Chapter 87
Bai Jun seemed to realize Jing Yuan's meaning and turned to close the office door. However, just as he reached the door, he bumped into a handsome blond boy wearing bronze armor and a long robe.
"Yan Qing?"
"Hey? Teacher!? You're back!!!"
Before the handsome blond boy could even wonder, he looked up and saw Bai Jun's face clearly. His pale golden eyes blinked in disbelief for a moment, then he let out a sound of immense joy.
As if unable to contain her excitement, like a long-awaited outburst, Yan Qing rushed forward, tears welling in her eyes, to embrace Bai Jun. Bai Jun seized the opportunity and opened his arms. Just as Yan Qing thought they were about to have a big, heartwarming reunion hug—
Bai Jun reached out and pinched Yan Qing's cheeks hard, a vicious smile on his face.
"Well, you little blondie, at least you know how to come back. Hurry up and pay me back the money you owe me!"
"Mmm-hmm! (I understand!)"
Unable to speak due to his cheeks being rubbed raw, Yan Qing could only nod pitifully repeatedly, which finally made Bai Jun reluctantly let him go.
"Oh, teacher, you're so Oblivious to Romance! Shouldn't you hug me first at a time like this...?"
"Stop talking nonsense and pay me back right now. Besides, do you think everyone hugs every single person they see like you?"
Yan Qing let out a disappointed sigh, and under her teacher's urging, she took out several stacks of Credits from her wallet and handed them to the other party.
Bai Jun took the Credits, didn't count them, and before he could put them in his pocket, another voice came from the door behind him.
Snap...
It sounded like a folder and a pen had been accidentally dropped on the floor.
"Bai Jun?"
It was a soft and fragile call, like the gentle and tender breeze of Jiangnan, which tinged the misty rain outside the window.
Yukong blinked her clear, beautiful eyes, staring intently at Bai Jun's familiar face, as if wondering if everything before her was an illusion.
Until Bai Jun responded, Yukong rushed over, reached out her hands to Bai Jun's head, and hugged him tightly.
"You're back! That's so good... so good..."
She bit her lip, her voice trembling, tears streaming down her face.
"Yes, I'm back."
Bai Jun responded softly, tossed aside the Credits in his hand, and gently patted her back with his left hand.
Several stacks of Credits were scattered haphazardly on the ground, and along with them, Yan Qing's expression seemed to have also shattered.
Chapter 115 The Legacy of Cao Cao Must Not Be Forgotten
My hair is still a bit frizzy.
Although the work at the Tianbo Division prevented him from taking the time to carefully style his hair, resulting in the ends sticking up, it was understandable that Yukong was still somewhat worried.
She's already a very beautiful person, with excellent natural features and a carefully prepared light makeup look; her beautiful purplish-red eyes hold a hint of confusion.
Bai Jun likes girls with smooth hair; this is probably a little-known secret known only to Yukong.
When Yu Kong first heard about this from Bai Jun, Yukong was just relieved and didn't have many other thoughts... However, at some point, Yukong thoughts began to be mixed with something subtle.
When was that?
Perhaps it was he who helped Qingni resolve her inner conflict? Or perhaps it was those words he spoke to her on that rainy night with the sound of thunder?
Yukong couldn't understand these things at all. She wasn't good at opening up to others, and she felt that her heart was a mess, like a ball of yarn tangled with needles and thread.
Putting aside his own factors, Yukong was actually quite glad about the relationship between Tingyun and Bai Jun. Tingyun was so young, energetic, and talented, and she was a perfect match for Bai Jun. It was much better than him, who was practically half-buried in the ground.
Entrusting Tingyun to Bai Jun was indeed the most reliable choice, but she also felt a sense of loss because she feared that her presence might affect their relationship...
Even though Tingyun had said that the three of them should be together, Yukong could only take it as a playful remark. After all, she was still very young, and it was normal for her to be impulsive due to emotional fluctuations. However, as an elder, he could not act recklessly like her and had an obligation to stop her when she made a mistake.
A complex mix of morality and sentiment surged into Yu Kong's heart, Yukong would often clutch his chest and sigh, feeling as if his heart was being burned by flames.
This strange state of mind began after the incident at Bai Jun's house where he went drinking. His hidden emotions were completely torn apart, Yukong's calm and undisturbed heart was like a boulder had been thrown in, causing violent ripples that have not subsided even now. In fact, with Bai Jun taking leave to go out, the ripples are only intensifying.
Sigh, it's been a month since I last saw him. I wonder how he's been doing. Has he been eating well? Has he put on an extra layer of clothing? He shouldn't be sick, right? If he is, ordinary doctors can't treat the Long-lived species...
Unconsciously fiddling with the ends of his hair, Yukong frowned slightly, standing alone in front of the projection sand table in the main hall of Palace of Astrum. Never before had he felt so troubled. He lowered his head and sighed softly.
The people in Palace of Astrum had all seen this to some extent, but they didn't know how to ask, let alone care. A young girl who looked like an assistant clenched the document in her hand, hesitating to go forward and disturb her.
"Xiao Xi, is something the matter?"
Fortunately, Yukong's emotions shifted quickly. In less than half a minute, she noticed the girl standing beside her. A gentle smile returned to her face, and the rational and generous Helmsman of the Tianbo Division returned to the Palace of Astrum.
"Um, Helmsman, this is a submission form that needs to be presented to the General. Please take a look."
"Yes, thank you so much. If there are no problems, I'll hand it over to the general in a bit."
The girl called Xiao Xi trembled slightly, respectfully presented her hands, and after Yukong, she hurriedly ran back to her post.
Yukong glanced at the records of the Tianbo Division's expenses and duties, interstellar travel-related matters, and the income of various merchant guilds. Finding nothing wrong, he put the records into a file bag, intending to hand them over to Jing Yuan and relax a bit.
The Palace of Astrum of Tianbo Division Bureau is not exactly close to the Shence Mansion.
Yukong originally intended to walk there leisurely, taking the opportunity to clear his mind, but he worried that spending too much time on the road would affect the work of Palace of Astrum. In addition, he was in a really bad mood, so he silently quickened his pace, thinking of shortening the journey time as much as possible.
Little did they know that her speed was still blurred into a blue gust of wind in the eyes of normal people, causing shopkeepers and passers-by to scream in terror. The patrolling Cloud Cavalry scratched their cheeks in bewilderment, and even the gatekeepers of the Shence Mansion did not dare to stop her too much when they saw her Yukong.
Yukong walked smoothly to Jing Yuan's office, where the door was half open and he could faintly hear sounds coming from inside.
Yukong could clearly distinguish Yan Qing's voice, as well as another familiar and gentle voice...
She seemed to realize something, and pushed open the door in surprise. Her beautiful eyes blinked rapidly, and she didn't even realize that the folder and pen in her hand had fallen to the ground.
Yukong's chest rose and fell slightly due to movement and emotions. He was speechless for a moment, his mind blank. The complex emotions that had been accumulating deep in his heart melted away the instant he saw Bai Jun. Then, his body acted before his mind.
Her true self was actually slow-witted, not very smart, and clumsy. By the time she came to her senses, she had already acted entirely on her emotions and involuntarily hugged Bai Jun.
"You're back! That's so good... so good..."
She bit her lip, her voice trembling, tears streaming down her face.
She embraced the young man, who was much taller than her, and let him bury his face in her neck. Her fingers gently stroked his snow-white hair, unaware that Bai Jun could hear her sobs and embarrassing whimpers.
Bai Jun's eyes widened, hesitant to move, but feeling her tears streaming down her face, he placed his left hand on her back, gently comforting her as if soothing a wounded child, "Yes, I'm back."
It's unclear how long they maintained this position, but the ambiguous silence was broken when Yan Qing coughed, unable to bear it any longer.
"Helmsman, please pay attention to your surroundings. I haven't seen my teacher for over two months, and I haven't even had a hug or cried!"
Yan Qing stared at Yukong with a deep gaze. Although he usually respected this senior Cloud Knights, the current situation made his jealousy outweigh his other emotions. After all, Bai Jun only met him to collect debts and money, but when he met Yukong, he hugged and kissed him. No one could bear such a huge difference.
In other words, seeing her most respected teacher embracing and kissing another woman, Yan Qing is already incredibly strong for not losing her virginity.
Now, could he take this opportunity to threaten Bai Jun into giving him a hug as well?
Not only Yan Qing, Jing Yuan also revealed a very subtle smile, his hands clasped on the table, casting a teasing glance in a provocative manner:
"Hehe~ I didn't expect Lady Yukong to be such a proactive person. But it's not too surprising. After all, he was a tough guy who could drive the Starskiff through six red lights in a row when he was young. He set a record that no one in Luofu can break to this day, which is unique to Lady Yukong."
"I, I, I, I... no... it's a misunderstanding, yes... it's just a misunderstanding!!!"
Like the warmth of the low-hanging Sun, and as fleeting as lightning, Yukong swiftly detached itself from the body, waving its hands wildly and uttering a loud, unintelligible argument.
Her eyes were filled with a young girl's panic and shyness, yet she tried to appear composed and natural. Her expression betrayed her inner turmoil.
It's unclear how effective her excuses were, but Yan Qing's eyes remained resentful, and Jing Yuan's teasing gaze became even more playful, as if he was about to take out his camera to record Yukong's current appearance.
Yukong's face grew increasingly flushed, her almost boiling crimson eyes filled with confusion and excitement. Just as she was about to faint from excessive shyness, Jing Yuan coughed in time, stopping the conversation.
"Let's get back to the main topic. Is there anything Lady Yukong?"
Bai Jun bent down to pick Yukong the folder and pen from Yu Kong's feet and handed them to her with a slightly worried expression. Yukong's eyes were red. She took the folder from Bai Jun and spent a lot of time adjusting herself from the extreme overheating state.
Even though her former authority had long since vanished, Yukong still coughed lightly, feigning composure, and explained with her cheeks still flushed, "This is the Tianbo Division's monthly expenditure and duty records, interstellar travel-related matters, and the income of various merchant guilds..."
"Thank you for your trouble. I'll look into it later... Next, I'll talk about what I have to say. Yan Qing, Lady Yukong, Qing Yan, the three of you are the people I trust the most. May I ramble on a bit?"
Jing Yuan's smile gradually faded, his well-defined fingers tapping lightly but firmly on the table. His languid expression transformed into the familiar authority of the three, and seeing this, everyone adopted a serious attitude.
"You've all heard about what's been happening in Scalegorge Waterscape lately. Putting aside the issues with the Vidyadhara, I have a feeling that the real focus might no longer be on the Medicine King's Legacy or the Vidyadhara itself..."
Yukong frowned slightly, guessing along with Jing Yuan's words, "You mean... the problem might be outside Luofu?"
"If that's really the case, then things will be much simpler."
Jing Yuan shook his head, his sword-like eyebrows lowered, and a cold, rational light flashed in his pale golden eyes as he slowly uttered a startling conjecture. "What if I said that the problem lies precisely in the blind spot of our vision, that is, within the framework we inhabit?"
"A traitor has appeared in the Six Commissions?!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Qing and Yukong both showed stunned expressions, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Dealing with the Medicine King's Legacy and the affairs of the Vidyadhara alone is already enough to cause a lot of headaches, so this kind of reaction is normal.
"I once thought that the events in Scalegorge Waterscape were orchestrated by within the Vidyadhara organization, but even that alone cannot reasonably explain the disappearance of the Vidyadhara children, no matter the reason. It's unlikely that something that harms the continuation of the race would be done with the tacit approval of the Vidyadhara. Moreover, this happened precisely during the time when the Medicine King's Legacy Technique was disappearing without a trace. In other words, someone capable of evading the Shence Mansion's Vanguard, possessing in-depth knowledge of Scalegorge Waterscape's structure, and capable of stealing the dragon eggs must meet certain conditions: intelligence, ability, and a reasonable organizational structure. Unfortunately, it seems that the only organization in Luofu that currently meets these requirements is the Six Commissions, and they are at a relatively high level."
Jing Yuan methodically explained the basis of his conjecture. He desperately hoped that the traitor did not come from the Six Commissions and that it was all a misjudgment on his part, but the reality was just that cruel.
The traitor among the Six Commissions is very likely one of the core figures in the Medicine King's Legacy.
However, information was still too scarce, and Jing Yuan racked his brains but could not deduce the purpose of stealing the dragon eggs and kidnapping the children, so he could only issue orders based on the existing guesses.
"Lady Yukong, Yan Qing, and Qing Yan, I'd like to ask you to spend more time on the Tianbo Division, the Artisanship Commission, and the Earth-Balance Commission, respectively, and gather as much intelligence as possible. I have a feeling that this incident will be difficult to handle."
Jing Yuan stood up, turned his back to the three of them, walked to the window, calmly watched the peaceful scene on the street, and suddenly smiled.
"But for the happiness of countless families, and to cherish all expectations and hopes, isn't this precisely our duty?"
After giving these instructions, he gazed at the scenery outside the window and suddenly fell silent. After a long while, Jing Yuan indicated that he still needed to work and that the three of them could leave to attend to their own matters.
"Qing Yan, may I have a word with you?"
Just as Bai Jun was about to leave the office, Jing Yuan suddenly called out to him.
Under Bai Jun's questioning gaze, Jing Yuan turned around, a bitter smile playing on his lips. He stroked his chin with some difficulty. "I know this might be a bit much for you, but even if it's just out of my own selfish motives, I want to ask you to protect Bailu's safety. She shouldn't be involved in these things anymore..."
"Of course, I know that without you saying it."
Without any hesitation or doubt, Bai Jun's response was firm and resolute.
He then responded to Jing Yuan with a big smile. As if infected by that smile, Jing Yuan also calmed down and smiled back, "Then I'll leave it to you."
Stepping out of the Shence Mansion, the ethereal sunlight on the horizon had been gradually tinged with the colors of dusk. Gazing at the breathtakingly beautiful sky, Bai Jun stretched lazily, pondering what he should eat later.
Well, after all, it's our first meal back on the Xianzhou, so it's understandable that we eat a more lavish meal, right?
"Bai Jun! (Teacher!)"
Just as he was thinking this, two completely different voices rang out at the same time. Bai Jun looked up and saw Yan Qing and Yukong standing not far away. Both of them had a dangerous expression, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Teacher, I've made a lot of money lately! Didn't you tell me last time that you wanted to eat Buddha Jumps Over the Wall at the Meizhan Pavilion? Shall I take you there today?"
Yan Qing happily carried two large cloth bags containing his wages from the fleet's the Hunt, his handsome face full of anticipation, and eagerly invited Bai Jun to join him.
"Bai Jun, come to my house for dinner tonight. I'll cook, and I'll also invite Tingyun along..."
Yukong rested his slightly flushed cheek on one hand and looked at Bai Jun with a smile.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Bai Jun's forehead. Faced with this terrifying choice, he forced an awkward smile and tentatively whispered, "Can... can I go home for dinner?"
""No!""
The two of them once again displayed an unprecedented tacit understanding, each grabbing Bai Jun's wrist from the left and right, and pulling him in opposite directions with a force that almost dislocated his arm.
"Calm down! Stop pulling me so hard! How about we go out for a meal together?!"
The cloudless sky looked down with pity upon this battlefield where the two sides were locked in fierce fighting, and innocent people were caught in the crossfire.
ps:
The good news is that exam week is finally over. Putting the results aside, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After all, I've been studying and writing at the same time lately, especially having to come up with plot ideas and handle the relationships between characters. It almost burned me out.
So let's give the author two or three days to adjust, and then we'll release a big update later.
Love you all, Ciallo~(∠?ω<)⌒★
Chapter 116 Ordinary Life is Joy
The Sun had completely sunk below the horizon.
After the long flute that announces the time on the city wall of Exalting Sanctum has sounded once, the sky has darkened, and the outline of the full moon can already be seen through the clouds.
The silvery moonlight spilled over the countless lights of homes, creating an atmosphere of extraordinary peace and tranquility—the most relaxing time of day for the people.