No Longer a Lackey

When Mo Qingkuang heard that Zheng Tao did not outright reject him, he knew that the elder was testing him. Under Mo Fan's guidance, he quickly said, "Headmaster, this junior's admiration for you is like a surging river. I heard that Headmaster Fu's disciple is known as the number one genius in the Central Province. He must have shown off in front of you a lot, didn't he? Don't worry, as long as you can take in a disciple, you can show off in front of anyone in the future!"

These words tickled Zheng Tao's itch. He had never accepted a disciple, not because he did not want to nurture a successor, but because he had never found a suitable one.

A few years ago, he was quite satisfied with Chen Kong, the top scorer of the previous martial arts examination, but he was snatched away by Fu Qing.

Although the three big shots of the directorate had always been at odds with each other, their relationship was actually very good. The competition between the older generation naturally had to be extended to the next generation.

However, Chen Kong was extremely talented. In the past three years, he had repeatedly broken through the realm. His strength had surpassed the disciples that Hua Ge had nurtured for many years. He had become the number one genius in the Central Plains and was also an extremely high-ranking presence on the Hidden Dragon Rank.

Old Fu was a man who couldn't keep his mouth shut. Whenever he met someone, he would talk about how powerful his disciple was. Back then, when he snatched someone from Zheng Tao, Chen Kong took the initiative to join Fu Qing's wing and often showed off in front of Zheng Tao.

When Zheng Tao thought of this, he felt a surge of anger in his heart as he carefully sized up Mo Qingkuang.

He was about 16 years old, had a Divine-Grade cultivation technique, was a first-grade Martial Master, and had an Earth-Grade Innate Ability. He had extremely high comprehension and could cultivate an Earth-Grade martial technique in a short period. He had the strength to fight someone of a higher level.

No matter how he looked at this kid, he was a good seedling. If he was properly nurtured, he would definitely not be much worse than Chen Kong!

"Do you really want to be my disciple?" Zheng Tao stared deeply at Mo Qingkuang. His aura suddenly changed as if a mountain was pressing down on him.

Seeing this, Mo Qingkuang was not shocked but delighted instead. This was not Zheng Tao wanting to teach him a lesson, but rather a test that a master gave to a disciple before he entered the sect.

He straightened his back, his gaze firm. The deep hatred in his heart, the hope of his family rising, and the belief of becoming a strong person were all supporting him!

"I do want to become the Headmaster's disciple!" Mo Qingkuang gritted his teeth and said word by word while bearing the pressure of a mountain.

"Think carefully…" Zheng Tao was all smiles, but the pressure on him suddenly increased.

Mo Qingkuang groaned and fell to the ground.

Then, he stubbornly straightened his back and looked at Zheng Tao with determination.

As time passed, Mo Qingkuang's forehead was dripping with sweat, and he was gritting his teeth so hard that they almost bled. He still refused to budge.

Zheng Tao nodded and turned around.

Mo Qingkuang only felt the pressure on his body relax, and his breathing became even. He stood up with a flushed face and panted heavily, "You agree?"

"Let's take down the martial arts champion first…" Zheng Tao waved his hand and threw the treat in the air.

"Teacher, just you wait," Mo Qingkuang knew that he had passed the test. He glanced at the tightly shut door and jumped out happily.

In the room, Zheng Tao pursed his lips into a smile and muttered, "Old Fu's disciple is a martial arts student. My disciple should be a martial arts student no matter what... Brat, don't disappoint me."

...

Seeing Mo Qingkuang come out of the inner hall in a sorry state and unable to conceal his joy, Han Yan'er, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately went up to him.

"What took you so long?"

Mo Qingkuang brushed his slightly messy hair and boasted shamelessly, "When I went in just now, an old man said that I was more handsome than him! And he insisted on taking me as his disciple!"

"Old man? What old man?" Han Yan'er did not understand. The ones who checked their age were not all of the imperial court's consecrators. Their strength was generally in the martial grandmaster realm.

Mo Qingkuang pretended not to know and said, "An old man who looks quite handsome. He even claimed to be the dean of some martial arts academy. His name was Zheng Tao."

Han Yan'er rolled her eyes when she heard that. 'Did you fly into heaven? What kind of person was Headmaster Zheng, anyway? Why must he take you as his disciple? He even said that you're more handsome than him?'

'Kuang Qing, do you have any shame? Headmaster Zheng is good-looking, but you look like a country in the middle of winter. It would be a compliment to say that you look average!'

"Can you stop bragging?"

Mo Qingkuang laughed, "I'm not bragging. The old man said that as long as I can become the Martial Arts Champion, he will take me in as his personal disciple."

"This is more like it." Han Yan'er glared at him.

Kuang Qing had extraordinary talent. If he could become the Martial Arts Champion, it would be possible for Headmaster Zheng to have the intention of taking him in as a disciple.

However, with Kuang Qing's strength, it would still be difficult for him to win.

Kuang Qing was only sixteen years old. Those candidates who were close to eighteen might not be as talented, but they were still stronger. There were even some who could reach the third or fourth grade!

Furthermore, the Origin Sword Sect had come to cause trouble for the imperial examinations, so the difficulty was even greater!

Thinking of this, Han Yan'er said, "This is not the place to talk. Go to my residence first. I have something to say to you."

Mo Qingkuang was currently in a state of triumph, unable to control his playboy nature. He immediately laughed exaggeratedly, "Is there anything we can't whisper here? Girls are really troublesome." 

His voice wasn't soft, and many people present heard him. They were so shocked that their mouths were wide open.

Was this kid teasing the Ninth Princess?

Han Yan'er's face quickly turned red as she glared fiercely at Mo Qingkuang. What the hell was this?

If he hadn't helped her in the Flower King Mausoleum and been chosen by Headmaster Zheng, she might have had to rely on him for the imperial examinations. Han Yan'er wished she could ask the guards to sew this brat's mouth shut.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up and leave, I have something important to discuss with you!" Han Yan'er stomped her feet in anger, wishing she could find a hole to hide in! She grabbed Mo Qingkuang's hand and rushed out.

The sound of bones dislocating could be heard in the hall.

"I'll be stupid if I use my card…"

"Put your chin up first!"

KA!

"The Ninth Princess is holding a man's hand?"

Han Yan'er had always been the dream lover of all the young talents in the Central Plains. Her temperament was cold and pure, and she was widely sought after by everyone.

No one had ever dared to speak to her in such a frivolous manner. What was shocking was that not only did the outcome, not anger Han Yan'er and bring about a fatal disaster, but she was so embarrassed that she pulled that guy's hand and fled.

Could it be that we are pursuing the wrong way? Or was Kuang Qing so talented that he could make the Ninth Princess fall for him?

"I told you not to be a bootlicker. Look, those bootlickers in the hall are drooling. Can you hear them? The higher the status of a woman, the more disgusted she was with them!" Mo Fan's teasing voice rang out, waking Mo Qingkuang up from his relaxed state.

Unknowingly, Han Yan'er had dragged him along half the street.

Feeling the softness of his heart, Mo Qingkuang deeply regretted that he had granted Chu Yanran's every request back then. An ugly expression crawled on his face!

He secretly swore in his heart that the ancestor was right. If he had continued with his behavior before would lose everything in the end. 

'I won't be a bootlicker anymore!'