"Thank you, Ian Song, for saving our lives."
The skinny old man and Yuna Zhou, master and disciple, bowed together to Ian Song.
Ian Song's tone grew a bit impatient.
"Master, he obviously doesn't care about your disciple, so why should I shamelessly accept him as master?" Yuna Zhou protested, unconvinced.
"Master, are you alright? I'll go make medicine for you right now!" Seeing her master like this, Yuna Zhou was on the verge of tears.
"No need. Those medicines won't help anymore."
Feeling wronged, Yuna Zhou answered softly and was about to bow to Ian Song.
Yuna Zhou couldn't hold back her tears anymore and sobbed, "Master, you'll be fine! I'll go buy the best Spirit Medicines for you right now. As long as you have them, your injuries can be healed!"
The skinny old man shook his head and said, "If it were before, those Spirit Medicines might have suppressed my injuries. But now, even with them, I can't be cured. Don't waste your energy."
"Big Brother Song, please take in Sister Yuna too," Wendy Lin tugged Ian Song's sleeve and pleaded.
"Silly child, when have I ever lied to you? Honestly, I've already come to terms with it. For me, dying might even be a kind of release. But I can't stop worrying about you." As he spoke, the skinny old man looked at Ian Song. "Ian Song, may I ask you for a favor?"
"You want me to look after your disciple?" Ian Song asked.
"Get up. As long as you work well for me in the future, that's thanks enough!" Ian Song nodded with satisfaction.
The Library Pavilion contains countless forging manuals. Ian Song didn't want to spend too much time learning them himself, but these two already had high forging skill. Why not train them? That was why he insisted on taking in both master and disciple together.
With fatherly affection, the skinny old man stroked Yuna Zhou's head and gently said, "Silly child, Ian Song is so powerful at such a young age. If you follow him, you won't suffer any losses."
"No, I still don't agree." Yuna Zhou stubbornly shook her head.
Seeing this, the skinny old man's face darkened. "What? You won't even listen to your master now?"
Although Yuna Zhou was a hundred times unwilling, she couldn't bring herself to defy her master's order. She could only swear the Heavenly Tribulation oath, accepting Ian Song as master and vowing never to betray him.
Anger flashed across the skinny old man's face as he interrupted Yuna Zhou. "If you still see me as your master, then listen to my arrangements. Go pay respects to Ian Song!"
Yuna Zhou wanted to protest, but seeing her master's increasingly severe expression, she could only grit her teeth and bow to Ian Song.
Just then, Ian Song's voice suddenly rang out: "Wait, I haven't agreed yet!"
Already unwilling to acknowledge him as master, Yuna Zhou glared at him angrily. "If it weren't for my master's request, do you think I'd ever want to call you master?"
"Yuna! Watch your mouth and apologize to Young Master Song!" the skinny old man barked sternly.
"Master, he obviously doesn't care about your disciple, so why should I shamelessly worship him as master?" Yuna Zhou protested, unconvinced.
"Cough, cough, are you trying to make me die of anger... cough, cough... Just apologize already!"
"Yes, Master!"
Feeling wronged, Yuna Zhou answered softly and was about to bow to Song Yan.
"Wait!" Ian Song called out again.
Hearing this, the skinny old man grew anxious. "Cough, cough... Young Master Song, Yuna's temper is just a bit rash... cough, cough... Please don't hold it against her. Her forging talent is excellent, and she will definitely be able to help you in the future. Please be kind and take her in."
"Big Brother Song, please take in Sister Yuna too," Wendy Lin tugged Song Yan's sleeve and pleaded.
Ian Song waved his hand and fixed his gaze on the skinny old man. "If you're willing to acknowledge me as master, then I'll take in this little dark girl too!"
The skinny old man was stunned and looked at Ian Song in surprise. "I'm already a dying man, and my forging skills are useless now. Why would you want me?"
Yuna Zhou was furious that Ian Song called her 'little dark girl.' Her skin was only dark because of her disguise! She wanted to retort, but in the end, she said nothing.
Ian Song spoke again: "I don't care when you die. I just want to know if you're willing to recognize me as master. If you are, I'll take in this little dark girl and guarantee she won't be mistreated. If not, then forget it!"
After a brief hesitation, the skinny old man said, "You are already our savior. If you don't despise me for being useless, then I swear by Heavenly Tribulation to acknowledge you as master!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the skinny old man decisively swore his Heavenly Tribulation oath.
"Yuna, you swear the Heavenly Tribulation oath too!" the skinny old man said to Yuna Zhou.
Although Yuna Zhou was a hundred times unwilling, she couldn't bring herself to defy her master's order. She could only swear the Heavenly Tribulation oath, acknowledging Ian Song as master and vowing never to betray him.
"Come with me. I'll heal your injuries."
Ian Song beckoned to the skinny old man, Owen Carter, signaling him to follow into the house.
"Young Master, I know my own injuries. Please don't waste your zhenyuan on me!" Owen Carter shook his head.
"Enough with the nonsense, just get in here."
Song Yan's tone grew a bit impatient.
"Yes, sir!" Owen Carter could only obey.
Once inside, Ian Song grabbed Owen Carter's wrist and sent two streams of Radiance of Life into his body.
Five seconds later.
Owen Carter's injuries were completely healed.
"What? How is this possible?!"
Feeling his fully recovered body, Owen Carter thought he was dreaming. His injuries were so severe he had one foot in the grave, only hanging on by forcefully suppressing them with cultivation. But now, in just a couple breaths, he was completely healed. Not even the world's greatest healer could do this!
But his body really was completely healed.
"Thank you, Young Master, for giving me a new life!"
Owen Carter knelt on the ground, overwhelmed with gratitude. Just moments ago, he'd faced death with resignation, but now, healed in an instant, he couldn't help but feel excited and thankful.
"Get up. As long as you work well for me in the future, that's thanks enough!" Song Yan nodded with satisfaction.
The Library Pavilion contains countless forging manuals. He didn't want to spend too much time learning them himself, but these two already had high forging skill. Why not train them? That was why Song Yan insisted on taking in both master and disciple together.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
"Take a look at these. See if they're useful to you."
Ian Song tossed Owen Carter a jade slip containing excerpts from several forging texts. However, none were complete—the sections on forging immortal artifacts had all been erased. Once their forging skills reached the mortal world's peak, he'd hand over the rest.
"Yes, Young Master!"
Owen Carter took the jade slip and began to examine its contents. Soon, his face was filled with excitement—the slip contained many forging techniques and formulas he'd never seen before, all far more advanced than what he'd learned. If he could master them, his forging skill would rise dramatically.