Chapter 1867: The Past of Master and Disciple

Zhao Ritian was very puzzled.

"Why can't I see that drunkard anymore?"

The fisherman said, "Back then, he was the only one who founded a sect, known as the Drunkenness Sect. He had three disciples: the eldest, known as the Big Drunken Knight; the second, known as the Little Drunken Knight; and a female disciple, known as the Female Drunken Knight. But... later on, he and his disciples fell out."

"Breaking up? Can a disciple break up with his master?"

"Ah, this kind of thing is very common in the martial arts world. Those slogans about respecting teachers, once a teacher, always a father, and the teacher's orders are as heavy as a mountain... are just like loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness. They are all slogans. If you believe in them, they exist. If you don't, they are bullshit and can be overturned at any time."

Zhao Ritian stood up suddenly and said, "This unfilial and unrighteous beast should be cut into pieces and despised by everyone!"

The fisherman looked at him and said, "Why are you so excited? They are much better at fighting than you. They are just playing with you. Sit down!"

Zhao Ritian sat down.

Nan Ji sighed, "The world of martial arts is so dangerous and difficult. It's not uncommon for apprentices to kill their masters."

Yao Weng calmly poured a glass of wine and drank it all.

Long Aotian looked at Yao Weng and said, "Senior, don't be sad. Your situation is different from theirs."

"Huh?" Yao Weng was stunned. "I'm not sad, I just want to drink. My master? Hahaha! I regret killing him. I let him die too quickly! I should have tortured him for days and nights, let him die in agony!"

Nan Ji Dao said, "Some masters and apprentices are both very famous, but when they end up fighting, both sides lose face. The apprentice is branded as a traitor and it's hard for him to turn things around; the master's prestige is also greatly damaged when he raises a traitor. Neither looks good."

Zhao Ritian said, "But, after all, that's Master! If Master wants me to die, I must die! How dare I disobey!"

The fisherman said, "The actual master-disciple relationship is superficially one of master and disciple, father and son, but inwardly it's an exchange of interests. To put it bluntly, the master teaches the apprentice the skills to earn a living, make a living, establish a reputation, and establish his own skills; the apprentice contributes his humble filial piety, serving the master as he would a father, and taking care of him until his death. That's it."

"But teaching the apprentice means starving the master. Generation after generation of newcomers always surpasses those before them in intelligence, acceptance, talent... in every aspect. Therefore, the master will feel a sense of crisis and become psychologically unbalanced. Some masters will even hide a few of their most important skills and won't teach them until their final breath."

"Some apprentices are like this. During the arduous training process, they are beaten and scolded by their masters, which can cause them to lose their balance and secretly harbor resentment. If their masters are too demanding, they think they are being targeted, that they look down on them, that they are being difficult, and that they are not being taught the secret techniques.

"If the master's requirements are relaxed, they might think that the master doesn't teach them the real thing, and is just trying to fool them by making them kowtow to him and run errands for him."

Nan Jidao said, "So, the master-disciple relationship needs to be packaged as an unequal class relationship. For example, the saying 'once a teacher, always a father'. In reality, a master is just a teacher, not a biological father. Even if he is a biological father, if he is targeted too harshly, it will sow the seeds of bad consequences."

Zhao Ritian didn't understand: "Is the drunkard hiding something?"

"I hid it."

Yao Weng took a sip of wine and said, "He refuses to teach me his special moves."

"Why?"

Yao Weng smiled and said, "He feels that the eldest disciple has bad intentions, so he dare not teach him; the second disciple is cruel and ruthless, so he cannot be taught; and the youngest disciple lacks talent and cannot control himself to the highest level, so he cannot be taught."

Zhao Ritian slapped his thigh and said, "Just tell me!"

"Does that make sense?"

Nan Jidao: "I am now telling you that you lack talent and are unable to reach the highest realm. I am telling you to hone your skills for ten years and then become famous. Do you agree?"

"I admit it! I believe whatever Master says!"

Nan Ji was stunned and looked at the fisherman: "If he keeps on like this, you will have someone to take care of you in your old age."

The fisherman laughed and said, "Drink, drink."

Nan Ji said, "Some people are just too smart. I could conquer half the world if I left the mountain gate now, but my master kept me trapped in the mountains to practice hard. I have to continue to serve him tea and water, wash his clothes and fold his quilts, and not teach him any special skills. I am kept hanging. How can I not hate him?"

The fisherman said, "Some have already become famous in the martial arts world, and are respected wherever they go, making friends with all kinds of heroes. But if you ask them to come back and take care of pots and pans, a few acres of land, and a few cows, their hearts will be filled with grass, and they will have no interest at all."

Yao Weng laughed heartily, "There are also disciples who have surpassed their master, but dare not show it. The master keeps testing them, so they have to keep pretending to be stupid, otherwise they might get hurt!"

Hun Tiangang said, "Drink."

Zhao Ritian was puzzled: "So, in this case, all masters and apprentices in this world are enemies!?"

The fisherman said, "Hey! Don't tell me, they're just enemies! Their interests are linked together, and the master and apprentice, father and son, are covering for each other. In fact, at certain times, their interests will conflict! And some of them will conflict drastically!"

Nan Ji Dao: "Teach the apprentice and starve the master to death, that's the old saying!"

"Then you all still accept disciples!?"

Several people fell silent and looked at Zhao Ritian.

Zhao Ritian was a little confused: "I'm just asking, can you please not hit me?"

The fisherman chuckled.

"There is also a kind of master and apprentice who are truly like father and son. The apprentice is filial, diligent, and calm, willing to serve; the master teaches strictly and guides the apprentice to become a talent. The apprentice remembers the master's kindness and serves him for life; the master teaches his skills and supports his apprentice throughout his life, allowing him to achieve success and fame... It has become a legendary story."

Zhao Ritian asked, "Are there many like this?"

Everyone looked at Hun Tiangang: "Your master is like this."

Disha Gong spat out a bone.

Looking at Zhao Ritian, "We three disciples will be forever grateful to Master for his kindness and generosity! Master loved our eldest brother and helped him become famous at a young age, allowing him to venture into the martial arts world. He also passed on many of his peerless secrets to him. Yet, he accused me of having bad intentions and made me wash his feet every day in the mountains."

Having said that, Disha Gong smiled bitterly.

"When I was young, I didn't understand. I hated him. I thought this old man was biased. All the good things belonged to the eldest brother. He went around the martial arts world, calling himself brothers and sisters with all the heroes. He was famous and respected wherever he went."

"I was a nameless person, and I had to clean and work in the mountains, tending the garden, tending the flowers and grass, serving tea and water, washing and rinsing... like an old housewife."

"Master has kept me in the dark for ten years, and I've hated him for ten years."

"In the past ten years, I have wanted to kill him more than once! Master saw through it, but he didn't say anything and kept me hidden in the mountains."

Everyone was silent.

Disha Gong doesn't often speak his mind.

I don’t know why, but all the younger people who looked at Disha Gong suddenly thought he was super handsome!

Disha Gong grabbed a handful of peanuts and put them in his mouth to chew.

Eye circles red.

"Finally one day...I took action."