Chapter 18: Shao Wei Guan, Old Friend Dies An Old Friend
“Shao Wei Guan.”
Fang Shu stood in front of a grand building, reciting the three dark gold characters on the plaque.
Its green bricks and red tiles, with scorch marks from smoke on the walls, did not make it look dilapidated but instead gave it a unique charm.
Second Uncle Yu Le stood beside him, excited and nodding repeatedly, looking even happier than Fang Shu.
Fang Shu wanted to ask what the two words “Shao Wei” in this dojo’s name meant and whether they related to cultivation, but he thought better of it and kept his mouth shut.
At this moment, a voice came from inside the dojo:
“Are you two laymen here to join the dojo and learn?”
A young woman in a fitted daoist robe, with bright eyes and white teeth, walked out from inside. She stood on the steps, holding a fly whisk like a flower branch, inviting the two inside.
She looked no older than eighteen.
Fang Shu and Second Uncle Yu Le quickly paid their respects, hesitated for a moment, then stepped up the stairs.
The fly whisk woman smiled as she led them inside, introducing proactively:
“Shao Wei, one explanation is that when a tiger transforms into a human, only the tail remains unchanged and must be burned off to become fully human, hence ‘burn tail’; second, when a new sheep joins the flock, it is bumped by the others and does not bond, but burning its tail settles it; third, when a fish leaps through the dragon gate, during its transformation into a dragon, lightning must burn it, turning its tail.”
She shook her fly whisk and said:
“Our dojo is named ‘Shao Wei’ taking a bit from each of the three, wishing only that the disciples here become adults or dragons, overcoming self and restoring rites.”
Fang Shu’s face immediately showed realization, and he timely felt a bit of longing, cupping his hands toward the woman.
This dojo’s name alone had so many allusions; it sounded far superior to something like the “Black Tiger Dojo”!
The woman, who had been speaking eloquently, saw Fang Shu’s expression and felt quite pleased, saying:
“This dojo is for enlightening daoist children for the Five Immortal Sects on the mountain. Though anyone can enter, staying requires affinity.
Do you two have affinity?”
Before Fang Shu could answer.
Second Uncle Yu Le beside him nodded like a chick pecking rice, cupped his hands, and presented a letter along with spirit stone tuition wrapped in cloth.
The fly whisk woman casually took the spirit stones, weighed them, and paid little attention.
She glanced at the letter’s envelope, and her face showed a smile again:
“So you know my father Xiao Hu. I’ll go consult him now.
Please wait a moment, you two.”
Then the woman walked into the depths of the dojo alone, leaving Fang Shu and the other standing in the open space outside waiting.
During the wait, sounds from disciples inside the Shao Wei Dojo occasionally emerged—reciting scriptures, shouting—showing it was truly no small dojo, quite lively.
After waiting a good while, the sun had risen high overhead, yet the woman still hadn’t come out.
Fang Shu looked up at the sun, wanting to find shade.
But glancing sideways, he saw Second Uncle sweating from the nose but standing motionless, so he followed suit and kept standing stiffly.
………………
Inside the Shao Wei Dojo, in a private quiet room.
Manager Xiao Hu looked surprised at his daughter who had entered, grinning:
“Who could invite our Xiao Li Li auntie to come plead their case?”
He took the letter handed over by the fly whisk woman and heard his daughter retort with a hint of annoyance:
“It’s not me; it’s your old acquaintance here. I’m just delivering the letter for him.”
Manager Xiao Hu frowned upon hearing this.
Staring at the handwriting on the letter, he couldn’t recall which acquaintance it was from and immediately thought it must be some “poor relative” type.
After opening the letter and reading a few lines, he sighed lightly: “Turns out it’s an old timer from the dojo, Brother Yu Le.”
But his brows remained furrowed, showing difficulty, muttering: “This old blood ghost wants to freeload off me here?”
He said wistfully: “Li Li, as your father managing this dojo’s finances, ledgers, and personnel, how can I favor insiders and break the dojo’s disciple recruitment rules?”
Xiao Hu pointed at the letter, shaking his head: “Moreover, this batch’s daoist children are already full, another wanting me to bend rules. Send them off and get some steamed buns from the kitchen for them.”
“The fool brought tuition.”
Xiao Li Li rolled her eyes upon hearing this and directly threw the cloth bundle onto the table.
Manager Xiao Hu looked surprised, reached out to touch it, sensed the spiritual energy inside—a spirit stone of good quality. He weighed it several times and found it matched the three taels required.
He let out a long breath, saying quickly:
“Since it’s a proper apprenticeship, that’s easy to handle.”
He even unfolded the letter, chatting animatedly with his daughter about the old days:
“Back when the dojo first opened, the dojo master and us were full of ambition. Who knew within half a month of opening, we were challenged four times every three days, and within half a year, six senior brothers were crippled.”
His voice was full of lament:
“Later, we couldn’t recruit disciples in the marketplace at all. The dojo master simply sent us to the mortal world to recruit.
I went down the mountain with your Uncle Yu Le. Luckily we hitched with a pair of snake demon brothers—not only didn’t die midway, but made a deal, easing travel for other senior brothers up and down the mountain…
Heard those snake demon brothers are still doing that line-running work.”
Xiao Li Li ignored such talk, just urging: “Father, hurry up. Your old brother is still waiting outside.”
Manager Xiao Hu sighed helplessly:
“Alright, alright. This batch’s daoist children are full, but squeezing one in is doable.”
Though his words were fine, he first took the spirit stone, opened the cloth and yellow paper, examined it closely, then fetched a small scale to weigh it carefully before finally taking paper from the table to copy a receipt.
The guy wrote slowly, dawdling a good while before finishing the receipt, as if deliberately waiting for something.
Just as Xiao Li Li was about to take the paper herself, footsteps sounded outside the quiet room.
Manager Xiao Hu showed understanding, pressed down the receipt in his hand, and had Xiao Li Li invite the visitor in.
Soon.
Something that stunned Xiao Li Li happened: the visitor seemed familiar with her father too, directly bringing a lean youth, discussing squeezing into the dojo, very chummy.
Her father looked troubled and shook the written receipt in his hand.
“What bad timing, really bad timing. Already squeezed one in; can’t do another.”
“Hey! Brother Tiger, what’s our relationship? You were my senior brother back then, taught me.”
“Sister Yin, you’re an old comrade, this guy’s an old comrade too. First come first served; what am I supposed to do?”
“Got it, got it. I’ll pay more!”
After their back-and-forth, Xiao Li Li saw her father sigh, accidentally leave the receipt on the table, then accidentally let the Yin woman snatch and tear it to shreds.
Afterward, the Yin woman left contentedly with a newly copied receipt, taking the skinny youth.
Passing Xiao Li Li, she even pointed at the youth: “Quick, be sweet-mouthed, call her Sister Li Li. She’ll take care of you from now on.”
“Li, Sister Li Li.”
The youth blushed beet red, his gaze quite displeasing to Xiao Li Li.
After everyone left, Xiao Li Li stood in the quiet room, looking at her smug father.
She hesitated to speak, finally just sighing:
“Did Father do that on purpose just now?”
But unexpectedly, even now with just father and daughter, her father Xiao Hu still feigned heartbreak, saying:
“It’s not that Father doesn’t value old ties; it’s that this Yin woman is too cunning… she tore the receipt. If there’s a chance, Father will surely teach her a lesson!”
Then Xiao Li Li heard her father casually instruct:
“Go tell Yu Le this batch’s daoist children slots are full; really can’t squeeze in anymore.
But for old friendship’s sake, I can let the child be a menial laborer, doing odd jobs in my quiet room.
With me Xiao Hu here, menial laborer and daoist child are no different—can learn magic, eat spirit food, occasionally even meet the dojo master.”
These words left Xiao Li Li dumbfounded.
Especially seeing the spirit stones from the uncle-nephew duo go straight into her father’s sleeve pocket.
Father sat calmly, eyeing her: “Anything else?”
With a strange expression, Xiao Li Li took a menial laborer contract and silently left the quiet room.
……………………
Fang Shu stood at the base of the Shao Wei Guan main hall steps, his gaze flickering as he pondered a passing figure inside:
“That person’s silhouette looks like Yin Xiao Jian… Did he come here to apprentice too?”
Watching the other’s bouncy steps, then his own numb legs, his mood sank inexplicably.
Second Uncle Yu Le noticed his unease and agitation, frowned slightly, but smiled to reassure him.
Just then, a plump figure passed by; originally just passing, but the person seemed to spot the uncle-nephew and deliberately approached.
The arrival was a married woman in her thirties or forties, with a fake smile: “Hey! It’s really you, Brother Yu Le.”
Second Uncle Yu Le was slightly stunned, nodded politely.
“It’s me, Sister Yin!
Back when I went up the mountain, you led me, via a pair of snake demon brothers’ route.”
Second Uncle Yu Le’s face finally showed realization, beaming with enthusiasm.
After some pleasantries, the married woman was quite warm, even praising Fang Shu:
“This child looks promising at first glance? Here to apprentice? He’ll surely get in; you’re fortunate, Brother Yu!”
Then she seemed to notice the uncle-nephew’s gazes constantly toward the main hall.
The married woman glanced and saw Xiao Li Li’s figure, smiling:
“Brother Yu, little nephew, you two go ahead with your business; I won’t disturb.”
After politely seeing off the married woman, Second Uncle Yu Le looked at the approaching fly whisk woman, clearly unable to contain his anxiety.
He stepped forward proactively to greet, cupping hands in respect.
Fang Shu saw the woman’s hesitant expression, his heart sinking.
Sure enough, Xiao Li Li frowned helplessly:
“Uncle Yu, Brother Fang, bad timing. Really no way; this batch’s daoist children are full.
If you insist on joining, wait till second half of the year, or latest next year for the next batch.”
Hearing this, Second Uncle Yu Le and Fang Shu’s expressions stiffened slightly.
But Xiao Li Li changed tack, looked around, and lowered her voice:
“But Father said for old ties’ sake, can take Brother Fang in first as a menial laborer, doing odd jobs in Father’s quiet room—still learn the way, occasionally meet the dojo master.
With Father here, menial laborer and daoist child are no different.
Plus getting in first occupies a spot; next batch can reapply—better than… wasting years.”
After listing menial laborer benefits, she didn’t ask if they agreed, just paused to let them digest.
The woman seemed certain they’d choose to start as menial laborer and directly pulled out the menial laborer contract.
Fang Shu listened unhappily.
But he thought: “Second Uncle recommended this dojo so highly, and I saw Yin Xiao Jian’s figure; this dojo must have real merits.”
One pit per radish; starting as menial laborer to hold a spot was like a temp worker from his dream life’s world—not entirely unacceptable?
But his Second Uncle pondered only three breaths, then decisively shook his head.
Xiao Li Li was stunned by the reaction, asking: “Uncle Yu, what do you mean?”
Second Uncle Yu Le smiled politely.
He pointed at the menial laborer contract in her hand, pushed it away virtually, then made a gesture of cupped hands farewell.
Now Xiao Li Li fully understood.
Especially as Second Uncle eyed her, spread his palm, gazing to ask where the spirit stone tuition went.
Instantly, Xiao Li Li’s face showed embarrassment, completely unprepared for this.
She hesitated, looked to Fang Shu.
Fang Shu said gravely: “I follow Second Uncle.”
Under the uncle-nephew’s gazes, she hastily cupped hands, then clutching the menial laborer contract, hurried into the main hall, presumably to find her father.
After the woman left again.
Fang Shu stood at the Shao Wei Guan doorway, somewhat relieved, eyeing Second Uncle beside him.
Today Second Uncle specially brought him here, made him sun under the heat for over half an hour, and now Second Uncle said leave and left without hesitation.
“Second Uncle is so decisive!” Fang Shu praised inwardly.
He suddenly understood: despite the woman’s good looks, her words hid traps.
And the very next thing.
Made Fang Shu feel his Second Uncle was extremely shrewd and steady!
A good while later, the woman hurried out.
She casually handed over the wrapped spirit stone, but after Second Uncle respectfully took it, he didn’t turn to leave.
Instead, in front of her, he first weighed the spirit stone, then opened the cloth to examine closely.
Finally, Second Uncle smilingly covered the spirit stone with cloth and pushed it back to her, shaking his head.
This left Fang Shu and the woman both stunned, caught off guard.
Fang Shu’s heart stirred, noticing too.
This spirit stone’s quality was clearly duller in color than he remembered!
Suddenly, the fly whisk woman reacted, her face flushing red as fire.
“This, this…” She fidgeted, clutching the spirit stone bundle, unsure whether to argue or explain.
But speechless, she stomped in place, looking quite pitiable.
Yet in Fang Shu’s eyes, this only made his gaze colder, finding her repulsive.
Sure enough, trusting Second Uncle was right!
This Shao Wei Guan, this woman—such a small matter hid countless traps waiting for the uncle-nephew.
If really joined as menial laborer, who knows how they’d be cheated!
Though perhaps someone found Xiao Li Li’s flustered running in and out pitifully cute.
That person saw and couldn’t help but step up to back her.
“Hmph!” A figure shot out—a tall, fierce-eyed youth.
As he emerged, Xiao Li Li bowed to him, calling softly: “Senior Brother Ling.”
Shao Wei Guan Senior Brother Ling’s gaze was sharp as a knife, scanning the uncle-nephew with chill:
“Daring to cause trouble at my Shao Wei Guan? Here to challenge the dojo?”
Second Uncle Yu Le quickly shook his head, smiled apologetically, and stepped on Fang Shu’s foot to preempt any hotheadedness.
“Oh?” This Ling fellow had deep cultivation; staring at their lips and throats, he saw through them.
He half-smiled: “Learned our dojo’s tongue sword magic; must be an old timer.
As an old timer, you should know the rules: once trouble starts, it’s rightful for me to take back the magic on you!”
After warning the uncle-nephew, Senior Brother Ling looked to Xiao Li Li inquiringly.
“Senior Brother, really no big deal here…” Xiao Li Li was more embarrassed, but with outsiders, too shy to air her father’s dirty laundry.
Finally, Fang Shu bowed and said lowly:
“This daoist, Uncle Xiao must have taken the wrong item; my uncle wants Uncle to check again.”
All eyes fell on Xiao Li Li.
Xiao Li Li nodded silently, then holding the spirit stone, turned and hurried back inside, as if afraid to linger.
Senior Brother Ling frowned, probably guessing something. But he didn’t leave, standing on the steps guarding the uncle-nephew.
In the end, fly whisk woman Xiao Li Li didn’t come out again.
“Here!” A strange menial laborer emerged, tossed an unwrapped spirit stone over with a shout.
Second Uncle Yu Le caught it carefully, checked repeatedly to confirm, then grinned awkwardly and pulled Fang Shu away.
The Ling man didn’t stop them. But as the uncle-nephew neared the door, a voice sounded behind:
“Poor sour look.”
It was the Ling man, expressionless, commenting.
But whether about the Fang uncle-nephew, or sighing at the Xiao father-daughter, or both.
