Chapter 19: Narrow Sea Azure (Part 2): Pretty, Aloof, But Feels Like It Could Easily Break Part 2

“Wait a bit longer.” The words on the paper were elegant and precise, neatly arrayed. Panxiang Yin said, “You’re injured, aren’t I? I smell blood.”

Mu Qian Tan started, wondering if she was probing something. Seeing her expression unchanged, it was probably just concern, so she set aside her suspicion.

To this point, she truly hadn’t properly tended her wound. Perhaps habituated to it, she hadn’t noticed any scent, but now that it was pointed out, better to be honest to avoid slip-ups.

“I passed through Prosperous Joy and encountered a demon. I took action…”

“I heard,” Panxiang Yin said approvingly. “You did well. But since you’re hurt, rest first. Perfect timing too—disciples from other sects are coming to study here. That class would suit you perfectly.”

Hearing she had to teach, Mu Qian Tan’s head throbbed. “I…”

But Panxiang Yin misunderstood. “Don’t push yourself. Listen to your godmother—take a rest.”

The words she wanted to say swallowed back, Mu Qian Tan sighed lightly in silence.

When she emerged from the cottage, Panxiang Yin’s mentioned class content still echoed in her mind.

Before hearing it, she thought she absolutely couldn’t handle such a responsibility. After, she realized no one was more suited than her.

In the courtyard, Shang Shan squatted by the pond observing. Hearing footsteps, she twitched her ear tips and looked back. “The Sect Master built a big pond for the fish.”

Mu Qian Tan came up behind her and peered down. The fish Shang Shan had casually tossed into the jar last time now had a new home—the jar was gone, replaced by a square pond for the plump fish to swim in. It had sandy landscaping, drought-tolerant grasses along the edges, and floating duckweed for decoration.

Mu Qian Tan’s face remained cold. “Satisfied? The Sect Master properly raised the gift from an unnamed nobody like you.”

“It wasn’t a gift—just grabbed it casually and forgot to release it.” Shang Shan climbed down from the pond edge, wiped the water from teasing the fish off her hands. “Why say it like that? Sounds so weird.”

Mu Qian Tan said, “From now on, without my permission, don’t come near me.”

Shang Shan said, “You’ve beaten me several times already—are you still mad?”

Mu Qian Tan stared at her fixedly for a few moments, then shifted her gaze and walked out. Shang Shan rubbed her panda eyes, bid the fish goodbye, and followed dejectedly.

The next afternoon, Mu Qian Tan took Shang Shan and left the Narrow Sea. She first dropped her at the schoolhouse, then went to the sect’s Demon Suppressing Mountain. After carefully selecting a batch of demons, she arrived just in time for class.

The schoolhouse sat midway up the mountainside, amid lush green shade, with gentle breezes revealing white walls and dark tiles beneath the dense leaves—stately, aged, thick with scholarly air. Before even entering, she heard the boys’ cheerful chatter, fragmented, rising and falling.

Mu Qian Tan entered the door and glanced down. The class wasn’t crowded—half the seats were empty, and the students’ attire was a motley mix, clearly not from the same sect.

A while ago, the families and sects had come to hold the Assembly Council, bringing along quite a few juniors. Although they were all from immortal sects, each family’s cultivation atmosphere differed vastly, and most leaned toward seclusion. As such, there weren’t many chances to mingle with peers on ordinary days. After arriving this time and catching Tianyu Sect’s unique open vibe, they grew eager to give it a try and experience it for themselves.

The sect elders happened to be gathered together. Upon hearing this idea, they requested Sect Master Pan to allow the disciples to stay at Tianyu Sect and attend lectures for a few months. Panxiang Yin had always adhered to the principle that knowledge knew no barriers, so she naturally agreed.

However, keeping all the students behind wasn’t realistic. After some discussion, they decided to select only the most promising ones to stay for the lectures. Thus, the classroom wasn’t crowded at that moment, filled mostly with the top talents from each family—the elite of the elite.

Other hall masters or instructors had previously taught various subjects, but today’s lesson fell to Mu Qian Tan.

The moment she stepped in, the students who had been chatting animatedly fell silent as if they had seen a ghost. They quietly returned to their seats, and the room’s atmosphere grew tense.

Amid the full hall, only one person kept holding forth loudly: Shang Shan.

She perched on another student’s desk, her back to the podium, gesturing wildly as she recounted her various encounters in Prosperous Joy City. She riled up the crowd, who vented endless hatred and curses toward Young Master Huo. Qin He had been reviewing her lessons at her desk, chuckling softly as she listened. But when she noticed the sudden shift in atmosphere, she looked up, her face changing as she tugged at Shang Shan’s clothes.

Shang Shan was in the middle of an exciting bit and didn’t want to stop, but she turned her head, spotted Flapping Moth at the door, and immediately went limp. She slid off the desk and sat down beside Qin He.

Mu Qian Tan’s emotionless gaze swept over the crowd. Only once everything was utterly quiet did she slowly walk to the podium. She hadn’t done a thing, yet the students trembled in fear, as if some vicious fiend had mounted the stage.

It was only natural for students to fear their teachers, but their perfect obedience stemmed from another cause. No need to spell it out—it was surely Yao’e Immortal’s infamous reputation for brutality, cold-bloodedness, and bloodthirstiness.

You could goof off in other instructors’ classes, whisper, pass notes. If caught, you’d face at most some copying as punishment. But provoke this one into a rage, and your life was forfeit.

Qin He always sat in the front row out of habit, making it easy to answer questions. Only now did she register who was teaching the class.

When she sensed someone standing right in front of her, she buried her head low, unwilling to look up. Just recalling what had happened before twisted her heart in knots.

She had clearly been saved back in Prosperous Joy Workshop—at the very least, she owed a thank you. Her master had taught her to repay kindness, yet she stubbornly refused to face this woman, much less speak to her directly. So she had turned down the offer to travel together in Prosperous Joy City, and even after returning to the sect, she hadn’t sought her out.

Such rudeness would earn a harsh scolding from her master if discovered. But there was no helping it—she truly couldn’t face this person with composure.

She closed her eyes and drew in a sharp, cold breath. “Stand.”

The rustle of clothes filled the classroom as everyone cupped their hands toward the podium and chorused, “Greetings, Instructor Mu.”

With greetings ringing in her ears, standing tall and receiving such respect—even being called “teacher”—Mu Qian Tan hadn’t imagined she’d experience such a moment in her life. It felt novel, bringing a sense of comfort.

Shang Shan mimicked the others and performed the salute. Then she caught the unfamiliar surname and called up to the podium, “Your surname is Mu? Which Mu?”

Only now did she realize she still didn’t know this cheap master’s full name.

“……”

Even back in the most absurd elementary school days, she’d never seen a student straight-up ask a teacher’s surname in class—let alone from a disciple she’d taken on some time ago. Words failed; it was laughable!

Mu Qian Tan ignored her and shifted her gaze to the person beside her. Qin He still had that heroic young maiden look, her decorous posture impeccable, though her head remained deeply bowed, refusing to rise.

Li Biyuan thought: ‘The model class monitor, excelling in both character and academics—truly pretty, truly dashing.’

Mu Qian Tan’s gaze continued shifting until it landed on the classroom’s sole outlier—seated at the far right, occupying three rows of seats, complete with two maids: the young head of the White Serpent Family.

Her golden hair and green eyes always set her starkly apart from the crowd, matched by her uniquely arrogant demeanor and this current display. Her identity was plain as day. Mu Qian Tan called, “Fu Li.”

Fu Li glanced over and let out a casual “hmph.” It didn’t sound like a response so much as acknowledging a servant.

She was the only one in the class who didn’t stand for the salute, yet she showed no unease—instead acting entirely entitled as she slightly lifted her chin for her maid to pour tea.

This was utter lawlessness.

Qin He shot her a deeply dissatisfied glance. Even with a dubious foe on the podium, she’d still address her respectfully as “instructor” at a time like this, never embarrassing her in public. Thus, she couldn’t abide this little serpent’s slovenly disregard for decorum.

She had reminded her every class lately, yet the girl showed no remorse—in fact, she only grew bolder.

Anyone else could be disciplined on the spot. But this one hailed from the Source Mist Mountains, from that mysteriously haughty White Serpent Family. She couldn’t be easily offended, so there was nothing to do but tolerate it.

Seeing this, Mu Qian Tan spoke. “Why didn’t you bow to me?”

Fu Li replied, “We of the White Serpent Clan bow to no heaven, no earth, no one.”

“Is that so,” Mu Qian Tan said. “Then get out.”

Evidently unprepared for such a response, Fu Li froze for a moment before asking, “What?”

Mu Qian Tan tilted her head slightly. “I’m telling you to get out.”

A small stir rippled through the room.

Fu Li remained stunned for quite a while before grasping what had happened. Kicked out of class by the teacher just for refusing to bow? She’d never endured such humiliation in her life. Enraged, she shot to her feet, eyes blazing, teeth gritted. “Do you know who I am?”

Mu Qian Tan met her eyes. “Fu Li of the White Serpent Family, who bows to no one.”

Fu Li shot back, “Then how dare you speak to me like that?”

Mu Qian Tan walked slowly to her desk, placed both hands lightly on it, and stared straight into the girl’s eyes. “Then who gave you the nerve to speak to me like that?”

Fu Li swallowed hard, feeling the immense pressure from those icy eyes. Stiffly, she said, “Aren’t you afraid of angering me? Afraid my family will come for revenge?”

Mu Qian Tan asked, “Will you kill me?”

Fu Li started, assuming fear had struck. She laughed. “If you apologize to me now, then no…”

“If you can’t kill me,” Mu Qian Tan said calmly, “then I’ll kill you. How’s that?”

Fu Li went rigid in an instant, her fists clenched with audible creaks. After a long pause, she forced out through clenched teeth, “My family is very wealthy, with vast resources. I…”