"Yun Cai Peak has a history that extends even longer than several dynasties and even empires," Instructor Rui emphasized to the class. "More than three thousand years of history were produced in these walls. Centuries of experience and talent are what built Yun Cai Peak into what it is today.
During the mid-Zhi dynasty in what was once known as the Xian State, our founder, Master Zhao, created Yun Cai Peak.
Originally Yun Cai Peak was a small sect; composed of one master, ten inner sect disciples, and thirty outer sect disciples—a very humble group of cultivators seeking enlightenment upon these very mountains.
At the time, many things threatened this small group of cultivators. Monsters, demons, men. However, despite such, Yun Cai Peak survived. Flourished even; growing into the grand sect that it is today."
Instructor Rui paced back and forth down the aisle where the desks were split into two groups as he read from the textbook.
Instructor Rui continued to drone on, and eventually, my attention turned over to the empty seat next to me.
Sigh, she's late again.
That girl, even after waking her up early, she's still late to morning lessons.
"However, all of that would be meaningless without discipline. Rules," Instructor Rui stopped and stood beside my desk. "Martial Aunt Jing Hua, can you read from the Book of Virtue, Rule 223?"
"Yes," standing up from my seat, I read out loud to the class, "From the Book of Virtue, Rule 223 states: One must not be tardy."
"Yes, very good," Instructor Rui nodded. "Then please tell me, Martial Aunt Jing Hua, why Junior Martial Aunt can't seem to follow such a simple rule?"
"I apologize for my sister's behavior," I bowed slightly in apology.
"Eh, she's the one at fault, not you, Martial Aunt Jing Hua," Instructor Rui nodded. "However, as her senior, it's your responsibility that she's educated on sect etiquette and rules. Even more so for someone of your status."
"Yes," I bowed once more before sitting down once more.
"Eh, let's move on to the next part of our lesson-"
"Sorry, I'm late!" Bursting into the classroom, a sweating and smiling Zhu Na Ran finally arrives.
Speak of Cao Cao, and he will come. [1]
"Martial Aunt Jing Ran! How dare you interrupt the class in such a violent manner!" Instructor Rui slammed his hand against his desk, which created a resounding slam that rang through the class. A hushed whispering started to dust over the room, as everyone wondered what Instructor Rui would do to her this time.
"Haha, apologies," Zhu Na Ran smiled as she scratched her head, "I overslept."
"Hmph! Sit down! Your punishment will come after class," Instructor Rui grumbled as he furiously flipped the pages of the lesson plan.
Zhu Na Ran shrugged and smiled before sitting down beside me. "Heh, sorry, Senior Sister."
I looked over to her and took in her disheveled appearance. Her clothes hastily put on, and remnants of crumbs were evident on her shirt. She even came in such a hurry that her ponytail was slightly loose and falling lopsided.
Sigh. "What am I going to do with you."
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Focus on the lesson."
"Oh, okay!"
Instructor Rui quickly finished the first half of his lesson, and it was now the break period. He didn't seem to remember his rage over Zhu Na Ran's delay as he was now happily answering questions of other students.
"Ah, I still can't get used to this new lifestyle," Zhu Na Ran groaned as she stretched her arms. "Sitting here for hours on end listening to old guys reading off of old books, ah. So boring," she yawned.
"Would you rather be back at Yu Lan Peak, building the rest of the manor?"
"Geez, no," she slumped back into her seat. "That would be back-breaking work. I'd rather be cozy here, bored out of my mind, than be in pain by the end of the day."
"Hmm."
"Hey, Senior Sister."
"Eh."
"I forgot to ask, but how did you convince Master to bring in the extra help? Wasn't he against the idea of bringing in outer sect disciples to help with construction?"
Master was reluctant at the start; however, he quickly folded like a twig. Well, it did take some negotiation, but the gain was higher than the loss.
"Don't worry about it. What matters is that we gained a satisfactory result."
"Uh, right," she nodded with a strange expression on her face. Did I say something wrong?"...It's better to offend Master than Senior Sister…"
"What was that."
"Nothing, nothing," she waved nervously. "You must be hearing things. Hah, ha hah…"
The rest of the class finished quickly, and after bidding farewell to Instructor Rui, the students began to filter out.
Well, all but one.
"Halt! Martial Aunt Jing Ran, where do you think you're going!"
"Eep! Senior Sister, please protect this junior," running towards me, Zhu Na Ran peeked from behind my body as she frowned at Instructor Rui. "He's going to kill me!"
"That's what happens when you skip the majority of your classes and tardy on the ones you decide to attend." Goodness. How did this girl not have a hoard of complaints come after her yet?
"W-well, it's their fault that lessons are so boring," she pouted.
"Hmph! An inner sect disciple, not to mention a direct disciple of the grandmaster, cowering behind their senior like a child. Huh, how disgraceful," Instructor Rui harrumphed.
"You!"
"Enough," I must defuse the situation before Zhu Na Ran gains the hatred of another. "Junior Sister, apologize to Instructor Rui."
"What! But-"
"Jing Ran. That's enough."
Zhu Na Ran pouted at me as if wronged, but quickly did as I asked: "My apologies, Instructor Rui, this martial aunt was wrong."
"Hmph," Instructor Rui frowned. "I'll let Martial Aunt off this once. But don't let it happen again!" With a flick of his sleeve, he went back inside.
"Junior Sister, where are you going?"
Zhu Na Ran began to run off, "Going to go play!"
"Play? You still have to do your homework and study for tomorrow's lesson."
Not even bothering to look back, she waved it off. "Then, if Senior Sister will be so magnanimous as to let this junior copy Senior Sister's notes, then all should be well."
"Wai-"
"Bye-bye! See you back home!" And will that she ran off into the distance, her ponytail swaying with each movement.
Ah, what am I going to do with you, Zhu Na Ran?
Returning to Yu Lan Peak, I could see the outer sect disciples milling around as they reconstructed parts of the manor. It's been two weeks since Master took us into Yu Lan Peak and a week since Master allowed the start of the reconstruction of the estate.
Like a small animal, Master quickly gathered whatever junk and food he had lying around and hid them somewhere.
If only he had done this in the first place before taking us in as disciples.
After securing his stash somewhere, Master went into closed-door cultivation. Of course, not before forgetting to leave me a pile of paperwork to finish in his absence.
Ahh, what to do. I have a master and junior sister cut from the same cloth.
"Greetings, Martial Aunt," the leader of the outer sect disciples walked up and cupped his hands in greeting. I believe he is the head disciple of a minor peak, Ji Chu Peak, Disciple Gan Hao.
"Eh, greetings, Disciple Gan Hao," looking at the week's progress, I could see the main structure and foundation of the manor was already up. "How is progress so far?"
"It's been excellent, Martial Aunt," Disciple Gan Hao smiled with pride. "We should be finished by the end of next week if heaven would allow it."
"Eh, very good."
"Oh, and Martial Aunt. The payment for this week," Gan Hao smiled.
"It will be delivered to Ji Chu Peak by the end of the week."
"Many thanks, Martial Aunt," Gan Hao bowed once more before rejoining his group and barking a few orders.
As outer sect disciples, it's difficult for them to gain precious ingredients and items for advancement in their cultivation. However, by completing tasks around the sect, like construction or cleaning, their merits can be exchanged for these prized goods.
Fortunately, as the grandmaster of Yun Cai Peak, Master is not short on any herbs or spiritual tools.
Therefore, it made the employment of a group of outer disciples relatively simple.
The only thing that irks me, however, is how Master is oddly reluctant to part with any of his treasures, no matter how insignificant they may be.
"Master, you're not a dragon. Why do you need twenty level-three rainbow lilies?" Looking Master as he was surrounded by piles of herbs, haphazardly shrew about the storage room. And yet, he still clutches to a bundle of common spiritual herbs as if they were treasures.
It was like coaxing a child into giving up a bag of candy, even if they already bought out the candy shop.
"Hmph! My disciple is blind! How can you not see that these lilies are extremely rare," Master grumbled as he pressed them to his chest, subsequently crushing the poor flowers.
"Master, these lilies grow all over Xia Wei Mountain in the Chu nation. If you want more, this disciple can go get more for you."
"Hmph, why bother when we have twenty here?"
"Master, we need the flowers to pay for the reconstruction of our manor."
"Hrm. I still don't see why can't you pay them in spirit stones," Master grumbled.
"Master, we must pay them five hundred spirit stones as a set price; however, if we wish to speed along the construction, they asked for a bundle of level-three rainbow lilies or ten bundles of level-two starry grass. And since Master already rejected the thought of giving away the grass, we must give the flowers." Was Master going to let Zhu Na Ran and I sleep in a small shack for the entire duration of our stay just for a few herbs?
"Ermmm," Master frowned.
"Master, give me the lilies, and I'll forgive your midnight snacking for that time you went against my instruction. This disciple will even be generous and even give you a week of forgiveness for future midnight snacking."
"A month," Master shot back.
"A week."
"Three weeks."
"A week."
"Two weeks."
"A week."
"One and a half weeks."
"Master. A week is my final offer."
Master glared down at me, and I returned his challenge.
"Hmph, fine," Master caved as he threw over the bundle of lilies. "Be sure to remember our deal."
"Of course, Master," I bowed with a small smile. "Many thanks."
"Now if you excuse me," Master suddenly pulled out a huge roasted boar from who knows where. "I believe it is lunchtime."
[1] Speak of Cao Cao, and he will come - the Chinese equivalent 'speak of the devil.' Cao Cao is a villain from the Chinese classic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms.