The shop was still too small, with only one room upstairs. It wasn't feasible to keep crowding in with Wu Jiaxin.
After all, her snoring was quite loud when she slept. Although Wu Jiaxin had never complained, every time she woke up, she saw Wu Jiaxin looking tired.
It would be better to get a bigger one, ideally to buy it outright.
Buying a good shop wouldn't be a loss. When she decided to retire from the business, she could rent it out and collect some rent.
"That would be wonderful," Wu Jiaxin said with a smile.
Before it was one in the morning, Zhao Yan diligently drew more than two hours of talismans.
The next morning, she woke up on time.
As soon as she woke up, she heard many people talking downstairs.
Listening to the voices, Zhao Yan felt they were somewhat familiar and walked downstairs.
She saw Wu Jiaxin chatting with someone, and there were over a dozen young men and women in the shop, standing neatly to the side like statues.
When Zhao Yan came downstairs, the person chatting with Wu Jiaxin turned around.
The dozen young men and women immediately turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes all fixed on her.
Looking at the person, Zhao Yan said softly, "Master Wang, what brings you here so early?"
Master Wang clapped his hands, and the dozen young men and women immediately walked to the door and began carrying a lot of things into the shop from their cars.
Expensive tea tables, valuable calligraphy and paintings, and some rare medicinal herbs were all being delivered to her shop.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing, Master Wang?"
"If you have something to say, just say it. I can't possibly accept such expensive gifts."
Zhao Yan immediately walked over, blocking the doorway, preventing the young people from entering the shop.
Master Wang said earnestly, "I, Wang Xianzhi, wish to become a disciple of Miss Zhao!"
"Ever since I witnessed the abilities Miss Zhao displayed, I knew that Miss Zhao is no ordinary person. I dare not ask for too much, only to learn a move or two, and I would be content."
As he spoke, Master Wang was about to kneel and kowtow.
"Become a disciple?" Zhao Yan quickly reached out and grabbed Master Wang's arm, preventing him from kneeling.
"I'm not even 25 years old this year, and Master Wang, you must be at least 66."
"I am seeking Master Zhao's abilities, which is why I wish to join your sect. What does age matter? As the saying goes, the virtuous are to be respected as teachers."
Master Wang sighed and said, "To be honest, Miss Zhao, I only embarked on this path midway. Everyone thinks I am a very powerful master, but in reality, I am nothing."
"My reputation was built through expensive publicity, and my persona was also established through marketing."
"I used to truly believe I had abilities, but after the incident with Boss Zhou, I realized that my skills were utter garbage!"
Master Wang turned and shouted to the dozen young men and women behind him, "Quickly, call her 'Shimai' (Master's Wife)!"
The dozen young men and women immediately knelt on the ground and shouted in unison, "I am Zhang Huayuan!"
"I am Li Cunxiao!"
"I am He Aijia!"
"I am Li Mu..."
After the dozen individuals introduced themselves, with a bang, they kowtowed on the ground: "We pay our respects to Master Zhao! Master Zhao, your disciples' grandchildren bow to you!"
This display startled Zhao Yan greatly. She hadn't been this shocked even when dealing with ghosts.
Each of the dozen young men and women was older than her, and calling her 'Shimai' made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
The fact that their greetings were so synchronized, without any rehearsal, made Zhao Yan disbelieve it.
"Get up, everyone. Stop calling me 'Shimai,' get up, get up!" Zhao Yan pulled at them.
These people stubbornly refused to get up. As soon as she helped one up and was about to help the second, the first one immediately knelt down again.
"Miss Zhao, please accept me as your disciple. Although I am old, I am diligent and eager to learn. My drive is no less than that of a young person, and I have many disciples. In the future, Qingfeng Guan will surely become renowned!"
Seeing Zhao Yan's lack of response, Master Wang gestured behind him, "Shout!"
The dozen young men and women began to chant, "It's good to follow Shimai, we'll learn great skills. Shimai's abilities are immense, and our lives as disciples' grandchildren will be filled with blessings."
Zhao Yan rolled her eyes, "They've even made up jingles."
Seeing that a crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the door, Zhao Yan felt her face flush and quickly waved her hands, "Get up, everyone, listen to me!"
No wonder Master Wang didn't ask for money last night; he was waiting for this.
Master Wang prostrated himself on the ground and said, "Miss Zhao, please accept me. I truly wish to learn the ways of Taoism."
"Get up, I didn't say I wouldn't accept you!" Zhao Yan replied.
Hearing this, Master Wang immediately stood up and smiled, "Master, I bow to you!"
A young man beside him immediately handed over a cup of tea.
Zhao Yan did not take it but said seriously, "In our profession, we value destiny.
"Therefore, whether I accept you as a disciple is not up to me; it is up to the Ancestral Master."
If she refused directly, Master Wang might persist and become a nuisance, causing more trouble.
Besides, Master Wang was so old, his talent was bound to be limited, and the Ancestral Master would likely not favor him.
Master Wang said, "Very well, I will follow Miss Zhao's arrangements."
Zhao Yan hummed softly, took out a painting from her bag, and hung it on the wall, placing an incense burner in front of the painting.
"The Taoist priest in this painting is the Ancestral Master of my Qingfeng Guan."
"You will insert three sticks of incense into the burner. If the incense burns brightly, it means the Ancestral Master favors you. If not, then I cannot accept you as a disciple."
Saying this, Zhao Yan handed over three sticks of incense.
Master Wang took the three incense sticks, took a deep breath, kowtowed a few times, then leaned his head close to the portrait of the Ancestral Master and whispered a long speech.
After finishing, he lit the three incense sticks with a serious expression.
Zhao Yan shook her head, having already prepared her refusal.
To her surprise, the three incense sticks burned very brightly.
Zhao Yan's face showed surprise. Could it be that Master Wang truly had talent?
She looked up at the painting and saw that the Ancestral Master's face in the painting had turned red.
"Master Zhao, your disciple Wang Xianzhi offers you tea." Master Wang handed over the tea.
Since she had already spoken, Zhao Yan cleared her throat, sat up straight, and accepted the tea.
Zhao Yan said, "Master Wang, although you have joined the Qingfeng Guan sect, you cannot become a formal disciple yet. You must undergo three years of observation to assess your character. Therefore, you will start as an outer disciple."
Master Wang immediately replied without hesitation, "Very well, then I will start as an outer disciple."
"Shimai, please have some tea!" The dozen young men and women presented tea.
Zhao Yan hummed softly and took a small sip from each cup.
"By the way, Master, please don't call me Master Wang anymore. Call me Xiao Wang from now on," Wang Xianzhi said with a smile.
"Alright, from today onwards, I will call you Xiao Wang." Zhao Yan no longer stood on ceremony.
This profession valued the virtuous as teachers; indeed, age was not a major factor.
"Oh, by the way, Xiao Wang, what did you say to the Ancestral Master? His face is still red."