Chapter 1253: Chapter 1254 Finally Together (3)
Ye Chenghong thought for a moment, then added a few words: "Little girl Lingling has exceptional talent, she has an innate understanding of medicine and poison. Given time and proper cultivation, she is bound to achieve something. However, her childhood was rather harsh, and she likely suffered quite a bit in these years. Although the Medicine Sect is good, it mostly consists of rough and careless men. I suggest you first let Little Lingling stay with your grandparents so that you can foster your relationship and also give the girl some warmth."
An Yiqing considered this and felt Ye Chenghong made a lot of sense, so she nodded in agreement.
"Alright, after the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow, I’ll take Lingling home. This little girl is so considerate it makes one’s heart ache. My grandparents and parents all love children and will certainly cherish her."
The master and disciple duo discussed almost everything, and since it was getting late, An Yiqing was too lazy to go home in the middle of the night to disturb Old Master An and others, so she decided to stay at the Medicine Sect.
The next day, the sun shone brightly and the weather was pleasant, marking the official start of the Medicine Sect’s apprenticeship ceremony.
The ceremony was actually quite simple. Ye Chenghong sat at the head seat, An Yiqing sat to his left, with the four Great Elders seated in order to his right. The idlers Nie Shan and Ah Mi, along with Dashan, casually sat at the low end of the table.
Today, Yin Xilin wore a white dress, and her pretty little face was full of innocence, with bright and determined black-and-white eyes.
She knelt on a soft white cushion, with an Eight Immortals Table in front of her, on which rested an Incense Burner, and above that hung a portrait of the Medicine Sect’s ancestor.
Under the Great Elder’s guidance, Yin Xilin held three sticks of incense, bowed respectfully three times at a right angle, then offered incense, knelt, and kowtowed.
After that, she turned to face An Yiqing and Ye Chenghong once more.
"Lingling, you’ve already paid your respects to the Ancestor. Once you’ve paid respect to your Master and me later, you’ll officially become my true disciple. As a member of the Medicine Sect, there are some rules you must always keep in mind. Do not commit acts of violence or theft, do not bully the weak, and do not be deceitful. Members of the Medicine Sect should not be bullied by enemies, but they should not harbor evil intentions either. If I find your intentions to be improper, I will strip you of all your cultivation and expel you from the sect! Do you understand?"
"I understand!" Yin Xilin responded in a tender voice.
An Yiqing nodded in satisfaction, her clear voice pleasant to the ear. "The people of the Medicine Sect have always been united and outwardly focused. Lingling, as my true disciple, you will shoulder important missions in the future. You are naturally talented, but you must also practice diligently and learn with dedication to accomplish great things. Your master does not expect you to elevate the Medicine Sect to the pinnacle, but will never allow it to decline in your hands. From now on, you must always remember your identity, do you understand?"
"Yes, Master! I will always remember your teachings and will never let the Medicine Sect decline in my hands! If ever your disciple brings shame to you, I will forsake all cultivation and leave for faraway lands!"
Looking at the little grown-up seriousness on Yin Xilin’s face, An Yiqing suddenly chuckled softly.
"Silly girl, serve the tea, then get up quickly; the ground is cold."
The well-behaved Yin Xilin handed two cups of clear tea to An Yiqing and Ye Chenghong. After they finished drinking, she respectfully performed the apprentice’s ritual, marking the end of the apprenticeship ceremony.
After the ceremony, the people of the Medicine Sect happily held a feast. It wasn’t until past five in the afternoon that An Yiqing left with Yin Xilin.
Before leaving, however, she made a trip to Grandma Fengling’s room.
After a period of recuperation, Grandma Fengling’s injuries had healed significantly, and her complexion was rosier.