CHAPTER 353
Outer Sect Disciple
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Dongfang Jue munched on a bun he'd found in Li Shiyao's bag. Whether the bun had been drugged or not, Ye Qinghan watched Dongfang Jue and couldn't help but notice his expression seemed slightly dazed and adorable.
Ye Qinghan found it odd. Could it be that the Master had given Shiyu some sort of artifact capable of stealing others' intelligence?
Before becoming a disciple, Dongfang Jue seemed perfectly normal. But now, why did he appear increasingly dazed?
That look on his face… he was practically drooling!
Shi Yao, on the other hand, seemed to be growing sharper lately!
The biggest change was that she kept zoning out now and then!
What state was "staring blankly"? It proved she was thinking!
Shiyao wasn't like this before—give me back my Shiyao!
But Ye Qinghan had no proof—it was all just speculation.
Besides, her master might not even notice Shiyao's transformation—to him, she'd probably always been a bit slow.
"Miss Muchan, I wish you luck~ Qinghan looks forward to the day you arrive at Lingxian Hall~"
Ye Qinghan appeared genuinely sincere in her blessing, her face radiating heartfelt emotion, as if she truly believed her own words.
"Thank you, Fairy Qinghan."
But aside from Li Shiyu, it was highly unlikely anyone else would take Ye Qinghan's words to heart.
For spoken aloud, those words sounded like mockery—as if telling Su Muchan to abandon such impossible dreams.
Most were merely spectators, unconcerned with such nuances—Ye Qinghan included. She meant no mockery, but neither did she offer genuine blessing.
Having a precedent to learn from was certainly beneficial. They could reflect on their sisters' experiences with apprenticeship to guide their own actions.
Still, the saying "better early than late" held profound truth.
Many things come with both advantages and disadvantages.
It's like three chefs taking turns cooking for a young lady. Arrive too early, and you might not quite grasp her tastes. Arrive too late, and she might already be full.
The number of direct disciples at Lingxian Hall is limited~
The crowd gathering to watch was growing larger by the minute, especially around a small stall.
Whether drawn by reputation, seeking genuine apprenticeship, or simply joining the commotion, all now gathered around that small wooden table.
Whispers filled the air as those in the know explained Lingxian Hall to the uninitiated.
The Lingxian Hall's recruitment brochure needed neither distribution nor preparation.
Many familiar faces had gathered—Shi Mingyi, Cang Jue, Shangguan Rou, and prodigies from other sects had all come to join the commotion.
"Master Su, still pretending to sleep?"
Shangguan Rou spoke up, and it was clear Shi Mingyi was also curious about this. He wanted to see how Master Su selected his disciples.
"Hm? Master isn't pretending to sleep—Master is actually asleep~"
Li Shiyao tilted her head, glancing at Cangjue, who looked guilty. But Cangjue merely yawned and averted her gaze…
Cang Jue was here to maintain order. She hadn't come specifically to see Su Cheng—he was just a man. What was there to see?
Right, she was only worried about riots breaking out here. What if someone started a fight or caused trouble?
After all, Master Su Cheng's disciples weren't exactly the most well-behaved bunch. Someone needed to keep order~
Though she and Su Cheng weren't exactly close—they'd only met a few nights ago—if they were his disciples, she could lend a hand too~
After all, Su Cheng had saved her brother, hadn't he?
But one thing's worth mentioning—even when he's sleeping face-down, my Chengcheng still looks kinda handsome~
Hehe~
"Huh? Asleep?"
"Master handles countless affairs each day, revels nightly, and studies by candlelight—it's exhausting, you know~"
Li Shiyao looked dead serious, as if she were recounting actual events. It seemed like her Master truly was working himself to the bone in her eyes!
Cang Jue smiled without comment—though she wasn't entirely wrong?
Feasting and revelry night after night… that really is exhausting~
"Is that so? But 'feasting and revelry night after night' isn't quite how you use that phrase…"
Li Shiyao didn't care. She was convinced her master was truly exhausted!
"Elder Shi, you wouldn't believe it—Shiyuo reads idiom books every single day now. She's learned so many idioms! Basically, she stays up all night!"
Shi Mingyi gave an awkward chuckle. Li Shiyu was now practically a disciple of the Immortal Sect. Even he, an elder who’d watched the Holy Maiden grow up, had to show some social grace.
Shiyao didn't understand such social niceties, nor did she particularly like them. She was a child who accepted the truth and loved to speak it.
This month, the weather had grown somewhat warm—not yet sweltering, but definitely hotter.
The early morning had passed, and now the sun blazed overhead, driving the temperature rapidly upward.
"Shiyao, why are you always clinging to me?"
Ye Qinghan glanced at Li Shiyu clinging to her, his expression softening with indulgent affection.
At times like this, Li Shiyu would always snuggle close to Ye Qinghan, finding it slightly cooler beside her senior sister.
"Senior Sister~ Shiyao is so hot, it's cooler next to you~"
"Is that so?"
Ye Qinghan didn't mind, as long as Li Shiyu didn't start groping around.
Her gaze instinctively drifted to Dongfang Jue beside her. Their eyes met, and Dongfang Jue raised an eyebrow at Ye Qinghan, wearing an expression of helplessness.
Ye Qinghan was puzzled, then followed Dongfang Jue's gaze to a small table nearby.
Her master sat there quietly, just as before.
Not seeing it was fine, but once she did, Ye Qinghan discovered a scene that made her feel inadequate.
There stood Chu Youwei, who had been nowhere to be seen until now. She stood properly beside Su Cheng, her divine power enveloping him to shield him from the summer heat.
Divine arts swirled around her, causing the temperature near Chu Youwei to plummet as if an air conditioner had been turned on.
This scene truly stunned Ye Qinghan.
None of the three so-called direct disciples had considered this possibility—that their master might feel the heat too.
What embarrassed Ye Qinghan most was that Chu Youwei wasn't putting on a show. She never considered this worth mentioning.
It was simply her duty as a direct disciple—even though she was barely considered an outer-door disciple now, merely a nominal one.
Some people were simply born to be masters.
Yu Lan addressed her as "Miss" as well. She wasn't an outsider, nor had she ever considered herself one.
"I'm starting to like her."
Dongfang Jue pouted. "What's there to pretend about? It's obvious you like her."
Ye Qinghan watched from afar as the figure stood obediently beside her master. Chu Youwei stood tall and graceful, commanding respect without needing to raise her voice. She radiated an imposing presence yet remained serene and composed.
"Don't say things like that. She's not that kind of person."
Dongfang Jue rolled her eyes. You're all so high and mighty~
You're all so noble!
You're all such noble souls!
Only little Jue here is petty~
"Then what kind of person does Senior Sister say she is?"
"Heh, didn't you notice? She and White Peach seem to get along pretty well?"
The two outcasts of Lingxian Hall—these past days, they seemed to have become good friends?
When Dongfang Jue looked over at Chu Youwei again, someone else was now beside her.
Bai Tao sat nearby, basking in the cool aura emanating from Chu Youwei.
"Youwei, is this guy really that great? Why do you like him so much?"
"Shh, don't disturb the Master's rest."
"Is it really that serious? Is Little Sister Youwei that afraid of her?"
Chu Youwei merely turned her head slightly, glancing at Bai Tao beside her, and chuckled softly.
"Master is my one and only. I both revere and fear her—reverence for her boundless kindness as a teacher, fear of parting ways again."
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