Chapter 22: Wei Tu’s Refusal

As Dan Wu Ju remained silent, the atmosphere in the room gradually became tense. The faint fluttering of birds' wings in the courtyard outside could even be heard. Everyone's attention instinctively turned to Wei Tu, all eager to hear how this disciple of Dan Wu Ju would respond.

Most people—practically everyone in the room—wore expressions of expectation, hoping that Wei Tu would follow Dan Wu Ju's wishes and agree. Even Dan Yan Gong, who had earlier clashed slightly with Dan Fang, was among them.

The Dan family could tell that the old master had chosen to remain silent not to force Wei Tu into agreeing, avoiding any strain on their master-disciple bond. His lack of an outright refusal to Dan Fang's request was already a clear indication of his stance.

Even without this moment, the family members could easily guess Dan Wu Ju's thoughts.

As people age, they hope to see their legacy continue, to have their life's work passed down. To Dan Wu Ju, Dan Yi Wu was the ideal heir to inherit his martial knowledge within the family.

Everyone in the room understood that Dan Wu Ju had taken Wei Tu as his disciple with the hope that he would attain an official title and protect the Dan family's foundation.

Although teaching Dan Yi Wu had little direct bearing on this larger goal, it was still a test of Wei Tu's loyalty. If he refused to help with something so small, how could they trust him to stand by the Dan family in times of crisis?

After a moment of silence, Wei Tu finally spoke, slightly bowing as he said, "This matter is entirely up to Master's wishes."

At these words, the expressions of the people around them subtly changed.

Having observed Wei Tu for more than a month, they knew that although he was respectful, he was no fool. A man who could earn Dan Wu Ju's favor was not someone oblivious to social cues or incapable of understanding deeper implications.

They all felt that Wei Tu could have chosen his words more carefully, said something more agreeable, something that would have pleased Dan Wu Ju.

Even if he planned to refuse, he could have done so more tactfully—perhaps saying that his master was far more skilled and thus better suited to teach Dan Yi Wu, sparing himself the role of an instructor while still flattering his master.

That would have been an acceptable way out.

Dan Wu Ju raised an eyebrow slightly and fixed his gaze on Wei Tu.

As Wei Tu bowed his head, standing before his seated master, their eyes were nearly level—except that one was looking down at his feet while the other observed him keenly.

The two did not make eye contact.

After a long moment, Dan Wu Ju withdrew his gaze and said, "I understand your thoughts now," gesturing for Wei Tu to straighten up.

Dan Wu Ju did not claim to be a master at reading people, but he had spent enough years in the world to discern at least the essence of a person's nature, and he had spent enough time with Wei Tu to make a good guess.

Wei Tu did not want to remain forever tied to him or the Dan family.

His actions within the household had already revealed this—he never asked for anything beyond knowledge, never sought additional material gains.

By saying, "This matter is entirely up to Master's wishes," Wei Tu was implying that he would repay his debt of gratitude, but he was not a servant of the Dan family, nor would he allow himself to be commanded by its members at will.

And there was another message hidden within his words—Wei Tu would only take orders from Dan Wu Ju himself. No one else in the Dan family had the authority to direct him.

"In my absence, Wei Tu may very well be the person the Dan family can rely on," Dan Wu Ju thought to himself.

He had lived long enough to know he wasn't infallible in judging character, but he trusted his instincts when it came to distinguishing good from bad.

Moreover, Li Yaozu, a man as tightfisted as he was, had willingly spent a favor to send Wei Tu to him for training.

Dan Wu Ju did not believe for a moment that Li Yaozu had made that decision blindly.

"If Yi Wu truly wants to learn martial arts, then when you leave after the New Year, leave him here. I'll personally teach him."

"Wei Tu is busy preparing for the martial examination and doesn't have time. The county examination is in February, the prefectural exam in April, and the provincial exam in September or October. He won't be free."

After a brief silence, Dan Wu Ju took a deep breath and spoke to Dan Fang in a firm, undeniable tone.

"Father?" Dan Fang was stunned, unable to stop herself from exclaiming.

This time, her intention to obtain the family's martial manual was genuine, and her desire for Dan Yi Wu to become Wei Tu's disciple was also sincere.

A true master teaches with just a single phrase; an imposter needs a thousand scrolls.

The Dan family's martial manual was worth a fortune—it was no ordinary, widely circulated technique. Whether to sell it or keep it as a family treasure, it remained a highly valuable asset.

As for making Dan Yi Wu Wei Tu's disciple… Dan Fang was no fool. After spending the past couple of months at home, she had witnessed firsthand how highly Dan Wu Ju regarded Wei Tu.

If Wei Tu succeeded in the martial examination, he would become a well-known figure in Qingmu County. Whether as a protective shield for her family or as a useful connection to revive their fortunes, this was an investment that promised nothing but gains.

But her carefully calculated plan had fallen apart at the most crucial moment.

Dan Wu Ju had refused.

"Father, there's no rush. We can wait until after Wei Tu finishes his exams. Yi Wu is still young and has time to grow stronger…" Dan Fang softened her tone once more, almost pleading.

She refused to believe that Dan Wu Ju couldn't see the advantages in this arrangement.

If she failed to establish a connection with Wei Tu now, then once Dan Wu Ju was gone, the bond between the Dan family and Wei Tu would inevitably weaken. At that point, whether their past ties would mean anything would be entirely uncertain.

"I'm not dead yet. If Yi Wu truly wants to learn martial arts, he doesn't need Wei Tu."

Contrary to expectations, Dan Wu Ju firmly rejected Dan Fang's plea this time, showing no trace of sentimentality for their father-daughter relationship.

Hearing this, Dan Fang pursed her lips in silence, struggling to find a counterargument. Eventually, she turned to look at Dan Min, who was seated beside Dan Wu Ju, hoping to persuade her mother instead.

She knew that Dan Wu Ju always valued Dan Min's opinions and rarely opposed her directly.

However—

What happened next was yet another surprise for Dan Fang.

Dan Min did not follow the script she had envisioned. Instead, she let out a slight sigh, furrowed her brows, and spoke gently.

"Enough, little one. There's plenty of time. If Yi Wu and Wei Tu grow close, then we can talk about this again later. There's no rush."

On the surface, these words seemed conciliatory, but Dan Fang knew full well that the matter of Dan Yi Wu becoming Wei Tu's disciple was now completely off the table. The elders had definitively shut down the idea.

"I already gave them a horse. Why won't they agree to something so simple?" Dan Fang stood in the room, unable to comprehend the situation.

The horses in the Dan family's stable, even the older ones, were still of excellent quality. They were well-bred, never gelded, and worth a considerable sum. A single horse could sell for nearly a hundred taels of silver.

And yet, her request—clearly beneficial to the family—required nothing more than a few words from the elders. It certainly wasn't worth a hundred taels of silver.

"One more thing. Don't even think about the martial manual," Dan Wu Ju added. "Unless Yi Wu can firmly establish five foundational stances or agrees to train under me personally, this conversation is over."

With that, Dan Wu Ju waved his hand dismissively, signaling for Dan Fang and her husband to leave.