What will become of our Heart Sword Hall…

“Why are you elders so slow? The Heart-Sword Hall didn’t get a single disciple this year. Can’t you sense the crisis?”

In the council hall, a woman with her hair tied up, dressed in the robes of an inner sect elder, stood and spoke her mind passionately.
There were two other inner sect elders; one sat sideways, and the other was dozing off.

As for the other five outer sect elders, they appeared to be sitting upright and attentive, but in reality, their minds were elsewhere.

“My Heart-Sword Hall was once one of the top factions in the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, even surpassing the most prestigious Sky-Sword Pavilion. But ever since ten years ago, even those blacksmiths from the Blade-Forging Hall have more disciples than us! I don’t understand why, after Jiang Yuyao became the Hall Master, the Heart-Sword Hall has fallen to such a state! Where is Jiang Yuyao? And which elder are you!”

Her tone shifted, suddenly turning to Gong Ning.
It was also at this moment that the other elders finally seemed to perk up.
Compared to the trivial matter of disciples, the new beautiful colleague was more interesting.

Gong Ning could only introduce herself.

“My name is Gong Ning. I was originally from the Sky-Sword Pavilion. Although I haven’t officially taken up my post, I may become a colleague of yours in the future. Right now, due to some matters, I am borrowing the sanctuary of the Heart-Sword Hall to lay low. As for the Hall Master, she had to leave for a while because of my affairs. During this time, I will be acting as the Hall Master.”

Upon hearing the words “Sky-Sword Pavilion,” the woman frowned.
And when the words “acting Hall Master” were uttered, her face turned red.

She was livid.

“What is Jiang Yuyao doing! Entrusting the Heart-Sword Hall to an outsider?”

However, the other elders showed no surprise.

The elder who had been sitting sideways straightened up and asked curiously, “Is it that Gong Ning? The one who was turned into a woman by the demonic cultivator?”

And the one who had been dozing off was startled by these words, quickly raising his head to stare at Gong Ning.

“The prototype for the main character in ‘The Crippled Immortal’? My eyes were blurry just now, I didn’t notice. But now that I see… listen to me, brother, this is actually pretty good.”

This made Gong Ning even more embarrassed.
She hadn’t expected that trashy book to have reached the hands of an inner sect elder.

“Enough! Look at all of you, not attending to your duties, reading novels, slacking off in secret… If this continues, what will become of our Heart-Sword Hall!”

As she spoke righteously, Gong Ning observed the other elders, but these people were like stubborn leeches, completely shameless and thick-skinned.

She suddenly sat down again, elbows on the table, covering her face with her hands.
She took several deep breaths before finally calming down.

“So, does anyone know the reason?”

Seeing no one speak, Gong Ning thought that as the acting Hall Master, she should probably speak up.

“I know a little. It’s said that someone spread rumors that our Heart-Sword Hall has the worst benefits…”

“It must have been the Sky-Sword Pavilion!”

She suddenly became agitated again, completely disregarding the fact that their acting Hall Master was from the Sky-Sword Pavilion.

“I will report this matter to the Sect Master and ask him to investigate.”

Then, the council hall suddenly fell silent.

Gong Ning had been in the Sky-Sword Pavilion’s council hall before.
During their meetings, every elder had to give a report, such as the disciples’ situation, how much was spent, or applications for cultivation resources.
Even emergency meetings were conducted with great vigor.

But the Heart-Sword Hall’s meeting was like a makeshift troupe, without any of the grandeur of a major sect.
There was truly nothing to talk about.
No wonder Jiang Yuyao hadn’t even done a proper handover before giving her the jade pendant.

‘Is this the corporate culture of the Heart-Sword Hall? So our Heart-Sword Hall really does just support idlers.’

And what an outer sect elder raised his hand to say next only confirmed Gong Ning’s suspicions, “Um, since there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving first. The disciples are waiting for me to go back…”

“Me too, me too.”

“Me, me, me… ah, I forgot to lock my door at home.”

They didn’t even care who agreed or not, just got up and fled, leaving only three inner sect elders and two outer sect elders.

The two inner sect elders actually started whispering to each other.

“Hey, Elder Hu, what is ‘The Crippled Immortal’?”

“Old Zhang, you don’t even know this? The disciples have all been reading it lately. I got curious and took a look the day before yesterday, and it really kept me up at night. The author, Xi Yao’s stuff is top-notch… I guarantee that after you read it, you won’t feel anything for your old hag at home.”

‘This is too absurd.’

Gong Ning glanced at the two outer sect elders over there.

“Sister Bai, why haven’t you left yet?”

“Can’t leave, I happen to need some medicinal pills…”

“Same here. So, should you say it or should I?”

This side was better.
Although they wanted resources without going through the proper procedures and didn’t even bother to pretend, they were at least thinking about their disciples to some extent.

‘Can one teach disciples well while staying with this bunch of parasites? Should I… just run away?’

“Ahem.”

Gong Ning coughed twice, trying to find some semblance of a Hall Master’s authority, but unfortunately, she had never held a high position and could only state things simply.

“Since the elders all believe there is nothing to be concerned about, those who are busy can go back first. As for cultivation resources, please submit an application to me. Also, I need the elder in charge of resources to do a handover with me.”

“She’s already gone back to lock her house door.”

‘…the door you didn’t lock, was it the alchemy room, or the armory?’

A few people left one after another.
That Elder Hu even gave Gong Ning a thumbs-up.

“Brother, don’t mind the outside rumors. I, Hu Changsheng, will always support the relationship between you and your disciple.”

…

In the end, only Gong Ning and the one who spoke at the beginning were left in the council hall.

She was different from the other elders; she seemed to be a very dedicated and responsible person.

“Esteemed elder, is there anything else you wish to say?”

“What can I say? I hope the Heart-Sword Hall goes bankrupt soon, so it doesn’t delay me from finding a new place.”

“Uh, it’s not entirely without hope, is it?”

“Then you tell me where there’s still hope!”

She slammed the table and stood up, the table barely surviving the blow.

“Jiang Yuyao only cares about her own cultivation and ignores all matters of the hall; the elders don’t do their jobs and even take their direct disciples to stroll through flower gardens.”

“The disciples have no ambition either. They’ve been cultivating for twenty years and haven’t even reached Foundation Establishment. They fail every task they’re given, and I receive complaints every day… and they all refuse to return to secular life. New disciples who come will always be led astray, and this year there aren’t even any! You tell me how to save it?”

‘Uh… then it really is finished.’

Although she didn’t know why the elders were like this, it was understandable why the disciples didn’t return to secular life.

With the Heart-Sword Hall’s post-sect benefits, only those with a specific skill would dare to return.
It was better to just retire here.

With the environment being like this, it was hard for new disciples not to be assimilated.

“Gong Ning, that’s your name, right? You’d better tell me, you’re a spy sent by the Sky-Sword Pavilion to annex the Heart-Sword Hall, aren’t you?”

As she said this, Gong Ning could even see a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

“Unfortunately…”

The elder’s pupils seemed to dissipate, like fireworks that had burned out, leaving only grayish-white embers.