"Is something significant about to happen in the martial world?" Yu Daohan asked doubtfully.
Liu Mi shook his head awkwardly and smiled, "Master Yu, I apologize, but I am merely a messenger. I am unaware of the specific concerns of the assembly."
Yu Daohan nodded. Regardless, he decided to see for himself what was happening. "Alright, when will this Gathering of Heroes be held? I will definitely attend."
"The fifteenth of next month," Liu Mi replied.
Yu Daohan nodded, and Liu Mi respectfully bowed and took his leave.
Today was the tenth, and there was still over a month until the fifteenth of the next month.
After Liu Mi left, just as Yu Daohan was about to resume his rest in the rocking chair, his phone suddenly rang.
"The late night cold wind must not blow her away, her melancholic gaze is about to speak to me~..."
Yu Daohan sighed; he couldn't find his phone.
He pulled out his phone and saw the name "Da Hu" displayed.
"Da Hu?" Yu Daohan frowned. They hadn't met since their last encounter in Peach Blossom Village.
He pressed the answer button and spoke first, "Brother Da Hu, what's wrong?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Da Hu slowly said, "Master Yu, I need your help with something."
Yu Daohan didn't hesitate and simply agreed, "Where is it? I'll be there now!"
The voice on the other end gave an address: "Hot Spring Town!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Daohan hung up the phone, got up, and began packing his things to leave.
As Yu Daohan was packing, a young man walked in.
Yu Daohan didn't turn to look at the newcomer, continuing to pack his belongings. "Sorry, the Midnight Spirit Shop is closed for a few days."
"No, I am the sect leader," the voice replied from behind him.
Yu Daohan's body stiffened upon hearing the voice, and he instinctively turned to look.
He saw a person with dark skin, carrying a backpack on their back.
"Little Fortune Star!" Yu Daohan's face broke into a smile, but it vanished as he got a clearer look at the person.
"Are you Zhou Fu?" Yu Daohan asked, unsure.
Zhou Fu smiled and bowed respectfully, "Disciple Zhou Fu greets the Sect Leader."
Yu Daohan looked at Zhou Fu. He had seen this young man in the sect before.
However, his skin had been very fair then, and his voice wasn't like this.
But it had been a year, and people do change.
Zhou Fu and Zhou Fu had joined the sect around the same time. Both had the surname Zhou, and their given names were also two characters. Most importantly, even the pronunciation of the last character was the same.
Looking at Zhou Fu, Yu Daohan suddenly remembered Zhou Fu, and a hint of sadness flickered across his face before disappearing.
This was not the time for sadness. Since this young man named Zhou Fu had arrived, it likely meant something had happened in the sect.
"Has anything happened in the sect?" Yu Daohan asked anxiously.
Zhou Fu shook his head, "Nothing has happened in the sect; the three elders are all well."
Hearing this, Yu Daohan breathed a sigh of relief, but he was also puzzled. "If the sect is fine, then why..."
Before Yu Daohan could finish, Zhou Fu knelt down with a thud, lowering his head and saying expectantly, "Disciple Zhou Fu, with utmost audacity, implores the Sect Leader to accept me as his personal disciple!"
Yu Daohan looked at Zhou Fu kneeling on the ground, and it was as if he saw Zhou Fu again.
This young man looked so much like Little Fortune Star, the only difference being their personalities.
Little Fortune Star lacked this young man's decisiveness and boldness.
However, Yu Daohan found himself preferring Little Fortune Star's personality.
While Little Fortune Star might not be as capable as him, he possessed a kind heart, much like Yu Daohan himself in his younger days.
Alas, he...
Yu Daohan shook his head helplessly. "Young man, please get up. I promised him that I would only take him as my personal disciple in this lifetime."
Zhou Fu remained kneeling, his head bowed and his expression blank, filled with resentment.
Why!
After all I've sacrificed, can I not even replace my senior brother?
In the past year, Zhou Fu had deliberately tanned his skin to be accepted by Yu Daohan, even to the point of his skin bleeding.
He had even altered his voice slightly.
Furthermore, to stand out in the sect, Zhou Fu had cultivated relentlessly. Among his peers, not a single one could defeat him. Not one!
At the same time, Zhou Fu harbored hatred.
He hated why a dead person could elicit such a promise from the Sect Leader, to only take him as a personal disciple for life.
Why couldn't I, Zhou Fu, do the same!
But there was one thing to be thankful for: that person was dead.
No matter how much the Sect Leader favored him, a dead person was still just a dead person.
Yu Daohan, seeing Zhou Fu's persistence, felt a sense of admiration.
This young man's determination was truly impressive.
Over the past year, the sect's three elders had also subtly hinted that he should take on a young disciple.
More often, however, they mentioned Yu Yijun, especially Zhou Jingmin.
He had directly suggested that the young girl take on the role of the young sect leader of the Blazing Fire Sect.
Yu Daohan had also inquired with the young girl, but she had refused.
Her reason was simple: responsibility would only hinder her progress in exploring the martial world.
"Please get up. I will not be taking any more personal disciples," Yu Daohan stated resolutely, having made up his mind not to accept any more personal disciples.
Zhou Fu understood clearly that no matter how hard he tried now, he couldn't make the Sect Leader accept him as a personal disciple. So, he settled for the next best thing and said,
"I have already resigned from the Grand Elder, stating that I will not return to the sect unless I am accepted as the Sect Leader's personal disciple. Since the Sect Leader is unwilling to take a personal disciple now, please allow me to stay by your side and serve you."
Yu Daohan began to ponder. Honestly, it wouldn't be bad to nurture a disciple who could stand on his own for the sect. However, the problem was that his small shop only had one room.
"You can stay, but I only have one room in this shop, so you'll have to make do..."
Before Yu Daohan could finish, Zhou Fu interjected, "I will rent a place nearby. I won't cause any trouble for the Sect Leader."
Yu Daohan had originally intended to let the young man rough it out on the floor in the shop, but it seemed he wouldn't have to worry about that.
"Alright, you can stay," Yu Daohan nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Sect Leader." Zhou Fu smiled and stood up.
Although he couldn't be the Sect Leader's personal disciple yet, as long as he could stay, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
"I'm going out for a bit. You can come with me," Yu Daohan said, walking back to the counter to pack his things.
"Okay," Zhou Fu replied, a sly smile playing on his lips.
Senior brother, what you couldn't achieve, I can. What you achieved, I can do even better.
It's just a shame you died too soon.
Yu Daohan finished packing and set off with Zhou Fu for Hot Spring Town, as Da Hu had indicated.