The Academy's Strange Case

Night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Nanshan Academy was located outside Yanjiao City, built against Nanshan Mountain, hence its name. Behind the academy, there was a small lake, quiet and secluded. In the past, many young men and women would play here on summer nights. However, for some time now, no one dared to approach this area.

Because someone had died here not long ago.

But tonight, two scholars happened to come here.

As soon as they approached the lake, a chilling wind pierced through their clothes, making them shiver involuntarily.

"Brother Shaoan, why did you insist on meeting me in this place... Isn't this... isn't this where that Situ Yan committed suicide..."

Seeing that they were about to reach the dark, eerie lakeside, the thin scholar behind him trembled in his legs and dared not take another step forward.

The scholar in front was slightly sturdier, looking quite tall from behind, and his voice was low and deep: "To completely resolve this matter, we can only come here."

The wind blew through the surrounding woods, rustling, as if someone was passing behind them. The thin scholar was startled and turned his head sharply, looking around twice and finding no one, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

He then said to the person in front: "I don't know what there is to resolve? If you ask me, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with me. When you guys were bullying that Situ Yan, I didn't really participate... At most, I called her ugly a couple of times... Now that she's dead, what else can happen?"

The thin scholar's mouth kept moving, chattering incessantly, seemingly using this method to alleviate the fear in his heart.

"Yes, you didn't do anything..." The tall scholar's voice was sinister.

"Oh, stop being so mysterious!" The thin scholar said anxiously.

"Then..." The tall scholar turned his face sideways, half of his face extremely stern under the moonlight, "Do you still recognize me?"

"Wu Shaoan!" The thin scholar seemed frightened by his tone, a little angry, "What exactly do you want? If there's nothing, I'm not staying in this haunted place with you! At worst, I'll move my whole family out of Yanjiao City tomorrow, which will save me from being scared."

"Zhang Cong, do you... really not recognize me?" The tall scholar asked again, then suddenly turned around, revealing his entire face.

His right half of the face was still normal, but on the left half, a thick scar had appeared at some point, as if he had suffered a terrible burn, even his eye socket was deformed, extremely horrifying.

And... it looked a bit like a woman's!

"Ah!" Seeing this, the thin scholar screamed in surprise, took two steps back, and his legs went weak, falling to the ground.

Immediately after, he saw the skin on the tall scholar's intact half of his face also begin to peel off, like cracked wall paint, falling off in pieces, revealing a pale, bloodless woman's face underneath.

"Situ Yan... spare me... spare me..." The thin scholar retreated, muttering, then turned and scrambled to his feet, running for his life out of the woods!

As he ran, he kept shouting, "Help! There's a ghost!"

He didn't feel out of breath until he ran out of the small woods, and he stopped for a moment. Looking back at the deep woods, it seemed no one was chasing him...

"Ugh—"

Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, suddenly, his hands grabbed his own neck, and his pupils began to bulge. The left side of his face began to dry and peel off, revealing a thick burn scar...

"Spare me... please, spare me..."

"Please... ah..."

"Nanshan Academy is haunted, why are they asking us to come?"

On the bustling streets of Yanjiao City, Chu Liang asked Lin Bei.

Previously, Lin Bei had rushed him to accept the mission and sign up to go down the mountain. Because Lin Bei said the reward was extremely high, Chu Liang hadn't asked too many questions. Only now did he begin to understand the specific situation.

This place wasn't far from Shu Mountain, and Mount Shu disciples were somewhat familiar with Yanjiao City. Usually, if any strange cases occurred, they would be handled by Mount Shu disciples.

But there were always a few exceptions.

For example, temples. If something went wrong here, it would be managed by Buddhist cultivators. For example, academies. If something happened here, it should be managed by Confucian cultivators.

Cultivators from the three sects would not cross boundaries unless there were special circumstances. It would be both troublesome for themselves and a provocation to others.

"Heh heh..." Lin Bei chuckled, "Matters within the academy are naturally resolved by Confucian cultivators. What we're responsible for is just protecting a student."

Saying this, he pointed to a large mansion gate guarded by stone lions ahead, with a plaque hanging high above it that read "Li Estate".

"Master Li is a well-known wealthy family in Yanjiao City. His only son, Li Jue, studies at Nanshan Academy. Recently, Nanshan Academy has been haunted, and two students have already died."

"He's worried about his son, so he asked our Mount Shu to send people to protect his son for a period of time. As long as this strange case is resolved, our mission will be complete."

"We get paid by the day."

Hearing the last sentence, Chu Liang felt relieved.

Master Li was giving the Mount Shu real gold and silver, and the Mount Shu was giving them Sword Coins. He happened to want to save money to buy a flying sword during this time and needed this kind of high-paying mission.

It was like getting a pillow when you were sleepy.

"Oh dear, the two young heroes from the Mount Shu, you've finally arrived!" Master Li personally came out with his entire family, old and young, to welcome them. The reception was quite grand.

This was one of the benefits of being a cultivator. Even the wealthiest and most powerful mortals would always show you three parts respect when they saw you.

"No need for such formality, we are just juniors from Shu Mountain." Lin Bei also said warmly, "My name is Lin Bei, and this is my fellow disciple, Chu Liang. I see you're a few years younger than my father, so I'll take the liberty of calling you Uncle Li, and I'll treat your son like a brother."

Saying this, he turned back and greeted Chu Liang, "Don't be too reserved, just treat this place like your own home."

Chu Liang smiled slightly.

With this terrifyingly social person around, he could save himself a lot of trouble with social interactions.

He noticed a silent, downcast young man following behind Master Li. He was wearing ordinary home clothes and looked to be sixteen or seventeen years old. He had a fair complexion, but his eyes were dark, and he looked haggard.

He should be Master Li's only son, Li Jue. He seemed to have a lot on his mind.

In the two-courtyard mansion, by the time they reached the inner hall, Lin Bei was already arm-in-arm with Master Li.

"Uncle Li, don't worry. My little brother is under my protection, and I guarantee he'll be safe and sound. From today onwards, we'll be watching him twenty-four hours a day, never leaving his side. From the beginning to the end of Shu Mountain, you can ask around about me, Lin Bei..."

"Ah, my dear nephew, actually, I have a small request..." Master Li smiled, his two-pronged mustache twitching. "Although I've asked you to protect my Li Jue, could you... not let others know?"

"Not let others know? What do you mean?" Both Lin Bei and Chu Liang were a little puzzled.

"It's just... I'll arrange for you to enroll tomorrow, so you can also attend classes at Nanshan Academy. Then you can keep an eye on Li Jue at all times, and come back to my house after school. That's all. But during this time, please don't let anyone see that you're specifically protecting him, okay?" Master Li rubbed his hands and requested.

"Uncle Li, of course we will do as you ask, but could we ask... why?" Lin Bei asked.

"That's a bit hard to say." Master Li smiled, but his meaning was profound.

Asking someone to protect him... and not wanting outsiders to find out?

Chu Liang glanced at the silent Li Jue and the rubbing-handed Master Li next to him.

What were they feeling guilty about?