After thinking for a moment, Chu Fan said, “Ahem, how about this? I’m still not very familiar with this sect. I want to learn more about the daily lives of the ordinary disciples. You can leave me a room in the courtyard behind this palace, but for now I don’t plan to live here.”
“No problem. Everything will follow the Patriarch’s arrangements!”
Ye Yanji smiled faintly. She couldn’t see through the Patriarch’s cultivation, so she didn’t dare offend him.
Moreover, she couldn’t solve the sect’s current crisis at all. Although this Patriarch had appeared out of nowhere, he was now the only lifeline she could grasp. She could only place her hopes on Chu Fan.
Chu Fan gave an awkward smile and said, “Exactly. Go down to the grassroots disciples and learn more about this sect. Get in touch with the lower-level disciples first… For example, today’s Bu Yaolian and his Master. If Bu Yaolian hadn’t known I was the Patriarch, how would I have had the chance to learn about that guy’s misdeeds? How could I have had the chance to root out such a venomous pest?”
Ye Yanji suddenly understood. She felt that this Patriarch was truly unfathomable. He actually wanted to stay among disciples who did not recognize him, then eliminate some of the sect’s malignant tumors.
She immediately smiled and nodded. “I understand. The Patriarch thinks our sect still has many people like that, those who bully others by relying on their power, right? So the Patriarch wants to personally enter the game, correct?”
Chu Fan nodded and said, “Yes, yes. Keep it a secret for now that I am the sect Patriarch. I will also have Liu Qingyue keep it secret. Let me be a disciple first. After some time, when it is time to reveal my identity, then we can reveal it.”
Ye Yanji and the three Elders exchanged glances. Reveal? What did that mean? This Patriarch spoke in a rather strange way, but they could roughly guess what he meant.
“I understand, Patriarch. Then where would you like to stay? I’ll have an Elder take you there. Or perhaps you could be a steward? Bu Yaolian’s Master just died, so we’re still short one person there.”
Ye Yanji said after thinking for a moment.
Chu Fan’s heart filled with joy. This job seemed pretty good.
“No problem!”
Chu Fan pretended to be calm and nodded. “Then I won’t stay in the same courtyard as you for now, so as not to arouse suspicion. We’ll talk about it later.”
“Alright, Patriarch. There are plenty of rooms. When you think the time is about right and can reveal your identity, we’ll tell the sect’s disciples.”
Ye Yanji was secretly delighted. This Patriarch really was no ordinary person. He was even willing to be a steward and learn about the current Joyous Sect from the very bottom. Such a Patriarch was not overly imposing; he was quite approachable.
“Patriarch, I’ll take you to arrange your accommodation first, and then I’ll have someone prepare clothes and a steward’s token for you.”
Shi Henshuang had a bold and uninhibited personality, but she was also a buxom middle-aged beauty. Her butt was big and perky, and she was irresistibly sexy, which made Chu Fan’s thoughts wander uncontrollably.
Mo Ran said, “Patriarch, you’ve been wronged.”
Third Elder Bai Ruyan also smiled gently and said, “Yes, Patriarch, you’ve been wronged.”
“Haha, building our sect well isn’t any hardship at all, not at all.”
Chu Fan laughed loudly. “Don’t worry. With this Patriarch here, that damn Blazing Flame Sect doesn’t need to be taken seriously.”
After hearing this, Ye Yanji and the others felt reassured.
But Chu Fan, though calm on the surface, was actually uneasy inside. Still, in this situation, he had to keep acting.
Mo Ran then said, “By the way, Patriarch, we have several other Elders. Should we tell them about your situation?”
Chu Fan smiled and said, “Not for now. Unless absolutely necessary, my identity must not be revealed!”
Ye Yanji thought for a moment and then asked, “Patriarch, in a few days the Blazing Flame Sect will send people again to take them away. Are we not handing anyone over this time?”
Chu Fan, now the revered Patriarch in their eyes, naturally did not dare to back down. He immediately said, “Heh, of course not. My Joyous Sect isn’t so easy to bully.”
After saying that, Chu Fan said to Shi Henshuang, “Let’s go. You take me to arrange my accommodation.”
“Yes, Patriarch!”
Shi Henshuang bowed respectfully.
Chu Fan immediately said, “In front of outsiders, don’t call me Patriarch. Just call me Chu Fan, or Steward Chu. Understand?”
“We understand, Patriarch…”
The few of them said in unison.
“I…”
Chu Fan nearly fainted.
After following Shi Henshuang out, Chu Fan discovered that fortunately the hour was not yet over; the Flight Talisman was still active.
He rose into the air and flew slowly.
Seeing Chu Fan fly so slowly, Shi Henshuang did not dare say anything. She simply assumed the Patriarch wanted to take in the beautiful scenery. After all, the Patriarch must be feeling somewhat nostalgic now.
“Patriarch… ahem, Steward Chu, should I take you to the courtyard where Ye Qiu used to live?”
Shi Henshuang asked after thinking for a moment.
“Ye Qiu?”
Chu Fan froze.
“He’s Bu Yaolian’s Master!” Shi Henshuang replied.
“Oh, no need. Where does that Liu Qingyue live? I’ll just stay in the same courtyard as her. That way, I can also ask her more about the sect.”
Chu Fan said casually.
“But Liu Qingyue is only an outer disciple. The courtyard she lives in has several female disciples living there. I’m afraid it might disturb your cultivation. Besides, the spiritual energy where they live isn’t very abundant.”
Shi Henshuang smiled awkwardly, thinking that the Patriarch must have taken a liking to that girl. Sure enough, the Patriarch was also a lecher. Earlier, when they had gone there, they had seen the Patriarch kissing Liu Qingyue.
If she and the Sect Master had arrived a little later, who knew what else he might have done?
However, if an outer disciple like Liu Qingyue could receive the Patriarch’s favor, then it could be considered her good fortune. The Patriarch might even teach her some martial skills or something, and that would be a different matter altogether.
Besides, the Patriarch was someone who could lead the sect to glory. Let alone sacrificing one female disciple, even sacrificing a hundred would be worth it.
At the very least, once the Patriarch emerged from seclusion, the Joyous Sect would have confidence again.
Thinking this, Shi Henshuang felt at ease. Fortunately, the Patriarch had not set his sights on her.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll start from the grassroots. If I’m going to act, I have to act convincingly. I can’t let the disciples suspect me!”
Chu Fan smiled faintly.
Shi Henshuang felt a surge of reverence. The Patriarch truly was one whom heaven had chosen for a great responsibility. He must first labor his muscles and starve his body…
“That courtyard over there, this row here, is where the outer disciples live.”
Shi Henshuang pointed to a courtyard at the foot of the mountain and slowly flew over while saying to Chu Fan, “To become an outer disciple, one has to reach Spirit Master cultivation. To become an inner disciple, one needs Spirit Ancestor cultivation.”
Pausing there, she continued, “To become an elite disciple, one has to reach 1st-rank Spirit Venerable cultivation through 5th-rank Spirit Venerable cultivation.”
Chu Fan felt embarrassed. His cultivation in the sect would probably only make him a registered disciple, and perhaps even among registered disciples, he would be at the very bottom.
“What about registered disciples? Are there any requirements?”
Chu Fan asked with a faint smile, unable to suppress his curiosity.
Shi Henshuang’s heart trembled. Registered disciples? In many sects, registered disciples were not even considered true disciples. They did not enjoy much of the sect’s cultivation resources, had low cultivation, and could only do miscellaneous chores.
Unless their cultivation broke through to the level of an outer disciple, they could become outer disciples and truly count as sect disciples.
She had never expected the Patriarch to care even about registered disciples. Such a Patriarch was too approachable, and far too compassionate.
At this moment, Shi Henshuang held Chu Fan in the highest respect!