All Taught by Lin Shao

To Lin Shao, the Lingxu Sword was neither an urgent necessity nor a particularly vital item. Regarding that strange dream, he had initially approached the matter with a “worth a try” attitude. Moreover, since only the Lingxu Scabbard was sealed within Li Zhuwen’s body, even if it were removed, finding the actual sword would still take time.

Forcibly extracting the scabbard now would have two negative consequences: first, it would jeopardize Li Zhuwen’s well-being, potentially putting her in grave danger; second, it would weaken the Wan Jian Pavilion’s strength, causing them to fall behind in the upcoming competition against the Sword Sect.

Therefore, taking the scabbard now was by no means a good choice.

Lin Shao tapped his right index finger on the desk, drawing everyone’s attention. “There is no need to rush the extraction. I don’t mind waiting.”

Shao Qingnü let out a long breath of relief. She had been on edge, fearing that Lin Shao would be unreasonable and demand the scabbard immediately. Di Yao would undoubtedly side with him, and in that case, no matter how much she hated it, she would have been forced to comply.

Senior Lin is quite reasonable, unlike the overbearing Di Yao… wait, no, I definitely didn’t mean that! Remembering Senior Lin’s supposed ability to peer into hearts, Shao Qingnü hurriedly apologized in her mind, terrified that he might tell Di Yao and bring the Empress’s wrath down upon her.

Only when she noticed Lin Shao wasn’t even looking in her direction did her tense nerves finally relax.

By this time, Mu Li had finished brewing the tea. She carried a black circular tray with five cups, serving each person in turn. After distributing the tea, she did not look for a seat; instead, she stood behind Lin Shao, giving off the aura of a capable and supportive “inner helper.”

Delicious. Truly delicious. This is the best tea I’ve ever had in my life, Shao Qingnü thought after taking a sip. She couldn’t help but take another. The fragrance was clear but not faint, the sweetness present but not cloying. This required not only high-quality leaves but also flawless technique—the amount of water, the boiling time, the timing of the pour—everything had to be perfect.

Even though Miss Mu is blind, by using her other four senses, she “sees” much more than those with sight!

Shao Qingnü judged Mu Li’s strength by the True Qi leaking from her surface. She is only at Level 3, yet her perception is not inferior to Level 5. Did Senior Lin teach her this? He’s incredible.

Hou Xingyue and Li Zhuwen also tasted the excellence of the tea. One was exaggerated in his praise while the other was subtle, but both showed looks of admiration. Even Lin Shao, after tasting it, had to admit that he wouldn’t catch up to Mu Li’s brewing skills in ten years.

Among everyone present, only Di Yao had a different expression.

Disgusting. Truly foul. This is the most bitter tea I’ve ever tasted. Di Yao took a sip, then looked at Mu Li standing beside Lin Shao like a devoted wife, and suddenly the tea felt exceptionally bitter. This bitterness spread from her tongue to her entire body, making her unable to sit still.

“When do you plan to remove the Lingxu Scabbard?” Mu Li looked toward Li Zhuwen, asking in a tone so calm it lacked any ripple of emotion.

Li Zhuwen set her teacup down and replied, “I wish to take it out immediately after the Grand Assembly ends.”

“After the Assembly?” Shao Qingnü was clearly caught off guard. “Zhuwen, you are the main representative for the Pavilion. You’ll be putting in a massive amount of effort at the Assembly and will be exhausted. Extracting the scabbard then is far too risky.”

Hou Xingyue also tried to persuade her: “Yeah, Boss Lin said he doesn’t mind. There’s no need to rush. Take some time to recover after the Assembly, and try only when your condition is back to peak.”

Li Zhuwen remained silent for a moment before insisting, “The scabbard has been in my body for too long. I do not want to depend on it anymore.”

“This isn’t a matter of dependence!” Shao Qingnü was getting anxious. Why was her star disciple being so stubborn? “Removing the scabbard is no easy task. If there’s even a slight error, your soul will shatter and your spirit will be extinguished! I am not joking with you!”

Li Zhuwen pursed her lips, and after a long silence, her voice grew firmer: “I believe I can do it.”

Shao Qingnü was almost driven to angry laughter. Senior Lin had already let them off the hook, but Li Zhuwen was digging her heels in. She slammed the table and rebuked her sharply: “Li Zhuwen! You have contradicted me multiple times today. Do you even respect me as your Master and your Sect Master anymore?!”

Seeing Shao Qingnü pull rank, Li Zhuwen closed her mouth. Though her expression remained defiant, she said no more.

Shao Qingnü saw the silent defiance and was about to scold her further when she was stopped by a light, airy voice.

“The Sect Master wants Miss Li to rest for a while after the Assembly before removing the scabbard; this is undoubtedly out of concern for her,” Mu Li began. “But the Sect Master has overlooked one point. The Lingxu Sword is no ordinary spiritual tool. It requires neither True Qi to drive it nor flesh and blood to nourish it. It resides in one’s heart and is controlled by one’s emotions.”

“The scabbard comes from the sword and shares its traits. After a competition, a person might be low on Qi and mentally tired, but those are unrelated to the heart’s intent. Miss Li has the resolve to stop relying on the scabbard; this resolve makes her heart steadfast. Therefore, if she removes it after the Assembly, the success rate will not decrease due to fatigue—it will actually increase because her intent aligns with the scabbard’s nature.”

Shao Qingnü looked at Mu Li with a strange gaze and asked slowly, “The Lingxu Sword has alternated between the Pavilion and the Sword Sect for six hundred years. I can see you don’t even practice the Way of the Sword—how do you know so much about its details?”

Lin Shao was also confused. Mu Li being a wandering Taoist meant she was knowledgeable, but this level of detail about the Lingxu Sword was a bit too specific.

The corner of Mu Li’s mouth quirked up slightly. “All of this… was told to me by Lin Shao.” As she spoke, she discreetly poked Lin Shao’s back with her finger.

Lin Shao was stunned for a second, then felt the slight poke. Having been “traveling partners” with Mu Li for a whole winter, he instantly understood her signal. However, he was terrified inside—What’s the point of saying I told you? If they question me, won’t I just get exposed anyway?

Nevertheless, he adjusted his sitting posture and smiled. “Yes. I told her all of that.”

He sat there in agonizing suspense, dreading that Shao Qingnü would ask, “And how exactly do you know that?” He couldn’t exactly say Mu Li told him and start an infinite loop of “he said, she said”!

Shao Qingnü had never focused much on the Lingxu Sword after seeing her senior sister fail to master it. Her own talent was inferior, so she hadn’t delved deep into its lore, but what Mu Li just said matched the vague impressions she had, which was why she had been suspicious.

But the moment Mu Li said Senior Lin was the source, everything became perfectly logical. A powerhouse like Senior Lin has surely lived for over a thousand years. Before the Pavilion or the Sword Sect even existed, the Lingxu Sword was masterless; perhaps Senior Lin held it himself back then.

“I see. I understand now.” Shao Qingnü hadn’t dared to blindly follow the advice of someone as young as Mu Li, but since Senior Lin didn’t object, it meant the suggestion was correct.

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior Lin. It was my own lack of understanding that almost caused her to miss the best timing. I am deeply, deeply grateful.” Shao Qingnü bowed her head, partly out of shame for her stubbornness and partly out of gratitude for his “help.”

Seeing that her Sect Master had agreed to her wish, Li Zhuwen’s icy expression softened slightly. Hou Xingyue was overjoyed to see her in a better mood, and his gaze toward Lin Shao—already full of respect—added another layer of gratitude.

Di Yao, who was initially annoyed that Mu Li had stolen the spotlight, felt a swell of pride seeing everyone thanking her Master—especially Shao Qingnü’s heartfelt gratitude. Her gaze toward Lin Shao was now filled with worship.

Only Lin Shao, still gripped by anxiety and fearing further questions, was utterly bewildered. But he didn’t dare speak or ask. He maintained his “profound” pose—hands folded in front of his chin—and remained perfectly still.