Chapter 91 - Difficulty in Pleasing Everyone 2nd additional for Alliance Hierarch Wu Lie123

San Mountain City.Sun Xiaoman hurried into her mother’s room.

Ever since the battle at Jade Balance Peak ended, Dou Yuemei had locked herself away in her room and wouldn’t come out, leaving all the affairs of the city to be handled by Sun Xiaoman, including the appointment of the new dean of the Dao Institute of San Mountain City, which she had not attended.

This was the first time she had been willing to see anyone in days.

“…Mother,” Sun Xiaoman’s heart trembled at the first sight of Dou Yuemei.

Was that worn out, tired woman really her mother?

“Xiaoman,” Dou Yuemei looked at her daughter with a pale face that finally showed a hint of color, “How is everything in the city?”

“All is well, more or less,” Sun Xiaoman didn’t dare to say that after returning from Jade Balance Peak without any achievements, several talented disciples from the Dao Institute had transferred to other cities, saying they saw no hope here.

Although their number was not large, for the talent-depleted San Mountain City, it was like adding frost on top of snow.

“That’s good,” Dou Yuemei seemed to be not too concerned about the answer, and changed the subject, “How is Xiaoyan doing?”

“Still locking herself in her room, she says she doesn’t want to deal with you ever again.”

Dou Yuemei sighed, feeling somewhat melancholic, “It seems she’s truly angry this time.”

“It’s all right, she’ll forget about it after a while.”

Sun Xiaoman’s eyes held some weariness, which she tried her best to hide from her mother.

Handling the affairs of the City Lord’s Mansion was not her forte, but Sun Xiaoyan couldn’t manage affairs, and with her mother being so despondent, Sun Xiaoman had no choice but to step up to the task.

For her, she’d rather swing a hammer and clash with hundreds of elite fighters than bury herself in paperwork.

“These past days have given me clarity,” Dou Yuemei gathered her spirits slightly, “San Mountain City must continue to persevere, your brother’s cultivation can’t be neglected.

Most importantly, I can’t hold you back any longer.”

Sun Xiaoman looked up at her mother, “Mother…”

“Go find your Master,” Dou Yuemei said emotionally, “This world is not what your father thought it was, what he did was meaningless.

This world is not a world of reason, but a world of the strong.”

It was truly unimaginable.

For a woman who took her husband as her spiritual pillar, who had absolute faith in him, to be so desperate to say such things, to negate the efforts her husband had made.

Sun Xiaoman felt her mother was not correct, but she didn’t know how to argue against it.

“Your Master is very strong, but I insisted on keeping you with me because I was confident that one day, I wouldn’t be inferior to him.

Living with me wouldn’t impact your cultivation.”

Dou Yuemei said with a downcast tone: “Now…

I will never surpass him.”

At that moment, Dou Yuemei sat in front of her usual dressing mirror, but with her back to the mirror.

The sunlight streamed through the window panes, casting onto her gaunt face, making it appear even paler.

Sun Xiaoman simply sat cross-legged on the floor, her silver hammer swaying on her wrist; using her hand as a pillow, she rested her head on her mother’s knee.

Dou Yuemei stroked her temple, continuing, “Pure martial cultivation has not yet forged a complete path.

Thus, the way of the martial artist is hard to walk.

Your Master is merely one of the explorers.

Many times, you will have to rely on yourself, and think more deeply.”

“Mm,” Sun Xiaoman replied softly.

“You are talented, and the path before the Twelfth Heaven is smooth sailing for you, so I won’t speak of the cultivation before the Inner Mansion Realm.”

Dou Yuemei took out a thin booklet, so flimsy it seemed to consist of only a few pages, “This is a little insight I have discovered about the Divine Power Seed, take it.

The great paths are diverse but lead to the same destination; understanding one might help you understand the rest, and it may be of some help to you.”

Seeing Sun Xiaoman accept it, she continued with a sigh, “To tread the Thirty-Three Heavens for martial artists is still a mere imagination to this day; none have achieved perfection.

I really don’t know how far my daughter will go.”

Sun Xiaoman raised her hand high, her small silver hammer swinging, “To the very top!”

Dou Yuemei smiled, playfully flicking her daughter’s nose, “Go on, go on.”

Sun Xiaoman stood up, barefoot on the ground, “Mother, shall I go now?”

Dou Yuemei, smiling through tears, “Go on.”

Sun Xiaoman suddenly gave a sly smile, “Before I leave, I’ll teach Sun Xiaoyan a lesson for you!”

As Dou Yuemei opened her mouth as if to stop her, Sun Xiaoman quickly said, “Mother, listen to me.

It’s okay to discipline a child now and then, it’s good for them.

Don’t hold back.

Father has already passed, and the past stays in the past.

But there is still a long future ahead!”

She hopped two steps, then turned back and blinked, “I think my master, he is quite interested in you!”

“Go away!

What do you know!”

After the daughter left to go find her brother,

Dou Yuemei felt an inexplicable sense of relief and cast the strange thought out of her mind.

She turned around to look at the dressing mirror.

In the mirror was a face without makeup, gaunt, yet still revealing a beautiful contour.

She reached out her hand, gently caressed her face, and sighed softly, “You damned ghost, you died so early, don’t you think it’s a pity?

Such a waste of my beautiful face…”

As for Vice Principal Song Qifang, Jiang Wang certainly was familiar with him and lacked no respect.

Dong Ah was only demoted to Fenglin City in recent years; before that, Fenglin City’s Dao Academy had always been under Song Qifang’s control.

However, due to his own strength and vision, the academy was always weak under his management.

Now with Dong Ah in charge of the main academy and Song Qifang as the vice principal focusing on teaching and training, alchemy, and deducing techniques, the division of labor was clear and each contributed in his own way.

Because he was non-contentious and amiable, he was always highly respected by the disciples.

But Jiang Wang truly couldn’t understand why Song Qifang would suddenly seek him out.

“Principal Song,” Jiang Wang walked into the alchemy room and respectfully performed a salute, “You wished to see me?”

White-haired Song Qifang turned from before the alchemy furnace and looked at Jiang Wang with a kind smile, “How has your cultivation been recently, Jiang Wang?

Any problems?”

“Thank you for your concern, Principal Song,” Jiang Wang replied, flattered, “The instructors are very responsible, and since my own cultivation is still quite shallow, the problems are also basic, sometimes the senior disciples help resolve them.

I haven’t encountered any particularly difficult issues yet.”

Song Qifang nodded with satisfaction, “You are one of the most outstanding disciples in the academy, I am very reassured about you.”

“With so many masters in the academy, I dare not accept such praise.”

“I have heard about your affairs in Wangjiang City,” Song Qifang turned to check the fire under the alchemy furnace before continuing, “You performed exceptionally well.

However, some matters require you to pay attention to your approach.

There’s no need for us to have such a stiff relationship with Wangjiang City, since we are closely connected.”

Regardless of how the situation unfolded or whether right or wrong, Jiang Wang was displeased by the immediate act of pigeonholing.

Yet, his face showed no change as he simply said, “Principal Song’s teachings are correct.”

“Of course, when it comes to family matters, it’s understandable for a young man to be a bit impulsive,” Song Qifang smiled and fanned the flames of the furnace as if casually adding, “I heard you have a Transcendent swordsmanship that you showcased brilliantly in Sanshan City and Wangjiang City?”

“I did indeed come across a swordsmanship by a fortunate coincidence,” Jiang Wang frowned slightly and said, “But it’s not as miraculous as others have described.”

“Modesty in spite of success is very good,” Song Qifang paused before turning and looking into Jiang Wang’s eyes, “Would you be willing to contribute this Dao Technique to the academy, so that other disciples may also benefit from it?

Rest assured, you will receive ample Dao merits—I’ll see to it.”

It was indeed a tradition in Zhuang Country’s Dao Academy to exchange material resources for Dao merits, allowing wealthy disciples to contribute physical assets to the benefit of the academy and cultivators themselves.

Cultivation techniques were certainly part of this.

But it was purely on a voluntary basis.

In other words, if Jiang Wang had been willing, he would have done so long ago, without waiting for Song Qifang to ask.

Sharing it with Zhao Rucheng, Ling He, and Du Yehu was out of willingness.

But this did not mean that Jiang Wang was so magnanimous to care for the world; that wouldn’t be magnanimity, it would be foolishness.

Therefore, Jiang Wang directly asked, “Is this the intention of Principal Dong?”

The complexion on Song Qifang’s face slightly sank, “It seems to me that my words still carry some weight in Fenglin City’s Dao Academy.

Even Principal Dong would not disregard my opinion.”

No wonder the academy was so mediocre under his leadership, filled with such stale sentiments!

Thinking this, Jiang Wang bowed and said, “If so, please forgive me for not being willing.”

After the salute, he turned and walked away.

His sword was hanging at his waist.

At that moment, he had the sharpness of his own sword.