“Ah? You’re asking me?”
Meng Xiaoyu said, pointing at herself with a hint of uncertainty.
“Yes! I’m asking you,” the old man replied, stroking his white beard as he looked at Meng Xiaoyu’s uncertain expression.
After receiving the old man’s confirmation, Meng Xiaoyu felt puzzled.
“I don’t think I’ve done anything to provoke him! Why is he asking for my name and about my master? Could it be that he’s in cahoots with that big bearded man? He saw me embarrass that big guy just now and wants to teach me a lesson? But if that’s the case, why would he ask if I have a master? Should I tell him?”
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Meng Xiaoyu felt conflicted.
“Hehe, little girl, you don’t need to worry. I just noticed your extraordinary bone structure and thought you would be a good material for martial arts, so I wanted to take you as my disciple. However, I wasn’t sure if you already had a master, so I wanted to ask first,” the old man explained, seemingly aware of Meng Xiaoyu’s inner turmoil.
Hearing the old man’s explanation, Meng Xiaoyu visibly relaxed.
“As long as he’s not trying to help that big bearded man teach me a lesson, that’s good.”
With that thought, she intended to tell the old man her name and that she already had a master.
However, before Meng Xiaoyu could speak, Han Rubing had already chimed in on her behalf.
“Hehe, it seems my little one has to disappoint Master Zhao’s good intentions, because just two months ago, she became a disciple of the esteemed Mi Jiu in a small grove outside Fuyun City,” Han Rubing said.
As soon as she finished speaking, a wave of gasps filled the air, and she noticed that everyone present was looking at the little girl with disbelief.
After all, the legendary martial artist Mi Jiu, known for his profound skills and elusive presence, had taken an unknown girl as his disciple.
It was hard to believe that this little girl had something that could impress the master who never took disciples.
With this thought, the crowd’s gaze toward Meng Xiaoyu became even more inquisitive.
Feeling the scrutiny of the crowd, Meng Xiaoyu was extremely embarrassed.
“What are you all staring at? I’m not a monkey in a zoo! What’s so interesting? So what if I became that old man’s disciple? Is there a need for you to gawk at me like this?”
Although she was fuming inside, Meng Xiaoyu didn’t dare to voice her thoughts.
The people present were all well-known figures in the Jianghu, and if she dared to shout at them, she was sure they would hold a grudge against her.
With her meager skills, she would only end up getting beaten up by them.
So, despite her inner turmoil, she could only stand there blushing, letting everyone treat her like a monkey on display.
Seeing Meng Xiaoyu’s embarrassment, Han Rubing and her sister Han Rushuang stepped in.
Han Rushuang, with an increasingly cold expression, shielded Meng Xiaoyu behind her, while Han Rubing maintained a gentle smile and said, “I believe everyone gathered here today isn’t just to gawk at the little one, right?”
Although Han Rubing spoke with a smile, Han Rushuang remained silent with a frosty demeanor.
However, anyone with eyes or ears could tell that the two sisters were clearly displeased.
While the crowd didn’t fear the newly emerged Han Rubing sisters, they certainly feared Mo Wuyou and Bai Li, who stood behind them!
These two were legendary figures on par with Mi Jiu, and not someone they could afford to offend.
So, when they sensed the sisters’ displeasure, they quickly withdrew their scrutinizing gazes from Meng Xiaoyu.
Thanks to the Han sisters, Meng Xiaoyu felt a wave of relief from the crowd’s gaze and wanted to hug them tightly, crying in gratitude for rescuing her from the zoo-like situation.
When the Han sisters noticed Meng Xiaoyu’s adoring look, as if she wanted to cling to their legs, both of them involuntarily twitched their lips.
“Hahaha, little girl, since you are Mi Jiu’s disciple, your martial arts must be impressive, right? You must show us what you’ve got at the hero gathering later!”
Just as Meng Xiaoyu was lost in her thoughts about the Han sisters, the big bearded man spoke up.
As his words fell, a chorus of agreement rose from the crowd.
“Yes! Anyone who catches Mi Jiu’s eye must be extraordinary!” a middle-aged Taoist priest in a long robe and holding a sword said.
“Master Qian is right. Anyone who can be recognized and accepted as a disciple by Mi Jiu must possess exceptional skills. Little girl, we look forward to seeing your prowess!” a middle-aged man with a sharp face and a pockmarked complexion chimed in.
Just as the sharp-faced man finished speaking, a similarly sharp-faced, flamboyantly dressed young man interjected, “Brother Wang, aren’t you just bullying the little girl? Let’s not forget she’s just a girl. Even if she’s a martial arts genius, you heard her say she just became Mi Jiu’s disciple two months ago. In such a short time, no matter how talented she is, she can’t possibly surpass someone like you who has been in the Jianghu for most of your life!”
Although the flamboyant young man was mocking the middle-aged man, intending to use his age and experience to belittle the girl, his words were laced with sarcasm toward Meng Xiaoyu, implying that even with Mi Jiu as her master, she wouldn’t be that impressive.
