Missing Thoughts Literature

Yu Sui rapped her knuckles against the door and called, "Senior Martial Brother."

She said, "I'm not here to discuss the Three Families' Judgement. I wanted to ask how I should speak with Master."

Mei Chengyu drawled from inside, "Can you sense Master's presence?"

Yu Sui asked humbly, "For example?"

"Then you can't sense it," Mei Chengyu said lazily. "When you can, you won't need to ask how to speak with him. And, generally, Normal Practitioners have a hard time sensing it too. You might manage when your Five Elements Qi is circulating."

In the end, he'd said nothing useful, because Normal Practitioners couldn't use Five Elements Qi at all.

"So I have to go inside before I can speak with Master?" Yu Sui asked.

Mei Chengyu replied, "Once you're inside, if Master is still there, you can."

Yu Sui rolled her eyes and asked again, "Senior Martial Brother, if I break the doors and windows here, who'll be held responsible?"

Mei Chengyu laughed. "You broke them, so of course you'd be responsible."

"What's Master's temper like?" Yu Sui asked. "If I break the doors and windows in front of all the ancestors and elders, will I be punished?"

"Master has no temper." Mei Chengyu glanced toward the door behind him. "The ancestors died who knows how many years ago. Even if they wanted to lose their temper, they'd have nowhere to do it."

Yu Sui gave a soft "Oh."

Mei Chengyu waited a while, but there was no movement outside.

He'd thought Yu Sui would get angry and kick the door, or pick up a rock and smash the doors and windows.

She couldn't break in with brute force alone. The doors and windows were protected by spells, and even the fiercest wind and rain couldn't damage them.

Yu Sui rested one hand lightly against the door. Her dark, fathomless eyes reflected the patterns carved into it, and her slender, pale fingers tapped gently against the wood grain.

It wasn't as if there were no way to break through.

No matter how powerful the spells protecting the doors and windows were, they couldn't withstand the devouring power of a strange flame.

But if she used the strange flame, Yu Sui would also risk being devoured by it and losing herself.

Setting aside the strange flame, she still had her Five Elements Light Core.

When a Five Elements Light Core shattered, it could be considered a kind of explosion. An explosion containing Five Elements Qi could cause a certain amount of damage.

Over the past few years, she'd studied the strange flame and the light cores. She'd gone from producing five a day to three hundred a day.

It was all thanks to staying up all night, repeatedly testing her spiritual power and driving herself to the brink.

Yu Sui sometimes wondered how she'd managed to sleep so poorly all this time without dropping dead. Perhaps it was only because the strange flame didn't want to lose its host.

As for the Five Elements Qi Mei Chengyu had mentioned, she had a few ideas. But her Five Elements Light Core hadn't changed at all over the years, and Yu Sui didn't know how to tell what realm it was in.

She only knew that her light core wasn't yet a Tenth Realm Soul Light Core.

Without any instruction in the Hundred Schools Nine Streams Technique, Yu Sui still wasn't much to look at.

Yu Sui looked up into the room, her gaze tinged with curiosity.

She hadn't come to the Ghost Dao Saint Hall solely because of the Three Families' Judgement. There had been too many people at the Hundred Schools Hall earlier. When Sage Chang Gen appeared, the strange flame had been swaying because of everyone around her, so she hadn't been able to tell whether it could detect Sage Chang Gen's consciousness.

If it couldn't detect him and alert her in advance, that would put her at a disadvantage. She'd have to be careful in the future.

An invisible, formless, colorless "consciousness" could appear and vanish without anyone noticing. That was dangerous for someone with secrets like her. Yu Sui hesitated outside the door, wondering whether she should use her light core to break in.

Inside, Mei Chengyu was playing with the Listening Wind Ruler.

Zhongli Shan had said that Gu Gan's friends would go find Yu Sui, and that Yu Sui, as Sage Chang Gen's disciple, should take part in the Three Families' Judgement.

Mei Chengyu had replied, "She's already at the Saint Hall entrance."

Zhongli Shan had asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Stop her, of course," Mei Chengyu had said. "I closed the door."

Zhongli Shan had thought it over for a long time without understanding what "I closed the door" was supposed to mean.

"She can't get in?" Zhongli Shan had asked uncertainly.

Mei Chengyu glanced back at the completely still doors and windows. It seemed she couldn't get in.

"She can't get in, but she hasn't given up."

With Yu Sui's abilities, Mei Chengyu didn't think she could get inside.

The four-person Eat Well group popped up with another message:

Xing Chun asked again, "Have you eaten?"

Mei Chengyu figured he had nothing else to do, so he replied, "Eating."

Cang Shu: "Eating."

Zhongli Shan: "Eating."

Xing Chun was delighted. "Come quickly."

Mei Chengyu walked to the table in the corner, picked up a brush, and wrote a few lines on a piece of paper. Then he quietly left through a window at the back of the Saint Hall.

Yu Sui suddenly realized no one was there.

The strange flame stayed still.

She rapped her knuckles against the door and called, "Senior Martial Brother?"

The strange flame still didn't stir.

He'd actually left?

Yu Sui pinched the bridge of her nose and gave a soft, wry laugh. With Mei Chengyu gone, she no longer had to hold back and decided to blast the door open with her light core.

Besides, Mei Chengyu had said she could sense Sage Chang Gen only after she went inside.

Yu Sui put her hand on the door again. A faint light flashed in her palm, and a Five Elements Light Core shattered.

One wasn't enough to blow it open, so Yu Sui kept going without pause. She'd never had the chance to test her Five Elements Light Core against the Nine Schools Techniques' spells. This was the perfect opportunity to see how many light cores it would take to blast open the Saint Hall's door.

Yu Sui closed her eyes and gathered her spiritual power, continuing to test it. When the thirty-sixth light core shattered, the Saint Hall's main door let out a muffled thud.

The faint sound made Yu Sui open her eyes. She saw a crack in the door that had been shut tight before.

She reached out and gave it a gentle push. The door opened.

Yu Sui touched the door and looked around. Good, she hadn't blown it up, so she wouldn't have to pay for it.

The ceiling of the Saint Hall Main Hall was quite high. Lamps hung above, arranged in swirling Tai Chi patterns, while the light below was dim, making the whole space seem shadowy.

The candlelight was just right—not too bright, not too dark. Being there felt like being wrapped in the warm, safe embrace of light.

The fresh scent of green vines mingled with the faint fragrance of incense, calming the mind and settling the spirit.

Only after entering did Yu Sui realize the hall was circular. Golden statues were carved all around the walls, each seated cross-legged, hands forming different seals, heads slightly bowed, their faces compassionate.

Portraits of past Sages hung beside the statues. Some were richly colored, while others were rendered in stark black and white, preserving the vivid appearances they'd had in life.

Yu Sui took a quick look around and saw about twenty Ghost Dao School Sages. She looked to the far left and spotted a familiar portrait: her Master, Sage Chang Gen.

The portrait showed a kindly old man. He formed a seal with one hand and held the other behind his back, his head slightly bowed.

He looked gentle and refined. It was hard to imagine someone like him using the domineering, imposing Nine Schools Techniques he'd wielded at the Hundred Schools Hall.

Yu Sui stopped in the middle and gazed up at Sage Chang Gen's portrait. Before long, the table beneath it caught her attention.

She walked over to it.

The table was broad and cluttered with all kinds of things: musical instruments, game boards, paintings, calligraphy, brushes, ink, and inkstones. There was even a half-finished spell talisman, a famous calligrapher's character practice sheet, a Yin-Yang School twin-fish diagram, and a Military Strategy book opened halfway through.

Standing in front of the table, Yu Sui let her gaze pass over the items one by one, finally stopping at a pile of white paper.

Someone had written in ink on the top sheet: "Are you serious about taking this disciple?"

As soon as Yu Sui's eyes fell on the line, the still strange flame began to sway gently. The Five Elements Qi in the hall rippled outward, and the ink strokes in the portrait ahead began to turn slowly, bringing the lifeless painting back to life.

It seemed the strange flame could sense whether Sage Chang Gen's consciousness was nearby.

Yu Sui felt a little relieved and slowly looked up. The black lines moved across the canvas, making the figure in the portrait seem to stir.

"Master?" she ventured.

The image flowed, but she heard no voice. Instead, a consciousness entered her mind and answered:

"You made it in. Not bad."

Yu Sui grew respectful. "It was just a trifling trick. I hope Master won't laugh at me."

She waited, but Sage Chang Gen's consciousness didn't speak again, so she continued, "Master, I heard the Nine Schools all value the apprenticeship ceremony. Should I perform one too, just for the sake of appearances?"

A sense of ritual was important, wasn't it?

Sage Chang Gen replied, "Our school doesn't follow that custom."

Keeping things simple was good.

Yu Sui rolled her eyes. This conversation was about to die on its feet, so she stopped beating around the bush and knelt. "Master, I have a favor to ask."

"Speak."

"Could you let me represent you in the Legalist, Military Strategy, and Ghost Dao Schools' judgement?" Yu Sui had already prepared what to say if he refused.

But Sage Chang Gen answered without hesitation. "You may."

Yu Sui let out a small gasp and blinked at the shifting ink in her Master's portrait. After a moment, she asked, "And Senior Martial Brother..."

"You and he are both my disciples. Either of you may represent the Ghost Dao School in the judgement."

"But whatever choice you make, you must bear the consequences yourselves."

Ink lines flew from the canvas and wrapped around Yu Sui's wrist in a fine loop. In the middle of the back of her hand, they left behind the single-hand seal from Sage Chang Gen's portrait.

It was proof that Yu Sui had been authorized to represent him in the judgement.

Yu Sui reached out to touch it and said softly, "Thank you, Master. There's one more thing I'd like to ask. Why did you take me as your disciple?"

She put on a sweet, pitiful act. "I have no talent at all. My compatibility with every one of the Nine Schools is only ten percent. I'm so mediocre I can barely even pass for a Normal Practitioner. How could a Sage like you take a liking to me?"

Yu Sui put on a helpless look and went on and on, but Sage Chang Gen only replied, "Fate."

This conversation was about to die again.

Yu Sui asked, "What about Senior Martial Brother?"

Sage Chang Gen: "Fate."

Yu Sui silently rose to her feet. "Thank you, Master. Goodbye, Master."

She turned and took two steps, then went back to the table and took the note Mei Chengyu had written for her Master.

Zhang Yuxuan was still waiting for Yu Sui at the entrance.

Even though Sheng Zui had urged him countless times on the Listening Wind Ruler, Zhang Yuxuan remained steady. Each time, he convinced himself to wait a little longer. Maybe Yu Sui would come out soon.

When he put away the Listening Wind Ruler for the thirty-sixth time and told himself to wait a little longer, he finally saw Yu Sui coming down the stone steps.

Zhang Yuxuan's eyes lit up, and he waved to Yu Sui.

"Senior Zhang, you're still here." Yu Sui ran over, panting. "Perfect. Do you know how to get to the Legalist School?"

"Legalist School? What are you going there for?" Zhang Yuxuan asked, puzzled. "Shouldn't you be going back to the Ghost Dao Institute?"

Yu Sui looked up at him and smiled. "I'll be right back."

Black Beard waited outside the Legalist School, holding the Di Su Tiancheng. When he saw Yu Sui arrive with Zhang Yuxuan using the Wind Riding Technique, he straightened up and greeted her respectfully. "County Princess."

He handed over the Black Box containing the Di Su Tiancheng.

Ji Meng and Huo Xiao were waiting nearby. They looked at Yu Sui with complicated expressions.

Yu Sui took the Black Box and turned to thank Zhang Yuxuan. "Thank you, Senior."

Zhang Yuxuan sighed. "No wonder Old Man Chang took a liking to you. You're bold, brave, and utterly fearless. You do what ordinary people wouldn't dare."

Put nicely, it was praise.

Put less nicely: you're seriously reckless.

Yu Sui pretended not to understand what he meant and smiled sheepishly. "You flatter me, Senior."

Ji Meng's lips twitched as he thought to himself, That doesn't sound like praise at all.

With Ji Meng and Huo Xiao accompanying her, Yu Sui went to see Legalist Saint Yu.

Inside the Criminal Law Pavilion, Yu Sui set the Black Box on the table, then held out her hand to show the ink mark on her wrist. She said to Yu Sheng and Elder Zhu, who sat opposite her, "If you two feel overturning the first hearing is inappropriate, you can treat this as a second judgement."

"The Di Su Tiancheng's test results are plain for all to see. I believe the people at the Questioning Arena also thought Gu Gan wasn't lying. There's no evidence proving he was the one who stole the Milky Way Water."

"I'm Sage Chang Gen's disciple, and he personally authorized me to represent him in the judgement. So this result is legitimate and aboveboard."

As Yu Sui explained, Yu Sheng and Elder Zhu exchanged glances. After a moment, they silently nodded.

When Yu Sui left this time, she didn't take the Di Su Tiancheng with her, but she did get the key to the Criminal Prison.

Legalist Saint Yu stood by the window, watching Yu Sui and the others leave below. He glanced at the Di Su Tiancheng on the table beside him. The Nangong family's child cared too much about Gu Gan, and had missed the chance to seize the Legalist School's fatal weakness.

It could be considered fortunate.

He had no idea why a child with not the slightest talent had caught Chang Gen's eye.

On the way to rescue Gu Gan, Yu Sui listened as Ji Meng introduced Huo Xiao beside him. "He's a Legalist disciple named Huo Xiao. He entered the academy in the same batch as us, and he's from Qingyang too."

Yu Sui said, "I haven't seen you before."

Ji Meng explained, "He doesn't live in the imperial capital."

Huo Xiao suddenly said, "I'm not nobility."

Yu Sui nodded, distracted. "Mm-hmm."

Huo Xiao: "..."

In an instant, he lost every thought he'd had.

Ji Meng gave a light cough and said to Yu Sui, "We owe you a lot this time, County Princess. We wouldn't have known what to do without you."

Yu Sui smiled. "I'm happy I could help Brother Gu."

She had no choice but to be happy. If she didn't complete the task Nangong Ming had given her, she'd have plenty of trouble later.

Besides, getting Gu Gan out would be much more useful than leaving him locked up and unable to move.

Nangong Ming had asked her to help Gu Gan find the Futuo Tower at Taiyi Academy. From the sound of it, the tower was some kind of peerless treasure, and there was a good chance it couldn't be obtained by legitimate means.

If Gu Gan went looking for it himself, she'd only have to pass along information. Besides, Gu Gan wouldn't make a Normal Practitioner with no talent like her do physical labor.

"You just arrived, and you've only been Sage Chang Gen's disciple for a little while, yet you've already taken Mei Chengyu's authority. He might grow hostile toward you," Huo Xiao said.

"Right," Ji Meng agreed, nodding. "You should be careful."

Only then did Yu Sui turn to the two of them. "What else do you know about my Senior Martial Brother?"

"We haven't had much contact with him, so we've only heard things. Mei Chengyu and Zhongli Shan are Grade A Disciples, while we're still Grade B. Our usual routes don't cross," Huo Xiao said calmly. "I heard he has a strange temper. Sometimes he's merciful as a Bodhisattva; sometimes he disowns his own family. He's arrogant and conceited, and submits to no one."

"But he really is pretty impressive. He's been a Grade A Disciple ever since the year he entered the academy, just like Zhongli Shan and the others. He's never dropped a grade." As Ji Meng spoke, he suddenly remembered something and asked Yu Sui, "By the way, Zhongli Shan's younger sister is called Zhongli Que, right? Wasn't she in the same class as you at the National Academy?"

Yu Sui nodded. "That's right."

Ji Meng asked, "Hasn't she told you anything about Zhongli Shan at Taiyi Academy?"

Yu Sui shook her head regretfully. "We're not close."

"I thought Zhongli Shan and Mei Chengyu got along pretty well, so I figured Zhongli Shan might have mentioned Mei Chengyu to his family." Ji Meng rubbed his chin. "Besides Mei Chengyu, I know one other person: Cang Shu, an Agricultural School Disciple."

Huo Xiao added, "And Xing Chun, a Yin-Yang School Disciple."

Yu Sui asked, "Are those three close to my Senior Martial Brother?"

Ji Meng spread his hands. "No idea whether they're close, but I do know I often see them eating together in the Dining Hall."

Yu Sui scratched her cheek. Her Senior Martial Brother sure had a lot of dining companions.

The three had just reached the Legalist Three Provinces Prison when they spotted a lovely white-clad figure standing before its gates in the distance. Yu Sui hadn't noticed her, but after recognizing Xun Zhiya, Ji Meng instinctively glanced at Yu Sui beside him. Gu Gan and Xun Zhiya's relationship was hard to define. You couldn't exactly say there wasn't a hint of something between them.

But Ji Meng also felt that there was something ambiguous between Gu Gan and Yu Sui. He even thought Yu Sui liked Gu Gan. Otherwise, why would she have indulged him and backed him up, cleaning up his messes, back in the imperial capital?

Even after coming to Taiyi, she still kept him in mind, putting Gu Gan first at every turn.

Her affection was so pure and sincere. If she found out Gu Gan and Xun Zhiya had something going on—Ji Meng shook his head hard. Now was not the time to think about this!

Let Gu Gan come out and sort it out himself!

Yu Sui saw Xun Zhiya, and she had heard of her too: the tangled love and hatred between Xun Zhiya, Gu Gan, and Sha Qian. She'd heard Xun Zhiya was a Legalist genius and the Saintess of Nanjing Country, with a noble status. She was also a beauty as cold as ice, the sort who was hard not to fall for, whether you judged by her looks or her wealth.

But Yu Sui's attention was drawn more to the "young man" standing behind Xun Zhiya.

Li Jinshuang, disguised as a man, wore a long sword at her waist, its silver-white blade as pure as snow. She was still as a stone. Though she stood behind Xun Zhiya, she seemed detached from the whole world.

If the world around Xun Zhiya was a fierce drama of love and hatred, then Li Jinshuang was a passerby who had no interest in it at all.

Thinking of this, Yu Sui couldn't help smiling.

Only when Ji Meng drew closer did he notice Xiang Feifei too. She stood with her arms crossed, a veil over her face, and a haughty gaze sweeping over them.

Ji Meng: ""

Maybe Gu Gan should just stay inside.

Yu Sui strolled into view, smiling. "What a lively crowd. Is everyone here to wait for Brother Gu?"

Ji Meng shot Huo Xiao a look. Huo Xiao immediately turned his face away, signaling that Ji Meng shouldn't look at him; he didn't know anything.

Yu Sui paid no mind to what the others thought. She took out the key, unlocked the door, and let Gu Gan out.

The Dining Hall was getting crowded.

Xing Chun had claimed a spot on the second floor early. He'd picked a quiet table by the window with a good view, and was waiting for the other three to come eat.

Zhongli Shan arrived first. He sat beside Xing Chun, picked up a teacup, and poured himself some water. Then he wet a handkerchief with hot water and wiped down the table and utensils.

Xing Chun used a small dish to mix dipping sauce for them and casually asked, "Where are the no-heart and no-brains?"

"They went to get the side dishes," Zhongli Shan said.

Xing Chun set the bowls of dipping sauce out for everyone. Just as he sat back down, Mei Chengyu and Cang Shu came over with a bowl of lettuce each.

The two sat opposite them and began passing bowls, serving rice, wrapping food in lettuce, and adding sauce with perfect coordination.

Xing Chun ate with boundless energy. Compared to his spirited enthusiasm, Cang Shu, pale-skinned, frail, and delicate, looked listless; even eating seemed to wear him out.

Mei Chengyu was nonchalant, while Zhongli Shan was stern and stiff.

As Xing Chun fought Mei Chengyu for the food, he asked, "I heard you got a new Junior Martial Sister today. Is she pretty?"

Mei Chengyu replied perfunctorily, "See for yourself."

Xing Chun said, "Pretty is pretty, and ugly is ugly. What do you mean, 'see for yourself'?"

Mei Chengyu lifted his eyes. The words "What's wrong with you?" were written all over his gaze.

Xing Chun scooped minced meat into a steamed bun and swallowed it in one bite. "Then tell me about what happened at the Legalist Judgment today. You showed the Legalists no respect at all. Are you trying to get demoted this year?"

Mei Chengyu remained unconcerned. "What does my getting demoted have to do with the Legalists?"

Cang Shu chewed slowly, sounding listless as he said, "Your Junior Martial Sister can go to the Legalists for a new judgment too."

"She can't," Mei Chengyu said indifferently. "I shut her out of the Sage Hall."

Xing Chun tapped his chopsticks against his bowl. "She couldn't get in?"

"How could a Normal Practitioner get in?" Mei Chengyu asked.

Xing Chun looked surprised. "She really is a Normal Practitioner? Her father is one of the Three Yama of the School of Names."

"Her talent compatibility is only ten percent. If she weren't a Normal Practitioner, her father would've sent her to the School of Names long ago." Mei Chengyu didn't think the matter was worth discussing and answered without interest.

Cang Shu glanced out the window. "So Gu Gan won't be getting out anytime soon?"

"He won't be out for a while," Zhongli Shan said.

Cang Shu swallowed his food, then pointed outside with his chopsticks. "Then who's that down there?"

"Who?"

His question made the other three lift their heads from their bowls and look out the window together.

Along the only road to the Dining Hall, people stopped in surprise at the sight of the newcomer. Their eyes followed him as he walked.

The flower trees lining the road swayed, casting mottled shadows. Patches of shade fell at intervals along the way.

Gu Gan was still dressed as he had been when the Legalists locked him up. He walked at the head of the group, his coat slung over one shoulder. When the crowd's discussion drew his gaze upward, his brows and eyes held a fierce, murderous edge.

Ji Meng and Huo Xiao walked on either side of him, like the left and right protectors of a Fierce beast.

It was the break between classes, and there were plenty of disciples heading to the Dining Hall. Quite a few of them knew Gu Gan and had heard about the judgment by the three schools. They had heard that very morning that Gu Gan's judgment was to remain under observation, yet now, barely past noon, here he was, strolling into the Dining Hall as if he owned the place.

Xing Chun leaned out the window and let out a "Hey!" Then he turned to Mei Chengyu. "But he's out now, isn't he?"

Mei Chengyu didn't look at Gu Gan, who was drawing the most attention below. Nor did he look at Xun Zhiya or Xiang Feifei, who followed behind and were drawing their share of gossip. His expression was inscrutable, and his gaze landed precisely on Yu Sui at the very back of the crowd.

As Yu Sui stepped out of the shade, she raised a hand to tuck back a lock of hair. Her sleeve slipped down, revealing the dark mark on her wrist.

It was the Ghost Dao School mark, one Mei Chengyu knew all too well.

Mei Chengyu stared at Yu Sui. When the girl below looked up and cast him a glance, her bright almond-shaped eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement.