Chapter 156: Calling Master, You Will Be Rich and Honored
Zhao Guanxiang’s current achievements… are negative.

He had indeed handled many cases and won many merits over the years, but because he acted without restraint and violated the rules repeatedly, most of his merits were deducted.

If not, why would he be demoted?

Among all the captains of the Astronomical Observatory, he is the only captain of the seventh rank, which is unique.

So when he suddenly heard that he owed 300,000 merits, he wanted to dig out the “holy bones” that he had merged into and return them to the national teacher.

Zhao Guanxiang said calmly, “I am an official in the prison. I have shed sweat and blood for the prison… Is an 80% discount okay?”

Shui Yuexian shook her head: “There is no room for bargaining. If you were not an official in the prison, three hundred thousand merits would not be enough to exchange for a piece of holy bones.”

This holy relic… is it such a precious thing?

Zhao Guanxiang had cold sweat on his forehead, and even had a bold idea in his mind – why not just not return it?

It’s just like that rascal who owes debt, he doesn’t care about being beaten or scolded, but he just wants the money and not his life?
But when he thought about the debt he owed to the national teacher, he… dared not not pay it back.

Who is the national teacher?

He was the person with the most transcendent status in the entire Daqian Dynasty. As long as she opened her mouth, Emperor Tianwu had never refused her request.

Zhao Guanxiang was frowning, thinking that he might have to sell the rest of his life to the imperial teacher.

But at this moment, Shui Yuexian said: “But… you don’t have to give it.”

“Ok?”

Zhao Guanxiang was not delighted when he heard this. Instead, he frowned and asked cautiously, “Does the Imperial Master have any conditions?”

At that time, Zhao Qi’an was planning to arrange for Zhao Guanxiang to take over the affairs of the business. Naturally, he invited many capable people to teach Zhao Guanxiang the “way of doing business” and even personally taught Zhao Guanxiang for a period of time.

It was during those years of study that Zhao Guanxiang understood what “free is the most expensive” meant.

There is no free lunch in this world.

Everything that seems to be selfless has a “price” behind it.

The national teacher first mentioned “300,000 merits” and then said “it’s okay not to give it”, so there must be other requirements behind this.

Sure enough, after Zhao Guanxiang asked, the imperial teacher made a request.

But this request was a little beyond his expectations.

“Just accept me as your master.”

Shui Yuexian turned towards Zhao Guanxiang, her expression unchanged, and said calmly: “Please accept me as your master, and this holy corpse will be my gift to you.”

It’s that simple?
Zhao Guanxiang was very surprised.

This condition doesn’t even sound like a condition.

Over the years, countless geniuses have wanted to become the imperial master’s disciple, but no one has succeeded.

Shui Yuexian has never accepted any disciples since she became the Imperial Master of Daqian. If Zhao Guanxiang nods in agreement, he will be her first disciple.

In terms of status, the national teacher’s status is extraordinary and even higher than that of the left prime minister Wu Yong.

In terms of cultivation, the National Master is also one of the strongest people in the world and is at the pinnacle of martial arts.

The benefits of being able to have a national teacher as a teacher can be imagined.

Zhao Guanxiang didn’t hesitate at all, he lifted his robe and knelt down.

He is not a fool. Why would he miss such a good thing that seems like pie falling from the sky?
As for whether worshipping the national teacher as his teacher would make his adoptive father unhappy? Zhao Guanxiang was not worried about this, as his adoptive father was always generous in this regard.

It’s just a matter of learning a skill. As long as you don’t waver in your stance, there will be no problem.

But just as Zhao Guanxiang bent his knees and was about to kneel down to Shui Yuexian with a smooth movement…

“After you become my disciple, you should cut off all ties with the Zhao family.”

Just this one sentence made Zhao Guanxiang’s brain feel like it had been hit hard, and his mind went blank.

His kneeling movement suddenly stopped, and his bent knees gradually straightened up again.

Zhao Guanxiang felt his heart pounding, but he pretended to be calm and asked, “What does the Imperial Master mean by this? When did I have any relationship with the Zhao family?”

Shui Yuexian said calmly: “Others can’t see the origins of everyone in the prison, so how can I not see it?”

“Although you were born an orphan, you grew up in a health care center. As far as I know, the health care center in the north of the city was built with funds from the Zhao family. Although it is a charity center for adopting orphans, most of the children in the center are carefully raised by the Zhao family, and most of them work for the Zhao family after they leave the center.”

“Only you…” Shui Yuexian took a step closer to Zhao Guanxiang and said, “Only you, after leaving the hall, did not work for the Zhao family, but instead joined the Astronomical Observatory.”

“You have already reached the sixth level of the Devil Transformation Realm at the age of fourteen. Even if you are extremely gifted, you cannot achieve this through hard work. It is obvious that the Zhao family has poured a huge amount of resources into you and cultivated you carefully. How could they let you go so easily?”

These words completely exposed Zhao Guanxiang’s true colors.

Zhao Guanxiang’s back was soaked with cold sweat.

But he still remained calm, took a deep breath, and bowed: “I swear, I am not a spy of the Zhao family who infiltrated the Patrol Observatory! Joining the Patrol Observatory was my own wish. After entering the prison, I have been dedicated to my duties and followed my heart in everything. I have never abused my power for personal gain and secretly helped the Zhao family to do illegal things!”

Shui Yuexian turned sideways and faced him.

Although her eyes were blocked by the ribbon, Zhao Guanxiang seemed to still be able to feel someone observing him.

He only felt the hairs on his body standing up and his eardrums pounding with the sound of his heartbeat, but he still maintained the posture without moving at all.

After a long while, Shui Yuexian turned around and nodded, saying, “You didn’t lie.”

These words made Zhao Guanxiang breathe a sigh of relief.

Although she didn’t know how the Imperial Master judged the truthfulness of his words, she seemed to have no doubts anymore.

Shui Yuexian said, “It doesn’t matter if you are from the Zhao family. When hiring people, the Patrol of Heaven doesn’t ask about their backgrounds, but only about how they perform. This is why you are still in prison.”

“Then what the Imperial Master said…”

“But my disciples can’t do that, and neither can the next general of the Patrol of the Heavens. How can one serve two masters with one heart?”

She paused for a moment and said, “Although it is rare in the world to enter the heavenly realm at the age of nineteen, it is not enough for me to personally accept you as a disciple. But I like your character. I have only seen the heart of a saint in one person.”

“If you are willing to take me as your master, I will ensure that you can enter the realm of the second-grade creation. When you enter the second-grade creation, you will be in charge of the Patrol of the Heavens on my behalf.”

“Are you willing?”

The conditions she offered were quite generous.

A second-grade talent would make him a legendary figure in the martial arts world, extremely rare and a well-deserved strong man in this world.

The Astronomical Observatory was an independent entity outside the imperial court. To be in charge of the Astronomical Observatory meant reaching the pinnacle of secular power.

All Zhao Guanxiang needs to do is kneel down and shout “Master”.

Let me ask the world…who wouldn’t be moved?

(End of this chapter)