As soon as he finished speaking, the old man dropped to his knees with a THUD. He bowed to Xia Liang repeatedly, refusing to get up.
"Master, please, you have to think of a solution," the old man pleaded.
The old man's persistence shocked everyone present. Regardless of how Xia Liang urged him, he remained kneeling. Left with no other choice and needing to complete his task, Xia Liang finally nodded.
"Alright, I agree. Please get up. From now on, Little Liu Lian will stay with me; I will take her as my apprentice. After she turns eighteen, I will allow her to return to secular life. As long as I'm around, I guarantee she will grow up safely."
Tears welled up in the old man's eyes as he nodded vigorously. For Little Liu Lian, this was perhaps the best possible option. With the matter settled, Xia Liang took down the old man's contact information, planning to choose an auspicious day for the formal apprenticeship ceremony.
