"Flender," Ye Yin said, "This is your invitation. It's very important, so don't forget it." He handed a red invitation to Flender.
Flender took the invitation and smiled. "Oh, Xiao Yin," he said, "You're quite fast, aren't you? You're already doing this kind of thing so soon?"
Ye Yin chuckled. "This is already considered slow. It's just that they're rushing me. Time is short, so you absolutely must remember to attend tomorrow, Principal Flender." He finished delivering the last invitation and breathed a sigh of relief as he walked back to his dormitory.
Flender opened the invitation in his hand with a chuckle. "I wonder who it's with," he mused. "Ning Rongrong, or Zhu Zhuqing, or perhaps Xiao Wu? Or all three of them together?"
He read the card:
To Mr. Flender,
We cordially invite you to the master-disciple ceremony for Master Yu Xiaogang and disciple Tang San on a certain day, month, and year of the Douluo calendar.
Time: 12:00 PM sharp
Location: First Floor Grand Hall, Soto City Grand Hotel
Master Yu Xiaogang
Disciple Tang San
Cordially invited
Flender was stunned. Not only was he bewildered, but everyone at Shrek Academy who received an invitation was too. Wasn't it a wedding? How is it a master-disciple ceremony?
Tang San, in his own room, was also confused. He went to Ye Yin's room. "Yin Ge," he asked, "Is this master-disciple ceremony legitimate?"
Ye Yin patted his chest and guaranteed, "Of course it's legitimate; it must be legitimate! You can not believe others, but can you not believe your Yin Ge?"
Tang San nodded. "Okay, then I'll leave everything to Yin Ge."
The next day, Ye Yin had Yu Xiaogang put on his ceremonial attire: a very standard black suit. Yu Xiaogang looked at himself in the mirror, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Ye Yin, is it not good for me to wear this?" he asked, though he was constantly twisting and checking if there was any uncomfortable part of his body.
"Good," Ye Yin said. "It's absolutely great! In a moment, you'll take someone to pick up your disciple, then head to the Soto City Grand Hotel for the ceremony."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction.
On the other side, Tang San was also fully dressed. Ye Yin covered Tang San's head with a red cloth, completely blocking his vision.
"Yin Ge," Tang San asked. "Are you sure this master-disciple ceremony is legitimate? Why am I wearing a skirt?"
Ye Yin's voice rang out. "What do you mean, skirt? These are bell-bottoms! It's just that the bell is a bit big. Little Ao," he instructed, "Drag the hem of the bell-bottoms a bit, don't let them touch the ground. I still have to return these."
Oscar tried hard not to laugh. "Alright, alright, alright, I'll definitely pay attention."
Ye Yin came outside and shouted, "Master can go pick up his disciple! Let the ceremony begin!"
Yu Xiaogang coughed and walked into Tang San's room. When Yu Xiaogang saw Tang San's attire, he was stunned. "Ye Yin... this..."
Ye Yin frowned. "Grandmaster, are you not going to take a disciple anymore?"
"Yes, yes, yes," Yu Xiaogang said quickly. "Why aren't you taking your disciple to the Soto City Grand Hotel quickly? The guests are all impatient."
Yu Xiaogang reluctantly took Tang San's hand and led him onto the carriage that had been prepared earlier. Ye Yin personally acted as the coachman, taking Oscar and pulling Yu Xiaogang and Tang San to the Soto City Grand Hotel. At this moment, everything at the hotel was ready: salute cannons, firecrackers, and a red carpet. The only problem was that there were few guests, only the teachers and students of Shrek Academy. To save expenses, Ye Yin did not hire an atmosphere team.
Under everyone's gaze, Yu Xiaogang held Tang San's arm, leading him step by step onto the red carpet, toward the very front. Flender felt his heart tighten. He had seen many grand occasions, but such an outrageous scene was the first in his life.
Zhao Wuji quietly asked, "Boss Flender, is this how all master-disciple ceremonies are done? When you took Ma Hongjun as your disciple, was it like this?"
Flender immediately kicked him. "Get lost!"
The other students of Shrek Academy also widened their eyes. Not only them, but everyone inside and outside the Soto City Grand Hotel widened their eyes. "Is it so open and blatant now? Am I seeing things, or has the world gone blind?"
Ye Yin shouted to the onlookers, "What are you talking about? This is a master-disciple ceremony, it's completely normal, alright? A bunch of bumpkins."
When Yu Xiaogang held Tang San's arm and walked onto the stage step by step, the emcee coughed. "Handsome new... new Master," he said, "You may lift the veil and look at your disciple."
Yu Xiaogang lifted the red veil with both hands, revealing the disciple's face. However, looking at Tang San's attire, he really didn't know what to say. A strapless long dress? No, what disciple wears this!
[Resentment from Yu Xiaogang +50!]
[Resentment from Tang San +50!]
The emcee didn't know what the two were thinking; he only knew that he had to continue. "Dear Master, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, are you willing to care for him, accompany him, and be his Master?"
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang felt dead memories constantly attacking him. Why did these words sound so familiar? Where had I heard them before? It seemed like at the unfinished wedding with Liu Erlong back then.
[Resentment from Yu Xiaogang +60!]
"Dear Master?" the emcee prodded. "What are you thinking? Are you unwilling to take him as your disciple?"
Yu Xiaogang was really about to cry. "I do!"
"Dear disciple, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, are you willing to care for him, accompany him, and be his disciple?"
Tang San's heart was also very conflicted. This was not the master-disciple ceremony he wanted at all! It shouldn't be like this! How could it be like this? But a thousand words finally turned into one sentence: "I do."
"Good!" the emcee said. "Now, let us bow to heaven and earth! Heaven and earth bear witness!"
Tang San and Yu Xiaogang reluctantly knelt and bowed to heaven and earth.
"Second bow to relatives and friends! Relatives and friends bear witness!"
"Third bow! Master and disciple bow to each other!"
Tang San and Yu Xiaogang looked at each other, their eyes filled with tears. As for whether it was deep affection or regret, that remained unknown. They both wanted to ask themselves now: Why did we let Ye Yin handle the master-disciple ceremony?
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You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion