The next day she realised there was no need for her to behave like a bitch to Shi XinNian as the rest of the school already mistreated him enough. How could she have forgotten about her delectable Martial Nephew who assisted Liang HaoHan in her teaching?

The novel wasted no time in summoning him, so he was standing there, in the entrance’s garden, facing off with that little runt Shi XinNian as if his honour had been impugned. The boy was bent over, and his back was covered in welts, obviously caused by the cane the man was holding. She brought a hand to her chest as she took a deep breath, thankful those were not coming from the discipline cane which was infused with spiritual energy and would make those marks permanent.

Not that being caned was pleasant anyway. Toying with the pipe between her fingers she stepped closer.

“What is going on here?” she asked with the most annoying tone she would muster. The man turned with wide eyes.

-Zhang FangMin, Martial Nephew, Master of the Xin Peak-

And finally, here he was, the one who would enact all of her misdeeds, but who acted too much in her name as far as she was concerned.

“Zhang Shigu, I am glad you have arrived. You may now complete this boy’s punishment. He was found loitering around the disciples’ abodes after curfew without permission.”

Zhang YueLiang looked at Shi XinNian. He was obviously trying to hold back tears, but it was also very evident he had reached his limit from the pained expression on his face. Before he could make the situation any worse for himself, she distracted the other man by moving her hand and indirectly focusing his attention upon herself.

“He works for Liang HaoHan Gongzi. The disciple must have tasked him with a job that could not be postponed. I believe he has received punishment enough for the time being. Don’t waste our time further. Shi XinNian, go clean up.” She said. After that she swiftly left them looking speechless.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the blaring red light. But nothing happened. Actually, a window appeared with a soft green glow.

-龙-

+10 points for Empathy!

+10 points for Initiative!

+5 points for Coherence!

Congratulations Miss, you now have access to a new story arc.

She widened her eyes in surprise, A new story arc? 

In the meanwhile, Shi XinNian who had been about to rebel violently against his persecutor hesitated slightly upon hearing those words. Lifting his eyes, he fixed them on the receding back of that cold woman. He squinted slightly, but the pain in his back quickly called him back to reality. After Zhang YueLiang had stepped away, she heard the shuffling movements of the boys who had held Shi XinNian down and eventually the unsure steps of the boy himself. She shut her eyes to stop herself from saying anything else or from turning around. The other Master fell in step with her.

“I hope I have not irritated you, Zhang Shigu.”

She did not even turn to face him and barely acknowledged him.

“If you have to ask, it goes to show you have made a mistake.” She replied coldly.

I’ll have to make a note of this one. She gloated, proud of having put together a sentence worthy of the terrible Original.

Zhang FangMin paled and bent his head.

“My apologies, Zhang Shigu.”

“Yes, yes.” She said dismissively while she stepped in the small room dedicated to her lessons with Liang HaoHan.

She sat down without waiting for a reply and took a seat at the table at the far end of the room. The boy, she realised then he must have been in his late twenties, followed her and took the seat next to her that was slightly lower. She noticed there were numerous small desks, indicating she would probably be teaching another five young Cultivators. That number rang a bell. Bored, she looked on to the room. She had no need to eat, she knew that. As an Immortal she rarely ate and probably only because of gluttony. Unfortunately, the Original was very particular, but she hoped she would be able to taste some of the ancient Chinese cuisine… or at the very least, what the author had bothered putting in the narration. Unlike her though, her disciples, especially the younger ones, did not starve themselves, so their schedule included time for them to eat before they had to attend lessons.

She looked sideways at Zhang FengMin and noticing he was not paying attention to her she leant against the wall behind her with a sigh and crossed her legs. Bored, she looked down and then started upright. At that, her Shizhi turned towards her worried, but since she did not address him, he turned away once more.

“C.S.!” she whispered.

-龍-

Are you referring to us?

“Of course! Could you tell me why I am barefoot?” she asked, wriggling her tight covered toes towards the window that lazily bobbed in front of her.

-龍-

Oh, the Original is not a fan of footwear. Right now, you are using a glaze of spiritual energy so that you will not get dirty or ruin your tights, without losing any sensitivity in your feet. How have you only just realised this?

Zhang YueLiang stared at her foot in consternation and shook her shoulders. They had a point, the sensitivity in her foot was much improved by the absence of footwear.

“Apologies, but I was suddenly thrust into a novel set in Ancient China, with Cultivators and magic, to try and change my destiny and that of my fellow characters. Nothing to be worried about.”

-龍-

…

Should I include this under the sarcasm category?

The mechanical voice almost seemed to be curious.

“Yes.”

-龍-

We will not fail to do so.

And with that they disappeared. Zhang YueLiang roller her eyes defeated. However, spotting her students filing in she sat upright. Among them were also Ming ZhanYa and Zhang ZhaoDa who sat directly opposite her. She studied the last one to come in and lifted her eyebrows in surprise. Above his head floated in silver lettering the name -Ming GuangYing, disciple of the Xin peak-

He was the cousin of her only female disciple, and both belonged to the peak in the North, XuanWu. She had no idea why they were there.

Thank you, author. She could not refrain from commenting.

She remembered him being one of the protagonist’s best friends, so he was often found alongside him during their outings. As she was tapping her lip with the metal nail, she remembered he was also the person who would make sure Shi XinNian inevitably descended toward the dark path that awaited him. She looked on as they took their seats, noticing the fifth desk that stood empty and the delicate figure standing by the threshold. Shi was looking at his master with a dignified and resolved expression on his face, and yet from time to time she could detect a grimace of pain not hidden well enough, perhaps due to the wounds on his back. She worriedly asked herself if anyone had taken care of them for him, but she did not remember that detail from the novel.

If it was even narrated. She wriggled her nose impatiently. She had to focus on her lesson.

“Good, we may start now. – she said as she stood up gracefully while toying with the pipe in her hand. – I trust that your being here is also thanks to a basic knowledge you already possess on Cultivation and your duties as aspiring Immortals.” She almost sounded as though she were reading a textbook and hesitated for a moment.

-龍-

Do not worry, it is as though you are engaging an autopilot at this time. Whatever knowledge the Original has you also possess, you just have to get used to what you are saying so as to not be unprepared if ever this information were useful to you.

She lifted her eyebrows in surprise. If only autopilot were a thing in real life, exams would have been so much easier. Seeing her disciples nodding along, she extended a leg as she thought on what would come next.

“Our duties, or, I should say, yours, is to take care of mortal issues with the evil power afflicting these lands. Monsters and evil spirits are everywhere as you well know and come in different shapes and sizes. Who can tell me what creatures we will be facing?” she asked, lifting her gaze.

The disciples looked at each other in doubt, then Liang HaoHan raised his hand as was to be expected. What a good boy.

“Liang HaoHan Gongzi.” She said, pointing at him with her pipe.

“The creatures we will face are spirits and yaoguai. The spirits may belong to people who have passed on and are looking for vengeance or who have unresolved issues with someone, even if these do not relate to their death. They might also have died while filled with a strong emotion which turned into resentment, which makes them into vengeful spirits with no quest but to feed on human beings. Yaoguai are animals or objects who have gained consciousness because they absorbed a lot of spiritual energy; they are often idolised by mortals for no particularly good reason. These animals can shapeshift as their power increases.”

She approved, abstracted in thought.

“Just these?” she asked, turning slightly towards him. The boy looked at her in confusion and she smiled. Sometimes, being the bitchy Original was not too bad. She was surprised though by the hand that was raised at the back of the room. It was Shi XinNian’s. all the students looked in the direction of her gaze and everyone seemed to be sporting her same reaction. Only her assistant spoke disdainfully.

“What do you think you can add to this conversation, slave? You are only here in case your Gongzi should need you, surely not to…”

“Speak.” She said instead. Everyone turned to look at her in surprise. Including the boy she had directed her order to. He dropped his gaze and bit his lip nervously.

“Speak.” She said instead. Everyone turned to look at her in surprise. Including the boy she had directed her order to. He dropped his gaze and bit his lip nervously.

“Demons, Shizun.” He whispered. Of course, who other than a Demon’s heir could remember that? Liang HaoHan opened his eyes wide in surprise and raised his hand, but she shook her head in denial.

“And can you tell me about them?” she asked, leaning against the table. A red light started flashing and she immediately righted herself once more. Damn it! Shi XinNian gave her a troubled look.

“Uhm… I… I mean…”

“So?” she spurred him on putting on a show of impatience. I understand you Shi, I understand, but show me what you are capable of and I can give you the chance to sit at that desk! She begged him silently.

“Uhm… I believe they are like you Immortals, Madam.”

Damn it, Shi, not like that!

“What did you dare say?” shouted Zhang FengMin as she had expected.

Zhang YueLiang almost hit herself over the head with the pipe.

“Explain yourself, boy. You’re surely not comparing us immortal with that… Demon scum.” He said.

Not you, obviously. You will be the most amazing Demon, Shi. Please don’t take this personally! Shi XinNian widened his eyes as he observed the Masters’ reactions and bent his head.

“N… no. Of course not! I just meant that they are spirits or yaoguai who have cultivated the evil within them until they had to descend into the Phantom Dimension… only then they become, using the technical term, Mó. There are different demonic castes, but I am afraid my knowledge does not extend that far.” He finished in a whisper.

Oh yes, great job Shi! The woman sighed with a nod, feeling more relaxed.

“Obviously, Demons will be the last creatures you will have to challenge as they are very powerful, but do not forget about their existence.” She said pointing her pipe towards Liang HaoHan, who nodded emphatically.

She looked at Shi XinNian who still had his head bent and she shook her head.

“You were not wrong, boy. Some Demons are quite similar… Actually, they are Immortals who have fallen and been corrupted by the foul aspects of evil. I had the misfortune of coming across such a one. These specifically are extremely powerful Demons and are difficult to wipe out, and these are the ones that are properly referred to as Mó as they are Kings of the yaoguai. Or, using the same noun, we could be referring to actual Demons born in the Phantom Dimension, heirs to the Ancient Demons. To avoid confusion, we will simply refer to them as Demons. – She said thoughtfully. – You will learn more about them should you choose to study them more closely. – Shi XinNian lifted his eyes in wonder, and she stared back at him. – Sit down, boy. You have demonstrated you can explain things well, which makes you worthy of being one of my students. It was not easy to understand I was referring to the Demons. You may attend the theory lessons if you so wish.”

“Shizun?” he asked with tears in his eyes.

Zhang YueLiang pressed the pipe down on her lips to mask the immediate reaction of pity that she had felt arise in her. Don’t look at me with those glittering eyes, Shi.

“So? I am not here to wait on you.”

Shi XinNian bowed once more, filled with gratitude, and took a seat at the desk furthest in the back. Liang HaoHan looked at him and smiled, but he was the only one to extend such a welcome. It was to be expected though, he was the hero. Others looked at him doubtfully.

-龙-

+10 points for Initiative!

+5 points for Complexity!

Congratulations, you have demonstrated a great sense of observation. Keep this up.