Having already taken leave from Master Li ahead of time and informed him of the schedule, Bai Ziyue departed from the Sunburst Gang Branch early the next morning with the New Year goods he had prepared and gifts for his parents. He then met up with Uncle Ming and the others at Qinghe Pier.
"Uncle Ming," Bai Ziyue greeted Xu Ming respectfully.
"You're here. We've been waiting for you. We can depart now," Xu Ming said, his gaze somewhat complicated. He hadn't anticipated that the ordinary village boy would now be taken in as a disciple by the Sect Leader. In terms of status, Bai Ziyue was already a notch above him.
Bai Ziyue noticed Uncle Ming's expression but refrained from saying much. He simply nodded and then spotted his two companions who had arrived, Zhang Guoyi and Xu Li.
Zhang Guoyi perhaps had a different experience; he had now been promoted from miscellaneous disciple to outer disciple since they last met, when he was advanced to outer disciple.
