Chapter 106
After Sheng Hao finished changing his clothes, he frowned while waiting for Mei Liangyu and Yu Sui to reply. Looking up to find Gu Qian still standing at the door, he asked Mu Mengbai: "Why didn't you close the door?"
Mu Mengbai turned to Gu Qian and said: "Then I'm going to close the door now."
He really would close the door.
Gu Qian knew this, so he grabbed the door handle with one hand. His gaze swept past Mu Mengbai to look at Sheng Hao as he said: "Where did he say Sui Sui is?"
Sheng Hao couldn't even be bothered to speak with him. He turned his face away and waved his hand at Mu Mengbai, signaling him to quickly make this annoying pest get lost.
When Mu Mengbai tried to close the door but was pushed back by Gu Qian slapping the door handle, the anger in Sheng Hao's heart flared up uncontrollably. As he stood up, golden Five Elements protective energy ignited around him.
"Wait, don't fight yet!" Mu Mengbai steadied himself and stood between the two, stretching out his hands to block them. "Unless you two can guarantee that people on this floor won't discover you, or that you can kill someone in one strike."
Gu Qian stared at Sheng Hao and said: "Where is she?"
"Why don't you go ask Mei Liangyu directly?" Sheng Hao laughed in anger. "If I knew where she was, would I tell you?"
He had asked, but Mei Liangyu wouldn't say.
Gu Qian's original intention was also to have Sheng Hao go find Mei Liangyu for information, but he hadn't expected that the relationship between Sheng Hao and Mei Liangyu seemed even better than he'd thought, which instead left him feeling uncomfortable.
Shortly after Sheng Hao finished speaking, his Wind-Listening Ruler began buzzing. He opened it to check and found that Yu Sui had replied first:
"Did Brother Gu come looking for you?"
"I don't want to see him right now. If Master hadn't intervened tonight, I would have already died at Wen Yanghui's hands."
"Wen Yanghui was killed by Master. Brother Gu's heart must also feel terrible."
"Wait until I sort out my feelings before I tell you where I am."
After Sheng Hao finished reading Yu Sui's message, when he looked up at Gu Qian again, black and white chess pieces had already circled around Mu Mengbai in the middle and struck toward Gu Qian.
This sudden killing move startled both Gu Qian and Mu Mengbai, as if fulfilling what Mu Mengbai had said while trying to mediate: to kill someone in one strike.
The two black and white chess pieces exploded forward, trailing a black line, and the bursting Five Elements energy created visible air waves. The completely unprepared Gu Qian was knocked back and crashed into the door opposite, making a tremendous noise that woke the four people sleeping in the room.
Gu Qian's back slammed into the hard door. Under the severe pain, he furrowed his brow tightly. Fortunately, his reaction was quick, and his golden protective energy absorbed most of the attack. Although his protective energy was shattered, it still blocked this move.
The disciples on this floor were all awakened by the force of the tremor just now and began cursing loudly. The most affected was their neighbor across the hall, where Pang Rong lived. Without even dressing properly, his hair disheveled, he swung open the door and cursed loudly: "Damn! What kind of madness is this in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
Mu Mengbai's face was written with the words "we're doomed." He stepped forward to stop Sheng Hao but was pushed aside: "Get out of the way. Today I'm going to make him die right here."
Yan Xiaochuan, who lived a few rooms away, yawned and rubbed his eyes as he pushed open his door. He had just complained about who it was when he was scared back by the two opposing forces clashing in the corridor.
Yan Xiaochuan peered through the door crack, his eyes darting around as he watched Gu Qian and Sheng Hao fighting in the corridor.
Sheng Hao was fierce and murderous: "Did you instigate Wen Yanghui to try to kill Sui Sui? He almost killed Sui Sui tonight. If it weren't for Saint Chang Gen... there's no day like today, so you can go down tonight and accompany your good brother."
Gu Qian retorted: "Did Mei Liangyu tell you this? No matter what, Wen Yanghui wouldn't..."
Sheng Hao sneered: "Sui Sui said it herself. She nearly died, and you still think Wen Yanghui wouldn't? Save this brotherly sentiment for when you tell it to Wen Yanghui."
Gu Qian was stunned for only an instant before the materialized white chess piece of Five Elements energy grazed past his face. If he hadn't dodged at the crucial moment, that white piece would have pierced through his eyeball.
Sheng Hao's words shook Gu Qian's heart.
If Wen Yanghui had killed Sui Sui tonight, not to mention what Saint Chang Gen would do, he himself would have killed Wen Yanghui.
Gu Qian's desire to see Yu Sui grew stronger. Facing the dense array of black and white chess pieces in the corridor, he didn't dodge but stood in place without even using his protective energy. He looked up at Sheng Hao and uttered: "Dispel."
Sheng Hao's Nine Schools Arts disappeared instantly.
The originally noisy onlookers all fell silent upon seeing this scene, and the lively corridor instantly became quiet.
Pang Rong, who had been standing at his door watching the show, raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze thoughtfully studying Gu Qian.
Yan Xiaochuan, who had been hiding behind the door crack, opened his door a bit more and scratched his head, wondering to himself what kind of School of Names Nine Schools Arts this was.
Sheng Hao's brow furrowed slightly as black and white chess pieces rose again, only to instantly disappear as Gu Qian dispelled them.
Mu Mengbai, clinging to the doorframe, looked at Gu Qian, then back at Sheng Hao, and whispered: "Previously when Mei Liangyu killed Wei Kun in the Outer City, I heard there was an academy disciple with Divine Mechanism Arts helping, which is why Wei Kun dared to leave the Outer City."
This news was known by quite a few people. Mei Liangyu had even deliberately released some details, just to let other interested parties search for clues.
Academy disciples had also privately discussed what kind of Divine Mechanism Arts it was and which disciple possessed them.
This floor also housed many Class A Students, and there were quite a few Eighth Realm and Ninth Realm elites. Although they hadn't come out, there were many secretly watching Gu Qian and Sheng Hao's fight.
Gu Qian was fearless, using no hidden methods, openly and brazenly dispelling Sheng Hao's Five Elements energy materialization technique.
He wasn't afraid of others knowing he possessed Divine Mechanism Arts.
Even if exposing his secret of having Divine Mechanism Arts, he still wanted to know where Sui Sui was right now.
Gu Qian ignored the whispers and scrutinizing gazes from people on both sides of the corridor, still staring at Sheng Hao as he asked: "Where is Sui Sui?"
Sheng Hao's expression was inscrutable as he chuckled softly: "Divine Mechanism Arts is your confidence?"
Gu Qian replied coolly: "Divine Mechanism Arts isn't my confidence, but it's something you don't have."
Hearing this, Sheng Hao's temple twitched slightly, his words carrying a few degrees of cold sternness: "Is this also why my father favors you?"
"Perhaps." Gu Qian looked back with a half-smile.
Sheng Hao said: "Daring to admit you have Divine Mechanism Arts in front of so many people, I see you're seeking death."
But Gu Qian didn't care as he glanced at the people on both sides: "I don't mind. What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid you won't die soon enough." Sheng Hao sneered, his fingertips re-condensing Five Elements energy, but heard Gu Qian say, "I advise you not to continue fighting with me. As long as I'm willing, you'll never be able to use any Nine Schools Arts in front of me. When the instructors arrive, you'll also be demoted from Class A Student to Class B."
Gu Qian frowned, showing subtle impatience: "I only want to know where Sui Sui is."
"Then get lost. You don't deserve to know where my sister is." Sheng Hao lifted his chin slightly, his expression condescending, arrogance mixed with disgust. "She said she doesn't want to see you, yet you're being presumptuous in thinking Sui Sui likes you. Today I'm warning you, stop pestering Sui Sui and ruining her reputation, making people think she likes you so much."
Sheng Hao also swept his gaze around the people watching the excitement on both sides of the corridor. These words were also meant for them: "It's you, Gu Qian, who's clinging to the future heir of Nangong Manor, not that Sui Sui likes you so much."
The coldness in Gu Qian's eyes deepened, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, but after several breaths, he suppressed all emotions and said with apparent calm: "Say whatever you want."
But Sheng Hao mocked: "Gu Qian, you're truly shameless. Even at this point, you still don't want to give up climbing the high branch of my Nangong family."
Gu Qian also looked back with eyes full of mockery: "If that's all you can think of, then I'm relieved. Although you're Sui Sui's brother, you've done plenty of things over the years where you've taken your anger at me out on Sui Sui. You seem to be good to Sui Sui, but in reality, which time wasn't it to target me?"
"You really seem to consider yourself a 'good brother' who truly cares for Sui Sui. Sheng Hao, there should be limits to self-deception. If things really go as you wish in the future and Sui Sui and I separate, without me as this annoying existence, you'd be thankful if you could still remember you have a sister."
Gu Qian stared into Sheng Hao's cold eyes, giving him no face at all, each word cutting deep: "With me here, you and Sui Sui are siblings. Without me, you and she would be enemies."
Some of the eavesdroppers who knew something about the Qingyang Nangong family and these two people's relationship, after thinking it through, felt that Gu Qian wasn't wrong.
Compared to Yu Sui, Sheng Hao hated Gu Qian more.
If there were no Gu Qian, the Little Princess with mediocre talent would be the heir of the manor, while Sheng Hao with exceptional abilities would be nothing. Could someone as proud and arrogant as Sheng Hao be willing to accept this?
Even if Sheng Hao were willing, would his maternal family be willing?
Everything a person possesses must be fought for and seized.
Either from strangers or from parents and close friends.
Gu Qian didn't believe there was any deep sibling affection between Sheng Hao and Yu Sui. All of Sheng Hao's attention to Yu Sui was built on her contact with Gu Qian.
Otherwise, he would never have asked about Yu Sui's issues with Breath Soil and the Agricultural School's pursuit, never mentioned how poorly Lady Su treated Yu Sui.
All these years, Sheng Hao had only noticed Gu Qian.
Yu Sui was just caught by the peripheral vision of his gaze fixed on Gu Qian.
Gu Qian's gaze toward Sheng Hao went from cold mockery to indifference: "I'm an outsider to the Nangong family, receiving their favor, so I'm not qualified to say certain things. But Sheng Hao, you're different, aren't you? You're the Prince's son, the Young Master of Nangong Manor, Sui Sui's brother. You live under the same roof. Ask yourself, which of your concerns for Sui Sui came from genuine care rather than being related to me?"
More and more people came to watch the excitement. Those who heard the news, even those not from this floor, all ran over to watch the School of Names disciples engage in "personal attacks," watching them grab each other's painful points and dig deep. The power of words was invisible, but when it fell on people, it became materialized.
Shi Yuezhen's dormitory was five floors higher than Sheng Hao's. Yu Sui was alone in her room right now. She couldn't sleep well and blinked her eyes open, then picked up her Wind-Listening Ruler to check. There were quite a few messages, and she replied selectively.
Zhongli Que was also sharing happy things with her. After Yu Sui read them, she replied without mentioning her injury.
When Yu Sui saw the message Sheng Hao sent, she knew Gu Qian had gone to find him.
With Qian Ying present, learning of Wen Yanghui's death, she would definitely tell Gu Qian immediately. Unable to go to Mechanism Island, Gu Qian would come looking for her and Mei Liangyu who had returned from Mechanism Island.
Senior Brother wouldn't tell him, so in his desperation, Gu Qian would go find Sheng Hao to help pressure Mei Liangyu.
Yu Sui directly used Sheng Hao to relay her words to Gu Qian, prolonging the cold war, creating conflict, and paving the way for her upcoming plan to cause trouble for Shu Chujun and others and move out of the dormitory to live alone.
Living with others was somewhat difficult for Yu Sui.
She would only have more secrets in the future, so it would be better to move out and live alone.
Yu Sui closed her eyes to rest for a moment, then sensed the bed shaking slightly. It seemed disciples downstairs were fighting.
Wei Ren sent her a message saying Gu Qian wanted to use the School of Names word-seeking technique to find him and had tried in the corridor for a long time. Soon after, he told her that Gu Qian and Sheng Hao had started fighting and that Gu Qian had exposed his possession of Divine Mechanism Arts.
Yu Sui opened her eyes and stared at this message in thought.
Since Gu Qian dared to expose his Divine Mechanism Arts, it meant this wasn't his only life-saving trump card. Besides Divine Mechanism Arts, he had other backup plans.
What could it be?
Yu Sui rolled her eyes, temporarily unable to figure it out, and didn't care whether Gu Qian and Sheng Hao fought or not.
Wei Ren lurked on the front lines, missing no changes, relaying the battle situation to Yu Sui in real time, from their mutual attacks on painful points, to Sheng Hao's furious assault, to the instructor arriving to restrain both of them and take them away.
Yu Sui didn't even look. She was already thinking about other things.
The medicinal incense burning in the room was rich and fragrant. One breath could calm the mind and spirit, making one focused.
There wasn't much time left in the night.
Shi Yuezhen had helped her extinguish the lights. Although this room was fully furnished, it usually had no occupants. Despite burning medicinal incense to add some human presence, it still felt somewhat cold.
Yu Sui gazed at the dim ceiling, recalling the Fire Spirit Orb that appeared when she was near death, as well as the voices of other World Destroyers.
It had only been a few days since the last World Destroyer died, yet a new World Destroyer had already taken their place.
Did the gathering of five World Destroyers always occur when one World Destroyer died? Then the Strange Fire would need to predict a World Destroyer's death in advance.
Or perhaps it was just coincidence.
The Strange Fire had existed for five or six hundred years, while she had only lived for eighteen years. She couldn't determine the rules of the Strange Fire's descent based solely on these few instances of information.
It seemed the World Destroyers each had their own thoughts.
The newcomer was fighting a life-and-death duel with someone, so their situation wasn't much better. The initially hot-tempered man claimed to be hiding in deep mountains and forests, avoiding the world. If possible, that kind of life was what Yu Sui wanted.
Yu Sui's eyes flickered slightly as she remembered this person had also said he wanted the young man to reveal the name of the Legalist School Saint to avenge him. It sounded like his strength wasn't lacking.
Only those strong enough with confidence in self-preservation were qualified to avoid the world.
Now only the androgynous person remained, having never revealed any information.
Thinking of this, Yu Sui's eyelid suddenly twitched. The reclusive man and the androgynous person both knew she had been there eighteen years ago. If this wasn't their personal ability, did it mean that during Fire Spirit Orb resonance, there were always exactly five World Destroyers?
Even the world-announcing prophecy clearly stated there were five people.
What was the significance of the number?
Would five people gathering together directly destroy the world?
Yu Sui remembered when she was young, she could still hold that wisp of flame from the depths of her consciousness in her palm. As a child, ignorance was fearlessness, but now, understanding the terrifying power of the Strange Fire, she could no longer dare to perform such dangerous acts.
After a moment of silence in the room, Yu Sui slowly sat up in the darkness, spread her hand, fixed her gaze on her palm, and waited for that tiny flame to appear.