Open Class Say Yes

The curriculum for disciples of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect usually consisted of waking up early to meditate, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, comprehending nature, and then attending morning lectures to learn for the entire morning.

The morning was the best time to quiet the mind.
By the afternoon, the young people would become restless, and at that time, they would be made to practice martial arts and swordsmanship.

The disciples of the Heart-Sword Hall, however, had a completely different style.

Even when they meditated, they were dozing off.
During lectures, they would stack other books on top of their textbooks to read.
Their cultivation was even more of a mess.
The training hall was filled with those who had been forced to come; no one was willing to achieve any sort of righteous fruition.

Just as Jiang Yuyao had said, she had no obligation to save those who wouldn’t save themselves, and Gong Ning didn’t want to get involved either.

But now that she wore the hat of an elder, she had to be responsible for the authority she possessed.

Walking to the Deacon’s Hall, she saw the five outer sect elders she had met before: three women and two men.

Three of them were scratching their heads, not knowing what to do.
One, who had previously claimed in the council hall that he had left his door unlocked, was now working an abacus.
The last one was holding a book.

Gong Ning recognized her as Bai Peilan and walked straight over.

“Elder Bai, I apologize for disturbing you, but Elder Xue asked me to take charge of your disciples.”

Bai Peilan looked over.
It was still that face that even women would envy, only this time, her loose hair was tied up, and her gently falling bangs rested perfectly on her eyebrows like wisps of clouds.

“Elder… Gong?”

Since the elders of the Sky-Sword Pavilion all had the same surname, to avoid confusion, they would be addressed by their full names or their style names.

“It is I, Gong Ning. A week has passed. I wonder if Elder Bai has managed to obtain any medicinal pills?”

Gong Ning had originally wanted to get closer to her, but she hadn’t expected Bai Peilan’s expression to become a little awkward after she said this.

“No… the Hall Master is unreasonable and will not distribute extra resources.
Forget it, let’s not talk about this.
It’s time for the morning lecture.
Elder Gong, please come with me first.”

As a faction that had once been at its peak, the buildings and facilities of the Heart-Sword Hall were grand, though they looked a bit old and worn.

Gong Ning felt a little nervous.

She had been sent to protect the disciples on their training mission right after being appointed as an elder, without having conducted any teaching.

Teaching disciples, in particular, tested one’s knowledge reserves, and one also had to have authority… she didn’t know if her current appearance, without any cultivation, could command authority and convince the masses.

She also didn’t know if she would be treated differently by the disciples.

Bai Peilan had her stand in front of the door while she went in first to say a few things.

“Disciples, this lecture will not be given by me, but by a new elder.
This elder, well, those of you who like to read novels in private should know who she is.”

Some disciples’ eyes lit up, while others were still confused.

Bai Peilan continued to keep them in suspense, “She, upon seeing our Heart-Sword Hall’s disciples, believed that you were the most serious and dedicated disciples, so she ultimately chose you.”

This was a classic rhetorical trick.
Using comparison to motivate the disciples was most appropriate.

“Come in.”

The momentum she had built up made Gong Ning feel a little embarrassed.
But she still raised her head and puffed out her chest, trying to make herself look less fragile.

But as she stepped into the room, countless pairs of eyes turned to her, and a trace of fear instantly rose in her heart.

Bai Peilan knew her current state of mind and said to the disciples, “What are you looking at?
Welcome the new elder!”

In an instant, the applause was thunderous.

Regardless of what the disciples were thinking in their hearts, Gong Ning was once again motivated.
She stood on the lecture platform, smiling at the disciples, waiting for them to stop clapping.

[Detected Host’s action: Public Lecture.]

[Please give the disciples a rewarding lecture. The system will issue rewards to the host based on the results.]

‘So as long as it’s related to education, it can trigger the system?’

“If any of you have heard anything, you should know who I am.”

There was no chalk in this world, but there were specially cultivated “Clear Void Ink Bamboos,” which were much better than chalk that left dust everywhere.

She wrote a few words on the stone slate behind her.

“My name is Gong Ning, style name Jingzhi.”

At this, the disciples could no longer hold their tongues.
They were either gasping in astonishment or discussing animatedly amongst themselves, saying things like “It’s really her.”

Someone even shouted, “Elder Gong Ning, I’m a fan of your books!”

Others were discussing her affairs, “I heard Elder Gong Ning was demoted to our Heart-Sword Hall.”

“Huh? Wasn’t she exiled to the Heart-Sword Hall?”

“What? She was clearly captured by the Sword Immortal and brought to the Heart-Sword Hall, where they tumble in the clouds and rain all day…”

“By the way, on what grounds?
Elder Gong Ning clearly came here to protect the disciples, yet she ended up with us.”

“That’s just how the power-hungry dogs of our Profound Heaven Sword Sect are.
Just learn from it.”

Bai Peilan’s face darkened.
She had thought her own disciples were a breath of fresh air in the Heart-Sword Hall, but she hadn’t expected them to be reading that trashy book in private too.
Was it really that good?

“Silence!
Can you all show some respect!”

Like a homeroom teacher’s absolute authority over her students, Bai Peilan usually seemed gentle, but in the eyes of the disciples, she was a ferocious beast.

Not a single person made a sound.

Gong Ning took a moment to compose herself, thought about what to say, and then continued, “It seems everyone does know me, so my self-introduction will end here.”

“Now, I’d like to ask everyone a question.
What is the purpose and meaning of your cultivation?”

This question seemed a bit too sharp.
Gong Ning could hear people whispering things like “return to secular life,” “live longer,” and even “marry an elder.”

But no one could give a grand ambition.

“It’s okay if you can’t answer.
After all, there will always be someone to be a hero, someone to vanquish demons and defend the country.
Why must it be me?”

Gong Ning said some playful words to lighten the atmosphere.

Some disciples laughed, but it was sparse.
It was clear that there were more people who lacked confidence.

“I know there are some ambitions in your hearts that you can’t say out loud, because this is the Heart-Sword Hall.
Even though the Sword Immortal is the Hall Master, she is too distant for all of you.”

“I also want to inspire and encourage all of you, but when I was a disciple, I heard too much of it.
Now, I naturally don’t want to repeat that nonsense a dozen or twenty times.”

These disciples, they were always consciously sinking.
One or two would be fine, but all the disciples were like this.
Could one say it was their fault?

Fortunately, these children were only sinking, not fallen.

“But there is one thing about you that makes me very happy, because you are still learning and cultivating.
Just now in the Deacon’s Hall, I saw the other elders looking distressed while grading papers, but only your Elder Bai was the most relaxed.”

The disciples finally laughed, because this compliment truly hit home.

“I don’t want to sound too preachy.
I only have one request: that you all continue and don’t stop.
It’s okay if you don’t have a goal.
In the matter of cultivation, you will always find something you want to do, whether it’s returning to secular life, seeking longevity, or… marrying an elder… ah, that one’s not okay.”

Gong Ning had subconsciously thought of herself as a man and had intended to use this to jest, but when she came back to her senses, she realized she was joking about herself.
She was suddenly a little embarrassed, but unexpectedly, it elicited a burst of laughter from the disciples.

‘This is good. A lecture hall shouldn’t be too heavy.’

“Alright, alright, that’s enough talk.
Let’s officially begin.”