The time was dinner was drawing near which prompted everyone to consciously make their way to the dining table.

The kitchen staff had already served the dishes. On a very formal dinner table, there were placed dishes for the menu tonight.

Fresh lobster chunks marinated in citrus, toasted crostini topped with sauteed mushrooms and creamy devil goat cheese, fruit platter shaped into flowers and butterflies with crisp plum bayberries, olive apples, lotus roots, chestnuts, pears, torreya and golden ball bead wax cherries.

The main course included mixed blood phoenix’s marrow and chicken breasts stuffed with spinach and cheese, southern heavenly beef served with roasted potatoes and asparagus.

Garlic breads, sauteed beans, creams and cheese were also at the ready.

The aroma and taste from the food stimulated Zi Yang’s senses into experiencing the waves of the sea as lobsters swam, autumn breeze as he saw bees working harvesting various extracts and forests welcomes springs as they presented abundant harvests.

He chased after the chicken who seemed to have stolen a few pears from the harvest and mocked him.

He came across with the cows, devil goats and phoenixes during the journey – who would strangely disappear every time he was in close proximity, as if an illusion – all that would remain was their footprints and lingering smell as if substantiate their existence.

The whole experience was bittersweet as he played, chased, and sweated while collecting the various produce.

It was only after finally finishing his dinner that Zi Yang came to his senses.

“Come to senses?”, Mu Gong joked.

“Master Mu, this...?”, Zi Yang was confused. Was he cast an illusion?

As if reading his expression, “Haha no one cast an illusion on you. It is the food which brought you a sense of allusion as you tasted the food.”

Zhong Min took over and said, “Yes, as spiritual ingredients meet seasoned cooks, the dishes are capable of bringing both the best dining experience and the worst nightmare. Every vocation – no matter how little known – has its own unique skills!”

Zi Yang nodded to show he understood, but inwardly he was amazed.

He had not experienced this sensation ever.

Even at the dinner at his Master’s – he had not. Perhaps, due to still active oxytocin from eating food, Zi Yang was in a joyful mood and said subconsciously what he thought in his head.

“Your master?”

Zhong Min raised his eyebrows.

But Meng Yujin has been in the plateau of emptiness for many years – how did Zi Yang eat at his place?

This question jolted him awake.

“Ah, I mean at Aunt – Madame Dark Void’s place while she stayed in town.”

Zi Yang made light of his words – but the audience did not.

Zhong Min’s, Mu Gong’s and Mu Jin’s – all three people’s brains were running fast.

They kept repeating key words – “Aunt”, “Master”, “stayed in town” and then remembered the previous emergency tasks their associations were busy with owing to the emperor’s order.

The thought of a shocking rumor.

Involuntarily, they gulped.

Mu Gong was scared now. Did he seem rude anywhere? What if he was suspected of duping the young lord by the empress?

As their thoughts were raising, Zi Yang’s mind was also racing with thoughts to dupe this Confucian scholar into his house for Zi Ming’s training.

With those thoughts, Zi Yang started to talk – “Uncle Mu Jin, I saw you teaching little Rong earlier. It seemed to Confucian thoughts?”

Mu Jin had a higher mental resilience than his father and he recovered from his thoughts within minutes – his facial expressions also did not show any abnormality.

“Yes, Zi Yang. I am a second rank Confucian scholar – that is equal to commander rank in beast taming.”

Ah. Only now did Zi Yang realize that he did not even properly research the realms and other details of the Confucianism before broaching this question.

“Great! Are you also a teacher or government official in the city?”

“A teacher. I work in the Jade Cloud Central School.”

Oh. A teacher in the top school in the city.

Most likely won’t come for the job in a small town of the city. With feelings of disappointment, he chatted casually with the family.

Mu Gong and Zhong Min were both old-timers and were able to sense a lot of clues from the questions Zi Yang and the expressions in his eyes, no matter how concealed, upon hearing answers.

Mu Gong guessed that Zi Yang might have taken a fancy to his son’s Confucian background – but he could not figure out why so.

Any Confucian great man would be glad to assist the young lord, should he open his mouth.

In the chat, Mu Gong asked casually, “So, Zi Yang – who are all at home? All good?”

“Yes, Mu Gong. It’s me, Zi Ming – my younger brother, close to Mu Rong’s age, and Mama Mei as well Uncle Baize – though he will quit soon.”

“Oh? Uncle Baize, is it the lucky beast Baize? That’s pretty rare! Wait…”

As if he thought of something, Zhong Min and Mu Gong’s mouths opened apart simultaneously.

When they were feeling slightly shocked, everyone failed to notice a barely perceptible smirk on the corners of Zi Yang’s mouth.

If my job offer cannot get you in the job, at least awe and curiosity should get you into it.

I did not reveal any information either – it was all guessed by people, mused Zi Yang.

“Yes, he’s the manager of the daycare center we run. I’m looking for his replacement. Someone who’s good with educating children and can manage all these things.”

While speaking, Zi Yang kept looking at Mu Jin. It couldn’t be clearer to anyone sitting on the table – what Zi Yang was hinting.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The euphemism could not be more revealing.

But everyone also guessed now, to some extent about why Zi Yang did not directly reveal his identity and offer a job straight away.

Perhaps, they want to maintain relative privacy for a few more years before the young one grows up. It would allow time for Zi Yang to accomplish something himself.

“Oh understood”, Mu Jin coughed and wanted to diverge; but Zi Yang seemed to disagree.

“Yes, Uncle. If you have any suggestions – please let me know whenever. My contact details are there with the association.

The renumeration is good. It is in recently introduced Donghuang merit coins.”

Come on. Now – you’re outright yelling at our faces that you are the disciple of the Void Empress.

Can we even refuse now?

The kid is a little fox. To abduct a scholar from a big city to a small town for the sake of his brother’s education, by hook or crook.

Mu Gong and Mu Jin looked at each other and smiled wryly.

Never mind.

Going to a quaint town for a few years can be considered a vacation from busy affairs.

Considering all aspects, Mu Gong said, “We will inform you soon.”

“Sure”, smiled Zi Yang happily.

This could be said to be using power for personal gain, but heck, Zi Yang was not above using some means to fulfill his goals for his brother’s future.

In a jolly mood, Zi Yang bid farewell to the family and went to the guest house with Zhong Min.

“Father, you keep bringing promising boys to house for getting a stay-at-home son-in-law. I said it will backfire someday. I told you so.”

Professionals have the pride of professionals.

Even if the person was the disciple of Void Empress – no one would feel great when coerced to move from a big city to a small town – which is pretty much a derailing from a smooth career path.

And for a Confucian scholar – even more so.

“Mu Jin, what do you think can make a young lord condescend to coerce you to go and teach his younger brother himself?”

“He feels I am good enough?”, Mu Jin answered his father.

“Yes, but more importantly – he saw how you our family interacted and taught little Rong – disciplined yet not bottled up, lively yet not spoiled. Imagine what his brother would be like?

Most likely – a spoiled young master. So, he needs a person who can balance things – correct wrongs and guide rights.”

Mu Jin felt into deep thought after listening to his father’s words.

“Also, that kid will also be involved in the central decision making of the country if he’s the brother of Void Empress’ disciple. Guiding him is also a contribution to the country”, Mu Gong nailed the final nail in the coffin.

“Think well.”

With that said, Mu Gong started walking to his room with thoughts swirling, “yeah, a younger brother who’s the age of Mu Rong. Same age. Why did he say that? Obviously baiting me too – for a package deal. Confucian teacher, Potion master guide, and a playmate – all for the price of one Confucian teacher! Little fox!”

On the walk back to the guest house, Zhong Min silently followed Zi Yang.

Too much happened at the dinner. Sure enough, any kid who can catch the Void Empress’ attention would not be easy.

“Master Zhong, what time is the test tomorrow?”

“Ah, it’s 1 p.m. – after lunch.”

“Alright, thanks.”

At the guest house, Zhong Min said, “Young Lord…”

“Master Zhong, please keep calling me Zi Yang.”

Zhong Min hesitated but followed his request and continued, “Zi Yang, the breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. in the lounge of the guest house. Should I have it sent to the room in case you wake up late?”

“No, Master Zhong. I’ll be there on time.”

They both bid goodnight and went to their respective rooms.

Zi Yang lay on the bed and with a thought, he came to his beast master space.

Here, Nox was still sleeping soundly. The kid was pretty much a hibernating serpent – always lazy. He would need to focus on him after the college starts, lest the kid become a couch potato and shout ‘666’ when other beasts fight.

Kaeru is out and Jo still has not contracted with him and cannot be brought back into the beast master space repeatedly. Her connection with the extreme chaos qi had been weakened a lot and she might only be able to travel to and from the space for a maximum of two more times.

Seeing Nox sleeping while coiling around the chaos bell, Zi Yang also did not bother him but took out the booklet his master gave him before departure and perused it carefully.

The booklet introduces details of a newly emerging career pathway – a Master Teacher.

In the Donghuang country, teachers who are skilled in two or more vocations, take raising a new generation as their goal and are certified by the Hall of Gurus – are recognized as Master Teachers.

They are essentially different from normal school teachers and closer to the ancient system of master-disciple relationship – but taking education as the core.

The founder of the system, Fu Jian Xu established that the progression of human civilization needs guidance of great teachers to ensure that the populace does not blindly pursue strength without essence, and pursue paths without affinity.

The role of a Master Teacher is to guide the general populace on their career paths, teach in accordance with aptitude and affinity and; make every individual realize their physical and metaphysical value.

To become a Master Teacher, one does not only need to have credentials in education and various vocations but concrete evidence of their character, spirit and influence.

This program, his master recommended him into, allows one to fast track into becoming a one-star master teacher – provided one can complete all requirements of the program within four years.

Zi Yang understood now. If he were able to meet the requirements – he could graduate as a one-star master teacher and start as cream of the top in the education sector.

The basic requirements include to have been certified as a one-star master in at least two vocations. He would most likely pass the potion master exam; he would only need to be certified in another one as the least.

He could choose beast training master or probably, a researcher.

But spending four years in such an elite program, Zi Yang was suddenly swept with a plethora of worries.

Would he need be apart from Zi Ming for four years? Or should he bring him along to the capital after he is settled?

How should he arrange his finances then? He is still dwelling on all the debts he owed to his master – the resources he has consumed during the opening of his beast master space.

This indebtedness would not allow him to ask for support, even if he suppresses his self-sufficient nature for a while.

With such thoughts, Zi Yang started thinking about his path to business again.

What would allow him to thrive in a foreign city? What are his key skills he could use?

Sitting blankly for a few minutes without an iota of an idea, Zi Yang muffled his hair and quit the beast master space.

Anyway, let’s sleep first, he mused.

No problem a good night’s sleep can’t fix.

Think later.

With these thoughts, Zi Yang embraced the arms of the goddess of dreams.

While he was sleeping, he had no idea that his work has still kept the top decision makers of the country busy and awake.

The time was short and Dark Void had already reviewed the potion master exam in session one and obtained the pass certificate for one-star potion master.

No way, he was way too skilled.

The exam tomorrow would most likely either be a routine or a challenge for a leapfrog to assess if Zi Yang succeeds.

With the previous documents, certificates, assessment records and testimonials – it was speed couriered to the Hall of Gurus.

Seeing the signature of the Void Empress as the sending party and the label of “Urgent”, the master teachers there did not dare to open it themselves and hurriedly contacted Lao Fu – their backbone.

Lao Fu was irritated having just come back from the blacksmithing association and then, being contacted for an emergency.

Upon learning that it was send from Jing Huan, Lao Fu understood that this was for the master teacher program that they had spoken about and needed his approval to join on an expedited notice.

But he did not have any mood to verify and process such documents in detail now, so he simply threw it to his protégé.

In the spirit of taking advantage to the fullest, he sent his hall master seal as well to ensure the process is completed smoothly.

How he would come to regret his decision that was made for a moment of comfort, Lao Fu had no idea just yet.

His recently smoothing relationship with his protégé and the characteristic stupor of the breezy night led to let his guard down.

And the devil did not let this opportunity pass.

Devil did what devil does best.