Chapter 2075 — A Registered Disciple
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
This alone was enough to show that Zhang Naipao genuinely cared for Zhong Yongliang and was not the sort to forget where he came from. After all, the Golden Cicada Undergarment was one of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect's treasured heirlooms, a pillar of the sect itself!
True, the sect master had promised back then to bestow it upon Zhang Naipao, but that was only because Zhang Naipao was a core disciple of outstanding talent within the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect. Otherwise, how could such a fine treasure be handed out so freely? Still, for Zhang Naipao to pass the thing on to Zhong Yongliang was no small feat.
Of course, Zhang Naipao had only made that promise because his standing in the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect had risen higher and higher. By now he had all but become the sect's next master, a model for every young disciple.
Even so, persuading the sect master to grant the treasure to an outsider was rather difficult.
"Then thank you, Paozi!" Zhong Yongliang said hurriedly.
"Right, Liang, wait here for me. I'll go beg the sect master!" With that, Zhang Naipao walked out of the room.
After roughly the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Zhang Naipao returned—but this time he was not alone. He came in accompanied by a dignified middle-aged man.
This middle-aged man was Zhang Naipao's master, the current sect master of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect.
Whatever means Zhang Naipao had used, he had actually persuaded the sect master of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect to grant the Golden Cicada Undergarment to Zhong Yongliang.
"Liang, this is my master, the current sect master of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect, the Pure Yang Celestial Worthy, and also the old ancestor's closed-door disciple!" Zhang Naipao introduced the middle-aged man to Zhong Yongliang.
"This disciple, Zhong Yongliang, pays his respects to the sect master!" Zhong Yongliang was no fool. Hearing the man's identity, he dropped to his knees at once and bowed with humble reverence.
"Rise. Since you are Naipao's leader in the secular world, there is no need for such formality!" The sect master waved a hand at Zhong Yongliang and spoke mildly.
"Yes! Thank you, sect master!" Zhong Yongliang scrambled to his feet and stood respectfully to one side.
"This Golden Cicada Undergarment was originally a treasured heirloom of my Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect, but I promised it to Naipao long ago. That Naipao would give it to you shows plainly the extraordinary place you hold in his heart!" said the sect master. "So, for Naipao's sake, I shall take you as a registered disciple. That way, with the name of a disciple of the Pure Yang Celestial Worthy upon you, no ordinary power will dare scheme against you. You must know the truth of the saying: an innocent man is guilty by virtue of the jade he carries!"
"This disciple understands. Sect master above, please accept this disciple's bow!" Overjoyed, Zhong Yongliang hastened to acknowledge his master.
He knew well enough that without any backing, if he suddenly produced a fine treasure, never mind the hidden clans—even ordinary cultivation clans would certainly covet it.
But now, with the title of registered disciple of the Pure Yang Celestial Worthy, anyone who dared rob him of his treasure would be crossing the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect, and the offense would be grave indeed! Ordinary clans would not dare, and neither would the hidden clans; as for the ancient sects, even if they knew of the treasure, they could not bring themselves to move against Zhong Yongliang for face's sake.
Unless he ran into a sworn enemy of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect—and at present the sect had no such enemy besides Wei Zhao. On the ancient stage, anyone wishing to make an enemy of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect would first have to weigh their own worth.