Since these were just introductory foundation classes, it was naturally impossible to have the elders teach all of them. With only so many elders, if they were assigned this much work, wouldn’t they start a rebellion?
Therefore, these matters were generally handled by core disciples on a rotational basis. The process was similar to taking on a mission; there were rewards, but it was also considered an obligation.
Back when Lin Huanhuan had first joined the sect, the core disciple who taught her very first class was Shangguan Linglan. She was also Shangguan Muqing’s eldest sister, a powerful cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Lin Huanhuan had a particularly deep impression of everything that had happened back then.
At that time, she hadn’t yet awakened her memories of her past life. One couldn’t exactly say she treated others poorly, but she was definitely a little demon incarnate; if she didn’t cause some mischief for a single day, her whole body would feel uncomfortable.
At the time, she had thought, ‘I’m a disciple, and these core disciples are also disciples. Why do I have to listen to a core disciple’s lecture? They even say if I don’t perform well, I might be punished. I don’t want any of that.’
‘Since I’m going to get punished regardless, I might as well make it count and get a little payout first.’
So, she had arrived at the classroom early and tampered with the podium.
When Shangguan Linglan entered to start the lesson and placed her belongings on the podium, it instantly exploded with a loud bang. Although Shangguan Linglan reacted quickly and didn’t even get a speck of dust on her clothes, all the materials she needed for the class were blown to smithereens.
Something like that was obviously easy to investigate, and Lin Huanhuan was caught in an instant.
Shangguan Linglan had been fuming. If the others hadn’t desperately held her back, she likely would have ignored the age gap and given her a severe beating.
Though Lin Huanhuan still ended up being harshly disciplined by Lin Shuangye anyway.
After that, the sect replaced the instructor with a different core disciple. Lin Huanhuan had thought the matter was over, but she never expected to see Shangguan Linglan again at this very moment, and once again standing on the podium.
Given the circumstances, how could she not be afraid?
Lin Huanhuan remained slumped over her desk, cursing inwardly, ‘How can it be such a coincidence? To run into Shangguan Linglan of all people… I’m so over this.’
‘If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come today. Now I just hope that after not seeing each other for so long, Shangguan Linglan has forgotten those unpleasant times. After all, I didn’t actually do much.’
‘Fortunately, this is a corner, and she might not notice me. That’s my only consolation.’
Lin Huanhuan stayed facedown, silently praying in her heart.
You Yuelan tilted her head in confusion, a flicker of bewilderment in her eyes. ‘What is wrong with Lin Huanhuan now? Is this a new way of causing trouble?’
‘Forget it, I’ll ignore her. As long as she stays there quietly and doesn’t disturb my sleep, it’s fine.’
Shangguan Linglan was in an excellent mood today. The pills she had refined a few days ago had just finished, and their quality was superb. She had made a fortune.
As she placed her materials on the table, a shadow of a memory flickered across her face, reminding her of that unbearable past she didn’t want to look back on.
Standing at the front, her gaze swept across the room. She suddenly noticed a slightly familiar figure slumped over a desk, but since she couldn’t see the face, she didn’t pay it much mind.
“Fellow disciples, my name is Shangguan Linglan, and I will be your instructor for this class. We may see each other again in the future. Everyone, please stand up and introduce yourselves so that others can get to know you.”
Shangguan Linglan spoke in a gentle tone, clearly in high spirits. Although the others were a bit surprised by this segment, they all stood up one by one to introduce themselves.
“My name is…”
Listening to the slightly excited voices of the others, Lin Huanhuan fumed inwardly, ‘Damn it! Why is there a self-introduction segment for classes even in the cultivation world? Why wasn’t there one back then? Could it be she recognized me and is intentionally making things difficult?’
‘I’m fine as long as I stay down, as she might not recognize me. But if I stand up to introduce myself, Shangguan Linglan isn’t blind; how could she not recognize me? What should I do?’
‘Stupid brain, hurry up and think of something!’
Time ticked by, second by second, and the others were almost finished with their introductions. Even You Yuelan had no choice but to stand up and give an incredibly short speech. “My name is You Yuelan. My greatest hobby is sleeping. Please do not disturb me.”
Lin Huanhuan continued her powerless internal rage. Her heart demon even offered a “brilliant” suggestion: ‘What are you afraid of? Just go up and give Shangguan Linglan a beating! Go up and do this, and then that!’
Even though Lin Huanhuan was still slumped over as if asleep, Shangguan Linglan didn’t get angry. She simply said calmly, “That fellow disciple, please stand up. Everyone else has introduced themselves, yet you’re still lying there. It’s not very polite.”
“Even if you just say your name, it’s fine. Don’t make things awkward for everyone.”
Since there was no apparent grudge between them, Shangguan Linglan didn’t want to offend someone for no reason.
Having reached this point, Lin Huanhuan sighed helplessly. Thinking that whatever happened would happen, she stood up and said, “My name is Lin Huanhuan.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she sat back down, her pretty face turning so red it looked like it might bleed.
You Yuelan looked at her with confusion. ‘It was just a self-introduction. Was that really necessary?’
A strange look flashed in Shangguan Linglan’s eyes. She finally understood why Lin Huanhuan had been stalling. ‘So it was you. No wonder you were hiding. Were you worried I’d target you? Well, you were right to worry!’
Shangguan Linglan smiled, her voice filled with the satisfaction of long-awaited revenge. “Lin Huanhuan, why did you sit down after saying only a few words? That’s not respectful to the others at all. Stand up and look at me.”
Left with no choice, Lin Huanhuan had to stand up again, staring at Shangguan Linglan with a blank expression.
“Why do you look so familiar? You don’t seem like a new disciple. Your cultivation has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so you should be an inner disciple. Why did you come to a class for new disciples?”
Shangguan Linglan asked with feigned curiosity, then answered her own question. “Oh, I see. You must have wanted to experience how things used to feel, right? Being nostalgic… that’s fine, no problem.”
Lin Huanhuan’s eyes widened in surprise, her mind filled with disbelief. ‘Is she really going to let me off just like that? If she’s being this generous, that’s great.’
Then she heard Shangguan Linglan say with a smile, “Teaching a class alone is a bit boring and inconvenient. Since you’re an inner disciple, Lin Huanhuan, why don’t you come up and help me? It’ll be good for you too.”
“Can I refuse?”
“What do you think?”
Lin Huanhuan could only trudge up to the front with a miserable face. She was forced to let Shangguan Linglan use various methods to “torment” her for the entire duration of the class.
The disciples below certainly had their eyes opened. They never expected that their very first encounter with sect bullying would be during a lesson.