Chapter 52: Su Wen’s Registered Disciple

Ji Yao was well aware that a serious place like the Hall of Enforcement would never tolerate something as unreliable as a group of gossip-mongering reporters. She was merely making light of her situation, finding amusement in her predicament. Upon closer thought, she understood that what Mo Daoyan referred to must resemble the intelligence agencies she had known in her previous life.

However, here, intelligence work was not a standalone system; it was likely interwoven with other duties. Even if one joined, fulfilling additional tasks would be inevitable.

Still, if she were to be taken on as a disciple for such reasons, Ji Yao could not help but feel uneasy.

“If that’s the case, then I would like to join only the Hall of Enforcement,” she insisted, no longer pressing the matter of discipleship, but holding to this small act of defiance.

Mo Daoyan, hearing her words, could not fail to grasp the emotions behind them, and sighed at his own carelessness.

Perhaps it was because, over the years, his two disciples and his junior nephew Mu Baiyun had all matured, each forming their own opinions and needing little supervision. Save for occasional guidance in their cultivation, he rarely involved himself in their affairs. The Hall of Enforcement was always strict—discussions direct, orders delivered with little explanation. His earlier responses had surely given this young girl the wrong impression.

Thinking this, he could not help but smile. He adjusted his tone, now gentle and tinged with amusement, as he explained to Ji Yao:

“I heard some years ago that you were a cultivator of the musical arts. Though I understand music theory, I do not know the cultivation techniques associated with it, and I feared delaying your progress. That is why I hesitated to accept you as a disciple and delayed until now.”

Wait—was there some misunderstanding? Other than the final competition, she had never displayed the Clear Moon Flute or its accompanying musical attack techniques before others. Where, then, had he heard that she was a musical cultivator?

Before Ji Yao could puzzle it out, Mo Daoyan continued, his tone as kindly as before.

“Only in this recent competition, when Gu Qiu mentioned your swordsmanship, did I finally resolve to take you as a disciple. While I cannot instruct you in the musical path, I can at least offer some guidance in swordsmanship.

“You have already secured a place as an inner disciple. According to the rules of Lingyun Sect, you are not permitted to transfer to another sect, and as the head of the Hall of Enforcement, I must uphold this. Even if I were inclined to recruit talent, I would not allow you to betray the sect.”

At this, Ji Yao understood at last. She hastened to bow deeply to Mo Daoyan, pledging her loyalty to the sect, but was lifted gently by his spiritual power.

“Lingyun Sect has had no musical cultivators for many years. Rather than let your talents go to waste, I would rather establish a master-disciple bond with you, so you need not train alone. Even if you do not wish to join the Hall of Enforcement, as your teacher I can protect and instruct you within the bounds of the rules.”

Only now did Ji Yao realize how petty her earlier suspicions had been.

Mo Daoyan, though not the sect master, wielded great influence in Lingyun Sect. He had no need to trick her into working for the sect under the guise of discipleship. What’s more, he had taken time out of his busy duties to meet with her—a mere Qi Refining novice—and had patiently offered so many explanations. Even if she were exceptionally gifted, it would hardly warrant such treatment, let alone when her talent was not considered outstanding.

Reflecting further, she realized her earlier words had been tinged with dissatisfaction, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

Resolving herself, Ji Yao bent her knees and knelt before Mo Daoyan, bowing deeply in heartfelt respect.

“Disciple Ji Yao pays her respects to Master!”

Mo Daoyan felt a sense of relief; his explanations had not been in vain. He nodded and smiled at Ji Yao.

When Ji Yao looked up, she caught sight of the tea set on the low table—still fragrant from their earlier conversation. An idea arose, and she bowed again.

“Master, I have one more request I hope you will grant.”

Mo Daoyan had intended to set a date for the formal ceremony, but this girl had another request.

“Speak your mind.”

Ji Yao straightened, her gaze earnest and words clear: “I hope you will not announce my apprenticeship for now. I wish to wait until after I reach Foundation Establishment before performing the formal rites.”

To strengthen her case and avoid idle gossip, Ji Yao added a promise: “Master, I am confident that within three to five years at most, I will reach Foundation Establishment.”

She did not mind what others thought of her, but rumors casting doubt on the Hall of Enforcement head’s judgment would be unfortunate. She owed it to Mo Daoyan to protect his reputation.

Until now, she had rarely cultivated in her space, leading to a slow and steady pace. But if she made full use of its advantages, she was certain she could keep her word.

Mo Daoyan raised his eyebrows in surprise, then nodded after a moment’s thought.

“Very well. After you enter the inner sect, you will be registered as my nominal disciple. Although you will be under my name and supervision, it is not a formal discipleship. When you have reached Foundation Establishment, we will select an auspicious day for you to become my true disciple.”

Ji Yao knew this was already the best outcome. The only difference between a nominal disciple and an ordinary inner disciple was the monthly stipend, so she did not press further and accepted gratefully.

At Mo Daoyan’s prompting, she stood.

Looking around once more, she felt the mark that had drawn her attention earlier reappear. She reached out, and the Clear Moon Flute materialized in her palm.

“Master, this secret—so far, you are the only one who knows!”

As she finished speaking, a clear ringing sound echoed. Silver light shimmered at the flute’s tail, revealing a slender blade just shorter than the flute itself.

Ji Yao raised her hand, and in an instant, the silver blade shifted to the flute’s head.

“The flute is the Clear Moon Flute; the blade is the Freedom Sword. I have named it the Clear Moon Freedom Sword.”

When she returned from Heavenly Law Peak to her small courtyard in the outer sect, Ji Yao already held a waist token from the peak.

The events of recent days flashed through her mind like a stream of light, and she sensed something was amiss.

The strangest part was that throughout her entry into Lingyun Sect’s inner circle and even her apprenticeship, her companion Si Tu Jing had not uttered a single word.

It was Si Tu Jing who had insisted she come to Lingyun Sect when Ji Yao was unfamiliar with the world of Mi Cang. This suggested Si Tu Jing had a history with the sect—whether good or ill, Ji Yao could not tell.

Since joining, Si Tu Jing had allowed her free rein and never mentioned anything about Lingyun Sect, so why had she been so insistent that Ji Yao join in the first place?

And then there was the Clear Moon Freedom Sword. Ji Yao remembered Mo Daoyan’s expression upon seeing it. Though she had obtained the flying sword by chance, it was Si Tu Jing who had opened the box before her, revealed the sword, pointed out its secrets, and taught her how to use it—even imparting the related sword techniques.

At the time, Ji Yao had been so captivated by the sword that she failed to notice Si Tu Jing’s expression. Now, looking back, it seemed as though everything had been arranged for her without her realizing it.

Perhaps it was not just about her. Maybe Si Tu Jing, too, was following this thread, both of them being steered along an invisible path. It was all too incredible.

As for herself, Ji Yao was just an insignificant figure—not worth anyone’s elaborate scheming. But what about Si Tu Jing? She was an Immortal Venerable, intimately familiar with the world of Mi Cang. Tracing her story back would span not decades, but hundreds of thousands of years. Who would spend so many lifetimes laying such intricate plans, and for what purpose?

The more Ji Yao pondered, the more she suspected that the one who had drawn her into the myriad red dusts of Mi Cang was Si Tu Jing herself.

There were questions she had to ask face-to-face. She activated all the protective arrays of her courtyard, and with a single thought, entered the space within her Sumeru Ring.