Chapter 28
Yu Sui and her group came out quickly and left just as fast, giving no chance for Gu Qian and the others waiting nearby to ask what happened before they whooshed back into the star chart trials again.
Ji Meng wiped his face, the shock still lingering in his eyes: "She—wasn't this supposed to be a beginner's basic trial? How did Nangong Sui end up like this? Li Jin Shuang is Fifth Realm Military School—she couldn't fail even a basic trial, could she?"
It was just an introductory Five Elements arts creation trial. There was no reason for this.
If Nangong Sui was an Ordinary Practitioner who couldn't fight, that would be normal, but wasn't she with Li Jin Shuang? How could she still end up so disheveled and injured?
This was absolutely abnormal.
Shu Chujun, standing beside Xun Zhiya, snorted coldly: "Li Jin Shuang has the highest cultivation level among them, so their trial level would be at most Fifth Realm. A Fifth Realm military formation would be tough even for Ordinary Practitioners or newly enrolled disciples to attempt."
"Besides, Li Jin Shuang is the type who likes to watch people die without helping, only caring about herself. Even if others died in the military formation, she wouldn't care."
Xun Zhiya glanced at her. Shu Chujun looked back: "Am I wrong? Last year at Ding Mountain Hunting Grounds, didn't Li Jin Shuang just..."
"No need to say more," Xun Zhiya interrupted. "She didn't save you that time because of her duty as a Li family member—she had to save the royal family first."
Shu Chujun pouted. Though she said nothing more, her expression remained displeased.
Gu Qian looked thoughtful, waiting by the Five Elements Field for Yu Sui to come out. She'd left too quickly for him to approach.
Soon after, he caught sight of Mei Liangyu and the others coming from the Martial Path arena.
Xing Chun walked while talking to Mei Liangyu: "They looked pretty badly beaten up. The little girl's face was even scratched."
Nian Qiuyan pulled Kong Yiyi along, saying: "Look at something else to distract yourself. Stop thinking about Wei Kun all the time. Instead of thinking about him, think about me."
Kong Yiyi, hearing what Xing Chun and the others were discussing, was indeed distracted, craning her neck toward the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field: "Where? They attempted a military formation—newbies wouldn't exceed Third Realm at most. How could all four come out beaten black and blue?"
"Wasn't there an Ordinary Practitioner with them?" Cang Shu yawned. "Mei Mei's Junior Sister."
Mei Liangyu said: "She's not."
Xing Chun gave Cang Shu a thumbs up: "She's a First Realm Nine Schools Arts practitioner."
All three—Cang Shu, Nian Qiuyan, and Kong Yiyi—looked over: "Huh?"
Xing Chun said: "Nangong Sui stayed up all night this month, studying at the Ghost Way Saint Hall until dawn. Every time I went to find Mei Liangyu for meals, I could see her at the Ghost Way Saint Hall. That kind of perseverance is remarkable. Now it seems her hard work paid off."
"Hey," Kong Yiyi came to the edge of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field. "I haven't met Mei Liangyu's Junior Sister yet."
Nian Qiuyan said: "The one with her seems to be your Military School Junior Sister too."
Kong Yiyi sat on the steps, cupping her face: "Then I definitely need to see."
Nian Qiuyan rubbed his nose bridge—she'd finally been distracted.
Many students saw Yu Sui's trial at the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field, including those who knew Sheng Hao. Everyone was surprised that Yu Sui came out of the trial covered in blood and looking seriously injured. As the news spread, it eventually reached Sheng Hao.
Sheng Hao had just finished bathing and was lying on his bed when Mu Mengbai slammed the table and stood up: "Little sister is injured and covered in blood at the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field!"
Sheng Hao scoffed: "Which new 'little sister' have you gotten to know now?"
Mu Mengbai turned to look: "Your sister is my sister!"
Sheng Hao: "......"
Only then did he see the Wind-Listening Ruler message and discover it was about Yu Sui's trial at the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field. He immediately sneered: "She's an Ordinary Practitioner who dared attempt trials—serves her right."
Mu Mengbai waited a moment, then saw the person on the bed get up with a dark expression, put on outer clothes, and head outside. He followed after him.
Li Jin Shuang reopened the star chart challenge, transporting them into a new military formation.
The general guarding ahead wore red armor and held a blood-colored sword, sitting steadily on his horse.
Unarmored bone soldiers made clicking sounds as they moved, slowly picking up fallen swords and forming battle lines.
The four stood at the battlefield's center, looking up to see that ahead was finally no longer the City Guardian King General—more massive than the city itself with overwhelming oppressive presence.
Fifth Realm Military Formation: Covenant of the Dead City.
In the bloody wasteland, sand and wind swayed the tattered banners. All four quietly sighed in relief.
Wei Ren wiped his face, looking up at the crescent moon: "Guard general—finally normal."
Xue Mushi was choked by the sandstorm, covering his face and coughing, sitting down pale-faced.
"Don't slack off," Wei Ren looked down at him.
Xue Mushi said: "The previous consumption was too great. If Nangong Sui hadn't amplified the trigram Energy Stabilization and disrupted Asura Hell's Five Elements power balance, it wouldn't have disappeared so quickly."
He spread his arms and lay back, staring vacantly at the sky: "I need to rest before fighting."
Wei Ren couldn't help recalling that final moment: the black armored cavalry across the river drew swords and blades, thousands upon thousands of golden Divine Soul Light Cores seeming to burn in the darkness, war horses neighing, tremendous Five Elements power exploding in Asura Hell. Everything he saw trembled as if about to tear his eyeballs apart. The overwhelming killing intent and fear made his heart skip a beat.
But just when they were about to be shredded by that terrifying force, Asura Hell's Five Elements energy became unbalanced and couldn't maintain the military formation, giving them a chance to escape. The black armored cavalry attempting to cross the river all vanished into the water.
Wei Ren turned to look at Yu Sui beside him, finding she also seemed exhausted, lying on the ground.
Yu Sui rolled her eyes, gazing at the crescent moon above.
In that final moment, she'd seen the black armored cavalry at the front across the river. It held a silver spear with clear intent, its golden-red glowing eyes under the helmet fixed firmly on Yu Sui's position.
Though they hadn't crossed the river and shouldn't have triggered the black armored cavalry's attack.
But at that moment, this black armored cavalry gave orders to the entire army to kill Yu Sui across the river.
What triggered the black armored cavalry's attack? Was it Strange Fire?
Yu Sui couldn't verify her speculation. At the crucial moment, when she stood up to look at the black armored cavalry, a familiar power operated. Her eyes captured the Five Elements energy being drained and disappearing, so she reached out and grasped it, completely unbalancing Asura Hell's Five Elements energy, instantly reducing everything in the formation to dust.
Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Eye.
She still needed to carefully research how to use this power herself.
"Li Jin Shuang opened a normal one matching her abilities. Only you opened Asura Hell," Wei Ren crouched down, staring at Yu Sui.
Yu Sui turned her head to look back, saying innocently: "You said you could handle me."
Wei Ren: "......"
Wind blew his loose robes and disheveled bangs, leaving Wei Ren's soul equally disheveled in the wind.
He'd originally just wanted to show off by helping these people.
Who knew each one he'd brought in was more formidable than the last.
Either unfathomably powerful or possessing sinister forbidden techniques. In comparison, Li Jin Shuang, who was already Fifth Realm upon entering the academy, seemed ordinary.
Wei Ren felt it was absurd, laughing coldly: "Who could handle a special-grade military formation Asura Hell trial?"
Yu Sui sighed: "Didn't we survive in the end? Combining our wisdom and abilities, we successfully unbalanced Asura Hell's Five Elements energy and accelerated its collapse."
"Since we didn't die, don't worry about it so much."
Wei Ren said: "Too abnormal."
Yu Sui thought to herself—if he kept questioning, she'd have to kill him.
Li Jin Shuang looked at both of them, saying quietly: "You possess Agricultural School's forbidden Phantom Beast technique yet are an Agricultural School disciple—that's also abnormal."
"Oh..." Yu Sui sat up, pointing at Wei Ren. "I know about this. I heard my Master mention that Agricultural School listed Phantom Beast as forbidden because it harms others and oneself. If Agricultural School disciples learn this, Agricultural School will kill anyone who sees it."
Wei Ren rolled his eyes toward Xue Mushi lying behind them: "I'm not the only one learning forbidden techniques."
Under the three people's stares, Xue Mushi scratched his head, sitting up after silent contemplation: "How about... we keep each other's secrets and pretend we know nothing?"
At that moment, facing the special-grade military formation's threat, he'd decided to go all out, which exposed his forbidden Seven Kill Trigram.
"I have no objections," Yu Sui was first to take a stance.
Li Jin Shuang looked toward the guard general ahead, saying quietly: "Fine."
Wei Ren still crouched on the ground, supporting his chin with one hand while looking at Xue Mushi: "If I say no, will you kill me?"
Xue Mushi was startled, shaking his head: "No."
"You've learned Seven Kill Trigram but won't learn to be ruthless," Wei Ren clicked his tongue. He stood up, looking toward the guard general ahead. "Fine, pretend we know nothing. After leaving this military formation, forget everything that happened tonight."
In this brief silence, someone's stomach rumbled.
Everyone: "......"
Silence.
"Rumble..."
Xue Mushi hung his head, silently pressing his hungry stomach.
Yu Sui pretended she heard nothing and stood up, stretching her neck. Her eyes reflected the bone soldiers picking up swords: "Kill the guard general to complete the trial, right?"
Li Jin Shuang didn't answer but drew her sword.
Xue Mushi silently stood up, copper coins flickering between his fingers.
Wei Ren's phantom serpents under his feet had already spread among the bone soldiers. A black giant python shot skyward, biting the formation of bone soldiers to pieces and disrupting their battle line.
None of the four spoke, yet they all tacitly wanted to end this quickly.
So those two practicing forbidden techniques abandoned restraint, using Seven Kill Trigram and Phantom Beasts to slaughter freely on the field.
For Wei Ren and Xue Mushi, such opportunities were rare.
Li Jin Shuang held her sword at the front, clashing blades with the mounted guard general.
Yu Sui stood at the rear, Five Elements energy gathering around her with tiny thunder serpents flickering around her. But Yu Sui didn't act—she was still observing and testing, trying to use Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Eye again.
It could see through all illusions, military formations, prophecies, and divinations, capture Five Elements energy, and see what ordinary people couldn't see.
Then why couldn't she use it at will?
What went wrong this time?
Yu Sui calmed her mind, seriously sensing everything around her, trying to see the flowing Five Elements energy in the military formation before her, but failed.
After Li Jin Shuang decapitated the guard general, the military formation broke, everything scattering like post-battle ash.
Yu Sui sighed softly, seeing the people ahead turn back to find her.
……
This time, the four emerged from the military formation much faster than before.
But because of Yu Sui's blood-covered appearance, those waiting outside felt it took forever. Finally seeing the star chart activate and transport the trial participants back, Gu Qian used Wind-Riding Techniques to rush toward the star chart field.
"Someone beat us to it," Xing Chun pushed Mei Liangyu. "Want to go see?"
Before Mei Liangyu could answer, Kong Yiyi stood up: "Li Jin Shuang!"
"Know her?" Nian Qiuyan asked.
Kong Yiyi nodded: "She's been the hot topic in Military School lately—Fifth Realm upon enrollment. Looks like their military formation was set according to Li Jin Shuang's abilities."
Xing Chun understood: "Then getting beaten up like that is understandable."
Though Yu Sui and her group looked blood-covered, these sharp-eyed people could tell it was just blood staining their clothes. The four trial students had minor flesh wounds at most, just looking disheveled.
Mei Liangyu stood in place without moving. He caught sight of Sheng Hao using Wind-Riding Techniques toward the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field from the corner of his eye, then saw Gu Qian who had already rushed over. He couldn't help but smile, leisurely walking over to watch the excitement.
Yu Sui was picking sand and reed flowers from her hair when she opened her mouth: "Let's go back and wash up first, then I'll treat you all to dinner at the dining hall."
Gu Qian had already reached her, saying quietly: "Sui Sui."
Getting closer, he smelled the blood scent on Yu Sui. Gu Qian's already furrowed brow deepened, unable to imagine what his timid, delicate childhood friend had experienced in the military formation.
"Mm?" Yu Sui looked up as Gu Qian grabbed her hand, frowning: "What happened? How did you get these injuries?"
Wei Ren wiped his face, acting as if he couldn't see Gu Qian: "It's evening—dining hall food is expensive."
"I have money," Yu Sui didn't acknowledge Gu Qian either, instead turning to Wei Ren. "You can eat whatever you want then."
Wei Ren, who was poor from head to toe: "......"
"Deal." Wei Ren threw his outer robe over his shoulder and left with Xue Mushi.
"Brother Gu, I just got some minor external injuries in the trial military formation. It's nothing," Yu Sui looked back at Gu Qian with curved eyes and a smile. "Did seeing me like this scare you?"
Gu Qian frowned: "You've never been hurt this badly since childhood—even your face is scratched."
Yu Sui withdrew her hand to touch her face's wound.
"Don't touch it. I'll apply medicine when we get back," Gu Qian said. "Since you're an Ordinary Practitioner, why didn't they let you open the star chart to lower the difficulty to minimum? Why did Li Jin Shuang open the highest level and get you injured like this?"
His words were somewhat harsh, making unfavorable assumptions about Wei Ren and Xue Mushi, his expression also turning cold.
Wei Ren and Xue Mushi, who hadn't gone far: "......"
Wei Ren sneered silently, continuing forward: "Ignore him—just a fool completely deceived by her."
Xue Mushi nodded in agreement.
Just as Yu Sui was about to explain that she was already a First Realm Nine Schools Arts practitioner, Sheng Hao arrived. He directly pulled Yu Sui behind him, glancing coldly at Gu Qian.
Gu Qian said expressionlessly: "I don't want to fight with you right now."
"Third Brother! Brother!" Yu Sui grabbed Sheng Hao's hand, stopping him before he could speak.
Yu Sui pulled Sheng Hao away first, waving to Gu Qian under his stunned gaze: "Brother Gu, you go ahead. We'll talk later."
As she left, she noticed Mei Liangyu and the others who had come to the field's edge, also waving to Mei Liangyu.
Mei Liangyu's gaze followed Yu Sui as she was pulled away.
Gu Qian felt somewhat uncomfortable—this was the first time Yu Sui had left with Sheng Hao first, leaving him alone.
Xun Zhiya asked the silent Li Jin Shuang standing nearby: "Are you injured?"
Li Jin Shuang shook her head lightly.
Shu Chujun questioned: "You attempted a Fifth Realm military formation, right?"
Li Jin Shuang looked down without speaking.
Shu Chujun continued: "With your abilities, would you lose so miserably in a Fifth Realm military formation? Even with four people, and even if one Ordinary Practitioner held you back, it shouldn't have been like this, right?"
Gu Qian looked back, asking: "Why did you open it instead of letting Sui Sui open it for a better outcome?"
Li Jin Shuang looked at Xun Zhiya: "If the Saint Maiden has no other business, I'll leave first."
She bowed slightly and turned to go.
Shu Chujun said angrily: "Look at her—she doesn't listen to anyone!"
Xun Zhiya looked helpless, not knowing how to resolve the conflict between the two.
……
While Gu Qian felt uncomfortable, Sheng Hao was pleased. It was rare for Yu Sui to take a stance that favored him so much. His originally cold, harsh expression had softened considerably.
"How did you get hurt like this?" Sheng Hao looked down at Yu Sui walking beside him. "Besides your face, where else? Does it hurt?"
"Nowhere else. I was just grazed by arrow rain in the military formation. The blood isn't mine either—it's from the military formation," Yu Sui said with a smile.
But Sheng Hao was startled by her bright smile with curved eyes.
For a moment, something felt different.
The person before him was clearly his sister Nangong Sui, yet he felt something was different.
Had she ever smiled at him like this before?
Sheng Hao couldn't help asking himself, but got no answer.
Yu Sui interrupted his thoughts, saying softly: "Third Brother, two points are very important. I really fought for my life for those two points today."
"What military formation did you attempt that was so difficult?" Sheng Hao frowned. "Were those three with you useless?"
Yu Sui shook her head, smiling: "They're not useless—I'm the useless one, which is why it took me so long to learn Nine Schools Arts."
Sheng Hao involuntarily stopped walking. Yu Sui stopped with him, turning around.
The siblings stood in the middle of the wide road. Stone lamps on both sides attracted two or three moths flying around them, while their shadows on the ground were stretched long.
Since they'd both be active at Taiyi Academy going forward, Yu Sui couldn't hide it even if she wanted to, so she confessed first: "Third Brother, I have Five Elements Light Cores now—I'm a First Realm Nine Schools Arts practitioner!"
Her dirty face bore a brilliant smile that even blood and vicious wounds couldn't diminish.
Night wind blew the hair by Yu Sui's cheeks and her dress hem. The golden hair ornament on her head with hanging tassels swayed with her turning movement, producing delicate chiming sounds.
Sheng Hao stared at her in stunned amazement.
He finally realized what was wrong.
The Nangong Sui in his memory had never smiled at him like this.
This Yu Sui now seemed dazzling to him.
The little girl who could once only quietly follow behind him, watching his teaching with confusion or seriousness, had grown taller without him noticing. Just as he'd thought when they were young, this sister had never been hopelessly stupid, but because of her dullness, posed no threat.
Yu Sui could live under his protection forever.
Sheng Hao was certain he could protect the weak Nangong Sui.
However, at this moment, the person he thought was destined to live under his wing had suddenly spread her wings and flown away.
"...Is that so? Your master, Saint Chang Gen, helped you?" Sheng Hao pursed his lips, continuing forward while glancing at Yu Sui from the corner of his eye.
"Mm!" Yu Sui nodded, walking and talking with him. "Master is amazing. He can solve any problem I have."
Sheng Hao scoffed: "That's a Saint—you're just starting cultivation with a head full of small problems. Even someone who's not a Saint could solve them."
Yu Sui laughed along.
Sheng Hao asked: "Does Father know?"
"No," Yu Sui looked up at him. "Third Brother, you're the first to know."
Sheng Hao nodded: "When he finds out, he'll definitely see you in a new light. He's been wrong about you all these years. I think his Asura Eyes aren't as powerful as the School of Names claims—he couldn't even see his own daughter's talent correctly."
Yu Sui scratched her head: "Asura Eyes are a School of Names Heavenly Mechanism Art—they're very powerful, right?"
Sheng Hao snorted, urging her to quickly return to the residence for a bath, then apply medicine to her face so it wouldn't scar.
After Yu Sui returned to the residence, Sheng Hao gave her wound medicine before leaving.
Walking back, Sheng Hao frowned slightly. He couldn't say his mood was bad, but couldn't say it was good either. He kept replaying Yu Sui's words, over and over, finally focusing on: "Third Brother, you're the first to know."
Which meant Gu Qian didn't know?
Heh.
His mood suddenly improved.
……
While bathing, Yu Sui replied to Gu Qian's Wind-Listening Ruler messages, briefly explaining tonight's trial and how the disheveled appearance resulted from combat in the military formation.
She asked back: "Didn't you go for rank advancement challenges today? Did you succeed?"
Gu Qian said: "No, came close though."
He also told Yu Sui about today's battle with Kong Yiyi in Military Formation: Ancient Battlefield. Since they'd both experienced military formations, they chatted longer than usual with more topics.
After the water cooled, Yu Sui put down her Wind-Listening Ruler. While dressing, she was still thinking about the various information she'd learned from Gu Qian.
Yu Sui originally wanted to call Li Jin Shuang to go together but didn't see her in the residence. Thinking she might be in the first-floor bathhouse, she took the Dragon Stairs down to the first floor, messaging Li Jin Shuang to ask where she was.
Li Jin Shuang replied she was already at the dining hall.
So Yu Sui went directly to the dining hall.
Li Jin Shuang arrived earliest, Xue Mushi latest. After Xue Mushi arrived and the food was served, filling a large table, Yu Sui said generously: "Eat as much as you want tonight—I have money."
After the ordeal in Asura Hell, both body and spirit had been somewhat tormented. They were all tired and hungry, but Yu Sui had never seen Xue Mushi's whirlwind eating style.
This kid looked delicate and thin, dull and wooden, but when eating, he seemed gigantic in Yu Sui's eyes.
Xue Mushi ate very seriously and focused, completely ignoring others and concentrating only on his own food. When hungry, he seemed to eat everything, swallowing what others took three to five bites to finish in one gulp.
Yu Sui and the other two watched Xue Mushi eat for a moment, their chopsticks frozen mid-air—unable to eat or put down their food—while Xue Mushi treated them as invisible, emptying plate after plate.
He seemed like a starving ghost who'd been abused for hundreds of years without food.
To prove Xue Mushi wasn't their family's starving ghost, Yu Sui and the other two silently took their bowls to another table.
The dining hall's second floor was usually lively during the day but now had only these four people. At this hour, few people normally came, but Princess Shangyang happened to be craving food tonight and brought her girl group to the dining hall for late dinner.
Princess Shangyang also liked dining on the second floor, so when she came up, she never expected to encounter Yu Sui at this hour.
"Nangong Sui!"
Yu Sui, who was eating with her head down, suddenly heard someone call her name and looked up in confusion.
This shout also caught the attention of Mei Liangyu and his two companions, who were stealing food from the dining hall based on their skills in the adjacent room. Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun on his left and right simultaneously looked toward the door.
Princess Shangyang led her group of three to five girls, raising her chin slightly at Yu Sui and elegantly pulling out a chair to sit across from her, ignoring Wei Ren beside her.
As the beloved daughter of Qingyang's Empress, Princess Shangyang was surrounded by stars and moon in Qingyang and still had plenty of people doting on her at Taiyi Academy.
Now a Ninth Realm Yin-Yang School practitioner studying under an academy Yin-Yang School Saint, she was talented with a bright future.
Having been born noble and pampered since childhood, getting whatever she wanted, Princess Shangyang grew more willful as she aged.
She always remembered Yu Sui's table division incident at the National Academy when they were young—she'd told her to come back, but Yu Sui chose the annoying Zhongli Que instead, saying she wanted to play with Zhongli Que, not her.
And on her first day at the academy, she'd stolen the spotlight by rescuing Gu Qian.
Hmph.
Princess Shangyang had been busy these past days and hadn't encountered Yu Sui. Today's sudden meeting brought back all those old grievances.
Seeing Princess Shangyang's aggressive approach, Wei Ren took his bowl back to Xue Mushi's table, chewing his chopsticks while watching the excitement at Yu Sui's side.
Yu Sui looked at Princess Shangyang and blinked.
Princess Shangyang said arrogantly: "Why didn't you bring your favorite playmate Zhongli Que to Taiyi too?"
Hearing his sister's name, Zhongli Shan in the room moved his eyes toward the door, quietly listening.
Mei Liangyu and Xing Chun continued stuffing food into their boxes.
Before Yu Sui could answer, Princess Shangyang covered her mouth in mock surprise: "Oh my, I forgot—you're such a selfish woman who later looked down on Zhongli Que anyway, not being friends with her, leaving poor Zhongli Que to play alone at banquets with no one to accompany her."
"Yes," Yu Sui nodded along with her words.
Princess Shangyang tapped the table with her finger: "What are you nodding for when I say you're hypocritical and selfish?"
"Because what Princess said is right," Yu Sui supported her head with one hand, looking at her with sincere innocence.
Xing Chun and Mei Liangyu also pricked up their ears to listen.
This kind of attitude from Yu Sui always made Princess Shangyang itch with anger, feeling uncomfortable all over. She continued her elegant finger-tapping while mocking: "Didn't you used to be very close with Zhongli Que? I told you to come back but you wouldn't!"
"Those were childhood things," Yu Sui said, lowering her head to eat.
"Don't eat!" Princess Shangyang slammed the table, making all the dishes jump. Yu Sui and Li Jin Shuang immediately grabbed their rice bowls.
"What about childhood things? Do you think I'd be so petty as to remember childhood incidents until now?!" Princess Shangyang's almond eyes widened. "You were the one who wanted to play with Zhongli Que first, then abandoned her because of your father's reasons! You're more annoying than Zhongli Que!"
Xing Chun messaged Mei Liangyu on his Wind-Listening Ruler: "???"
Mei Liangyu replied: "?"
Xing Chun: "Watch Xiao Shan later—don't let him rush out and hit your Junior Sister."
Mei Liangyu typed: "Would he dare?"
Xing Chun: "Last time, someone who bad-mouthed his sister got three teeth knocked out."
Mei Liangyu: "Why would he hit Nangong Sui?"
Xing Chun: "From the sound of it, her current situation probably looks pretty bad in Xiao Shan's eyes."
Both looked toward Zhongli Shan at the door.
Zhongli Shan was about to raise his hand when his sleeve barely moved before being simultaneously immobilized by Nine Schools Arts from the two behind him.
"?!" Zhongli Shan slowly turned back, full of question marks as he looked at Mei Liangyu and Xing Chun.
Outside came another angry table-slapping sound from Princess Shangyang: "What attitude is that!"
"What attitude?" Yu Sui held her bowl, looking at her in confusion. "I'll go along with whatever you want to say."
Princess Shangyang was so angry her teeth ached. She wanted to lose her temper but was too angry to know what to say: "You—I just don't like you!"
Yu Sui blinked and said: "I don't like you either."
This instantly set off Princess Shangyang: "How dare you speak to me like that, Nangong Sui!"
"Princess! Princess, forget it!" Her girl group saw Princess Shangyang about to climb over the table to hit Yu Sui and rushed to stop her.
"Let me go! Jin Zhi, let me go! I'm going to compete with her today—how dare you come to Taiyi! You're an Ordinary Practitioner and you dare come to Taiyi!" Princess Shangyang was pulled and dragged away from Yu Sui's table by her friends, heading to the third floor.
The girl Princess Shangyang called Jin Zhi hurriedly looked back at Yu Sui.
Yu Sui was also looking at her.
Those dark pupils reflected only herself, with a different expression than when talking to Princess Shangyang—bright almond eyes looking at her with calm coldness.
Jin Zhi felt her heart constrict, as if returning to that winter day last year.
Her hand gripping Princess Shangyang's arm trembled slightly, hurriedly avoiding Yu Sui's gaze, running to the third floor faster than the others.
"Let me go!" Princess Shangyang struggled to break free from the others to find Yu Sui, but was firmly blocked at the stairway by Jin Zhi: "Princess, don't go!"
Perhaps startled by the fear in Jin Zhi's eyes, Princess Shangyang paused: "Why are you so scared? I'm going to cause trouble for Nangong Sui, not you."
Jin Zhi hurriedly lowered her head but still spread her arms to block Princess Shangyang from going down.
Princess Shangyang huffily turned and found a seat, with Jin Zhi and the others rushing to coax her.
This time Jin Zhi couldn't put her heart into coaxing the angry Princess Shangyang as usual. After sitting down, she kept involuntarily recalling going upstairs and that look Yu Sui had given her.
Princess Shangyang's conflict with Zhongli Que was well-known. Yu Sui, who had briefly been close to Zhongli Que in childhood at the National Academy, no longer had much interaction with Zhongli Que after leaving the academy.
Due to the mutual hostility between Nangong Ming and Zhongli Ci, the children's relationships also became delicate.
Most people were friendly with Nangong Ming, while Zhongli Ci's situation seemed dangerous in the eyes of Qingyang officials. Zhongli Que had only played well with clan members since childhood, with outsiders being very cautious in dealing with her.
Otherwise, like Yu Sui, they'd play well at the National Academy but maintain distance after leaving.
So when noble young ladies gathered to chat, they occasionally mentioned Zhongli Que—some thought she was pitiful, others thought she was pretending to be innocent. People said all sorts of things.
Jin Zhi was among those who disliked Zhongli Que.
Sometimes disliking someone needs no reason—you just need to see their face to know this person makes you uncomfortable, so nothing they do afterward will look right.
That's how Jin Zhi felt about Zhongli Que.
Additionally, since she followed Princess Shangyang and Princess Shangyang also disliked Zhongli Que, Jin Zhi felt even more righteous in hating Zhongli Que.
Noble young ladies would isolate Zhongli Que, and Jin Zhi often mocked how Zhongli Que used to circle around Yu Sui like a little dog pleasing its master, and now that Yu Sui wouldn't play with her anymore, she'd really become an unwanted dog.
Last winter, at a palace banquet, Jin Zhi had also attended.
While touring the garden to admire plum blossoms with Princess Shangyang and the others, she was delayed by something and couldn't keep up with the group. When she was catching up alone, she happened to see Zhongli Que holding a sword, standing under a plum tree.
Both were startled upon seeing each other. Zhongli Que instinctively explained: "I'm not..."
Jin Zhi covered her mouth: "How dare you carry a sword?"
She was both surprised and excited inside. Zhongli Que with a sword—if this got out, tonight would be quite eventful.
Jin Zhi ignored Zhongli Que and ran forward to call Princess Shangyang and the others to come see.
But she'd barely run a few steps when she tripped over an exploding Five Elements Light Core at her feet, falling into the icy lake water. Jin Zhi didn't even have time to scream before someone grabbed her hair and ruthlessly pressed her back down.
The lake water was bone-chilling, that piercing cold making Jin Zhi panic. She knew Nine Schools Arts, but there was an even more powerful force suppressing her.
In her struggles of surfacing only to be pressed back underwater repeatedly, Jin Zhi saw through the rippling water surface a slender jade-braceleted hand. The moment she struggled to surface and saw Yu Sui up close, she was mercilessly pressed back underwater.
That instant of meeting made Jin Zhi's heart sink to the depths.
Splash—the sound of water rose as Jin Zhi struggled desperately: "Nan—Nangong Sui!"
She heard Yu Sui laugh, gripping her neck and saying: "I've wanted to chat with you for a while. How about today—do you plan to go tell others what you just saw and then die, or die right now?"
How could this be?
Jin Zhi, held by the neck and floating in water with difficulty breathing, couldn't believe it. Her trembling eyeballs couldn't connect the person speaking like a demon with the usually confused and naive Princess Nangong.
Jin Zhi nearly fainted, struggling in the icy lake water as her strength ebbed away. In the suffocating fear of approaching death, she cried and begged for mercy. Yu Sui slowly loosened her grip, standing up to look down at the bedraggled Jin Zhi collapsed on the shore.
That night, standing behind Yu Sui was Zhongli Que.
Jin Zhi covered her neck and looked up, water dripping from her bangs down her eyelashes, but it couldn't blur her vision.
She saw that behind Yu Sui stood not only Zhongli Que, but also the Second Prince of the Royal Manor who had come with Yu Sui—Su Feng.
The one who had just enabled Yu Sui by using Nine Schools Arts to suppress Jin Zhi's power so she couldn't surface was also Su Feng.
People always said Yu Sui and Zhongli Que had fallen out, but Jin Zhi knew that the Nangong siblings had an incredibly close relationship with Zhongli Que.
The night wind blowing through the window brushed Jin Zhi's neck, its icy touch bringing her back from memory. Thinking of Yu Sui downstairs, Jin Zhi couldn't help but shiver.
Nangong Sui appears different from different people's perspectives.