Two Old Men Contending for Apprenticeship

Upon hearing Wang Yu's seemingly frantic words, Dean Hua, the instigator of this competition, finally came to his senses. 

He didn't bother with Wang Yu and instead looked at Mo Qingkuang with an expression of utmost eagerness. 

"Old Zheng, can we have a discussion?" Dean Hua tried to negotiate. 

"Get lost! It's impossible. I've finally got such a disciple! Don't even think about it!" Zheng Tao, who was usually elegant and easygoing, surprisingly erupted with profanity. 

"Old Zheng, we've been brothers for so many years. You know about all the trash I've been collecting lately, and I've been barely able to catch my breath under the pressure from Old Fu." Dean Hua put on a flattering smile. 

"We've been brothers for so many years. Can't you take pity on me a little? There will definitely be better disciples in the future, and I absolutely won't compete with you for them!" he continued. 

Zheng Tao remained unfazed; his expression cold. "Don't even think about it, no matter if we've been brothers for a hundred years or a thousand years! It's the first time I've taken a disciple, and you still have the nerve to snatch?" 

"Old Zheng! Anything you like in my house, just take it. But this disciple, let me have him!" Dean Hua made one last attempt to bargain. 

"I don't fancy any of the trash in your house, and besides, my disciple is the martial arts champion. Why would the literary dean want to teach him?" Zheng Tao shook his head like a rattle drum. 

They had thought that Mo Qingkuang was just a deep-thinking, talented, and cunning genius in battle. They never expected him to excel in poetry and prose to this extent. 

Both of them were old-time geniuses in both literature and martial arts, and in this 'Love for the Lotus,' they saw many extraordinary things. 

There were unique characteristics, a perseverance in loving what one loved, and a powerful resilience against the opinions of the world. 

But it wasn't just because of this memorable poem that they were willing to disregard their years of brotherhood. 

Looking at the appearance of the two old men, everyone understood their attitude. 

The two elders had never heard of Mo Qingkuang's 'Love for the Lotus,' and yet their love for this poem was exceptionally high. 

For the deans of both the literary and martial arts schools to compete for a disciple was something unheard of in the history of Tianxuan for thousands of years. 

Even the previous time, when Dean Zheng Tao and Headmaster Fu Qing fought over Chen Kong, it was only because they valued his martial arts talent. 

For Mo Qingkuang to be recognized by both the literary and martial arts deans, there was no doubt that he was an impeccable talent in both literature and martial arts! 

He even surpassed the current literary champion in literary talent! 

Even Fu Qing, the headmaster of the Imperial Academy, couldn't match his level now, let alone in his prime a hundred years ago. 

Listening to the argument between Dean Hua and Zheng Tao, Wang Yu's face gradually fell. 

He knew he had lost, completely defeated. 

He suddenly felt regret, regretting why he had provoked Mo Qingkuang, why he had listened to Dean Hua's instigation to compete with Mo Qingkuang in literature, and why he had chosen the theme of praising lotus flowers. 

All these regrets were mixed in his heart at this moment. 

From today onwards, no matter whose disciple Mo Qingkuang became, he already had the absolute recognition of both literary and martial arts deans. 

He sat down weakly in his seat, his eyes vacant, no longer speaking. 

Everyone watched as Wang Yu, who had been so confident and proud, now looked so defeated. 

Recalling Mo Qingkuang's casual and emotionless recitation, it seemed as if the masterpiece 'Love for the Lotus,' which could potentially endure for generations, was nothing more than a collection of random sentences. 

It was clear who was superior and who was inferior! This time, Wang Yu had indeed lifted a stone only to smash his own foot. 

Looking up at Mo Qingkuang, who stood taller than her by a head, Han Yan'er's gaze was extremely complex. 

'So, he really did have literary talent, and he effortlessly produced such brilliant sentences.' 

Her beautiful eyes flickered. At this moment, Mo Qingkuang, who was immersing himself in the performance, seemed to gradually overlap with the ideal lover she had in mind. 

Exceptionally talented, handsome, and outstanding in literary talent! This was the dream of any young girl. 

It turned out that the information about him being a layabout and worthless was false. He wasn't a layabout and worthless; he just didn't reveal his brilliance. 

If being a layabout and worthless was false, then could the information about bullying men and women be false too? 

Or perhaps it was just a shell that Mo Qingkuang wanted to show to the world? 

Women in love always hoped that their lover was a perfect existence, and even if there were some flaws, they were willing to find excuses to cover them up. 

At this moment, Mo Qingkuang seemed more like a black hole, deeply attracting her to explore what was inside. 

What was it that made him deliberately wear a careless dandy mask? Was it self-deprecation for self-preservation, deliberate rumors spread by competitors, or something else entirely? 

Han Yan'er had already overturned the pages of information about Mo Qingkuang's life in her heart. 

Between the possibilities of Mo Qingkuang being a layabout scoundrel and a literary and martial genius, she chose to believe in the latter without hesitation. 

She was eager to send someone to investigate what kind of person Mo Qingkuang actually was. 

Just as everyone was planning to approach the new favorite of the Imperial Academy, Mo Qingkuang, and establish relationships with him, they suddenly found that Mo Qingkuang and the two arguing deans had disappeared without a trace. 

*** 

"Kid, it's up to you." A lazy voice awakened Mo Qingkuang from his daze. 

Looking around, he found himself in a closed space. 

Zheng Tao and Dean Hua were staring at him with disdain. The one who had just spoken was Dean Hua. 

"Teacher, Dean Hua, what am I choosing?" Mo Qingkuang asked in confusion. 

"What else is there to choose? Me or Zheng Tao, who do you want to worship as your teacher?" Dean Hua said impatiently. 

It turned out that they couldn't agree, with Zheng Tao refusing to yield an inch and Dean Hua refusing to give up. 

In the end, they had to let Mo Qingkuang make the choice himself. 

He said seriously, "I am honored that both of you have recognized me. If possible, I am willing to worship both of you as my teachers." 

The Mo family was currently on the way to the capital. Despite being the newly crowned champion, Mo Qingkuang was an outsider without any support. 

The strength of the Mo family was not strong enough, and the highest cultivation level was still his grandfather who was traveling outside and hadn't returned, with only grandmaster-level cultivation. 

His father, the current head of the family, Mo Shan, had been stuck at the martial master level for many years. In the capital, he was inferior even to ordinary low-ranking officials. 

The Mo family urgently needed some powerful backing to help them establish themselves and develop in the capital. The more, the stronger, the better!

***

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