“What price? This young lady isn’t afraid! This young lady is speaking the truth!”
Xiao Qinyin stood facing the wind, her brows and eyes holding unyielding arrogance, proudly detached and transcendent. The gray-robed old man suddenly laughed again. “How many years has it been since anyone dared speak like this? Little girl, no matter what, I’m afraid you won’t be withdrawing from this school. A disciple that this old man has his eye on isn’t so easily let go.”
“Shixiong, you want to accept her as your disciple? Are you joking? You must think thrice!”
The dean seemed as though struck by lightning, nearly rendered speechless. How had his own shixiong taken a fancy to Xiao Qinyin?
“Think thrice about what? This old man isn’t like you, all hesitant and fussy! A seedling that this old man has his eye on belongs to this old man. You’re not allowed to approve her withdrawal, or this old man will flip your residence upside down!”
The old man’s face revealed kindness as he said with a smile, “Little girl, as this old man’s disciple, you don’t need to attend classes with that lot. Do as you please. Just keep this old man company from time to time, and this old man will give you some pointers on swordsmanship.”
“May I ask who you might be?” Beigong Du had never seen him before. What was he plotting?
“Marquis Dingguo, he is my shixiong, and also the Mojia Juzi.”
The dean spoke reluctantly from the side. He had no issue with his shixiong; the key was that his shixiong wanted to accept Xiao Qinyin as a disciple, and that wouldn’t do. Could one enter the Mohist School just like that? Not just anyone could become a disciple of the Mojia Juzi.
Many people gasped. Heavens, he was the Mojia Juzi? They suddenly felt somewhat jealous of Xiao Qinyin’s good fortune. This was a status that countless people begged for but could not obtain!
“So it was the Mojia Juzi. My apologies, my apologies! Do you truly wish to accept Yin’er as your disciple?”
Beigong Du confirmed again and again.
“Naturally. What I have decided will not change! Little girl, no matter how unwilling you are, you will be calling me master! You, don’t withdraw. If the teachers of Lushan Academy aren’t to your liking, follow this old man. This old man will satisfy you.”
The corners of Xiao Qinyin’s mouth twitched. Damn, not even giving her a choice? Too overbearing and arbitrary, wasn’t it? Just deciding her entire life like this?
“Since that is the case, the matter of Yin’er withdrawing is dropped. Study well at Lushan Academy. Grandfather will come visit you often.”
Being able to become a disciple of the Mojia Juzi was better than studying at Lushan Academy. What dissatisfaction could he have? Originally, he had believed that Yin’er staying at Lushan Academy would subject her to ridicule, so he might as well let her withdraw. Now, with the Mojia Juzi protecting her, he could be certain that this person was protective and partial. Yin’er didn’t need to worry about anything—no one would dare mock her!
Thus, he waved his sleeve and left without taking away a single cloud. Oh no, he should say he came with his granddaughter, but left without anyone following.
The fluidity of his movements left Xiao Qinyin watching in awe. So it seemed the old man truly intended to dump her on that Mojia Juzi.
“Haha, good disciple! Master has prepared a separate courtyard for you. Next door is master’s place. Whether you attend classes in the future is up to you; master won’t interfere! Come, follow master.”
Under the crowd’s dumbfounded gazes, the old man pulled Xiao Qinyin away. The discussion behind them was endless—disbelieving of what good fortune she had stumbled upon to be fancied by the Mojia Juzi.
Nangong Wei’s fair face held anger, her pearly teeth biting deeply into her lips. Hateful! Xiao Qinyin, how could she have such good luck?
Xiao Qianqian decided to encounter her as little as possible in the future. She wouldn’t forget the previous incident. If Xiao Qinyin had struck a bit harder, her face would have been ruined. Moreover, she had seen the scene just now clearly. The overturned cart ahead served as a warning to those behind—she had always been intelligent and rational.
Bei Wuxuan’s gaze was complicated. Today’s Xiao Qinyin had overturned her usual image. He couldn’t help but feel confused—which side was the real her? What was her purpose in hiding herself? Were the things she had done before truly from the heart?