This Young Master of the Hou Mansion was truly different from what Qin Yi had imagined.
He had declined the Young Master's offer to give him a name, insisting he would choose one himself, yet had not yet done so. Instead of scolding him, the Young Master had praised him.
Truly, this Young Master was gentle and magnanimous.
"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master," Qin Yi said, his tone more sincere than before, bowing respectfully in gratitude.
Qin Xu seemed to sense the change in Qin Yi's tone, smiling even more gently.
"No need for formalities. Sit down."
Qin Yi thanked him, approaching a chair taller than himself, ready to climb onto it. Huang Lao, who had somehow appeared silently behind him, lifted and placed him onto the chair so smoothly that Qin Yi hardly noticed.
He looked at Huang Lao in surprise, thinking: When did he get behind me? He made no sound while walking. And that lift—so quick, yet so gentle. His control over strength is incredible.
So this was a martial artist. Combined with that mysterious aura…
Even just glimpsing a corner of it left Qin Yi deeply impressed.
"You understand why I called you here, don't you?" Qin Xu asked, observing the small child who appeared thoughtful.
Hearing the Young Master's voice, Qin Yi snapped out of his daze, looked up, shook his head seriously, and replied,
"I dare not presume, please instruct me, Young Master."
"I intend to make you my Sword-Bearer. Do you accept?"
Sword-Bearer?
That must be similar to a 'scholar's assistant'…
Qin Xu noticed the confusion in Qin Yi's eyes and realized the boy, still under three years old and from a remote village, likely had no idea what a "Sword-Bearer" was. He chuckled and explained,
"A Sword-Bearer is like a half-disciple to me, a very important role."
Disciple?
Even a half-disciple held great importance.
"I accept…" Qin Yi said, then, unsure how to properly respond, clenched his teeth, jumped down, and knelt heavily before Qin Xu, bowing,
"Sword-Bearer, I greet you, Young Master."
Qin Xu received the bow and, seeing Qin Yi about to bow again, stepped forward himself, lifting the boy, smiling and patting his head,
"All right, the greeting is complete. From now on, you are my Sword-Bearer."
Not knowing what to do next, Qin Yi asked,
"Young Master, as a Sword-Bearer, what should I do?"
With the title now granted, Qin Xu treated Qin Yi even more kindly, patting his head and explaining,
"You are still very young, and your abilities are limited. You have much to learn. So for now, your main task is study."
"Study?" Qin Yi's eyes lit up immediately, chest puffing out, confident.
"I am excellent at studying."
He could not wait and asked,
"Shall we start now? What shall I study first?"
Looking at Qin Yi's eager eyes, Qin Xu shook his head,
"You have just become a Sword-Bearer today. Rest for now. We will begin tomorrow."
"Very well," Qin Yi replied, deflated like a balloon losing air.
Still, his hunger for learning remained intense.
Qin Xu smiled, satisfied,
"Now, as my disciple, you may ask me any question."
"Any question?" Qin Yi's energy returned instantly. Not daring to believe it, he confirmed again,
"Really? Anything I ask?"
Qin Xu chuckled, patting his head,
"Of course."
After a pause, Qin Yi asked the question that had been on his mind:
"How does a martial artist's aura work? It's so incredible, so mysterious, like something out of mythology."
This world indeed had its myths. The details might differ, but the core stories were similar. In these myths, supernatural beings and monsters often appeared as antagonists.
Qin Xu did not expect this to be Qin Yi's first question. Listening carefully, he smiled and explained,
"The mythological beings you hear about are actually based on martial artists in reality."
Originals?
Ah, that explained it. No wonder the first thing Qin Yi thought of when seeing the aura was a mythical tale. These stories could not exist without real-life models.
"A martial artist's aura has two main components.
One is passive, formed naturally when any living being reaches a certain level of power. This applies to humans as well. It is difficult to control, and even a martial artist cannot easily restrain it.
The other is the will of martial cultivation.
This is active and controllable. If a martial artist chooses not to display it, it can remain hidden, like a dragon lurking in deep waters."
When Qin Yong had explained previously, he had mentioned passive and active types, but only in a vague sense. Unlike him, Qin Xu, a true martial artist, could explain clearly.
"Will of martial cultivation?" Qin Yi immediately grasped the key point.
Pleased, Qin Xu patted his head,
"The will of martial cultivation is crucial. For most who train in martial arts, it is like an insurmountable barrier, keeping ninety-nine percent of people from entering the path of martial cultivation. But with your talent, refining this will is entirely within your reach."
With Qin Yi's natural constitution, intelligence, and guidance, what was a barrier for others would be just a small ditch for him.
Qin Yi understood the hidden meaning, but his main concern was…
His eyes lit up. He asked eagerly,
"May I learn martial arts?"
"Of course. Everyone in the Qin family can learn martial arts. Even if you were not my Sword-Bearer, you could still practice."
"Furthermore, as my Sword-Bearer, your martial arts training will be under my personal guidance. You can start early and receive better cultivation. Your future achievements will surpass theirs."
Qin Yi's eyes shone brighter than ever. Excitedly, he asked,
"Can I start tomorrow?"
Qin Xu looked at him as if seeing himself at that age, smiling and patting his head,
"Of course."
"However…"
(End of Chapter 21)