18

Chapter 356: Shiyu Forcibly Recruited
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However, if it were an outer disciple, it wouldn't be entirely unacceptable.

After all, they couldn't cling to the Master all day and wouldn't know too many secrets.

Yet Su Muchan's demeanor suggested she was quite content with her status as an outer sect disciple—a fact that surprised Ye Qinghan.

She hadn't expected this succubus to be so easily satisfied. She'd assumed the creature would be dissatisfied with the status quo.

Su Muchan was indeed not content with being an outer disciple, but being one today didn't mean she'd remain one forever.

This wasn't contentment—it was strategic advancement!

This was strategy!

She retracted her fangs. She couldn't appear too aggressive—that was a succubus's code of conduct.

Every succubus knew this truth: the more you crave something, the easier it is to lose it.

This was a tactical retreat, not settling for less. And she had already taken a significant step forward~

With her innate talent, who among ordinary cultivators could possibly surpass her?

Besides, isn't that Chu Youwei also an outer sect disciple?

Doesn't she seem unusually close to Sect Master Su?

Does that matter? Not in the slightest!

"Shiyao! Come here!" After finishing his conversation with Su Muchan, Su Cheng called Li Shiyao over, leaving Miao Miao with a puzzled expression.

"Huh? What is it, Master?"

Li Shiyu returned with a sly, suspicious look on her face. Normally, Master only spoke to her like this during meals or when returning from outside with treats!

But now, with his hands empty, it didn't bode well!

Su Cheng wore a solemn expression as he declared earnestly, "I have an important task to assign to Shiyu!"

Li Shiyu froze.

An important task?

"Huh? Senior Sister, Master has an important task!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shiyu hurriedly called out to Ye Qinghan, thinking to herself, Could this kind of thing possibly fall to her?

But Ye Qinghan was just leaning against the small table nearby, chatting with Dongfang Jue, completely ignoring the conversation.

Dongfang Jue didn't mind—he hadn't been called anyway~

Ye Qinghan and Su Muchan had long known Su Cheng's plans—this task truly fell to Shiyu!

Chu Youwei wanted to help, but she suspected Master had called Li Shiyu for a deeper reason, so she wisely kept quiet.

Only Shi Mingyi slapped his own forehead…

This was enough to drive him mad with frustration—it was like watching iron that wouldn't harden!

What's wrong with doing some work for the master? Look at your senior sister—how diligent she is!

"What? In the Lingxian Hall, is Shiyu the only one who eats? Does Shiyu not want to help her master with work?"

Li Shiyu clasped her hands, looking slightly guilty!

After all, aside from carrying trays and washing dishes, she hadn't done a single chore!

She'd only washed the Master's changed clothes once or twice—and that was after begging her senior sister for the chance!

At Lingxian Hall, if you wanted to do any chores, you had to fight for them! You had to make an appointment with the senior sister in advance!

"Um… Shiyu… Shiyu is clumsy. Shiyu is afraid of making mistakes and causing trouble for Master…"

Su Cheng chuckled. This was a task only the Holy Maiden could assist with—or rather, she'd handle it far better than he could!

"It's fine, you can't mess this up!"

"Really? Shiyu can help Master move things or count—anything under thirty is no problem!"

Shi Mingyi: Counting… She can't even count past thirty…

Shi Mingyi felt like grinding his molars to dust!

With all these elders, they still couldn't teach Li Shiyu to count?

Damn it!

Just moments ago, Shi Mingyi was bragging to the heads of other sects, saying the Holy Maiden had taken over the Holy Mountain! That she was now in charge!

Her presence had even intimidated those old men!

Now those sect leaders were all stifling their laughter!

On Li Shiyao's side, seeing her master so confident, as if ready to hand over the entire Lingxian Hall to her, she couldn't help but feel curious!

"What does Master need Shiyu to help with?"

Su Cheng smiled, ruffling Li Shiyu's hair affectionately as he spoke gently.

"See all these people? They're all here to become disciples of Lingxian Hall."

Li Shiyu nodded, acknowledging the sight. That meant someone among them would become her junior disciple!

"Mhm, I know. So, has Master chosen anyone yet?"

Many were here to seek discipleship, most having witnessed the three matriarchs' divine prowess during the martial arts competition and now hoping to secure a divine connection.

"I want you to choose for me, Shiyu. Whomever you like, I will take."

Li Shiyu was stunned into silence!

Could she really decide something this important?

Wasn't this a bit too rash?

"Ah? Shiyu can't do it! Shiyu hasn't planned to take disciples yet! Master, why not ask the eldest senior sister? Shiyu really can't handle this!"

Li Shiyu immediately began backing out upon hearing this!

This wasn't something she could decide on her own. Recruiting new members for the sect was no small matter—it was like replenishing the sect with fresh blood. If they chose the wrong person, one bad apple could spoil the whole barrel!

One person could jeopardize the entire immortal sect!

"I never asked Shiyu to take disciples. She may choose only those she likes. If Shiyu dislikes them, I want none of them!"

"Why?"

"I trust Shiyu~" Su Cheng had learned the trick too!

Oh my, truly the highest form of warfare is to defeat the enemy through strategy~

Li Shiyu's tactic never fails—winning hearts is truly the best strategy!

It even works on Li Shiyu herself!

"But what if Shiyuo makes the wrong choice? Shiyuo dares not…"

Though her words still betrayed some hesitation, Su Cheng noticed that Li Shiyu’s gaze had already swept across everyone present!

She wanted to try too. It wasn't that she couldn't do it—it was just that she rarely got the chance to be trusted!

"What if she makes a mistake? If Shiyu does choose wrong, isn't her master still here?"

Su Cheng’s confident demeanor, as if he’d handle any fallout, served as a powerful shot in the arm for Li Shiyu!

"Then I'll make my choice?"

Truthfully, Li Shiyu didn't believe in any notion of right or wrong choices. She wasn't foolish enough to think she could pick out outstanding cultivators based on personal preference.

She suspected this was likely a whim of her Master's, or perhaps he simply wanted to pick a few at random without regard for aptitude, which was why he told her to choose based on her preferences.

But regardless of the reason, since the Master had spoken, she had no grounds to refuse.

She could make mistakes. Since the Master had agreed, even if she did make a mistake, she could feign ignorance, laugh it off, and move on.

But she couldn't refuse. She couldn't dampen her master's spirits, and besides, this was a command from her master—a command that could not be disobeyed.

"Line up~ Line up~ No pushing! One at a time!"

Li Shiyao sat down on the chair her master had just vacated. But the moment her butt touched the seat, it felt like she'd sat on hot coals. She jumped up again…

Her gaze swept around the room. Senior Sister was watching her, Chu Youwei was watching her…

Su Muchan was watching her, Shangguan Rou was watching her…

This was the Master's chair…

Su Cheng smiled. "What? Burning your butt? Sit down~"

Li Shiyao gave a silly smile and sat down…

Snapping out of his shock, Shi Mingyi was both astonished and compelled to marvel—Master Su truly was an immortal descended from the heavens!

In Shi Mingyi's eyes, Li Shiyu displayed perfect poise and propriety in Su Cheng's presence.

She was playful at times, yet always knew her limits; earnest at others, yet never lost her childlike charm.

When Li Shiyao craved play, Su Cheng let her indulge, as long as she returned when called.

When Li Shiyao craved food, Su Cheng indulged her appetite, provided she remembered to share.

"Master Su, what does this mean?"

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