Back then, it was Tong Jun who coaxed her from the mountain Daoist temple to Muyu Peak with the words ābitter tea, a fragrance of books, and half a day of leisureā.
"She didnāt lie to me in the end." Li Zhibaiās voice was calm: "Muyu Peak seldom takes in outsiders, and even if it does, they are taught by their own teachers, so the public Sword Hall is a leisure post, which I rather like."
These words were also meant for the girl eavesdropping behind the door.
"Leisure, indeed," Wen Li sighed softly.
It was also true; Muyu Peak was originally split from the Hehuan Sect, with few newcomers, and even those were brought to the mountain by someone, so who would go to the Sword Hall for cultivation?
Only in cases where her half-demon status couldnāt be exposed, or when Xu Changāan was initially unwanted by anyone.
Looking at it this way, the teacher truly hadnāt taught many people. Living in the spacious Sword Hall, taking a salary without needing to do anything, it was indeed a leisurely post.
Wen Li felt complex because she never thought that her teacher... could be someone who liked to slack off.
No wonder they say, admiration is the furthest distance from understanding; even Wen Li was like this, let alone others.
But itās not Wen Liās fault; she was driven out of the Sword Hall by Li Zhibai after her initiation, being told thereās nothing left to teach, and afterward... hardly had any chance to see her.
Even Xu Changāan, after being expelled, dutifully cleaned the Sword Hall every day without seeing Li Zhibai even once.
Not to mention the always-busy Wen Li.
With a complex gaze, Wen Li looked at the woman before her and finally understood her masterās words.
Her master always lamented that Li Zhibai was clearly a lazy person, yet taught such diligent students like her...
"Turns out, I never really understood you," Wen Li said.
"Hmm?" Li Zhibai looked up and asked her, "Why do you need to understand me? You have your own things to do."
"Indeed." Wen Li nodded.
Inside the room, halfway through makeup and secretly eavesdropping, Zhu Pingniang suddenly perked her ears.
She vaguely felt that something wasnāt quite right.
Wen Li... wasnāt her affection for Ah Bai somewhat off?
Listen, what does āTurns out, I never really understood youā mean?
Wen Li, just a student expelled by Ah Li, why does she need to understand her Ah Bai?
Li Zhibai was an unofficial member of Muyu Peak, an elder, who was unrelated to Chaoyun Sect, and to be precise, Li Zhibaiās actions only needed to account for the Sect Leader.
Li Zhibai seemed to have high cultivation, a "Great Power" hidden within Muyu Peak, yet for these reasons, Li Zhibai truly was just the Sword Hallās teacher now.
But Wen Li was the senior sister of the entire Muyu Peak, someone who could substitute any position in Muyu Peak, an outright "upper echelon".
As Li Zhibaiās student, Wen Li should also know that after her initiation, Ah Bai wouldnāt guide her in cultivation even a little bit.
Hence, Wen Li had no reason to try understanding Li Zhibai, since it was meaningless and purely a waste of time.
According to Zhu Pingniangās understanding, the sole reason must be... Wen Li has an interest in her Ah Bai.
This is the sole reason Zhu Pingniang found after thorough analysis.
"Admiration... is it?" Zhu Pingniang put down her eyebrow pencil, lost interest in accounting, and murmured: "Because of not understanding, thus admiration... I see, Ah Bai in her position is indeed special..."
"Tsk."
"Wait..."
Zhu Pingniang suddenly recalled Wen Liās issues seeing her feelings for Xu Changāan clearly. Could it be... because sheās been constantly thinking about the teacher who pulled her out of the abyss, she mistook admiration for affection, thus... unable to spare a thought for Changāan?
No way.
Zhu Pingniang looked skeptical.
Even she at this moment felt her thought of āWen Li liking Li Zhibaiā was overly absurd.
A mere Wen Li.
Should not be.
Zhu Pingniang shook her head. Not everyone understands her Ah Bai, and someone like Wen Li who hardly knows Li Zhibai, wouldnāt like her... So, Zhu Pingniang was very clear about the shape of Wen Liās admiration.
To a newly ascended half-demon with blurry eyes, Li Zhibaiās solemn yet gentle voice back then was her entire world.
Thus, Zhu Pingniang doesnāt know how Li Zhibai managed to turn Wen Liās nature to its current state, but what can be seen is that Wen Li back then mustāve endured quite a lot of scolding.
Obviously, her Ah Bai is the gentlest person in the world.
Zhu Pingniang looked at herself in the mirror, listening to Li Zhibaiās gentle voice outside, an inexplicable sense of superiority suddenly surged in her heart.
Ah Bai is so gentle, yet whether it was Wen Li or Xu Changāan, they both thought she was strict and solemn.
Fundamentally, they lost... or rather, they never even entered the arena.
The world thinks Li Zhibai is diligent and stern, but Zhu Pingniang knows sheās just doing what a teacher should do, with the attitude a teacher should have.
If there was nothing to do, probably no one under the heavens would be lazier than her Ah Bai.
Ultimately, how could a woman who idly drinks tea and bathes be the Human Master Wen Li understands?
These outsiders simply donāt understand her Ah Bai, how could they pose any threat?
"Barefoot on green grass, summer breezes, autumn whispers, a roaring winter stove." Zhu Pingniang lowered her head and softly recited.
This simple-to-bare lifestyle was what Li Zhibai once described to her, the life she yearned for.
Only she understands Ah Bai.
Looking at it now, it seems only Xu Changāan and Yun Qianās mundane daily lives match Li Zhibaiās interests, especially with Xu Changāan now being the only recognized student by Li Zhibai.
As for Xu Changāanās threat level...
It approaches zero.
Zhu Pingniang trusts him greatly.
Zhu Pingniang thinks of herself as someone who easily gets jealous, even of Yun Qian, but she would never be jealous of Xu Changāan, even if he spent all day with her Ah Bai, even if Xu Changāan were invited by Li Zhibai for a cup of tea, she wouldnāt feel any bitternessābecause she knows very well, what Xu Changāan and Li Zhibaiās characters are.
For them to come together, it would spell the end of the world.
And Wen Li... was a girl she should have trusted, like Xu Changāan, Zhu Pingniang never considered her a threat.
Zhu Pingniang took a deep breath and suddenly realized a fact, although Wen Li might not be a threatening person, she still couldnāt drop her guard just because Wen Li said she liked Xu Changāan.
Because...
Zhu Pingniang looked at herself in the mirror, half-done with makeup.
The woman named Zhu Pingniang didnāt look as good as Wen Li now, overwhelmingly suppressed in femininity.
She hadnāt even won over Li Zhibai yet, how could she let a prettier woman appear beside Li Zhibai? Wouldnāt that further highlight her own inadequacy?
Since Yun Qian has been deemed a āsisterā by Li Zhibai, she couldnāt chase her away, but Wen Li, who hasnāt had a chance to enter, she could intercept.
The person who could become Ah Baiās one beside her pillow.
Only herself.
āā
Outside the room, looking at the somewhat unfamiliar smile on the teacherās face, Wen Liās thoughts were grounded.
Because she was no longer a student, she could vaguely see a bit of the teacherās true self.
No matter how much she didnāt understand the teacher, it didnāt matter.
The teacher only needs to remain that teacher, the grace of wisdom wonāt change, respecting and admiring the teacher will suffice.
Just...
Wen Li also felt a bit helpless.
That feeling might be realizing that the person treasured in her heart wasnāt as āperfectā as she thought leading to slight disappointment.
Actually...
Wen Li had always wondered if the teacher stayed in the Sword Hall for something exceedingly important to do, thus couldnāt reveal her identity or something...
But she didnāt expect, it was just for leisure...
No.
Wen Li shook her head.
Just like she didnāt want to be labeled as ājust for the junior sisterā, she wasnāt qualified to complain about the teacher, couldnāt say ājust leisure.ā
The teacher has things she needs to do.
"Only."
Wen Li raised her head, her gaze extremely sincere.
"Teacher, can I still be... your student?"