“Young lady, think carefully about your decision! If none of the other choices appeal to you, feel free to join my central college, haha,” the sixth elder added, used to trying to smooth things over with his combative colleagues.

The induction ceremony was put on hold as all eyes focused on Yun Ruoyan. The few elders who had spoken looked at her as though they were eyeing a marbled cut of meat, but the students behind her did so with a potpourri of admiration, envy, jealousy, and hatred.

One glance brimming with hatred came from Yi Qianying. She had no idea how Yun Ruoyan had managed to be so well-received wherever she went, despite her horrifying and distasteful appearance. Had she managed to practice her demonic arts even within Kongming Academy, entrancing and bewitching the elders?

Yun Ruoyan turned to Li Mo in desperation, but he was serenely looking down at the floor and seeming to take no part in the conflict. Vexed, Yun Ruoyan retracted the token that she had just been about to place in the southern college’s jar. 

If you don’t care about my choice, then I won’t choose the southern college!

As if she had suddenly come to a decision, she extended her hand toward the northern college’s jar, but then she immediately moved it to the western college’s jar instead. Yun Ruoyan’s indecision caused the elders and her fellow students to crane their necks as they followed the path of her palm.

“Would you like to study under me?” The first elder, who sat at the center of the other elders, suddenly spoke up. His voice wasn’t particularly loud, but everyone present heard his invitation clearly and was shocked.

“First Elder, you’re taking a disciple?!” the fourth elder asked.

“First Elder, you’ve promised to only take in one disciple your entire life.” The second elder frowned, and the wrinkles by his mouth grew even more pronounced. “Is the word of the first elder of Kongming Academy forfeit?!”

The second elder’s harsh judgment caused the other elders to look at the first elder with some doubt.

“I stand by my word,” the first elder replied calmly. “As the first elder of Kongming Academy, I am naturally held to a high standard.”

“In that case, First Elder, what did you mean by claiming that you would take this young girl as a disciple?” the second elder pressed.

The first elder stroked his white beard. “You must have misheard me, for I have made no such offer. I merely asked if she would wish to study under me.”

“Study under you, meaning—” The second elder suddenly stilled. He turned to Li Mo, as if he had just thought of something.

Li Mo slowly raised his head and met the second elder’s glance, smiling gently in the same manner as the first elder.

“Elders, it is my intention to take on a disciple.” Li Mo stood up. “Owing to my status, however, I entreated my master to speak up on my behalf.”

The elders had been fighting with each other for Yun Ruoyan, only to be foiled by the sudden appearance of another rival.

The second elder commented angrily, “It looks like twelve strikes of lightning were still too little for you! If you ever end up in my hands again, you’ll receive no fewer than twenty strikes!”

“Senior Brother, since you’re aware that your status is below that of the elders, why are you still competing with them for disciples?” Rong Tianhai interrupted. “Although I joined Kongming Academy after you, I’m a few years older in age. I’d also like to take on a disciple, but shouldn’t those of our generation wait until our elders have done so?”

“Junior Brother, your words are reasonable—but if I have the qualifications to take on a disciple, why should I not take advantage of that opportunity?” Li Mo retorted. “As you know, Kongming Academy requires consent between both master and student. I am simply providing this Miss Yun with another choice beyond the five she has already received.”

“But…” Rong Tianhai was about to continue arguing when Li Mo raised a hand, his domineering aura suppressing Rong Tianhai and preventing him from speaking further.

Li Mo turned to Yun Ruoyan. “Miss Yun, will you take me as your master?”

Yun Ruoyan met Li Mo’s eyes with consternation, and the two exchanged a wordless communication. 

You’re not serious, are you? You really want to take me as a disciple?

Do you have any better choice? 

Li Mo’s eyes glanced askance at the elders present.

Of course not. 

Yun Ruoyan shook her head slightly. 

But you won’t be able to marry me afterwards!

For a master to marry one of his disciples was a serious breach of decorum, one that couldn’t be tolerated in the Li kingdom—unless Li Mo had no intention of marrying her from the beginning!

[1]

When Li Mo realized the reason behind Yun Ruoyan’s hesitation, he smirked. It looked as though she really were getting interested in him, if she were seriously considering marriage. At the same time, however, he was a little anxious, worried that she would choose one of the other elders in a fit of pettiness.

The second elder spoke up once more. “Young lady, think carefully about your options. There are 3,600 students in Kongming Academy, only fifty of which are disciples of the six elders. I’m the second elder, and you’ll be of the same standing as he is if you take me as your master. If you take Li Mo, you’ll simply remain one among three thousand.” 

Believe in me! 

Li Mo looked resolutely at Yun Ruoyan.

Was she to take Li Mo as a master, or should she aim to be of the same standing as he was? Yun Ruoyan really did hesitate for a moment. The latter would imply that she would be afforded a high status almost immediately upon joining Kongming Academy, and the rest of the students would all have to address her respectfully. However, it was evident that these elders were interested not in her, but rather in her possessions. If she were to become their disciples, the amaranthine sun would likely no longer be hers.

But if she were to become Li Mo’s disciple, neither the Yun family nor the emperor himself would condone their marriage. 

Li Mo, what’s your plan?

Yun Ruoyan clenched her teeth as she mulled it over. Finally, she announced, “I, Yun Ruoyan, hereby choose to take Li Mo as my master.”

Yun Ruoyan’s words shocked most present. The prestige and status she was forfeiting was something that others might work their entire lives to gain! Wouldn’t she regret that decision in the future?!

But those whose sights weren’t focused on the short term thought differently. The first disciple of the first disciple of the first elder… if she lived long enough, she might become the first elder in her own time. Even if she wasn’t anyone important at present, it would be best to avoid offending her.

“Young lady, don’t be impetuous! Think carefully,” the third elder advised.

“Elders, my mind is set.” Once she had made a decision, she had no intention of changing her mind. She knelt down in front of Li Mo. “Your disciple Yun Ruoyan greets her master.”

Li Mo slowly sat down and accepted Yun Ruoyan’s kowtow. She did it thrice, and Li Mo motioned for her to rise. Then, she turned toward the first elder and repeated the process.

“Yun Ruoyan greets her master’s master.”

The first elder waved a hand, again motioning for her to rise.

“Yan’er, come over here.” Li Mo motioned to Yun Ruoyan kindly.

Yun Ruoyan wasn’t feeling particularly good. She glared at Li Mo, her heart aching at his lighthearted behavior. Suppressing her flustered feelings, she strode toward Li Mo.

Without looking at her face, Li Mo took the identification token in her hands and began inscribing it with his finger: Yun Ruoyan, first disciple of Li Mo, first disciple of the first elder of Kongming Academy, 523 years since the inception of the Chenyuan continent.

Yun Ruoyan took the proffered token back numbly, her eyes cold when she next looked at Li Mo. 

Li Mo, was this what you wanted from the start?

After the ceremony, she stood behind Li Mo as she waited for the other students to pick their colleges. With Yun Ruoyan as example, the third and fourth elders then bickered over Wang Meng. The famed pillmaking genius eventually entered the fourth elder’s college.

Lin Qingxue, Lin Qingchen, and Zhuo Yifeng all entered the southern college.

Yi Qianying and Pei Ziao entered the northern college.

In the end, only three unassuming youths were placed in the central college. Their faces were bitter and ashen, as if they had just received news of their mother’s passing.

“What kind of expression is this?” the sixth elder grumbled, dissatisfied. “Don’t look down on the central college, now. After all, I came from the central college, and I was a disciple of the old first elder himself! If you work hard and apply yourself, I’m sure you can become the next me.”

The sixth elder’s somewhat dubious encouragement left the youths a little more energized.

After the induction ceremony, the students were all told to report to their respective colleges starting tomorrow. Yun Ruoyan waved a hand at Li Mo, then headed back to her own cottage with Lin Qingchen.

Li Mo whispered from behind, “I’ll go find you at night.”

Yun Ruoyan, hurt and angry, ignored him as she left. When night came, she didn’t have to wait very long before Li Mo emerged from the window. Yun Ruoyan immediately stood up straight as she bowed toward Li Mo, her eyes glinting. “Your disciple pays her respects, Master!”

Li Mo rolled his eyes, grabbing her waist and embracing her tightly.

“Yo-You, what are you doing?!” Yun Ruoyan flailed to no avail, her face indignant. “As my master, how can you be so intimate with me?!”

1. The master-student relationship is treated in much the same way as a parent-child relationship in terms of tutelage, importance, and care.

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