Chapter 8：Tai Fu Sect

In the distance of a mountain range, three figures slowly emerged—two Taoist priests and a handsome young boy.

"We've finally arrived!" the young Taoist exclaimed, stretching out the words.

Tianfan looked ahead to see a long staircase leading up the mountain, at the top of which stood a large temple-like structure.

"Is that the Tai Fu Gate?" Tianfan asked the young Taoist.

"Yes, indeed! That's the Tai Fu Gate. After a whole day of walking, I'm exhausted and nearly starving!" the young Taoist replied, patting his stomach as he nodded at Tianfan.

"Smack!"

Before the young Taoist could finish his sentence, he received a sharp slap. The elder Taoist, holding a feather duster in his right hand, glared at the young boy, exasperated, "For goodness' sake, you are my only direct disciple and a junior of the esteemed Patriarch of Tai Fu Gate. Could you at least show some ambition?"

Upon hearing the elder's reprimand, the young Taoist immediately wore a disdainful expression. "You have ambition? You have ambition yet you still steal… whimper…"

Before he could finish, the elder Taoist covered his mouth and said, "Ah, since you're hungry, let's not dwell on that. Let's head up and eat."

Without further ado, he shoved the young Taoist forward while beckoning Tianfan to follow. Watching their interaction, Tianfan couldn't help but smile; he could see the strong bond between the master and disciple.

"Li Shixiong, huh? Uncle, you're back!" As the trio ascended, a young disciple clad in gray rushed toward them.

The young Taoist following the elder was named Li Yunyang. Having already reached the Concentration Stage, he was addressed as a senior brother. The young disciple greeted the elder, then turned to Tianfan with a puzzled expression, asking, "Uncle, who is this?"

The elder Taoist glanced at him and, with a hearty laugh, patted Tianfan on the shoulder, saying, "Haha, this is my new disciple, whom I took in during my travels. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

"I*f***￥＃￥％￥￥..."

Seeing the elder's mischievous demeanor, Tianfan felt a surge of irritation. It was one thing to be deceived; it was another to have his advantages taken away. Yet, he realized with a sigh that he likely couldn't defeat the elder in a confrontation.

"Uncle is indeed impressive. Though he takes very few disciples, each one is exceptional," the young disciple said. Since he was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he couldn't see Tianfan's true abilities. The fact that he couldn't perceive them meant Tianfan was far beyond his level, prompting him to flatter the elder.

"Haha…" Upon hearing the young disciple's praise, the elder's face lit up with joy, as if he were blooming with delight.

"Alright, is there any food left in the kitchen? We've been walking all day and I'm quite hungry," Li Yunyang said, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his master's exuberance. 

"Yes, there is, Li Shixiong," the young disciple replied with a smile.

"Then you go back to your duties; we'll head over for a meal now." After Li Yunyang finished speaking, he, along with his master and Tianfan, made their way toward the Tai Fu Gate kitchen.

The meals at Tai Fu Gate were rather bland, a far cry from the delicacies of the Dragon-Tongue Dynasty, which could easily satisfy swine, yet Tianfan relished every bite. With a cheerful disposition, he found everything delicious.

"Ah, I'm full!" Li Yunyang stretched lazily and turned to Tianfan, asking, "What should I call you, brother?"

"Tianfan. Just call me Tianfan," he replied while continuing to eat.

"Oh, old trickster, go arrange a room for brother Tianfan," Li Yunyang said, glancing at the elder who was indulging in a drink.

"Pfft…"

At this remark, Tianfan choked on his tea. Although he thought of the elder as a deceptive rogue, he never expected Li Yunyang to address his master so bluntly. He felt utterly speechless.

"Damn it, am I the master or are you?!" the elder Taoist retorted angrily.

"Damn it, you're the one who brought him here!" Li Yunyang shot back defiantly. The two exchanged incredulous glares, leaving Tianfan in exasperation at their antics.

"Ah, I'm terrified of you! I'll go arrange it now." The unrepentant elder finally relented, taking his wine gourd and heading outside.

"You can't talk to your master like that! Aren't you afraid he'll beat you?" Once the elder had left, Tianfan pulled Li Yunyang aside, confused.

"Not at all! Although my master has many bad habits, he's a good person. We've always bantered like this," Li Yunyang said, sipping his tea.

Soon after, Tianfan and Li Yunyang exited the kitchen, where the elder had informed Li Yunyang that accommodations were ready for them to settle in. Li Yunyang led Tianfan to the designated place. Being familiar with the area, he guided him through a row of small wooden houses where numerous practicing disciples could be seen. To Tianfan's surprise, it seemed like they were merely sunbathing.

He perceived that even the strongest among them was only at the same level as Li Yunyang, having just reached the initial stage of Concentration. His room was arranged next to Li Yunyang's, and in these clustered cabins, only the two of them resided. Days later, Tianfan received word that the Patriarch of Tai Fu Gate wanted to see him.

"Damn it, that old trickster," Tianfan cursed upon receiving the message, knowing exactly how this had come about.

Shortly after, he was brought before the entrance of a grand hall. This so-called grand hall paled in comparison to the Dragon-Tongue Dynasty, being only modestly decorated, yet still far superior to anything mundane.

After bringing Tianfan here, the attendant left.

"Little brother outside, please come in," a voice called from within the hall, deep and resonant. Without needing to guess, Tianfan knew it belonged to a formidable figure. Although Tai Fu Gate was a small sect, lacking the power of the two great dynasties and the four prominent families, anyone who could lead a sect would undoubtedly possess formidable strength.

Tianfan steadied his nerves, pushed open the grand door, and stepped inside. At first glance, he saw a middle-aged man seated above in the hall. The man wore a long blue robe, exuding a powerful aura far exceeding that of the elder, indicating he was surely at the level of the Hunyuan Secret Realm.

As he shifted his gaze, he caught sight of the elder Taoist below, grinning broadly, instantly inciting a sense of resentment within him. The elder, noticing Tianfan's glare, promptly looked away, feigning ignorance.

"Tianfan? That's your name, isn't it?" the middle-aged man inquired flatly.

"Yes," Tianfan replied, wary of overstepping with such a serious patriarch.

"I heard you are under the tutelage of my junior, Lin Yunzi?" the patriarch continued.

"Respected Patriarch, actually—"

Before Tianfan could finish, the elder interrupted, "Patriarch, my second disciple is a bit shy; please do not mind him."

Tianfan's mouth opened in protest, "No, actually—"

But once again, he was cut off by the middle-aged man, who said, "Ah, it's normal for a young person with low cultivation to feel this way. Just focus on your training here at Tai Fu Gate. The sect will take good care of you!"

"No, actually—"

"Enough. I have important matters to discuss with your master. You should go and cultivate. If you have questions, you can ask your senior brother." Without allowing Tianfan to speak further, the middle-aged man waved his sleeve, dismissing Tianfan and causing the hall's doors to close behind him.

"Damn it! What the hell?!" Tianfan stood there, stunned for a moment before unleashing a stream of curses. Suddenly, he froze, realizing how rude he had become. Surely, he had been influenced by Li Yunyang and his trickster master, he mused, as he headed toward his quarters.

Inside the grand hall of Tai Fu Gate, the middle-aged patriarch burst into raucous laughter. "Haha! My junior, you truly have a good eye! Once again, you've deceived, ah, I mean, taken in such an exceptional young man." 

If Tianfan were present, he would undoubtedly feel a violent twitch. The once solemn and dignified patriarch now displayed an utterly ridiculous demeanor, akin to that of the shameless elder, revealing the face of a rogue, devoid of any semblance of a dignified sect leader.