Chapter 54: To Show Concern

At Si hour, Gui Ruoxue was proud.

A quarter-hour past Si hour, he was restless.

Two quarters passed, and he was furious.

By the third quarter…

‘Where is Ning Mingmei?’

‘Why isn’t he here today?’

‘Good one, Ning Mingmei.’

‘Did something happen to him?’

Gui Ruoxue’s heart burned with anxiety. He tossed and turned, his mind flashing through countless scenarios of Ning Mingmei being kidnapped or injured, causing him to be unable to see him.

His level of concern and worry made it hard to believe he was Ning Mingmei’s captive and not his closest friend.

The worst kind of suffering is not about knowing something terrible has happened, but the uncertainty.

Gui Ruoxue waited from Si hour to Wei hour, from noon to late afternoon… The sun dipped toward the horizon.

But Ning Mingmei never came.

***

“The second Yaochuan City academic presentation has ended? Have the attendance statistics been collected? Three times the turnout of last time? What was the peak viewing period? At what points did people leave, and why?

“There’s only one week left until the third presentation. I’ve reviewed the paper but it’s not good enough. Take it back and revise it. This time, we need to increase our impact by 170 percent compared to last time… You don’t know how to calculate influence? Lin Heting, build a model and write me a report. Present it at next week’s group meeting.

“The cataloging progress for the first level of the library has increased by 9 percent… But with so many more people helping, why is efficiency only up by 5 percent? Don’t talk to me about external factors. Little Seventh, you’re the team leader. Training disciples from other peaks to assist you and teaching them academic methods is your responsibility.

“Think about it. How do other team leaders get their members to listen? Or consider this; are there disciples from other peaks who might be interested in this? Bring them in to help. As disciples, you should take initiative.

“The Heaven-Reaching Vine is an ancient celestial plant that became extinct in the Fourth Era due to the gradual thinning of spiritual energy. Later, a disciple from the Brilliant Blossom Valley once found a withered specimen in an ancient secret realm. The moment it was brought outside, it turned to ash. Hmm…

“What was the required spiritual energy concentration for it to survive in ancient times? Besides spiritual energy, what other conditions did it need? What were its applications and what demands did it fulfill?

“The historical record of the great figures of the enchanting fox clan is done well. Create a display board and place it next to the exhibits from the first and second Yaochuan City academic presentations. Let passing disciples see it. As for the enchanting fox that vanished in Ye Province, continue investigating why he went there in the first place.

“Regarding the lotus lantern artifacts, analyze the activation mechanisms, power supply mechanisms, and energy circuits of the seven types of lotus lantern artifacts currently existing. Present your findings in next week’s group meeting.

“Little Eleventh, Little Fifteenth, Little Sixteenth, Little Seventeenth, you have another task. Starting this week, we will set up a new bulletin board at the main entrance of Misty Peak. On the left is an academic display; on the right is an experience column. One should use academic language to describe our achievements, while another should use everyday language to describe our daily lives. Once the draft is written, have your fellow disciples finalize it and put it up. Update it weekly.”

It was well known that scholarship selection wasn’t just based on GPA and research. It also considered social practice and comprehensive quality assessments.

The right-side bulletin board was meant to showcase the well-rounded, hands-on experiences of Misty Peak disciples, demonstrating their ability to integrate knowledge with action.

It would highlight that Misty Peak was not only an academic powerhouse but also a leader in practical application, teamwork, and social engagement.

And ultimately, when the next recruitment season arrived in a year, it would attract more disciples to apply.

Ning Mingmei said, “It’s a pity there’s no public WeChat account yet. For now, we’ll have to use this method to promote our activities.”

Forcing students to write promotional content, basically.

Although Ning Mingmei didn’t say this out loud, the eleventh and the seventeenth disciples suddenly felt a chill run down their spines.

After the group assignments were reported, it was time for individual presentations. Before that, Ning Mingmei glanced out the window.

Outside, beyond the green willow leaves, were two heads peeking in.

“Before we begin the individual reports, let me say a few words. I believe everyone has received their performance evaluations from last month from Wen Siheng. Previously, we gave some leeway since everyone was still getting started. But now that you’ve all settled into your roles, the performance evaluations will officially take effect.”

The already silent main hall of Misty Peak fell into an even deeper silence.

The fourteen disciples, whose shoulders were already tense, tensed up even more, so much so that they wouldn’t need posture correctors.

Two people in particular were completely devastated.

One of them, of course, was Bai Bugui, the fourth senior brother, who had been working for free all over the place lately.

Ning Mingmei continued, “Regarding evaluations, each rank has a set percentage of slots. So those who received an excellent rating shouldn’t be arrogant and those who got a passing grade shouldn’t be discouraged. One evaluation doesn’t determine everything.”

Several disciples let out a breath of relief.

Ning Mingmei added, “It just directly affects the resources you can obtain, the visas you can secure, the opportunities to leave the sect, the scholarships you qualify for, your graduation timeline… you know, just some minor benefits.”

Wait, why was graduation timeline considered a benefit?

The disciples who had just started to relax instantly went pale again.

Bai Bugui included.

Ning Mingmei shifted his tone. “But in the end, the annual evaluation is what truly matters. These monthly performance reviews are just references for your final yearly assessment. Here at Misty Peak, I don’t encourage competition just for the sake of performance metrics. What I hope to see is every disciple striving to do their best out of genuine academic passion. This evaluation system is designed solely to fairly and impartially stimulate your enthusiasm for research.

“If anyone has concerns about their evaluation results, feel free to schedule a one-on-one meeting with me. But before that, I suggest discussing with your fellow disciples and comparing workloads. Our evaluations are strictly workload-based and completely fair.” Ning Mingmei’s glasses glinted.

“Now, let’s begin the individual reports. Starting with Wen Siheng, you go first.”

The individual reports proceeded as usual, like the frantic heartbeat before a cardiac arrest. As Ning Mingmei listened to their research summaries, he spoke to the system in his mind, [This is my third month in the cultivation world. In just a few months, I’ve put them through basic academic training. Now, they’re finally becoming somewhat useful.]

The system: …

Ning Mingmei smirked. [They may be getting comfortable with their current research topics, but once the library’s complete index is done in a year, they’ll all have to start over. Heh.]

The system hesitated. […What if, by then, they’ve made a breakthrough on the problems you assigned them?]

[Obviously, I’ll have to interrupt them for the bigger picture. But I wouldn’t want all their hard work to go to waste, so if they’re willing to stay up late and keep working on their side projects, I certainly won’t stop them from using the lab equipment.]

The system: …

So this so-called ‘bigger picture’ was just some kind of evil scheme.

The system covered its metaphorical ears as Ning Mingmei sat cross-legged on his bed, leading the group meeting.

By the time the meeting concluded, he had assigned all the disciples new goals for their daily lives and bid farewell to their increasingly grim expressions.

Turning his head, he looked at the four disciples who had just been assigned additional publicity tasks. “You may leave now. There are still a few days before the next departure. Use this time to complete the tasks for next week’s group meeting. That way, you won’t have to rush and exhaust yourselves on the road.”

What a warm and considerate reminder. The four of them trembled as they left.

As soon as the eleventh disciple pushed open the door, he saw He Zheng and Jiang Yu crouching under the eaves. He Zheng’s face was pale and he looked at them with deep sympathy, while Jiang Yu had her head lowered, making it impossible to see her expression.

The four disciples had no energy for conversation. With faces ashen as vegetables, they walked away.

After the meeting ended, Ning Mingmei kept only Wen Siheng and Lin Heting behind.

Lin Heting reported another matter, “Master, the disciples of the Smoky Cloud Tower have been following Peak Lord Fang around every day and haven’t had time to visit Misty Peak. However, Song Mingke is very grateful and he sent someone to ask if there’s anything you need that he can help with.”

Ning Mingmei said, “Since the Smoky Cloud Tower excels in music, have him compose a song that inspires and uplifts the people.”

Then, it would be Misty Peak’s official anthem.

The kind that gets sung before every monthly meeting.

Lin Heting hesitated. “Uh… Master, forgive my ignorance, but do you have any specific requirements for the song?”

Lin Heting was truly a genius. He had already learned the right approach.

If you don’t get clear requirements from the client and just wing it, you’ll end up stepping into the trap.

Ning Mingmei said, “You can give him some guidance. For example, songs like ‘Stubborn,’ ‘Chasing the Dream,’ ‘Lone Warrior,’ or ‘Red Sun.’”

Lin Heting left, utterly confused.

Wen Siheng then reported on the recent activities of the disciples, particularly mentioning the enthusiasm of Bai Bugui and Xue Zhu.

After helping organize information on the enchanting foxes, Bai Bugui started using his free time to assist the Lotus Lantern Team.

Wen Siheng said, “He originally wanted to join our group, but it seems he doesn’t get along well with Xue Zhu.”

Lately, Xue Zhu and Bai Bugui had indeed been at odds.

Unfortunately, Wen Siheng was too straightforward to see through the situation.

He even kindly tried to give credit to both of them in front of Ning Mingmei, even mentioning how motivated his eighth junior brother had become recently due to Xue Zhu.

After all, the fourth and the eighth disciples were the only two who had received the lowest ‘Pass’ rating and were in the bottom 10%.

But from Wen Siheng’s few words, Ning Mingmei was able to pick up on the internal dynamics of the group.

An unexpected bonus.

Still, Wen Siheng wasn’t very cunning, which made him a rather ineffective informant.

With that, the meeting was officially over.

The system asked, [Why are you asking the Smoky Cloud Tower for a song?]

Ning Mingmei replied, [Like how real estate sales companies have their employees wear uniforms and sing motivational songs every morning to help unify their mindset… It keeps everyone focused on work and strengthens team cohesion.]

The system: …

That sounds disturbingly cult-like.

Meanwhile, He Zheng pulled Jiang Yu into a secluded corner of the garden.

“You saw how the disciples of Misty Peak are treated!” he said, his voice trembling. “Compared to the disciples of Jade Pavilion Peak, what kind of life are they even living?!”

Jiang Yu murmured, “Yeah… Compared to Misty Peak, what kind of life are we living at Jade Pavilion Peak?”

He Zheng: ?

Something about that tone seemed off.

Jiang Yu lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears. “Master Ning is so dedicated and responsible that I… How could there be such a good master in this world?”

He Zheng: “…? Did you not see how much pain they were in?”

Jiang Yu: “The disciple suffers physically, but the master suffers in their heart. If not for love, why would a master personally teach by example?”

He Zheng was dumbfounded.

Has the world changed?

***

After the meeting ended, the system initially thought Ning Mingmei would go find Gui Ruoxue.

But instead, Ning Mingmei curled up on the bed, holding a mirror and doing something unknown.

The system asked, [Why aren’t you going out?]

Ning Mingmei replied, [I have more important things to do.]

Watching him fiddle with the mirror, the system asked, [You’re not going to interrogate Gui Ruoxue?]

Ning Mingmei said, [Letting him sit for a day is also part of the plan.]

The system: [Huh?]

[It’s obvious that Gui Ruoxue is now showing a strong desire to apply for the job. So now, it’s time for us to argue about salary.] Ning Mingmei didn’t even lift his head. [Base salary? Commission? Are there benefits, bonuses, and competitive incentives? Any stock options? In recruitment, this is just as important as applying for the job itself.]

The system: […What exactly are you planning?]

Ning Mingmei: [The lower, the better. So, let him stew for a day first, let him get anxious.]

The system: [Oh, so basically, you’re just ignoring him for now?]

Leaving Gui Ruoxue alone to overthink.

The system sneaked a glance at Gui Ruoxue. He was bound in an indecent manner and his expression shifted between anger, loneliness, worry, and melancholy.

He had the look of someone completely tamed by the villainous Ning Mingmei.

Ning Mingmei: [But coincidentally, what I’m doing now is also part of taming Gui Ruoxue.]

The system: ?

[I took some time to add a recording function to the Zoom mirror. So now, not only can it record, but it can also edit videos.] Ning Mingmei adjusted his glasses.

Was he planning to edit something to show Gui Ruoxue?

And…

The system was shocked. […When did you do that?!]

With how packed Ning Mingmei’s schedule was, he still found time for development?

Ning Mingmei: [Speaking of me, why don’t you reflect on yourself? I asked you to develop the information panel. Have all the features been implemented?]

The system, feeling guilty, started showing its new work records.

Aside from the already perfected content on the Supreme Clarity Sect, it had also added meeting records and categorized them under the Misty Peak directory.

Additionally, there was a travel journal of Wangyue Town.

The system stammered, [T-This is all to help you win over the protagonist! Don’t misunderstand!]

It carefully observed Ning Mingmei’s expression as he browsed, unwilling to miss even the slightest reaction.

Surely this time, Ning Mingmei would finally praise it!

And then, it could reclaim its rightful position as a system…

Ning Mingmei: [As a system, your only job is information management… Honestly, you’re not even as useful as Wen Siheng.]

The system: [What?]

Ning Mingmei: [Still daring to talk back? Tell me, have you ever actually pushed the plot forward?]

The system: …

He hadn’t been feeling well lately and his daily working hours were only around five hours.

After finishing editing the video, Ning Mingmei felt a familiar heat surge through his body. He originally planned to curl up in bed and continue chanting the Heart-Clearing Technique, but the system suddenly spoke.

[Actually… I just analyzed and scanned Lian Chengyue to study the poison in his system and the components of the bead in his blood,] the system hesitated. [So, actually…]

The system gave Ning Mingmei a lengthy lecture on toxicology and interactions, clearly having put in real effort this time. Finally, it reached a conclusion.

First, Lian Chengyue’s blood contained a weak toxin for Ning Mingmei, meaning it couldn’t be consumed long-term.

Second, if used for emergencies, drinking up to ten milliliters of blood per day would be safe.

Third, those ten milliliters would extend Ning Mingmei’s daily active hours to ten. The only side effect was a slight numbness that would quickly fade.

Fourth, if consumed any more than that, it would become toxic.

After finishing its report, the system saw Ning Mingmei deep in thought. Soon, he pulled out paper and pen, jotting down calculations.

The system asked, [What are you doing?]

Ning Mingmei: [Verifying your formulas.]

Before long, Ning Mingmei reached a conclusion. [You’re right. I really should pay more attention to the protagonist.]

The system was delighted because it had finally proven useful… Wait a minute?

Was it now complicit in helping Ning Mingmei tormenting the protagonist?!

The system fell into a logical paradox, on the verge of crashing.

Meanwhile, Ning Mingmei put away his paper and pen and walked toward the door.

On the path outside, Luo Xiao happened to pass by. Seeing Ning Mingmei step out, she asked, “Where is the Peak Lord going?”

She glanced in the direction he was headed. It wasn’t toward the prisoner’s room, nor was it toward the Gao family’s residence gates.

It seemed more like… somewhere else?

Ning Mingmei replied, “To show some concern.”

Luo Xiao: ?

For whom?