The Five Skandha Sect had its own academy. In addition to each branch’s specialized curriculum, there were also courses that all disciples studied together. These lessons weren’t particularly difficult, but they were crucial for newly initiated disciples to master well.
The courses compiled by Si Lingqing were perfectly suited for these beginners. To commemorate her, a stone statue of Si Lingqing had been erected in the academy.
Mu Yin looked up at the nearly two-meter-tall statue before her and was struck speechless by the deafening silence in her mind.
Si Lingqing had such significant influence in the Five Skandha Sect?
Even the Sect Leader didn’t have a statue, yet she did?
Moreover, the statue was exquisitely carved, depicting Si Lingqing with one hand behind her back and the other holding an open book, her face expressionless.
Mu Yin: “…”
Hong Zhuang greatly admired her young mistress. Gazing at Si Lingqing’s statue, she couldn’t help but sigh: “The young mistress is truly remarkable. Before she compiled new teaching materials at age thirteen, many disciples couldn’t understand the old texts. Some even suffered qi deviation from misinterpretation. But in all these years since, not a single new disciple has had such accidents everyone’s foundation has been solid!”
Pointing at the flowers and pastries placed at the statue’s base, Hong Zhuang explained to Mu Yin: “Disciples always come here before trials, praying for the young mistress’s blessing to pass their tests.”
Mu Yin nodded in understanding. Back in her school days, she too had offered pastries to bronze statues before exams, regardless of whether they were Eastern or Western deities, any divine help for passing grades was gratefully accepted. It seemed students’ prayers transcended worlds.
With a sigh, Mu Yin studied Si Lingqing’s impassive stone face, grumbling internally.
Since Si Lingqing had mentioned going out to handle business days ago, she’d completely disappeared, no sign of her, not even the cat. The thought made Mu Yin simmer with quiet irritation.
It wasn’t that she demanded Si Lingqing’s constant company, but couldn’t she at least say when she’d return? This silent vanishing act was downright worrying!
The longer Mu Yin stared at that stone face, the angrier she grew. As Hong Zhuang enthusiastically recounted her mistress’s glorious achievements, Mu Yin secretly formed a hand seal behind her back.
A tiny black dot slowly emerged atop the statue’s head, growing steadily until pop! it blossomed into a translucent little indigo mushroom.
The tiny fungus gave a proud wiggle, standing tall and triumphant on Si Lingqing’s stony crown.
Hmph.
Mu Yin’s mood instantly improved at the sight of the mushroom sprouting from the statue’s head. Served her right for staying away so long, she deserved mushrooms growing on her head!
When the real person finally showed up, Mu Yin resolved to grow one on her actual head too.
The whimsical mushroom therapy soothed Mu Yin’s irritation. Fortunately, the tiny fungus went unnoticed by others.
Later, Hong Zhuang showed Mu Yin around the academy’s various classrooms. Before becoming inner sect disciples, all initiates studied foundational courses here. Clearly, offering flowers and pastries to Si Lingqing before exams was an established tradition.
After wandering for hours, hunger finally drove them back to their courtyard.
After that, Mu Yin seized every moment to practice her Wood-Based Spell. Now, she could effortlessly conjure various types of mushrooms.
One day, Mu Yin stared at the jian shou qing mushrooms sprouting from the soil before her, pondering for a long while before finally rolling up her sleeves and digging in!
Weren’t mushrooms conjured precisely to be eaten?
Over the past few days, Mu Yin had used her Magical Arts to produce many mushrooms enoki, seafood mushrooms, and the like all of which tasted no different from the ones she’d eaten before. So, her mischievous thoughts naturally turned toward the poisonous varieties.
Jian shou qing, a type of bolete mushroom, was named for its tendency to turn blue when cut due to oxidation.
A common mushroom in Yunnan, some people could eat it without issue, while others might end up seeing “tiny dancing figures.”
Mu Yin believed that mushrooms ought to have their proper effects otherwise, what was the point of practicing all these days just for fun?
Of course not!
So, Mu Yin rolled up her sleeves, stir-fried a plate of jian shou qing in the kitchen, and invited one of the Five Skandha Sect’s Medicine Hall elders to observe whether the poisonous mushroom could truly induce intoxication.
“Young Madam,” Hong Zhuang frowned at the plate of mushrooms in front of Mu Yin. “There’s no need for you to take such a risk. Why not let me eat it instead? What if something happens?”
Mu Yin waved off her concern, picking up her chopsticks. “No need to worry. I’ve seen people eat this before, it’s not highly toxic at all. At worst, it might cause hallucinations. Besides, we have an elder from the Medicine Hall here. It’s fine.”
The elder chimed in, “Young Madam, I’ve heard this mushroom is poisonous. I still advise against trying it yourself.”
Mu Yin shook her head. “The mushrooms I conjured should be eaten by me. Why make someone else do it? Don’t worry after I eat it, observe me for half an hour. If nothing happens, it just means my Magical Power isn’t refined enough, and the mushrooms I produce lack potency.”
Hong Zhuang and the others hesitated, but Mu Yin had no patience for further debate. She picked up a bite of stir-fried mushrooms and ate it.
Chewing thoughtfully, she remarked, “Hmm, doesn’t taste particularly special.” She took a bite of plain steamed bread alongside the mushrooms. “My cooking skills are still lacking, it’s not very tasty.”
After a couple of bites, Mu Yin decided she’d had enough and set the plate aside, waiting for the effects to kick in.
The Medicine Hall elder watched her nervously, but after half an hour, Mu Yin felt absolutely nothing.
“Failed, huh.”
Mu Yin sighed, slumping in her chair as she stared at the plate of jian shou qing. “Seems the mushrooms conjured by my spell aren’t toxic at all. I’ll have to keep practicing.”
The elder checked Mu Yin’s pulse and ran several tests but found no abnormalities.
It seemed the attempt had truly failed.
At Mu Yin’s request, the elder also examined the plate of stir-fried mushrooms and confirmed they were non-toxic.
“Well then.” Mu Yin sighed, standing to escort the elder out. “Thank you for your time today, indulging my whims despite your busy schedule.”
The elder smiled kindly and reassured her, “Don’t be discouraged, Young Madam. You’ve only just begun your training. Given more time, you’ll surely see progress.”
Mu Yin nodded and saw the elder out before returning to her room.
“Young Mistress,” Hong Zhuang asked curiously, “what should we do with that plate of stir-fried mushrooms?”
Mu Yin thought for a moment. Although the effects weren’t certain, they couldn’t just discard them carelessly. To be safe, it would be best to destroy them completely.
“Throw away all the pots, cutting boards, knives, and utensils used for cooking the mushrooms today in a safe place,” Mu Yin said to Hong Zhuang at the study door. “Make sure no one picks them up or eats them. Find a way to dispose of them thoroughly. This afternoon, I need to review the lessons the elders taught earlier.”
Hong Zhuang acknowledged and turned to handle the used kitchenware.
Sitting at her desk, Mu Yin sighed deeply, feeling that her mushroom spirit root might truly be a Useless Spiritual Root. She wondered what she could possibly achieve by continuing to practice like this.
But for now, Mu Yin had nothing else to do besides practicing, so she steeled herself and began reviewing her previous lessons.
At first, everything was peaceful. The courtyard was quiet, with only the murmurs of early spring birds on the treetops.
After studying for about half an hour, Mu Yin faintly heard people arguing.
Their words grew increasingly heated, escalating into a full-blown quarrel.
Mu Yin found it strange. She looked out the window but only saw a few sweeping disciples, no one was arguing.
“I don’t see any use in you! You’re big and ugly! I’ve had enough I don’t want to be with you for another second!”
“You think I want this? Look at yourself in the mirror! You’re short and tiny like a gourd, it’s laughable!”
The voices grew louder, and Mu Yin couldn’t help but look around for the source.
Finally, her gaze landed on the teapot and teacup beside her.
The set of jade-green teapot and teacup were in the middle of their quarrel. Noticing they were being watched, they turned to Mu Yin in unison and snapped, “What are you staring at? Never seen people argue before?!”
Mu Yin’s eyes widened in shock, her pupils trembled violently!!!
Mu Yin lay in bed, frowning at the canopy above her as she asked Yu Luo, “Mother, where did the roof of my room go? What did you do with it?”
Yu Luo: “…”
Hong Zhuang: “…”
Mu Yin stared blankly at the sky and began counting the stars.
Yu Luo sighed and turned to the Medicine Cultivator elder beside her. “What exactly is happening? She was fine this afternoon.”
The elder set down Mu Yin’s wrist and said to Yu Luo, “I’m not sure, but it seems she’s been poisoned.”
Hong Zhuang wiped her tears as she watched Mu Yin start singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” “How did this happen? She was fine earlier! I told her to let me taste it first, but she refused. What do we do now?”
Yu Luo grew anxious. “Please, no matter what it takes, you must save her!”
The elder was also troubled but assured her, “I’ll do my best. Please step outside and rest for now.”
Soon, several elders from the Medicine Sect arrived to examine Mu Yin. They gathered in the room for a consultation. Sect Leader Si Muzhou also came to the courtyard and stood beside his wife, watching the scene inside. “What exactly happened? Why did she suddenly get poisoned?”
Yu Luo told him about Mu Yin eating the poisonous mushrooms at noon.
“Nonsense, absolute nonsense.” Si Muzhou fumed, “How can you just eat poisonous mushrooms like that? What kind of poisonous mushroom was it? Why on earth would Mu Yin turn into a poisonous mushroom in the first place?”
Yu Luo had no idea either and could only try to placate Si Muzhou, “Don’t be angry anymore.”
An hour later, Mu Yin’s door finally opened. A senior from the Medicine Sect wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked at the crowd gathered in the courtyard and announced, “The young mistress has woken up!”