Chapter 134
Mei Liangyu got up early and went outside first. He went to the dining hall to buy breakfast and bring it back. Estimating that at this time, his Junior Sister who didn't sleep at night would still be awake, he went to find Yu Sui first.
As soon as the door opened, Mei Liangyu saw Yu Sui with her black hair loose, not bound up or adorned with hairpins. Her flowing long hair made her appear even more obedient and pitiful. He watched with slightly curved lips, his mood becoming pleasant for a few moments, then glimpsed Wei Ren behind her, his expression showing some curiosity as he looked toward the door.
Mei Liangyu said expressionlessly: "Why is he here?"
Yu Sui took the food box that Mei Liangyu handed over and said: "He came on his own."
Wei Ren: "..."
Thank you. Maybe it's better not to answer at all.
Yu Sui looked up at Mei Liangyu, indicating with her eyes whether he wanted to come in and sit for a while.
Mei Liangyu withdrew his warning gaze from Wei Ren: "I still need to deliver some to Zhongli Shan. I have something to discuss with him."
"Alright." Yu Sui nodded and saw her Senior Brother off.
Wei Ren had eight thousand questions in his mind, but seeing Yu Sui return with a normal expression, he didn't dare ask. He could only grumble inwardly, then pretend he hadn't seen anything and continue discussing the fragment issue.
Soon Xue Mushi also came, but Li Jin Shuang couldn't come. She still had to act with Xun Zhiya, and leaving alone now would arouse suspicion.
Yu Sui ate at the small table to fill her stomach, while Xue Mushi and Wei Ren sat at the long table staring at the Floating Pagoda fragment.
"Are these patterns or writing?" Xue Mushi pointed at the edge of the circular ring. "They look like characters, but also like some kind of symbols."
Wei Ren answered bluntly: "I've never seen this kind of writing or symbols. They don't look like anything. It seems to be pieced together from stone fragments, and the order might be scrambled, so it looks chaotic."
When Xue Mushi got close to the fragment, he could feel a warm, peaceful power that slowly but effectively flowed into his mind, making his thoughts calm and gentle. He wouldn't worry about matters related to strange fire, nor harbor resentment about anything.
Wei Ren just thought Xue Mushi was fascinated by looking at the Floating Pagoda fragment and ignored it, continuing his own words: "Are there six more like this? Could it be that stacking them together would lift the Non-War Pact?"
Though he was from Yan Kingdom, he had wandered the Six Kingdoms since childhood, following Ji Shuyan to learn forbidden arts and kill people, living in blood and fire. He didn't have much reverence for starting wars.
Moreover, Yan Kingdom was already in such a sorry state. Whether the Non-War Pact was lifted or not made no difference to Yan Kingdom.
Wei Ren just didn't understand what use Yu Sui had for this broken thing.
What benefit would lifting the Non-War Pact bring her?
Yu Sui came over only after eating and drinking her fill, sitting down at the table to examine the Floating Pagoda fragment again.
That power came very quickly yet silently, firmly enveloping her mind, soothing her pain and hatred, making her fall into calmness.
Not just calmness, but it would also make people lose the desire to fight and resist.
Wei Ren thought Yu Sui would say something after coming over, but after waiting, he found that Yu Sui was just gazing at the Floating Pagoda fragment like Xue Mushi. Both of them seemed utterly fascinated by the fragment.
"Why aren't either of you talking?" Wei Ren suddenly questioned.
Yu Sui suddenly reached out and snapped the box shut. That power disappeared, and Xue Mushi came to his senses, realizing what had just happened. He slowly frowned and fell into thought.
"What's wrong?" Wei Ren was startled, actually frightened by Yu Sui's sudden movement.
"Nothing." Yu Sui looked up at him, her eyes clear and bright. "Don't you feel very peaceful when near it?"
"I do feel a gentle, comfortable power, but I wouldn't stare at it in fascination like you two." Wei Ren realized, "The extent to which you two were affected is quite beyond my expectations."
Yu Sui said without changing expression: "Maybe I have heavy murderous intent."
Wei Ren: "..."
He turned to look at Xue Mushi, still not understanding: "I can barely believe you have heavy murderous intent, but him having heavy murderous intent is a bit..."
Yu Sui interrupted him: "Xue Mushi practices the Taoist School forbidden art Seven Kills Trigram, which is inherently deeply sinful."
Xue Mushi nodded repeatedly.
Wei Ren stared at Xue Mushi without speaking.
"Staring at the fragment for a long time will cause influence. First copy down the Heavenly Character Text on it." Yu Sui gave the order.
Xue Mushi said: "I'll do it."
Yu Sui directly ignored him and said to Wei Ren: "You write."
Wei Ren was rarely designated by Yu Sui to do something and was quite willing. He didn't mind the dejected Xue Mushi and reopened the box to observe the fragment.
Yu Sui got up to get paper and brush for him, controlling herself not to look at the Floating Pagoda fragment, wondering if it was because of the strange fire. But just now only her mind was affected, while the strange fire showed no fluctuation at all.
……
While Yu Sui and the others were observing the Floating Pagoda fragment, Gu Qian and his group were going nearly mad looking for the fragment.
Gu Qian left the dormitory early in the morning to find Saint Zhu from the School of Names.
Huo Xiao and Ji Meng separately informed Qian Ying and Xun Zhiya's two groups about the missing fragment. Now both groups had gathered at Gu Qian's dormitory, and everyone's expressions weren't good.
Xiang Feifei stood at Gu Qian's door taking several deep breaths, her temple twitching as she glared at Ji Meng and Huo Xiao, wanting to scold them about something. But because she was too angry, she couldn't say anything at all.
Xun Zhiya's expression was even colder than usual, and if you looked carefully, you could see traces of worry between her brows.
Qian Ying was much calmer, asking about what happened and carefully listening to the details.
Huo Xiao said: "Only the instructors from last night's search could enter. Gu Qian has already gone to find someone to watch last night's instructors and see who they contact."
"Only instructors?" Qian Ying asked. "What did that mysterious person on the Wind-Listening Ruler say?"
"Denied it." Huo Xiao shook his head. "It wasn't him either."
"If it was instructors, how did they know?" Xiang Feifei said through gritted teeth. "We just got the fragment back, and in one night it was stolen! Which of you leaked information?"
Shu Chujun was displeased: "How can you start suspecting us?"
Xiang Feifei looked at her coldly: "Everything went smoothly before. How come there's trouble as soon as new people arrive? If you hadn't insisted, would there be such an accident?"
She was referring to Li Jin Shuang as the new person, and the insistence referred to Xun Zhiya bringing Li Jin Shuang into this operation to win her over.
Talking about Li Jin Shuang now was criticizing Xun Zhiya.
As a firm supporter of Xun Zhiya, Shu Chujun couldn't tolerate this. She looked back coldly without backing down: "Li Jin Shuang was with us the whole time last night. Where would she find time to come here and steal the fragment? On the other hand, your Shadow Swallowing could silently come and take things! Don't be a thief calling for thieves!"
Xiang Feifei was so angry her eyes widened: "I said she leaked information, not that she took the fragment. But you're directly putting the blame on me?!"
"Isn't saying one implying the other?" Shu Chujun sneered. "The Saint went through so much trouble for this matter. The thing was lost the day it reached Gu Qian. No matter how you look at it, it's not our fault! Yet you want to direct suspicion toward us?"
Li Jin Shuang suddenly felt that she didn't need to do anything. Shu Chujun's fighting ability in this area was quite impressive, making her bow in admiration.
Xiang Feifei was so angry she wanted to go strangle her: "I think you saying this is actually..."
Qian Ying soothed both sides: "Don't argue first. Brother Gu said not to suspect our own people. After spending time together, we all know each other well. Everyone feels bad about losing the item, but we can't let emotions take over."
With her words, the atmosphere immediately eased considerably.
"Sister Feifei and I are on the same floor. We can vouch for each other. The Saint's three people were also together the whole time, so we don't need to suspect ourselves." Qian Ying said calmly. "Let's think of ways regarding the instructors. If it wasn't us, then it means our actions are all being watched by the other party."
"Isn't there one more person who knows?" Shu Chujun frowned. "Nangong Sui also knows about the fragment, right?"
Ji Meng said listlessly: "The Little Princess does know, but she didn't participate throughout and wouldn't know too clearly. She doesn't even know which day we got the fragment."
Xiang Feifei interjected: "Isn't she close to Mei Liangyu and that group?"
Ji Meng hesitated somewhat.
Huo Xiao pinched the bridge of his nose, also thinking: "Maybe Nangong Sui inadvertently revealed something, letting Mei Liangyu and the others notice."
Li Jin Shuang's Wind-Listening Ruler transmission was on, and all the discussion here was transmitted to Yu Sui through the Fusang Dewdrops.
Ji Meng felt this speculation was somewhat absurd. The Little Princess wasn't stupid to that extent, and she cared very much about Gu Qian's matters, having handled things perfectly before.
But thinking of Mei Liangyu, he felt the Little Princess's relationship with him was indeed better than imagined.
What if, what if Mei Liangyu had deceived her!
The Little Princess was naturally naive, and with their Senior Brother-Junior Sister relationship being deeper and more intimate than ordinary relationships between men and women, it was hard to say.
While Ji Meng was still wildly speculating, Qian Ying had already decided to go ask Yu Sui about it.
Yu Sui's side had listened to the whole process and learned that Qian Ying was coming up, so she sent Wei Ren and Xue Mushi into the empty room.
Qian Ying arrived quickly. She knocked on the door, waiting for Yu Sui to come out.
Yu Sui held hairpins in her hand, hurriedly opening the door and blinking at Qian Ying outside.
"Little Princess." Qian Ying smiled softly. "Is it convenient to come in and talk?"
"I just woke up and am doing my hair. What's the matter?" Yu Sui held the hairpin while arranging her hair, letting her in and looking outside. "Did you come alone? What's the matter?"
"Brother Gu said this morning that the Floating Pagoda fragment we obtained the night before last disappeared during last night's dormitory search." Qian Ying stood in the room, turning back to stare at Yu Sui. "The incident happened suddenly. Though only instructors could enter rooms at the time, there are still many suspicious points about the matter..."
"How could such a thing happen?" Yu Sui was so shocked she covered her mouth with both hands, hurriedly picking up her Wind-Listening Ruler to open Gu Qian's message interface. "I need to ask Brother Gu. Last night the instructors were watching here, and I didn't know what happened. I only heard someone was secretly keeping Lan poison..."
She looked at Qian Ying with confusion: "When did you get the fragment? Brother Gu never told me. Could last night's Silver River Water have been a ruse, with the academy's real purpose being to search for fragments?"
Qian Ying could see Yu Sui's surprise and disbelief. What came out were all questions, leaving only confusion and worry.
She directly stated her purpose: "Little Princess, I know you have a good relationship with Mei Liangyu..."
Yu Sui interrupted her, even more bewildered: "What does this have to do with Senior Brother?"
Qian Ying smiled slightly: "Mei Liangyu has tried every means to oppose Brother Gu. Little Princess, being on good terms with him, perhaps you inadvertently revealed information about the fragment in daily conversation?"
Yu Sui bit her lip, looking at Qian Ying with some anger: "How could I be so stupid? How could I casually tell others about something as important as fragments! Moreover, Father sent me to Taiyi Academy to help Brother Gu find fragments. When I lost you years ago, Father was already angry and disappointed with me. If I lose fragments now, who could bear Father's anger?"
Qian Ying paused upon hearing this, the slight suspicion in her heart dispelled by these words.
When she was found and brought back to the royal manor years ago, Nangong Ming had only glanced at her coldly, but the memory and emotion of that glance were deeply imprinted in Qian Ying's heart, something she dared not examine even now.
Qian Ying said: "The incident happened suddenly, so I'm also somewhat anxious. I also hope the Little Princess can help keep an eye out. If there's any news, please tell Brother Gu."
Yu Sui nodded at her.
Qian Ying was flexible. After the dining hall argument, she hadn't contacted Yu Sui, but now she used this conversation to make amends, acting as if the previous unpleasantness didn't exist.
After understanding Yu Sui's situation, she left without staying long.
Yu Sui closed the door again and returned to the room to arrange her hair.
Since Gu Qian wanted to investigate the instructors, she'd have Blackbeard's side handle things more cleanly.
In the adjacent room, Wei Ren was copying the Heavenly Character Text from the Floating Pagoda. Xue Mushi quietly watched, suddenly hearing Wei Ren ask gloomily: "Does Mei Liangyu know about this side of her?"
Xue Mushi hesitated: "Probably, probably not."
Wei Ren smiled coldly without sound. Then he was unlucky.