Chapter 201: Becoming a Disciple

This untouched Red Forest is full of good things.

They had found a dozen or so blue crabs weighing over a pound each, including three "crab kings" that were over five pounds.

They also found sixteen of those unidentifiable shrimp.

Not to mention all the other fish they caught.

"Let’s go, let’s go. This is more than enough. We have to head back."

The sky looked like a strong wind was about to pick up.

Winter weather was just that unpredictable. Living by the sea, Yun Linhai and his family had learned to read the skies through years of experience, a skill they had taught themselves.

With their haul for the day, they even had a stroke of good luck on their way out, catching two coconut crabs.

Once they were on the boat, Yun Linhai pressed a hard-boiled egg into Yun Jiao’s hand.

"Here, Jiaojiao. Eat something to fill your tummy."

Yun Jiao nodded obediently. Sitting at the bow and gazing at the sea, her heart stirred with the urge to jump into the water.

But her dad and uncle were watching her like hawks.

"You can’t go in the water. Going for a swim in this weather is an easy way to get sick."

Yun Jiao puffed out her cheeks and replied reluctantly, "I know."

She nibbled on the egg bit by bit as the sky grew darker and the wind picked up.

Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe began to row faster.

The calm surface of the sea began to churn with waves. Their boat was but a drop in the ocean, pitifully small against the vast expanse.

As a result, the small wooden boat rocked violently on the choppy water.

Yun Linhai called for Yun Jiao, who was sitting at the stern, to move closer to the center.

Their luck held out. They made it back to the docks just before the gale hit.

Even at this time of year, there were other fishermen at the docks.

It seemed they weren’t the only family who had gone out to sea today.

But there was no time for pleasantries. They exchanged hasty greetings and everyone got busy.

"Linhe, this weather doesn’t look good. You take the boat and moor it in the harbor. I’ll take Jiaojiao and head home first."

Although they hadn’t gone for a swim, the Red Forest was still wet. They were covered in mud and their clothes were quite damp. Worried that Yun Jiao might catch a cold, Yun Linhai carried a bucket in one hand and Yun Jiao in the other, hurrying home.

Seeing the ominous sky, Granny Yun and the others were waiting anxiously by the door. When they saw them return, a great weight was finally lifted from their hearts.

"Your pants are soaked! Quick, go take a hot bath and change your clothes."

Shen Yunlian took Yun Jiao and carried her off for a bath.

In the wooden tub, a naked Little Yun Jiao sat in the warm water while Shen Yunlian wiped her face.

Today, Yun Jiao looked as if she had rolled through a mud puddle. Her clothes, hair, and face were all filthy.

But she was grinning foolishly, her little white teeth exceptionally neat and pretty.

"Mommy, we found some really big blue crabs, and I also discovered a very strange kind of shrimp..."

Sitting in the tub, Yun Jiao played with the little wooden duck and chick in her hands, chattering away nonstop.

But she was also very good, cooperating with Shen Yunlian, tilting her head back when asked and closing her eyes when told.

Once she was all clean, she was once again a super cute, soft, milky-white little dumpling.

And she smelled wonderful, too.

Shen Yunlian wrapped the soft little bundle up in a towel.

"Oh, how amazing! Next time, you can take Mommy with you to find them."

Yun Jiao nodded. "Okay."

Then it was time to dry her hair.

Children’s hair tends to be soft, and Yun Jiao was no exception.

But her hair was jet-black and thick, with a slight natural curl at the ends.

Towel-dried, her hair was messy but looked soft and smooth, just like the pudgy Little Yun Jiao herself—adorable and well-behaved.

She looked more and more like a porcelain doll.

’So pretty.’

Looking at her daughter’s fair skin and chubby cheeks, Shen Yunlian was bursting with a sense of accomplishment.

’This is our little plump daughter. She really looks like a Guanyin Little Child.’

She couldn’t resist planting a kiss on her daughter’s chubby little cheek.

’So sweet!’

Yun Jiao was docile as she was kissed, her pair of clear, clean eyes looking up at her mother.

Shen Yunlian smiled happily and dressed her in a newly bought red padded jacket with a small floral print.

’So pretty. The more I look, the more she looks like a good luck doll.’

When Yun Jiao, dressed all in red, was brought out, she was naturally greeted with enthusiastic hugs from the family and made to drink a bowl of Granny Yun’s ginger soup.

It made Yun Jiao’s little face scrunch up into a wrinkled mess.

But as soon as she finished, a piece of candy was popped into her mouth to get rid of the taste.

From their haul from the Red Forest, they only sold some of the fish and bone eels.

They kept some for themselves, as bone eel porridge was very nourishing.

They didn’t sell any of the blue crabs. As for the shrimp-like creatures, Yun Linhai had taken one to ask Ah Wang, but he didn’t recognize it either.

"I wonder if this thing tastes any good. Should we give it a try?"

"Is it even edible?"

"It looks edible."

In the end, though, they didn’t dare to try it just yet. They decided to take one to Da Yun Restaurant tomorrow to ask.

For now, they kept the large blue crabs alive. The family steamed a few of the smaller ones for dinner.

The crab meat was plump and delicious, but the shells were a bit tricky to deal with.

Yun Jiao, however, was strong. With a squeeze of her little fingers, she crushed the crab shell.

She perfectly extracted a section of leg meat and popped it straight into her mouth. It was sweet, savory, and springy. Delicious!

Early the next morning, Yun Jiao was once again dressed in her red padded jacket and made to look pretty.

Yun Linhai and Mr. Yun also put on new clothes, and they all headed to the county town with prepared gifts.

The rest of the family stayed home.

Elder Xu was waiting. He had passed most of his patients for the day to his two apprentices and was sitting in the medical hall, dressed in a black Tang suit.

Soon, a young apprentice ran in.

"Master, they’ve arrived."

Elder Xu nodded calmly. "Go and bring the tea."

As he spoke, Yun Jiao arrived at the medical hall with her two guardians.

The little girl, looking like a good luck doll, drew many gazes.

When Elder Xu saw Yun Jiao enter, his eyes lit up.

’She looks so festive today. And so pretty, too.’

He beckoned to Yun Jiao. "Yun Jiao, come over here."

Yun Jiao scurried over on her short little legs. "Grandpa Xu."

"Good girl. Come, serve me this cup of tea, and the apprenticeship ceremony will be complete. From now on, you will call me Master."

Yun Jiao nodded. She took the tea from the young apprentice beside her, knelt on the cushion in front of Elder Xu, and presented the cup to him.

Elder Xu accepted it and took a drink. With that simple formality, the apprenticeship ceremony was complete.

He helped her up and then handed her a necklace.

A ring was hanging from a black cord.

It was ink-black and looked very plain.

But this small ring was actually made from the finest Moss Green Jadeite. On the inner band, the words "Tianyi - Yun Jiao" were engraved.

The reason Elder Xu had asked them to come back a day later for the ceremony was so he could have these words engraved.

"Wear this and keep it safe. Our school of traditional medicine has a long lineage. Our ancestors founded the Heavenly Gate Sect, and this ring is a token of the sect. All direct disciples receive one when they are formally accepted. You have four senior brothers and sisters who came before you."

He called over two of his apprentices.

"This is your Second Senior Sister, Qin Xin, and your Fourth Senior Brother, Song Chengyou. Your First and Third Senior Brothers are away and haven’t returned yet. When they come back, Master will introduce you."

Yun Jiao looked at the man and woman who walked over.

Qin Xin was a gentle-looking woman in her thirties with delicate features, dressed in a white training uniform.

Song Chengyou was a young man in his twenties. Perhaps due to his youth, he seemed a bit more lively.