Zhang Yang paused upon hearing Qiao Yihong's words, clearly taken aback by the request.

"Yes, Mr. Zhang, I am willing to join the Medical Saint Martial Sect!"

Qiao Yihong looked up at Zhang Yang, his face filled with expectation. This request hadn't been a sudden impulse; it was the result of deep consideration.

Ever since Zhang Yang resolved the Poison of Yin and Yang Grass that afflicted Qiao Hu, Qiao Yihong had harbored the thought of becoming Zhang Yang's disciple. Back then, Zhang Yang had already deeply impressed him.

The fact that Qiao Yihong could endure solitude and cultivate the Qiao Family's internal art in the deep mountains and old forests to reach the late stage of the third level of Inner Strength was proof enough of his diligence, his extraordinary talent for cultivation, and his profound yearning for mastering Inner Strength.

However, domestic troubles in his brother's family forced him to pause his cultivation to care for his nephew, Qiao Hu. It wasn't until he met Zhang Yang that Qiao Yihong's desire for cultivation was reignited.

This was also part of the reason Qiao Yihong wholeheartedly assisted Zhang Yang in supervising the Koreans. Now that the threat from Japan and Korea had passed, and Zhang Yang was about to leave Changjing, this was Qiao Yihong's last chance!

Qiao Yihong didn't dare hope to be taken as a direct disciple now; simply being allowed to join the Medical Saint Martial Sect and remain by Zhang Yang's side was enough to satisfy him.

Zhang Yang was truly the most gifted cultivator he had ever encountered—a cultivator at the Grand Completion stage in his early twenties. Even just being near him, occasionally receiving a word or two of guidance, would be immensely beneficial to his own practice.

In the silence, Zhang Yang had actually entered the system's virtual interface. Under the Sect options, a name shaded in gray had appeared beneath the Medical Saint Martial Sect: Qiao Yihong.

With the Divine Hand System, Zhang Yang could bypass much trouble, needing no effort to test Qiao Yihong’s sincerity. By directly viewing his data, Zhang Yang could ascertain if Qiao Yihong truly intended to join the Medical Saint Martial Sect.

Qiao Yihong’s stats were displayed right next to his name. Upon clicking, Zhang Yang was startled.

Among the three most crucial metrics, Qiao Yihong’s Potential Value reached 81 points. This figure surpassed Qu Meilan’s by over thirty points and was only a dozen points lower than Yan Liangfei, Yan Yifei, and Li Juan, who possessed the five major special cultivation physiques. For an ordinary person, this was extraordinarily high.

However, Zhang Yang quickly reflected and relaxed. If Qiao Yihong's potential hadn't been high, how could he have reached the late stage of the third level of Inner Strength relying solely on the Qiao Family’s internal art?

He skipped the Ability score and looked at Loyalty. His loyalty level surprisingly reached 60 points. While far less than Qu Meilan and the others, it was considerably higher than Yan Yifei and Li Juan when they first joined. It met the minimum threshold Zhang Yang could accept, indicating that Qiao Yihong genuinely wished to join the Medical Saint Martial Sect.

Zhang Yang nodded slightly, placing a checkmark next to Qiao Yihong's name, causing it to immediately illuminate.

This action meant the system had automatically acknowledged Qiao Yihong's admission into the sect. This time, Zhang Yang was apprehensive, fearing the system might suddenly pop up a task demanding he also raise Qiao Yihong's loyalty to 90—a prospect that would truly leave him in tears.

Fortunately, with Qiao Yihong officially becoming a disciple, no system task materialized. Everything went smoothly.

Exiting the virtual system screen, Zhang Yang flashed a smile and spoke to Qiao Yihong, "Good. I can accept you and allow you to join my Medical Saint Martial Sect, but..."

Hearing Zhang Yang agree, an incredibly brilliant smile broke across Qiao Yihong’s face. But when he heard the word "but," his heart instantly leaped, and he focused intently, waiting to hear what condition Zhang Yang was about to impose.

"But I will not take you as a formal disciple. That is to say, you will be a disciple of my Medical Saint Martial Sect from now on, but not my apprentice. Your status will be akin to an Elder Protector of the sect."

Zhang Yang finished speaking and watched Qiao Yihong. Given Qiao Yihong's current strength, being an Elder Protector of the Medical Saint Martial Sect was more than sufficient.

Qiao Yihong was currently at the late stage of the third level of Inner Strength. With any further progress, he would reach the fourth level of Inner Strength, becoming a veritable Elder Protector. Zhang Yang had already decided that once Qiao Yihong's loyalty increased above 70, he would help him break through to the fourth level of Inner Strength.

He merely wouldn't be taken as a personal disciple. Upon hearing Zhang Yang's words, Qiao Yihong felt a small pang of disappointment, yet he could fully accept it, as he hadn't dared to expect Zhang Yang would take him as a disciple in the first place.

"Master, Master!"

At that moment, Yan Liangfei’s loud, eager voice drifted from inside the house. It seemed he had learned about the upcoming trip.

"What is it?"

Zhang Yang watched Yan Liangfei dash over and immediately asked.

"Mr. Qiao, you're here too."

Yan Liangfei, running over, first greeted Qiao Yihong, then immediately looked at Zhang Yang, anxiously inquiring, "Master, Sister Qu said you’re taking everyone traveling? Take me along, I want to go too!"

Seeing the expectation in Yan Liangfei's eyes, Zhang Yang chuckled and replied, "Little Yan, it's not that I won't take you; it’s that your grand-uncle, Guo Yong, won't let you leave!"

"What!"

Yan Liangfei seemed struck by lightning, freezing on the spot, looking at Zhang Yang in disbelief.

Zhang Yang shrugged and then told Yan Liangfei, "We are leaving shortly. As for you, go back to work obediently."

"Why, Master? Please beg my grand-uncle for me, I really want to go..."

Yan Liangfei pleaded desperately, his face mournful.

"Little Yan, if everyone leaves, someone must stay behind. Since your grand-uncle won't let you go, then..." Zhang Yang gave an expression of helplessness. It seemed Yan Liangfei was fated to stay!

Hearing that it was his grand-uncle's decision, Yan Liangfei let out a desperate wail, then slumped onto the living room sofa like a wilted eggplant, motionless.

Mi Xue, who had finished packing, walked over with Qu Meilan and Li Juan. Yan Yifei had already gone out to drive the car. Noticing the dispirited Yan Liangfei, she understood he was upset about being left behind and immediately moved to comfort him. "Little Yan, don't be sad. We'll definitely bring you back a gift from this trip—and it has to be one from each of us, how about that?"

"Really?"

Yan Liangfei knew he wouldn't be going, but his spirits immediately lifted upon hearing Mi Xue’s words.

"Mistress, really, a gift from each person?"

"Yes, one from each. I won't agree if anyone forgets your gift!"

Mi Xue nodded affirmatively. Hearing his Mistress's guarantee, Yan Liangfei's gloom cleared instantly, replaced by a radiant smile.

"I knew Mistress was the best to me!"

With a cheer, Yan Liangfei leaped off the sofa and happily ran out of the villa, not forgetting to turn back and wave goodbye to Zhang Yang.

"Then I'm off to work! Goodbye, Master and Mistress, remember my gifts!"

"Such a child," Zhang Yang chuckled, shaking his head helplessly. Yan Liangfei was still a young man not yet twenty; he had a heavy childish heart.

"Don't talk like that, as if you're already seventy or eighty."

Mi Xue immediately approached, gently covering Zhang Yang's mouth, and said sweetly.

Zhang Yang laughed heartily, not debating with Mi Xue further. Having been reborn twice, his combined age was indeed close to seventy or eighty.

"Mr. Zhang—oh no, Master—the cars are ready, and the luggage is packed. We can depart," Yan Yifei announced after coming in from outside. He momentarily forgot to correct his address and chuckled at his slip-up.

"Qiao Yihong, are you ready? This time, I'm taking you too."

Zhang Yang nodded to Yan Yifei and turned to Qiao Yihong.

"Ah, of course, I'm ready. My only concern was my nephew. Since he is under Mr. Zhang's care, staying at school, I am completely at ease and can leave anytime." Qiao Yihong replied happily.

"Stop calling me Mr. Zhang. You have joined our Medical Saint Martial Sect now; you need to correct how you address me," Zhang Yang corrected him with a smile.

Hearing that Qiao Yihong had joined the Medical Saint Martial Sect, Yan Yifei and Li Juan couldn't help but size up the newcomer.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Qiao Yihong cupped his hands with a hearty gesture. From his address, Yan Yifei and Li Juan understood that Qiao Yihong had only joined the Medical Saint Martial Sect but had not become Zhang Yang’s personal disciple.

...

...

The group loaded their luggage onto the vehicles. Due to the number of people, two cars were needed. Besides his own immensely spacious Hummer, Zhang Yang had borrowed another vehicle from the group of young masters, including Su Zhantao.

To prevent Su Zhantao and Li Ya from knowing about this excursion, Zhang Yang hadn't even told them the purpose of borrowing the car. By the time Su Zhantao and Li Ya discovered why the cars were taken, Zhang Yang, along with Mi Xue and the others, was already far away in Changzhou, Leshan.

This made the young masters like Su Zhantao curse Zhang Yang repeatedly for being disloyal. Zhang Yang simply laughed heartily and hung up the phone when they called to complain.

Word spread that Wang Chen had once again stormed to Zhang Yang’s villa, vowing this time to make Mi Xue take them to find Zhang Yang. But when Wang Chen arrived at the villa, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Inside Zhang Yang's residence, apart from the remaining Yan Liangfei, everyone was gone. Finally, Wang Chen learned from Yan Liangfei that Zhang Yang had taken Mi Xue out for a trip.

After relaying this news to Su Zhantao, Li Ya, and the others, they dropped the matter, no longer pursuing Zhang Yang for responsibility.

After all, it was Zhang Yang taking his family on vacation; it seemed a bit intrusive, even like being a third wheel, for them to tag along.