Gongsun Yi struggled for a long time, not daring to utter the word 'Master'.
The old man in sackcloth, Ye Santong, examined Gongsun Yi for two full minutes, his gaze suddenly revealing shock. "You are... the child from the southern slope?"
"Teacher, it's me, it's really me, I'm Xiao Yi!"
Although he dared not call him Master, Gongsun Yi came up with a compromise, calling him Teacher.
Indeed, this Teacher was the reclusive master who had guided him for one summer when he was eight years old.
Upon recognizing Ye Santong, Gongsun Yi's eyes immediately welled up with tears, which flowed down his scarred face like water from a burst dam.
"Xiao Yi, I can't believe you've become this old!"
Ye Santong reached out and wiped away Gongsun Yi's tears, chuckling and scolding, "You're already this old, yet you still cry like a child, just like you did when you were little."
Gongsun Yi stopped crying and choked out, "Teacher, you are just like you were back then, not a bit older."
Although Ye Santong looked quite old, Gongsun Yi had seen him looking exactly the same when he was eight years old.
This meant that after so many years, Gongsun Yi had become a middle-aged man worn by time, while the old man Ye Santong's appearance had remained unchanged!
"Xiao Yi, were you also invited by the Pantheon to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament this time?"
Ye Santong gave an awkward smile, clearly not wanting to dwell on the topic of his unchanging appearance.
"That's right, Teacher. Xiao Yi is not talented. Although I received your careful guidance, I am now merely ranked among the Heavenly Rankings."
Actually, when Gongsun Yi said this, there was a hint of pride in his voice, hoping for Ye Santong's praise.
At this moment, he still carried some youthful spirit.
However, Ye Santong's reaction was very indifferent. He patted Gongsun Yi's shoulder and said, "Mm, good, keep up the effort."
"Master, Xiao Hongchan, so you are here!"
Just then, a surprised voice called out, and immediately after, a young man with an imposing demeanor, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes strode in.
"Brother Shi Qi!"
Xiao Hongchan opened her small hands and ran towards the young man.
The man, however, grabbed Xiao Hongchan and reprimanded her sternly, "Xiao Hongchan, what did we say before we came out? Have you forgotten?"
"Hongchan hasn't forgotten. Hongchan promised Grandpa and Brother Shi Qi that Hongchan would stay obediently behind Grandpa and Brother Shi Qi and would absolutely not run around!"
Xiao Hongchan blinked her large, watery eyes and said very earnestly.
"Then what did you do?"
Shi Qi asked with a frown.
"Uh, this, hehe..."
Xiao Hongchan stuck out her tongue, grinned foolishly, and feigned ignorance.
It was clear that she had not kept her promise, otherwise, she wouldn't be here now.
"You're still smiling? Extend your hand, I must teach you a lesson today to help you remember!"
Shi Qi said fiercely.
Xiao Hongchan extended her small hand, and Shi Qi spanked it twice, making the little girl's hands turn red.
"Shi Qi, forget it. Hongchan is still a child, don't be so harsh on her!"
Ye Santong finally couldn't stand it and stopped the young man named Shi Qi.
"Yes, Master."
Shi Qi nodded solemnly, then came before Ye Santong, his gaze falling on Chen Xiao and the others with confusion. "Master, who are these people?"
"Oh, this young hero just helped Xiao Hongchan."
Ye Santong explained, pointing to Chen Xiao, then his gaze fell on Gongsun Yi. "This is Xiao Yi. More than thirty years ago, when I was traveling through the states, I guided him for a period. I didn't expect that we would meet again here today; it's quite a fateful encounter!"
"Everyone, this is my disciple, Shi Qi."
Ye Santong then introduced Shi Qi's identity to everyone, although they already knew.
Gongsun Yi's gaze towards Shi Qi was clearly filled with jealousy, solely because he could openly call Ye Santong 'Master'!
"So it's him."
Shi Qi glanced at Gongsun Yi dismissively, emitting a faint snort from his nose, and then contemptuously commented, "Peak of the Hua Jing realm. After a summer of guidance from Master, reaching this level is already quite good."
"Although it's only equivalent to my level at fourteen, there are still huge differences in talent between people. It's already good that you've reached this point. You must continue to work hard in the future!"
Hearing this 'fatherly' critique, Gongsun Yi's expression immediately darkened. He sneered, "So what if I'm at the peak of the Hua Jing realm? Don't think you have the right to point fingers at me just because you're the Master's disciple. Believe it or not, if you dare to fight me now, I'll beat you until you're spitting teeth!"
Gongsun Yi was not good-tempered. When he roamed the martial world before, he was a ruthless killer. How could he tolerate Shi Qi's sarcastic remarks?
"Hahahaha!"
Shi Qi laughed arrogantly. "Beat me until I'm spitting teeth? You? I'm not looking down on you, but the gap in our strength is too vast. If you can touch my clothes, I'll consider you the winner. You can ask Master if you don't believe me!"
"How old are you, and you still need to ask Master to fight? I'm asking if you dare to fight me!"
Gongsun Yi's temper flared, and of course, this was also greatly related to Shi Qi's identity.
More than half of his anger was fueled by jealousy.
"Hmph, since you're looking for a fight, why would I refuse?"
Shi Qi's lips twitched slightly, a hint of ruthlessness appearing in his eyes. He lifted his long robe, preparing to make a move.
"Stop!"
Ye Santong's stern voice boomed, "Stop this nonsense! Do you two still have any respect for this old man? Shi Qi, step back!"
"Master, he started it!"
Shi Qi was unconvinced.
"I told you to step back!"
Ye Santong glared, and Shi Qi flicked his sleeve and retreated.
"Hehe, Xiao Yi, Shi Qi is young and inexperienced. Don't take it to heart. Don't dwell on what he said."
When facing Gongsun Yi, Ye Santong shed his sternness and showed a kind demeanor.
But in Gongsun Yi's heart, it felt like being cut by a knife. He wished Ye Santong would scold him like he scolded Shi Qi.
Because that would at least indicate that Ye Santong considered him one of his own.
"Teacher, I'm serious. If it were a fight to the death, I don't think I would lose to your personal disciple!"
Gongsun Yi said this with great bitterness.
He felt as if he had returned to the year he was eight, when Ye Santong coldly told him, "Child, you can go back. I won't take you with me. After my guidance, you can already become famous in the martial world, but with your talent, you are far from meeting my conditions for accepting a disciple!"