Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Becoming a Disciple
Although the extent of the dean’s power was unknown, anyone who held sway over a part of Baiyan City couldn’t be simple.
Such a figure was intent on taking a disciple and spared no effort in searching for them, which meant this “genius” must be extraordinarily exceptional.
However, taking a disciple was only one matter, and what the remaining one entailed was yet to be seen.
Zhang Xuan and the others didn’t have to wonder for long before Dean Lu Mingrong provided the answer.
“The first thing!”
Lu Mingrong’s voice echoed throughout the training ground, “This year, Baiyan Academy plans to recruit a few Miscellaneous Duties Teachers to handle various tasks of the academy, such as accommodation management, cafeteria management, Book Collection Vault management, and so on… If qualified to impart knowledge in the future, one may also be promoted to a formal teaching position.”
“Miscellaneous Duties Teacher?”
“Has the academy had such a position before?”
“It seems not…”
A wave of amazement swept through.
Not only the crowd but also individuals from Wu Yunzhou and Ran Qingxu, were looking at each other in bewilderment, not understanding the rationale.
What Miscellaneous Duties Teacher… The dean never mentioned this before, right? How come it just popped up out of nowhere?
“This old man Lu, quite the sly one…”
Yan Longqing twitched the corners of his mouth differently from the others.
Others might not know the purpose behind this sudden decision, but he saw through it at a glance.
Zhang Xuan hadn’t enrolled, and he was overage; being a student was definitely not appropriate. If forcibly taken in, even the foolish would know that the genius was him!
Not a student, nor able to become a disciple, if he was to keep the individual at the academy, there was only one option… become a teacher!
Since it was just the position of a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher, no teaching was required, and it wouldn’t involve misleading the young… Later, they could assign an easy job, essentially paying for an honorary elder… The key was to legitimately take this opportunity to curry favor by various means…
That’s just shameless!
Indeed, the older people get, the more cunning… No, I must also think of a way, to bring him to my side and establish a relationship that would be very difficult to sever.
Yan Longqing fell into deep thought.
Unaware of the high-level game already underway, at that moment, upon hearing the dean’s words, Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up as well.
The position was very tempting for him.
What he was best at was teaching, the so-called “Spirit Gathering Diction, Impartation of Heaven’s Will,” enabling students to suddenly gain clarity and inspiration, was all routine for him!
Now that he had left the Mo Mansion and had no source of income, he was in desperate need of a job, and teaching was naturally the best option.
Most importantly… this would allow him to stay at Baiyan Academy, with an inexhaustible supply of Heavenly Mandate Vitality, and the all-encompassing Book Collection Vault… It would definitely greatly aid in enhancing his cultivation.
Of course, the prerequisite was that he could get the position and be in charge of managing the Book Collection Vault. However, that seemed a bit too difficult, for after all… what was so special about him, just an ordinary little fellow, why would they choose him?
“What are the requirements to apply for this Miscellaneous Duties Teacher position?”
While he was contemplating, someone in the crowd immediately asked the question. It seemed he was not the only one interested.
“Quite simple, just need a certain specialty!”
After a brief answer, Lu Mingrong looked around, his gaze resting on the contemplative Zhang Xuan, “Like this young friend Zhang Xuan, I’ve heard he is skilled in beast taming. Miss Mo’s Suxiang was tame as a cat in his presence. Is this true?”
Expecting a subtle approach, yet the direct inquiry came… Yan Longqing’s eyelids twitched again, unable to help but lament, so shameless, is it that overt now?
Mo Yanxue bowed with clasped fists, “Reporting back to the Dean, it is indeed so.”
School Head Lu Mingrong smiled lightly, “Then, is Zhang Xuan willing to become a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher at Baiyan Academy?”
“Me?”
Zhang Xuan was slightly startled and quickly nodded, “Of course, willing!”
“That’s good! As for the remuneration, we’ll discuss that separately later…”
Seeing his agreement, Dean Lu Mingrong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and, with a smile still on his face, turned again toward the people: “Yesterday, I heard that a genius emerged in Baiyan City, so I especially came out of seclusion. Indeed, it did not disappoint me! The geniuses I was looking for are… Mo Yanxue from the Mo Mansion and Yu Xiaoyu from the City Lord Residence! I would like to take the two of you on as students, would you be willing?”
“Them?”
“The talents of these two beauties are even slightly better than the city lord’s; it is only natural for the Dean to choose them!”
Everybody suddenly understood.
Frowning, Zhang Xuan felt something was amiss but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
If they were really the ones being sought after, he had paid special attention yesterday and even passed by Source Pool Mountain without noticing anything unusual, so how had it suddenly been confirmed?
“I’m willing!”
“I’m willing too…”
Seeing that their efforts from the previous night weren’t wasted, Mo Yanxue and Yu Xiaoyu excitedly bowed with clasped fists.
Being accepted as a student by the Dean was definitely considered the highest praise and recognition.
With all arrangements in place and the impact from the previous day entirely resolved, Dean Lu Mingrong nodded, stroked his beard, and was just looking for an opportunity to speak with Zhang Xuan alone when an anxious voice rang out.
“School Head Lu, why won’t you choose me? My talent isn’t bad either!”
All eyes immediately turned, and soon everyone saw Liu Mingyue, the young miss of the Liu Clan who had previously sparred with Zhang Xuan, standing not far away with red-rimmed eyes.
Known as one of Baiyan City’s three great beauties alongside Mo Yanxue and Yu Xiaoyu, she… had fallen slightly short during the assessment, which was embarrassing enough, but now, the others were taken on as students by the Dean while she received nothing; where would she put her face?
“Miss Liu, our academy has many excellent teachers, and with your extraordinary talent, you can freely choose anyone. I am naturally sloppy, and having me as your teacher may not be a good thing,” Dean Lu Mingrong said.
Taking on Mo Yanxue and Yu Xiaoyu was merely to divert attention. There would surely not be much time for imparting knowledge in the future… The so-called apprenticeship was just a pretext, and these two would spend more time teaching themselves.
He hadn’t expected that despite this, she would still insistently rush forward…
“Why can Mo Yanxue and Yu Xiaoyu become your students, and I can’t? I refuse to accept it!” Liu Mingyue clenched her teeth.
“Why? Of course, because our talent is superior,” Yu Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up as she saw how upset the other was, “Your talent is average, so don’t count on School Head Lu… Plus, with your nasty temper, which teacher would dare to take you? If all else fails… try asking a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher?”
With that, she glanced towards the nearby coachman, winked, and laughed slyly: “Zhang Xuan, Zhang Xuan, would you take her as an apprentice?”
Zhang Xuan shook his head with a helpless expression, “Sorry, I don’t take disciples!”
Not expecting Yu Xiaoyu to humiliate her in public, Liu Mingyue was almost ready to explode, “You should be the one begging a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher to teach, your whole family should beg…”
Before she could finish, she caught Zhang Xuan’s words and abruptly turned her head, “What did you say?”
She was completely dumbfounded.
The grand young miss of the Liu Clan, ranked third in talent within Baiyan City, not taken as a disciple by a mere coachman, so decisively rejected…
Was this true?