"Your sect leader disapproved of my coming to Tianyi Sect to eat and drink for free, so he captured me and made me work as a laborer. But let me make one thing clear in advance: I haven't taught any new disciples for hundreds of years. If I don't explain things well later, or if there's anything you don't understand, I won't take responsibility. If you want to blame someone, blame your sect leader. You're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

Du Zhong was also very direct; he first said he couldn't teach new disciples well, but then he emphasized his own abilities at the end.

The disciple laughed a few times to flatter him, and Du Zhong continued speaking in a relaxed tone, as if they were talking among friends.

When the topic turned to the basics of medical cultivation, Fang Ruotang sat up straight. She could actually refine a few elixirs, and her method was the same as that of Gu Yanjin and the other six—she learned them by secretly observing others.

She didn't intentionally steal it; she just had a very good memory and saw it several times while strolling around Medicine King Valley.

There's nothing we can do about it!

Her legs have a mind of their own.

That's why he strolled over to someone else's alchemy room and happened to be watching them refine pills.

What a coincidence!

This was probably the first time Fang Ruotang had listened to a lecture so attentively, and before she knew it, the morning had passed.

Du Zhong's teaching style was humorous and witty. After his guidance, many people who were easily confused with certain medicinal herbs remembered the differences between them.

The first day of class was basically about understanding what medical cultivation is and getting to know some basic herbs; the lecture was conducted very quickly.

As soon as Du Zhong finished his lesson, Fang Ruotang immediately used her divine sense to send a telepathic message to Yi Ling to follow Du Zhong with her.

But to her surprise, Ling was stopped after only a few steps.

"No way! No way! You wouldn't have seduced the Grand Elder and then tried to seduce the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, would you? Don't you even know your cultivation level? Are you even worthy?"

"That's right. Our Tianyi Sect is determined to become the largest sect in the entire Yun Shen Continent. Don't you dare ruin our sect's reputation. Look at who else is like you, always going down evil paths and chasing after Valley Master Du."

"That's right. Let me tell you, it's one thing for you to embarrass the sect, but if you embarrass others and upset our sect leader, see if we don't deal with you."

Fang Ruotang was dumbfounded. She glanced ahead and saw Du Zhong, who was about to walk out of the hall as if he had wheels of fire under his feet, and Yi Ling standing behind him.

From this perspective, isn't her problem even bigger?

Yi Ling followed obediently behind her the whole time.

"Thank you for caring so much about my reputation, but don't let me hear you speak ill of Yiling again, understand?"

Fang Ruotang turned around, her expression hardening, and sternly reprimanded him.

Several people blocking Yi Ling's path looked at this new face with blank expressions and asked irritably, "Who are you? Are you an inner disciple? Are you an outer disciple or a new disciple who has just joined the sect? We've never seen you before."

Fang Ruotang then remembered that she was still using a magic weapon to conceal her appearance. She immediately revealed her true face and looked at the group of disciples in front of her with an imposing presence.

Do you recognize me now?

The disciples' pupils widened in shock, and they hurriedly apologized to Fang Ruotang.

He also speaks with a stutter.

"Sect Master, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you."

"Sect Master, I'm so sorry."

...

Fang Ruotang coldly surveyed the group of people around her and sternly reprimanded them: "You're not apologizing to me, but to Yiling. You're all adults, yet you believe everything you hear. If Yiling had something going on with my father, would I accept her as my disciple? Use your brains and think about it, okay?"

"The person who gossiped in front of you was her twin sister, Yi Ying. I was traveling when I took Yi Ling as my disciple. I only heard about the Grand Elder being scammed after I came back. Yi Ling has nothing to do with the Grand Elder. The sisters didn't get along in the past and didn't live in the same place."

"Don't let me hear anyone gossiping like this again, or you'll be kicked out of Tianyi Sect. Since you don't want to cultivate properly and only want to talk nonsense, then bring a stool to the village entrance and have a proper talk."

Fang Ruotang berated everyone, venting her anger. The disciples were so frightened that they dared not speak. Even Du Zhong, who had just been wearing fire wheels on his feet, came back to watch the show.

Fang Ruotang didn't take it seriously, after all, she had agreed to the matter and left it to Yiling to handle herself.

They didn't even ask the disciples to admit their mistakes. Otherwise, wouldn't it be alright for Ling Hui to just say sorry?

So, how will Ling retaliate against the other party?

"Alright, everyone disperse! Yiling, come with me, I have something to tell you."

The disciples all bowed, as if to see them off respectfully.

Fang Ruotang walked ahead, and Yi Ling quickly followed. After they had walked a distance, Fang Ruotang asked.

"Don't blame me for saying that without permission, okay?"

"No, Master wants to protect his disciple, and the disciple understands."

"Okay! Let's leave it at that! Anyway, it was her all along, we won't take the blame for her. Our Yiling is just a simple girl."

Fang Ruotang stopped and tenderly patted the back of Yiling's head.

Yi Ling wasn't used to such intimacy, but she felt very warm inside. Her master had actually lied for her sake.

It's all those gossipy people's fault. I'll see how she deals with them later. It seems the poison she used before was too mild, which is why they didn't know their own limitations and dared to flaunt it in front of her, only to be caught red-handed by her master.

I wonder if her master thinks she's useless, a disciple personally taught by the sect leader, being bullied by a group of inner disciples.

Unlike her senior sister and second senior brother, who were so young yet held such a deep authority in the sect, she was someone she would strive to emulate in the future.

"Thank you, Master. I will never bring shame upon you."

Suddenly, Yi Ling was full of fighting spirit, and Fang Ruotang had no idea what Yi Ling was thinking.

But she really wanted to say that no matter what Yi Ling did, she couldn't smear her. With her status, who would hold a grudge against her just because one of her disciples got into trouble?

If that day ever comes, people will only lament that the disciple was unlucky, or that he didn't cherish such a good master.

It's impossible that Fang Ruotang is the reason, because people admire strength.

"Valley Master Du, this is my eighth disciple, who also entered the Dao through medicine. I'll have to trouble you to teach her properly these days. Oh, and since you're going to reshape Yi Yue's body, you can keep her to assist you!"

Du Zhong gave Fang Ruotang a lot of face and agreed without hesitation, speaking very eloquently.

"Then thank you, Sect Leader Fang. I happen to be without a disciple by my side, and there's no one to help me with some trivial matters. But you won't mind if I ask her to do things for me, will you?"

"You can order her around, but you can't exploit her."

Yi Ling gently raised her eyes, wanting to say that she wasn't afraid of being exploited, as long as she didn't die. Learning real skills was more important than anything else. But she wasn't stupid and wouldn't undermine her master or refuse her kindness.