Starting with a Family System to Become an Immortal Official-Chapter 114: Exalted Sage School

The assassins fanned out through the golden-leafed clearing with utter efficiency.

One kicked over a fallen log.

Another parted low-hanging branches with the flat of his blade.

But they all found nothing.

The leader finally raised a gloved hand.

"Enough."

His voice was very fierce.

It sounded like a raspy crocodile.

"She’s gone to ground too well. Either she used some rare escape talisman... or someone interfered."

He turned as his eyes narrowed behind the mask.

"Split into four groups. Two head toward the Exalted Sage School’s eastern path—cut her off before she reaches the outer formations. One group circle back toward Golden Leaf Pass and watch the fork roads. The last group sweeps deeper into the forest toward the neutral zone. If you find Wen Qingwan... kill her."

The assassins gave sharp nods, no wasted words.

In the next second, fourteen streaks of dark light shot in different directions as they vanished among the golden canopy like smoke swallowed by wind.

Silence returned to the clearing.

Beneath a dense thicket of fern and low-hanging golden vines, Li Qingmu and a confused Wen Qingwan remained perfectly still.

His palm was still gently pressed over her mouth.

Her wide eyes stared straight up into his.

Neither moved nor spoke.

Seconds stretched into a long, awkward eternity.

Wen Qingwan’s mind was restless.

『This... this really does feel like one of those fated meetings the old monk kept babbling about. Hidden in the bushes, heart racing, a handsome stranger shielding me from killers as the wind rustles the leaves just right...』

She swallowed.

『But no. I’m a lady of the Wen family. He should be the one to say something charming first then I’d just nod and maybe blush a little. That’s how it goes, right? Except... I’m terrible at all this girly nonsense. Father raised me swinging swords and reciting formations since I could walk. I don’t even know how to bat my eyelashes properly.』

Li Qingmu suddenly leaned closer and studied her face with unnerving focus.

Wen Qingwan’s breath hitched.

『Wait—is he... about to kiss me?! Too soon! Way too soon! We just met!』

But his gaze wasn’t on her lips.

It drifted upward, fixating on the high side ponytail that had come slightly loose during the chase.

His eyes lit up.

"Ohhh—Xiao Ma!"

Wen Qingwan blinked rapidly.

"Eh? Xiao Ma?!"

He grinned, clearly delighted by her startled face.

Before he could explain, a furious hand shot down from above, seized Li Qingmu by the collar and yanked him upright like a heavy sack of grains.

BAM!

Yu Fang punched Li Qingmu square in the nose.

Li Qingmu flew backward and crashed into a bush.

Blood immediately poured from both nostrils.

"Aaagh—my nose! My handsome face!"

He gently pet his aching nose.

"Yuling is going to kill me! You could’ve hit anywhere else—why the face?!"

Yu Fang stood over him like a wrathful statue with his sword already half-drawn.

"How dare you touch the Young Miss."

Li Qingmu shot to his feet.

"You must be insane! Can’t you see I was saving her?! A simple ’thank you’ would’ve been nice! Is this how you treat people in the Four Regions?!"

He wiped blood across his sleeve and sneered.

"Fine. Maybe I’ll repay the favor right now."

He summoned a sword from his spatial ring.

Yu Fang drew his own blade in the same instant.

Two swords pointed directly at each other’s throats.

Before either could move.

A vast voice boomed down from the sky.

"Stop this at once."

The pressure of a high-level cultivator’s divine sense instantly locked both men in place.

Master Wen Jiuling’s tone remained calm.

"Yu Fang, is this how the Exalted Sage School greets a new junior brother? How utterly disgraceful. Put away your sword and apologize. Immediately."

Yu Fang’s jaw clenched.

But he sheathed his blade at once.

"This disciple..."

The words could hardly come out.

There was so much frustration boiling on his face.

He cupped his fists and bowed stiffly.

"Please forgive my offense. This one was reckless."

Li Qingmu wiped his nose one last time, cleared his throat dramatically, and waved a hand.

"Ahem. Since I’m so broad-minded and forgiving... I will accept your poor apology."

Yu Fang’s temple vein throbbed.

Standing off to the side, Wen Qingwan studied the young man with new eyes.

『So this is him... the one who broke the immortal official exam record and supposedly has the aptitude to inherit one of our top ten legacies. Hmph. No wonder. But I’ve heard the rumors—three wives already, a gaggle of children. Greedy man. There’s no way he’s anyone’s fated love.』

Her interest in him vanished as fast as it came.

Master Wen Jiuling’s voice rang again.

"Bring him to the sect plaza at once."

Wen Qingwan and Yu Fang bowed elegantly toward the sky in unison.

"Yes, Master."

Wen Qingwan stepped forward and gave Li Qingmu a firm pat on the back.

"Come on. Let’s go."

Li Qingmu pinched his nose and followed.

The Exalted Sage School’s heavenly central plaza soon came into view.

Over 200 disciples in blue outer robes over crisp white inner ones stood in perfect formation. They were arranged in neat rows and columns like soldiers awaiting inspection.

Li Qingmu tilted his head.

"That’s all the disciples? The outer sect of Golden Sun Pavilion has more bodies than this."

Wen Qingwan glanced at him.

"That’s because the Exalted Sage School does not accept disciples lightly. Every single person here has the potential to inherit one of our top ten legacies. That requirement alone makes numbers irrelevant. If our sect ever went to war with your Golden Sun Pavilion..."

She smiled faintly.

"Half our disciples would be more than enough."

Li Qingmu’s brows rose slightly.

He said nothing aloud, but inwardly he sighed.

『The Four Regions is really is terrifying...』 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The three walked straight to the main dais.

Master Wen Jiuling stood waiting with an innocent smile on his tired yet handsome face.

The entire plaza bowed as one.

"Greetings, Master!"

"Greetings, Senior Sister Wen!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Yu!"

Master Wen Jiuling nodded warmly.

"Have you all been well?"

"Yes, Master!"

He gestured toward Li Qingmu.

"This young man will be a disciple of our lovely sect from this day on. Introduce yourself."

Li Qingmu blinked.

"Eh?"

Wen Qingwan leaned close and muttered.

"Don’t tell me you don’t even know basic etiquette down there?"

Li Qingmu cleared his throat, clasped his hands behind his back and strolled forward through the rows like a great and confident general.

"This humble one is Li Qingmu. I’m sure you’ve all heard of my recent achievements. But don’t worry and just keep cultivating diligently, push yourselves harder, and one day you too can reach my level. I haven’t come here to make rivals or anything. Just focus on—"

The disciples’ faces slowly turned irritated.

He was talking to them like they were children fresh off the mortal plane.

Yu Fang shook his head in the background.

Wen Qingwan slapped a palm to her forehead.

She stepped forward and cut him off mid-sentence.

"Everyone, he is a rookie from the lower realms. Manners aren’t his strong point yet, but he means well. Treat him politely."

Li Qingmu’s mouth snapped shut.

『She cut me off right before the part about my short poem on trials and tribulations! So rude!』

All the disciples bowed in unison.

"We welcome Junior Brother Li!"

Li Qingmu nodded graciously.

"It’s fine, you may raise your heads."

Several disciples’ eye corners twitched.

He sauntered back to the dais.

Wen Qingwan gave him a sidelong glance.

"Xiao Ma~ it seems you have some seniority here."

She smiled thinly, then frowned.

"Don’t call me that again."

"What—Xiao Ma?"

"Yes."

"But it’s cute."

"It’s dumb and childish!"

Li Qingmu clicked his tongue.

"So insensitive."

Wen Qingwan rolled her eyes.

Master Wen Jiuling watched the exchange with an amused smile then raised his voice.

"Introductions are finished. Return to your duties."

The disciples bowed once more and slowly dispersed across the plaza.

Li Qingmu was just about to stretch his legs when Wen Qingwan grabbed his wrist.

"Come here. I’ll show you your abode and maybe get that nose looked at."

He nodded quietly and let her pull him along.

Yu Fang started to follow but she waved him off without looking back.

"You’ve been shadowing me all day. Go rest."

She tugged Li Qingmu a little closer and smiled.

"I’ll take good care of our new junior brother."

Li Qingmu shot her a side-eye but said nothing.

Along the path to the residences, he kept stealing glances at her profile.

『She’s really beautiful... extremely so. Makes every other so-called fairy in this sect look like plain rice. To think I just arrived in the Four Regions today and already met one of the prettiest women alive. My luck is terrifying.』

He scrunched his face slightly.

『But... she’s so business-like. A little boyish, even. Well I can’t say there’s anything wrong with that, but women like her usually aren’t interested in romance. And since she’ll be my main senior sister here... she probably won’t want anything to do with me that way.』

He tucked both hands behind his back and sighed inwardly with a slouch.

『Fine. This time I’ll focus on cultivation. Even a tyrant like me deserves a break from chasing beauties and dealing with jealousy. Rest first, conquest later.』

He nodded to himself, satisfied.

Wen Qingwan stopped in front of a neat courtyard surrounded by fresh bamboo.

"This is your abode. I’m sure it’s much much bigger than whatever hole disciples live in back in your backwater world. So please enjoy it."

Li Qingmu stared at the modest courtyard.

『The latrine in my palace is bigger than this.』

Still, he kept his mouth shut.

Wen Qingwan turned to leave.

"We’ll talk more tomorrow. Rest from your journey."

"What about food?" he called after her.

"We have a strict diet and set meal times here. I’ll explain all that tomorrow. Rest."

Li Qingmu scoffed under his breath.

"So bossy..."

She pretended not to hear him as she disappeared down the stone path.