Missing Thoughts

Chapter 32

When Yu Sui saw Black Beard and the others, her mind instantly cleared, all emotions suppressed. As she floated towards the shore, her peripheral vision swept over Wei Ren, who was keeping his distance.

She thought she had only torn open a tiny gap, only used a small wisp of Strange Fire, but it was still uncontrollable, just like back then.

Back then, it was Zhongli Que who brought her back to her senses. Tonight, if not for that Lightning Snake, her Strange Fire would have ignited this sea area, and everyone in the Outer City would have seen it.

As Yu Sui grew, the power of her Strange Fire outbursts also increased.

At this moment, seawater continued to pour in, creating waves and sounds. Black Beard and the others rushed to pull Yu Sui ashore. Seeing her injuries and blood, they turned pale and quickly took off their coats to drape over her.

"It is our subordinate's fault for being late, allowing the County Princess to be severely injured by those despicable villains from the Agricultural School. We deserve death." Black Beard and the other Nangong Family practitioners were sweating profusely in shock.

Mei Chengyu looked back at Wei Ren, who was still in the seawater.

He had come out of the city tonight to kill Wei Kun. While chasing someone, he ran into Black Beard and the others, who frantically spoke of the County Princess being missing, traces of the Agricultural School, and what would happen if the County Princess died.

Black Beard knew he was Yu Sui's Senior Martial Brother and asked if there was any way to find Yu Sui.

After all, she was his Master's precious disciple. If she were truly killed by people from the Agricultural School, his Master might be upset and not speak to him for several days.

Mei Chengyu used divination to find Yu Sui's location and brought people over using the Wind Riding Technique. There were clear signs of a battle here, with the Five Elements Qi erupting in the seawater. The sea was deep, and he couldn't see Yu Sui or Wei Ren because Yu Sui had pinned Wei Ren too deep, and the moonlight at night couldn't penetrate the cold, deep seabed.

He could only, amidst the turbulent Five Elements Qi, have the Lightning Snake repel the two forces in the sea before assessing the situation.

The seawater brought the people from the seabed to the surface. Mei Chengyu initially thought the powerful suppressing force was meant to kill Yu Sui. However, upon seeing Wei Ren being swept out by the water, and then looking at Yu Sui, he became thoughtful.

Wei Ren was tossed about by the seawater. As he neared the shore and tried to get up, he heard a flash of lightning, causing him to retract his outstretched hand and look up at Mei Chengyu.

"Yo," Mei Chengyu greeted him, "running dog of the Agricultural School."

Wei Ren gave a wry smile and raised his hands, saying, "I really didn't make a move against her."

Mei Chengyu glanced behind him. Many people had arrived, including the Nine Schools Practitioners from the Nangong Family, as well as those who monitored the Nangong Family on various streets in the Outer City, or simply those who came to watch the excitement. They were all hiding on the cliff behind, peeking at the situation by the sea.

There were definitely people from the Agricultural School among them.

Mei Chengyu roughly estimated that no fewer than thirty people had arrived.

Earlier, the Five Elements Qi had gathered here, and the sea had churned. Anyone not knowing would have thought a Saint was disrupting the Five Elements Qi.

This would attract some people. Black Beard was looking for Yu Sui, which would also alert those monitoring the Nangong Family.

Mei Chengyu's Listening Wind Ruler emitted a hum. He tapped it to check.

Nian Qiuyan: "He got away."

Wei Kun had escaped back to the Academy.

Mei Chengyu clicked his tongue, turned, and walked towards Yu Sui, who was coming ashore. In those few steps, his gaze caught sight of Lu Haiye, who was not far away, with a large hole in his chest, having been killed through the heart.

Yu Sui, draped in the black coat given by Black Beard, still had water streaks on her pale little face. Her head drooped, her hair tips still dripping water. Blood mixed with seawater spread out, deepening the color of her lips.

Mei Chengyu stared at her for a moment and said, "If you can't win, call for your Master."

Yu Sui's eyelashes fluttered lightly. She looked up and asked, "Can I?"

Wei Ren, still trapped in the seawater and not allowed to come ashore, had a subtle expression. She didn't even know she could summon Sage Chang Gen?

"You are his disciple. If your disciple is being hunted, you call your Master to save them. Why wouldn't you be able to? He just can't come out on his own. In the Outer City, someone must actively summon him. Only you and I can summon this Taiyi." Mei Chengyu said to Yu Sui, "Call him when you need to."

These words seemed to be a reminder to her, that now was the time.

Yu Sui opened her mouth, and a voice emerged with difficulty from her throat. She softly called out, "Master."

At the moment the torrential seawater receded, the wind and waves calmed, but people felt a silent pressure descending from the heavens. An irresistible consciousness invaded. Everyone by the sea and on the cliff received Sage Chang Gen's response:

"I am here."

Yu Sui's gaze was slightly stunned. She subconsciously looked up, searching for that ink-colored trace. She found nothing, yet she felt her Master's presence with absolute certainty.

The feeling of receiving a response when you pray was truly wonderful.

Mei Chengyu swept his gaze towards the onlookers on the distant cliff.

After Sage Chang Gen's consciousness invaded, they all ran faster than rabbits, leaving the area without stopping.

Black Beard and the other Nangong Family Nine Schools Practitioners lowered their heads with respectful expressions, not daring to have any ulterior motives or thoughts at this moment.

Yu Sui looked at the dark night sky for a while, then saw the bright moon and suddenly smiled.

Mei Chengyu looked back at Wei Ren, who was trying to come ashore. Another lightning strike sent him back. Wei Ren's head emerged from the water, and he glared at Mei Chengyu.

"Once you leave Taiyi Academy, any grudges or disputes with others, or life-and-death battles, the Academy will not interfere. However, if you kill an Academy disciple, the Academy is not entirely unaware. The Academy knows everything that happens on this island, so you will still lose points upon your return." Mei Chengyu looked at Wei Ren, his peripheral vision sweeping towards Yu Sui, "So, are you going to kill him, or let him go?"

Wei Ren wiped the seawater from his face and reiterated, "I really didn't make a move against her!"

Mei Chengyu said with a half-smile, "You weren't working with that old man who died back there?"

Wei Ren's expression faltered, and he didn't answer immediately. Mei Chengyu slightly raised his chin and said, "It's useless to tell me. See if my Junior Martial Sister believes you."

Yu Sui stood on the shore, watching Wei Ren bobbing in the sea, just as she had watched Lu Haiye before. Her dark, deep pupils stared intently, making Wei Ren's heart turn cold. The moment he felt the first trace of fear, he lost the strength to resist Yu Sui.

Wei Ren took a deep breath. Although he was soaked through, it was evident he was sweating profusely. He adopted a posture of surrender and said solemnly to Yu Sui, "I did keep my promise to you and did not tell anyone about your Nine Schools Techniques. I only told him about the issue with the Primordial Soil and your whereabouts. I thought you would summon Sage Chang Gen."

"Tonight's events were my fault. I..."

Yu Sui interrupted him, "Do you know Lady Su?"

Wei Ren reacted quickly, "I know her."

Yu Sui asked again, "Do you know a lot about her?"

Although Wei Ren felt this was cruel, he knew he had to say it to make Yu Sui spare his life. So he replied, "I probably know more than you do."

"Is that so," Yu Sui wiped the seawater from her face and looked at Wei Ren with a slight smile, "I won't kill you, but can I ask you to cripple your Five Elements Light Core?"

She looked like the elegant and polite young princess again.

Even such cruel words were spoken so politely.

Wei Ren was stunned.

Black Beard and the others remained silent. In their eyes, even if Yu Sui truly intended to kill Wei Ren, they would have to act immediately.

However, Black Beard was being cautious. The disciple from the Agricultural School seemed to have a close relationship with Lady Su. Perhaps they should keep him alive to be interrogated by the Prince.

"County Princess..." Wei Ren started, but Yu Sui interrupted him, saying earnestly, "When I think about you being a Fifth Realm sorcerer, seeing you every day at the Academy, and that someone so much more powerful than me could kill me, I get scared."

Wei Ren wanted to survive this moment, so he had to find a way to make Yu Sui believe him and dispel her doubts.

Even now, Yu Sui hadn't mentioned Wei Ren practicing the Agricultural School's forbidden techniques, and Wei Ren hadn't mentioned Yu Sui activating the Military Formation · Asura Hell.

They were keeping their promises to each other, but they still had other conflicts to resolve.

Before, Yu Sui had faced a life-or-death choice. Now, it was Wei Ren's turn.

Wei Ren felt a chill down his spine. Under everyone's gaze, he dared not make any sudden moves. He was severely injured by Yu Sui's sudden outburst. Once the Nine Schools Practitioners from the Nangong Family arrived, he would have no chance of escape.

Not to mention Mei Chengyu.

Although Mei Chengyu was a strange person and might not intervene, he had only watched when Zhongli Shan was beaten in front of him before, without lifting a finger.

But Nangong Sui was his junior martial sister, a disciple of Sage Chang Gen, just like him. Wei Ren didn't think Mei Chengyu would remain indifferent and not act.

And Sage Chang Gen, perhaps with just a word from Yu Sui, the old man would also help.

"I cannot cripple my Five Elements Light Core. That would be no different from death for me," Wei Ren said, equally serious and tense, his voice low. "But I can cripple my cultivation and descend to the First Realm."

Mei Chengyu glanced at him sideways. Not shattering the Five Elements Light Core meant he didn't want to lose his Nine Schools Techniques. For a Nine Schools Practitioner, losing the Five Elements Light Core was indeed equivalent to death.

This self-crippling of cultivation would also cause irreversible damage to the Five Elements Light Core. Although he could cultivate again, it would be much more difficult than before. He would never surpass the Ninth Realm in this lifetime and would have no chance of reaching the Soul Light Core realm.

Yu Sui knew this too, but she still looked at Wei Ren for a long time.

She also wanted to see what others would look like when pushed to the brink.

Would they be as disheveled as her?

Yu Sui used the power lent to her by the Strange Fire to enhance her Bagua Life Technique. When she instantly killed Lu Haiye, there was a flash of lightning. Wei Ren didn't see what happened before a lightning snake dragged him into the sea.

In the seawater, the Strange Fire rose from the depths of the seabed. It had awakened the desire for destruction in Yu Sui's heart. Just as she was about to be completely consumed by killing intent, she was repelled by another lightning snake.

Therefore, Yu Sui was certain that Wei Ren had not discovered the Strange Fire.

He didn't have time to discover it.

Because the timing was too coincidental.

Yu Sui had only used the power of the Strange Fire twice so far.

Thirteen years ago, by the pond, when she used the Strange Fire to kill an careless Nine Schools Practitioner, her gaze was drawn to the black flames. That power, which ignored all Nine Schools Techniques, was too strong, too beautiful, and addictive.

From that day on, Yu Sui knew that this power of the Strange Fire could not be used because she couldn't control it.

If her consciousness lost control, the Strange Fire would kill Yu Sui first.

She had endured so much just to survive.

The Strange Fire would engulf and burn the entire Xuangu Continent. Such a world would be no different from her death.

Yu Sui didn't want to be consumed by the Strange Fire, controlled by it, completely lose herself, and become a mere flame that only knew how to burn Heaven and Earth and all things in anger.

And killing intent always made her angry.

Yu Sui stared at Wei Ren, watching him being pushed to the brink. Sweat poured down his forehead, his teeth clenched, and the veins on his neck bulged faintly. His eyes trembled slightly. His hands beneath the seawater were probably clenched tightly, afraid to loosen, but Wei Ren met Yu Sui's gaze, not flinching.

They were equally disheveled.

Yu Sui raised her hand to cover her face and coughed lightly, saying, "Do it."

The breath Wei Ren had been holding dissipated quietly at Yu Sui's words.

He gathered his Five Elements Qi and said hoarsely, "Okay." Wei Ren crippled his own cultivation, dropping from the Fifth Realm to the First Realm. Coupled with his current severe injuries, he had no strength to return to the Academy.

Yu Sui was also injured. She was taken back to the restaurant by Black Beard and the others. After she cleaned up, a Medical School sorcerer was brought to treat her. Mei Chengyu was eating downstairs. He said he hadn't eaten dinner before going out to kill Wei Kun. Black Beard said everything in the restaurant tonight was free for him, and Mei Chengyu felt this opportunity shouldn't be wasted.

32 Chapter 32 (Page 2/2)

After all, he couldn't watch the process of treating Yu Sui and applying medicine.

Tranquil Spirit Incense was lit in the room, filling the air with a refreshing scent. Yu Sui sat by the bed, watching the medical woman bandage her wrist. Her upper body was unclothed, almost entirely wrapped in white gauze with medicine.

The medical woman said softly, "The pain will stop in a moment. Remove the medicated plaster tomorrow evening and then apply the ointment I gave the County Princess."

"Will it leave a scar?" Yu Sui frowned, looking in the mirror. She pointed to the scratch on her left cheek made by spider silk, saying, "Then I'll be disfigured."

"County Princess, rest assured. This Clear Face Cream will make the scars disappear completely, as if you're reborn. It will absolutely not leave scars or disfigure you," the medical woman coaxed softly. "County Princess will still be the most beautiful County Princess."

Yu Sui looked at herself in the mirror.

Tonight, only the medical woman's words didn't annoy her.

The medical woman gently pressed her waist and abdomen, and the gentle Five Elements Qi flowed through Yu Sui's body with her movements, repairing her fractured ribs.

"The Five Elements Light Core wasn't damaged, and the toxin has been cleared. There are no major issues," the medical woman told Black Beard outside the door. "She's already had pain relief. Let's let the County Princess rest for a while before talking to her."

Black Beard nodded and closed the door for Yu Sui.

Yu Sui felt very tired, her eyelids heavy. However, the dry heat from the Strange Fire made it impossible for her to sleep peacefully. Fine sweat appeared on her forehead. She reached out to wipe it and sat up from the bed.

She asked Black Beard to come in.

Black Beard had already prepared himself to be scolded by Yu Sui. He entered the room and said respectfully, "County Princess, what are your instructions?"

"In Taiyi, do you listen to me, my third brother, or Brother Gu?" Yu Sui asked him softly.

Black Beard was startled and quickly pledged his loyalty. "Of course, I listen to you, County Princess. You are the future heir to the King's Mansion. I am from the Nangong Family and will only serve the master of the Nangong Family."

Yu Sui asked him to look up at her. At this moment, the Nangong County Princess's gaze was clear and her words were sincere. "I couldn't cultivate before, my relationship with my mother was not good, and my father often disliked me. But I also wanted to prove myself worthy of my father's given name. You were the first person I met when I came to Taiyi Academy, and you took care of me in every way after I could cultivate."

"You are not like those people in the Imperial Capital who look down on me when they know I have mediocre techniques. I like you very much and hope you can become my person because you are the person I trust the most right now. When I inherit the throne in the future, I will definitely take you away from Taiyi and return to the Imperial Capital together."

Black Beard was captivated by the girl's sincere and bright eyes, and hearing her heartfelt words, he was already convinced and moved.

Leaving Taiyi and returning to the Imperial Capital was also the goal he had been striving for all these years.

Moreover, as the County Princess said, he was the person she trusted the most right now.

"It is my great fortune to serve the County Princess. As long as the County Princess gives the word, your subordinate will do his best to complete it," Black Beard said solemnly.

"I don't want my father to know about what happened tonight," Yu Sui said with a troubled expression. "Firstly, I don't want my father to worry. Secondly, I've noticed some things related to Primordial Soil and want to investigate them myself. That way, I can impress my father."

"Are you willing?"

Black Beard quickly lowered his head and cupped his hands. "If the County Princess does not want the Prince to know, then no one will report what happened tonight to the Imperial Capital."

Upon hearing this, Yu Sui's fingers, which were gripping the blanket, finally relaxed.

How she killed Lu Haiye.

Nangong Ming would definitely think more if he knew.

It wasn't time yet. Any news that could be intercepted from reaching the Imperial Capital should be stopped.

Fortunately, the talent she displayed and her identity as Sage Chang Gen's disciple filled Black Beard with confidence in Yu Sui. He believed she would make a comeback against all odds in the future and amaze everyone who had looked down on her in the Imperial Capital.

She was definitely the one who would inherit the King's Mansion in the future.

I need to build a good relationship with the County Princess.

Black Beard was resolute.

After talking with Black Beard, Yu Sui said a few more words to stabilize him, chatting about the Nine Schools Techniques of the Agricultural School. Once the pain in her body had mostly subsided, she got up and said, "Where is my senior martial brother?"

Black Beard quickly replied, "He's downstairs. Does the County Princess want to go down and see him?"

Yu Sui reached out and touched her neck, which was wrapped in bandages, and asked curiously, "What is he doing downstairs?"

"He was eating earlier," Black Beard said. "He said he hadn't had dinner, so I asked the kitchen to prepare a table for him, free of charge."

Yu Sui went downstairs with Black Beard.

It was already late at night. The first floor was no longer as lively as it was during the day, and there were no customers. Only Mei Chengyu, who had already finished his meal, sat by the window, looking down and playing with his Listening Wind Ruler.

He didn't pay attention when he heard someone coming downstairs.

It wasn't until Yu Sui walked towards him that he looked up. Seeing Yu Sui, whose neck and wrists were wrapped in white bandages, he raised an eyebrow slightly and looked her up and down, finding her both pitiful and cute.

"Senior martial brother, are you going back?" Yu Sui asked.

Mei Chengyu replied while fiddling with the Listening Wind Ruler, "Master told me to watch you. I'll leave once you're fine."

"Then let's go," Yu Sui said. "I need to go back to the academy too."

Mei Chengyu then looked back at her. "Aren't you going to rest more?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore," Yu Sui said, raising her bandaged hand and waving it gently.

Mei Chengyu smiled, put away the Listening Wind Ruler, and stood up. "Alright, let's go."

Yu Sui went out and got into the carriage. She lifted the curtain and saw Mei Chengyu still standing outside, his expression unreadable.

"Senior martial brother, are you going to use Wind Riding Technique to travel?" she asked.

The long street was silent, with only the night wind blowing the lanterns on the pillars.

Mei Chengyu lazily replied, "I'm tired and don't really want to use Wind Riding Technique to travel."

Yu Sui looked around. There were no other tools for him to travel with, so she tilted her head, gesturing for him to get in.

Mei Chengyu paused, looking at Yu Sui's small gesture.

The carriage's speed was comparable to Wind Riding Technique. Black Beard personally drove and escorted Yu Sui back to Taiyi Academy. Three Nine Schools Practitioners from the Nangong Family accompanied them, protecting them from the shadows in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Yu Sui and Mei Chengyu sat facing each other inside the carriage. Mei Chengyu wasn't playing with the Listening Wind Ruler; he was calmly looking at Yu Sui.

She met Mei Chengyu's gaze and blinked. After waiting for a while and finding that Mei Chengyu was still looking at her, Yu Sui couldn't help but touch her face.

"Senior Martial Brother, why are you always looking at me?"

Mei Chengyu leaned against the carriage wall with his arms crossed, his posture lazy. He replied to her, "Where else would I look?"

Yu Sui rolled her eyes. "Look at something else?"

"What else?" Mei Chengyu's gaze flicked away, his eyes gesturing. "This place is so small. If I looked elsewhere to avoid you, it would seem even more contrived. Besides, what's so interesting about the scenery in this carriage?"

Yu Sui sometimes had to marvel at how boldly he spoke.

Yu Sui asked again, "Then what did you see, Senior Martial Brother?"

Mei Chengyu answered, "I didn't look closely. What do you want me to see?" Yu Sui thought for a moment and asked him, "How is your divination skill, Senior Martial Brother?"

Mei Chengyu slightly raised his eyelids. "Very good."

Yu Sui's eyes widened slightly, her gaze curious. "Then can you read my fortune, Senior Martial Brother, and tell me about my Peach Blossom Luck?"

Mei Chengyu flatly refused. "No."

Yu Sui lowered her head. "Oh."

Mei Chengyu asked her, "You're not looking at fortune or wealth, so why are you looking at Peach Blossom Luck?"

"I was born wealthy and don't lack money, so I don't need to look at this," Yu Sui said with a serious face. "Fortune and misfortune are always mixed. It was like that before, and it's like that tonight. There's no need to look. The only thing left to look at is this."

Mei Chengyu narrowed his eyes at her words. His dark eyes reflected Yu Sui, who sat opposite him, filling his vision. "You were born wealthy and don't lack money, so naturally, you don't lack a bit of Peach Blossom Luck. This thing is the most useless to you."

Yu Sui seemed pleased by his words, her eyes curving into a smile.

"Senior Martial Brother..." Mei Chengyu interrupted her mid-sentence. "If you're tired, sleep. If you don't want to talk, don't force yourself."

Yu Sui froze.

A look of exhaustion appeared between her eyebrows and eyes. She sighed softly and said with downcast eyes, "But I can't sleep well."

It wasn't that she couldn't fall asleep, but that she couldn't sleep well.

Mei Chengyu didn't respond. If he had asked, Yu Sui would have answered, but he felt that even speaking was tiring for Yu Sui.

He didn't speak, and Yu Sui didn't speak again.

Neither of them mentioned what had happened to Yu Sui that night. The carriage was quiet, yet Yu Sui felt more at ease than before.

After returning to the Academy, Yu Sui bid farewell to Mei Chengyu and went to the Taoist Saint Hall alone.

Mei Chengyu didn't follow. He watched her figure disappear with the Wind Riding Technique. On the path where fog was rising in the night, she looked like a small flower that had been swept into the sky by a hurricane, only to fall back into the mud. She just wanted to land quietly, alone.

The Taoist Saint Hall was very quiet.

Late at night, there wasn't even the sound of wind. The chirping of insects had also stopped. Yu Sui walked up the steps with her head drooping. She felt that this place was good. The outer city had too many people, the Academy had too many people, and the dormitory also had many people.

This world was full of people everywhere.

She wanted to go to a place where there were no people, or a place that people couldn't enter or come to.

Yu Sui stopped after walking up the stone steps. Her strength could only support her to this point; she couldn't take another step.

She sat down on the stone steps, leaning against a stone pillar at the edge.

The open space outside the main hall was covered with green vines. Besides the green vines, there were also many flowering and fruit trees. Spring was nearing its end, and many flowering trees had already withered, leaving only lush green branches and leaves. After some fruit trees had finished blooming, small green fruits could be seen hanging on their branches.

Yu Sui's gaze drifted aimlessly over the flowering and fruit trees, finally looking towards the distant sky, gazing into an unknown distance.

She just watched quietly, and even the heaven and earth and all things didn't know what she was thinking.

It wasn't until the light of the morning sun shone upon the world that she gently closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Yu Sui slept in the Taoist Saint Hall, undisturbed. Therefore, she slept until the afternoon. The sunlight occasionally hid behind the clouds, casting shadows, and occasionally broke through the clouds to shine brightly, giving warmth to the earth.

It was too warm, and Yu Sui slowly woke up.

Mei Chengyu, who was playing with the Listening Wind Ruler in the main hall of the Saint Hall, looked up outside. The person who had slept all day had woken up. The sunlight was too strong, and she had woken up from the heat.

Yu Sui grabbed her sleeve to wipe her face, raised her hand to block the sun, and looked around. She noticed someone behind her and turned around to look.

Mei Chengyu watched Yu Sui bend over and turn to look at him. He felt that she had fully recovered her energy. He picked up the food box and walked over, placing it beside Yu Sui.

"Eat here or inside?" he asked Yu Sui, squatting down.

Yu Sui wiped her face again with her sleeve, like a cat washing its face. She slightly raised her head to look at Mei Chengyu, her eyes bright and clear. "Thank you, Senior Martial Brother. I'll eat here."

Mei Chengyu pushed the food box forward. "Remember to pay. Your Senior Martial Brother is not wealthy and lacks money."

Yu Sui opened the food box, poured herself a drink first, and held the cup, taking two sips to moisten her throat. "En!" Mei Chengyu propped his head with one hand and watched her. "Junior Martial Sister, if you have too much money to spend, you can give it to me."

Yu Sui held the cup, her gaze paused for a moment, and she looked at Mei Chengyu. "Senior Martial Brother, I don't spend money on men."