Chapter 67
Yan Xiaochuan had previously caught a glimpse of Yu Sui at Xiaoyao Pool. After coming ashore, he asked everywhere about which school that girl belonged to, eventually asking Sheng Hao. After comparing notes, they discovered this guy was talking about his own sister.
Sheng Hao immediately told him to get lost.
Mu Mengbai said the same thing.
Yan Xiaochuan felt regretful, not expecting that girl to be the Qingyang Little Princess who had been infatuated with Gu Qian for years.
He sighed and asked: "Did the Little Princess listen to what you said?"
"Of course." Sheng Hao lifted his chin with some pride. "Don't you see how smart she is?"
Yan Xiaochuan thought to himself, you weren't saying this when you called your sister stupid before.
But thinking again, listening to the words meant she would give up on Gu Qian, right? Maybe she was still wavering now. If Gu Qian sweet-talked her again, the foolish princess might be bewitched again.
Yan Xiaochuan felt he needed to help strengthen Yu Sui's resolve.
So he inquired from many sources, finally learning from a friend's friend's friend, Xue Mushi, that Yu Sui would also participate in the Dragon Slaying Cave challenge.
He was supposed to help Sheng Hao and Mu Mengbai transport things from the dragon tail anyway, so he could escort Yu Sui partway. Seeing him bring the Little Princess over, Senior Brother Sheng would look at him with new respect too!
Yan Xiaochuan smiled with squinted eyes, striding to Yu Sui and blocking her path. Under Yu Sui's puzzled gaze, he enthusiastically introduced himself: "Little Princess, I'm called Yan Xiaochuan, Yan as in Yan Kingdom, but I'm not from Yan Kingdom. I'm a School of Names disciple, very familiar with Senior Brother Sheng, and also very familiar with your fellow Senior Brother."
Yu Sui, suddenly blocked, paused and said hesitantly: "...My Third Brother and Senior Brother?"
She was somewhat surprised. She knew Yan Xiaochuan was familiar with Sheng Hao, but didn't know he was also familiar with Mei Liangyu.
"Senior Brother Liangyu is familiar with my Master, which means he's familiar with me." Yan Xiaochuan winked at her, naturally leading Yu Sui forward as he walked. "This Dragon Slaying Cave challenge, how come you're alone..."
Before he finished speaking, he was blocked by Su Tong, who had been waiting behind.
Su Tong glanced at the fawning Yan Xiaochuan, a scheming School of Names disciple. She inserted herself between the two, separating Yu Sui from Yan Xiaochuan, asking: "What are you trying to get close for? Her fellow Senior Brother personally entrusted me to lead Nangong Sui through Dragon Slaying Cave. What are you?"
Yu Sui looked at Su Tong in surprise. My Senior Brother again?
Yan Xiaochuan wasn't panicked at all. He was very skilled at acting weak and pitiful, looking at Su Tong pitifully: "Senior Sister Su, everyone has the same goal, why be so fierce? I was also personally entrusted by the Little Princess's brother to bring Senior Brother Sheng's sister through Dragon Slaying Cave!"
Though he lied, the general meaning was about right.
Su Tong looked at Yan Xiaochuan suspiciously.
It wasn't that she was oversensitive, but during Dragon Slaying Cave challenges, if unfamiliar people traveled together, scheming to kick people out and eliminate them inside happened frequently.
Though doing this would likely create enemies or result in getting beaten up when they came out, some people didn't care and dared to do it anyway.
Who would easily give up a chance to obtain Heavenly Mechanism Arts without cultivation?
As long as they disguised well, they could sell someone out and still have fools grateful for their kindness, not understanding why they were eliminated.
In Su Tong's eyes, Yu Sui was innocent and cute. This kind of new disciple was most easily deceived, especially since Yan Xiaochuan wasn't a new disciple. Higher-level disciples deceiving lower-level disciples happened constantly.
To be safe, Su Tong turned to ask Yu Sui: "Do you know him?"
Yu Sui looked at her pitifully: "Actually, I don't know Senior Sister either."
Su Tong: "......"
Yan Xiaochuan burst out laughing. The situation was a bit awkward for Su Tong.
"I'm called Su Tong, a Class A Technical Arts School disciple." Su Tong cleared her throat, putting on her Senior Sister airs. When she turned to look at Yu Sui, the three divine wood signs hanging at her waist swayed gently. "Your Senior Brother made an agreement with me to protect you for fifteen days. Within fifteen days, he'll definitely come find you and take you to Ye Pool."
Since Mei Liangyu hadn't said to keep it secret, Su Tong told Yu Sui directly.
Yan Xiaochuan tossed the stone in his hand: "Senior Brother Liangyu's word can be trusted, but I also came to help Senior Brother Sheng watch the Little Princess. How about we go together?"
Before Yu Sui even entered Dragon Slaying Cave, she had gained two travel companions.
She smiled politely and accepted: "Okay."
Seeing Yu Sui accept, Su Tong had no choice but to secretly guard against Yan Xiaochuan.
Several Thirteenth Realm instructors guarded the entrance to maintain order, explaining rules to new disciples and showing them routes. The dragon tail entrance was wide and dark, pitch black inside, so even standing at the entrance, one couldn't see the scenery inside.
All three entrances displayed the number of disciples who had entered Dragon Slaying Cave, how many remained, and how many were eliminated.
Not long after, it already showed people had been eliminated.
Both Yan Xiaochuan and Su Tong had been to Dragon Slaying Cave before. At this time, they repeated what Mei Liangyu had previously told Yu Sui: "Before entering, you must first get a Mechanism Exquisite Heart. It can block one fatal injury. Once inside, if your Mechanism Exquisite Heart triggers to block fatal damage, you're considered eliminated. If conscious, you'll fall out of Dragon Slaying Cave. If unconscious, the instructors will bring you out."
Yu Sui followed the two and received a Mechanism Exquisite Heart from the instructors. At first glance, it was a transparent round pearl wrapped in golden talismans. After removing the talisman, it turned into a golden stream and merged into her heart.
It only blocked fatal injuries. What if you broke arms or legs inside?
Yu Sui couldn't help thinking. Maybe in such situations, you could shatter the Mechanism Exquisite Heart yourself and summon patrolling instructors to rescue you.
"Wind-Listening Rulers are forbidden inside Dragon Slaying Cave. You can't send messages or voice transmissions, and can't receive news either," Yan Xiaochuan said.
Yu Sui glanced at the instructors standing on both sides of the entrance. They all wore Wind-Listening Rulers at their waists.
Su Tong walked at the front, stopping the two who were about to follow other crowds: "Hey, the entrance has mysteries too. Don't walk randomly. Walk left nine steps then enter. The teleportation point will be much safer, with fewer people."
She walked nine steps first, stopped in place to look at Yu Sui and Yan Xiaochuan. The remaining two did the same.
Only when approaching the entrance did they realize it was more like a mountain cave entrance. From afar, it looked tall and large, but up close they discovered it was like a giant mountain, about 100 meters long, reaching the height of the sky. The pitch-black unknown was full of oppressive feeling.
No matter how many disciples came, they wouldn't queue up.
Yu Sui looked left and right. Dense crowds of disciples stood on both sides. At a glance, most people had companions, very few traveled alone.
Even if you couldn't find companions before coming, others would actively invite you at the entrance.
Su Tong stepped forward, saying quietly: "Let's go."
The three stepped into darkness together. When they opened their eyes again, they were inside Dragon Slaying Cave.
……
The three stood on a quiet path with green forests and mountains on both sides. Tall shrubs swayed in the breeze. Above them, the sky was bright, and they could see gray squirrels leaping between branches in the forest.
The path sloped upward. Below the slope, they could see fields, rivers, and houses.
Su Tong turned around, pointing at the fields and rivers below: "There's an illusion here. We need to go back. If you follow the mountain path forward, you'll hit a ghost wall and can't get out of the mountains until your energy is exhausted, your mind affected by plant illusions, then you'll destroy your own Mechanism Exquisite Heart."
Yu Sui nodded obediently: "Okay."
Yan Xiaochuan was obviously here for the first time, scratching his head: "Senior Sister Su, doesn't this teleportation point sound more dangerous?"
"It's not dangerous if you know the changes." Su Tong led them down the slope. "Some routes and Nine Schools Arts in Dragon Slaying Cave don't change. If you come several times and remember them, there's nothing to fear. But some places will change, can't guarantee they're the same every year."
Yan Xiaochuan held up his fingers: "I've been to Dragon Slaying Cave twice."
Su Tong said: "I've been five times."
Yan Xiaochuan bowed his hands in a gesture of admitting defeat: "Little Princess is here for the first time and must have many questions. Come, come, don't be afraid. I'll answer everything."
He took two steps forward to walk alongside Yu Sui, smiling as he looked at her.
Mei Liangyu had already told Yu Sui most of the Dragon Slaying Cave precautions. Yu Sui had listened carefully and already asked her questions to Mei Liangyu. With Yan Xiaochuan saying this, Yu Sui couldn't think of what to ask for a moment.
But not wanting to dampen her companion's enthusiasm, Yu Sui had to ask questions she already knew: "Dragon Slaying Cave is so long. Even without obstacles, using full Wind-Riding Techniques to travel, a month wouldn't be enough to reach the dragon head."
Yan Xiaochuan chuckled twice, mysteriously holding up a finger: "The academy wouldn't give us impossible trials, so within this vast dragon cave, there are methods to reduce distance through teleportation."
Yu Sui showed appropriate surprise, widening her eyes slightly as she looked back.
Yan Xiaochuan walked and talked: "School of Names' Mountain Stone Road Opening, Taoist School's Eight Trigrams Gates, Technical Arts School's Object Transposition, Ghost Way School's Divine Soul Easy Transmission, and so on. They're all here. As long as you master the patterns and find the starting teleportation points, even if we're at the dragon tail, we can instantly fly to the dragon head."
Yu Sui nodded with realization: "So that's how it is."
Yan Xiaochuan was ostensibly teaching Yu Sui but also speaking for Su Tong to hear: "Senior Sister Su, do you have Technical Arts School Object Transposition teleportation points?"
Su Tong didn't answer, glancing at him: "Do you have School of Names Mountain Stone Road Opening teleportation points?"
Yan Xiaochuan nodded with a grin: "Yes, I originally planned to get fire crystals, then use the dragon tail's Mountain Stone Road Opening teleportation point to take the Little Princess to meet up with Senior Brother Sheng."
He was sincere, speaking openly without concealment. Su Tong also knew Sheng Hao was Yu Sui's brother. Traveling with her brother shouldn't be dangerous, so she agreed.
Su Tong asked: "Who is Sheng Hao with?"
Yan Xiaochuan said: "Senior Brother Mu Mengbai. They're both Technical Arts School, Senior Sister Su should know him too."
Su Tong made an "oh" sound.
Yan Xiaochuan suddenly became alert: "I forgot, you're all Technical Arts School, so you're competitors."
"What's the panic? I'm not competing for the dragon head." Su Tong tilted her head toward Yu Sui. "My goal this time is just to protect her."
After saying this, she warned Yan Xiaochuan: "Don't play tricks. If you dare hurt her, I'll be very angry. When angry, I'll curse you to fail advancing to Class A for the next three years."
Yan Xiaochuan raised both hands: "Heaven and earth can witness, I also came to protect the Little Princess."
Yu Sui was very gratified.
All along this journey, the people around her were very talkative. Finally, no more mutes.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, a stream flowed before them. The clear water contained some living creatures, but what attracted their attention weren't fish and shrimp, but three to five human figures moving in the fields across the shore.
"Unfamiliar faces, look like this year's new disciples," Yan Xiaochuan said in a low voice.
The people opposite had obviously noticed them too. Two girls waved at Yu Sui and called: "Nangong Sui!"
Su Tong looked at Yu Sui, asking softly: "Do you know them?"
Yu Sui nodded, saying honestly: "People from Qingyang, the Li family's second daughter and the Duke of Chengxiang's princess."
The remaining three boys she recognized but had only seen at the academy. They weren't from Qingyang.
"Should we leave first?" Yan Xiaochuan said. "Looks like they're coming to join us."
Su Tong said: "They've seen us, not good to leave. It would cause gossip about Nangong Sui. Let's see what they want. If they want to go together, refuse directly. Not convenient. If they want to fight, send them out."
Yan Xiaochuan looked at her: "Senior Sister Su, didn't you say there were few people here?"
Five people at once, that wasn't few.
"Dragon Slaying Cave challenge's first day, everywhere has many people." As the figures across approached, Su Tong's voice grew smaller. "Haven't you teleported to a point where hundreds of people were there from the start?"
Yan Xiaochuan recalled his first time entering Dragon Slaying Cave, the scene of people everywhere, silently touching his nose and saying nothing.
While talking, the five young people had already crossed the riverbank.
The seemingly quiet Second Miss Li called to Yu Sui: "Princess."
Though Taiyi Academy promoted equality and discouraged class distinctions, it was precisely high-class people who were used to habits that were hard to change. If Yan Xiaochuan calling Yu Sui "Princess" was an attempt to get close, then Second Miss Li calling Yu Sui "Princess" was an unchangeable habit.
"Meeting you here is such a coincidence. We walked around a circle and didn't see anyone else." The Duke of Chengxiang's princess had equivalent status to Yu Sui, speaking more casually. "It's better to travel together with more people. How about joining us?"
Yu Sui said politely: "I'm also following others."
Su Tong refused directly: "No thanks, too many people isn't good. We'll each go our own way."
At these words, the five young people's expressions varied.
Yu Sui and Yan Xiaochuan both mentally praised Su Tong at this moment.
"How is it not good? Shouldn't more people be safer? When problems arise, there are more people to help," the princess couldn't understand.
"They think we're not strong enough, isn't that obvious?" One boy said impatiently. "Acting like anyone really wants to go with you. Let's go."
Saying this, he walked toward the mountain slope. The other two boys followed, and Second Miss Li and the princess hesitated briefly before following them too.
Su Tong lifted her chin, saying without changing expression: "Let's go too."
Yu Sui and Yan Xiaochuan followed.
Yan Xiaochuan gave Su Tong a thumbs up: "Senior Sister Su, I've spent my whole life learning how to righteously refuse others."
But Su Tong turned to tell Yu Sui: "Bad feeling, don't play with them."
Yu Sui nodded but asked: "How did Senior Sister sense it?"
Su Tong explained: "Technical Arts School's divination sense can feel malice or goodwill from a person's expressions, movements, and energy flow."
Yan Xiaochuan: "Senior Sister Su, is your divination sense accurate?"
"Not always accurate." Su Tong said. "It might not work on people good at disguising, but those five just now had no disguise experience."
Divination was something every school knew a bit of, but only Technical Arts School was most skilled.
If other schools' divination came from trigram studies, then Technical Arts School's divination methods were much more diverse, with different schools of thought. Most popular was military divination.
Every warring feudal state had one or two Technical Arts School military diviners in their army camps.
Agricultural School had the ability to predict weather because their cultivation resonated with heaven and earth, making them especially sensitive to wind and rain changes. Skilled Technical Arts School military diviners could directly change battlefield weather, terrain, and fortune.
Currently outside Taiyi Academy, there were only two Technical Arts School Saints, one in Qingyang and one in Nanjing.
Su Tong had refused those five people, but soon discovered they said they wouldn't follow but were secretly tailing behind.
Yan Xiaochuan suggested directly eliminating them, but Su Tong said there was no need to make the first move and create enemies. She led Yu Sui to use Wind-Riding Techniques to take detours and shake them off.
Su Tong's goal was to keep Yu Sui from being eliminated within half a month, so she tried to avoid all conflicts requiring combat.
Yu Sui was led by the two like a good child, doing whatever they told her to do.
Su Tong's "divination sense" of Yu Sui was very friendly: peaceful, gentle, obedient. Getting along with her felt the same way. She thought no wonder even the picky Mei Liangyu would accept this new Junior Sister.
As for Yan Xiaochuan, he was enthusiastic, sincere, and pure-hearted. Su Tong gradually lowered her guard.
Yu Sui and Su Tong traveled in the direction Yan Xiaochuan pointed, heading to the School of Names Mountain Stone Road Opening teleportation point. Along the way, they encountered quite a few people, either greeting each other or avoiding each other, but all was peaceful without major problems.
Su Tong would divine for fortune and misfortune at intervals. If the divination was bad, she'd have Yan Xiaochuan take detours, avoiding what they could.
They traveled through mountains and fields until sunset. As the sky darkened, the originally peaceful and tranquil mountains suddenly became somewhat sinister, raising everyone's alertness.
Yan Xiaochuan tossed the stone in his hand. The smooth stone kept flipping as it fell, and when it landed in his palm, golden light flashed briefly.
Yu Sui watched curiously as Su Tong explained: "School of Names' 'Throwing Stones to Ask the Way.' That stone can resonate with stones in these mountains, so it can determine which direction what he's looking for is in."
Yan Xiaochuan gripped the stone: "This is a named stone I spent over a month searching for in Xiaoyao Pool. It's also the first named stone I've owned."
Stones in Xiaoyao Pool had all been blessed with words by Saints, so they possessed different powers.
Yu Sui's gaze lightly touched the little black stone in his palm: "What's its name?"
Yan Xiaochuan stared at the stone: "Oh, it's called Little Flower."
"......"
The lively atmosphere became silent.
After a moment, Su Tong and Yu Sui couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Yan Xiaochuan looked at them helplessly. Laugh, laugh away. He was speechless when he first sensed the name too. He didn't know which past School of Names Saint was so unreliable. Other people's stones had either elegant or dominating names. Only his sensed stone seemed to be treated by the Saint like a random cat or dog on the roadside, casually shouted at: whether it's a cat or dog, I'm too lazy to think, let's just call it Little Flower.
Su Tong laughed until tears came out: "At least it's a Saint-blessed stone. Maybe one day it'll really grow flowers, hahaha!"
While the two were laughing, Yan Xiaochuan coughed, pretending to be serious: "We're still very far from the teleportation point. Because it's too far, I can't sense it yet. The mountains change at night, and it's easy to get lost and walk further away. We'd better wait until daylight to act."
Su Tong waved her hand, nodding in agreement.
Yu Sui had no objections either. Actually, they had been using Wind-Riding Techniques to travel all day, covering a great distance with high energy consumption. Taking a break to recover would be best.
The three found an open space by the river with tree cover for protection and strategic advantage.
Yan Xiaochuan gathered some wooden sticks and dry firewood to light a fire. The temperature dropped sharply at night, even the wind carried bone-chilling cold. If they stayed like this all night without warming up, their bones might freeze through by morning.
Both Su Tong and Yan Xiaochuan felt very cold and needed fire for warmth. Only Yu Sui couldn't feel it. The Strange Fire's heat made her completely ignore the night's cold temperature. Now crouched by the fire, she even had a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.
Yan Xiaochuan and Su Tong were organizing tomorrow's route, occasionally asking Yu Sui's opinion. Yu Sui played the good child, listening to everything Su Tong said.
After finishing business, they began chatting casually. Yan Xiaochuan was good at livening the atmosphere, speaking appropriately. He first chatted with Yu Sui about her Third Brother Sheng Hao, then naturally moved to discussing the School of Names Xiaoyao Pool trial, then told the scene of Gu Qian rescuing Xun Zhiya from the water as trial anecdotes.
Su Tong said confusedly: "What was a Legalist School disciple doing at Xiaoyao Pool?"
"Senior Sister Su, during Xiaoyao Pool trials, disciples from other schools wouldn't come unless they had business." Yan Xiaochuan winked ambiguously. "It's like when you participate in divination competitions, Military School disciples who have nothing to do with divination competitions also come to watch you."
Su Tong looked at him with a wooden expression: "You really understand."
Yan Xiaochuan proudly lifted his chin: "Of course, I'm a School of Names disciple. What don't I understand?"
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Yu Sui, who was obediently adding firewood, and asked her: "Little Princess, I heard Senior Brother Sheng angrily scold Gu Qian, saying he kissed Xun Zhiya and wronged you."
"Third Brother misunderstood. Whoever Brother Gu likes has nothing to do with me." Yu Sui looked at the burning flames, completely without the pained expression of learning her beloved liked someone else. "Brother Gu is a childhood playmate."
Su Tong had already guessed Yan Xiaochuan's intention, saying from the side: "You men are strange, thinking that if girls have slightly better relationships with you, the girls must like you."
Yu Sui nodded in agreement.
Yan Xiaochuan supported his face with one hand, showing a big smile on his fair face: "I'm not like that."
Yu Sui and Su Tong looked up at him, their eyes seeming to say "I don't really care whether you are or not." Yan Xiaochuan silently put away his smile, nodded, and naturally changed the topic: "You should sleep. I'll keep watch."
"I don't sleep well at night. You sleep first, I'll keep watch," Yu Sui said.
Yan Xiaochuan looked at Yu Sui pitifully, thinking this Little Princess was not only beautiful but also kind-hearted, obedient and pretty. Though Yu Sui said Gu Qian was a playmate, he didn't believe Gu Qian thought the same way.
If Gu Qian hadn't developed feelings for the Little Princess, then he'd change his name to Little Flower!
……
The dragon tail side was quite peaceful on the first day, without much danger. Most people were entering for the first time, not thinking of competing fiercely, but mutually avoiding each other, wanting to stay longer and explore more.
Only the dragon belly and dragon claw sides kept refreshing elimination numbers, with people constantly entering and immediately being eliminated.
Because those taking these routes were not only strong but experienced, they were the greatest threats in Dragon Slaying Cave challenges. Anyone not from their team was a potential competitor.
Zhongli Shan extinguished the ground fire, putting out the only light in the darkness. He hid behind trees motionlessly, but his gaze watched outside.
Xing Chun formed hand seals at the cave entrance, drawing celestial stars into the dark ground. Countless flickering blue-glowing stars extended into the cave, with stars exploring the path to open the Yin-Yang School "Object Transposition" teleportation point.
Mei Liangyu had a red Agricultural School transmission beast on the back of his hand. He told Zhongli Shan behind the tree: "Cang Shu and the others have reached the second gate of the dragon spine. There are many people there, so they want us to change routes."
"Then we can only use the School of Names 'Mountain Stone Road Opening' teleportation point." Xing Chun turned back to ask Mei Liangyu: "Our team doesn't have anyone from School of Names, right?"
Zhongli Shan also looked back at Mei Liangyu: "Don't tell me you know it."
Mei Liangyu said lazily: "I do."
Zhongli Shan: "......"
Xing Chun stomped hard on the star representing Ghost Way School: "Your school produced a traitor!"
Zhongli Shan looked at Mei Liangyu helplessly, then suddenly frowned, looking toward the forest: "Someone's approaching."
"Who?" Xing Chun asked. "The star formation still needs time to connect. Don't let them come over."
Zhongli Shan closed his eyes to sense the military formation set nearby, seeing Gu Qian's group, but they just passed by the formation, seeming not to have discovered it.
"Gu Qian and Xun Zhiya, plus Li Jin Shuang." Zhongli Shan said. "Li Jin Shuang might have sensed the military formation, but she didn't say anything. Maybe their target isn't here."
Xing Chun turned to ask Mei Liangyu: "Want to go help you get revenge?"
Mei Liangyu looked toward the stars in the cave, saying indifferently: "Don't bother, we're pressed for time."