Master, please accept my bow.

The speaker was a middle-aged man who was having breakfast and whom I had just met not long ago; he was none other than the Demon-Slaying Douluo.

He held the fork and turned his head to look at Ning Shu.

Ning Shu and he exchanged a glance and smiled at each other. "Is the breakfast at Fifth Brother's place bland and tasteless?"

"Seventh Brother".

Guangling frowned at Jiangmo, scoffed, "The way you talk makes it sound like what you eat here is really delicious."

The demon-slaying man smiled and nodded. "Of course, the ones here are definitely tastier than the ones there. If you don't believe me, you can let your little granddaughter try them."

His gaze never left Ning Shu. "Would you like something to eat, little apprentice?"

A playful smile met her eyes, and Ning Shu's gaze never left Jiang Mo. The corners of her lips curved slightly, and her budding smile made it impossible to tell what she meant. She simply replied softly, "Yes."

"."

Guangling glanced at Ning Shu and chose to remain silent.

What's going on?

Abducted?

Ning Shu walked towards Jiang Mo and found an empty seat to sit down. Guang Ling also casually found a seat and sat down. He looked at Jiang Mo and said, "You really have the nerve to make your disciple wait for you to finish eating."

The demon-slaying monk didn't seem to care. He nodded, looking nonchalant, and said, "Isn't it normal for a disciple to wait for his master? Fifth Brother, I haven't asked you yet, is she really just a girl you met outside? Or perhaps your illegitimate daughter who's been living away from home? Or maybe your illegitimate granddaughter?"

With a gossipy tone in hand, Guangling couldn't help but roll her eyes. "How do you think she and I look alike?"

"Isn't she also a weapon spirit?"

"."

Ning Shu choked.

What is the basis for this identification?

She looked up at the demon-slaying demon, casting a questioning glance at him.

Guang Ling was also speechless. "No, Seventh Brother, are you deliberately stirring up trouble? Why don't you just say that you also have a weapon spirit and that this girl is your illegitimate daughter?"

Jiangmo laughed and said, "Fifth Brother, don't be angry. I was just saying it casually to lighten the mood."

Is this how you set the atmosphere?

Guangling and Ning Shu stared at the demon slayer almost simultaneously.

Jiangmo glanced at Ning Shu, chuckled, and put down his cutlery. "Alright, it's time to get down to business."

He stood up and looked at Guangling, "Fifth Brother, should your granddaughter's apprenticeship be simple or complicated?"

"Whatever." Guangling waved his hand. He didn't like complicated procedures and simply said, "Just give her the apprenticeship gift you prepared. She's your first disciple, so you can't treat her badly."

After saying that, he even gave the demon-slaying demon a meaningful look.

The demon-slaying man was somewhat helpless, but he still nodded in agreement, "Let's keep it simple then, it'll save time and effort."

"Ning Shu," he called.

"Yes, I'm here." Ning Shu got up and ate an extra bite of breakfast. She didn't know that there were different ways to become an apprentice; she thought it was enough to just call him "Master."

However, she only cared about soul tools, soul bones, and gold soul coins. If she didn't have those things, it wouldn't matter who she apprenticed to. After all, Guang Ling also had a weapon spirit, so it would be the same if she became Guang Ling's apprentice.

From the conversation between Guangling and Jiangmo, Ning Shu roughly understood some things.

It has to be said that Guangling has been really good to her. The people from the Spirit Hall have been treating her very well so far, and she doesn't want to go back to Shrek Academy.

"Next, after you perform the apprenticeship ceremony and call me 'Master,' you will be my disciple. The apprenticeship gift I give you will be given after you have performed the ceremony. Therefore, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ning Shu knelt down and kowtowed to him, saying, "Master, please accept my bow!"

"."

Both Guangling and Jiangmo were shocked.

Is it that fast?

Is it that grand?

"Um, Little A-Shu, this apprenticeship ceremony doesn't need to be so formal." Guang Ling quickly pulled Ning Shu up, then turned and glared at Jiang Mo. "Seventh Brother, next time, could you please put the important things first?"

Should the important points be stated first?

The demon-slaying demon said innocently, "Fifth Brother, you didn't tell me to explain the apprenticeship ceremony first, how can that be? Besides, shouldn't you be the one teaching her the apprenticeship ceremony? I thought you had already taught her!"

"."

Oh, so you don't need to kneel down and kowtow.

Ning Shu gave an awkward smile. "Oh dear, Grandpa Guangling, Master, please stop arguing. It's my fault. I didn't understand."

Hurry up and get through this quickly, so we can get the Soul Bone and Gold Soul Coins!

"It's not your fault, it's your master's fault!"

Guangling glared at Jiangmo.

The demon-slaying demon smiled and said, "Alright, alright, it's all my fault, it's all my fault!"

After the apprenticeship ceremony was completed, Jiangmo took out the prepared soul bone and gold soul coins from his soul tool. "Ashu, this is a gift from your master. It's a 20,000-year-old spiritual skull, and this bag of gold soul coins contains about a thousand. Take it as pocket money."

A thousand?!

Ning Shu, her eyes lighting up at the sight of money, immediately reached out and accepted the gift offered by the demon-slaying demon, exclaiming excitedly, "Thank you, Master! You're so kind!"

"No need to thank me, you can just follow me to cultivate from now on." Jiangmo waved his hand, a little reluctant.

To be honest, he was forced to give him the 1,000 gold soul coins and the 20,000-year soul bone by Guang Ling. He was quite unwilling at first, but after meeting Ning Shu, he found that he was not so unwilling. However, this did not stop him from feeling the pinch. He had only recently obtained this soul bone. Although it was not suitable for him, it was still a 20,000-year soul bone!

As soon as Guangling returned, he started asking around to see if anyone had any good stuff. Unfortunately, he ended up asking about him. He still remembers the way Guangling looked at him, as if she wanted to strip him naked.

Ning Shu paused after hearing what the demon-slaying demon had to say.

Cultivate together?

That probably won't work, will it?

Ning Shu said, "Master, I have already enrolled in Shrek Academy. There are some special reasons why I may not be able to leave there."

Damn binding, if I said it out loud, I doubt anyone would believe it.

"Fifth Brother told me about this, but why can't you leave?" Jiangmo asked curiously.

Guangling was also curious, but he didn't want to inquire about Ning Shu's affairs casually. After all, it was better for him to be the bad guy than for him to be the demon exorcist.

Two curious eyes were cast at her, and Ning Shu pursed her lips, unsure how to explain.

Could it be...?

Tell the truth?

A troubled look appeared on Ning Shu's face. She stammered, "Um, Master, do you believe what I'm saying?"

"I believe you, of course I believe you. How could I not believe what you say?" Jiangmo replied, not knowing what Ning Shu was trying to say.

Ning Shu nodded, "In that case..."

She took a deep breath and said, "Here's what happened. I was originally a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. A year and a half ago, I was expelled from the school for some reason. Before I was expelled, I swore to the sect leader that I would graduate from Shrek Academy. Shrek Academy is a monster academy, and I wanted to prove myself, so I stayed there."

(End of this chapter)