Missing Thoughts Literature

Yusui hadn't expected to gain something like this from a trip to the Ghost Dao School.

She didn't know much about the Ghost Dao School's Nine Schools Techniques, but she remembered Black Beard and Ji Meng explaining earlier that Sage Chang Gen of the Ghost Dao School was in a state of "physical body dissolution, consciousness enduring."

In other words, he was dead, but not entirely dead.

She'd just witnessed what "consciousness enduring" meant.

Having someone else's consciousness implanted in you, with no way to refuse—it was one of the Ghost Dao School's Nine Schools Techniques, wasn't it?

Sheng Zui, standing nearby, came to his senses and frowned at Mei Chengyu.

Until now, Mei Chengyu had been Sage Chang Gen's only disciple. That made his position rather unusual: while everyone else's master was up and about, his master, though one of the Twenty-Four Saints who governed the academy, was dead. As a result, whenever Sage Chang Gen needed to handle something, Mei Chengyu often had to act on his behalf.

Everyone was beginning to catch on, their gazes shifting between Yusui and Mei Chengyu.

The Thirteenth Realm Masters from the Military Strategy and Military Strategy schools also hurried over to see what was happening, calling out as they came, "Who? Who's Nangong Sui? Let me see her."

Zhang Yuxuan, who had hurried back while holding up his pants, called to Mei Chengyu inside the room. "Xiao Mei! I was gone for just a moment, and your master took on a disciple? Let me see who it is. Where's your junior martial sister, Nangong Sui?"

Those who had met Yusui and knew she was the County Princess were even more surprised than those who hadn't seen her before.

Zhongli Shan had just returned to the Military Strategy Academy. He quietly opened his Listening Wind Ruler and sent Mei Chengyu a question mark. "If I remember right, Nangong Sui tested very low on her talent several times. They said she was a Normal Practitioner."

Zhongli Shan hadn't had much contact with Yusui himself, but when he was young, he'd been close to Su Feng, the Prince's Mansion Second Young Master, and had heard Su Feng mention Yusui. His younger sister, Zhongli Que, also often brought up the Young Princess of the Nangong Family.

He'd heard so much about her that he'd been forced to learn a few things.

Mei Chengyu wasn't very surprised when he saw the message. The ten percent result on Yusui's talent test had already made it clear: her talent was terrible, and she was a Normal Practitioner.

News that Sage Chang Gen had invaded the two Military Strategy academies with his consciousness and taken on a disciple instantly spread throughout Taiyi Academy.

When Black Beard, waiting at the entrance to Taiyi Academy, received the news, he was completely baffled. He instinctively rubbed his head. What did this mean? Had he misjudged her?

Was the County Princess actually a genius?

Black Beard thought of how he'd regretted that Yusui wasn't worthy of being the Nangong Family's heir. Then he looked at the news that Sage Chang Gen had taken her as his disciple. A shiver ran through him, and he began to reflect on his mistake and repent.

Ji Meng went from the Questioning Arena to the Three Provinces Prison where the Legalists were holding Gu Gan. He stood outside the gates of the Old Three Provinces Prison with the young man in the golden robe. They couldn't get in, so the two of them stood there trying to think of another way.

They were discussing whether they should go wait for Mei Chengyu at the Ghost Dao School when they suddenly received news that Sage Chang Gen had just taken on a disciple, stunning both Military Strategy schools. The disciple was a newly enrolled student named Nangong Sui.

Ji Meng's eyes widened. He stared at the message flashing on his Listening Wind Ruler for a long time. "Huo Xiao, do you think it could be someone with the same name?"

"The Nangong surname is unique to Qingyang." Huo Xiao tapped his Listening Wind Ruler. "There's only one new student who enrolled today named Nangong Sui."

"But I remember her being a Normal Practitioner. She was slow to learn anything when she was little, stupid and completely lacking in talent. How could Sage Chang Gen take her as a disciple?" Ji Meng was shocked and couldn't make sense of it. "No matter how short on people the Ghost Dao side is, surely they wouldn't go that far?"

"Going by what you've said, even if the Ghost Dao Institute were short on people, they wouldn't take her as a disciple." Huo Xiao turned to look at him. "The point is, she's become Sage Chang Gen's disciple. That means Mei Chengyu is no longer Sage Chang Gen's sole representative."

Ji Meng's thoughts took a sharp turn. He slapped his thigh, eyes lighting up. "I've got it!"

The two hurried off to the Hundred Schools Hall to find Yusui.

So many people had come to see Yusui that teachers and students alike were curious about what Sage Chang Gen's new disciple looked like. Yusui hid behind Sheng Zui, looking timid.

There were so many Academy Saints and Thirteenth Realm Masters everywhere. She didn't want to attract too much attention yet. This was bad.

Sheng Zui rarely got to see Yusui act vulnerable and need him, so he took on the airs and responsibilities of an older brother. He glared fiercely at the new students, his intimidating look successfully driving several of them away.

The Thirteenth Realm Masters came over. When they realized Yusui was the new student who'd scored ten percent on her talent test, they exchanged awkward glances. After a moment, they began offering awkward praise. "Not bad, not bad."

"Not bad."

They called her not bad as they quietly filed out.

Mei Chengyu saw them and laughed without holding back.

Zhang Yuxuan had just returned and still didn't know what was going on. He praised Yusui. "She really is impressive. No wonder Old Man Chang took a liking to her. Anyone Old Man Chang chose as a Personal Disciple must have something special about her and an incredibly deep bond with our Ghost Dao School. Her talent—"

Mei Chengyu rapped his knuckles against the table and said as if casually, "Her talent compatibility is ten percent."

Zhang Yuxuan immediately choked on his words.

Yusui peeked out from behind Sheng Zui and looked at Mei Chengyu.

She'd thought of what Ji Meng and Huo Xiao could have realized, too.

She figured this senior martial brother, who looked both clever and rebellious, had probably thought of it as well.

Mei Chengyu didn't avoid Yusui's gaze. He lifted his eyes and met it.

Though the girl was hiding behind Sheng Zui, she didn't seem afraid. She just didn't like being stared at by so many people.

As for what made her special, Mei Chengyu couldn't see it.

"Now that you're back, keep an eye on things," Mei Chengyu said to Zhang Yuxuan as he stood up. "I'm leaving."

Zhang Yuxuan tried to keep him there. "You're not going to stay a little longer? What if Old Man Chang finds another promising talent?"

As Mei Chengyu walked out, he glanced at Yusui behind Sheng Zui. "There's no one better than her."

If there were anyone better than Yusui, she wouldn't have been the one the Saint took as his disciple.

Mei Chengyu suddenly had a junior martial sister.

He didn't have any particular opinion about it.

But just half an hour ago, this new junior martial sister had traveled a great distance with a Legalist treasure to save her childhood sweetheart, only for him to ruthlessly put him down and send her childhood sweetheart—who had been about to be released without charge—back to prison.

What kind of strange bond and grudge was that?

Could his master have done it on purpose?

Now that Sage Chang Gen had a disciple besides him, there was no guarantee that he would represent the Ghost Dao School at the upcoming Three Schools Arbitration.

Yusui might not have thought of that, but the people on Gu Gan's side certainly had.

Mei Chengyu hurried toward the Taoist Saint Hall, deciding to strike first.

Yusui was listening to Zhang Yuxuan explain Sage Chang Gen's new disciple.

Zhang Yuxuan asked Sheng Zui to watch the enrollment desk, then spoke with Yusui in a nearby corner. "After joining a school, you'll generally study at your own academy, but you can also choose to sit in on classes at another school and study the Normal Arts. Some students study two schools' techniques, or even three, but that's rare."

"You're the Personal Disciple Sage Chang Gen chose, which means you have a separate master's lineage. Besides the academy's major examinations, you'll have other trials. Otherwise, you're no different from the other students. If you lose points and drop in rank, you won't get any special privileges just because you're Sage Chang Gen's Personal Disciple."

That was what he said, anyway. What would really happen if it came to that was another matter.

The only thing that set Yusui apart from the other students at Taiyi Academy was that she had a personal tutor.

"If you want to know about Old Man Chang and your master's lineage, you can ask your senior martial brother, Mei Chengyu." Zhang Yuxuan made a gesture. "The one from just now."

Yusui nodded.

Zhang Yuxuan said warmly, "You can also visit the Taoist Saint Hall and see if you can speak with your master. Whenever I used to ask Xiao Mei, he never told me anything."

Yusui blinked and asked, "What is the Taoist Saint Hall?"

"It's where the Saints of the Ghost Dao School from past generations of Taiyi Academy rest," Zhang Yuxuan explained. "Only their blood relatives and Personal Disciples can enter. But a few years ago, almost everyone who could go in had died. Now, only Xiao Mei and you can enter the Taoist Saint Hall."

In other words, it was a place where she could communicate with Sage Chang Gen.

Yusui's eyes shifted. She quietly asked Zhang Yuxuan, "If I wanted to replace my senior martial brother and represent my master at the Three Schools Arbitration, could I?"

Zhang Yuxuan answered quickly. "In theory, yes."

Only after answering did he widen his eyes in surprise.

Yusui smiled. "Thank you, Senior."

Zhang Yuxuan awkwardly scratched his cheek. "I didn't realize you were so ambitious. But your senior martial brother isn't the kind of person who'll let you have your way."

Her senior martial brother didn't look easy to deal with, and Yusui had no intention of ruining their relationship the moment she arrived.

Social relationships after growing up were much trickier than they'd been in childhood.

Yusui asked Zhang Yuxuan where the Taoist Saint Hall was. She wanted to go there and speak with Sage Chang Gen directly about who would represent the Ghost Dao School at the Three Schools Arbitration.

Zhang Yuxuan thought the child was a bold young calf unafraid of tigers. He was also happy to see what would happen, so he agreed to take her.

Sheng Zui, left behind to watch the Ghost Dao School's enrollment desk: "?"

Did I agree to this?

But Zhang Yuxuan was a Thirteenth Realm powerhouse of the Ghost Dao School and an elder. Sheng Zui couldn't refuse him, so he could only look on sourly as Yusui waved to him and left.

Ji Meng and Huo Xiao arrived a step too late and couldn't find Yusui. All they saw was Sheng Zui looking unhappy.

Seeing the two reminded Sheng Zui of Gu Gan. He couldn't help thinking of Yusui as she left. That girl had better not be going to steal the representative position from Mei Chengyu.

The Taoist Saint Hall was near the southern side of Taiyi Academy, at the very back of the Ghost Dao Institute.

The area backed onto mountains and faced the water. The scenery was beautiful, peaceful, and refined, with flowers and plants covering the ground in spring. Since hardly anyone came here, the vegetation had swallowed up the road in front of the vast hall. Flowering vines had climbed the tall walls and covered them entirely.

Zhang Yuxuan brought Yusui over with the Wind Riding Technique, and they didn't take long to arrive.

The two stopped in front of the Taoist Saint Hall's main gates.

The gates stood open, revealing tall steps and a palace beyond. The ground was patterned in black and white, like a giant Taiji symbol.

Even with the gates open, Zhang Yuxuan didn't dare enter.

He said to Yusui, "Don't be fooled by how few steps there are—"

Before he could finish, Yusui said, "I think they look really high."

She estimated there were more than thirty steps.

"They are really high," Zhang Yuxuan sighed. "What you see when you get close is completely different from what you see from here. There are nine thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight steps in total."

Yusui froze.

She'd never finish them even if she walked until tomorrow.

Zhang Yuxuan quickly explained, "But you'll be fine. You're Old Man Chang's Personal Disciple, so you only need to climb the thirty-three steps you can see."

Only then did Yusui breathe a sigh of relief. She lifted her skirt and stepped into the Taoist Saint Hall.

As Yusui entered the Taoist Saint Hall, Mei Chengyu came out of the building.

He stood at the entrance, squinting at the person hurrying over from the main gate.

She'd arrived faster than he'd expected.

And Zhang Yuxuan had brought her here. Gu Gan's people had indeed gone straight to the Hundred Schools Hall.

The green vines spread from the walls into the Taoist Saint Hall, creeping forward and covering the ground and steps. Yusui carefully avoided the flowering vines on the stone steps. When she reached the top, she looked up and saw Mei Chengyu standing in the doorway, as well as vines hanging from the eaves, doors, and windows.

Yusui greeted him amiably. "Senior Martial Brother Mei."

Mei Chengyu gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "If you're going to call me senior martial brother, then call me properly."

Yusui touched her hair and corrected herself. "Senior Martial Brother."

Mei Chengyu looked her up and down. "I heard from someone that you're the only Normal Practitioner in the Nangong Family. You haven't learned any Nine Schools Techniques."

Yusui nodded. "Mm!"

Mei Chengyu added, "You're not too bright, and you're slow to learn?"

Yusui asked, "Who said that?"

Mei Chengyu said, "Sheng Zui."

Yusui: "..."

"More or less," Yusui sighed.

Mei Chengyu gave a quiet "Oh." He held the door in one hand. If this junior martial sister knew even a little Nine Schools Technique, he wouldn't feel so burdened. But Yusui was just a pretty idiot, which made him feel somewhat constrained.

"If you've come to talk to Master about the Three Schools Arbitration, figure it out yourself."

Mei Chengyu shut the door.

He hadn't used any Nine Schools Technique to bully his new junior martial sister. He'd only closed the door.

Yusui, left outside the door: "..."

Yusui looked around, hesitated, then stepped forward and tried pushing the door. It wouldn't budge. She pushed harder. It still wouldn't budge.

There was even a key hanging on the flowering vine beside the window.

Yusui took the key and tried to unlock the door, but it still wouldn't open.

Her senior martial brother really hadn't done anything. He'd only closed the door.

And now she couldn't get in.

Yusui touched her nose, finding the situation both infuriating and funny.