“A role model for teachers? You?”

Inside the felt tent, Yao Guihai nearly spat out his drink upon hearing the young man’s words, exclaiming, “How did you even get into the Imperial Academy? Don’t you have any self-awareness? Please, spare me the talk, my teeth ache.”

“If you don’t speak up, Yao, no one will think you’re mute!”

Li Ziye bristled at the comment, retorting, “And why can’t I be a role model? Didn’t you once say you wanted to squash those Imperial Academy students? Should I go tell them that?”

“Heh, go ahead, let’s see if they believe you, kid, or me!” Yao Guihai shot back.

“Cough!”

Beside them, Fa Ru coughed again, listening to their increasingly unrestrained conversation, and interjected, “Instructor Yao, is it true what Instructor Li said? Did you really say those things?”

“Hisss!”

Yao Guihai’s expression shifted dramatically, suddenly remembering that Fa Ru, the esteemed master, was also present, and cold sweat began to stream down his face.

I’ve been led astray by this brat!

On the bed, Li Ziye’s face revealed a schadenfreude grin. You forget your boss was here, didn’t you?

“Alright.”

Inside the tent, Chen Qiao’er, seeing the conversation veering off-topic, had to interject, “Kid, what about the matter I mentioned? Have you thought it over? Can you do it?”

“Can I not do it?”

Li Ziye asked cautiously.

“What do you think?”

Chen Qiao’er adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose and countered with a question.

“Then, Sister Qiao’er, teach me a few more moves. Last time, that palm technique, you only taught me one move,” Li Ziye immediately seized the opportunity to bargain.

“As long as you complete the task, you can learn whatever you want,” Chen Qiao’er agreed straightforwardly.

“Alright, I’ll do my best.” Knowing he couldn’t refuse, Li Ziye reluctantly agreed.

“It’s not about trying your best; you must accomplish it. At the very least, you need to extract some useful information from Dantai Jingyue,” Chen Qiao’er said earnestly.

“Got it, Sister Qiao’er, don’t worry. If I can steal ten pieces, I won’t just steal nine,” Li Ziye promised confidently.

“That’s good. Rest now.”

After saying that, Chen Qiao’er looked towards Fa Ru, and after a brief exchange of glances, they left together.

Following them, Li Qingshan and Yao Guihai stepped forward to catch up.

As she was leaving the tent, Chen Qiao’er stopped, turned around, and said, “Kid, we just came to see you today. Nothing else was said.”

“…”

Upon hearing this, Li Ziye couldn’t help but roll his eyes and said, “I know. If I slip up, I’ll die before I confess, right? Even if Dantai Jingyue holds a knife to my throat, I won’t say it was you guys who made me do it.”

“Smart.”

Chen Qiao’er nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

After Fa Ru and the three instructors had left, Wen Xiu Ru finally dared to speak, “Brother Li, are you really going to steal that stele?”

“What else can I do?”

Li Ziye replied irritably, “Didn’t you see? If I don’t agree, Chen Qiao’er is ready to start hitting people. Would you guys stop her for me?”

“No.”

Wen Xiu Ru shook his head decisively.

What a joke, he wasn’t ready to die yet. Stopping Instructor Chen? That was a death wish.

Li Ziye gave a contemptuous glance at the guy in front of him, then turned his gaze to Little Red Riding Hood, feeling that she was more reliable.

“No.”

Bai Wangyu, seeing the young man’s gaze turn towards him, also shook his head, explaining, “I can’t beat Instructor Chen; there’s no point in getting beaten up for nothing.”

“…”

Li Ziye was speechless. What kind of people are these?

Not a bit of loyalty!

“Brother Li, just a friendly reminder to be careful when you inquire about that stele,” Wen Xiu Ru hesitated for a moment before saying, “Big Brother and I saw for ourselves how formidable Dantai Jingyue is. Although the stele conceals her true cultivation, her ability to cast such a terrifying forbidden spell means her strength is certainly not below ours.”

“Understood,” Li Ziye nodded, then asked, “By the way, what happened to Dantai Zhen?”

“Haven’t seen him for days,” Wen Xiu Ru replied, “Not sure if he’s even alive. His injuries weren’t lighter than yours, and that night, Big Brother, in a fit of rage, crippled him. Unfortunately, he was rescued by a mysterious practitioner from the Five Realms.”

“Even a practitioner from the Five Realms intervened?” Li Ziye was surprised, “Dantai Jingyue is really willing to spend a fortune to kill me.”

“That’s why you need to be even more careful,” Wen Xiu Ru advised, “Fa Ru said that your fate clashes with that of Dantai Jingyue; once you meet, one must die. What was it called again, Big Brother?”

“Kings don’t meet kings,” Bai Wangyu added.

“Is that so?” Li Ziye was startled, “No wonder I felt something was off the moment I saw her. It seems she must have felt the same, which is why she’s so eager to kill me.”

“Brother Li, what’s your plan?” Bai Wangyu asked.

“Of course, to thank the Celestial Maiden for saving my life,” Li Ziye said with a smile.

“When?” Bai Wangyu continued to inquire.

“Now,” Li Ziye replied.

“Can your body handle it?” Wen Xiu Ru expressed concern.

“It’s no longer a serious issue. Help me up, let’s go meet that Celestial Maiden,” Li Ziye said.

Bai Wangyu nodded, rising to assist him.

Wen Xiu Ru, with a helpless expression, also stepped forward, ready to accompany the gentleman on this risky venture.

Before long, in front of Dantai Jingyue’s felt tent, a Dantai clan warrior approached briskly and saluted respectfully, “Celestial Maiden, Instructor Li Ziye of the Confucian School requests an audience.”

“Oh?”

Inside the tent, Dantai Jingyue put down the scroll in her hand and said, “Let him in.”

“Yes!”

The Dantai clan warrior took the order and left.

Soon after, Li Ziye, supported by Bai Wangyu and Wen Xiu Ru, arrived and entered the tent.

Dantai Jingyue looked up, and their gazes collided once again.

However, this time, the atmosphere was not as tense as their first encounter.

“Celestial Maiden!”

Li Ziye smiled slightly and politely saluted, “I’ve come to thank the Celestial Maiden for saving my life. If not for your intervention, I might not have survived.”

“Instructor Li is too polite,” Dantai Jingyue immediately rose to assist him, her expression gentle, “Instructor Li is injured; please, take a seat.”

“Thank you!”

Li Ziye thanked her and then, with the help of the two, sat down at a nearby long table.

On either side, Bai Wangyu and Wen Xiu Ru took their seats without a word, making it clear that today’s affairs would center around Li Ziye.

Mainly because the matters of intrigue were not their forte.

“Serve the tea.”

Opposite, Dantai Jingyue also sat down and gave the order.

Moments later, a maid came in with tea, serving each of them.

“This tea was specially brought from the Central Plains by my people. Please taste it and see if it meets your satisfaction,” Dantai Jingyue said calmly.

Li Ziye took a sip of the tea and immediately recognized it as a product of the Li Family.

Do people from the Desert North also enjoy tea?

I should suggest to Sister Youwei that it’s time to fleece these nobles from the Desert North.

“Celestial Maiden, why haven’t I seen General Dantai Zhen along the way? Is he out?” Li Ziye asked after setting down his teacup.

On either side, Bai Wangyu and Wen Xiu Ru nearly spat out their tea upon hearing his words.

Across from them, a dangerous glint flashed in Dantai Jingyue’s eyes as she replied, “I sent Dantai Zhen on an errand; it will be some time before he returns.”

“What a pity. I had hoped to spar with General Dantai Zhen once I recovered. Now it seems there won’t be a chance,” Li Ziye said with a look of regret.

“There will be opportunities in the future,” Dantai Jingyue responded indifferently.

“Celestial Maiden, how has the Great Sovereign been recently?” Li Ziye changed the subject, looking at the woman before him, “Over the years, my family elders have been very concerned about the Great Sovereign. Before leaving, they asked me to find a way to inquire about his condition and, if possible, to meet him.”

Upon hearing this, Dantai Jingyue’s eyes narrowed slightly as she said, “My father has been bedridden for many years and is really not in a state to receive guests.”

Although she didn’t know what this young man was up to, it certainly wouldn’t be anything good.

She was all too familiar with the scent of conspiracy.

“Is that so? That’s truly regrettable. The family elders had some words they wanted me to convey to the Great Sovereign,” Li Ziye sighed lightly.

“I can pass on Instructor Li’s message,” Dantai Jingyue said calmly.

“It’s not that I’m deliberately being difficult, but the family elders specifically instructed me that those words must be conveyed personally to the Great Sovereign,” Li Ziye said with a smile.