Translator: Lordbluefire

  The wind had risen.

  The cold wind gusted through the plains. This was a common occurrence here. When this time of the year came, everyone would huddle together in a tent and stay there for an entire day.

  The wealthy people could drink goat milk and eat some piping hot grilled meat. But the poor could only huddle together and pray for this bone-chilling gusts of wind to be quickly over.

  Viewing the scenery? No one did that here.

  The plains during the winter only had withered plants, and not a single wild beast could be seen. The scene here would be filled with the desolateness of death.

  But right now, there were actually peach blossom petals floating around……

  They were so radiant and gorgeous. Their pink color actually caused this bleak and desolate winter to be filled with a hint of vitality.

  It was so beautiful that it felt like a dream!

  It was so surreal.

  “What the hell, has my vision gone bad?”

  A vice headmaster subconsciously blinked his eyes and had a face filled with astonishment. (Why would I see peach blossom petals floating around in winter?)

  “These are peach blossoms, right?”

  “They look like it!”

  “What do you mean they look like? They are clearly it!”

  “But why would there be peach blossoms now?”

  The great teachers and students in the school stared at the rain of petals floating in the sky as they stretched their hands out to grab some.

  Because the weather was cold, everyone could feel a sense of chill seeping into their hearts when their fingers came in contact with the petals. But this actually caused the faint fragrance emitted by the petals to feel even more valuable.

  “What are you guys still in a daze for? Quickly go and investigate!”

  The vice headmasters all started shouting, telling their assistants to search for the source of the peach blossoms.

  Everyone was looking at the floating petals and for a time, they were immersed in the beauty of the scene. They didn’t dare to make any noise as they were worried they would disrupt the beautiful atmosphere.

  Not long later, a few assistants rushed over in a hurry. They had panic on their faces. “The peach trees……the peach trees……”

  “What’s wrong with the trees?”

  The vice headmasters asked.

  “The peach trees have blossomed!”

  An assistant spoke with a look of incredulous disbelief on his face. If it wasn’t for the fact that he saw it personally, he absolutely wouldn’t believe it.

  “Which peach trees?” Wanyan Xiongba was curious.

  “Our headmaster’s wife once planted a peach tree forest.”

  As the assistant spoke, a vice headmaster cut in.

  “Don’t talk nonsense before the Country Lord. Wasn’t that peach tree forest withered a long time ago?”

  The vice headmaster glared angrily. (As an assistant, don’t you have this bit of brains?)

  “I……it’s true!”

  The assistant wanted to cry but no tears were coming out. (I’m really not lying!)

  “Could there be a connection with Sun Mo?”

  Wanyan Mei blurted.

  She recalled how the vice headmasters had mocked Sun Mo to revitalize withered trees. But at that time, there wasn’t a single ripple on Sun Mo’s calm expression.

  It felt like Sun Mo was holding them in disregard, treating them like how a summer bug would never know of winter’s chill.

  (Yes! Teacher Sun basically felt disdain to argue with them.)

  “I……I don’t know. But there are mysterious and profound-looking spirit runes on the bodies of those trees. They should be the reason why the peach trees came back to life.”

  The assistant guessed.

  All the major characters here went silent. They exchanged glances as shock filled their faces.

  If this was truly the case, Sun Mo’s standard in the study of spirit runes had truly reached a deep and profound level.

  “Everyone. Rather than guessing randomly here, why don’t we just head to the peach tree forest for a look?”

  Wanyan Xiongba spoke. After that, he began to proceed majestically toward the peach forest.

  As the distance became closer, the fragrance of the flowers became stronger. After that, after turning a corner past a library, a colorful scene directly ‘barged’ into the vision of everyone with no omen beforehand.

  For an instant, everyone was shocked directly.

  This feeling was like when you were watching colored lanterns floating around during the Lantern Festival, you suddenly saw an absolute beauty turning her head, drawing away your attention completely.

  It was the feeling of their hearts being moved!

  As the cold wind gusted, the branches of the peach blossom trees swayed gently in the wind.

  “Beautiful! Extremely beautiful!”

  “This must be how paradise in the human world looks like!”

  “How was this accomplished?”

  All the great teachers sighed in admiration. Some couldn’t even control themselves and rushed over, wanting to go closer for a look.

  “Halt!”

  Wanyan Xiongba roared loudly.

  How could such beautiful scenery be tainted by human vitality? Even if one wanted to play around the place, they should be fair sweet-looking maidens or kids.

  How strong was the vision of these vice headmasters? Even from afar, they could see numerous spirit runes on the tree trunks. These spirit runes were currently absorbing spirit qi and nourishing the peach trees.

  “This time around, we most probably have really underestimated Sun Mo.”

  A vice headmaster suddenly spoke.

  Those withered peach trees actually blossomed. Clearly, this incident had something to do with spirit runes. However, the grandmaster spirit runists in their school clearly didn’t have such capabilities.

  Hence, Sun Mo was clearly the one behind this.

  After all, in the first two great teacher examinations, he scored full marks in both his written and practical exams for the study of spirit runes.

  This vice headmaster with the surname Xianbei had an embarrassed look on his face. After all, he was the one who had said that Sun Mo would have no way to make spring come upon a withered tree.

  As for some of the great teachers who had said things like this from the start, they had covered their faces and left.

  (I better take a detour if I ever see Sun Mo again in the future.)

  (I can’t afford to antagonize him!)

  Sigh!

  (As expected, geniuses are not people us mortals could imagine.)

  “Royal father……”

  Wanyan Mei’s eyes shone like torches as she stared at Wanyan Xiongba.

  “Mei`er, wait a little while more. If you go and beg him to accept you as a personal student now, it will only make Great Teacher Sun look down on you.”

  Wanyan Xiongba appeared to be a brute that used his muscles more than his brains. However, his intellect was actually very high. If not, he wouldn’t be able to become the Jin King.

  Sigh!

  The value of the gifts was truly not enough!

  Wanyan Xiongba suddenly felt regret.

  To a great teacher who was about 22 years old, Wanyan Xiongba’s gifts definitely could be considered generous. But to Sun Mo, they were insufficient.

  Because he was an ancestor-level spirit runist.

  Many great teachers loved to take out rare commodities to invest in young great teachers with potential, hoping that they would be able to use these gifts in exchange for a friendship with a future high-ranking great teacher. However, Sun Mo was no longer someone to be invested in.

  Because he had proven himself.

  Although he wasn’t a high-ranking great teacher, it wasn’t like his talent and capabilities were not enough. Instead, it was because he hadn’t gone for the examinations yet.

  (Ai! Sun Mo, why are you a person from the Central Plains!?)

  In King Wanyan’s heart, after feeling shocked, he felt an intense disappointment and envy.

  The great Central Plains truly had luxurious treasures and outstanding heroes everywhere.

  He had to be convinced even if he didn’t want to!

  Ding!

  Favorable impression points from Wanyan Xiongba +1,000. Respect (1,610/10,000).

  “Mn!”

  Wanyan Mei gazed at the peach blossoms with an intoxicated look in her eyes. She also started to worry. (What if Teacher Sun still doesn’t accept me in the future?)

  (Ai~ My identity as a princess of the Jin Country is completely useless.)

  Other great teachers wanted nothing more than for her to become their personal students, but Sun Mo was so casual and it depended completely on his mood.

  All of a sudden, Wanyan Mei thought of Xianyu Wei who followed behind Sun Mo. She then started to feel jealous of her.

  “Go. Triple the rewards in the list and send them to Great Teacher Sun.”

  Wanyan Xiongba suddenly spoke as he instructed the chamberlain.

  When the great teachers heard this, they were incomparably shocked.

  (This list is already so generous yet you still want to triple them?)

  But when their gazes landed on these peach trees, they suddenly felt that it was only appropriate to do so.

  Because, an ancestor-level spirit runist was worthy of this! ……

  Ding!

  Congratulations on obtaining a total of +31,200 favorable impression points.

  Upon hearing the notification, Sun Mo started. Why were there so many points? But after he saw the floating peach blossoms in the air, he understood.

  “Why are there peach blossoms?”

  An Xinhui was astonished.

  “Sis Xinhui, wait for a while. I have a bet with a great teacher and it is completed now. I’m going to invite her now to join our Central Province Academy.”

  Sun Mo smiled.

  “You are the one who did this?”

  An Xinhui’s eyes were filled with a bright light.

  “Just a minor accomplishment!”

  Sun Mo didn’t claim the credit.

  (Only you people from the Nine Provinces would be so shocked. In the modern era, even a kid would know about greenhouses.)

  With the scarab as a scout, Sun Mo soon found Murong Mingyue at the top of the Dragon Subduing Library.

  From here, one could see the patch of peach forest. The scenery was truly a stunning one.

  “You can’t possibly be thinking of committing suicide, right?”

  Sun Mo walked to the side of Murong Mingyue as he placed his hands on the railing and stared into the distance.

  Murong Mingyue didn’t speak. Her expression was stiff and she looked like she was waiting for death.

  “I completed my side of the bet.” Sun Mo teased. “How is it? They are beautiful, right?”

  “This is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”

  Murong Mingyue mumbled. (If I could be buried in the peach blossom forest, I would have no regrets left.)

  “Mingyue, come with me to Jiangnan. The scenery there is even more beautiful!”

  Sun Mo invited.

  “I’m a sinner.”

  Murong Mingyue smiled in a self-mocking manner.

  “Do you know why the Saint Gate’s Sect Lord didn’t issue an order to capture you?”

  Sun Mo cocked his head sideways and looked at Murong Mingyue. “It is because he wants you to redeem yourself with meritorious acts. Death? That would be too cheap of a punishment for you. He might as well allow you to live on and use your entire life to educate people.”

  Through An Xinhui, Sun Mo already knew the identity of the middle-aged man who had conversed with him during the ‘interrogation’.

  After all, the death of the Dragon Subduing Academy’s headmaster was a major incident. Only a top-level major character like the Sect Lord of Saint Gate had the authority to judge and give out a sentence everyone could give recognition to.

  “Mingyue, you want to die so badly because you have never lived for yourself before. Ask your own heart, are you willing to die just like that?”

  Sun Mo stared at the sky.

  “Since you love the art of puppetry so much, have you created a puppet for yourself to play with before? Mingyue, from now onward, there will be no one restricting you. You can live freely and create any puppet toys you want to, bringing those imaginations in your mind into reality.”

  Sun Mo turned his head and stared at Murong Mingyue.

  “Humans will always make mistakes. But I feel that you are the type that’s worthy of forgiveness.”

  “Boohoohoo!”

  Murong Mingyue, whose tears had stained her face, couldn’t bear it anymore and started sobbing miserably.

  During these years, she had lived a life of suffering. Her uncle always used the words ‘patriotic’ and ‘for the country’ to force her to use her puppetry skills for evil stuff.

  And she truly disliked that.

  She remembered when she was very young, a guy next door broke his leg and had difficulty walking. He would never be able to graze sheep, ride horses, or run.

  Hence, she started to learn the study of puppetry and wanted to build a prosthetic limb for him.

  When she saw the guy able to mount a warhorse and gallop on the grassy plains, chasing the clouds and moon, laughing gracefully under the skies again……

  At that moment, Murong Mingyue truly fell in love with puppetry.

  “All the bad things you had to endure are over!”

  Sun Mo hugged Murong Mingyue and gently patted her back. “Everything is over.”

  Ding!

  Favorable impression points from Murong Mingyue +10,000. Reverence (13,100/100,000).

  Very good, he had successfully acquired a beautiful female great teacher who had ancestor-level expertise in the study of puppetry.

  1

  Chapter 914: Returning to Jinling, Sun Mo’s Genuine Appearance

  Translator: Lordbluefire

  A pigeon flew onto the balcony.

  The Sect Lord of the Saint Gate tossed a handful of millet to feed the group of pigeons there.

  “This person named Sun Mo is somewhat interesting!”

  The Sect Lord smiled in gratification.

  Such behavior was truly something all great teachers should aspire to.

  “Go and spread the information. We will return tomorrow.”

  The Sect Lord instructed.

  “Ah? But the new headmaster of the Dragon Subduing Academy hasn’t been chosen yet…… Also, whether Sun Mo has a connection with the Great Desolation Dragon Subduing Scripture or not is still unclear……”

  The female assistant frowned. She originally wanted to persuade, but after seeing the Sect Lord waving his hands and continuing feeding the pigeons, her heart thumped. She then hurriedly swallowed the latter part of the words she wanted to say back down her throat.

  When the Sect Lord did things, she shouldn’t guess his motives.

  These pigeons look ordinary, but they were actually the Sect Lord’s ‘eyes’. Everything they see could be seen by the Sect Lord.

  The assistant then left and closed the door.

  The Sect Lord then glanced in the direction of the peach forest.

  (Spring comes upon a withered tree? Impressive!)

  (Also, my daughter truly has good judgment!)

  4 ……

  Although the peach trees had bloomed, the winter on the grassy plains was truly too cold. However, amidst the chill of the northern wind, the peach blossoms kept falling.

  Today, Sun Mo left the Dragon Subduing Academy, heading back to the Central Plains.

  Chaos reigned in the school as their headmaster had just died. However, the more chaotic the situation was, the more everything must proceed normally. Only so would the emotions of the teachers and students be calmed.

  “Have you guys heard the news? Teacher Sun used his knowledge of spirit runes and revived the dead peach trees!”

  “I went to take a look long ago. It is truly magical.”

  “Ah, it was too late when I headed there. The peach forest had been fenced up. No one is allowed to go near there.”

  The students mumbled to each other.

  The peach blossoms drifted all around the school. It was impossible even if the students didn’t want to know about it. Just by casually investigating, they would know the reason.

  Therefore, although it was just early morning, the lecture theatre Sun Mo used for his spirit runes class was already packed to the brim.

  When 8 a.m. arrived, even the corridor was flooded with people.

  Everyone wanted to know how Sun Mo had made the withered trees regain their vitality.

  But after waiting for a long time, they didn’t see anyone coming.

  “Where is Teacher Sun? He’s 15 minutes late.”

  “Could it be that he has overslept or maybe the classroom changed?”

  “This is already the largest classroom, where else could he change to? To the assembly hall?”

  The more the students waited, the more anxious they felt. At this moment, a high-year male student rushed in with panic on his face. “Not good, I saw Teacher Sun leaving the school.”

  “What?”

  With a booming sound, all the students stood up and had faces filled with doubt and shock.

  “Was Teacher Sun being chased off?”

  Leaving the school at this time was something absolutely abnormal.

  “No idea!”

  The male student shook his head.

  The students immediately exploded with noise and started discussing. This was especially so for those who studied spirit runes. They felt like the sky had toppled.

  They originally wanted to consult Teacher Sun for guidance and learn from him. But he left just like this?

  “What’s the point of making noise here? Let’s look for the school leaders!”

  Someone suggested. After that, close to 1,000 students immediately responded as they charged toward the office building like a swarm of bees.

  They had too many people and by making this scene, the students that they passed by also joined in to watch the show. Hence, the number of people kept growing.

  “What’s the matter? Do they want to rebel?”

  When one of the vice headmasters saw this, he was shocked. (Did they not want me to become the next headmaster?)

  In such times, the support of the students was not really impactful with regard to who would be the next headmaster. However, it was still nice to get some favorable impressions from the students, hence, all the vice headmasters would all choose to stand out nowadays.

  “Did Sun Mo leave?”

  After making sure of the reason why so many students gathered here, the few vice headmasters were speechless. After that, they sighed at how great Sun Mo’s influence was.

  He was only here for three months and his influence had seeped so deeply into the students’ hearts. If this continued, he would surely become the most popular great teacher in the Dragon Subduing Academy.

  “Everyone, keep quiet and listen to me.”

  A vice headmaster stood out. “Great Teacher Sun is actually not an intern teacher. He was an examinee who came here to participate in the 3-star great teacher examination.”

  “This year, our school is the location for the 3-star great teacher examination.”

  After the vice headmaster finished speaking, silence was everywhere.

  (Damn, what’s going on? Can you guys say something? Or is the food I ate during breakfast stuck on my teeth?)

  The vice headmaster used his tongue and licked his teeth, feeling a little panicky.

  This was election time for them, so he didn’t want to embarrass himself.

  “Teacher Sun was actually here for the examination only?”

  “In that case, would he still come and teach us in the school?”

  “Definitely not. Otherwise, why would he leave?”

  The students discussed. After that, the spearhead was directed at the school leaders.

  “Was it you guys who chased Teacher Sun away?”

  Yes, this must definitely be the case!

  Even if the upper echelons didn’t intentionally discriminate against him, their actions must have hurt his emotions. It was said that during these few days, Sun Mo was suspected to have a connection with the Dark Dawn and had been imprisoned.

  “You guys are thinking too much. Teacher Sun is extremely famous. Not only is he a vice headmaster of the Central Province Academy, but he even has the beautiful reputation of God Hands. He is the number one great teacher in Jinling, skilled in both teaching and painting. He of course won’t remain at our Dragon Subduing Academy to be an intern teacher.”

  The vice headmaster explained.

  Upon hearing the series of titles Sun Mo had, the students were completely dumbstruck.

  God Hands?

  Number one in Jinling?

  Highly skilled in both teaching and painting?

  (Heavenly deities above, so Teacher Sun is so outstanding? I thought that being a spirit runist ancestor was already his limit. I didn’t expect that it was actually the limit of my imagination.)

  “Do you guys understand now? Quickly disperse if you all do!”

  The vice headmaster urged.

  “Wait a minute. Why didn’t you guys offer a high salary and position to make Teacher Sun stay?”

  The students discovered another point.

  From their point of view, the Dragon Subduing Academy was a supreme-tier famous school. As long as they were willing to pay, they would definitely be able to retain Sun Mo. So, Sun Mo must have left because these school leaders were too stingy. They were all holding positions of authority while not doing much labor.

  (The upper echelons of this batch truly cannot make it.)

  “Sun Mo is deeply indebted to the old headmaster of the Central Province Academy. Hence, he made a vow to bring the Central Province Academy back into the ranks of the Nine Greats.”

  The vice headmaster hurriedly explained.

  This time around, Sun Mo’s image in the hearts of the students grew even more imposing.

  Decisively abandoning a supreme-tier famous school to willingly teach at a low-grade school. How noble were his sentiments?

  Saints were also like this, right?

  Hence, as this news circulated, the students kept contributing favorable impression points. Sun Mo even obtained over 100,000.

  This time around, Sun Mo had profited greatly. ……

  Because there were too many people with Sun Mo, they couldn’t fit on Little Silver and could only ride horses to the Saint Gate’s headquarters. After a week, Sun Mo finally received the examination certification, and it took him another week before he reached Jinling.

  Inhale!

  Sun Mo stood before the school gate and drew in a deep breath.

  The air here was still better.

  “The results of the examination are currently being inspected by the headquarters. Half a month later, they will mail the results out while publishing the results in the [Great Teachers Report]. So, there’s no need for you to be anxious.”

  An Xinhui explained, “Do you want to take a break first? You can officially resume work after the results are out.”

  “I’ll take a seven-day break then?”

  Sun Mo actually felt like paying a visit to the brothels to play around and have a taste of the famous courtesans of Jiangnan.

  “Mn!”

  An Xinhui stared at Sun Mo and felt very proud. At that time, Sun Mo could start to teach with his new status as a 3-star great teacher.

  If there were no unexpected incidents, he should be the champion as well!

  “Vice headmaster Sun, you’ve returned……eh?”

  Mister Qin who was at the gate immediately ran out when he noticed Sun Mo’s silhouette. But when she was about to bow and greet him, he suddenly started. Sun Mo was still wearing the human-skin mask.

  “Vice headmaster, are you trying to experience the life of ordinary people?”

  Mister Qin teased. Other than the fact that the features of this person were different, his figure and voice belonged to Sun Mo. After that, Mister Qin’s gaze turned to Murong Mingyue.

  (My heavens. This woman is so beautiful.)

  She had a beauty that was different from the exquisite beauty of girls from Jiangnan. She had the wild charm of the barbarian race.

  (Also, that young girl beside Teacher Sun is so tall. Her long legs, zeze…… As expected, Teacher Sun is very impressive.)

  Those pretty boys always depended on their looks and money to court girls, but Sun Mo depended on his talent. No matter how ugly he looked, people would still be willing to follow him.

  “Oh, I’m already used to it.”

  Sun Mo rubbed his face. He had long since forgotten about this.

  As for An Xinhui, she didn’t care about Sun Mo’s looks, hence, she didn’t bring it up.

  “Sis Xinhui, can you help me to take it off?”

  The quality of this mask was very high. So, Sun Mo didn’t want to damage it. He could keep it and use it again next time.

  “Mn!”

  An Xinhui used five minutes to carefully remove the mask from Sun Mo’s face.

  When Sun Mo’s real features were revealed, Xianyu Wei was completely stunned.

  W……wasn’t this too handsome?

  (You are already so overflowing with talent. Now that you are so handsome, how can the other guys still survive?)

  Xianyu Wei had always felt that her teacher depended on his talent to make a living, so it didn’t matter that he was slightly uglier. But now, she suddenly discovered that there wouldn’t be a problem even if her teacher wanted to depend on his looks either.

  Ding!

  Favorable impression points from Xianyu Wei +500. Reverence (19,800/100,000).

  Sun Mo couldn’t help but glance at Xianyu Wei. (I didn’t expect that you would regard looks so highly. You contributed 500 points just by seeing my true face. Ai, you are my personal student now, and I have the responsibility to watch you closely. I cannot allow those handsome guys to cheat you over easily with just a few honeyed words.)

  Murong Mingyue had been habitually silent during their return journey. Her mood wasn’t very good. Even though the scenery in Jiangnan was gorgeous, she couldn’t get in the mood to admire them. But now, her eyes violently widened.

  An indescribable feeling arose in her heart.

  “Hello, Teacher Sun!”

  “Teacher, how did you do in your examination?”

  “Are you not talking nonsense? He is definitely the champion, there’s no need to doubt it!”

  As Sun Mo entered the campus, the students who saw him immediately ran over in greeting.

  Xianyu Wei suddenly felt that the pressure on her was very great. How respectful were the students to Sun Mo? If her performance was too trashy, wouldn’t she embarrass her teacher?

  “Mingyue, Wei`er, you guys follow me!”

  An Xinhui had to arrange for their accommodations.

  “Xianyu, you go and rest first. I will introduce you to your fellow martial siblings tomorrow.”

  Sun Mo wanted to take a shower first.

  He had no idea how Li Ziqi and the others were doing during these three months.

  “Oh!”

  Xianyu Wei’s heart involuntarily thumped wildly with trepidation. She felt very nervous as she had no idea whether she could interact well with her martial siblings or not.

  “I’ve finally returned home!”

  Looking at the villa before his eyes, Sun Mo felt a type of joy that arose from returning home.

  Dong He and Yi Cui`e immediately rushed out with a look of joy when they saw Sun Mo. “Master, you’ve returned?”

  “Mn!”

  Sun Mo nodded. Just as he entered the living room, the system notification rang out before he could sit down.

  Was this an indication that he was about to receive a lot of rewards?

  Sun Mo grinned and felt joyful.

  [1] we can only try to guess who the sect lord’s daughter is