Chapter 169: Shifu Is Back
For some reason, Anji spent most of her time at Doctor Yun’s clinic and Aunt Wine’s cafeteria after visiting the research centre. Senior Researcher Mo often accompanied Anji in the afternoons for self-study sessions using the thick stack of new books and reference materials provided by Researcher Xi. Nobody told her what was happening, but judging from the increasing traffic on the main street, Anji deduced that something major was happening. Nobody had time to babysit an unknown apprentice, not that Anji minded. She made more progress with self-studying anyway. Thanks to Senior Researcher Mo, Anji could now understand the moving formations of the Seven Star Dipper, even if she still struggled to maintain the spell with her limited qi.
"We will be too busy maintaining urgent internal sect affairs," Senior Researcher Mo explained one afternoon. "From tomorrow onwards, remain in the hut and do not leave it. Pearl or Aunt Wine will bring you food. Doctor Yun will travel up to see you if needed. However, until further notice, please remain within the compound."
House arrest? Anji had barely recovered from the sustained injuries previously. She had been looking forward to returning to becoming an enthusiastic apprentice. However, the Mystical Qilin Sect suddenly came out of hibernation. Anji had no idea how many people lived in the inner court until they all came out of hiding from their labs. The main street was usually wide, with ample space to walk leisurely, even with a high lunch crowd. Anji thought it was a luxurious structure meant to emphasise the grandeur of the ancient sect. Seeing how crammed with people the main street had become within days of an emergency activation to mobilise everyone in the inner court, Anji finally understood the main street was designed for practicality.
Unwilling to jostle with the serious crowd, Anji agreed to remain in the hut from tomorrow onwards. Although nobody would tell her what was happening, Anji could guess the state of emergency with the number of materials and tools moving around. There was a huge relocation, more so than the constant expansion of the academic central slum.
While Anji appreciated the sudden and temporary break, she was slightly bummed that she could not see Gu Ying. The outer court was also under house arrest, according to Pearl. Although the senior librarian did not know the details, she told Anji that a huge sect was preparing for a huge change. The Senior Researchers were all called for an important meeting, and security was tightened after they discovered a leak. Unfortunately, only the higher-ups knew what was happening. Pearl was assigned to overhaul the inventory of every book in her library section. They were short of manpower with the short deadline, and everyone was burning midnight oil.
Without much to do alone, Anji spent the next few days practising her soul cultivation with Grandpa Jin. Apart from meal times when she would see people briefly to ask about the outside situation, Anji’s days were relatively peaceful in her shifu’s hut. She had gotten used to living alone without Lizi or Gu Ying by her side. Hence, it was surprising when Anji spotted someone in the same room as her early one morning.
"Who’s there?" she rubbed her eyes. "It’s still early for breakfast. Did something happen in the sect?"
With bleary eyes, Anji slipped out of bed and padded to the dining room, expecting to see Aunt Wine of Pearl. However, the snowy white hair caught her by surprise. There was only one person with such long white hair and demeanour.
"Shifu!" the girl’s face lit up. "Shifu, is it really you?"