thefictionvixens Chapter 8 Nalan Yanran as a Maid
Chapter 8 Nalan Yanran as a Maid
"Teacher, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?"
After everyone left, the council hall became empty, leaving only the former sect leader, the current sect leader, and the future sect leader of the Yunlan Sect. Yun Yun then gracefully walked to Yun Congxin's side and handed him a freshly brewed cup of tea.
"Isn't this all because of your good disciple? And that brainless idiot Yun Leng, I just came out of seclusion and saw those old fogies in the capital laughing at me!" Yun Congxin glanced at Yun Yun, who had a gentle smile on her face, and took the tea she handed him.
After taking a sip, Yun Congxin discovered that the tea was fragrant and, although the taste was rather strange, it had an unforgettable aftertaste, truly a top-quality tea.
Seeing that Yun Congxin's expression was no longer tense, Yun Yun knew that her teacher's anger had subsided considerably. She quickly pressed her advantage, speaking softly, "This tea was given to me by Gu Qingfeng, the outer sect steward. It was a seedling he found in the Tagor Desert, which he carefully cultivated after bringing it back to China. It recently produced some top-quality tea, and since I was invited by Mr. Guhe to take care of some business in the desert, I brought some back. Because of its exceptional taste, I specially reserved it for you, Master."
Although Yun Yun is incompetent in managing the sect and completely clueless about dealing with the treachery of outsiders, when it comes to smoothing things over with Yun Shan, no one in the entire Yunlan Sect can match her.
Strangely enough, Yunshan, this old devil, has never been interested in women or in having children. He's a workaholic who throws himself into cultivation and sect affairs. But this iron-willed young man actually treats Yunyun as his own daughter. Yunshan not only took her as his last disciple and personally taught her martial arts and combat techniques, but also passed on his own life-saving secrets to her.
If it weren't for his impending death and his desperate attempt to break through to the Dou Zong realm, Yun Shan probably wouldn't even want her to take on the responsibility of sect leader.
"She'll live a carefree and leisurely life. The Yunlan Sect will be her support and backing, but it will never be a burden!"
To be honest, this is the kind of treatment even a biological daughter would receive.
As Yun savored the fragrance of the tea and the bitterness of her memories, a faint smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
But he still stubbornly insisted, "Don't try to shut me up with these things. I ask you, do you know what happened within the Yunlan Sect while I was in seclusion?"
Yun Yun accepted the cup from Yun Congxin with remarkable ease, like a dutiful child taking care of her elderly father, obedient and sensible.
"As you know, Master, I've never been good at worldly affairs. These past few years, Master has been in seclusion, undergoing profound spiritual cultivation..."
Yun Congxin gently flicked Yun Yun's forehead and said helplessly, "Alright, your teacher hasn't even blamed you yet, and you're already blaming your teacher. Anyway, I've already come out of seclusion. If you don't want to take on the responsibility of sect leader, then you won't."
Before Yun Yun could reply with a beaming smile, Yun Congxin changed the subject: "But there's one thing: having a teacher to protect you doesn't mean you can act as recklessly as before. Since you can't take on the responsibility of sect leader for the time being, then you can start as the young sect leader. Sooner or later, you'll have to sit in the position of sect leader, otherwise wouldn't that break the rules? You should know that your name is already engraved on the stone tablet of my Yunlan Sect."
Yun Yun blinked: "Of course I understand these things. But what will happen to Yanran if I become the young sect leader?"
A mature woman acting cute is the most lethal thing. But since it concerns Yun Congxin's grand plan of lying down and making peace, he certainly can't back down.
"Nalan Yanran," Yun Congxin called softly.
"Disciple is here." Nalan Yanran, who had been standing in front of her seat for what felt like an eternity, quickly replied.
Looking at the obediently bowing Nalan Yanran before her, Yun Congxin's thoughts immediately turned to either a girl from a modest family or a lady from a noble family. If she hadn't already known about the good deeds Nalan Yanran had done, Yun Congxin would have been completely unable to connect this well-mannered lady with the little fairy who had humiliated the Xiao family.
In his original imagination, Nalan Yanran should be a cucumber spirit who is "family members, who would understand?" or a savage and rude fierce person.
Who would have thought she actually knew proper manners!
"I heard you made a bet with that boy, and you lost, so you became his slave, is that right?"
Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. In a calm voice, she said, "Yes, I made a promise with Xiao Yan that if I lost the three-year agreement, I would be willing to... become his slave!"
Yun Congxin rolled his eyes. He gestured to Yun Yun, who was trying to plead for Nalan Yanran, to calm down and said, "You're just a child, you don't know what's important."
"But since we've already made the bet, we should accept the consequences. That kid knows when to back down and won't take you as a slave. It would be a laughing stock for the young sect master of Yunlan Sect to beg to be someone's maid."
"Well then, I've just come out of seclusion and happen to need a maid to serve tea and water, grind ink, and run errands. Would you be willing?"
"Teacher..." Yun Yun couldn't help but plead for Nalan Yanran—being demoted from the young sect leader to a maid was like falling from the clouds to the ground, a blow no less severe than Xiao Yan's transformation from a genius to a waste.
Yun Congxin stopped Yun Yun from pleading for mercy. He looked at Nalan Yanran in front of him and quietly waited for her answer.
"This disciple is willing." Although Nalan Yanran tried her best to appear calm, her voice trembled uncontrollably. After all, she was still only a seventeen-year-old boy; how could she truly remain unmoved by honor or disgrace?
"Alright, then go pack your things and move out of the young sect leader's courtyard." Yun Congxin waved his hand, indicating that Nalan Yanran could leave. "There is a side room in my courtyard; you can move there."
"Disciple understands." Nalan Yanran neither pleaded nor yielded. She kowtowed to Yun Congxin and Yun Yun respectively, and then left on her own.
Perhaps due to the injuries sustained in the recent battle, Nalan Yanran's steps were unsteady, and she appeared completely lost and dejected.
"Teacher!" Seeing Nalan Yanran's distraught figure, Yun Yun was very anxious and subconsciously called out.
"Sigh, I, the old sect leader, am losing face more and more. Even you, little girl, are yelling at me," Yun Congxin sighed.
"Teacher, although Yanran made a mistake, punishing her to reflect on her actions in the back mountain is enough. Why..." Yun Yun blurted out in her haste, only realizing after speaking that she had used too strong a word, and her words came to an abrupt halt.
"Why are you being so ruthless?" Yun Congxin smiled as she picked up where Yun Yun left off.
"This disciple dares not, but Yanran is, after all, just a child..."
"I'm giving her this opportunity precisely because she's still a child. If she were one of those snobbish people from the Nalan family, I would have expelled her from the Yunlan Sect long ago!"
"Don't worry, when has your teacher ever mistreated his own people? That side room is where you used to live, not some filthy place. Having her serve me tea and water is to let her get involved in sect affairs early on, so she can help you in the future. Having her run errands is to temper her character and keep her mind clear, so she won't be as foolish as that Yun Leng guy in the future!"
"You've never liked social niceties and worldly interactions, but what sect leader can really just sit back and do nothing? These things have to be done by someone, right?"
"My mind is made up on this matter; say no more!"