Chapter 63
Military School disciples often had conflicts. When words couldn't resolve matters, they'd meet at the Martial Path Arena. If verbal solutions failed, they'd settle things with strength.
Because this happened so frequently, without some real spectacle, people couldn't be bothered to crowd the Martial Path Arena for excitement.
Today's matter between Li Jin Shuang and Tian Wen was quite a spectacle. Military School disciples spontaneously spread the word among themselves, but the focus wasn't that Li Jin Shuang would compete with Tian Wen at the Martial Path Arena, but rather "Li Jin Shuang in women's clothing is absolutely gorgeous."
Such talk greatly aroused people's curiosity, and they all rushed to the Military School Martial Path Arena to see what Li Jin Shuang actually looked like.
It was currently noon, morning classes had ended, and disciples were heading to the dining hall for meals. Word spread widely, and soon everyone at the academy knew.
Xue Mushi originally didn't know about it. He hadn't even looked at his Wind-Listening Ruler when Xue Jiayue excitedly ran over, grabbed him, and started running while saying: "Cousin, do you remember Li Jin Shuang? The Li Jin Shuang who rode the Cloud Carriage Flying Dragon with us! At first glance I mistook her for a man, but she's actually the female Li Jin Shuang. I heard she's now dressed in women's clothing and fighting someone at the Military School Martial Path Arena!"
"Huh?" Xue Mushi was stunned.
He wasn't surprised by the earlier information, but by Li Jin Shuang fighting someone at the Martial Path Arena.
Xue Mushi hesitated for a moment, then took out his Wind-Listening Ruler on the road and sent a message to Yu Sui about this matter.
"I know, I'm watching," Yu Sui replied.
Xue Mushi thought to himself that you actually arrived before me.
Yu Sui was still lying on her little bed, using the Five Elements Light Core to watch Li Jin Shuang's situation, not having gone to Military School at all.
Her Wind-Listening Ruler buzzed, it was Sheng Hao looking for her, calling her to the dining hall for a meal.
Yu Sui said she was too tired to go.
Sheng Hao said he'd bring food to the dormitory.
Seeing this, Yu Sui blinked, somewhat puzzled about why Sheng Hao was suddenly looking for her.
The Martial Path Arena was an outdoor enclosed area, about the same size as the Legalist School's Trial Ground. Below the black circular platform was open space, separated from the viewing stands by a considerable distance to prevent accidental injuries.
Flags of Military School stood in the open space, the life and death banners full of murderous intent.
Half of the disciples who had watched the excitement at the study hall railings came to the Martial Path Arena to continue watching.
Below the circular platform, Kong Yiyi walked behind Li Jin Shuang. As they were about to go on stage, she reached out and patted Li Jin Shuang's shoulder, saying: "Although Tian Wen is Class B, you're Fifth Realm too, so not much worse. Fight freely, his mentality isn't good."
This wasn't wrong.
Tian Wen's mentality was unstable now, so his moves would be full of openings later.
Earlier when anger got to his head, he dared engage in fierce verbal battles with the onlookers. Now he was greatly shocked by Li Jin Shuang's identity transformation, and with more and more people gathering and word spreading wider, even disciples from other schools came to watch, his psychological pressure instantly increased.
Pang Rong put his arm around Tian Wen's shoulder and said: "Get clear-headed. You're at least a Class B disciple, Seventh Realm. No matter what, you're two realms higher than her, so you can't possibly lose."
Tian Wen said in a daze: "Is, is that so?"
Pang Rong looked at him speechlessly, pushed Tian Wen forward, and added: "Even if you lose, it doesn't matter. Today everyone's attention is on Li Jin Shuang anyway. In this situation, winning or losing isn't important. If you feel you can't handle it, just go up there, take a couple hits, admit defeat, and apologize."
Having Tian Wen just apologize like that, he felt somewhat unwilling.
The Martial Path Arena only tested swordsmanship, not Military Formations.
Military School disciples had to learn both blade and sword techniques as well as physical combat, so there was no such thing as specializing or not specializing.
Li Jin Shuang walked onto the circular platform. The gazes coming from all directions were similar to when she first wore men's clothing as a child, except now there were more appreciative and joyful looks, not as complex as what she'd seen in childhood.
Some whispered conversations also reached her ears, malicious ones, kind ones, all sorts.
Li Jin Shuang wasn't unfamiliar with such situations, she was actually used to it. Strange or surprised gazes, when others first saw her or learned about her family background, most people would show such expressions.
Actually, this was normal. Their reactions were normal.
Li Jin Shuang told herself this.
At least not everyone was like this.
The gossip came mostly from new disciples who entered Military School with her. Senior brothers and sisters who had been at Military School longer didn't pay much attention.
The instructors she encountered also didn't speak harshly to her because of her dress.
Li Jin Shuang always remembered Yu Sui's gaze toward her, like gentle flowing water that could embrace everything.
Unknown fears and uncertainties, under such gentle yet powerful attention, Li Jin Shuang could indeed gain courage from it and become a bit braver.
Standing on the high platform now with everyone's eyes on her, Li Jin Shuang felt relieved instead.
Others' gazes weren't such a big deal.
Because I've been walking this path since childhood.
Li Jin Shuang gripped her long sword tightly. Compared to others' strange looks, her fighting spirit was soaring at this moment.
Tian Wen came onto the platform. Both drew their swords simultaneously, the brief humming sound making hearts race.
People in the viewing stands loudly cheered for Li Jin Shuang, one voice after another. More and more people cheered for her, the atmosphere heated up, the scene became passionate, and increasingly more people were infected by the emotions, joining in the cheering.
Kong Yiyi also shouted loudly.
Zhongli Shan couldn't help but glance at her, thinking this culprit was having quite a good time.
Tian Wen unconsciously listened to the shouting from outside the arena, hearing some insults directed at him, wishing he could turn his sword tip and slash at those insulting him. But his opponent was Li Jin Shuang, so he frowned in frustration, his lips trembling as he was about to say something, but Li Jin Shuang had already moved.
That light and agile white figure instantly appeared before his eyes. Tian Wen instinctively raised his sword to block, the sound of clashing swords ringing powerfully.
Li Jin Shuang's attacks were swift and fierce. Tian Wen was completely relying on his body's conditioned reflexes to make blocking moves, his mind in complete chaos. Sometimes he thought about which people had actually insulted him and needed to be remembered. Sometimes he thought Li Jin Shuang's speed was so fast, her sword techniques swift and powerful with overwhelming pressure, not at all the strength of a Class D disciple.
Being pressed down by Li Jin Shuang's sword until his knees trembled and he nearly knelt, Tian Wen cried out inwardly: Why did I even want to fight her?!
When disciples from other schools arrived at the Martial Path Arena, they happened to see Tian Wen being dominated by Li Jin Shuang.
The woman on the platform with flowing dress and imposing sword energy was completely different from the male-dressed Li Jin Shuang in memory.
Someone asked in a daze: "Hey, that's Li Jin Shuang's sister, right? Right?"
Xue Jiayue also tugged at her cousin's sleeve and asked: "Is that really Li Jin Shuang? She looks so different."
Xue Mushi nodded while watching the two fighting on the platform.
While watching the battle, Yu Sui also caught sight of Shu Chujun standing below watching.
Shu Chujun's expression was really too amusing, making her sit up on the bed and carefully adjust the light core's monitoring angle to watch for a while, finally laughing and lying back down.
Shu Chujun, mixed in with the crowd of spectators, was completely stunned. Her eyes followed Li Jin Shuang's movements, completely unable to believe that the woman on the platform with her cold and otherworldly temperament and graceful bearing was Li Jin Shuang.
This, this, this... was this the same person?!
But looking carefully, she could see Li Jin Shuang's features in the white-clothed woman.
For instance, the sword techniques she was familiar with, the familiar phoenix eyes that remained calm and collected during combat, not disturbed by external influences, focused on the battle at hand.
Shu Chujun shook her head frantically.
Impossible, impossible, impossible!
She raised her hand to slap her face, then turned to ask Xun Zhiya beside her: "Saint Maiden, she absolutely cannot be..."
"It's Li Jin Shuang," Xun Zhiya interrupted her.
All emotions and movements on Shu Chujun's face froze, then she excitedly and firmly said: "It can't be her!"
Xun Zhiya was startled by her reaction, turning to look. Shu Chujun was still shaking her head, with not only shock but also some fear deep in her eyes, backing away a few steps in fright.
Tian Wen, who couldn't help but be distracted by external sounds, was being dominated by Li Jin Shuang, retreating step by step, nearly pushed off the platform. His heart was filled with panic and unease, yet still carried some unwillingness.
Pang Rong was already covering his eyes and turning away. His protégé being dominated like this by a newcomer was simply embarrassing.
Could this kid still be thinking of relying on his Sword Spirit?
Using a Sword Spirit in a mere Martial Path Arena match would be even more embarrassing.
Just as Pang Rong thought this, he saw Tian Wen grip his sword hilt and turn it, sword tip pointing down, summoning his Sword Spirit.
Facing the surrounding clamor, Tian Wen struggled internally: No matter what, I can't lose to a new disciple!
The intimidating sword cry rose, overpowering the spectators' noise. Heat waves rose from Tian Wen's feet on the platform, white bone framework wrapping around his body. The skeletal Sword Spirit gripped the sword together with him, counterattacking Li Jin Shuang's assault.
Tian Wen and his Sword Spirit together gripped the sword in an upward strike, steadily receiving Li Jin Shuang's attack. The clashing swords trembled, and with the Sword Spirit's power enhancement, Tian Wen was clearly no longer as passive as before, beginning to counterattack.
This upward sword strike even sent Li Jin Shuang flying. Both moved very fast. The airborne Li Jin Shuang followed the momentum to spin, and when she struck down again, a white skeletal Sword Spirit appeared faintly behind her for an instant, eight sword blades rotating, all slashing toward Tian Wen.
With a tremendous crash, Tian Wen and his Sword Spirit were completely knocked flying, tumbling toward the open space below the platform, leaving long drag marks.
The spectators excitedly stood up, erupting in fierce applause and cheers, lively and excited.
Laymen watch for excitement, experts see the technique.
Many Military School disciples noticed Li Jin Shuang's faintly visible Sword Spirit in that final moment, that powerful force was astonishing.
Kong Yiyi stroked her chin and said: "Her Sword Spirit is quite interesting."
Zhongli Shan nodded in agreement.
Li Jin Shuang looked down at the long sword in her hand, the light reflected on the blade also faintly flickering with the Sword Spirit's image.
At the crucial moment, it was quite reliable.
Pang Rong felt embarrassed while waving for people to help Tian Wen up.
Tian Wen came before him with a dejected face, looking like he was about to cry.
"Don't cry. If you cry, I'll throw you back," Pang Rong said irritably. "You were closest to Li Jin Shuang just now, you could feel her strange Sword Spirit. The loss isn't unfair."
Tian Wen burst into tears with a "wah."
Pang Rong: "...Throw him back!"
……
Yu Sui had just finished watching the exciting battle when she heard knocking at the door. Sheng Hao said he had arrived, so she went out to open the door.
Sheng Hao came carrying a food box. Following Yu Sui into the room, he immediately saw several bottles of apricot wine on her table, frowning as he asked: "Who gave these to you?"
Yu Sui hugged the food box, hearing this and blinking, pointing at herself: "I made them myself."
"When did you learn to make wine with apricots?" Sheng Hao couldn't believe it.
Yu Sui thought to herself, in my previous life, but casually answered aloud: "I learned from Senior Brother. He said this year the Ghost Way Saint Hall produced too many apricots, and if we couldn't finish eating them, we could make wine."
Sheng Hao sat at the table edge, arms crossed, his expression cold: "What kind of nonsense is Mei Liangyu teaching you? Don't listen to everything he says."
Yu Sui: "Mm!"
She opened the food box to eat, asking without looking up: "Isn't Third Brother busy with School of Names trials today?"
"Busy, so I'll leave in a bit." Sheng Hao stared at her, leaning back against the chair, his posture relaxed in private, but because of what he was about to say, he unconsciously straightened his back again. "Guess what I saw at the School of Names Xiaoyao Pool yesterday."
"What?" Yu Sui curiously looked up at him.
Sheng Hao had recently been busy with School of Names Class B trials, patrolling around Xiaoyao Pool all day. Because it was a School of Names trial, disciples who practiced both School of Names and Legalist arts like Gu Qian could also participate.
Xiaoyao Pool had nearly a hundred tributary streams. Class A disciples had to ensure that all trial participants were near Xiaoyao Pool and that the stones they picked were from within Xiaoyao Pool.
Trial patrols worked in pairs. Last night while patrolling with his partner, Sheng Hao happened to see Gu Qian participating in the night trial.
This area had deep water and remote terrain. School of Names disciples found going back and forth in the water too troublesome, so they wouldn't choose the deep water area, all going to shallow areas where they could bend down and reach into the water to pick up stones with names.
Gu Qian emerged from the deep water area carrying the soaking wet Xun Zhiya, floating toward shore, occasionally looking down to check on the person in his arms, somewhat anxiously.
His partner covered his eyes with both hands: "Oh my, improper to look, improper to look."
Sheng Hao listened to his words and kept one eye closed and one open, closing his eyes to avoid looking at Xun Zhiya, opening them to watch Gu Qian.
After reaching shore, Gu Qian lowered his head and kissed Xun Zhiya, as if giving her breath.
Sheng Hao watched and laughed coldly. This bastard, finally caught in the act. Those previous ambiguous behaviors were all questionable and could have many explanations, but now you have nothing to say!
So after the patrol shift ended, Sheng Hao rushed over and personally told Yu Sui: "Gu Qian kissed Xun Zhiya."
Eh?
Yu Sui was stunned.
Sheng Hao added emphatically: "Gu Qian initiated it."
Looking at Sheng Hao's fierce eyes and expression of finally getting his revenge, Yu Sui wanted to laugh but knew she couldn't, otherwise she'd become the target of Third Brother's concentrated criticism.
Yu Sui slowly put down her chopsticks, covered her mouth with both hands, and when she looked up, her eyes were watery as if shocked and bewildered, softly saying: "Ah."
Sheng Hao lifted his chin slightly: "I told you long ago that Gu Qian and Xun Zhiya had an ambiguous relationship. He's eating from his bowl while eyeing the pot, still wanting to be close to you. He's dreaming!"
Yu Sui said in a trembling voice: "But... why would Brother Gu be with Xun Zhiya at the School of Names trial Xiaoyao Pool?"
These two should be scouting Inverted Moon Cave before Dragon Slaying Cave opened.
The tributary streams of Xiaoyao Pool might allow underwater access to the Legalist School's Inverted Moon Cave. After all, the two schools were originally close to each other. Otherwise, Gu Qian couldn't possibly go only at the end of the Xiaoyao Pool trial, as this trial was of no help to him personally.
Sheng Hao said: "What else could it be? Obviously a private rendezvous."
"But isn't Xun Zhiya unconscious from falling in water? Could it be he was giving her breath to save..." Before Yu Sui finished speaking, Sheng Hao interrupted: "He knows so many Nine Schools Arts, and he'd use such a stupid method as mouth-to-mouth?"
Yu Sui covered her mouth: "Maybe in the urgency of the moment he forgot..."
If Gu Qian's injuries hadn't healed, then it was Xun Zhiya who dove down to investigate while Gu Qian kept watch outside, but Xun Zhiya encountered problems underwater and nearly drowned.
Sheng Hao sneered: "What forgetting? He was bewitched by beauty and couldn't control himself. Even when it was life-threatening, he still gave mouth-to-mouth, wasn't it because he thought Xun Zhiya was beautiful?"
Yu Sui did agree with this point.
Sheng Hao's tone changed: "Why are you still making excuses for Gu Qian? Am I telling you this to let you defend Gu Qian?"
Yu Sui slowly lowered her hands from her mouth, hanging her head: "Then what does Third Brother mean?"
"How can you like someone as fickle as Gu Qian? He's even less worthy of liking you, still deluding himself about marrying you. Could you accept Gu Qian being like father, marrying three or four other women along with you in the future?" Sheng Hao looked at Yu Sui seriously, as if waiting for her to say "I can accept it" so he could make her swallow those words and choose again.
Before Yu Sui could answer, Sheng Hao continued: "Xun Zhiya is Nanjing Kingdom's Saint Maiden. Barring any surprises, she'll be the future Queen of Nanjing. Even if you were willing, do you think Xun Zhiya would agree? Becoming Nanjing Kingdom's royal husband or being a live-in son-in-law at the royal residence, someone as calculating as Gu Qian, what do you think he'd choose?"
"No matter how Gu Qian chooses, he definitely won't choose you." Sheng Hao's expression was calm, different from his usual irritability. Though still cold, he had seriously considered Yu Sui's future after last night's events, and no matter how he thought about it, something felt wrong. "You're infatuated with Gu Qian. Better to have short pain than long pain, make a clean break. With the status of Qingyang Princess, can't you find someone better than Gu Qian?"
Listening to Sheng Hao calmly say these things, Yu Sui was quite surprised, feeling for the first time that Third Brother's mind was quite good.
"Third Brother, you say Brother Gu wanting to marry many people makes him fickle, but what about yourself?" Yu Sui asked in a small voice.
Sheng Hao glared at her: "You're comparing me to Gu Qian? I'll definitely only marry the one I love."
If he dared follow Nangong Ming's example, his mother Lady Sheng would skin him alive.
Sheng Hao, who grew up under Lady Sheng's guidance, dared to argue with Nangong Ming but didn't dare tell his mother Lady Sheng twisted reasoning.
Speaking of the several ladies at the royal residence, Yu Sui also preferred Lady Sheng. She completely ignored royal residence affairs. Besides teaching Sheng Hao, she was busy with her own business. When her shops had new goods and dress styles, she'd also save a portion to send to Yu Sui.
Second Brother Su Feng's mother Lady Hui, after learning her son practiced Military School arts and couldn't compete with Yu Sui for succession, was completely heartbroken. She stopped managing royal residence affairs and ran to her natal family every day, practically living there, playing in mountains and waters with her sisters all day.
Only Lady Han, who deeply loved Nangong Ming, and Lady Su, who held the most power, would manage residence affairs when Nangong Ming wasn't there, socializing with various families in the imperial capital, attending palace banquets, and so on.
Yu Sui thought Lady Han was less Nangong Ming's woman and more his capable assistant. "Lady" was just a useful identity for external dealings.
"Even setting aside marriage, you should consider that Gu Qian can't possibly only like you. He often leaves the imperial capital, and you wouldn't know each time he flirts around outside. You were previously an Ordinary Practitioner with no common topics with him, and outside of Qingyang, you were of no help to him."
Sheng Hao was determined to have this conversation with Yu Sui today: "Not to mention Xun Zhiya, just talking about Qian Ying, a Medical School Class A disciple who has accompanied Gu Qian through life and death at Taiyi Academy these past two years. Which experience wasn't more profound than yours with him? Have you seen Gu Qian looking for you these past two years?"
Yu Sui didn't quite believe this reasoning actually came from Sheng Hao's mind.
She didn't know that last night Sheng Hao had discussed with Mu Mengbai and trial participant Yan Xiaochuan until dawn, combining the wisdom of all three to produce today's words.
Sheng Hao came today with iron evidence of Gu Qian kissing Xun Zhiya, intending to completely sever Yu Sui's feelings for Gu Qian.
He continued: "Now you can practice Nine Schools Arts, but the gap between you is too large. Gu Qian would never stop for you. Only women of equivalent strength who can help each other, like Qian Ying, Xiang Feifei, and Xun Zhiya, will stay by his side."
"Since you're not that important in Gu Qian's heart, why should you accommodate him, obey him in everything, and listen to whatever he says? What qualifications does Gu Qian have to discipline you? What is he!" Sheng Hao took the opportunity to curse Gu Qian a few times, then quickly regained his composure. "This is at Taiyi Academy, father's reach doesn't extend this far. Even if he wants to arrange things, as long as you're unwilling, he can't force it."
After last night's discussion with Mu Mengbai and others, Sheng Hao also realized the problem of Nangong Ming's interference. Mu Mengbai and Yan Xiaochuan had thoroughly scolded this inadequate brother, and Sheng Hao endured it all.
Previously when Sheng Hao told Yu Sui not to play with Gu Qian, she would always agree verbally but still help Gu Qian when he was targeted, solving his troubles time and again. Sheng Hao felt his sister was unreliable and too deeply infatuated with Gu Qian to let him go.
Sheng Hao transformed the combined wisdom of himself, Mu Mengbai, and Yan Xiaochuan into one sentence: "Men's protective instincts toward your weakness are all based on lust."
"When you're old and faded, or when the royal residence falls and you have no power or influence, Gu Qian won't continue to like you. He always talks about protecting you, but I've never seen him actually protect you once. Suisui, you need to think about your future. Your life is still long, and you'll meet many people. The academy has many whose family backgrounds, appearances, and abilities are much better than Gu Qian's."
Sheng Hao became earnest: "You should make more friends at the academy and work hard on cultivation, not continue revolving around Gu Qian, doing whatever he says."
Yu Sui nodded vaguely, leaving Sheng Hao uncertain whether she truly understood.
He picked up his water cup to take a sip and moisten his throat, but heard Yu Sui say gently: "Third Brother, everything you're talking about is marriage, but I never thought about getting married."
Sheng Hao's temple twitched hard, feeling he needed to reason with Yu Sui again: "I'm talking about the miserable days you'd have after marrying Gu Qian, which you definitely couldn't endure."
"Yes!" Yu Sui nodded and said, "So I won't marry him."
Sheng Hao finally heard a satisfactory answer, feeling quite comforted: "You finally listened and are no longer stubbornly infatuated with Gu Qian..."
"I like Brother Gu as an older brother." Yu Sui ate her food, looking back at Sheng Hao with a bewildered expression. "Of course I wouldn't marry someone I see as a brother."
Sheng Hao: "......"
He gripped the water cup he'd just brought to his lips, put it back down, almost laughing in anger.
Sheng Hao said angrily: "Nangong Sui, you have brothers! What kind of brother is Gu Qian to you?!"
Yu Sui was also stunned, thinking your focus isn't that I don't like Gu Qian.
Sheng Hao felt increasingly angry the more he thought about it, slapping the table: "What kind of brother is Gu Qian to you!"
Yu Sui silently reached out to hold the food box, pulling away from Sheng Hao, afraid he'd smash the food with one slap.
After Sheng Hao figured it out himself, he changed his expression in a second, looking back at Yu Sui suspiciously: "What did you just say, you don't like Gu Qian?"
Yu Sui looked at him pitifully: "Like him as a brother."
Sheng Hao: "Then you don't like him!"
Yu Sui made a soft "ah" sound, her helpless expression seeming to say if you want to understand it that way, then fine.
Sheng Hao felt his heart twitching painfully: "You don't like Gu Qian, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"None of you asked me. You all just assumed it," Yu Sui said with an honest expression. "And my relationship with Brother Gu really hasn't deteriorated to the point where I wouldn't say a word when you asked."
Sheng Hao pressed his fingers to his temple, his temple also twitching: "Then did you understand what I just said?"
Yu Sui nodded.
Sheng Hao stared at Yu Sui and asked: "Then tell me, what did I mean?"
Yu Sui said: "Brother Gu likes Xun Zhiya."
Sheng Hao nodded: "What else?"
Yu Sui said: "Make more new friends, work hard on cultivation."
Sheng Hao stared at Yu Sui for a long time without speaking.
Though these were all key points, he felt she was missing something.
Sheng Hao took a deep breath and asked gravely: "If Gu Qian asks for your help again, what should you do?"
Yu Sui looked up, seeming to peek at Sheng Hao's expression, pretending to think it over with difficulty, then tentatively said: "Decide based on my mood?"
Sheng Hao reluctantly accepted this answer.
"You really don't like Gu Qian?" Sheng Hao asked again.
Yu Sui nodded.
Sheng Hao didn't quite believe it.
But hearing Yu Sui say it herself today was already quite a gain in some ways.
Yu Sui got up to see Sheng Hao off. Seeing him still chattering as he left, she couldn't help but smile.
This fool.
From childhood to adulthood, always comparing himself to Gu Qian, not knowing he was the one most beloved by Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming's care and protection for Gu Qian was more like business partners, with admiration for the young man. He had expectations for every child, but never made Sheng Hao do anything against his will. Even when Sheng Hao argued fiercely with him, Nangong Ming never severely punished him.
Yu Sui watched Sheng Hao's departing figure, childhood memories flashing through her mind. Sheng Hao and Nangong Ming's interactions were more like father and son, not partners or subordinates.
Some children can effortlessly obtain their parents' favoritism.
It can't be forced.