Quentin remained steadfast, "I'm perfectly sane. In truth, the 'Innocent Heart Core' is the Zither Sect's true foundational cultivation method. But its requirements are too stringent, its difficulty immense, hence its perpetual failure. But your grandson... he is different! He possesses eight fingers born perfect, an innate sensitivity to music! I believe he can succeed! With me, a Violet Master, guiding him, the chance of success is at least seventy percent! 'Innocent Heart Core' is vastly more challenging than 'Tempering Soul,' but once mastered, it truly opens the path to profound Zither cultivation! It could propel him to the 'Polaris Zither Heart' realm in a remarkably short time! With diligence, reaching the legendary 'Supreme Profound Zither Heart' isn't impossible! Combined with my researched method of aura enhancement... the Seven Pagodas will cease to be an invincible myth!"
Yale Leaf's voice dropped, heavy with implication, "And... if you fail?"
Quentin replied calmly, "Even if he fails, he can focus solely on your Bamboo Sect's battle aura. You can simply have him abandon the zither and switch fully to your martial arts. 'Innocent Heart Core' cultivates purity, uncontaminated by worldly distractions. If my deduction is correct, cultivating the 'Innocent Heart Core' would allow his battle aura to advance at an astonishingly rapid pace, compensating for the late start in martial techniques. Old friend... an opportunity like this for our Eastern Dragon Eight Sects comes perhaps once in a century! Are you truly unwilling to try? Agree, and I swear by the Zither Sect, I will trade you anything from our legacy!"
Yale Leaf's eyes flickered with intense violet light. He waved his hand dismissively, "No need for trades. I'll agree... but you must agree to three of my conditions."
Quentin didn't hesitate, "State them."
Yale Leaf declared, "First! If he succeeds, then when my grandson comes of age and reaches his full potential... he shall be the Sovereign Lord of both the Zither and Bamboo Sects!"
Quentin nodded firmly, "Agreed. With sufficient strength, no one can oppose him. Besides, this is between the two of us."
Yale Leaf continued, "Second! Under the condition of success... the Zither Sect's Five Sovereigns... all belong to my grandson!"
Quentin's eyes nearly bulged out of his head, "You greedy old bamboo! Do you know the significance of our Five Sovereigns? They are to the Zither Sect what the Mage Pagodas' staves are to those Sanctum mages! Artifacts rivaling divine weapons!"
Yale Leaf adopted a lazy, almost smug tone, "If they weren't, I wouldn't want them. What of your Zither Sect interests me? Precisely those five zithers. Frankly, for us Bamboo Sect, only those five instruments hold any value: 'Cry of the Phoenix,' 'Withered Wood, Dragon's Chant,' 'Sage's Legacy Tone,' 'Nine Heavens Jade Pendant,' and that 'Spring Thunder' you always play. They'll suffice. Didn't you once tell me? Playing different melodies requires zithers attuned to them. The deeper the resonance between zither and melody, the greater the magic's power. Surely you haven't forgotten?" He arched an eyebrow.
"Extortion! This is blatant extortion!" Quentin sputtered, genuinely angry now.
Yale Leaf grinned, showing teeth, "So? Do you agree... or not?"
Quentin glared fiercely at Yale Leaf, then finally, with gritted teeth, yielded, "Fine! I agree!"
Yale Leaf clasped his hands behind his back, his smile widening into a triumphant beam, "This final condition... is simpler. Call me 'Uncle.'"
Quentin froze, "You..."
Yale Leaf chuckled, "Am I wrong? Since you are my grandson's Master... naturally you rank below me generation-wise. Calling me 'Uncle' isn't unreasonable, is it?"
"YOU OLD SCOUNDREL! YOU'RE MOCKING ME!" Quentin roared, lunging at Yale Leaf with a fury that defied his opponent's status as a Violet Warrior. Yale Leaf, abandoning any pretense of martial dignity, met him head-on. Two elders, both surpassing sixty years of age and wielding Violet-Rank power, tumbled to the bamboo floor in a most undignified grapple, rolling and grunting, heedless of the sparse furnishings they bumped into.
Quentin, after all, was primarily a mage. Even in a contest of brute strength, he was no match for Yale Leaf. Pinned once again, he gasped, winded, "Enough! I yield! Exhausting!"
Yale Leaf released him, sitting beside his panting friend, his grin wider than ever.
"Old bamboo," Quentin grumbled, wiping his brow, "Name the boy. He's passed his first month, still unnamed."
Yale Leaf readily agreed, "Good! You name him."
A spark of inspiration flashed in Quentin's eyes, "Call him Evan Young. Inheriting my 'Music' and your 'Bamboo'."
Yale Leaf boomed with laughter, "Excellent! Evan Young it is!"
Quentin suddenly grabbed Yale Leaf's beard, eyes narrowed accusingly, "You... you planned to agree all along, didn't you?"
Yale Leaf didn't deny it, nodding cheerfully, "Indeed!"
Quentin fumed, "Then why the earlier theatrics? That clumsy son of yours doesn't even grasp maximizing benefits! 'Advocating the removal of sectarian barriers'... that was my original quote! If I hadn't kicked him out in time, he'd have spilled everything! How else could I maximize my benefits? Sovereign Lord of Two Sects! Not bad, not bad at all! Unprecedented in the Eastern Dragon Eight Sects! Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"YOU—!" Watching Yale Leaf's utterly pleased expression, Quentin realized he'd been thoroughly outmaneuvered, yet he could do nothing about it.
"Old bamboo," Quentin began, his voice regaining a measure of dignity despite his ruffled state, "Since I've agreed to your conditions, and you've consented to let your grandson be my disciple... you must also agree to my conditions."
Yale Leaf chuckled, "What? Seeking payback so soon?"
Quentin shook his head seriously, "No. This is for Evan's own good. And... you must never mention this generational discrepancy again! We each keep our own seniority."
Yale Leaf saw Quentin was serious and nodded, "State them."
Quentin laid out his demands, "The cultivation of the 'Innocent Heart Core' is profoundly arduous. To succeed, Evan must maintain a heart as pure as an infant's – an 'Innocent Heart.' This requires minimizing contact with the outside world... even with you. Beyond Bamboo Aura cultivation, you cannot teach him any martial techniques without my explicit consent. After he turns three, you may visit him only once a week. You must not recount any worldly matters to him. Only a heart utterly unburdened and focused can cultivate the true 'Innocent Heart Core.'"
Yale Leaf countered, "Never learn martial arts? Without Bamboo Sect techniques, how can he become Sect Master later?"
Quentin pondered, "Not 'never.' Just... not for at least fifteen years. To avoid distraction. If he hasn't reached the Ninth Tier of the 'Innocent Heart Core' within fifteen years... then I have failed."
Yale Leaf agreed readily, "Fine! I agree. How about this? To ease your generational concerns: to outsiders, you are his Master. Only among us, let Evan call you 'Grandfather' too."
Quentin glanced sideways at Yale Leaf, "That... shows some sincerity."
The two powerful elders, whose strength had never been flaunted across Aerion, locked eyes once more. In each other's gaze, they saw a shared glimmer of hope – hope for Evan Young's future, and hope for the Eastern Dragon Eight Sects.