Tingtao Courtyard was situated on a cliff overlooking the lake on the eastern side of the island. Its walls were low, and pine and bamboo were planted haphazardly around it. It lacked the grandeur of a palace, resembling instead the secluded residence of a hermit.
A green stone stood before the gate, carved with the words “Tingtao.” The brushwork was wild and untamed, carrying a natural air of free-spiritedness. It was clearly not the work of a craftsman, but rather seemed as though a sword cultivator had used a finger as a brush, sweeping it out at a whim.
The senior brother leading the way was named Qi Zhi. He gestured for Shen Xiuhan to wait, then carried the record written by the Law Enforcement Hall into the courtyard to report.
He returned a moment later, having handed over the record.
Qi Zhi stepped aside and gestured toward the inside of the courtyard, whispering, “The Academy Head is inside. You may enter, Junior Brother.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother!”
Shen Xiuhan clasped his hands in thanks, took a deep breath, tidied his robes, and pushed the door open.
The courtyard was a world of its own.
An old pine tree with gnarled, twisting branches leaned over the edge of the cliff. Beneath the pine lay a green stone chessboard.
By the railing at the cliff's edge, a middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back.
He was tall and slender, dressed in a dark green robe. His long hair was casually bound behind his head with a single bamboo hairpin. He was currently looking down, flipping through the record.
To his side, a figure was kneeling on both knees, prostrating on the ground.
Shen Xiuhan's eyes flickered as he instantly recognized the person.
He Tunan!
His kneeling posture was incredibly humble, his forehead pressed tightly against the ground like a shrimp with a broken spine. He retained none of the high-and-mighty attitude he had displayed in the Affairs Hall that day.
His robes were drenched in sweat, clinging to his back. His forehead was pressed against the stone slab, yet he did not dare to move an inch.
Suddenly!
Wen Qingye closed the record. His tone carried no hint of anger or joy as he spoke without turning around, “Tomorrow, hand over the Affairs Seal to your Fourth Junior Sister. As for the matter of the Deputy Chief Disciple... do not bring it up again for the next five years.”
“You may leave.”
He Tunan shuddered, burying his head even lower as he muffled an answer, “Yes... Tunan knows his mistake. Thank you for the punishment, Master Wen. Tunan... shall take his leave!”
He slowly scrambled to his feet, made a deep bow, and backed away step by step toward the courtyard gate, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.
‘Deputy Chief Disciple...’
Shen Xiuhan stood where he was, his heart stirring slightly.
‘According to the rules of the Star-Plucking Sect, each academy can establish a Deputy Chief Disciple, positioned below the Chief Disciple but above all other disciples.’
‘When the Chief Disciple retires or unfortunately perishes, the Deputy Chief Disciple would naturally succeed them.’
‘He Tunan wanted to become the Deputy Chief Disciple... yet because he made a mistake, Academy Head Wen suppressed his chances for five years with a single sentence?’
‘As for what mistake he made, could it be...’
As he was pondering...
By the cliff's edge, the slender figure slowly turned around.
Wen Qingye's appearance was lean and elegant, his eyes bright and open.
Though he was a sword cultivator, he did not possess an overbearing aura.
Instead, he was like an ancient sword sheathed in its scabbard—its sharp edge concealed, unfathomably deep!
“Are you Shen Xiuhan?”
Shen Xiuhan's mind tensed. He quickly clasped his hands and bowed. “Disciple Shen Xiuhan greets the Academy Head.”
The rules of the Star-Plucking Sect were strict.
Joining the inner court was merely receiving a stipend and taking on a duty. At most, one could practice a few of the sect's techniques. Ultimately, one was still just a foot soldier under the sect's banner.
Only by being officially accepted as a core disciple by an Academy Head would one have the right to call them “Master,” truly stepping into the core of the Star-Plucking Sect.
Wen Qingye studied him, then said without any warning, “Would you be willing to take me as your master?”
Shen Xiuhan was stunned. The question came so suddenly that he froze for a full breath.
But he reacted incredibly fast, immediately clasping his hands in a deep bow, his voice clear and firm. “Disciple Shen Xiuhan pays respects to Master Wen!”
“Good.”
Wen Qingye smiled slightly and raised his hand to signal him to rise. Standing with his hands behind his back, his tone remained unhurried. “He Tunan has impure motives. During his tenure in the Affairs Hall, he made some underhanded moves he shouldn't have. I have already dealt with him. You... have suffered an injustice this time.”
‘As expected, He Tunan was punished because of his scheme to assign me to the Precious Fish pond...’
Shen Xiuhan understood in his heart, but he kept his expression neutral, only saying, “Master Wen is wise. This disciple is deeply grateful. However...”
He changed the subject. “This disciple is actually quite satisfied with my duty at the Precious Fish pond.”
Hearing this, Wen Qingye let out a soft laugh. “Ha... I heard Duan Hongling's report. She was full of praise for you and even said she would recommend you to be the fish pond manager once she steps down.”
Shen Xiuhan was slightly startled. This was indeed beyond his expectations.
Wen Qingye waved his hand again. “That matter is not important; we will discuss it in the future. Now, show me your sword-glow.”
“Yes!”
Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath. With a flick of his right hand, Hanlin suddenly leaped from its scabbard!
“Clang!”
The clear, resonant chime of the sword echoed like a dragon's cry through the quiet Tingtao Courtyard.
Upon the blade, a light as pure white as moonlight slowly blossomed, illuminating the small courtyard with brilliant clarity.
The light was incomparably sharp, yet it remained condensed without dispersing.
It felt as though with the slightest nudge, it could slice the night wind into ribbons.
Standing by the cliff's edge with his hands behind his back, Wen Qingye's gaze fell upon the flickering, pure white sword-glow. An undisguised look of admiration welled up in his eyes, and he nodded. “Good! Good!”
“The sword-glow is as dense as white silk and as stable as a bubbling spring... I assume you comprehended it quite some time ago?”
“Master Wen is highly perceptive!”
Shen Xiuhan sheathed his sword and clasped his hands. “This disciple was indeed fortunate enough to comprehend sword-glow before even entering the sect.”
Hearing this, Wen Qingye's gaze grew even more astonished. “Excellent! Knowing how to hide your brilliance at such a young age, without being arrogant or impetuous, is a good thing.”
“Do you know...”
“...you are only the third among my disciples to comprehend sword-glow?”
The third?
Shen Xiuhan's heart stirred slightly.
Aside from Master Wen himself and Chief Disciple Wen Zheng, there was actually a third person in Tingquan Academy who had comprehended sword-glow?
Why had he never heard anyone mention this since joining the sect?
Just as the thought arose, Wen Qingye's voice sounded, carrying a hint of melancholy. “I have accepted a total of six disciples under my wing.”
“The eldest is Wen Zheng, the second is He Tunan, the fourth is Zheng Hongxiu, and the fifth is Cui Xiangyang. You entered the latest, ranking sixth.”
“And those who comprehended sword-glow, besides you and Wen Zheng, was your Third Senior Brother...”
“...Gu Xingyun!”
He paused slightly, his gaze darkening. “Unfortunately...”
“Six years ago, while tempering himself on Chaobo Island in the Southern Sea, he comprehended sword-glow on his journey, only to be ambushed and besieged to death by the Yinsha Sect!”
“And the one who killed him was the Yinsha Sect's Southern Sea Branch Leader...”
“...Chou Ji!”
Wen Qingye's voice was calm, but beneath that calmness lay a bone-chilling cold!
It was like a sword pressed deep into the ocean—its sharp edge invisible, yet enough to send shivers down one's spine.
“And the Six Cangwu Demons you slew were none other than Chou Ji's lackeys!”
“By slaying five of those demons with your sword, you have not only avenged Xingyun's old grudge but also raised the prestige of our Tingquan Academy.”
Wen Qingye turned around to look at Shen Xiuhan. The coldness on his face gradually melted away, replaced by a smile. “As your master, I naturally cannot leave you without a reward.”
With that, he flipped his hand, revealing a dusty gray pouch in his palm. It was only the size of a hand, made of a material that was neither cloth nor leather, completely unremarkable.
Wen Qingye handed the pouch to him and said warmly, “This is a storage bag, containing a mustard seed space within. Only core disciples of the inner court are qualified to be bestowed with one. Since you have joined my lineage, this one is yours... Open it and take a look.”
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