The Unveiled Truth of the Direct Disciple

In the room named “Xia.”

The long rosewood table was covered with a gorgeous tablecloth. More than ten people were sitting quietly around the table, some with their eyes closed, while others were staring at the delicious food in front of them.

The tantalizing aroma of precious ingredients, masterfully transformed into exquisite dishes, wafted through the air, yet no one dared to pick up their chopsticks.

They sat along either side of the long table, quietly awaiting the young maiden with long, twin-braided hair, who was gracefully seated at the head.

Her demeanor was ethereal, her movements refined, and beneath her youthful appearance lay a maturity and steadfastness that belied her age.

Even though two meditation cushions were stacked beneath her to boost her height, no one at the table dared to show even a hint of disdain or mockery.

The tips of the young maiden’s long hair were now tinged with a faint azure, not merely a color, but a subtle luminescence.

This was a manifestation of condensed spiritual energy, an undeniable sign of being a half-step into Foundation Establishment!

Abundant spiritual energy would naturally emanate into one’s hair; upon reaching full Foundation Establishment, it was estimated that her long hair would instantly transform into the clear, vibrant blue of a cloudless sky.

When they had met just yesterday, only the very tips were blue, but now, the azure hue had subtly climbed a significant portion of her hair!

To be on the verge of Foundation Establishment at such a tender age suggested that her status and power far surpassed everyone present.

Yet the young maiden showed no urgency, merely closing her eyes slightly, holding a teacup, and slowly savoring the bitter hot tea.

“Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey… it’s so bitter, Senior Sister Qiu Yue, I still can’t get used to it…” Liu Ruyan stuck out her tongue, then, picking up her chopsticks, swiftly snatched a pastry from her bowl, stuffing it whole into her mouth and chewing furiously, trying to wash away the lingering bitterness.

“I told you it would be bitter,” Qiu Yue said, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she watched Liu Ruyan continuously devour pastries. She then helped her by adding a few fresh osmanthus cakes to her bowl, chuckling softly. “Be careful not to choke. If you’re hungry, feel free to eat first; there’s no need to wait for us.”

“Really?” Liu Ruyan’s eyes immediately sparkled, but then, recalling the etiquette her master had taught her, she shook her head. “No, Senior Sister. It would be quite improper for Ruyan to eat pastries when everyone hasn’t arrived yet.”

“As you wish,” Qiu Yue replied with a smile, setting down her teacup.

Just then, the doors swung open.

Nangong Xuan’s two personal maids, bowing low, pushed open the grand entrance for her.

Qiu Yue felt a flicker of surprise, for Nangong Xuan’s face was, for some unknown reason, suddenly obscured by a black veil covering half of it.

Though thoroughly concealed, the swiftness of Nangong Xuan’s steps caused a gust of wind to momentarily lift a corner of her veil, and in that fleeting instant, Qiu Yue caught sight of something amiss.

She saw that Nangong Xuan’s cheek was slightly swollen, and a distinct slap mark marred her flushed skin.

Nangong Xuan uttered not a single word, instead returning silently to the empty seat to Qiu Yue’s left.

Qiu Yue remained impassive, her gaze lingering on Nangong Xuan for a moment before subtly shifting to the other attendees.

Among those present, a considerable number of disciples hailed from the Jia and Yi tiers.

Several of these disciples, in particular, were from the Yi tier.

Not all of them were direct disciples; some were merely individuals Qiu Yue had drawn into her circle.

“Since everyone has arrived, there’s no need to wait any longer,” Qiu Yue announced. “Please, everyone, begin your meal. The discussion can certainly wait a little longer. Enjoy.”

With that, Qiu Yue picked up her long chopsticks, deftly selected a piece of meat, and, holding it carefully, placed it into her mouth. She closed her eyes, savoring the chewy texture and the burst of savory juices that flooded her palate.

Witnessing Qiu Yue begin her meal, everyone else ceased their waiting and eagerly started to enjoy the array of delicious dishes before them.

Throughout the meal, Qiu Yue was far from silent. Her conversation was elegant yet engaging, her knowledge vast, and her tales of unusual events seemingly endless. She swiftly dispelled the previous solemn atmosphere at the table, replacing it with lively chatter.

In short order, the entire ambiance became incredibly cheerful, with many finding themselves thoroughly enjoying the moment. They gradually let down their guard, and the group grew increasingly familiar with one another.

Although they were distinguished by their tiers, there was no significant rift or discrimination; disciples from both Jia and Yi tiers conversed with great delight!

They even raised their cups in convivial cheer.

One Yi tier disciple, in particular, raised her voice, stood up directly, and, holding her wine cup aloft, declared loudly, “That Sect Master’s direct disciple isn’t so special after all!”

“Wei Qing!” Her companion beside her gasped in alarm. While the atmosphere was no longer as stifling as before, it certainly did not permit Yi tier disciples to behave so brazenly!

Her companion quickly tugged at Wei Qing’s sleeve, signaling her to sit down at once.

However, Wei Qing was already thoroughly intoxicated, unusually excited, and overwhelmed by an unprecedented surge of exhilaration and confidence.

She swung her arm in a wide arc, shaking off her companion’s hand, and directly addressed Qiu Yue: “Disciple Qiu! I truly believe you needn’t go to such great lengths! That so-called Sect Master’s direct disciple is nothing but a lapdog! A spineless coward who only cares about money!”

“Oh?” Qiu Yue’s interest was piqued. “Did something happen today?”

“You wouldn’t know! That direct disciple! They actually lost to that Imperial Princess! That arrogant Imperial Princess! They became that woman’s lapdog! They were utterly deferential, bowing and scraping, displaying the most disgraceful behavior! They even intimidated other disciples for a seat! Throwing away all self-respect, just to fetch a seat for their dog owner! Pah! Can such a person even be a direct disciple? It’s truly shameful! This kind of person, who bullies others by relying on their connections, just because they have a bit of background, they—”

Wei Qing’s companion immediately panicked! The moment these words left her lips, several people present frowned and their expressions soured.

‘Could such words truly be spoken?!’

‘This isn’t just an attack on that Disciple Lin; this is a blatant slap in the face to everyone here!’

‘She knew why Wei Qing hated powerful people so much, but these specific individuals, she neither knew nor cared to know!’

She quickly stood up and immediately clapped her hand over Wei Qing’s mouth, refusing to let go no matter how much she struggled. Only after forcing her back into her seat did she hastily explain: “That Disciple Lin bullied others by relying on their influence! Wei Qing, having had her family ruined by such people since childhood, inevitably reacted a bit excessively!”

“So that’s it,” Qiu Yue said, still smiling, betraying no change in her expression. Instead, she took the initiative to explain, “Junior Sister Wei Qing possesses a straightforward and outspoken nature. Having been wronged by unscrupulous individuals and never having interacted with any of you present, her views are naturally a little narrow. I imagine that after spending more time with all of you, she will come to understand the differences. The depth of character and upbringing here are naturally vastly different from those in the mundane world.”

Qiu Yue’s explanation helped to defuse Wei Qing’s embarrassment, causing the expressions of those present to soften considerably.

“Is that personal disciple truly so… deplorable? After all, she is the direct daughter of Her Majesty Ji; her strength should be considerable,” Qiu Yue said, shifting the topic.

“Disciple Qiu, you were not present at the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony that day, so naturally you wouldn’t know. The Imperial Princess only possesses purple talent, but that direct disciple, under the watchful eyes of everyone, manifested a heavenly phenomenon during their bone root test, startling both the Grand Elder and the Sect Master so much that they immediately began to fight over—”

“What did you say?” Qiu Yue, who had been smiling moments before, suddenly stiffened, her smile freezing on her face. “That direct disciple… was also at the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony that day? Are they… from this current batch?”

“Yes, they are from the same batch as the Imperial Princess and Disciple Liu. You didn’t know? Well, that’s right, after all, she poses no threat, she—”

Qiu Yue suddenly stood up, slamming her hand onto the table. Her previous amiable demeanor vanished, replaced by a fierce, almost menacing expression. “What… what is their name?!” she demanded furiously.

“Lin… Lin Wan’er.”

‘Lin…?’

‘Lin Wan’er…?’

‘Lin… Lin Mo?!’

‘She had never looked into the Sect Master’s personal disciple, for it had never once occurred to her… that the person who had caused both the Xuan Nv Sect Master and the Grand Elder to fight over them, the one who had survived having cultivation poured into them by the Sect Master… was a man!’