Chapter 81
At first Yu Sui thought all World Destroyers would endure the pain of being burned by Strange Fire, but for Xue Mushi, this pain only occurred occasionally.
Xue Mushi hadn't been burned by Strange Fire for these past two years.
Yu Sui also didn't deny that she occasionally had thoughts of giving up everything.
It was indeed too difficult.
Whenever this happened, she would look at the flowing crowds on the streets of Qingyang Imperial Capital.
She would see strangers speaking warmly and kindly to her, see hardworking ordinary people living earnestly, see children meeting and accompanying each other, innocently playing and laughing. She would also see the shadows of herself and Zhongli Que running frantically through street alleys to shake off guards, unable to help bursting into laughter.
Yu Sui would then tell herself: endure a little longer.
Perhaps there would be a way.
If she couldn't separate from Strange Fire, then she would endure for a lifetime, hide for a lifetime.
No one would want to destroy everything without reason, to burn away all those vibrant and beautiful existences.
Yu Sui pulled back her thoughts and continued discussing the Floating Pagoda and Heavenly Character Text: "According to what I know, the Floating Pagoda broke into seven pieces, scattered in different places, and Taiyi Academy has three pieces."
"Three pieces?" Xue Mushi was stunned. "That's more than I imagined. Taiyuan, Nanjing, and Qingyang together have four pieces, which means the remaining Floating Pagoda fragments are all at Taiyi Academy."
Yu Sui added: "Currently it's known that one piece is in the Legalist School's first-class forbidden area, Inverted Moon Cave."
"This place sounds very familiar. I seem to have heard it somewhere." Xue Mushi frowned in recollection. "A Legalist School forbidden area. Previously, didn't someone break into Legalist School forbidden areas to steal something, like poison-making Silver River Water?"
Yu Sui rested her chin on one hand and said softly: "On the very day we entered the academy, Gu Qian faced judgment from three schools' Saints at the Legalist School Trial Ground. Officially, it was said he entered the forbidden area Inverted Moon Cave without permission. Coincidentally that same night, the Silver River Water in Inverted Moon Cave also disappeared."
Xue Mushi suddenly understood and remembered: "The Silver River Water seems to have had no news even until now."
"The Silver River Water theft should be unrelated to Gu Qian. Two groups of people went to Inverted Moon Cave that night. One group was for the Silver River Water, while Gu Qian was for the Floating Pagoda." Yu Sui contemplated, rolling her eyes to look outside the stone cave. "My father sent me to Taiyi Academy to help Gu Qian seize the Floating Pagoda."
Hearing this, Xue Mushi connected it with Yu Sui being Nangong Ming's daughter and didn't find it surprising. Rather, it was within expectations.
Nangong Ming was known throughout the six kingdoms.
Even in Taiyuan, the farthest from Qingyang, Xue Mushi could hear deeds related to Nangong Ming.
Xue Mushi could be certain that if Yu Sui's identity as a World Destroyer was known by Nangong Ming, he as a father wouldn't tolerate this daughter either.
Because Nangong Ming wouldn't allow Xuangu Continent to be destroyed by Yu Sui. This was the world he wanted to fight for and occupy. Before Nangong Ming obtained it, he wouldn't allow anyone to destroy it.
"I came to Taiyi Academy also to find the Floating Pagoda." Xue Mushi believed Yu Sui's determination not to die was even stronger than his own. She wouldn't do what that young man who died last night did.
He and Yu Sui should be on the same side.
"Initially when Miaoyi brought me to see the Floating Pagoda fragment, I felt the power it emanated was very peaceful and gentle, able to calm people down and avoid being tempted by Strange Fire." Xue Mushi recalled the feeling at that time, saying in a low voice: "As for the Heavenly Character Text that Gao Tianhao mentioned..."
Xue Mushi extended his hand wanting to write the Heavenly Character Text he had seen in the Floating Pagoda fragment for Yu Sui, but when he stretched out his hand, he didn't know how to write it.
He wrinkled his face and said: "The School of Names can create characters and texts, giving 'names' and meaning to all living and dead things in the world. 'Heavenly Character Text' is said to coexist with Xuangu Continent, the first batch of characters that appeared when heaven and earth first opened. At first glance, they have no particular meaning, just relatively ancient characters, symbolizing the long time of whatever they're attached to."
Heavenly Character Text wasn't "man-made" but "heaven-made."
Xue Mushi said: "But I also don't know whether the Heavenly Character Text that Gao Tianhao said could free one from Strange Fire is in a certain Floating Pagoda fragment, or if all Floating Pagoda fragments need to be gathered to know."
But Yu Sui changed her line of thinking: "Since he said he was almost successful, perhaps every piece of the Floating Pagoda contains Heavenly Character Text."
Both of them developed interest in the Floating Pagoda fragment within Inverted Moon Cave.
"If last night's dead young man revealed the matters of Taiyi Academy and Heavenly Character Text, then others would know that World Destroyers have secretly infiltrated Taiyi Academy. Taiyi Academy might take action regarding this matter." Xue Mushi found it somewhat troublesome, raising his hand to rub his face. "Perhaps what he said wasn't limited to just this."
Yu Sui said: "When Gao Tianhao was surrounded and killed at Taiyi Academy back then, the Saints of Taiyi Academy couldn't possibly know nothing about what he did there. But Gu Qian can be certain the Floating Pagoda is in the Legalist School forbidden area Inverted Moon Cave. How did this information get out from Taiyi Academy?"
Xue Mushi was slightly stunned hearing this. He looked into Yu Sui's eyes and saw her gaze was bright and cold, completely contrary to her usual gentle warmth.
Yu Sui said slowly: "Although the Floating Pagoda and Heavenly Character Text are one entity, it appears others don't know the relationship between Heavenly Character Text and Strange Fire. We should view them separately. Those who want the Floating Pagoda do so because they're forces from the six kingdoms wanting to break the Non-War Pact, while those who want Heavenly Character Text are World Destroyers trying to escape Strange Fire."
"At least before the young man exposed that Heavenly Character Text could free one from Strange Fire, even knowing the Floating Pagoda fragments contained Heavenly Character Text, others wouldn't associate it with Strange Fire, only considering it a representation of time." Yu Sui covered her neck and rubbed it, speaking very lightly: "But now they know the Heavenly Character Text in the Floating Pagoda is related to Strange Fire. Their previously indifferent attitude will change accordingly."
Perhaps the key point wasn't that World Destroyers would infiltrate Taiyi Academy.
This kind of thing had happened before.
The key point was that they now knew the secret relationship between Heavenly Character Text and Strange Fire.
Xue Mushi's eyelid twitched. After silent contemplation for a moment, he looked back at Yu Sui in disbelief: "The information about the Floating Pagoda being in Inverted Moon Cave, it couldn't have been spread by people from Taiyi Academy, could it?"
Those capable of doing this would be either Thirteenth Realm instructors at Taiyi Academy or one of the 24 Saints.
"In this world, my father definitely isn't the only one wanting to break the Non-War Pact." Yu Sui wasn't too surprised. She laughed softly: "Taiyi Academy has all kinds of people. There are countless Thirteenth Realm instructors, and the 24 Saints aren't all powerhouses from the same country. They also haven't all been at Taiyi Academy since childhood, living there continuously without ever going outside."
People all had selfish motives.
People often said Taiyi Academy was so vast it was like the seventh kingdom of Xuangu Continent.
But Taiyi Academy wasn't truly a seventh kingdom.
Xuangu Continent only had six kingdoms.
The Saints controlling Taiyi Academy also came from different countries with different ideas.
Yu Sui smiled at Xue Mushi and said: "Setting Strange Fire aside, when the Non-War Pact is lifted and Qingyang attacks Taiyuan, you won't just watch either, will you?"
Xue Mushi scratched his head, silently nodded, his expression showing momentary hesitation as he said: "But Taiyuan also wants to lift the Non-War Pact. I think when the Non-War Pact is lifted, the first to be attacked will be Yan Kingdom."
"Indeed." Yu Sui nodded.
But honestly, she didn't have a sense of belonging to Qingyang either.
Yu Sui didn't care much about what happened to the six kingdoms.
Xue Mushi said: "Among Taiyi Academy's 24 Saints, not one is from Yan Kingdom."
"Yan Kingdom's own Saints all died out, otherwise it wouldn't have fallen to today's state." Speaking of this, Yu Sui thought of Breath Soil and said thoughtfully: "There is still one Agricultural School Saint who had his Breath Soil taken by my parents' conspiracy and is half-dead. If he gets back his Breath Soil and heals his serious injuries, Yan Kingdom might still have a little chance."
Xue Mushi looked at Yu Sui admiringly: "Your father is very formidable."
But Yu Sui said: "The more formidable he is, the more disadvantageous it is for me."
Xue Mushi somewhat guessed Yu Sui's situation. Since she could hide for 18 years, her relationship with her family might not be as good as outsiders thought.
"To crack the secret of Heavenly Character Text and Strange Fire requires help from School of Names people. In researching 'character text,' they are the most skilled." Xue Mushi said: "And we'd better get the Floating Pagoda fragment from Inverted Moon Cave before Taiyi Academy's Saints take action."
Yu Sui thought the same.
"I happen to know Gu Qian plans to act on the fifteenth day. Dragon Corpse Cloud Roaming will pass through the Legalist School, drawing the Inverted Moon Cave forbidden area into Dragon Slaying Cave. There won't be patrolling guards from the academy then, greatly reducing the risk of entering Inverted Moon Cave." Yu Sui told Xue Mushi about Gu Qian and the others' plan. "They'll dive down from the School of Names' Xiaoyao Pool, taking the waterway into Inverted Moon Cave."
Xue Mushi suggested: "How about letting them get it first, then we rob them?"
This could also avoid the risk of being discovered. Robbing from Inverted Moon Cave versus robbing from Gu Qian were completely different levels of difficulty.
But Yu Sui said: "I somewhat doubt whether Gu Qian can successfully obtain it."
Xue Mushi silently raised his hand and asked: "What do you think of Gu Qian as a person? He's your childhood friend, also a School of Names disciple with good talent, and you can fool him completely."
"No good." Yu Sui glanced at Xue Mushi, knowing his meaning was to have Gu Qian help decrypt the Heavenly Character Text.
Yu Sui shook her head: "Gu Qian won't work. If he knows, it's the same as my father knowing."
Usually deceiving him with pretenses of stupidity and weakness for small matters was one thing, but for something like the Floating Pagoda, Gu Qian wouldn't be unclear about priorities.
Xue Mushi gave up on Gu Qian and thought of other ways: "Then should we act within Dragon Slaying Cave, or wait until Gu Qian obtains the fragment and brings it out before acting?"
"If we act within Dragon Slaying Cave, we can't bring the Floating Pagoda fragment to Dragon Head Ye Pool to get Heavenly Mechanism Arts." Yu Sui said: "Dragon Head has Saints. Bringing treasures obtained from secret realms to challenge trials is too risky."
"Gu Qian left people at Dragon Tail for support, also to avoid this risk."
Xue Mushi and Yu Sui stared at each other.
Obviously, neither wanted to give up the chance to seize Heavenly Mechanism Arts at Dragon Head.
Yu Sui remembered her ability to repeatedly generate Five Elements Light Cores and asked Xue Mushi tentatively: "Does your Strange Fire bring you any different powers?"
Xue Mushi shook his head: "I can use Strange Fire to sense whether living beings are approaching nearby."
Yu Sui nodded: "Me too. This should be an ability all World Destroyers have."
Xue Mushi thought again and added: "If I use Strange Fire while using Nine Schools Arts, it enhances the Nine Schools Arts, but it's easy to be tempted. I only accidentally released a tiny bit, just a small flame, but nearly couldn't come back to my senses."
Xue Mushi wasn't confident he could have a second time with such things.
It could be said Strange Fire's power was too strong, even World Destroyers couldn't withstand it.
Yu Sui sighed: "I've had similar experiences. Strange Fire seems able to burn everything, but from my observations, I believe Strange Fire prioritizes burning 'Five Elements Energy,' even though that speed is fast enough to ignore."
"I previously went to see Five Elements Water Field. Because it was burned by Strange Fire, entry is prohibited and it's still under repair. The burned area looks very large, but Taiyi Academy's Five Elements Water Field has vast Five Elements Energy operating various Nine Schools Arts, so when Strange Fire burned, there was also resistance, slowing the flame's devouring speed."
"Your speculation should be correct. Any Nine Schools Arts that manifest 'Five Elements Energy' can be burned by Strange Fire and have no effect on it." Xue Mushi said: "Divine Mechanism Arts are also useless."
Yu Sui asked: "Do you have Divine Mechanism Arts?"
Xue Mushi was stunned by the question: "You're quite direct."
Yu Sui just blinked.
But Xue Mushi shook his head: "I don't have Divine Mechanism Arts. It's just because of the speculation about prioritizing burning Five Elements Energy that I investigated and learned about Divine Mechanism Arts that can activate without using Five Elements Energy."
"But Strange Fire only prioritizes burning Five Elements Energy, it doesn't exclusively burn Five Elements Energy. So even Divine Mechanism Arts are useless against Strange Fire."
Both could feel Strange Fire's heaven-defying power. Precisely because no force could defeat or restrain it, it was frightening.
Yu Sui hesitated for a moment but still didn't mention the Five Elements Light Core matter.
"In Dragon Slaying Cave, we temporarily won't know the situation of last night's dead young man. We can only inquire after getting out." Yu Sui said: "What we can do now is obtain the Floating Pagoda fragment in Inverted Moon Cave."
Xue Mushi nodded. While the two discussed Inverted Moon Cave-related matters, Yu Sui was also telling him about upcoming transmission point routes.
"Today is the fifth day. Gu Qian and the others are waiting until the fifteenth to explore Inverted Moon Cave. Could there also be some special time restrictions?" Xue Mushi asked.
Yu Sui recalled what day Gu Qian had broken into Inverted Moon Cave last time. It wasn't the fifteenth, it seemed to be the end of the month, the thirtieth day.
"Perhaps this Dragon Slaying Cave challenge gives Gu Qian two opportunities to enter Inverted Moon Cave." Yu Sui speculated: "I'll ask about it later."
Xue Mushi stared at her blankly: "How will you ask?"
Ask directly?
To be safe, Gu Qian brought a Wind-Listening Ruler for this Dragon Slaying Cave challenge, betting that Yu Sui's secondary account would send him messages for contact.
This time he had bet correctly.
Yu Sui was thinking about sending messages via Wind-Listening Ruler but answered: "Ask directly. Although he doesn't really let me participate in operations, since my father wants me to help, I should also inquire."
"There are still ten days. If we continue at our current speed, we can reach Dragon Throat in three more days. There are no transmission points at Dragon Throat, we can only reach it by passing trials."
Yu Sui said: "If we can't make it back in time, we either wait for the second opportunity or act after getting out."
Robbing the Floating Pagoda from Gu Qian after leaving Dragon Slaying Cave would actually be easier.
Being thieves either way, even if Gu Qian was robbed, he wouldn't dare make too much noise.
Possessing a Heavenly Mechanism Art would greatly enhance the self-protection abilities of Yu Sui and Xue Mushi, whose strength was still relatively weak.
They truly didn't want to easily give up such an opportunity.
Xue Mushi chose to listen to Yu Sui and carefully memorized the transmission point locations.
Outside, the sky had completely darkened. Yu Sui took time to check Mei Liangyu's position. Senior Brother was constantly moving to find people, but after nightfall, mountain stones shifted. Several times he walked far from her, only to end up walking back.
Yu Sui was slightly stunned watching.
Clearly he had walked in the wrong direction, but in the end, through some coincidence, he always ended up walking back.
"I've memorized it." Xue Mushi looked up, gripping copper coins with a serious expression.
Yu Sui withdrew her gaze from looking outside the stone cave and turned back to Xue Mushi, lightly raising her chin: "Then you should go."
Xue Mushi: "......"
Yu Sui said: "If my Senior Brother finds his way here and sees us together, he might be somewhat suspicious."
Xue Mushi thought, alright, what you say makes sense. He was led to another place by you, but then sees us together, he'd definitely think something was wrong.
Yu Sui had Xue Mushi go out and wander around randomly. When the right moment came, she would give him a signal to come over.
Xue Mushi then walked alone into the night and disappeared.
Yu Sui continued watching the moving red dot.
She didn't immediately alter the terrain to guide Mei Liangyu toward her. She didn't know why, but she just wanted to see the result of Senior Brother walking on his own.
If he walked farther and farther away, Yu Sui would definitely intervene.
Suddenly, strong winds rose in the mountain valley at night. Thunder and lightning flashed in the sky, and in moments, torrential rain poured down.
Yu Sui listened to the wailing, howling wind sounds in the night, raising her hand to rub her face. The burning Celestial Fire clung to the mountain walls, with only her solitary shadow on the ground.
Mei Liangyu was still searching for her.
The stars in the sky were obscured. Mei Liangyu couldn't rely on star observation for directions, but he didn't give up either.
Occasionally he would take wrong paths, but ultimately always returned to the correct course, unhurried, getting closer and closer to her.
Yu Sui sat at the cave entrance, staring blankly at her own hands. Her left hand was bandaged by Senior Brother. The firelight cast a layer of light within the white, actually appearing somewhat warm.
Her torn palm and bitten lip corner both ached faintly.
While she was in a daze, in the howling, rainy night, the man who found the opposite riverbank crossed the river and looked toward the fire-lit cave.
Yu Sui, sitting against the mountain wall, looked up toward outside the cave. In her eyes bright and dim with firelight, the approaching man was reflected. He was soaked through, his face covered with water streaks, wet black hair clinging to his skin. His expression was cold as he walked toward Yu Sui through the vast night and fierce wind and rain.
Yu Sui's throat felt momentarily dry. She softly called out: "Senior Brother."
Mei Liangyu walked to her and crouched down. His hands wrapped in medicinal cloth had gotten wet from rain and were soaked through, the color appearing several shades deeper. He raised his hand and tapped Yu Sui's forehead, saying in a deep voice: "You really made me search hard. Are you hurt anywhere?"