Within a large courtyard on the east side of Langya Academy, Song Wei Qian's delicate eyebrows were tightly furrowed, her fair, jade-like cheeks etched with worry.
She was elegant and refined, with a cascade of golden hair, dressed in a wine-red, form-fitting long gown that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.
On the table lay all the recruitment materials for Langya Academy's recent intake of new students. Without a doubt, the quality of the student body had hit a new historical low.
While there were a few decent ones, they were merely noteworthy, lacking any truly brilliant prodigies.
Langya Academy was truly declining year by year. For several consecutive years, it had failed to produce any outstanding students, and its ranking among academies in the Southern Domain had long been at the bottom.
Song Wei Qian was determined to revitalize Langya Academy, but even the most skilled cook cannot prepare a meal without ingredients. Talented and intelligent students simply would not come to study here.
Without excellent students, the academy's reputation naturally deteriorated further.
If this continued, Langya Academy, with its tens of thousands of years of heritage, might very well face the fate of closure.
"Alas, if only someone could save Langya Academy from ruin and lead it back to glory, I wouldn't mind offering myself in return."
Song Wei Qian bit her lip and declared resolutely.
She had poured all her energy into revitalizing the academy, never considering her own personal life.
Her father had urged her countless times, even arranging blind dates with numerous young talents, both openly and subtly.
She had gone through the motions, never truly looking at any man.
Now, Song Wei Qian was truly weary. She longed for a shoulder to lean on, for someone to help her, to work together to run the academy well.
Just then, the main door creaked open, and a tall, slender figure appeared.
The sunlight outside poured in, casting warm rays upon the young man, reflecting a dazzling halo.
He was clad in the glow of the sunset, like an immortal descended to earth, a friendly smile gracing his face, which immediately captivated Song Wei Qian.
Ethereal and otherworldly, graceful and peerless, truly a saying that "a gentleman is like jade, unmatched in the world."
Song Wei Qian's cheeks flushed slightly. For the first time in her life, she displayed a shy expression, her heart racing upon seeing a member of the opposite sex.
"Um, hello. A certain 'filthy old man' told me to find you..."
Ji Mo cleared his throat, contemplating how to begin.
It was the old man he had met earlier who had sent him here, telling him that simply stating he was introduced by a "filthy old man" would suffice for someone to arrange a teaching position for him.
He found the old man somewhat unreliable. Who would call themselves a "filthy old man"?
Moreover, if one truly held status and position, why would they describe themselves in such a manner?
"A filthy old man sent you?"
Song Wei Qian gritted her white teeth, her expression instantly changing.
That damned old man, his intentions unchanged, was trying to play matchmaker for her again. Would it ever end?
She stood up, her long legs carrying her before Ji Mo, whom she appraised with a scrutinizing and critical gaze.
She had to admit, the old man's choice this time was not bad. His appearance was good, especially his eyes, which were as bright as stars in the heavens, possessing a purity that other men lacked.
However, she, Song Wei Qian, would never accept an arranged marriage.
"Name?"
"Have you had relationships before?"
"What sect do you hail from, and what is your cultivation level?"
"Are your parents alive, and how many people are in your family?"
"Is your family wealthy, and what are your assets?"
...
Song Wei Qian fired off a string of questions, waiting only for the other party's answers so she could nitpick and find fault, then send him away.
However, after Ji Mo answered his name, there was a long silence.
No relationships.
His mentor was the system, so one could say no formal sect.
No cultivation level to speak of.
Ji Mo frowned, thinking the old man he met was indeed unreliable. Hadn't he promised that as long as he said he was referred, there would be no issues?
Why was this woman before him so aggressive, asking such questions, making it seem like a gold-digger's blind date?
That filthy old man was truly a scam. He shouldn't have believed him.
Song Wei Qian glared at Ji Mo, thinking this fellow was too cunning, not playing by the rules.
"You can leave. You're not good enough for me."
Song Wei Qian said without mercy.
Ji Mo blinked, looking bewildered. "Why do I need to be good enough for you? I'm here to be a teacher!"
"To be a teacher? Not a blind date?"
Song Wei Qian was stunned.
No, this fellow must be playing hard to get, using the guise of being a teacher to approach her. Such situations had occurred before.
On the surface, he was here to teach, but secretly, he wanted to woo her.
No way.
Song Wei Qian re-examined Ji Mo. Sensing no spiritual energy fluctuations from him, she remarked, "You have no cultivation, are you a commoner?"
She found it hard to believe. Did the old man think she was an old maid no one wanted, to introduce a mortal to her?
Song Wei Qian didn't look down on mortals at all, but mortals lived less than a hundred years, while she was already in the early stage of the Spirit Emperor realm, with a lifespan of a thousand years. They were simply not compatible.
It seemed the old man was becoming increasingly unreliable.
"What's wrong with being a commoner? Can't commoners teach and nurture people? That filthy old man swore that I'm more than capable of being a teacher."
Ji Mo retorted.
"Then what can you do?"
Song Wei Qian asked, unable to understand why the old man would recommend a mortal to be a teacher. Wasn't this just causing trouble?
"Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing and playing instruments, the six arts of a gentleman, growing vegetables and raising fish. I have dabbled in all three hundred and sixty trades."
Ji Mo said humbly, not claiming to be an expert in everything.
Upon hearing this, Song Wei Qian immediately rolled her eyes at Ji Mo.
Exaggerated, truly exaggerated, and shameless.
Dabbled in all sorts of skills?
Even a deity wouldn't dare to boast such a claim.
Moreover, this fellow was not old. Even if he started learning from the womb, how much could he have learned?
An ordinary person who talked big!
Song Wei Qian immediately labeled Ji Mo as such in her mind.
Sensing her contemptuous gaze, Ji Mo felt a flicker of annoyance. Were the people of Langya Academy all so condescending?
"Stop staring at me like that. I have no interest in a blind date with you. I'm here to be a teacher. Besides cultivation, I can teach anything else, and I'm confident I can teach it well."
Ji Mo declared, full of confidence, a strange aura of dominance emanating from him.
Song Wei Qian was mortified and angry. What's wrong with having a blind date with me? Do you feel disgraced?
"You want to teach, right? I'll give you a chance. If you can find three students who genuinely wish to be your disciples within seven days, I'll let you be a teacher at Langya Academy."
Song Wei Qian said coldly.
She was giving the old man some face; otherwise, she wouldn't have given Ji Mo a chance.
If a commoner were to become a teacher, Langya Academy's reputation would truly be ruined.
"Accept three students in seven days? No problem."
Ji Mo agreed immediately. It was just three students; this condition wasn't harsh.
As Ji Mo left with high spirits, Song Wei Qian scoffed, "Naive. For a mortal to become a teacher of cultivators is simply a fantasy."
She was certain Ji Mo would never succeed.