"You're willing to be my Master now, Elder Duan?"
Duan Liufeng's sudden decision caught Chu Feng somewhat off guard.
"If you take me as your master out of mere gratitude, then I absolutely won't agree to it."
"I can't let my own interests hold you back."
"But if you love to stir up trouble, being your master means getting dragged into the fallout."
"In that case, I insist on being your master all the more. From now on, you can tell them that your master is none other than me, Duan Liufeng."
"If you cause trouble, tell them to come settle the score with me, Duan Liufeng."
Duan Liufeng thumped his chest as he spoke.
He looked every bit the part of someone backing Chu Feng to the hilt.
Even though he clearly didn't have the power to do so.
Yet the fact that he was willing to back Chu Feng even knowing he lacked the ability made Chu Feng all the more moved.
Originally, Chu Feng had wanted to take Duan Liufeng as his master purely out of guilt — he wanted to help him return to the Northern Profound Academy.
But now, Chu Feng had grown to admire Duan Liufeng even more.
"Then this disciple greets his Master."
As Chu Feng spoke, he moved to perform the formal rite of taking a master.
"Oh, there's no need for the formal ceremony."
"Chu Feng, in the future, if someone else wants to take you as their disciple and you don't wish to accept, you can simply tell them that you already have a master — and that master is me, Duan Liufeng."
"But if you meet someone you do want to take as your master, then go ahead and do it. You don't need to consider my feelings at all."
"Just make sure you never perform the formal rite of taking me as your master."
"Because I'd rather be your brother than your master."
Duan Liufeng said to Chu Feng.
"Elder Duan, you..."
Chu Feng looked at Duan Liufeng with complex emotions in his eyes.
"If you want to go out there and cause trouble, go right ahead without worry."
"I, Duan Liufeng, am not afraid of being dragged down with you."
Duan Liufeng said with a smile.
"But in truth, you still don't actually want to take me as your disciple."
Chu Feng said.
"I, Duan Liufeng, don't believe I have what it takes to be anyone's master."
"As for you, Chu Feng, you have my sincere admiration."
"But being your master? I don't consider myself worthy."
"So, publicly, you can say I'm your master."
"But in private, why don't we just call each other brothers? What do you think?"
Duan Liufeng said to Chu Feng.
By now, Chu Feng understood what Duan Liufeng meant.
Duan Liufeng had suddenly agreed to be Chu Feng's master, but it was really just a front — a fake title.
He wanted to serve as a shield for Chu Feng.
To keep other people who wanted to take Chu Feng as their disciple from pestering him endlessly.
But Chu Feng didn't need Duan Liufeng to be his shield.
That simply wasn't Chu Feng's way.
Chu Feng had wanted to take Duan Liufeng as his master to help him get back into the Northern Profound Academy, to make amends.
But since Duan Liufeng didn't care about that, such compensation had lost its meaning. There was no reason for Chu Feng to insist on it.
"If that's the case, then let's forget the master-disciple arrangement. We'll just be brothers."
Chu Feng said.
"It seems you don't need my help after all."
"But I suppose that's for the best — honestly, I... can't really help you with much."
"All right then, let's be brothers."
"So, should I start calling you Brother Chu now?"
Duan Liufeng was nothing if not straightforward about it.
"Then should I call you Brother Duan?"
Chu Feng asked.
"Haha, of course! I'm a full three thousand years older than you, so naturally I'm the elder brother."
Duan Liufeng said with a laugh.
"Brother Duan, now that we are brothers, I'll speak plainly."
"I heard from Elder Dao Qi that you have injuries that caused your cultivation to regress."
"I happen to know a bit about formation arts. Would you let me take a look at your condition?"
Chu Feng said to Duan Liufeng.
In truth, he already knew that helping Duan Liufeng would be no easy task.