringing Xiaowan with us to the State City this time, but now it seems that’s not appropriate..."
In truth, Gongsun Rou’s question about whether Chen Cheng was willing to live in her residence was just a test. But clearly, Chen Cheng’s attitude was firm, showing his unwillingness to live under someone else’s roof for long.
Given the Martial Dao talent Chen Cheng had displayed, she naturally had to let it go.
After all, even the Hospital Martial Artists of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, people like Min Wei, were not servants of the hall.
They could leave at any time if they wished.
"We’ll come back to visit often, in any case," Mr. Zheng also said with a hint of emotion.
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After lunch, Mr. Zheng finally announced that he was formally accepting Chen Cheng as a True Disciple—and a Closed-door Disciple at that.
This was because Mr. Zheng would be departing for Su State City the next day, and the Zheng Martial Arts Hall would not be accepting any more disciples in the future.
On this trip to the State City, Mr. Zheng would only be taking the first wife Gongsun Rou and Min Wei with him. As for how long they would be gone, there was no set time.
Mr. Zheng revealed that any Martial Artist at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm or above who wanted to establish themselves in the Su State region had to work for the Great Dao Sect.
Chen Cheng had heard something about this. The Four Great Clans of the Inner City in Linji City were, in fact, subsidiary powers of the Great Dao Sect of Su State and were subject to its control.
The Martial Artists of the Four Great Clans at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm and above were also registered in the Great Dao Sect’s records and had their positions assigned by the sect.
When Mr. Zheng was in the Bone Forging Realm, he could still live peacefully in Linji City. But now that he had advanced to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm and his Martial Arts Power had surged, he naturally had to take up a post in the Great Dao Sect.
Of course, this was also an opportunity for the Zheng Martial Arts Hall. With Mr. Zheng’s Martial Arts Power, if he were given an important position, the Zheng Family could also hope to advance further and become a great clan on par with the Four Great Clans of the Inner City.
It was just that where the Zheng Family would develop depended on the Great Dao Sect’s arrangements—wherever Mr. Zheng was assigned to his post.
According to Mr. Zheng, the possibility of returning to Linji City was slim. After all, the important positions in Linji City were all held by the Four Great Clans of the Inner City, and there were currently no vacancies.
Once Mr. Zheng’s destination was determined, the people of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall would either have to follow him or find their own separate paths.
...
Mr. Zheng, Gongsun Rou, and Min Wei were busy packing for their long journey, while Chen Cheng and Mu Xiaowan went to the True Disciple’s residence to tidy up their new home.
Although the True Disciple’s residence was only a two-courtyard house, it covered a rather large area, even larger than Mr. Zheng’s main residence next to it.
The front courtyard was a training plaza, while the back courtyard contained a garden and several small, separate courtyards.
From this layout, it was clear that Mr. Zheng had previously intended to accept several True Disciples, but in the end, he had only taken on Chen Cheng.
The residence was regularly cleaned by servants, so everything was spotless.
Chen Cheng and Mu Xiaowan didn’t need to do much tidying up. All they had to do was choose a suitable courtyard to live in.
After all, there weren’t many people in the Chens’ family; a single small courtyard was more than enough for them.
After touring all the courtyards, the two of them came to a connecting corridor. Mu Xiaowan asked, "Brother Cheng, which courtyard are you choosing?"
