While the disciples were taking their after-school tutoring, Shen Qingmang finished reviewing what he would be teaching tomorrow, let out a long breath, left the study, and returned to the bedroom, intending to put it into practice himself.
She sat cross-legged on the couch, closed her eyes, and breathed in and out spiritual energy. Gentle water, ardent fire, refreshing wood, hard gold, and steady earth were absorbed into her dantian one by one. Just as Shen Qingmang felt the warmth all over her body, a white light suddenly flashed in her mind, and then she found herself in another space.
It seems endless here, yet it seems to be only an inch of space. Everywhere you look, there are withered grass and dead trees. It is clearly mid-spring outside, but it feels as bleak as late autumn here.
Where is this?
She looked around, and suddenly a female voice came from above her head. "Visitor from another world, we finally see you."
"What are you talking about?" She looked up and down warily, but didn't see anyone.
"Haven't you ever felt a shred of guilt after occupying my home for so long?"
"I don't understand what you're saying." She said calmly.
"Stop pretending. Why are you pretending in front of me? I don't know what you're thinking. It was better when Qiongju was around. She said whatever she thought, unlike you who is so hypocritical."
"Are you her inner demon?"
It was invisible and traceless, yet it reappeared within the spirit palace. It could only be a demon within her heart. And when she listened carefully to the voice, it felt strange yet familiar. When a person speaks, the sound they hear through bone conduction is different from that heard by outsiders. This was probably the sound others heard when she spoke, right?
"Teacher Shen is really quick-witted. Yes, I am. But you're much easier to deal with than Qiongju. Her words and actions are consistent, and she's impeccable. But you're a hypocrite, full of loopholes, and too easy to manipulate."
"Tsk. Did I lie to you? You keep calling me a hypocrite." After confirming the other party's identity, Shen Qingmang was not so nervous anymore and started joking with him.
But the inner demon was stubborn and refused to respond. "You act like a saint in front of the old man and the students, but do you really have no selfish motives at all?"
"Of course I have selfish desires. Everyone has selfish desires, and I am no exception."
The inner demon laughed strangely. "Then I'm not wrong in calling you a hypocrite."
Shen Qingmang found the other party unreasonable. "Is there a conflict between my desire to benefit my students and my selfish motives? Does it mean that good people must always be kind and selfless to be considered good people? Why is there moral blackmail everywhere?"
"Come on, do you really care about your students? Then why would you rather train the outer disciples than communicate more with your inner disciples?"
“I treat inner and outer doors equally.”
"Come on, in the eyes of others, the inner disciples are your disciples, yet you deliberately avoid them. I know what you're thinking. Qiongju's death was certainly due to her poor teaching, but are Hao Xin and Si Rong truly innocent? Even if Qiongju was an unqualified teacher, does that mean one disciple betrayed their master and ancestors, while the other watched them die without helping?"
"They..." Shen Qingmang frowned and wanted to continue arguing, but was interrupted by his inner demon again.
"Do you really not hate your disciples at all? Aren't you afraid that they will kill you again? They are the protagonists of the novel. Are you sure you can change everything?" The voice of the inner demon became louder and louder.
"You are not Qiongju's inner demon! Otherwise, how would you know this is a novel?" Shen Qingmang caught the loophole in her words.
The inner demon's voice became soft, almost smiling. "How clever, Mr. Shen! Then guess who I am?"
Shen Qingmang's face turned pale and he stood still.
"You've only been here for a little over a month, and you're already so willing to devote yourself to these children? Have you forgotten the children in Class 1, Grade 9? They're still waiting for you to come back and see them."
"I..." She felt the temperature around her getting lower and lower, and the coldness seeped into her limbs and bones.
"If you let go of everything in the past, why would you look for a way to go back in time?"
The biggest secret in his heart was revealed, and Shen Qingmang felt like he was falling into an icy cave, and it was difficult for him to breathe.
"Master? Master!"
She suddenly opened her eyes, but before she could see who the other person was, her body collapsed and she fell forward. The other person caught her and held her in his arms. The cool fragrance of orchid brought her back to her senses.
"Sui Han?"
"Master, are you okay?" Gu Sui Han looked anxious.
Shen Qingmang broke free from his embrace and sat back on the couch. Seeing that his eldest disciple was only wearing a single layer of clothing, he blurted out, "It's cold at night. Why did you come out wearing so little?"
Gu Suihan was stunned for a moment, then said, "My junior brothers and sisters came to visit me in the middle of the night to ask for something. I was afraid that Master had fallen asleep, so I hurried over to check on him."
She rubbed her swollen temples and avoided her eldest disciple's gaze. "What's going on with Ah Rong and Ah Xin?"
"They missed Master a little and asked if he had time to tutor them after class."
Thinking of the inner demon's words, Shen Qingmang felt breathless again. She thought she had deceived everyone, including herself, but the inner demon could see through everything.
She wanted to do her best to educate her two apprentices, but she was also afraid that the logic of the plot could not be changed, and that she would have to rely on her own death to promote the protagonist's growth.
She was willing to be a good teacher here, but when she read the history of Taichu Sect and discovered that the ancient powerful people could reverse the world, she could not control herself from expecting it.
If there really was a magic that could reverse the universe and turn back time, could she return to modern society, to the time before her car accident? Would she no longer have to bear the pressure of being a cannon fodder female supporting role and could live an ordinary but happy life?
"Master? Did you have a nightmare again?" Gu Suihan held her hand, then let go with a shy smile. "I wanted to warm your hands, but I didn't expect mine to be even colder than yours."
Shen Qingmang came back to her senses, shook off the chaotic thoughts in her head, pulled Gu Suihan, who was squatting in front of her, up, and patted the bed beside her. "Aren't you tired? Sit down."
Gu Suihan's neck turned red. "Master..."
She belatedly realized that the bed was too intimate, and laughed, "Let's go to Yushu Hall. I'm fine, and you haven't told me what happened to them yet."
Gu Suihan stared at her and repeated his previous answer.
"Oh, yes, you did. I wasn't quite sober tonight." Shen Qingmang slapped his forehead. "Master, I understand. I'm sorry, I didn't fulfill my responsibilities."
"Master, you did a great job. There's no need to apologize." When the two of them walked out of the Qiongzhi Hall, Gu Suihan extended his hand to support them, and Shen Qingmang laughed.
"I'm not so far off the mark as to trip over the threshold. It's normal for you to have opinions. I just want the Outer and Inner Sects to get along harmoniously, so I have to be as fair as possible. I've overlooked that we should have a closer relationship."
She was indeed fine, but Gu Suihan stumbled over the threshold of Yushu Hall and held onto the doorframe. "W-what's the matter?"
"You are my direct disciples. I should take more responsibility for you. I will pay attention to you in the future."
They are all children who long for care, and she should not favor one over the other.
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