Chapter 21 Deputy Sect Leader?
Mu Yao has been at Fox Hill for over a month, but Yun Niang has been bringing her meals three times a day, so today is her first time visiting the dining hall of the Tianli Divine Sect.
Breakfast time hadn't ended yet, so there were still quite a few people in the dining hall. Mealtime was a rare time for rest and relaxation, so the disciples in the dining hall would chat idly while eating, especially since the trial had suddenly stopped yesterday, and the disciples had later been sent to search for someone all over the mountain, which had aroused a lot of speculation.
"Hey, have you heard? The sect leader has taken on a disciple!" At a square table near the entrance of the dining hall, a man dressed in black was holding a steamed bun, dipping it in chili oil from a saucer, and putting it in his mouth. His eyes, gleaming with gossip, seemed to be enjoying the bun as much as his mouth.
As he ate, he said, "And what's more, she's a female disciple. Yesterday, the sect leader suddenly stopped the trials just to find his disciple."
The woman in blue opposite him rolled her eyes at him: "Are you stupid? The person we were looking for yesterday was clearly a woman. How could the sect leader possibly accept a woman in her thirties or forties as a disciple? I know this better than anyone."
Upon hearing this, a group of people eating nearby perked up their ears, and some even turned their heads to wait for what would happen next.
The woman said smugly, "The sect leader did indeed take on a disciple, but yesterday he arranged for us to find not his disciple, but the disciple's mother."
"No wonder. I knew it. How could the sect leader, who is so young, take someone who looks older than him as his disciple?"
"Actually, the sect leader isn't young anymore. I remember he used to be in the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. I have a brother who's fifty years old and used to be in the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect too. He told me that our sect leader is at least in his thirties. However, the sect leader is exceptionally talented and achieved immortality when he was only twenty. So he looks very young."
“No wonder,” another woman’s sweet voice rang out. “When I first entered the sect, he looked like a twenty-year-old. Six years have passed, and I feel like I’ve aged a lot, but he’s still so young. Sigh, when will I be able to cultivate an ageless body?”
"Hey, don't interrupt, let me finish." The woman in blue, whose eyes were brimming with undisguised gossip, beckoned everyone over and lowered her voice slightly:
"I think the sect leader treats his little disciple quite differently. For a while, he accompanied her to practice every day. Yesterday, he even stopped the trial to help her find someone. Tell me, how could the sect leader, who is usually so aloof, be so attentive to a disciple who has just started practicing?"
"Why else? Because I like it!"
"That little girl looks only eight or nine years old. If the sect leader likes her, he'll probably take her as a child bride. Why would he take her as a disciple?"
The man in black who spoke first said, "How can your thoughts be so despicable? How could the sect leader be that kind of person? Isn't it normal for a sect leader to be good to his disciples?"
“But we’re not the Qingyun Sect, we don’t do that kind of thing with taking on disciples. If he didn’t have any feelings for a young girl, why would he take her on as a disciple? And why would he only take her on, and even give her special permission not to participate in the entrance trial? I find that strange.”
The man in black said, "Who said he'd only take one disciple? What if he takes on more after this trial?"
"Yes, yes, it seems that some of the new disciples this time are indeed quite talented. In our cultivation, no matter which path we cultivate, don't we value disciples with excellent innate talent the most? Isn't it normal to want to cultivate good seedlings?"
Seeing that the others didn't believe her, the woman in blue became anxious: "Do you dare to make a bet? Ten taels of silver, I bet the sect leader won't accept any disciples after this trial!"
The man in black became even more interested when he saw that she wanted to gamble: "Alright, I'll bet twenty taels of silver that he will accept the disciple ranked first in the trial."
The woman in blue retorted, "Then I'll raise the price! If you lose, you'll not only have to give me twenty taels of silver, but you'll also have to cook for Su Zhenzhen for five years!"
Wow, five years' worth of food!
The people around them were immediately excited when they heard about the bet, because they hadn't seen anything so interesting in the dining hall for a long time.
The man in black's face darkened, and he said angrily, "Your bet is unfair. The sect leader isn't taking any disciples this year, but what if he is next year? If we're going to bet, let's bet bigger. If the sect leader doesn't take any disciples after this year's trial, I'll pay you twenty taels of silver and provide you with meals for a year. If he still doesn't take any next year, I'll provide you with meals for two more years. If he doesn't take any disciples for three consecutive years, I'll provide you with meals for five years. If you lose, then you have to provide me with meals for five years."
Su Zhenzhen got even more excited, her voice becoming increasingly shrill and loud: "What's five years? You'd better cook for me for the rest of your life!"
Upon hearing this, the man in black suddenly blushed for some reason: "You...you're not my wife, why should I cook for you for the rest of my life?"
"Hahahaha..." The crowd around burst into laughter. Suddenly, someone in the crowd started to jeer: "Hey, if you ask me, stop betting on who gets food for whom. Just change it to: if the man loses, he marries the woman, and if the woman loses, she marries the man."
Everyone burst into laughter again, and the woman named Su Zhenzhen blushed inexplicably, angrily saying, "What kind of bet is this? It's the same as before. Song the Fool, no matter who you marry in the future, if you lose, you'll have to cook for me for the rest of your life."
Although Song Daizi looks dull-witted, he takes bets very seriously: "Let's bet! I'm not afraid of you. We'll see who wins in seven days!"
The people in the dining hall were still immersed in the sudden commotion, and before they could recover, they suddenly heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice coming from the doorway:
"You don't need to wait seven days; you've already lost today."
Qin Wuyan and Mu Yao stood at the door, having overheard the lively discussion that had taken place in the dining hall. Normally, if he heard his disciples gossiping about him behind his back and using his affairs as bets, he would have certainly given them a good scolding. But for some reason, he wasn't angry today; his usually stern and cold voice now sounded like it was tinged with a smile.
Everyone turned to look at the source of the sound and were immediately stunned. The bustling dining hall fell silent instantly. Qin Wuyan rarely set foot in the dining hall. He didn't like eating with a group of people, and most of the time the dining hall would prepare his meals and deliver them to him. However, this morning, the person who delivered his breakfast didn't know that he had stayed at Peach Blossom Garden the night before and delivered it directly to Falling Star Palace.
When the group saw Qin Wuyan standing at the door with a little girl standing next to him, they were all so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe.
After a while, only Song Banshan recovered his senses and stammered in shock, "Sect...Sect Master...what...what did you just say?"
Qin Wuyan, abandoning his usual cold and stern demeanor, walked slowly to the disciples with a smile on his lips:
"I heard your bet just now, and I can tell you the answer now: I will not accept any disciples during this year's trial, and I will not accept any in the future."
He turned and pulled Mu Yao in front of him, looking up at the crowd with eyes like unsheathed weapons, gleaming with a cold, eerie light. Then, the familiar, majestic, and cold voice of the Divine Sect Master rang out in the silent dining hall: "I originally intended to announce this at the sect assembly after the trial. But since you are all so curious today, then you will all listen carefully!"
Qin Wuyan's voice suddenly grew louder, and the air in the dining hall seemed to tremble and shrink. Everyone fell silent, frozen like statues, even their breathing became as if walking on thin ice. They could only hear the voice in their ears saying:
"Her surname is Mu, and her given name is Yao. She is my newly accepted disciple, my only disciple, and also the vice sect leader of the Tianli Divine Sect. From now on, Mu Yao's status in the Tianli Divine Sect is second only to mine. Everyone should treat Mu Yao as if she were me. No one is allowed to be disrespectful in front of her, much less bully her. Do you all understand?"
Not just taking on disciples, but becoming the vice sect leader?!
The disciples looked at each other, their faces filled with shock.
Their gazes all turned to the girl named Mu Yao. She wore a light green dress, as beautiful and refined as spring water, and her bright eyes, like autumn water and starlight, were staring blankly at everyone.
How could an eight or nine-year-old girl become the deputy sect leader?
Many disciples opened their mouths, wanting to question Qin Wuyan's decision, but none dared to utter a sound. Though they were dissatisfied, who dared disobey the sect leader's command?
In the ensuing silence, Su Zhenzhen reacted the fastest. She stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and respectfully bowed, replying, "We humbly obey the Sect Master's orders and the Vice Sect Master's orders!" She was always adept at reading people's expressions, and having already heard of Qin Wuyan's great care for his new disciple, she made no attempt to hide it. This person's position in Qin Wuyan's heart was not to be underestimated. Naturally, she wouldn't let such an opportunity to curry favor with the Sect Master slip by.
Besides, she's just a little girl, probably without even spiritual power. What's wrong with calling her "Vice Sect Master"? Perhaps there will be many times in the future when we need this little girl's help.
Upon hearing Su Zhenzhen's words, the group of disciples behind her snapped out of their daze and knelt down in a rush. Their initial responses were as faint as mosquitoes, but they quickly coalesced into a deep, resounding roar like a bronze bell: "We will obey the sect leader's orders and the vice sect leader's orders!"
Mu Yao was stunned.
Qin Wuyan remained calm and smiled faintly: "Get up. Those who should practice, go practice. I'll say it one last time: do your job well and don't gossip about things you shouldn't, or next time, it might not be so simple."
Everyone lowered their heads even further, sweating profusely, and replied in hushed tones, "Yes, yes, thank you, Sect Master! This disciple takes his leave."
The disciples scattered like birds and beasts, leaving only Elder Liu, who was in charge of the dining hall, and a few cooks standing there, frozen in place. He held a long rice ladle, looking at Qin Wuyan helplessly, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, before finally mustering up the courage to ask in a low voice, "Sect... Sect Master, would you like something to eat?"
Qin Wuyan didn't reply to him, but looked at Mu Yao and asked, "Yao'er, what do you want to eat?" Before Mu Yao could answer, he smiled and said, "Look at me, you don't even know what's here."
He looked at Elder Liu and said, "What's left from breakfast? Bring up a little of everything."
"Yes, yes!" Elder Liu was overjoyed and urged the cooks beside him in a low voice as he walked, "Hurry up and get ready."
Only Qin Wuyan and Mu Yao remained in the spacious dining hall. After they sat down, Mu Yao was still somewhat dazed. "Master, I...I..." She didn't know how to ask. Just now, seeing so many people kneel before her because of Qin Wuyan's few words, she was both shocked and frightened, yet also felt a faint, indescribable joy. But this joy was quickly overwhelmed by fear, and she couldn't help but frown, saying, "Master, how can I become the vice sect leader?"
She clearly didn't know anything yet, but those people's eyes showed their disdain. She was touched by Qin Wuyan's care for her, but she knew that their submission wasn't because of her, but because of Qin Wuyan.
Qin Wuyan took a small sip of tea and smiled, "If I say you are, then you are. I know you're worried they won't accept it, but this is for your future. I can't always be by your side. Once they know your status, they naturally won't dare to neglect you."
“But…” Mu Yao was still a little displeased and pouted, “If that’s the case, I feel like a fox.”
"Huh?" Qin Wuyan asked, puzzled.
"You're just borrowing someone else's power." Mu Yao frowned, clearly displeased.
Qin Wuyan couldn't help but laugh, "You're quite good at your studies. Indeed."
“Master…” Mu Yao stamped her foot, “You’re not allowed to laugh at me!” It wasn’t her choice to do this; she was the one who was forced into this arrangement.
"I'm not laughing at you." Qin Wuyan's eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles. When he smiled, his eyes were bright and charming. Every time Mu Yao saw those eyes, her heart would race. His gentle voice sounded softly in her ear: "This is to protect you, but also to urge you to cultivate. The Divine Sect holds the Heavenly Fox Assembly every three years. If you can defeat the disciples in the assembly, then it won't be considered 'borrowing the tiger's might,' right?"
"The Celestial Fox Tournament? Is it a competition?"
"Yes, each hall in the sect will send someone to fight. The winner will be given a weapon of extraordinary power, a scroll of the sect's spell manual, and a bottle of spiritual medicine that can enhance cultivation. Of course, if the winner does not need these, they can make other requests."
As they spoke, Elder Liu had already ordered his men to set out a variety of pastries on the table, including crispy buns, osmanthus cakes, cloud cakes, jade steamed pastries, crystal steamed dumplings, walnut cups, glutinous rice balls, golden sand pastries, phoenix eye pastries, dragon beard noodles, plum blossom soup cakes, and so on. The aroma was enticing and mouthwatering.
Mu Yao's previously subsided stomach was awakened by the table full of delicious food. Her eyes sparkled, but she didn't know where to start when she picked up her chopsticks.
There were so many delicious foods, all of which she loved, that she didn't know which one to eat first.
Seeing her hesitate for a long time, Qin Wuyan finally picked up a piece of osmanthus cake with her left hand and a broken pastry bun with her right, taking a bite from each. He laughed and couldn't help but tease her, "Your way of eating is truly spreading the love evenly."
Mu Yao took a bite of the osmanthus cake, swallowing as she asked, "What does 'equal distribution of rain and dew' mean?"
"Cough cough..."
Qin Wuyan then realized that he shouldn't have joked with such a young child, so he said, "No... it's nothing. I was just saying that you seem to really like these pastries."
Mu Yao picked up a round and cute steamed dumpling, took a small bite, and said with great satisfaction, "Yes, I love this canteen so much. They make all my favorite dishes."
Seeing her eat with such delight, her cheeks puffed out as if holding precious jewels, Qin Wuyan felt a gentle ripple spread across his heart, like a spring breeze rippling a still pond. A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips, his voice carrying a gentle, warm tone: "I'm glad you like it..."
"Master, you should eat too!" Mu Yao said, forking a bun for Qin Wuyan as she ate. "These buns are delicious."
Qin Wuyan paused for a moment, then said calmly, "You eat it, I don't like steamed buns."
If we're talking about the food Qin Wuyan hates the most, steamed buns are definitely number one.
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