#14 - You mean, you will protect me from now on?

"Disciple?" Qin Qingwan tilted her head, looking adorably at the beautiful big sister in front of her. "Big sister, what is a disciple?"

Wang Xuan thought for a moment: "A disciple is someone who will live and cultivate with me from now on. You will enter the Heavenly Mystery Gate and embark on the Great Path."

Qin Qingwan asked: "Live with big sister? Does that mean Qingwan has to leave her mother?"

Wang Xuan nodded: "Yes, you will leave your mother, and your lifespan will be very, very long. You will witness the changing of the seas and the passing of time. You will see through the mortal world. Others' lives will be but a fleeting moment to you."

Qin Qingwan thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head: "Big sister, I don't understand, but I'm sorry, big sister. I don't want to leave my mother, and I don't want to leave Brother Ming'er and Sister Xuenuo. So, I can't be your disciple."

"Qingwan, what are you saying?" The Old Ancestor's face turned pale with fright upon hearing this, and she stood up anxiously.

"Qingwan, quickly agree to the National Preceptor. Do you know how many people yearn for this opportunity?" Father Qin Ruhai quickly interjected.

Seeing the Old Matriarch and her father scolding her, Qin Qingwan's lips trembled, and large teardrops welled up in her eyes, looking like she was about to cry again.

Wang Xuan reached out her hand, making a gesture to silence them, then placed her hand on the little girl's head:

"Qingwan, you are still young and may not fully understand the meaning of cultivation, nor do you know how precious you truly are.

Although the Xu and Qin families reside under the imperial city, you possess a congenital sacred body. As you grow older, more and more people will be able to sense your aura.

A congenital sacred body is also the most suitable for dual cultivation, even capable of helping someone break through to the Immortal Realm and enter the Ascension Realm.

Faced with such temptation, countless people will take risks.

You, and even your family, will be in danger.

If you enter the Heavenly Mystery Gate, the Heavenly Mystery Gate will protect you and your family. In the future, when you grow up, you will also be able to protect your family yourself."

Listening to the big sister's words, Qin Qingwan pursed her lips tightly, her little hands clenched into fists, looking very hesitant.

Qingwan doesn't want the people around her to be harmed because of her.

But Qingwan also doesn't want to leave her mother and the others.

"Big sister, does Qingwan have to leave with you now?" After a long while, Qin Qingwan raised her head and asked.

Wang Xuan shook her head: "If Qingwan wants to leave with big sister now, she can leave now. She can also leave with big sister when she is nine years old. If Qingwan agrees, from today onwards, Qingwan will be a member of the Heavenly Mystery Gate. The Heavenly Mystery Gate will not allow Qingwan and her family to be in danger."

"Then, can Qingwan leave with big sister when she is nine years old?" Qin Qingwan pleaded.

"Of course." Wang Xuan nodded, reaching out a finger and gently touching Qin Qingwan's brow.

When Wang Xuan's jade finger left Qin Qingwan's brow, a clear white tassel flower mark appeared:

"For the next six years, I will be in the Imperial City, and Qingwan cannot leave the Imperial City a single step. If Qingwan encounters any danger, I will sense it and appear by Qingwan's side at the first moment. After six years, I will take Qingwan away, and Qingwan will formally become my disciple then."

"Thank you, big sister." Qin Qingwan touched her brow.

Although she couldn't see it, Qin Qingwan felt like there was a beautiful little flower on her brow.

"Big sister, when Qingwan leaves with big sister, can Brother Ming'er and Sister Xuenuo, and mother, come along?" Qin Qingwan grabbed Xu Ming's hand on the left and Xu Xuenuo's hand on the right, asking expectantly.

Wang Xuan shook her head: "That's not possible. Only Qingwan can enter the Heavenly Mystery Gate."

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"Oh..." Qin Qingwan lowered her head in disappointment.

Wang Xuan patted Qingwan's head, comforting her, then walked to Xu Xuenuo's in front.

Although she had found a congenital sacred body, Wang Xuan didn't mind checking Xu Xuenuo's natural endowments as well.

Wang Xuan placed her hand on Xu Xuenuo's head. After a while, Wang Xuan opened her eyes, looking at the little girl: "I didn't expect to encounter a congenital sword bone here."

"Congenital sword bone?" A hint of joy flashed in Wang Feng's eyes.

Although women cannot inherit noble titles, she still had a son. Influenced by his sister, it was not impossible for her son to inherit the title.

Wang Xuan glanced at Wang Feng.

With just a glance, Wang Feng couldn't help but shudder, feeling as if her entire being was about to be seen through.

Wang Xuan withdrew her gaze, explaining: "My Heavenly Mystery Gate cultivates the Dao, not the sword. Although some disciples practice the sword, the sword is only used as a magical weapon, not as one's fate. I cannot accept her into the Heavenly Mystery Gate. However, I will notify a good friend from the Myriad Sword Sect and have her come to take a look.

But a congenital sword bone is too sharp and does not harmonize with the national destiny.

The Xu family, as a noble family of the Wu Kingdom, bears the national destiny.

If Miss Xu wants to learn the sword, she must leave the Xu family and have no ties with the Xu family."

"..." Hearing Wang Xuan's words, Wang Feng's face turned pale again.

The Xu family also had complex expressions.

If what Wang Xuan said was true, then what did it matter if Xu Xuenuo had a sword bone or not?

Xu Xuenuo would leave the family at that time, and her name would be removed from the Xu family, as if she never existed.

"Thank you, National Preceptor." Wang Feng seemed to have resigned herself to fate, looking at her son with some guilt.

The hereditary peerage of the Xu Duke's mansion would no longer be her child's turn.

Wang Xuan took out a book from her bosom and handed it to Qin Qingwan: "Qingwan, this book is titled 'Heavenly Mystery Heart Sutra.' Read it if you want to, read as far as you can, read it as many times as you can, without forcing yourself."

"Thank you, big sister." Qin Qingwan accepted the 'Heavenly Mystery Heart Sutra.' "But big sister, can I show it to others?"

Wang Xuan nodded: "Of course. You can show it to whoever you want."

Wang Xuan stood up and exchanged a few more polite words with the Xu family's Old Matriarch before taking her leave. Before leaving, Wang Xuan glanced at the Heavenly Mystery Goose at the door.

The Heavenly Mystery Goose shuddered and quickly ran away.

The crowd dispersed, and Xu Ming returned to his small courtyard.

Chen Suya was in the kitchen, making some pastries and snacks for Xu Ming.

Xu Ming planned to run in the courtyard.

As Xu Ming was running, the Heavenly Mystery Goose ran over.

Xu Ming thought it was going to fight him.

But the Heavenly Mystery Goose walked up to Xu Ming, patted Xu Ming's shoulder with its wing, and cried "Goose, goose, goose" a few times.

"Are you saying that you know I have no way to cultivate, and you're comforting me by saying it's okay?"

Xu Ming looked at this dog-like goose, and inexplicably, he felt like he could understand what this dog-like goose meant.

The Heavenly Mystery Goose nodded, then patted its chest with its wing, and cried "Goose, goose, goose" again.

"Are you saying that you'll protect me from now on?" Xu Ming asked.

The Heavenly Mystery Goose nodded again.

Xu Ming's brow twitched: "Then I really thank you."

The Heavenly Mystery Goose raised its long neck and nodded triumphantly: "Goose, goose, goose (You're my little brother, it's only right.)"