Chapter 236 - 127: Great Demon Sealing Monarch, the Fool and the Cripple

Chapter 236: Chapter 127: Great Demon Sealing Monarch, the Fool and the Cripple

On average, each Vice Mountain Master was responsible for overseeing at least a dozen county towns. If anything went wrong, they would be held accountable by the Court.

"I almost forgot."

Suddenly, someone remembered something and exclaimed in surprise, "Since Yu Sheng... Vice Mountain Master Yu is back, does that mean Lin Shu has returned as well?"

No one had ever imagined that this once highly sought-after Trial’s First Disciple would be caught up in the fall of Yongzhou Pass.

As an Immortal Disciple, he had failed to defend the pass. It was anyone’s guess if he could still secure a good post.

"Lin Shu?" The expression on the face of the person who had spoken earlier suddenly turned strange. "He’s been made the Yu Family’s Mountain Master."

As soon as he spoke, the expressions of everyone present shifted slightly.

Sometimes, elevating someone too high can be counterproductive.

This group of Immortal Descendants had all been quite interested in Lin Shu, but after hearing that, they fell silent for a long time.

Then, someone finally let out a laugh. "Pfft."

To think the Yu Family actually had a Mountain Master who achieved Foundation Establishment using the Cyan Bird Qi-Introducing Formulas.

A Mountain Master Disciple who hadn’t even mastered the Cyan Simurgh Sword Essence!

No wonder Yongzhou Pass was lost. The Mountain God Family really is in decline.

...

Deep within the Qian Courtyard.

A series of elegant, small courtyards were nestled there, separated from one another by high, arched walls.

Fallen leaves lay in piles on the ground. In the courtyard, even the square bluestone table had a top made of smooth, heavy White Jade, carved with a lifelike Cyan Simurgh Pattern.

"Master Lin, are your injuries healing well?"

A tall, thin old man strolled over, followed by dozens of students, both male and female. The youngest was only a little over ten, while the oldest looked to be in their early forties.

The old man was Fan Li, a World Traveler Disciple of the Yu Family. With his Late-stage Core Formation Cultivation, he served as a lecturer at the Martial Arts Academy.

"These students have been eagerly waiting for you for a long time." He sat down beside the square table and smiled. "If you’re feeling alright, perhaps you could give them a firm date."

The group of students stood outside the courtyard. Although they had already snuck over to peek several times, they couldn’t resist craning their necks to look inside again.

The young man was handsome, with a jade-like complexion, bright eyes, and pearly teeth. He wore a spotless Flowing Cloud Sword Robe and was reclined in a bamboo chair with a slightly languid air.

He was leisurely flipping through a few prefectural reports.

His fingers were long and slender, with fair skin and well-defined knuckles—a pair of hands that seemed made to wield a sword.

A trace of weariness from his unhealed wounds lingered in his eyes, but it only served to make him resemble a banished immortal who had descended to the mortal realm, compelling others to steal a second glance.

"I still need some time to recover."

The young man set down the report and said casually, "Besides, I don’t know how to lecture."

"Well..."

Fan Li was taken aback for a moment before giving a helpless smile. "Master Lin, you must be joking. Your great reputation from Yongzhou Pass has long since spread throughout the Martial Arts Academy. You were able to slay eight Practitioners of the Same Realm while still in the Foundation Establishment Stage. After reaching Core Formation, you single-handedly repelled several Demon Generals. How could you possibly not know how to lecture?"

"I’m not joking. I’m serious."

Lin Shu glanced up, his tone indifferent.

’My understanding of Immortal Techniques is currently stuck at the level of not casting a Thunder Technique right next to someone, lest I shock my own hand.’

"All of you, return to your lessons." Fan Li turned and, with a wave of his sleeve, shooed away the many disappointed students.

He turned back and, after a moment’s hesitation, reminded him in a low voice, "You can’t wear the Mountain Leader’s Attire in pieces. It’s improper. The Mountain Gods will scold you if they see it."

"I didn’t want to wear it in the first place. You’re the one who insisted."

Under the old man’s insistent gaze, Lin Shu resignedly took out the golden hair crown and the ornate sword, putting each piece on until the attire was complete.

"Master Lin, Anren Prefecture is nothing like the Border Region. As disciples, we can’t afford to just rest on our laurels."

Fan Li glanced at the prefectural reports on the table. Perhaps because he’d spent years in the Qian Courtyard dealing with students day after day, he couldn’t help but lecture young people when he saw them.

With no one from the other Immortal Families around, he decided to speak his mind. "The Border Region has fallen, and the Yu Family has lost face. Fortunately, Master Yu Sheng managed to salvage some of our reputation. Now, the family elders clearly intend to promote her by making her the Vice Mountain Master of the Martial Arts Academy. Master Lin, surely you understand what this implies?"

"I know."

Lin Shu nodded.

’If an Immortal Descendant of the Yu Family is to become a Celestial Pride, they must first look the part.’

’Yu Sheng performed a great service, and her fame spread throughout Anren Prefecture.’

’But in the eyes of the Yu Family, there is a stain on her record that must be wiped away as soon as possible.’

’Whenever anyone mentioned Yu Sheng, they would inevitably bring up Lin Shu.’

’The two of them were inextricably linked.’

’This was clearly not the proper state of affairs for a Celestial Pride of the Yu Family.’

’Therefore, after assessing the situation, the Yu Family immediately pushed her into the position of Vice Mountain Master.’

’The advantage of this position was that she could now interact with all the talented disciples in Anren Prefecture, many of whom were Core Formation Cultivators. She could even use her status to forcibly reassign them from their original Masters and have them serve her instead.’

’While not as good as a retinue she had personally trained, it was, at the very least, a batch of "disciples" she could command.’

’To put it bluntly, it was to broaden her horizons, to stop her from thinking that a single Trial’s First Disciple was so important.’

’Then, they would arrange for Yu Sheng to audit classes at the Scholars’ Academy, to learn the so-called Human Controlling Skill, regain the mindset of a superior, and understand her proper place.’

’That way, when people spoke of her in the future, they would speak of the powerful Vice Mountain Master of the academy, not some ignorant fledgling raised by a mere disciple.’

"Since you understand, Master Lin, I won’t say any more."

Fan Li sighed. Outshining one’s superior was a major taboo.

Lin Shu’s past efforts had already been rewarded—with this Mountain Leader’s Attire, for instance, and the title of Sixth-Grade Lecturer. Although it came with no real power, the rank was still half a grade higher than that of a County Magistrate from a major county.

With these empty titles, Lin Shu could live out his days in the academy, coasting along and waiting for death, and no one would dare provoke him.

But he could no longer interfere with Yu Sheng’s future prospects.