When Xie Zhaolin opened her eyes again, the sky outside had turned completely dark. The room was unlit, only moonlight spilling silver across the floor through the window lattices.
"Mo Yan." she called softly.
The door quietly opened, and Mo Yan's figure appeared in the doorway. In the moonlight, his shadow stretched long, clearly having waited outside for some time.
"Master." He bowed respectfully, then produced a storage pouch from his chest, offering it with both hands. "I've prepared disciple robes, identity tokens, and some basic cultivation resources for you."
Xie Zhaolin took the pouch and swept her divine sense over it. Inside were three neatly folded sets of blue disciple robes, each embroidered with a stream pattern on the chest; a jade token engraved with her full name; several elixirs; and a small pile of spirit stones.
"Well done." she nodded slightly. "And the interrogation of those three?"
Mo Yan lowered his voice. "It's been cleared up. They really are Elder Liu's disciples, but Elder Liu is cold and heartless. He doesn't care much for his subordinates. Their theft was a private action, not under his orders."
Xie Zhaolin's eyes flickered thoughtfully. "How's Elder Liu's position in the sect?"
"He manages the inner sect's elixir distribution, so he has some authority," Mo Yan reported truthfully. "But he's greedy and notorious in the sect. Many disciples flatter him just to get more elixirs."
Xie Zhaolin tapped her chin. "So he must have a fair share of rare spirit herbs on hand."
Mo Yan's eyes gleamed. "Master, your insight is sharp. From what I know, Elder Liu's private storage holds many valuable ingredients, including main ingredients for making Foundation Establishment Pills."
Xie Zhaolin's lips curved slightly. "Interesting."
She rose and walked to the window, gazing toward the Inner Sect. "Don't kill those three yet."
Mo Yan blinked, a trace of hesitation crossing his eyes.
"Since these three are Elder Liu's disciples—" she toyed with the jade token in her hand, "they've been acting arrogantly in the sect, with tangled networks of connections. Keeping them alive may be more valuable than killing them."
Before she finished, Mo Yan's eyes lit with joy. "Master, wise as always! I'll plant the slave contracts on them immediately!"
"Go." Xie Zhaolin turned. "Make the contracts harsh. These spoiled brats need a taste of suffering before they'll behave."
"Understood!" Mo Yan's eyes darkened with cruelty. "They'll beg for death but won't get it, beg for life but won't escape!"
Xie Zhaolin shook her head lightly. "No need to overdo it. Just make sure they have no other ideas. After all…" her lips curved into a cold smile, "I still want them to play the roles of spoiled disciples."
Mo Yan understood and withdrew respectfully. Before long, he returned with the three pale-faced disciples. Through Mo Yan's slave contracts, Xie Zhaolin could sense the fluctuations of their Primordial Souls clearly—this was the power of the contracts: the master's master also held absolute control over the slaves.
A mere glance from her made the three shiver violently and collapse to their knees.
"Liu Feng, Chen Xingmo, Lin Ziye." she spoke their names softly, amusement lacing her voice.
The three trembled, eyes wide with terror.
Liu Feng, at the front, sweat beading his forehead, stammered, "M-Master sees all…"
Xie Zhaolin smirked. "Liu Feng, distant nephew of Elder Liu, relying on that connection to bully others in the sect."
Her gaze swept to the other two. "Chen Xingmo, skilled in alchemy but always skimming materials; Lin Ziye, close with the herb garden managers, secretly selling herbs."
Their faces drained of color—Xie Zhaolin knew even their secrets.
"Heh, birds of a feather," she said coldly. "In that case, continue playing your roles."
She looked at Mo Yan. "Place restrictions on them and send them back to follow Elder Liu. You know what to do."
Mo Yan responded respectfully, "Understood. They'll become the best spies for Master within the Inner Sect."
With a wave of her hand, the three practically rolled out of the room, grateful for their reprieve.
Mo Yan stood beside her, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Xie Zhaolin glanced at him. "What, three more junior brothers, and you're this happy?"
He quickly suppressed his smile and bowed. "I dare not. I'm just pleased to provide more support for Master."
"Fine." she waved him off. "Tomorrow, take me to the Administrator Hall to register. If I'm going to play a disciple, I should look the part."
"Understood." Mo Yan bowed. "Everything is arranged, no one will suspect a thing."
Xie Zhaolin nodded and dismissed him.
The next morning, Mo Yan was already waiting outside the courtyard.
"Master." He bowed. "Shall we head to the Administrator Hall?"
Xie Zhaolin nodded slightly. "Let's go."
Along the way, she noticed several gazes cast toward her—curious, probing, some filled with clear hostility.
She ignored them, expression calm.
In her previous life at Hehuan Sect, she'd dealt with far more blatant stares. Still, she mentally noted the sources of the hostile looks: a yellow-robed female cultivator at the alchemy room entrance, two male disciples whispering at the Inner Sect gate, and a few miscellaneous servants hiding behind trees.
"Master…" Mo Yan sensed the tension, communicating silently. "Shall I check it out?"
"No need." Xie Zhaolin replied calmly. "Focus on the task first."
At the Administrator Hall, a slightly plump administrator disciple approached. "Elder Mo, you've arrived."
Mo Yan nodded. "Bring Senior Sister Xie here to register."
The administrator glanced at Xie Zhaolin, curiosity flickering in his eyes before quickly returning to respect. "Please follow me."
The registration went smoothly. Now, under Mo Xun Elder's personal disciple status, Xie Zhaolin could receive twelve medium spirit stones and two Qi Gathering Pills monthly, and gain limited access to the library.
This identity also allowed her to move through the sect with fewer obstacles. Just as they were about to leave, a sharp female voice rang out from behind:
"Hey! You're Mo Xun Elder's new disciple? Don't look like much."
Xie Zhaolin turned slowly, eyes calm as they met the source of the voice. A yellow-robed female cultivator stood with arms crossed, clearly displeased—the same one who had stared at her in the alchemy room.
Two male disciples accompanied her, wearing smirks of gloating.
Xie Zhaolin clicked her tongue inwardly. She'd just finished registering, and someone was already itching for trouble?