Chapter 465 - 444: Another One Leaves

"Alright, that’s enough. If I could, I would’ve taken both siblings as my disciples already. It wouldn’t even be your turn."

Xie San Niang pulled Yun Jiao behind her.

"This little girl is very talented, and not just with her voice."

"She’s also studying traditional Chinese medicine. She’s Elder Xu’s youngest disciple, and her aptitude for it is just as great as her gift for singing. Because of that, she can’t focus all her energy on opera, which is why I didn’t take her as my disciple."

Hearing this, the others looked incredibly reluctant to give up.

"With a voice like that, she’s naturally gifted! Why wouldn’t she study opera? It’s a colossal waste of talent, a colossal waste!"

But no matter what they said, Yun Jiao had no intention of becoming their disciple.

’If it were possible, she would have become Xie San Niang’s disciple long ago. Wouldn’t it be nice to be with Brother Nine?’

So the group of masters looked at Yun Jiao with rather reproachful eyes.

She quickly found an excuse and went with Brother Nine to remove their makeup.

Yun Xiaojiu patted her head.

"Our Jiaojiao is as popular as ever."

Yun Jiao huffed softly. "Would you like being this popular?"

Yun Xiaojiu laughed. "Then I’ll pass. It’s a blessing I couldn’t handle."

"Why are there so many people here today?"

Yun Jiao asked curiously.

"Master is preparing for me to perform on stage."

His eyes were sparkling.

The stage he was talking about wasn’t for the small local troupe, but one in front of a much larger audience.

His skills were now good enough, and his master had been training him for this. All these people had been invited by his master to help him build his reputation and network.

Yun Jiao’s face lit up with a pleasant surprise. "Congratulations, Brother Nine."

Yun Xiaojiu smiled, his lips pressed together.

After he finished removing his makeup, his master took him to have a meal with the several masters.

Yun Jiao went along with them.

At the dinner table, Elder Deng began to speak. He was the one who had first jumped up to say he wanted Yun Jiao as his disciple. He mentioned a performance at the Capital Theater scheduled for the latter half of the year.

"Yun Chen’an’s foundation is more than solid enough. We might be able to get him a spot this time. Even if he can’t play the lead, he can start with a supporting role to build experience. With his talent, I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s singing lead roles."

Xie San Niang thought so as well.

By the end of the meal, things were mostly settled for Yun Xiaojiu, just as Xie San Niang had hoped.

Although she had retired to this small county town years ago, her network was still intact. After all, she had once been a famous opera star renowned throughout the region.

Once Yun Xiaojiu’s matter was settled, Yun Jiao went home with him.

On the way, they stopped by Ancient’s place to pick up Yun Xiao Ba.

Then they said goodbye to Elder Xu.

The three of them rode their bicycles down a small path, laughing with abandon into the wind.

"Brother Nine, does that mean you’re going to the Capital too?"

Yun Xiaojiu nodded. "But I’m just going for one performance. I’ll be back soon."

Yun Xiao Ba remarked, "By that count, four of us siblings will be heading to the Capital."

"And who knows, maybe I’ll go someday too. My master said he wants to take me to broaden my horizons."

"Jiaojiao, you have to come see me when I’m on stage. It would be best if the whole family came."

Yun Jiao thought for a moment. "You know, we just might be able to. In that case, you’d better save us tickets."

"Don’t worry," Yun Xiaojiu replied.

After they got home, Yun Xiaojiu excitedly told the family about it.

Everyone was happy for him.

A few days later, they saw him off. Xie San Niang was leaving with him as well.

Watching the train pull away, Granny Yun sighed. "Things just got settled for Xiao Wu, and now Little Nine is leaving."

"We still haven’t told Lin Hai and his wife. We should hurry back and call them. We’ll tell them not to come home for now, but to stay in the Capital and look after the two children."

After seeing Brother Nine off, Yun Jiao went back to school. The adults of the Yun family also went to the school to keep Yun Xiaowu on the student roll and explain his situation.

Yun Xiaowu was an eighth-grader at the town’s middle school, which was right across the street from the elementary school.

The teachers at the school were thrilled to hear that Yun Xiaowu had joined the national swimming team.

"Yes, of course, of course. Our school is more than willing to keep student Yun Chenqin on the roll."

This was also something that would bring honor to the school.

If he really makes it to the Olympics someday, and everyone knows that student Yun Chenqin came from their school, it would bring the school a great deal of prestige.

Once Yun Xiaowu’s affairs were settled, Yun Jiao went to the ocean after school let out.

As soon as she entered the ocean, her song spread through the water, and soon, killer whales arrived.

Yun Jiao’s blue hair fanned out in the water, looking exceptionally beautiful.

’Precious One, you’re here. Come play with us.’

’Precious One, why did you only come now?’

’You’re coming to the ocean less and less often.’

It was true. Yun Jiao was very busy with school, studying traditional Chinese medicine with her master, occasionally visiting Teacher Xie, and practicing martial arts at home.

As a result, she had less and less time to spend in the ocean.

"I’m a bit busy right now. Once I’m on vacation, I’ll have more time to spend in the ocean."

"Come on, let’s go catch some fish first."

Today, she was here to restock the family’s food supply.

She was still the only one who could catch the huge creatures of the deep, so she had to come to the ocean from time to time to "restock" and bring something back to improve her family’s meals.