My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash Calicraft) novel Chapter 2589

"Ah, sir, you're here. I thought I was dreaming," Fogort said.

"You rascal! Your fellow disciples are all busy training. What are you doing here?" his master snapped.

"I... I was training too, wasn't I? Haha."

"Training? Sleeping is your idea of training? You're just slacking off!"

"Not at all! Look at this weather—clear skies and a gentle breeze, perfect for a nap. Don't you agree?" Fogort joked.

"You little brat!" His master landed another punch.

Seeing that his master's anger had not cooled, Fogort quickly knelt down, pleading, "Please don't hit me. I get it, I was wrong."

His master sighed. Realizing he could not keep scolding Fogort forever, he dragged him back to the mountain gate.

Just as they returned, Esen Aellopus, the Heavenly Master, happened to be overseeing the outer disciples.

He saw them and called out to Fogort's master.

"Stuart, what are you doing?"

"Master Aellopus, it's nothing. I'm just fooling around with my disciple," Stuart Amphorn replied, trying to play it off.

"Is that so? Well, let me see the list of recommended outer disciples," Esen said.

"Of course," Stuart responded and went inside to fetch the list.

Esen's visit was part of a routine inspection that happened every three years. Outer disciples who performed well could be recommended by their masters to become inner disciples.

However, even after making it to the inner circle, Esen would still assess them further. Those without sufficient talent could be dismissed.

Meanwhile, Fogort, standing nearby, started to feel sleepy again. While Esen stood straight, Fogort found it difficult to stay awake.

He could not help himself and sat down at a stone table, falling asleep almost instantly. His casual behavior did not escape Esen's notice.

Even so, he did not say anything, merely waiting for Stuart to return.

Stuart answered respectfully, "Master Aellopus, this is my newly accepted disciple. His name is Fogort."

"Fogort." Esen looked at the young disciple. "What do you think of this name?"

"I think it sounds nice," Fogort replied.

"Just nice? Do you understand its deeper meaning?"

"No," Fogort admitted.

"Did your master explain it to you?"

"He did."

"Then, why haven't you grasped its significance?"

Fogort, still feeling sluggish, answered lazily, "That's just what my master said... It doesn't mean I fully get it."