Chapter 9: Black Dragon Rending the Heavens (Part 4): The Disciple I Just Took In Has Some Loose Screws

Panxiang Yin noticed something off with her and asked softly, “Are you alright?”

The girl knelt on the ground, her two arms still clutched in her hands, yet she paid them no mind at all. She simply raised her head and stared at the black dragon. Her obsidian eyes flickered with orbs of light and apocalyptic visions, while a hidden glimmer of expectation seeped from their depths.

Her body wasn’t clean—not just damp, but also caked in mud and sand. Anyone who touched her would inevitably get dirty. Yet Panxiang Yin, in her pristine white robe, didn’t care in the slightest. She carefully helped the girl to her feet. When she received no response, she prepared to probe further, but suddenly a gust of wind swept in from behind.

Someone flashed to the girl’s side. With a flick of her sleeve, she yanked the mask atop the girl’s head down over her face, then smoothly slid it to the back of her head. Cupping it with one hand and pressing down with the other, she forced the girl to bow her head toward the ground, unable to lift it again.

The motion wasn’t gentle at all—practically done out of spite. Panxiang Yin said, “Yao’e?”

Mu Qian Tan didn’t even glance at her. She channeled more spiritual power, letting it slide down the girl’s hair until it pinched her lips shut, sealing them neatly. Only then did she speak indifferently, “The disciple I just took in has some loose screws. No need for everyone to pay it any mind.”

The hall fell silent for a moment before a chorus of sharp gasps echoed through it.

Yao’e Immortal, who had been single for so many years, had actually taken a disciple?

The crowd’s shock doubled as they processed it. She called the girl her own disciple, yet treated her so roughly in front of everyone. Recalling what the little girl had shouted upon entering the hall, they couldn’t help but suspect she’d been kidnapped.

The gazes thrown her way instantly soured. Plenty already disliked her, harboring pent-up resentment with nowhere to vent. This was their chance—they seized it, piling on with accusations.

“Your own conduct is improper, and now you’re taking disciples? What kind of person could you even teach? You’re just leading them astray.”

“I bet that disciple was abducted. With her ‘notorious reputation,’ who would dare approach her otherwise?”

“At such a grand Assembly Council, she’s the only one showing up late. Does she think too highly of herself, or does she just not give a damn about the rest of us?”

The vast Golden Hall buzzed with all sorts of remarks. Mu Qian Tan rolled her eyes inwardly. Yao’e Immortal, you’re such a failure. How could you tolerate these people badmouthing you behind your back for so long? If you’d ever made an example out of one—killed the chicken to scare the monkey, bravely fired back—no one would dare step on your head now.

She disdained wasting breath on such people, but when they pushed their luck, it grated on her. If the setting weren’t so inappropriate, she would’ve already struck where needed and cursed where needed. In her past life and this one, she’d never lost an argument. Handling these types was child’s play.

At that moment, someone said, “I just heard her disciples say that Yao’e Immortal hasn’t given lessons in quite some time. With sect duties unfinished, she’s already distracted by this. In the end, she’ll probably accomplish nothing.”

She could filter out most of it automatically, but that line made her thoughts stutter. It took her a while to ask, “I even have to give lessons?”

Li Biyuan replied, “You are one of the Hall Masters, after all. Of course you’ll have assignments—you can’t dodge them. I don’t know the content yet; you’ll find out when you actually go. The only info is that your class is one of those massive open university lectures, where students from multiple classes mix together. You get it, right?”

The light in her eyes dimmed for an instant. Mu Qian Tan fell silent for a long moment before saying, “I don’t get it. Never been to university.”

“Huh?” Li Biyuan sounded surprised. “How come?”

“…You’re a researcher; your family probably wasn’t short on money either, so you wouldn’t understand. Schooling is just a byproduct of a stable life, not a necessity. Same with daily entertainment or hobby classes…”

Mu Qian Tan trailed off there, pinching her fingers before sneering, “Didn’t you look into me beforehand? What’s so surprising?”

Li Biyuan said, “Looks like my intel wasn’t detailed enough… Anyway, yes, outside the main plotline, you need to handle some character-fitting minutiae to avoid drawing suspicion and triggering negative chain reactions from doubts.”

Mu Qian Tan pressed her fingertip to her skin and tsked softly.

No need to think hard—she knew that as a character in a book, the most troublesome part of reenacting the original story was the expansions.

Things glossed over in a few sentences in the book weren’t so easy for a transmigrator to skip. Recreating those life details was especially tough for a transmigrator—potentially thankless—but necessary.

The task difficulty had spiked again, and her mood soured with it. She planned to just grab Shang Shan and head back to the Narrow Sea; everything else could wait.

Seeing her offer no explanation and prepare to leave only made the others boil over. Some of the hot-blooded youngsters had already risen from their seats, intent on stopping her. Mu Qian Tan glanced over carelessly—the most standout one was indeed Qin He.

Just then, Panxiang Yin suddenly spoke up. “You just returned from performing demon exorcism along the way, enduring great hardship. I haven’t even had a chance to ask how your body fares now.”

Demon exorcism? Exorcising what demon?

The woman’s tone was level and steady, her expression earnest—not like she was lying at all. Mu Qian Tan thought for a second and took the out she offered. “I’m still holding up.”

Panxiang Yin said, “I’ve long heard you wanted to take a disciple, though you’ve never tried it. Given your straightforward and blunt nature, I worry there might be misunderstandings between master and disciple. Later, I can pass on some tips for getting along. For now, go rest. We can discuss the disciple matter at Penglai Hall after the Assembly Council ends.”

Being late and skipping lessons was due to injuries from demon exorcism for the people; the roughness with the disciple stemmed from inexperience in handling such relationships. None of it was true, but two sentences smoothed over all the doubts—and even permitted her to leave abruptly in this setting. It differed somewhat from the original book’s description of her personality. At least for now, she seemed rather gentle toward her.

Still, her plan to return straight to the Narrow Sea went up in smoke. Clearly, she was expected to wait in the sect master’s Golden Hall afterward, where they’d grill her on the disciple business.

“…” Mu Qian Tan paused, then nodded in acknowledgment.

Before leaving, she glanced back. The other juniors had sat down after Panxiang Yin’s words, or been pressed back by elders. Only Qin He remained standing, straight as a green pine. Her sword was two inches out of its sheath, poised to charge at any moment.

Noticing her gaze, Jiang Zhouyao—the flower-like beauty who had sat to Mu Qian Tan’s right—turned her head. Her eyes were calm as still waters, her lips curved in a gentle smile, yet it made the girl tremble.

Though her face showed defiance, she still forced her sword back into its scabbard and sat down with great difficulty.

Li Biyuan said, “Did I mention? Jiang Zhouyao is Qin He’s master.”

Mu Qian Tan replied, “I know now.”

After saluting Panxiang Yin once more, she grabbed Shang Shan by the collar at the back of her neck and dragged her out of the hall.

They plunged into the dappled light filtering through the sparse lattice. Tree shadows passed overhead. Mu Qian Tan listened to the birdsong as she walked along the mountain path for a stretch, until the hall was out of sight, before releasing her.

Sensing freedom, Shang Shan rolled to the ground, half-propping herself up. She lifted her mask, her whole little face scrunched in fury as she glared at the woman.

Mu Qian Tan looked down at her. “Thanks to you, we’ve been summoned for a talk by the Hall Master.”

Readjusting the mask on her head, Shang Shan muttered under her breath, “I’ll expose all your crimes in a bit.”

Mu Qian Tan said, “Wasn’t just now a perfect chance?”

What she’d shouted upon bursting into the hall could’ve been brushed off easily. But if she’d spilled the full truth, those nosy types who already couldn’t stand Mu Qian Tan definitely wouldn’t let it end smoothly.

Shang Shan turned her face away with a huff. “For the few days we were master and disciple, I won’t tear your face off.”

Mu Qian Tan said, “So you’re still exposing me later?”

Shang Shan waved her hand. “Yeah! You just cursed me again—our master-disciple bond is used up now!”