Chapter 73 – The Fiancée in the Broken Engagement Revenge Story…

Disciples with natural talent for alchemy were indeed rare. The moment such a person appeared, countless would compete to take them as apprentices.

But Xie Hui believed that a true teacher was not someone who merely guided those already gifted.

Rather, a true teacher was one who could take an average disciple and, through guidance, raise them to become a grandmaster of alchemy.

The former could succeed even with another instructor; others stood on the ground, while they were already atop a ladder. Even without guidance, they remained above the rest.

Xie Hui didn’t have high standards for accepting a disciple. As long as someone possessed a wood spiritual root, the sect leader was to bring them forward for him to assess.

Unlike the original body’s previous life, where he eventually accepted a disciple—someone carefully selected with a top-grade, pure wood spiritual root—who ended up falling for Li Qing’s younger sister.

Not only did that disciple fail to fulfill the original’s hope of watching over his daughter, but even went as far as exposing the original’s every weakness.

When the sect leader saw Xie Hui walking toward the main hall hand-in-hand with his daughter, he quickly set down his teacup and hurriedly went to greet him. Smiling as he approached, he asked:

“Elder Xie, how many disciples are you planning to take today?”

That single question quieted the previously noisy main hall. Nearly everyone subtly perked their ears, hoping to hear Elder Xie’s response.

“My Muxiu Peak is rather desolate. Since today’s the grand selection, if any catch my eye, I’m not particular about the number.”

Having answered, Xie Hui took his seat at the original’s spot. Xie Yin sat on the small stool beside her father, with a table in front of her holding a few delicate pastries.

The prior selection rounds had already eliminated most of the applicants. Those who reached this point were at the very least outer sect disciple material.

Among them, some wore lavish robes with prideful expressions, others were in tatters and looked timid. Most were around ten years old.

Standing on the vast plaza, they raised their heads to look up at the elders within the hall, their eyes filled with nervous apprehension.

They had all been told by their elders beforehand: if they could catch the attention of any elder here, their lives would be changed from that moment onward. Saying it was a leap to the heavens would not be an exaggeration.

Xie Hui, seated in a relaxed posture, kept his eyes on the little girl beside him, who was busy nibbling on pastries.

By cultivation standards, this girl looked nothing like a serious cultivator. She liked pretty clothes, lovely accessories, and delicious desserts—but had no interest in alchemy or cultivation.

Countless in the sect whispered behind her back that Xie Yin didn’t know how good she had it. With an alchemy master for a father, yet she refused to learn.

Perhaps because Xie Hui had been staring too long, the pastry-devouring Xie Yin finally sensed it. Curious, she turned her head and looked at her father.

Then she glanced down at the untouched pastry in her hand, and with a hint of hesitation, offered it toward her father and asked:

“Daddy, why are you staring at me? Want me to share a bite?”

Xie Hui cleared his throat, suppressing a smile. He waved a hand and refused, putting on a serious face and lightly reprimanded:

“You think everyone’s as greedy as you?”

Used to her father’s scolding, Xie Yin treated it like wind brushing past her ears. She even craned her neck to peek at the pastries on his table, swallowed quietly, and muttered:

“Then how about you share some with me…”

Before she even finished, a disciple had already stepped forward and moved all the pastries in front of Xie Hui over to her table.

Everyone in Yongchang Sect knew: Elder Xie’s daughter was the least cultivator-like girl in the entire sect. Mentioning cultivation techniques or alchemy—she’d be yawning within three sentences.

But bring up dresses and hairpins, and she could talk for three days straight without tiring.

Disciples were grouped in sevens and brought up one group at a time for the elders to inspect. There was no competition among the elders over who got which disciple—after all, they’d lived and cultivated in the same sect for centuries. Had there been true rivalry, they’d have moved on to another sect long ago.

While disciples were important, they did not outweigh thousands of years of camaraderie.

Given this was Xie Hui’s first time taking disciples, the other elders graciously allowed him to choose first. Within the entire Yongchang Sect, Xie Hui was the only elder skilled in alchemy.

Although wood spiritual root cultivators could practice other techniques too, they were best suited for the path of alchemy.

The sect leader had previously lamented that many disciples with wood roots entered their sect only to train in the same skills as everyone else, wasting their potential.

Fortunately, now that Xie Hui was willing to take in disciples, even those who had yet to be apprenticed were added to his list of candidates.

But no one knew how many of this year’s new disciples could catch Elder Xie’s discerning eye.

As the first group of disciples entered the hall, Xie Hui rose and walked down to inspect them, passing in front of each one.

The picky and fastidious nature belonged to the original body. Xie Hui himself was fairly easygoing when it came to accepting disciples. As long as the child had either a wood or fire spiritual root—both suitable for alchemy—they’d make it onto the candidate list. What mattered most to him was temperament and character.

The more average a child’s potential, the more fulfilled Xie Hui would feel if he could teach them into becoming someone great.

What he wanted was the experience of being a mentor—not dragging a bunch of troublemakers up Muxiu Peak and ruining the peace of his quiet days.

At first, he was patient, evaluating each one carefully. But soon he gave up and simply asked the sect leader to bring all the wood-root children before him at once.

While early teachings do shape a child more than their nature, Xie Hui admitted he didn’t have the patience to correct that many personalities. Besides, at around ten years old, much of a child’s nature was already set.

He chose those who were well-mannered and unlikely to cause trouble. With a simple point of his finger, a disciple would step forward and hand them a Muxiu Peak identity token.

Eventually, as the sect leader looked at the long train of disciples now following behind Elder Xie, even his usually calm expression flickered.

Elder Xie had once been the only elder in Yongchang Sect without a single disciple. Who would have thought that in one go, he would become the one with the most?

By the end, Xie Hui truly could not pick out any more suitable candidates and carefully counted the disciples he had already accepted.

Only nineteen. In modern society, a single class had at least thirty students, didn’t it? Fortunately, there were still those uninitiated disciples within the sect for him to slowly choose from.

Once their identities as disciples were confirmed, they had to change into their respective uniforms in the front courtyard. Each peak had different attire—disciples of Muxiu Peak wore light green robes with identity jade tags hanging from their waists.

On the way back to Muxiu Peak, Xie Yin allowed her father to hold her hand as she bounced around energetically. Suddenly remembering the group of new disciples, she looked up at her father with bright curiosity and asked:

“Daddy, can I be the Senior Sister? I want all those disciples to listen to me!”

If she were the Senior Sister, she could make them water her spiritual herbs every day. Once the herbs were well-grown, she could sell them to her father—essentially earning spirit stones for pretty clothes without lifting a finger.

Xie Hui stared at the little girl who hadn’t even reached his waist yet. Not even five years old and already thinking about being the Senior Sister. He reached out and lightly knocked on her head.

Xie Yin instinctively covered her head, furrowing her brow and glaring at her father with a look of grievance.

“You were there today too—did any of those disciples look younger than you?”

Xie Yin was just shy of turning five in a month. While her temperament was more mature than others her age, it didn’t change the fact that she was still just a little girl under five.

“What’s the point of comparing age? If we go by cultivation level, none of them are as good as me.”

Though this little girl poured all her attention into dresses and hairpins, her natural talent was exceptional. Moreover, the original host had spoiled her when she was young, coaxing her with expensive pills as if they were candy. Her cultivation far outstripped her peers.

“Yin’er, your cultivation is higher than theirs because you are my daughter. Your starting point was already higher. You must treasure what you have and not become smug just because of it.”

The original host had never corrected her on these thoughts, thinking her pride was cute beyond words. Her arrogant temperament was likely inherited from the original host’s vain nature.

Xie Hui also found her habit of crossing her arms and tilting her chin to look at people adorable, but he firmly believed that proper teaching should never be neglected.

“Daddy, I get it, alright? I won’t be the Senior Sister anymore.”

She had just seen how impressive the senior brothers and sisters from other peaks looked and felt a bit envious.

“You think the Senior Sister role is impressive?”

Xie Yin turned her head to meet her father’s gaze. Confirming that he wasn’t about to scold her and was genuinely asking, she nodded enthusiastically.

“Of course it is! Everyone except the Master listens to the Senior Sister.”

After returning to Muxiu Peak, Xie Yin immediately rushed off to tend to her spiritual herbs, diligently watering them with a wooden bucket. Her chubby little hands held the ladle steady, not spilling a single drop.

Xie Hui stood nearby watching the little girl busy at work, then continued the earlier conversation.

“If one enters a secret realm for treasure-hunting, the Senior Sister must lead the junior brothers and sisters. And if we talk about cultivation progress, how could a Senior Sister lag behind her juniors?”

“One’s position comes with its responsibilities. Being the Senior Sister isn’t just about the authority you see.”

The little girl squatted beside the herb bed, holding the ladle as she tilted her head up and looked at her father. Propping her chin up with one hand, she thoughtfully considered his words.

“If Yin’er is confident she can be a good Senior Sister, then it wouldn’t be impossible.”

Xie Hui leaned closer to his daughter, looking at the reflection of himself in her big eyes, and gently flicked her nose with a smile.

“Daddy, let’s just forget it. I don’t think I can do it.”

It all sounded like such a hassle. She’d even have to protect the younger disciples in secret realms. She had once snuck into a secret realm with the Sect Leader and found the magical beasts inside terrifyingly ugly and fierce. She was scared herself, let alone protecting others.

After finishing the watering, Xie Yin returned the bucket and ladle to their places, then ran off to the courtyard to play on the swing.

Xie Hui didn’t want to suppress the playful nature of such a young child. He turned and went back to his study to continue transcribing cultivation methods.

Once all the disciples arrived at Muxiu Peak, there was no need for reminders—Xie Yin would naturally understand the need to put in effort.

When everyone around is working hard at cultivation, even the laziest personality can’t help but get swept along. That is the power of the environment.

With her prideful nature, the more disciples there were, the more she’d strive to improve. For now, he would let her enjoy a couple more carefree days.