HLnovel Chapter 454 The Teaching Review Scandal Begins
Chapter 454 The Teaching Review Scandal Begins
The threshold of the council hall was three inches higher than that of the drill ground. When I stepped on it, the tips of my shoes, embroidered with cloud patterns, brushed against the bluestone slabs, making a soft rustling sound.
Elder Li's hand trembled on my arm as he lowered his voice, "Don't be afraid. The First Elder himself climbed his way up from the outer sect, and he can't stand seeing people wronged."
Inside the hall, the scent of sandalwood mingled with the smell of cold iron. I looked up and saw a gilded screen in the center, with the words "Seeking the Way" embroidered in gold thread.
The Grand Elder sat upright in a sandalwood chair in front of the screen, his white hair tied in a jade crown. When his gaze swept over me, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end—it was a scrutiny sharper than any of the demonic beasts in the training ground.
"Xiao Yao, Hall Master Zhao," the Grand Elder's voice rang out like a jade chime striking ice, "tell me the story of today's martial arts arena from the beginning."
The soles of Zhao Tangzhu's boots scraped against the ground with a harsh sound.
He took two steps forward, and the jade pendant at his waist bumped against the table. "Grand Elder, you are wise!"
For the past six months, Xiao Yao has been teaching outer disciples nothing but crooked and evil methods—releasing demonic beasts into the training ground and making children who haven't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage fight each other head-on. Is this what teaching is all about?
He was clearly risking his disciple's life for fame! He suddenly turned around, his finger almost poking my nose, "That black-scaled leopard just now was at least at the seventh level of Qi Refining!"
"Look at these children—" He pointed to Chu Qing, who was huddled in the corner of the hall, "Junior Sister Chu's back injury has not yet healed, and Wang Erniu's protective mirror has three cracks!"
If it weren't for Immortal Wen's chance encounter, someone might have died today!
Chu Qing's silver hairpin gleamed coldly in her palm.
I saw that her knuckles were white as she gripped the hairpin, and her fingernails were digging into her flesh, like a frightened little animal.
Wang Erniu's protective mirror was indeed cracked, but it was because he used his newly practiced "Cloud Shield" to take a blow from a demonic beast's claw—three months ago, this child couldn't even complete the Qi-guiding technique.
“What Hall Master Zhao says is true.” I took a step forward, and Wen Chen’s gaze fell on the back of my neck, like a warm fire. “The Black Scale Leopard was borrowed from Elder Li.” Elder Li looked up abruptly, and I smiled at him. “But its fangs were chipped down by three-tenths, and its claws were covered with soft skin.”
Junior Sister Chu's injury was an old wound, yet today she endured the pain to pull out the silver hairpin and pierce the demon beast's eye; Wang Erniu's protective mirror was cracked, but he used his shield technique to protect his three junior brothers behind him. "I turned to the Grand Elder, my throat tightening, "You asked them what they learned—to remain calm in dire situations, to use wooden hairpins as weapons, and to protect their companions with their own flesh and blood."
These are not crooked or evil methods.
The hall was so quiet that you could hear Chu Qing sniffing.
She suddenly took two steps forward, her silver hairpin clanging against the blue bricks: "Elder, Senior Sister Xiao taught us... taught us that even 'useless people' can survive."
When my mother died, she was clutching this hairpin in her hand.
She had no spiritual roots, and was chased off a cliff by a demonic beast. She used a hairpin to slit its throat, and before jumping off, she stuffed me into a tree hollow. Her voice trembled, but every word was clear: "Senior Sister Xiao said, 'My mother isn't a useless person, and neither am I.'"
The elder tapped his fingers on the armrest of the chair.
Master Zhao's jade thumb ring creaked as he gripped it. "It was just luck!"
What if the monster goes out of control?
What if the children really die?
Xiao Yao is gambling her disciple's life with her reputation!
"Reputation?" I suddenly laughed.
Wen Chen shifted beside me; I knew he wanted to speak, but this was my battlefield. "What does Hall Master Zhao think I'm after?"
What is the position of the head of the outer gate?
Or is it the favor of Immortal Venerable Wen? "I pointed outside the hall, the setting sun shining through the carved window lattice, gilding Chu Qing's face. "What I'm after is that these children, who were found to have 'no spiritual roots' or 'mixed spiritual roots' and were thrown into the outer sect, can learn to get up on their own before being trampled into the mud."
Elder Li suddenly took out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. His wide sleeve swept across the table, and the teacup clattered: "I have approved twelve orders for the temporary transfer of demon beasts for Xiao girl."
She always wrote it down clearly—the monster's level, protective measures, and the disciple's emergency response training progress.
Last month, she even came to me asking for a copy of "A Collection of Practical Responses for Disciples with Low Spiritual Roots," saying she wanted to copy it for the disciples as teaching material. "He turned to the Grand Elder, his beard trembling, "Back when you were an instructor in the outer sect, didn't you also lead us to hunt wolves in the back mountains?"
Why can't young people be allowed to be flexible these days?
Master Zhao's face turned a deep purplish-red.
He turned around abruptly, and a crumpled piece of paper fell out of his sleeve—it was a petition from an outer disciple.
I caught a glimpse of the crooked words "Senior Sister Xiao is a liar" on the screen, and my heart sank.
"Elder!" A commotion suddenly arose outside the hall.
I turned my head and saw several figures in moon-white Taoist robes crowding at the doorway—were they the senior disciples of the inner sect?
I recognized the one leading the group; it was Senior Brother Chen, whom I refused to help him refine pill formulas last year. He crossed his arms and sneered, "Whether Xiao Yao's teaching methods are problematic or not, the disciples who were hindered by her teaching style know best!"
Chu Qing's silver hairpin clattered to the ground.
Wang Erniu gripped the breastplate tightly, his knuckles turning white.
I bent down to pick up the hairpin and put it in Chu Qing's hand, feeling the cold dampness of her palm.
The elder's gaze swept across the doorway and then fell back on my face.
He didn't speak, but the commotion outside the hall was like a needle, making one's temples throb.
Zhao, the hall master, suddenly straightened his back, a cold smile creeping onto his lips: "It seems we're not the only ones who think there's a problem."
I gripped the hem of my Taoist robe tightly.
Wen Chen's hand covered his and gently squeezed his skin—he was saying, "I'm here."
Chu Qing's silver hairpin pressed against her palm, like the words etched in my heart these days: These children should not be defined.
But at this moment, the commotion outside the hall grew louder and louder. Some people shouted, "Xiao Yao is misleading the students!" and others smashed teacups.
The Grand Elder's gaze darkened, and he pointed to the door: "Let them in."
I took a deep breath.
What's meant to happen will happen.
But I know that even if I am condemned by everyone right now, I will continue down this path for these children.
The commotion outside the hall was like a hornet's nest that had been disturbed. Senior Brother Chen stepped in first, his moon-white Taoist robe covered with grass clippings—as if he had come all the way from the martial arts training ground.
Behind him were seven or eight inner disciples, some of whom I recognized as helpers at the medicine shed, and others as copyists at the scripture library. At that moment, they all had their necks stiffened, looking like creditors coming to demand an explanation.
"Chief Xiao, what a clever trick!" Senior Brother Chen slammed the petition on the table, the parchment making the teacup jump. "He said he was taking the outer disciples to practice combat, but in reality, he was using them as live targets to establish his authority."
Last month I passed by the martial arts arena and saw you personally leading three Qi Refining Level 3 kids to hunt an Ironback Bear! He pointed a finger at Chu Qing, "Take this girl, for example. Just the other day she was crying and complaining of back pain at the medicine shop, and you, on the other hand, turned around and shoved a silver hairpin into her hand as a weapon—"
“That’s my mother’s hairpin,” Chu Qing suddenly said. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was like a fine needle puncturing the noisy bubbles.
She stood beside me, holding the silver hairpin, the wisps of hair on her head ruffled by the draft. "Senior Brother Chen didn't see me stab the Black-Scaled Leopard in the eye, didn't see Wang Erniu use the Cloud Shield to protect Junior Sister as she rolled into the grass, didn't see us fall and get back up." She tilted her head back, the tip of her nose still damp with the tears she had just wiped away. "You only saw our pain, but Senior Sister Xiao showed us that even in pain, we can win."
Senior Brother Chen's face turned bright red, and he raised his hand to push Chu Qing.
I instinctively stepped in front of her, but my wrist was gently grabbed – it was Senior Brother Lin.
He had somehow circled around to my side, his wide sleeves cascading like still water, his voice as steady as a morning bell: "If Senior Brother Chen wants to talk about 'seeing with your own eyes,' why don't you tell me about last month when you asked Chief Xiao to refine the Qi-Nourishing Pill for you and were refused?" He turned to the Grand Elder, "That day, Chief Xiao said, 'Outer disciples can't even stabilize their Qi cultivation; refining the pill for them would be like pulling up seedlings to help them grow.' Senior Brother Chen slammed his fist on the table and scolded her for 'pretending to be high-minded.'"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Senior Brother Chen's hand hovered in mid-air, his nails almost digging into his palm, but he didn't dare to bring it down.
However, Master Zhao seized the opportunity to slam his hand on the table: "Don't mention anything that doesn't concern you!"
"Today we'll only discuss teaching!" He turned to the Grand Elder, his jade thumb ring clapping loudly against the sandalwood table. "Xiao Yao's method, to put it kindly, is risky; to put it bluntly, it's tantamount to disregarding human life!"
Outer disciples are essentially outcasts of the sect, yet she insists on making some superficial "progress," just waiting for the day someone dies—"
“A discarded pawn?” Elder Li suddenly stood up, his teacup sloshing around in a circle of water on his desk.
His white hair was disheveled, but he held his neck straight like an old crane: "Elder, you once said that 'the outer sect is the root of the sect,' how come now some people are treating the root as weeds and pulling it out?"
Every time Xiao Yatou borrowed a demon beast, she would write down the precautions. She even wove the claw sheaths for the black-scaled leopard herself from soft vines!
Last month, she copied "The Book of Responses for Low-Level Spiritual Roots" until late at night. When I went to bring her ginseng tea, I saw that her hands were blistered.
"Elder Li!" Hall Master Zhao shouted coldly, "You are in charge of resources, not teaching!" He turned to the Grand Elder, his tone suddenly softening, "Grand Elder, please understand, I don't mean to make things difficult for Xiao Yao."
However, teaching is a matter of great importance, so there must be some rules.
If she is truly capable, she might as well lead her outer disciples to participate in the sect's grand competition a month from now.
"If I can make it into the top twenty—" He glanced at Chu Qing and Wang Erniu, a cold smile creeping onto his lips, "I, Zhao, will personally serve her tea as an apology."
My nails dug into my palms.
In just one month, the highest level among the outer disciples was only Qi Refining Level 5, yet they were among the top twenty in the competition?
Even the lowest-ranking disciples in the inner sect are at the Foundation Establishment stage.
But Master Zhao is right, these are the rules, and I have no choice.
"I agree." As the words left my mouth, it felt like I had swallowed a handful of ice.
Wen Chen gently pressed his hand on my back, like a ball of fire shooting up my spine.
I turned to look at him; the red mole at the corner of his eye looked like a bead of blood in the twilight, yet he smiled gently: "I believe you."
"Senior Sister Xiao!"
A clear, melodious female voice came from the corner of the palace.
Zhou Xianzi pushed through the crowd and stood out. Her moon-white dress was stained with mud, and her hairpin was askew by her temple—it looked as if she had run all the way from the martial arts arena.
She curtsied to the Grand Elder, her voice clear as a spring: "I entered the outer sect last spring. When my spiritual root was tested, it was said that I had a 'mixed spiritual root and would not amount to much.'"
When Senior Sister Xiao taught me, the first lesson wasn't about inducing Qi; she had me draw a formation diagram on the ground using dry branches.
She said, "Spiritual roots are the road, the mind is the feet; if there's no road, you'll walk it yourself." She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a pale scar on her forearm. "I got this last month during a real fight with the Ironback Bear."
But the other day I used the 'Cloud-Stacking Steps' she taught me to dodge three lightning talismans, and even Senior Brother Zhou from the inner sect praised me, saying I was 'more agile than he was when he was in the Qi Refining stage.'
The noise inside the hall subsided somewhat.
Master Zhao's jade thumb ring was still ringing, but he didn't say anything more.
The Grand Elder's gaze shifted from Zhou Xianzi's face to mine, and he suddenly spoke: "Xiao Yao, are you aware that outer sect disciples have always been at the bottom of the rankings in the Grand Competition?"
“I know.” I sniffed, my throat tightening. “But they shouldn’t even be denied the right to stand on that stage.”
The Grand Elder was silent for a moment, then raised his hand to rub his temples: "I agree to the one-month agreement."
"Master Zhao, if you continue to use 'rules' to intimidate people, don't blame me for bringing up the old grudge from back when you led your disciples to hunt wolves in the back mountains." He turned to me, his gaze suddenly softening. "Go, don't keep the children waiting."
As we left the council hall, the setting sun cast long shadows on the woman.
Chu Qing gripped my sleeve, Wang Erniu carried the cracked breastplate behind us, and Zhou Xianzi helped Senior Brother Lin straighten his disheveled Taoist robe.
Elder Li wiped his eyes and walked towards the alchemy room, saying he was going to brew some tonics for the children.
Master Zhao swung his sleeves and went out, his boots making a dull thud on the bluestone slabs.
Wen Chen was the last to arrive, and I could hear the soft sound of his clothes brushing against the pillars.
The wind blew fallen leaves from the direction of the training ground, carrying the familiar scent of grass.
I gazed at the training ground in the distance, pockmarked by the monsters, and suddenly remembered the first time I stood here. Chu Qing was hiding behind a tree wiping away tears, and Wang Erniu, clutching the wooden sword broken in two, said, "I have no spiritual root, I can't learn it."
Now, they stand behind me, their shadows overlapping, like a small, growing bamboo grove.
I touched the silver hairpin that Chu Qing had slipped into my sleeve; it was cool to the touch, yet still warm from her palm.
The competition in January might really be difficult.
But I know that when I get back to the training ground, I will call all the children to my side and tell them: Together, we will turn the impossible into a path.