Chapter 30
Zhongli Que told Yu Sui: "This person has wounds on his hands, not fresh injuries but old scars. He should be a young man, and what he's holding isn't an ordinary spider—it has Five Elements energy attached to it."
She was somewhat worried: "The premonition isn't anything good. Sui Sui, you need to be careful."
Yu Sui recalled Agricultural School's Nine Schools Arts—they transmitted intelligence information through scorpions, spiders, and such small creatures. Non-Agricultural School disciples couldn't read beast language.
Wei Ren was about to send some message outward, related to her.
Breath Soil?
Or issues related to the trial.
Or perhaps both.
Over the years, Agricultural School people hunting her to seize back Breath Soil had been numerous, along with practitioners from other schools, but Agricultural School disciples were the most.
Though Qingyang's imperial capital had heavy traffic and strict guards, there were always ways to enter.
Compared to Qingyang's imperial capital, Taiyi Academy wasn't an easy place to infiltrate, but it seemed that even coming to Taiyi couldn't avoid being hunted for Breath Soil.
Yu Sui lay back down on her bed. In the deep night, even her eyes felt slightly heated. She quietly gazed at the ceiling rendered dim yellow by candlelight. Living in a place with many people made her feel uneasy, her nerves taut.
After dawn, Yu Sui waited until the heat brought by Strange Fire subsided before slowly getting up. She washed her face and went out.
She took the Dragon Stairs upstairs to find Wei Ren.
Yu Sui stood outside knocking on the door. No one answered, so she knocked again patiently.
When no one came to open the door, she just kept knocking.
The tapping sounds continued incessantly. Just as Yu Sui was about to knock again, the door opened.
Standing at the doorway, Mei Liangyu casually wore a dark outer robe, loose and disheveled, his hair down. Black hair slid from his shoulders, pulling down the outer robe as well. He seemed to have just awakened, brows slightly furrowed, his refined features appearing indifferent. His gaze was cold as he looked at Yu Sui at the door, asking in a low voice: "What is it?"
Yu Sui hadn't expected Mei Liangyu to open the door. Hearing his inquiry, she came to her senses and withdrew her hand obediently: "Sorry, Senior Brother, for disturbing your rest. I was looking for Wei Ren."
Mei Liangyu's dark pupils shifted slightly, his gaze slowly falling on Yu Sui's face: "He's not here."
Yu Sui nodded and stepped back two paces: "Then Senior Brother, please continue sleeping."
Mei Liangyu closed the door.
Yu Sui looked at the closed door and blinked, her departing footsteps light.
It had to be said, Senior Brother when not fully awake was more frightening than when he was alert during the day.
At least when alert, he knew to restrain that bone-deep indifference to everything.
Yu Sui left the residence and went to Study Hall Number Three at the Yin-Yang School.
These were the last two days of basic instruction.
Those who had passed yesterday's trial didn't come anymore. The previously packed study hall now had only about ten people sitting listlessly in their seats—all those who hadn't managed to pass the trial.
Yu Sui stood at the doorway looking around. She didn't see Wei Ren, nor Li Jin Shuang and Xue Mushi. Everyone who passed the trial was unwilling to waste time attending basic instruction and had probably returned to their home schools to begin proper cultivation.
She hadn't decided whether to go to Agricultural School to find him when Jing Yunkui suddenly appeared behind Yu Sui, asking quietly: "Why aren't you going in?"
Yu Sui turned around, bowed her head respectfully to Jing Yunkui, then said: "Teacher, I passed the trial yesterday."
Jing Yunkui nodded slightly without speaking and walked past her into the study hall.
Yu Sui gently stepped back and left Study Hall Number Three, momentarily unsure what to do.
She used Wind-Riding Techniques to rush to the Ghost Way Saint Hall, telling Saint Chang Gen she'd completed the trial and no longer needed to attend Study Hall Number Three, asking what she should do next.
"Can Master teach me cultivation?" Yu Sui sat at the table edge, supporting her face with both hands, looking up at the portrait.
"I do indeed need to teach you cultivation," Saint Chang Gen answered. "But you also need to cultivate at the academy. If you're expelled from the academy, I can no longer teach you."
Yu Sui nodded thoughtfully: "Then should I go to Ghost Way School now?"
Saint Chang Gen said: "On the table are mental cultivation methods your Senior Brother wrote for your home school. You can look at those first."
After hearing this, Yu Sui glanced toward the adjacent table and stood up to walk over.
Mei Liangyu's table had many things piled on it. Before Yu Sui came, this Ghost Way Saint Hall had only him with free access, doing whatever he pleased with no one to supervise. His table had all sorts of miscellaneous items, looking messy—he only needed to find what he needed at a glance.
Yu Sui didn't randomly organize things on his table but searched around, gently extracting paper that had been pressed underneath. Her eyes reflected lines of beautiful small characters on the white paper.
Black and white seemed naturally opposed, yet on paper they merged harmoniously.
Yu Sui gazed appreciatively at the small characters on the paper, not even focusing on the content seriously, only feeling that each character was so pleasing to the eye, filling her with admiration.
This must be the feeling of encountering something you love.
"Who did Senior Brother learn calligraphy from?" Yu Sui asked curiously.
Saint Chang Gen answered: "Me."
"Then Master's calligraphy must also be especially beautiful," Yu Sui asked. "Where can I see Master's writing?"
"Your Senior Brother collected it. What remains might only be seen at Shenbao Library," Saint Chang Gen said. "Shenbao Library requires Class A status to enter—you can't get in yet."
"Even though I'm Master's disciple and want to see my own master's handwriting, it's still not allowed?" Yu Sui asked in surprise.
Saint Chang Gen: "No."
Yu Sui asked: "Then if Master you went to get it yourself, that wouldn't work either? But you wrote it yourself."
Saint Chang Gen: "No."
He then added: "I cannot move freely within Taiyi. Many places would alert many people if I went there."
Yu Sui thought that made sense—the matter of consciousness incarnation being formless and shadowless would only frighten people.
"Then does Shenbao Library have many cultivation methods and secret techniques?" Yu Sui looked at the Ghost Way School mental cultivation method Mei Liangyu had written while asking: "Would there be many records related to Nine Schools Arts cultivation, like Heavenly Mechanism Arts, Divine Mechanism Arts, and such?"
Saint Chang Gen said: "Indeed there are."
Yu Sui said: "When I advance to Class A disciple status, who knows when that will be."
She did know some Class A disciples, but their relationships weren't very close. Saying she wanted to read about Divine Mechanism Arts-related books might arouse suspicion. Yu Sui didn't want any connection between herself and those three words "Divine Mechanism Arts."
Even Saint Chang Gen kept Mei Liangyu outside without letting him know, showing that he too felt the fewer people who knew about Divine Mechanism Arts, the better.
Yu Sui did think of one person.
She considered carefully and felt it was feasible.
So she took out her Wind-Listening Ruler and focused on tinkering with it.
Saint Chang Gen didn't ask further.
"Master, I need to go to the outer city tonight. I'll come find you when I return," Yu Sui stood up and walked outside. "I'll leave first."
Yu Sui arranged to meet Gu Qian for dinner at the dining hall.
She said she had left hastily yesterday without explaining properly, making Gu Qian worry. Now they could sit face-to-face and properly discuss yesterday's events.
Gu Qian came as agreed.
This time they met on the fourth floor of the dining hall, during noon mealtime when there were still many people.
Gu Qian came alone, frowning as he looked at the wound on Yu Sui's face.
"Didn't you apply the medicine I gave you?" he asked.
Yu Sui touched the scar on her face: "I used what Third Brother gave me last night."
Gu Qian snorted softly: "What he gave you definitely isn't as good as what I gave you."
Yu Sui smiled: "I'll try yours tonight. Will it quickly heal the scars?"
"Of course. It absolutely won't leave any trace on your face," Gu Qian guaranteed.
Yu Sui touched her face: "I have Five Elements Light Cores now and can cultivate Nine Schools Arts. I wonder what Father will think when he finds out."
"What could he think? You're not an Ordinary Practitioner and can cultivate Nine Schools Arts—he'd be overjoyed," Gu Qian smiled. "Sui Sui, don't worry. Cultivation will only benefit you. I'd like to see who dares call Princess Nangong an Ordinary Practitioner in the future."
Gu Qian even proactively discussed Five Elements arts creation with Yu Sui.
Yu Sui listened seriously with a focused expression.
They rarely talked about these things before because Yu Sui was an Ordinary Practitioner, so Gu Qian didn't discuss such topics with her. Even if he had patiently explained, she wouldn't have understood, and they couldn't find common ground in these conversations.
Additionally, after Gu Qian went to Taiyi Academy, he hadn't returned to the capital for two years and hadn't been in contact with Yu Sui.
But now that Yu Sui could cultivate Nine Schools Arts, their topics suddenly multiplied.
"By the way, Ghost Way School has a Nine Schools Art called Soul Capture that can knock out a person's spirit, soul, and essence, turning opponents into walking corpses. It's quite interesting," Gu Qian searched his mind for known Ghost Way School Nine Schools Arts, chatting enthusiastically with Yu Sui. "Though it's a Ghost Way School Heavenly Mechanism Art, Sui Sui, you're so smart, you'll definitely learn it in the future."
"Cultivation is somewhat arduous, but you don't need to work that hard. No matter what happens in the future, I'll protect you."
Yu Sui nodded while pouring tea for both of them: "Brother Gu doesn't need to worry about me. Just focus on yourself. I'll casually learn some Nine Schools Arts for self-protection. How could I always have Brother Gu protect me?"
"I don't want to cause trouble for Brother Gu or hold you back."
Gu Qian raised an eyebrow slightly: "I'm willing—how could I find it troublesome? There's no such thing as holding me back."
Yu Sui continued: "But you'll eventually marry and start a family. You should protect the girl you like, your future wife and family."
Gu Qian looked at her: "I do have a girl I like, and I'm protecting her now and will in the future. If I marry and start a family, the person I marry will definitely be her."
Yu Sui asked curiously: "Who is she?"
Gu Qian's expression paused, looking at her somewhat helplessly: "You'll know when the time comes."
His Wind-Listening Ruler buzzed. Gu Qian reached out to take it and open it.
Yu Sui was still curiously pressing: "Why? Can't you tell me now? Is she someone I know?"
"You..." Gu Qian was about to say something when he saw the message on his Wind-Listening Ruler and froze.
An unknown sender's inscription, beginning with only the character "Qian."
"I heard you still want to attempt Inverted Moon Cave?"
Who?
Gu Qian held his Wind-Listening Ruler, his fingertip lightly touching the character input grid without typing a single word. His gaze was deep as he stared at this message, Yu Sui's questioning voice becoming more distant in his contemplation.
Another new message appeared on the message interface:
"I was just thinking about Galaxy Water, but you're more impressive—you're attempting Inverted Moon Cave to steal the Pagoda Tower."
Seeing the end of this message, Gu Qian's pupils shrank in shock, his grip on the Wind-Listening Ruler tightening slightly.
Yu Sui asked puzzledly: "Brother Gu?"
"Who are you?" Gu Qian's expression was stern as his fingers rapidly tapped the character input grid in reply.
But the other party continued self-importantly: "How about cooperating together? Strength in numbers. Otherwise, your collecting information about the Pagoda Tower at the academy will soon become known to everyone. Then it won't be as simple as being expelled from the academy, right?"
Gu Qian: "Are you threatening me?"
"Yes."
Gu Qian's eye twitched viciously as he took a deep breath and immediately replied: "Do you think something like sending messages without inscription getting out would be less serious than me collecting information about the Pagoda Tower? The three families would turn heaven and earth upside down to find you."
"You can spread it, but no one will believe it."
After sending this, Gu Qian watched helplessly as the previous messages disappeared one by one, unable to stop it. His heart sank.
"How about it?"
Gu Qian had just seen this message when it disappeared again.
He replied with a dark expression: "What do you want?"
"To celebrate our first cooperation, go get some books from Shenbao Library."
Gu Qian suppressed his temper: "Are you playing with me?"
"Just breaking into a Class A area. Can't you do it? I don't want to cooperate with someone who can't even steal from Class A areas to steal the Pagoda Tower."
Gu Qian: "What exactly do you want to do?"
"You have only one day. If you can't get them before dawn tomorrow, everyone at the academy will know what you wanted to take from Inverted Moon Cave."
After seeing the message on his Wind-Listening Ruler disappear again, Gu Qian was so angry he wanted to smash something. Looking up, he saw Yu Sui watching him with some concern: "Brother Gu, what happened?"
"Nothing." Gu Qian shook his head, putting away his Wind-Listening Ruler with a dark expression, and stood up. "Sui Sui, you eat alone first. I have some business and need to leave."
Gu Qian was certain the person sending messages was the other person from Inverted Moon Cave a month ago.
Had his exposure last time at Inverted Moon Cave been discovered?
Then what did this person mean by approaching him now?
Countless thoughts flashed through Gu Qian's mind, finally settling on the other party's last message.
Damn, he felt this person really would spread the news.
Gu Qian quickly contacted his Class A good brother Wen Yanghui.
Yu Sui supported her chin with one hand, blinking as she watched Gu Qian's hurriedly departing figure.
She had never felt that she and Gu Qian had a childhood sweethearts relationship.
They were just using each other.
After entrusting the book-finding task to Gu Qian, Yu Sui finished eating the remaining food alone, rested briefly, then left the academy for the outer city.
It was afternoon now. Blackbeard was waiting with a carriage at the academy's main gate.
Seeing Yu Sui, he walked over: "Princess, this way."
Yu Sui didn't use Wind-Riding Techniques to rush to the outer city, still choosing to take the carriage.
She lifted the curtain to look outside. Along the way, she could see high mountains and vast seas, roadside flower forests, and such. Seabirds occasionally spread their wings and flew by. Black sea eagles flew higher and higher. As the carriage traveled farther from the academy, turning corners, she could even glimpse distant other small islands.
Blackbeard introduced various Nangong family properties in the outer city along the way.
Yu Sui was somewhat distracted, thinking about the relationship between Gu Qian and Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming wouldn't waste time and emotion on useless people, but his special treatment of Gu Qian meant Gu Qian definitely wasn't simply talented.
In terms of talent, Gu Qian seemed equal to Sheng Hao, but he must have something Sheng Hao lacked to earn Nangong Ming's favoritism.
Perhaps their shared interests and goals aligned.
Nangong Ming definitely knew Gu Qian's parents, which was why he helped Gu Qian seek revenge, sending all the Qingyang officials who had offended or indirectly caused Gu Qian's parents' deaths to prison over the years. The number who died after being sent to prison was only increasing.
Yu Sui believed Gu Qian's parents had a very good relationship with Nangong Ming.
Even their relationship with Lady Su was probably good.
Because Lady Su's attitude toward Gu Qian was also different.
Like caring for a deceased friend's son.
Sometimes Yu Sui felt Lady Su treated Gu Qian like her own son.
Lady Su would teach Gu Qian to recognize Agricultural School's medicinal and poisonous herbs and would teach him Agricultural School's beast language.
With Lady Su's help, Gu Qian became immune to all poisons—ordinary toxins couldn't affect him.
Gu Qian could make Lady Su laugh, helping her shed the sorrow from her face and temporarily forget those grudges and grievances.
What exactly was the reason people favored Gu Qian?
Yu Sui used to wonder about this when bored, thinking over and over without finding a reason, only accepting fate.
Today, hearing Gu Qian's tone and expression when talking about Nangong Ming, she suddenly realized.
That's right.
Perhaps Gu Qian also possessed Divine Mechanism Arts.
And Nangong Ming had always known.
Knowing Gu Qian possessed Divine Mechanism Arts, Nangong Ming didn't seize them but chose to protect and nurture his growth.
People really do receive different treatment.
"Princess, we've arrived."
Blackbeard's voice brought Yu Sui back from her thoughts. She lowered the curtain, got out of the carriage, and followed Blackbeard into the lively tavern ahead.
The tavern was full of people. The first floor smelled of food, the second floor had private rooms, the third floor also had private rooms but was thunderously loud because it was a gambling house. The fourth floor was for lodging, and only the fifth floor was for receiving guests.
After the door closed, absolute quiet reigned inside.
Yu Sui walked to the table and sat down, watching Blackbeard hand over a box containing secret correspondence: "This is the Prince's reply to you."
Unable to transmit messages via Wind-Listening Ruler, they could only correspond by letter.
Yu Sui opened it and read.
Nangong Ming praised her for becoming Saint Chang Gen's disciple and for resolving Gu Qian's crisis on her first day, expressing satisfaction with her performance. The letter stated "you have finally grown into a useful person."
"While learning and cultivating, don't forget to make the Zhongli family children leave the academy."
Yu Sui stared at the end of the letter for a long while.
This meant he wanted her to drive Zhongli Shan out of Taiyi Academy?
Zhongli Ci sent his son to Taiyi Academy not only to improve Zhongli Shan's cultivation level but also to find a way to break the School of Names Heavenly Mechanism Art Asura Eyes, thus reducing pressure on the Zhongli family and at least eliminating one deadly weakness in Nangong Ming's grasp.
Nangong Ming hadn't taken action against Zhongli Shan in recent years, but saying this now suggested he believed Zhongli Shan's current growth finally threatened him?
Yu Sui held the letter to the candle flame to burn it, saying softly: "Gather all information about Zhongli Shan at Taiyi Academy."
Blackbeard nodded and immediately complied, thinking to himself that this was indeed the successor the Prince had chosen—no unnecessary words, swift action.
He had definitely backed the right side.
Yu Sui spent the afternoon at the Nangong family tavern reviewing all information about Zhongli Shan. Only after the sky darkened outside did she rub her eyes. The heat brought by Strange Fire after nightfall made her fan herself.
Blackbeard had also spent the afternoon helping her review everything, ready to immediately answer any questions she might have.
"Princess, would you like to rest first? Have something to eat before returning to the academy."
Blackbeard suggested.
"Just eat something simple," Yu Sui knocked her Wind-Listening Ruler on the table and slumped over it listlessly. "I've seen about enough. I'll return after eating."
Seeing her condition, Blackbeard didn't ask further questions, nodding and going downstairs to get her food.
Yu Sui collapsed on the table thinking: why didn't Nangong Ming ask Gu Qian to handle this troublesome matter instead of making her do it? Could this old man be testing whether her relationship with the Zhongli family children was still intact?
Once she "grew into a useful person," what followed would be Nangong Ming's orders one after another, making her do things she didn't want to do.
While Yu Sui lay slumped on the table in thought, her peripheral vision suddenly caught an unusual red.
This red color slipped through a tiny window crack, crawling along the window frame. When the red spider sensed Yu Sui's gaze, it stopped. Both sides seemed to be sizing each other up.