Chapter 57: FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

Li Yan glanced at the several manuals arranged across his desk. What initially appeared to be simple introductory material was already more detailed than he had expected.

He wrote another note before looking toward Xiaoxiao.

"I understand. I will pay closer attention to the details instead of trying to memorize everything at once."

"Good. I will leave you to study by yourself now. Whatever questions you have, jot them down. You can ask me about them afterward, and that way you will not have to interrupt your reading whenever you encounter something you do not understand."

Li Yan nodded. "How long will you be gone?"

"I will light two more incense sticks, then I will head into the kitchen to make dinner. That should give you enough time to study."

Li Yan glanced at the manuals before him and picked up his brush again. "That is plenty of time."

Xiaoxiao smiled and turned toward the kitchen.

"Then make good use of it."

Li Yan lowered his head toward the manual and began writing down the questions he had accumulated, preparing to study on his own until Xiaoxiao returned.

After an incense stick burned, he had already filled another page with notes and questions, but he continued reading without stopping.

A second incense stick burned while Li Yan remained focused on the manual, carefully comparing the descriptions with the illustrations and paying particular attention to the details Xiaoxiao had taught him.

When he reached another unfamiliar herb, he paused and studied its description instead of immediately moving on.

He picked up his brush and added another question to his notes.

Before long, the scent of food began drifting from the kitchen.

Li Yan lifted his head slightly and glanced in that direction.

"Xiaoxiao, what are you making for dinner?"

"I am making braised spirit beast meat with steamed spirit rice. I also prepared a medicinal herb soup to help replenish your Qi after all that studying."

Li Yan nodded appreciatively. "That sounds good."

Xiaoxiao continued preparing the ingredients while Li Yan returned his attention to the manual.

A moment later, in a beautifully decorated manor.

A handsome young man entered the sect through the main gates, his appearance and bearing immediately distinguishing him from ordinary outer disciples. He wore the robes of a core disciple, and the aura surrounding him revealed that his cultivation was far beyond that of a newly admitted disciple.

He had just returned from a mission. After reporting his return, he made his way directly toward his master’s residence. He did not stop anywhere along the way, and before long, he arrived at the familiar courtyard.

After receiving permission to enter, Li Hanye stepped inside and bowed respectfully.

"Master, I have returned from my mission. I have also successfully broken through my bottleneck."

His master looked at him with satisfaction. "Li Hanye, well done. Your breakthrough is a good sign. It seems this mission was more beneficial to you than expected."

Li Hanye nodded before waiting for his master’s next words.

"There is something interesting I should tell you. A new outer disciple recently entered the sect and ranked first in both the written examination and the mountain examination."

Li Hanye listened quietly.

"He scored a total of three thousand points in the written examination, and his performance during the mountain examination was equally impressive. More importantly, I heard that he looks remarkably similar to you."

Li Hanye’s expression changed.

"Could that be the little brother you were talking about?"

Li Hanye was confused. As far as he knew, his younger brother, Li Yan, had never possessed the means to cultivate. He had been useless from birth and had never shown any ability that would allow him to become a cultivator.

Could this really be his younger brother? Or was it simply another person who happened to resemble him?

Besides, Li Yan was a fairly common name. Their father could not even be bothered to give his younger son a less common name.

He lowered his gaze for a moment before making his decision.

"I will return to my quarters, Master. If my brother truly is here, then it is for the best."

He bowed respectfully before leaving. However, once he stepped outside, Li Hanye’s expression turned serious.

Could someone be impersonating his brother to attack him?

He had received a message from his adopted brother claiming that Li Yan had died on his way to visit the family he was supposed to marry into. If that information had been false, then the sudden appearance of someone resembling Li Yan in the sect raised far too many questions.

The entire situation felt messy. Li Hanye frowned as he walked away.

"Well, I will just have to confirm with my own eyes if he is my younger brother or not..."

The next morning, Li Yan woke up bright and early and immediately revised the notes he had taken the previous day. He went through the points Xiaoxiao had taught him about identifying medicinal herbs, paying particular attention to the details he had initially found difficult to remember.

After finishing his revision, he headed to bathe while Xiaoxiao prepared a quick breakfast in the kitchen. She made congee with tender pieces of meat, giving him something warm and filling to eat before he left for class.

Li Yan finished his breakfast without lingering.

He was meeting Gu Jun at the bottom of the mountain, so he could not afford to waste time. It was their very first class since becoming outer disciples, and Li Yan wanted to arrive early enough to settle down before the lesson began.

There was also no point in making a poor first impression.

The class would not only have new disciples like himself. There would be older outer disciples who had already spent years in the sect, and Li Yan intended to observe and learn from them rather than make himself stand out unnecessarily.

After finishing his preparations, Li Yan changed into his outer disciple robes.

The standard robes issued to outer disciples were blue, but Xiaoxiao had made sure he had several different variations instead of wearing the same style every day. The clothes were simple enough for the sect but still neat and comfortable, allowing him to move freely without looking careless.

Li Yan adjusted the sleeves before turning toward Xiaoxiao.

"How do I look, Xiaoxiao?"

Xiaoxiao looked him over from head to toe before her eyes settled on the hairpin in his hair.

"Oh, very handsome! Master, I am sure you will steal the hearts of all the young men and women there."