Missing Thoughts Literature

The group of Yu Sui came out quickly and left quickly, not giving Gu Gan and the others waiting on the side a chance to ask what was going on. With a swish, they re-entered the Star Map Trial.

Ji Meng wiped his face, the shock in his eyes still lingering. "She, isn't she just a beginner trialist? How did Nangong Sui end up like this? Li Jinshuang is a Fifth Realm military practitioner, she can't even pass a beginner trial, can she?"

It was just an introductory trial for the Five Elements Birth Technique, there was no reason for this.

It was normal for Nangong Sui, being a Normal Practitioner, to be unable to win, but wasn't she with Li Jinshuang? How did she end up so disheveled and injured?

This was definitely not normal.

Shu Chujun, standing next to Xun Zhiya, snorted, "Li Jinshuang has the highest realm among them. So their trial level would be at most Fifth Realm. The Military Formation of the Fifth Realm is tough enough for Normal Practitioners or newly initiated disciples to attempt."

"Besides, Li Jinshuang likes to stand by and watch others die, only caring about herself. She wouldn't care if others died in the Military Formation."

Xun Zhiya glanced at her. Shu Chujun looked back, "Am I wrong? Last year at the Dingshan Hunting Ground, Li Jinshuang wasn't it..."

"No need to say more," Xun Zhiya interrupted her. "That time she didn't save you because, as a member of the Li family, her duty was to save the royal family first."

Shu Chujun pouted. Although she didn't say anything further, her expression was displeased.

Gu Gan pondered, waiting by the Five Elements Field for Yu Sui to come out. She had left too quickly, and he hadn't even had time to approach her.

After a while, he caught sight of Mei Chengyu and the others coming from the Martial Path Arena out of the corner of his eye.

Xing Chun said to Mei Chengyu as they walked, "They look like they've been beaten up pretty badly. The young girl's face is all scratched."

Nian Qiuyan pulled Kong Yiyi along as they walked, saying, "Look at something else to distract yourself. Don't keep thinking about Wei Kun. If you think about him, think about me instead."

Kong Yiyi, hearing what Xing Chun and the others were saying, was indeed distracted. She poked her head towards the Five Elements Yin-Yang Field to look. "Where? They're attempting the Military Formation. Newcomers won't exceed Third Realm at most. How did all four of them come out bruised and battered?"

"Isn't there a Normal Practitioner?" Cang Shu yawned, "Mei Mei's Junior Martial Sister."

Mei Chengyu said, "She's not."

Xing Chun gestured a thumb towards Cang Shu. "She's a First Realm Nine Schools Practitioner."

Cang Shu, Nian Qiuyan, and the other one looked over. "Mm?"

Xing Chun said, "Nangong Sui didn't sleep at all this month, studying at the Taoist Saint Hall until dawn. Every time I went to find Mei Liangxin for a meal, I could see her at the Taoist Saint Hall. Her perseverance should not be underestimated. It seems that hard work pays off."

"Hey," Kong Yiyi came to the edge of the Five Elements Yin-Yang Field. "I haven't seen Mei Liangxin's Junior Martial Sister yet."

Nian Qiuyan said, "The one with her seems to be your Junior Martial Sister from the military school too."

Kong Yiyi sat on the edge of the steps, cupping her face. "Then I definitely have to see her."

Nian Qiuyan raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. She had finally managed to distract herself.

Many students saw Yu Sui undergoing the trial in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field. Among them were people who knew Sheng Zui. Everyone was surprised that Yu Sui came out of the trial covered in blood and looking seriously injured. The news spread and eventually reached Sheng Zui.

Sheng Zui had just finished bathing and was lying on his bed when Mu Mengbai slammed the table and exclaimed, "My sister is injured and covered in blood in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field!"

Sheng Zui scoffed, "Who is this good sister you've gotten to know now?"

Mu Mengbai turned to look. "Your sister is my sister!"

Sheng Zui: "..."

He then saw the message on the Listening Wind Ruler and realized it was about Yu Sui's trial in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field. He immediately sneered, "She's a Normal Practitioner herself and dares to attempt a trial. Serves her right."

Mu Mengbai waited for a moment. The person on the bed got up with a dark expression, put on an outer garment, and walked out. He quickly followed.

Li Jinshuang reopened the Star Map challenge and teleported into a new Military Formation.

In front, the City Defense General, clad in red armor and wielding a blood-colored long sword, sat steadily on his horse.

The Skeleton Soldiers, not wearing armor, made a clattering sound as they moved. They slowly picked up the swords and sabers that had fallen to the ground and formed ranks to fight.

The four of them stood in the center of the battlefield. Looking up, they finally saw that it was no longer the City Defense King General, who was larger than the city itself and whose oppressive aura dominated the entire scene.

Fifth Realm Military Formation - City of the Dead Pact.

In the bloody desert, wind and sand swirled, making the tattered flags on the field dance. The four people in the field quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Wei Ren wiped his face and looked up at the crescent moon in the sky. "City Defense General, it's finally normal."

Xue Mushi choked on the sand and sat down on the spot, coughing with a pale face.

"Don't slack off," Wei Ren looked down at him.

Xue Mushi said, "The previous exertion was too great. If Nangong Sui hadn't expanded the Qi Ding of the divination technique, disrupting the Five Elements power balance of Asura Hell, it wouldn't have disappeared so quickly."

As he spoke, he spread his arms and lay back, staring blankly at the sky. "I need to rest before fighting again."

Wei Ren couldn't help but recall the final scene: the Black Armored Cavalry on the opposite bank drew their swords, and in the dim light, thousands upon thousands of golden Soul Light Cores seemed to be burning. The warhorses whinnied, and immense Five Elements Power exploded in Asura Hell. The scene he saw was trembling, as if his eyeballs were about to tear apart, the surging killing intent and fear made his heart skip a beat.

But just as they were about to be torn apart by this terrifying power, the Five Elements Qi of Asura Hell became unbalanced and could no longer maintain the Military Formation, giving them a chance to escape. All the Black Armored Cavalry attempting to cross the river disappeared into the water.

Wei Ren turned to look at Yu Sui beside him and found that she had also collapsed on the ground, as if exhausted.

Yu Sui rolled her eyeballs and stared at the crescent moon in the sky.

In that final moment, she saw the Black Armored Cavalry charging at the forefront on the opposite bank. It held a Silver Spear, its target clear. The eyes beneath its helmet, emitting a vermilion gold light, were fixed on Yu Sui's position.

She hadn't crossed the river, so she shouldn't have triggered the Black Armored Cavalry's attack.

But at that moment, this Black Armored Cavalry issued an order to the entire army to kill Yu Sui on the opposite bank.

What triggered the Black Armored Cavalry's attack? Was it the Exotic Flame?

Yu Sui couldn't confirm her guess. At the last moment, as she stood up and looked at the Black Armored Cavalry, a familiar power circulated. Her eyes caught the Five Elements Qi being drawn away and disappearing. She reached out and grasped it, causing the Five Elements Qi within the Asura Hell formation to completely destabilize. In an instant, everything within the formation turned to ash.

Divine Mechanism · Heavenly Eye.

She still needed to carefully research how to use this power herself.

"Li Jinshuang's was normal, an Armor Formation that matched her strength. Only yours opened into Asura Hell," Wei Ren said, squatting down and staring at Yu Sui.

Yu Sui tilted her head and looked back innocently, "You said you could handle me."

Wei Ren: "..."

The wind blew his loose clothes and the messy hair on his forehead, making Wei Ren's soul feel as chaotic as the wind.

He had initially just wanted to show off by bringing these people in.

Who knew that each person he brought in was more formidable than the last.

Either their strength was unfathomable, or they possessed sinister forbidden techniques. Compared to them, Li Jinshuang, who had just entered the academy with Fifth Realm strength, seemed utterly ordinary.

Wei Ren found it absurd and sneered, "Who can handle the trial of the Special Grade Armor Formation Asura Hell?"

Yu Sui sighed, "Didn't we come out alive in the end? By pooling our wisdom and abilities, we successfully destabilized the Five Elements Qi of Asura Hell, accelerating its collapse."

"Since we didn't die, let's not dwell on it too much."

Wei Ren said, "This is too strange."

Yu Sui chuckled inwardly. If they continued to press for answers, she would kill them.

Li Jinshuang looked at the two of them and said calmly, "You possess the Agricultural School Forbidden Technique, Phantom Beast, yet you are an Agricultural School Disciple. That's also strange."

"Oh," Yu Sui sat up and pointed at Wei Ren, "I know about this. I heard my Master say that the Agricultural School lists Phantom Beasts as forbidden techniques because they harm both the user and others. If an Agricultural School Disciple learns this, the school will kill any witnesses."

Wei Ren rolled his eyes and looked at Xue Mushi, who was lying behind them, "I'm not the only one who learned a forbidden technique."

Xue Mushi, stared at by the three of them, scratched his head and sat up again. After a moment of silence, he tentatively said, "How about we keep it a secret from each other and pretend we don't know anything?"

Facing the threat of the Special Grade Armor Formation back then, he had decided to go all out, which was why he exposed the forbidden technique Seven Kill Hexagram.

"I have no objections," Yu Sui stated first.

Li Jinshuang looked at the City Defense General ahead and said calmly, "Alright."

Wei Ren remained squatting on the ground, propping his chin with one hand as he looked at Xue Mushi, "If I say no, will you kill me?"

Xue Mushi was startled and shook his head, "No."

"You've learned Seven Kill Hexagram, why aren't you a bit more ruthless?" Wei Ren clicked his tongue. He stood up and looked at the City Defense General ahead, "Fine, we'll all pretend we don't know. Once we get out of this Armor Formation, we'll forget everything that happened tonight."

In the brief silence, someone's stomach rumbled.

Everyone: "..."

Silence. "Rumble."

Xue Mushi lowered his head and silently pressed his hungry stomach.

Yu Sui pretended not to hear anything and stood up. She stretched her neck, and the Skeleton Soldiers picking up their swords and sabers were reflected in her eyes. "Killing the City Defense General is how we complete the trial, right?"

Li Jinshuang didn't reply but drew her sword.

Xue Mushi silently stood up, copper coins appearing faintly at his fingertips.

The Phantom Giant Python beneath Wei Ren's feet had already spread among the Skeleton Soldiers. The giant black python shot up into the sky, biting and shattering the Skeleton Soldiers in formation, disrupting the armor formation.

None of the four spoke, yet they tacitly agreed to a Quick Battle, Quick Decision.

Thus, the two who practiced forbidden techniques no longer held back, using Seven Kill Hexagram and Phantom Beast to slaughter wantonly on the field.

For Wei Ren and Xue Mushi, such an opportunity was rare.

Li Jinshuang took the lead with her sword, fighting the City Defense General on horseback.

Yu Sui stood at the very back. Five Elements Qi gathered around her, and small Thunder Serpents flickered faintly. However, Yu Sui didn't act; she was still observing and testing, trying to use Divine Mechanism · Heavenly Eye again.

It could see through all illusions, armor formations, predict the future, and divine. It could capture Five Elements Qi and see what ordinary people could not.

Then why couldn't she use it freely?

What went wrong this time?

Yu Sui calmed her mind and carefully sensed everything around her. She tried to see the flowing Five Elements Qi of the armor formation before her eyes but did not succeed.

After Li Jinshuang beheaded the City Defense General, the armor formation broke, and everything scattered like ashes after a battle.

Yu Sui sighed softly and saw the people ahead turn back to look for her.

The four of them came out of the Armor Formation much faster this time than the last.

But because Yu Sui was covered in blood, those waiting outside felt the time stretch endlessly. When the Star Map finally opened and teleported the trial participants back, Gu Gan immediately used Wind Riding Technique to rush towards the Star Map Arena.

"Someone got there first," Xing Chun nudged Mei Chengyu, "Shall we go take a look?"

Before Mei Chengyu could reply, Kong Yiyi stood up and exclaimed, "Li Jinshuang!"

"You know her?" Nian Qiuyan asked.

Kong Yiyi nodded, "The most talked-about person in the military school recently is her. She entered the academy at the Fifth Realm. It seems their military formation earlier was designed according to Li Jinshuang's strength."

Xing Chun suddenly understood, "Then it's understandable that she was beaten like this."

Although Yu Sui and the others looked covered in blood, those with sharp eyes could tell it was just bloodstains on their clothes. The four students who went through the trial only had minor physical injuries, they just looked rather disheveled.

Mei Chengyu stood still. His peripheral vision caught Sheng Zui rushing towards the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field using the Wind Riding Technique. He then looked at Gu Gan, who had already arrived, and couldn't help but smile. He slowly walked over to watch the spectacle.

Yu Sui brushed the sand and luhua from her hair and was about to speak, "Let's go back and wash up first. I'll treat you all to a meal at the dining hall later."

Gu Gan had already reached her and said in a low voice, "Suisui."

As he got closer and smelled the fishy scent of blood on Yu Sui, Gu Gan's already furrowed brow deepened. He couldn't imagine what his timid and delicate childhood friend had gone through in the military formation.

"Mm?" Yu Sui looked up. Gu Gan grabbed her hand and frowned, "What happened? How did you get these injuries?"

Wei Ren raised his hand and wiped his face, replying as if he didn't see Gu Gan, "It's evening. The dining hall food is very expensive."

"I have money." Yu Sui ignored Gu Gan and turned to Wei Ren first, "You guys can eat whatever you want then."

Wei Ren, whose entire being screamed 'poor': "..."

"Okay." Wei Ren slung his removed outer jacket over his shoulder and walked away with Xue Mushi.

"Brother Gu, I just got some minor scrapes in the trial's military formation. I'm fine." Yu Sui looked back at Gu Gan, her eyes curving into a smile, "Did I scare you looking like this?"

Gu Gan frowned, "When have you ever been so seriously injured since you were little? Your face is even scratched."

Yu Sui withdrew her hand and touched the wound on her face.

"Don't touch it. I'll put medicine on it for you when we get back," Gu Gan said. "Since you're a Normal Practitioner, why didn't they let you open the star chart? That way, the level could have been lowered to the minimum. Why did they let Li Jinshuang open the highest level? And get you injured like this."

His words were a bit harsh, and he harbored negative suspicions towards Wei Ren and Xue Mushi, his expression turning cold.

Wei Ren and Xue Mushi, who hadn't gone far: "..."

Wei Ren let out a silent cold laugh and continued walking forward, "Don't mind him. He's just a fool who's being played for a fool by her."

Xue Mushi nodded in agreement.

Just as Yu Sui was about to explain that she was already a First Realm Nine Schools Practitioner, Sheng Zui arrived. Sheng Zui directly pulled Yu Sui behind him, his gaze sweeping coldly over Gu Gan.

Gu Gan said expressionlessly, "I don't want to argue with you right now."

"Third Brother, Brother!" Yu Sui grabbed Sheng Zui's arm and stopped him before he could speak. @ Yu Sui pulled Sheng Zui and walked away first. Under Gu Gan's astonished gaze, she waved, "Brother Gu, you're busy. We'll talk later."

As she left, she saw Mei Chengyu and the others who had walked to the edge of the field. She waved at Mei Chengyu as well.

Mei Chengyu's gaze followed Yu Sui as she moved away.

Gu Gan felt a bit uneasy. This was the first time Yu Sui had left with Sheng Zui first, leaving him alone.

Xun Zhiya asked Li Jinshuang, who stood silently to the side, "Are you injured?"

Li Jinshuang gently shook her head.

Shu Chujun questioned, "You went through the Fifth Realm military formation, right?"

Li Jinshuang lowered her head and remained silent.

Shu Chujun continued, "With your strength, would you lose so miserably in a Fifth Realm military formation? And with four people, even if one Normal Practitioner was holding you back, it shouldn't be this bad."

Gu Gan looked back and asked, "Why did you have to go? Wouldn't it have been better to let Suisui go?"

Li Jinshuang looked at Xun Zhiya, "If Saintess has nothing else, I'll take my leave."

She bowed slightly in greeting and turned to leave.

Shu Chujun said angrily, "Look at her, she doesn't listen to anyone!"

Xun Zhiya's expression was helpless, unsure how to resolve the conflict between the two.

Gu Gan felt uneasy, but Sheng Zui was amused. It was rare for Yu Sui to make a stand, which pleased him greatly. His previously cold and harsh expression softened considerably.

"How did you get injured like this?" Sheng Zui looked down at Yu Sui walking beside him, "Besides these on your face, where else? Does it hurt?"

"No more. I was just scratched by the arrows in the military formation. The blood isn't mine, it's from the formation," Yu Sui said with a smile.

Sheng Zui, however, was stunned by her smiling face.

In a trance, he felt something was different.

Clearly, the person in front of him was his younger sister, Nangong Sui, yet he felt something was different.

Had she ever smiled like this before?

Sheng Zui couldn't help but ask himself, but he couldn't find an answer.

Yu Sui interrupted his thoughts and said softly, "Third Brother, those two points are very important. I risked my life for them today."

"What kind of military formation was your trial? Was it that difficult?" Sheng Zui frowned, "Are the three people next to you all waste?"

Yu Sui shook her head. She smiled, "They are not. I am the waste, which is why it took me so long to learn the Nine Schools Art."

Sheng Zui stopped involuntarily. Yu Sui also stopped with him and turned around.

The brother and sister stopped in the middle of the wide path. The stone lanterns on both sides attracted a few moths, which fluttered around them, casting long shadows on the ground.

From now on, we'll both be active at Taiyi Academy. Even if Yu Sui wanted to hide it, it would be impossible. So, she decided to confess first: "Third Brother, I have a Five Elements Light Core. I'm a First Realm Nine Schools Practitioner now!"

A bright smile adorned her dirty face, undimmed by the bloody, ferocious wounds.

The night wind played with the strands of Yu Sui's hair against her cheek and the hem of her skirt. Golden hairpins adorned her head, their tassels swaying with her turns, emitting a crisp, tinkling sound.

Sheng Zui stared at her, his expression stunned.

He finally realized what felt off.

The Nangong Sui in his memory had never smiled at him like this.

Yu Sui, at this moment, seemed dazzling to him.

The young girl who could only quietly stay by his side, looking at his teachings with a naive or serious expression, had unknowingly grown taller. Just as he had thought when he was young, this sister was never irredeemably foolish, but her perceived stupidity meant she posed no threat.

Yu Sui could live her entire life under his protection.

Sheng Zui was certain he could protect the weak Nangong Sui.

However, the person he believed was destined to live under his wing had suddenly spread her wings and flown away.

"Is that so? Your Master, Sage Chang Gen, helped you?" Sheng Zui pursed his lips and continued walking, his peripheral vision tracking Yu Sui.

"Mm!" Yu Sui nodded, talking to him as they walked. "Master is very powerful. He can solve any problem I have."

Sheng Zui let out a scoff. "He's a Saint. You've just started cultivating, and you have a head full of minor issues. Even a non-Saint could solve them."

Yu Sui chuckled along.

Sheng Zui asked, "Does Father know?"

"No." Yu Sui looked up at him. "Third Brother, you're the first to know."

Sheng Zui nodded. "Then he'll definitely look at you with new eyes when he finds out. He's misjudged you all these years. I don't think his Shura Eye is as powerful as the famous scholars say; he can't even see his own daughter's talent."

Yu Sui scratched her head. "The Shura Eye is a famous Heavenly Secrets Technique, isn't it very powerful?"

Sheng Zui snorted and urged her to hurry back to the dormitory to wash up and apply medicine to her face so she wouldn't scar.

After Yu Sui returned to the dormitory, Sheng Zui gave her the wound medicine before leaving.

On his way back, Sheng Zui frowned. He couldn't quite say if his mood was bad or good. He replayed Yu Sui's earlier words repeatedly, finally noticing the sentence: "Third Brother, you're the first to know."

So Gu Gan doesn't know?

Heh.

His mood suddenly brightened.

Da Yu Sui, while bathing, replied to Gu Gan's Listening Wind Ruler message, briefly informing him about tonight's trial and explaining that her disheveled state was due to the fight within the Military Formation.

She asked in return, "Weren't you guys going for the Level Up Challenge today? Did you succeed?"

Gu Gan said, "No, we were close."

He also told Yu Sui about his encounter with Kong Yiyi in the Military Formation Battlefield today. Since it was the same Military Formation, they chatted longer than usual and had more topics to discuss.

Only when the water cooled did Yu Sui put down the Listening Wind Ruler. As she got up to get dressed, her mind was still processing the various pieces of information she had just received from Gu Gan.

Yu Sui had intended to ask Li Jinshuang to walk with her, but she didn't see her in the dormitory. Thinking she might have gone to the first-floor bathhouse, Yu Sui took the Dragon Elevator down to the first floor, sending Li Jinshuang a message along the way to ask where she was.

Li Jinshuang replied that she had already arrived at the Dining Hall.

Yu Sui went directly to the Dining Hall.

Li Jinshuang was the earliest, and Xue Mushi was the latest. After Xue Mushi arrived, the Dining Hall began serving food, filling a large table. Yu Sui generously declared:

"Eat as much as you want tonight. I have money."

After the ordeal in Asura Hell, both their bodies and minds had suffered some damage. They were all tired and hungry, but Yu Sui had never seen Xue Mushi eat like a whirlwind.

This kid looked refined and thin, appearing dull and wooden, but when he started eating, he seemed to grow in size in the eyes of Yu Sui and the others.

Xue Mushi ate with great seriousness and focus. He ignored everyone else, concentrating only on his own food. He seemed to eat anything when hungry, swallowing in one bite what others took three or five bites to finish.

After watching Xue Mushi eat for a while, Yu Sui and the other two found themselves holding food on their chopsticks, unsure whether to eat it or put it back. Xue Mushi, oblivious to them, emptied plate after plate.

He looked like a starving ghost who hadn't eaten for centuries.

To prove that Xue Mushi wasn't their family's starving ghost, Yu Sui and the other two silently took their bowls to another table.

The Dining Hall was sparsely populated late at night. The lively second floor during the day now only had the four of them. Princess Shangyang happened to be craving food today and brought her sisterhood to the Dining Hall for dinner.

Princess Shangyang also liked to dine on the second floor of the Dining Hall, so she never expected to run into Yu Sui at this hour when she came upstairs.

"Nangong Sui!"

Yu Sui, who had been burying her head in her food, suddenly heard someone call her name and looked up blankly.

This shout also stopped Mei Chengyu and his two companions in the adjacent room, who were using their skills to steal food from the Dining Hall. Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun, on his left and right respectively, simultaneously looked towards the door.

Princess Shangyang, leading her group of three to five sisters, tilted her chin slightly at Yu Sui and walked over. Ignoring Wei Ren, who was sitting beside her, she elegantly pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Yu Sui.

As the beloved daughter of the Qingyang Empress, Princess Shangyang was doted upon in Qingyang Nation and continued to be indulged by many at Taiyi Academy.

She was now a Ninth Realm practitioner of the Yin-Yang School, a disciple of a Yin-Yang School Saint within the academy. Her talent was considerable, and her future was boundless.

Princess Shangyang, born into nobility and spoiled since childhood, grew more arrogant with age.

She always remembered how Yu Sui had chosen to sit with the annoying Zhongli Que instead of her at the national academy, even after she had invited Yu Sui back. Yu Sui had even said she wanted to play with Zhongli Que, not her.

And on her first day at the academy, Yu Sui had stolen her thunder by saving Gu Gan.

Hmph.

Princess Shangyang had been busy these past few days and hadn't run into Yu Sui. But now, seeing her suddenly, all those past grievances resurfaced. She couldn't swallow this insult.

Seeing Princess Shangyang's aggressive approach, Wei Ren returned to Xue Mushi's table with his bowl, biting his chopsticks and looking towards Yu Sui's lively group.

Yu Sui blinked at Princess Shangyang.

Princess Shangyang said with an arrogant expression, "Why didn't you bring your favorite playmate Zhongli Que to Taiyi Academy too?"

Hearing his sister's name, Zhongli Shan, inside the room, twitched his eyes and walked towards the door, listening silently.

Mei Chengyu and Xing Chun continued to stuff food into their food box.

Before Yu Sui could answer, Princess Shangyang lightly covered her mouth as if surprised, "Oh, I forgot. You selfish woman didn't even fancy Zhongli Que in the end and didn't become friends with her. At the banquet, you also left the poor Zhongli Que to play alone, with no one to accompany her."

"That's right," Yu Sui nodded along with her words.

Princess Shangyang tapped the table with her finger, "I called you hypocritical and selfish, and you just nodded?"

"Because Princess, you are right," Yu Sui propped her head on one hand and looked at her, sincere and innocent.

Xing Chun and Mei Chengyu also perked up their ears to listen.

Yu Sui's attitude always made Princess Shangyang grind her teeth in anger, making her feel utterly uncomfortable. Princess Shangyang continued to tap the table elegantly with her finger, sneering, "Weren't you good friends with Zhongli Que before? You didn't even come back when I asked you to!"

"That was all in the past, when we were kids," Yu Sui lowered her head and continued eating.

"You're not allowed to eat!" Princess Shangyang slammed the table, making the bowls on it shake. Yu Sui and Li Jinshuang immediately picked up their rice bowls.

"What's wrong with things from childhood? Do you think I'm so petty that I'd hold onto childhood grudges until now?!" Princess Shangyang glared, her apricot eyes wide, "You were the one who wanted to play with Zhongli Que first, and then you abandoned her because of your father and refused to play with her. You're even more detestable than Zhongli Que!"

Xing Chun took out the Listening Wind Ruler and sent a message to Mei Chengyu: "???"

Mei Chengyu replied: "?"

Xing Chun: "Keep an eye on Xiaoshan later, don't let him rush out and hit your Junior Martial Sister."

Mei Chengyu replied while filling in a fill-in-the-blanks puzzle: "He dares to hit her?"

Xing Chun: "The person who badmouthed his sister last time had three teeth knocked out by Xiaoshan."

Mei Chengyu: "Why would he hit Nangong Sui?"

Xing Chun: "It sounds like her current situation might not be good in Xiaoshan's eyes."

The two looked towards Zhongli Shan by the door.

Zhongli Shan was about to raise his hand, but as his sleeve just began to move, he was simultaneously restrained by the two behind him using Nine Schools Techniques.

"?!" Zhongli Shan slowly turned his head, a full head of question marks on his face as he looked at Mei Chengyu and Xing Chun.

Outside, Princess Shangyang's angry slamming on the table could be heard again: "What's your attitude!"

"What attitude?" Yu Sui held her bowl, looking at her in confusion, "Whatever you want to say, I'll just agree with you."

Princess Shangyang's teeth itched with anger, wanting to throw a tantrum, but Yu Sui's words left her speechless: "You, I just don't like you!"

Yu Sui blinked her eyes, "I don't like you either."

This statement instantly set Princess Shangyang off: "Nangong Sui, how dare you speak to this Princess like that!"

"Princess! Princess, let it go!" Her Sisterhood, seeing Princess Shangyang about to cross the table to hit Yu Sui, rushed forward to stop her.

"Let me go! Jin Zhi, let me go! I'm going to settle this with her today! How dare you come to Taiyi! You Normal Practitioner, how dare you come to Taiyi!" Princess Shangyang was dragged away from Yu Sui's table by her friends, being pulled and shoved towards the third floor.

The girl called Jin Zhi by Princess Shangyang glanced back at Yu Sui in her haste.

Yu Sui was also looking at her.

Her dark pupils reflected only herself. Her expression, different from when she was talking to Princess Shangyang, her bright apricot eyes were calm and cold as they looked at Jin Zhi.

Jin Zhi felt a tightness in her chest, as if she were transported back to a winter day last year.

Her hand, gripping Princess Shangyang's arm, trembled slightly. She hastily avoided Yu Sui's gaze and ran to the third floor faster than the others.

"Let me go!" Princess Shangyang broke free from the others and tried to go back down to find Yu Sui, but Jin Zhi firmly blocked her at the top of the stairs, "Princess, don't go!"

Perhaps startled by the fear in Jin Zhi's eyes, Princess Shangyang paused, "Why are you so scared? I'm going to cause trouble for Nangong Sui, not you."

Jin Zhi hurriedly lowered her head, but still spread her arms to block Princess Shangyang from going down.

Princess Shangyang huffily turned around and found a seat. Only then did Jin Zhi breathe a sigh of relief and went forward with the others to appease her.

This time, Jin Zhi couldn't coax the angry Princess Shangyang with her usual effort. After sitting down, her mind kept replaying Yu Sui's gaze from when they were going upstairs.

It was common knowledge that Princess Shangyang and Zhongli Que were at odds. Yu Sui, who had briefly been good friends with Zhongli Que at the national academy when they were children, had no further significant interactions with Zhongli Que after leaving the academy.

Due to the mutual animosity between Nangong Ming and Zhongli Ci, the relationships between the children of the two families also became delicate.

Most people were on good terms with Nangong Ming. Zhongli Ci's position was seen as somewhat precarious by the Qingyang ministers. Zhongli Que had only played with people from her own clan since childhood, and outsiders were very cautious when interacting with her.

Otherwise, it would be like Yu Sui, who played well with her at the national academy but maintained distance after leaving.

When the young ladies from prominent families gathered, they would occasionally talk about Zhongli Que. Some thought she was pitiful, others believed she was feigning innocence; opinions varied.

Jin Zhi belonged to the faction that disliked Zhongli Que.

Sometimes, you don't need a reason to hate someone. The moment you see their face and feel uncomfortable, everything they do afterward will grate on your nerves.

That's how Jin Zhi felt about Zhongli Que.

Furthermore, Zhongli Que associated with Princess Shangyang, and the princess also disliked her. This gave Jin Zhi even more justification for her animosity.

The young ladies ostracized Zhongli Que, and Jin Zhi often mocked her, saying she used to fawn over Yu Sui like a dog begging its master. Now that Yu Sui no longer paid attention to her, she had truly become a stray dog.

Last winter, during a palace banquet, Jin Zhi was also present.

While strolling through the gardens and admiring the plum blossoms with Princess Shangyang and the others, she got delayed by something and couldn't keep up. As she hurried to catch up alone, she happened to see Zhongli Que standing under a plum tree, holding a sword.

Both were startled to see each other. Zhongli Que instinctively explained, "I'm not..."

Jin Zhi covered her mouth and exclaimed, "How dare you hold a sword?"

She was both surprised and excited. If this incident of Zhongli Que holding a sword got out, tonight would be quite the spectacle.

Jin Zhi ignored Zhongli Que and ran forward, intending to call Princess Shangyang and the others over to witness it.

However, after only a few steps, she tripped over an exploding Five Elements Light Core at her feet and fell into the icy lake. Jin Zhi didn't even have time to scream. Just as she was about to surface, someone grabbed her hair and forcefully pushed her back down.

The lake water was frigid, and the bone-chilling cold made Jin Zhi panic. She knew Nine Schools Techniques, but a more powerful force was suppressing her.

During her repeated struggles to surface only to be pushed back down, Jin Zhi saw a slender jade hand adorned with a jade bracelet through the rippling water. The moment she struggled to the surface and saw Yu Sui up close, she was mercilessly pushed back into the water.

That fleeting glimpse sent Jin Zhi's heart plummeting to the abyss.

With a splash, Jin Zhi struggled, her voice hoarse, "Nan, Nangong Sui!"

She heard Nangong Sui chuckle, her fingers tightening around Jin Zhi's neck. "I've wanted to have a chat with you for a long time. How about we do it today? Do you want to go tell others what you just saw and then die, or die right now?"

How could this be?

Choking on water, struggling to breathe with Yu Sui's hand around her neck, Jin Zhi couldn't believe it. Her eyeballs trembled, unable to reconcile the person before her, whose voice sounded like a demon's, with the usually naive and simple County Princess Nangong.

Jin Zhi was on the verge of fainting. Her strength drained away in the icy lake, and in her suffocation, she felt the fear of impending death. Crying, she begged for mercy. Yu Sui slowly loosened her grip and stood up, looking down at Jin Zhi, who was sprawled on the shore in a pathetic state.

That night, Zhongli Que stood behind Yu Sui.

Jin Zhi looked up, clutching her neck. Water dripped from her forehead, sliding down her eyelashes, but it couldn't blur her vision.

She saw not only Zhongli Que standing behind Yu Sui but also the Prince's Mansion's Young Master, Su Feng, who had accompanied Yu Sui.

It was Su Feng who had allowed Yu Sui to act just now, suppressing Jin Zhi's strength with Nine Schools Techniques, preventing her from getting out of the water.

People always said Yu Sui and Zhongli Que had fallen out, but Jin Zhi knew that the siblings of the Nangong Family were on extremely good terms with Zhongli Que.

The night wind blowing outside brushed against the back of Jin Zhi's neck. The icy chill jolted her back from her memories. Thinking that Yu Sui was downstairs, Jin Zhi couldn't help but shiver.