Li Yundong hadn't expected Shen Wancai, after narrowly escaping death, to immediately beg him to become his master. Stunned for a moment, he quickly helped Shen Wancai up, chuckling, "Mr. Shen, what are you doing? Get up, please get up!"

Shen Wancai, however, shamelessly insisted, "Immortal Li, if you don't agree, I won't get up!"

Li Yundong found himself rather speechless, amused and frustrated. He hadn't anticipated that a man of Shen Wancai’s immense stature and grandfatherly age would resort to such a stubborn tactic. Novel friends organized and provided this text. ``

With a gentle push of his hands, Li Yundong exerted a controlled force that involuntarily lifted Shen Wancai back onto his feet. Li Yundong said, "Mr. Shen, let's talk this over calmly. Why resort to this? Tell me what difficulty you're facing. If I can help, I will do my utmost. Please don't put yourself in this position."

Shen Wancai seemed to have anticipated Li Yundong’s refusal to accept him as a disciple. He gave a wry, internal smile, sighed, and said, "People say that when facing death, one’s inner eye opens, and one sees every event of a lifetime, understanding instantly what was previously obscure. Having just brushed past the gates of the underworld today, I deeply comprehend the truth of that saying!"

Shen Wancai lamented, "In that last moment before death, my mind became as clear as a mirror. I understood unequivocally that Young Master Li, you must be a living immortal. There absolutely must be deities in this world, mustn't there? Otherwise, how could you possibly have saved me?"

Li Yundong couldn't help but chuckle. He replied, "Mr. Shen, you are being overly extreme. Whether immortals exist in this world, I cannot say, but I certainly know I am not one. As for how I revived you, that was actually a very scientific medical procedure."

Seeing Li Yundong deny it, Shen Wancai grew anxious, "Scientific medical methods? Can you conjure fresh West Lake lotus seeds out of thin air in this bitter cold? Where is the science in that? Furthermore, Xiao Hui told me you gave me a seemingly ordinary elixir, and I immediately recovered. If that isn't the work of an immortal, what is it?"

Li Yundong smiled, "Mr. Shen, as I mentioned before: Ge Hong said that the world is full of wonders, let alone immortals? At the same time, he also noted that gods cannot be achieved through cultivation, but immortals can be attained through dedicated practice. And cultivation is a very scientific matter in this world; its theory is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Therefore, it was TCM skill that saved you, not some mystical immortal art. As for producing the West Lake lotus seeds, that was merely a minor parlor trick, not worth mentioning."

Shen Wancai immediately pressed on, "Then how does one learn cultivation? Can I learn it?"

Li Yundong hesitated slightly, then spoke with sincerity, "Anyone can cultivate; only the level of attainment varies."

Without further delay, Shen Wancai moved to kneel again: "Immortal Li, you absolutely must take me as a disciple!"

Li Yundong instantly stopped him, offering a wry smile, "Mr. Shen, what do you need me to take you as a disciple for?"

Shen Wancai stated seriously, "I wish to learn the art of cultivation!"

Li Yundong countered, "Mr. Shen, have you considered why you wish to learn cultivation?"

Shen Wancai paused, then replied, "I wish to become an immortal!"

Li Yundong burst out laughing, "Mr. Shen, you jest! If you truly wish to become an immortal, then I cannot accept you as a disciple. You are currently in a declining physical state; starting cultivation now is far too late to achieve immortality. If you pursue this path with that goal in mind, and fail to reach it later, you will only end up resenting me."

Shen Wancai quickly refuted, "No, no, Immortal Li! What I truly desire is eternal life! Lao Tzu lived over a hundred years, and Peng Zu and the Master of Qingcheng lived for eight hundred years in ancient times. Why can't I?"

Seeing Shen Wancai’s excited and earnest expression, Li Yundong nodded slightly and adopted a serious demeanor. "Mr. Shen, hold off on the discipleship for a moment. First, listen to a story I have to tell."

Shen Wancai calmed down a bit, saying, "Immortal Li, please speak!"

Li Yundong smiled faintly, "Mr. Shen, do you know Wang Chongyang?"

Shen Wancai chuckled, "Immortal Li, you underestimate me. Who doesn't know Wang Chongyang? Even if one hasn't studied, one must have read Jin Yong’s books! The Central Divine Power!"

Li Yundong laughed, "Mr. Shen, just call me Li Yundong. Don't use 'Immortal Li'; I am not an immortal."

Shen Wancai reluctantly changed his address, but he was unwilling to use his given name, so he continued respectfully, "Young Master Li, please tell your story. I am listening."

Li Yundong continued, "After Wang Chongyang founded the Quanzhen School, he encountered Ma Yu, who was immensely wealthy at the time. Ma Yu wished to become his disciple, but he was already old and could not bear to abandon his vast fortune, his wife, and his children; he remained hesitant. Ultimately, Wang Chongyang employed profound divine arts and guidance to enlighten him. This finally brought about his sudden awakening, leading him to disperse his massive fortune and, along with his wife Sun Buer, join Wang Chongyang’s tutelage, thus giving rise to the Seven True Men of the North in the Quanzhen School."

As Li Yundong spoke eloquently, Shen Wancai’s heart stirred. He thought to himself: What does Young Master Li mean by telling me this story? Is he dropping a hint about something?

Noticing Shen Wancai’s thoughtful gaze, Li Yundong knew the businessman assumed his words carried a hidden agenda. He explained with a smile, "Mr. Shen, I’m not telling you this story to hint at anything, but rather to illustrate that if one desires cultivation, one must cultivate wholeheartedly, especially when pursuing longevity as your ultimate goal."

Shen Wancai blinked, blurting out, "Young Master Li, are you implying... that I should disperse my fortune?"

Li Yundong shook his head. "Mr. Shen, what I mean is that you require a peaceful and serene environment for cultivation, along with an unwavering will to practice. Otherwise, it will only bring about disaster; it will absolutely not be a good thing!"

Shen Wancai grew desperate. "Then what must I do for you to take me as a disciple?"

Li Yundong smiled, saying, "Mr. Shen, you are an intelligent man; you will naturally understand in time. I cannot tell you now. However, given your current situation, I will not accept you as a disciple."

Although Li Yundong’s face was smiling, the tone of his voice carried an undeniable, unchangeable firmness. Shen Wancai felt a wave of deep disappointment. Yet, being the seasoned, worldly businessman he was, despite his inner displeasure, he managed a strained smile. "If that is the case, I will not press the issue. Young Master Li, if you ever change your mind, you must let me know!"

Li Yundong chuckled, "That decision rests not in my hands, but in yours."

Shen Wancai’s heart jumped. He thought: Is Young Master Li hinting that... I should offer a massive initiation fee?

Li Yundong merely glanced at him, knowing Shen Wancai had misinterpreted again. He offered a slight smile, said nothing to correct him, walked to the door, pulled it open, and said, "I'll be taking my leave now. Mr. Shen, take some time to truly consider things."

Shen Wancai sagged, murmuring an acknowledgment, his head bowed, his mind riddled with doubt. In his estimation, giving up his entire fortune to study under Li Yundong was utterly impossible. For one thing, what about his large family? Shen You was unreliable, and Shen Hui was hardly capable of managing the vast enterprise alone. Who could he entrust his legacy to? And what about his four wives? Should he bring them into Li Yundong’s tutelage like Ma Yu did with his wife? What a joke. Dealing with their petty squabbles daily was already exhausting; if they were all under the same master, wouldn't his life be unbearable?

Shen Wancai’s thoughts spiraled until, after a long while, he finally descended the stairs. His gaze swept the main hall, but he couldn't see Li Yundong or Su Chan. He started in alarm, "Where is Young Master Li?"

Shen Hui asked casually, "They left! We just went out to see them off. I asked the old man why he didn't come down, and he said you were in your room thinking. I assumed you knew."

Shen Wancai stamped his foot in distress, "Damn it! Young Master Li must be angry with me! And I haven't even repaid his kindness yet! Hurry, go chase after him!"

The steward, Zhang, immediately responded and hurried out, but moments later, he returned, gasping for breath. "Master, there’s no sign of them anywhere."

Shen Wancai lamented remorsefully, "This is my fault; I neglected a distinguished guest!"

The Third Concubine, standing nearby, tried to soothe him with a smile, "Master, don't worry. Since you know where Young Master Li lives, you can personally visit him another day and present a substantial gift, can't you?"

Shen Wancai gazed out the door, letting out a long sigh. "That’s true... but just how substantial is a 'substantial gift'?"

After Li Yundong and Su Chan left the Shen residence, the young girl asked with some confusion, "Yundong, why did we leave the banquet so early?"

Li Yundong shook his head. "Shen Wancai isn't forcing me to take Shen You and Shen Hui as disciples anymore; now he wants to be my disciple! What do you think, should I accept him?"

Su Chan's eyes lit up with delight. "Of course, you should! Isn't having such a wealthy disciple wonderful?"

Li Yundong shook his head. "No. Taking a disciple means taking responsibility for him. And his goal in cultivation is longevity. You are a cultivator too, and you know that achieving true longevity requires reaching the Golden Body realm. How many people throughout history have managed to reach that stage? Shen Wancai is already in a weakened physical state; starting Dao practice at his advanced age is a huge disadvantage, let alone being constantly mired in countless worldly affairs due to his vast assets?"

Su Chan finally began to understand, letting out an "Ah!" She said, "You're right! I get it! His wives scheme against each other fiercely, and his son and daughter are worrisome. He has absolutely no chance to quiet his mind for practice. If he cultivates in his current state, he is bound to suffer qi deviation!"

Li Yundong nodded. "Exactly. I told him the story of Wang Chongyang accepting Ma Yu as a disciple in the Quanzhen School. I wonder if he will grasp the implication."

Su Chan sighed mournfully, "Alas, that's a shame. I was hoping we could gain a rich disciple and live worry-free from then on!"

Li Yundong laughed, pinching the little girl’s nose. "Don't be silly. If you want to live worry-free, just manage our Di San Xian business well! Relying on others will never compare to relying on yourself!"

Su Chan clapped her hands in sudden realization. "Oh no! Di San Xian hasn't opened for business for days! We've lost a lot of money!"

Li Yundong chuckled, "Alright, alright, we can open tomorrow! You just focus on being our lovely proprietress!"

Su Chan looked embarrassed. "I caused such trouble; I shouldn't be the proprietress anymore..."

Li Yundong questioned curiously, "I am the owner of this shop. Are you truly sure you don't want to be the proprietress?"

Su Chan’s realization dawned, and she immediately hugged Li Yundong tightly, saying with tension, "I want to! I absolutely must be the proprietress!"

Li Yundong laughed heartily and patted the little girl’s head. "Silly girl, let's go home!"

Leaning against Li Yundong, breathing in his strong masculine scent, the little girl gradually felt her anxiety subside. She walked quietly beside him for a while, thinking to herself: Yundong is so good to me; why am I still hiding something from him? But my Master told me not to speak. Why would she insist on that?

The little girl wrestled with her conflicted thoughts all the way home. Unaware of her inner turmoil, Li Yundong’s mobile phone suddenly rang in his pocket.

Li Yundong pulled out his phone and gave a little grunt of amusement. "I almost forgot I even owned a phone. I wonder who's calling me?" He glanced at the screen and saw Feng Na's number displayed. Li Yundong wondered aloud, "Why is this fellow calling me today?"

The moment Li Yundong answered, an urgent, frantic voice blurted out from the receiver: "Li Yundong, it’s a disaster! Help me!"