Chapter 62
Yu Sui walked upstairs, eyes lowered, shadows from the staircase rising and falling, enveloping her slender figure.
She recalled her recent conversation with Mei Liangyu, her peripheral vision glancing downstairs for a moment.
Senior Brother's mind worked too well, and he knew too much. He had lived at Taiyi Academy for who knows how many years, encountering far more people and information than she had.
Perhaps on the night of the ambush in the Outer City, Mei Liangyu had already thought of many things in his mind, but never spoke of them, never asked.
If Yu Sui hadn't spoken up herself, Mei Liangyu truly wouldn't have asked, yet he had guessed everything correctly.
At least after these few months of interaction, Yu Sui felt Senior Brother was quite reliable as a person.
Because of their Senior Brother-Junior Sister relationship, Mei Liangyu wouldn't bear ill will toward her due to Gu Qian. After confirming this new Junior Sister wasn't annoying, he would even look after her.
If she were enemies with someone as sharp-minded and capable as Senior Brother, for Yu Sui, that would be a second Nangong Ming.
Perhaps getting along as close Senior Brother and Junior Sister would work.
Like Senior Brother patiently explaining the Dragon Slaying Cave precautions to her, asking whether she wanted to leave because he feared Agricultural School assassinations and letting her decide, she couldn't find a second person like that at present.
At least it was good that they wouldn't be enemies.
Yu Sui walked thoughtfully into Wei Ren's room, smelling the pungent medicinal odor, raising her hand to cover her nose as she walked forward.
Wei Ren still didn't look well, listless, as if one foot was already in the gates of hell, yet stubbornly holding on, his face deathly pale as he leaned against the headboard, palm spread open, looking at the dot of red in his palm.
Hearing the sound, Wei Ren turned his head to look at Yu Sui as she walked to the bedside.
When Yu Sui looked up, she had less of the gentle obedience she showed when facing Mei Liangyu, her dark eyes carrying hints of cold indifference.
Even Wei Ren's coughing was light: "This time..."
Yu Sui interrupted him: "Are there still your people in the academy?"
Wei Ren moved his eyes, saying hoarsely: "Tonight's are dead, so there are none left."
"What about the Outer City?" Yu Sui continued.
Wei Ren said: "The Outer City is hard to say. I don't know if more people have come during this time, but if you need it, I can look around. However, with Master dead, they won't dare act rashly again."
Though he could speak, his tone was very weak.
Yu Sui was quiet for a moment before smiling: "No rush. I need to leave some alive to tell Lady Su far away in the imperial capital how Ji Shuyan died."
As for Wei Ren.
Yu Sui examined the weak person before her, recalling what he had said when confronting Ji Shuyan.
Rather than saying they were Agricultural School traitors, it was better to say they were Yan Kingdom traitors.
"Senior Brother says the academy infirmary can't compare to the Outer City. In the Outer City you can spend money to buy various precious medicinal materials and pills, while the academy requires disciple levels for many medicines, so you should stay in the Outer City to recover before returning." Yu Sui's tone was gentle. "I'll pay for your treatment, but you'll have to repay me later. I'm too busy, so you need to stay alive to think about the Breath Soil separation problem. I hope you figure it out before you die."
She was indeed busy, with many problems to solve. Wei Ren could at least share one Breath Soil-related problem.
Hearing her say this, Wei Ren couldn't help but smile, covering his chest and coughing lightly twice, pressing his brow: "I'll definitely figure it out before I die."
Regarding what happened tonight, some things they understood without words. For the unclear parts, Wei Ren wouldn't ask, because he knew Yu Sui wouldn't tell him even if he asked.
There was no need.
Yu Sui could accomplish more things than he had imagined. Knowing this was enough.
As for Breath Soil, Wei Ren had spent more than ten years thinking about how to solve the Breath Soil problem.
Yu Sui finished checking on Wei Ren, exchanged information, then left.
Going downstairs, Yu Sui calculated what matters remained unfinished. Li Jin Shuang's clothes were sorted out, Wei Ren's injuries were checked, Senior Brother's side was discussed, the academy side... Oh!
Yu Sui raised her hand and slapped her forehead, the sound making Mei Liangyu, who sat at the table, turn to look, only to see his Junior Sister with a strange expression taking out the Wind-Listening Ruler for a series of operations.
Xue Mushi, who had been waiting at the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field, finally received Yu Sui's message, informing him that something had happened tonight, she wouldn't return to the academy, and would come back tomorrow.
Xue Mushi sniffled, touched his face that had been chilled by the night wind, and trudged back to the dormitory with his head hanging.
Tomorrow, tomorrow he would definitely be the last person to arrive!
Yu Sui came downstairs, originally intending to tell Mei Liangyu to rest, but he said he wasn't sleepy and continued explaining Dragon Slaying Cave precautions to her, also telling her to hurry and learn more Nine Schools Arts to last longer inside Dragon Slaying Cave.
Even if she couldn't reach the dragon head Ye Pool, staying longer in Dragon Slaying Cave and witnessing more Nine Schools Arts would still be worthwhile.
Mei Liangyu felt that in his Junior Sister's situation, knowing one more Nine Schools Art might mean one more life-saving skill.
He could also take Yu Sui directly to Ye Pool and let her obtain a Heavenly Mechanism Art, but he had already promised to help Zhongli Shan, so he had to let Yu Sui break through on her own.
Besides, his Junior Sister seemed like someone with her own ideas.
If she needed help, she would hint at it in roundabout ways.
Junior Sister speaking up herself versus him taking initiative to invite had different meanings.
Yu Sui listened patiently to Mei Liangyu's instructions, and the long night became short because of it.
Tonight Yu Sui could clearly feel Mei Liangyu's change in attitude toward her, no longer stopping at the surface as before.
She discovered that Senior Brother's attitude toward others was simply loving those he wanted to live, hating those he wanted to die.
His likes and dislikes were direct and extreme.
……
At dawn, Li Jin Shuang was awakened by a maid knocking on her door. Opening it, she saw the maid carrying several sets of new dresses.
The maid smiled: "These are what the Princess chose for Miss Li. Which set do you like?"
Li Jin Shuang glanced over, her gaze slightly pausing.
Much simpler styles than yesterday's, suitable for daily wear.
Yu Sui hadn't come, leaving her to choose herself.
Li Jin Shuang hesitated for a moment, choosing a simple and elegant white dress. She instinctively wanted to disguise herself as a man, but was stopped by the maids. Two maids smilingly arranged her hair, securing it with golden hairpins. In the mirror, the person had a beautiful face and eyebrows, cool and otherworldly.
The maids praised her as they led Li Jin Shuang downstairs to see Yu Sui.
Yu Sui and Mei Liangyu were already waiting at the door. Seeing Li Jin Shuang come downstairs, neither showed much change in expression. Yu Sui waved to Li Jin Shuang: "Let's go."
After getting on the carriage, Yu Sui said to Li Jin Shuang: "Can you go to the Military School alone? Do you need me to accompany you?"
Li Jin Shuang was silent for a moment, saying: "You didn't choose Military School courses, no need to go."
Yu Sui nodded: "Having you dress up beautifully in women's clothes is because I think you're worth it. You can change your appearance, but for Sword Spirit, what's most needed is still your inner acceptance."
Li Jin Shuang knew this too. She hadn't slept much last night, sometimes sitting up to look at the dresses hanging on the rack, sometimes looking at herself in the mirror, finally looking down at her sword. They were silent with each other, yet countless memories surged in her mind.
"If you still can't accept it, you can give up anytime and do it in a way you can accept." Yu Sui said softly. "The beginning of change confuses others and makes oneself hesitant."
In the past, people rejected Li Jin Shuang, some not rejecting her male disguise, but thinking Li Jin Shuang truly considered herself male.
"But I suggest when you meet those gossiping people, fight if you can, no need to indulge them. Most people are bullies who fear the strong." Yu Sui said, then sighed softly: "If it were me, there'd be so many people I'd want to punch."
It's just that those people she either couldn't beat or couldn't fight.
Li Jin Shuang was different. At least she was strong, with Fifth Realm strength and Sword Spirit beyond Fifth Realm strength. Even if her cultivation path was bumpy, the destination would be enviable.
Yu Sui gave Li Jin Shuang many instructions. Li Jin Shuang listened seriously, but ultimately refused Yu Sui's accompaniment, going to Military School to attend classes alone.
"Then I'll put all the clothes back for you."
Yu Sui brought the maids together to take the clothes back to Li Jin Shuang's dormitory.
The dormitory was empty. Yu Sui put away all of Li Jin Shuang's clothes, sent the maids away, then turned back to look at her own door, her expression slightly pausing.
Previously when Mei Liangyu asked why she didn't add curse-pattern locks to her door, there really was no need.
Before Yu Sui arrived, only Xun Zhiya and Shu Chujun lived here. They grew up together and had a ruler-minister relationship. Li Jin Shuang was also a minister of Nanjing Kingdom.
A room full of wealthy and noble people, adding curse-pattern locks would seem like suspecting someone in the room.
Yu Sui returned to her room, lay down on the bed, buried her face in the soft bedding until breathing became difficult, then turned over. She covered her mouth and yawned. Though her eyes were closed, she was watching the Five Elements Light Core placed on Li Jin Shuang's side.
Letting her go to Military School alone still made her a bit uneasy.
Li Jin Shuang actually didn't attract much attention on her way to Military School. The academy had thousands of disciples coming and going daily. Unless they were familiar acquaintances, it was indeed hard to notice anything different.
Moreover, Li Jin Shuang in women's clothing looked completely different from her male disguise. If she didn't say she was Li Jin Shuang, most people wouldn't recognize her.
The occasional one or two who looked at Li Jin Shuang did so because catching a glimpse they thought this girl was truly beautiful, so they looked a bit longer.
Black and red banners flanked both sides of the Military School gate, fluttering fiercely in the morning wind, carrying their own aura of slaughter.
Today a Military School Saint was teaching. Disciples coming to Military School were three to five times the usual number. Many Class A disciples who normally didn't attend classes also hurried early to the study halls to claim seats.
As Li Jin Shuang entered Military School territory, few paid attention to her. Everyone was busy using Wind-Riding Techniques to rush and claim seats. Li Jin Shuang was the same.
Military School had fewer girls than other schools, but within Military School, it wasn't to the point of being the only red flower among ten thousand green leaves. In Military School's Class A individual combat ranking top 20, female disciples occupied half the positions.
The Military School martial arts study hall was already packed, the circular hall seats filled with people, the second floor railings also crowded with Military School disciples. Today's class only allowed Military School disciples, not accepting external audit students.
Kong Yiyi stood by the railing, leaning against a round pillar, looking listlessly with arms crossed at the disciples with seats below, asking Zhongli Shan beside her: "Didn't you say you could grab a seat?"
Zhongli Shan stood straight, upright in the crowded masses, his sharpness exposed, radiating a silent "everyone stay away" aura.
Regarding Kong Yiyi's question, Zhongli Shan's expression didn't change: "Standing positions are also positions."
Kong Yiyi glanced at him, full of disdain: "You can't even beat the newcomers."
Zhongli Shan felt somewhat wronged: "Some people camped here three days early without leaving."
Most Class A disciples didn't have time to camp out, so sitting below were mostly disciples below Class A.
The second floor was packed with people, with more still coming up. Kong Yiyi was already pressed sideways against the round pillar when noise came from ahead. Seeing the crowd pushing toward her direction, Kong Yiyi warned: "Don't come closer."
Zhongli Shan turned to the person next to him: "Don't come closer."
This person also turned to warn the person beside them: "Don't come any closer."
This spread from ten to a hundred, until it reached the hundred mark, which was several disgruntled disciples shouting: "There's still so much space ahead, squeeze together and there'll be room. Why won't you let us squeeze forward!"
As soon as they spoke, several people pushed hard into the crowd, forcing the masses to press toward Kong Yiyi's direction.
The pressed crowd tilted to one side. When one person moved, others followed, so Kong Yiyi, about to be flattened against the round pillar, couldn't bear it anymore and slammed her hand on the railing, Five Elements energy shaking.
Zhongli Shan reacted quickly, leaning back to avoid it. Many disciples also reacted swiftly and dodged. This Five Elements energy rushed unobstructed to the front, knocking out the several disciples who had been forcing their way through the crowd.
Several male disciples cried out as they fell, some grabbing others as they fell, bringing down a string of people.
Li Jin Shuang had just reached the second floor stairs when she saw many people fall down above. She nimbly avoided them, arriving at the second floor just in time.
Seeing the second floor door about to close, Tian Wen, who had gotten up from the ground, saw Li Jin Shuang standing where he had been before and roared angrily: "That's my position! Get out!"
He rushed up, but the door closed.
Tian Wen was furious and cursed aloud, stubbornly guarding the door and refusing to leave.
Li Jin Shuang didn't understand the situation. She withdrew her gaze, standing sideways against the round pillar. With so many people, it was too crowded. If she wasn't careful, she'd bump shoulders or hands with others.
Yu Sui followed Li Jin Shuang's position, looking at the second floor packed with people, then at the crowded space below, couldn't help sighing at how many people there were.
This was the popularity level of Saint-taught classes.
The main hall door opened, and the noisy disciples instantly fell silent.
The woman walking through the main door wore a dark green dress, with a gentle expression. There were barely noticeable wrinkles at her eye corners, but they didn't affect her still beautiful features. The woman walked leisurely into the hall, smiling as she surveyed the disciples above and below.
Military School Saint, Leng Rouyin.
Within Taiyi Academy, Military School had three Saints. The other two were from Zhou Kingdom and Nanjing Kingdom respectively. Only Leng Rouyin had been born and raised at Taiyi Academy, staying there for decades without leaving for the outside world.
"So many people today. You must listen carefully and not waste this morning light." Leng Rouyin smiled, her voice like a warbling oriole. Though she seemed to speak casually without effort, even disciples far away in the hall could hear clearly.
With a Saint above Thirteenth Realm present, Yu Sui controlled the Five Elements Light Core carefully, focusing on observing Leng Rouyin's every move, ready to destroy the light core before she discovered and acted. But perhaps because she was too far away, Leng Rouyin didn't discover that someone was using Five Elements Light Core for surveillance, which was unheard of.
Leng Rouyin faced the disciples in the hall, asking gently: "Today would you like to hear about Military Formations or swordsmanship?"
The disciples were quiet for a moment, then someone raised their hand to lead the choice. Voices gradually grew louder, finally choosing Military Formation-related topics.
Leng Rouyin raised her head slightly. Under her pressure, the disciples instantly fell silent.
"Recently Military School opened a formation, the Black Wind City, so let's start with the high-level Military Formation: Black Wind City." Leng Rouyin flicked her fingers. As her words fell, the study hall floor instantly transformed into the scenery of Military Formation: Black Wind City.
Blood mist spread before their eyes. The disciples saw Black Wind City's buildings, with red horse cavalry walking through the study hall aisles, instantly awakening memories of their recent formation-breaking experience.
Some disciples held their breath, not daring to breathe heavily or move carelessly, fearing the red horse cavalry would suddenly turn and give them a slash.
Even the second floor had groups of three to five red horse cavalry patrolling.
Leng Rouyin's voice continued unhurriedly: "As master of a Military Formation, you have the highest authority within it. Military Formations are divided into dead formations and living formations. Formation masters must learn how to control formation puppets and alter terrain within the formation."
"In your usual trial runs, you encounter dead formations without masters controlling them, essentially familiarizing yourselves with different Military Formation terrains and formation puppet types. But if you encounter living formations, the terrain and formation puppets you remember will all change."
As Leng Rouyin spoke, she changed the patrolling formation puppets from groups of three to five to individual guards, then greatly altered Black Wind City's structure, drawing amazed exclamations from the disciples.
Seeing this, Yu Sui and Li Jin Shuang simultaneously thought that if the special-grade Military Formation: Asura Hell also had a formation master controlling it, it would be truly unstoppable.
Just having the Thirteenth Realm Black Armored Iron Cavalry across the river attack simultaneously would be devastating even for a Saint.
And Asura Hell they had only seen the tip of the iceberg. Behind the Thirteenth Realm Black Armored Iron Cavalry army was something more they hadn't glimpsed.
Yu Sui rolled over and buried her face in the bedding again, thinking the back of the Thirteenth Realm Black Armored Iron Cavalry army couldn't possibly have a Saint army too.
That would be truly invincible.
Yu Sui listened to the Military School Saint's explanation of Military Formations and learned quite a lot.
The second floor disciples suffered until the class ended before leaving those pitiful railings. If not for the protective curses from the Mechanism Arts School being strong enough, those railings would have collapsed under the disciples' weight.
Li Jin Shuang was closest to the second floor door. As soon as it opened, she saw Tian Wen with a red, angry face guarding in front, staring straight at her with fury-filled eyes, pointing at Li Jin Shuang: "You took my position and listened to the Saint's class. How will you compensate me?"
Yu Sui rolled around on the bed, feeling sorry for Li Jin Shuang encountering an unreasonable unlucky fool.
Some disciples were busy and didn't watch the excitement, walking between the two. Others stayed in place to watch the show.
Kong Yiyi finally finished class and desperately wanted to leave this hellish second floor, so she pushed forward, then saw some people stopped and not moving, wondering: "What's happening ahead?"
"They're fighting," someone explained to her. "Remember earlier when someone got knocked out by someone's Five Elements energy? They're still waiting and want the person who took their position to compensate."
Zhongli Shan glanced at the culprit.
Kong Yiyi: "......"
"They want compensation too?" Kong Yiyi laughed upon hearing this, striding forward aggressively.
After pushing through the crowd, she saw Tian Wen blocking the door and Li Jin Shuang being blocked.
Tian Wen was a Class B disciple, familiar to many. Most didn't recognize Li Jin Shuang, discussing how she must be a new Class D disciple this year since she looked unfamiliar. In this situation, others would humble themselves and apologize to the Class B senior.
But Li Jin Shuang didn't think she had done anything wrong. She listened silently to Tian Wen expressing his anger.
But remembering what Yu Sui said in the carriage this morning, she hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Tian Wen and said: "Excuse me."
Tian Wen's eyes widened: "You still want to just walk away? If you hadn't taken my position, could you have heard the Saint's class?"
Li Jin Shuang had already expressed her courtesy. She moved forward, and Tian Wen reached out to block her. Li Jin Shuang also raised her hand simultaneously.
According to her previous style, she would have endured it, but hearing Yu Sui's words, she felt sometimes there really was no need to endure, so she changed from defense to offense, her fist infused with Five Elements energy sending the blocking Tian Wen flying.
Kong Yiyi, who had reached the front: "......"
Seemed like she didn't need to help after all.
Yu Sui sat up from the bed, scratching her head, not knowing how the previously patient and silent Li Jin Shuang had suddenly become so fierce.
The Military School disciples watching the excitement all cheered and whistled at Li Jin Shuang's punch.
Whenever Saints taught, many people came, often competing for seats, so disciples arguing and fighting happened every time.
Though Military School had fewer girls, each was formidable, so everyone enjoyed watching the excitement without interfering much, since sometimes the girl who seemed to be in trouble could fight better than you.
Most of those on the second floor were Class A disciples.
Someone teasingly said to Tian Wen, who was being helped up by companions: "This punch decided the winner. That's enough."
Several Class A disciples came to the front, pushing through the crowd and looking around. Pang Rong, standing at the front, said to Tian Wen below: "Move aside, what are you looking at? Tian Wen, how did you get beaten up just from attending a class?"
Seeing familiar Class A seniors, Tian Wen felt deeply wronged, covering his beaten face with one hand while pointing at Li Jin Shuang: "Senior Brother Pang, this person not only took my position but attacked me first!"
Someone watching the excitement shouted: "What are you talking about! Wasn't it you who attacked first? Are we blind?!"
Many others echoed this.
Tian Wen angrily shouted back: "But I'm the one who got beaten!"
The watching disciples replied: "You can't beat them, that's your problem!"
Tian Wen was about to explode with anger and started arguing with the onlookers.
Pang Rong watched his protégé provoke a multi-person scolding match, feeling somewhat troubled, but couldn't lose face in front of so many people, so he pointed at Li Jin Shuang who was blocked from leaving: "Why argue? Just meet at the Martial Path Arena. Whoever loses apologizes."
Kong Yiyi mocked: "Such a small matter needs the Martial Path Arena? Let him get beaten again."
Pang Rong had a grudge against Kong Yiyi, glaring at her and pointing at Li Jin Shuang: "What, you're backing her?"
Kong Yiyi raised her eyebrows and looked back: "So what if I'm backing her today?"
"Fine then, you fight me. Let's meet at the Martial Path Arena." Pang Rong stepped forward, hand gripping his waist sword, his tall frame looking威压十足.
Kong Yiyi was about to step forward when she felt her waist, realized her sword wasn't there, so she stepped back without changing expression, letting Zhongli Shan beside her go forward: "Didn't bring weapons today, you go."
Zhongli Shan made an "oh" sound, stepping forward to face Pang Rong: "Martial Path Arena?"
Pang Rong's temple twitched hard, decisively avoiding eye contact, removing his hand from his sword, and saying to Li Jin Shuang: "You two fight, did you hear that Tian Wen!"
Tian Wen viciously asked Li Jin Shuang: "Class B Tian Wen challenges you to the Martial Path Arena. What's your name?!"
Li Jin Shuang was silent for a moment under many gazes, answering: "Li Jin Shuang."
Tian Wen roared furiously: "Li Jin Shuang! Today you will fight me at the Martial Path Arena..."
Halfway through, he remembered the name Li Jin Shuang, his emotions and words stuck, staring in disbelief at the white-clothed woman before him.
Kong Yiyi and Zhongli Shan also looked at Li Jin Shuang with some surprise.
Li Jin Shuang was famous in Military School, half because of her strange behavior of cross-dressing as a man.
Military School disciples might not have seen her, but certainly heard this name, knowing Li Jin Shuang was a new disciple this year, descendant of Nanjing Kingdom's Li family, yet raised as a boy from childhood, always wearing men's clothing and binding herself with male appearance.
Military School disciples also had deep impressions of Nanjing Kingdom's Li family, unlike disciples from other schools who didn't know the Li family's achievements in Military School.
Like the Zhongli family, descendants of these Military School war gods received attention from many parties upon enrollment.
The rise and fall of Nanjing Li family also evoked pity and sighs, so Li Jin Shuang was quite famous within Military School. Those watching the excitement now had either mocked or pitied her before.
However, at this moment, their gazes toward Li Jin Shuang all turned to amazement.
The cold, hard masculine appearance had completely disappeared. Her beautiful, clean face wore no makeup, her black hair half-pinned with golden hairpins and pearl ornaments securing it. Her phoenix eyes, somewhat similar to before, were cold and silent. After a moment, Li Jin Shuang looked seriously at Tian Wen, her pale hand resting lightly on her sword hilt. No longer deliberately suppressing her voice to sound low, when she spoke, her voice was ethereal:
"I accept the challenge."