Su Tingxue's Guilt

"Wang Chong from Class Six is the prime suspect." Su Tingxue named a suspect.

No. 2 Middle School was a premier, top-tier school in Chang'an City, and the number of rich kids who bought their way in was especially high. Wang Chong from Class Six was one of them, and Zhou You had heard of his notorious reputation.

It was said that this person was narrow-minded, vengeful, and often colluded with people outside the school; nobody dared to provoke him.

Zhou You felt somewhat conflicted. He was not afraid of Wang Chong; he was just uncertain whether Wang Chong was the one who had called the people on him.

He could hardly corner Wang Chong and interrogate him under torture-what if it turned out not to be Wang Chong's doing?

"I have a friend in Class Six. I can ask her to help keep an eye on Wang Chong. If he pulls any weird stunts lately, she'll let me know," Su Tingxue offered of her own accord.

Zhou You thought about it and realized this was the only way.

The change came faster than Zhou You had anticipated.

During the break after the second self-study session that very evening, Su Tingxue came to find Zhou You.

Just like last time, Su Tingxue stood at the stairwell, infused a folded paper airplane with spiritual energy, and sent it flying. The paper airplane wobbled along a set trajectory, made a turn, flew into Class Three, and landed right on top of Zhou You's head.

"Something's come up?" Zhou You found Su Tingxue.

"Wang Chong packed his bag and left the school. It looks like he's skipping the third evening self-study session."

"Let's follow behind him and see," Zhou You said. The teacher for the third evening self-study session was the English teacher, who always sat at the podium and rarely interfered with anything. As it happened, he had finished all his homework, so skipping the third session would be fine.

Considering it was truancy and they could not leave the school through the main gates, the two chose to scale the courtyard wall.

Although neither of them had any experience scaling walls, they were cultivators after all, agile and nimble, and they easily vaulted over the wall to the outside.

"Is that Wang Chong over there?" Su Tingxue pointed to a sneaky figure not far away; it was indeed Wang Chong.

The two of them were sneaking around, both tailing someone for the very first time. They exchanged a glance, seeing the excitement and thrill in each other's eyes. It felt like they were acting as secret agents in a movie, tracking down an enemy and acquiring classified intelligence.

"He really does look a bit suspicious," Su Tingxue analyzed, putting up a calm front to make herself look professional.

"Wang Chong is always driven to and from school, but this time he's walking home by himself and doesn't even ride a bicycle."

"This means the place he's going to is very close to the school."

Zhou You nodded; Su Tingxue's analysis was not without reason.

Wang Chong walked ahead, keeping his head down as he looked at his phone, never suspecting that anyone was trailing him.

Tailing Wang Chong was not difficult, and Zhou You made casual conversation, "Is this your first time following someone?"

Su Tingxue was taken aback. "Why do you ask?"

In terms of cultivation level, Su Tingxue was stronger than Zhou You and considered a senior, which was why she had deliberately put on the front of a composed, professional senior who knew how to tail people reliably.

She had no idea how Zhou You had seen through it.

Of course Zhou You could tell. Su Tingxue's appearance was ethereal and striking, making her the center of attention wherever she went. When she sneaked around trailing Wang Chong, Wang Chong might not have noticed, but passersby kept turning their heads to look at Su Tingxue.

Clearly, she had zero experience in shadowing people.

Whenever Chu Xiaoyao was about to do something brainless outside the school, she would drag Zhou You along, and at times like that Zhou You would always advise Chu Xiaoyao to wear a mask and a hat to avoid drawing attention.

"Right, can your Yin-Yang Heavenly Eye only be used with your eyes?" Zhou You remembered Chu Xiaoyao's evaluation of the Yin-Yang Heavenly Eye.

Su Tingxue was stunned. What kind of strange question was that? Where else could you use the Yin-Yang Heavenly Eye if not your eyes?

Seeing that Su Tingxue did not catch his meaning, Zhou You had no choice but to explain further.

"As the saying goes, the Immortal-Mortal Divide should not only remind cultivators to conceal their identities when facing mortals, but also remind them not to think using a mortal mindset."

"Cultivators should not be shackled by the five senses; otherwise, how are they any different from mortals?"

"The Yin-Yang Heavenly Eye uses the heart as the eye, bearing the name of Yin and Yang, capable of insight into heaven and earth. If one can reach this stage, one won't fear any Sight-Obscuring Ghosts."

Hearing this, Su Tingxue froze, unmoving. Ripples stirred in her heart, and Zhou You's words echoed continuously in her mind.

Using the heart as the eye, bearing the name of Yin and Yang, capable of insight into heaven and earth... So that was what the Yin-Yang Heavenly Eye actually meant?

Indeed, as a cultivator, how could she be bound by conventional wisdom? She ought to shift her mindset and seek transformation. It was laughable that she had closed her mind to progress, failing to figure out such a simple principle and needing a reminder from a classmate who had just stepped into the Qi Refining Stage to awaken.

Su Tingxue felt her Yin-Yang Heavenly Eye undergo a subtle transformation, and her perspective on the world changed drastically.

When Su Tingxue opened her eyes again, the look she gave Zhou You was much more complex. Suppressing the lingering emotions in her heart, she said sincerely, "Many thanks for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

"You are..." Zhou You felt as though Su Tingxue had undergone some change, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed.

"My Yin-Yang Heavenly Eye has broken through."

"Broken through?"

Being thanked so formally by Su Tingxue made Zhou You feel quite embarrassed. "Don't thank me. My desk mate said all of that."

"Your desk mate? Chu Xiaoyao?"

Su Tingxue was greatly surprised. Wasn't Chu Xiaoyao a mortal without cultivation? How could her insight be so sharp that, even passing her words through Zhou You, she could help her break through?

"Just who on earth is Chu Xiaoyao?"

Although Zhou You very much wanted to say that Chu Xiaoyao was the Female Emperor reborn, such a matter amounted to exposing her identity. To speak of it without Chu Xiaoyao's consent would seem too impolite.

"I can't go into specifics. I can only say that Xiaoyao's background is astonishing. I can't tell you anything more even if you ask."

Seeing Zhou You speak with such caution, Su Tingxue wore an expression of so it really is as I thought.

No wonder Zhou You trusted Chu Xiaoyao so much; her background was extraordinary indeed.

This Carefree Sect was probably far more powerful than she had imagined.

The two continued to focus on trailing Wang Chong.

After a short while, Zhou You's expression turned peculiar. Because he had been chatting with Su Tingxue earlier, he hadn't noticed, but why was the route Wang Chong was taking so similar to the route he took home?

No, it couldn't even be called similar; it was practically identical.

Wang Chong raised his phone to compare directions, took a turn, and walked into a small alley.

Zhou You's expression grew increasingly bizarre. This place looked precisely like the spot where he had been attacked yesterday.

He stroked the lamppost by the roadside; the fist print left by the Mighty Warrior was still on it.

The Mind Master and the Mighty Warrior had suddenly appeared before him yesterday-could they have been hiding in this alley all along?

Zhou You prepared to follow him into the alley, but Su Tingxue pulled him back, gesturing for him to be careful. "I feel like there are quite a few people inside this alley. Don't go in."

"Then what should we do?"

"I have a way."

Su Tingxue drew a piece of yellow paper from her pocket, folded it into the shape of a little figure with lightning speed, and blew a gentle breath toward the Little Paper Figure. The Little Paper Figure stretched its limbs as if it had come to life.

What kind of trick was this? Zhou You was astonished.

Seeing Zhou You staring wide-eyed at the Little Paper Figure, Su Tingxue couldn't help feeling a trace of pride.

"This is one of the basic transformations of the Talisman Arts from our Dragon-Tiger Mountain. It's used like this."

The Little Paper Figure jumped out of Su Tingxue's palm, scampered quickly on its little legs into the alley, and vanished.

Su Tingxue chanted an incantation under her breath, pressed her index and middle fingers together, and tapped Zhou You between the eyebrows. Zhou You's vision went dark for a moment, and when it brightened again, he found that he could already see the situation inside the alley, only the perspective felt a bit off-he needed to look upward.

Su Tingxue's explanatory voice sounded in his ear: "I've shared our vision with the Little Paper Figure."

Zhou You nodded, concentrating on what was happening in the alley.

There were many students in the alley, and to the Little Paper Figure, they looked like giants.

Wang Chong stood at the very front, asking his underling beside him, "Is the place right? Zhou You will pass by here after school?"

While faning Wang Chong with a folding fan, the underling reported with obsequious diligence, "Don't worry, Boss. I've already checked it out. This is the only way the guy surnamed Zhou can take after school, and basically no passersby come through here at night. It's a blind spot; the street cameras can't reach this place. It's foolproof."

"Well done." Wang Chong knew this underling; he did things thoroughly and wouldn't leave any loose ends.

"Zhou You, daring to have an ambiguous relationship with Su Tingxue-you're asking for death!" A cold, mocking smile curved the corners of his mouth.

Zhou You glanced at Su Tingxue beside him. See? he thought. Just as expected, it's because of you.

Su Tingxue was consumed by guilt and lowered her head, not daring to meet Zhou You's eyes.

"How many people did you gather?" Wang Chong asked, still not entirely reassured.

"Boss, time was a bit tight, so I only found nine people. But they're all students from the nearby sports school. They'll definitely give that guy surnamed Zhou a taste of our power!"

These nine individuals wore short sleeves, exposing thick, muscular arms, and stood in slouched postures. One look told you they weren't to be trifled with.

Wang Chong nodded. Nine sports school students should be more than enough to deal with a Zhou You who only knew how to bury himself in books.

"Big Brother Wang, I run the sprints. When Zhou You realizes something's wrong and tries to run, I'll drag him back!" One of the sports school students stepped forward to pledge his loyalty.

"Good. Add two hundred to his pay," Wang Chong instructed his underling.

A stir ran through the sports school students. They had long heard that Wang Chong was generous with his money, and seeing it today, it was indeed true.

"Big Brother Wang, I do weightlifting. I've got great strength; I'll knock Zhou You flat with a single punch!" That person rolled his sleeves further up; among the nine, his arm girth was the thickest.

"Good. Add two hundred to his pay as well."

"Big Brother Wang, I study sports rehabilitation. I know how to beat people so it hurts the most without leaving any scars!"

"Good. Add two hundred to his."

"Big Brother Wang, I study boxing. I can throw four punches a second; I guarantee I'll beat him till he's dizzy and disoriented!"

"Good. Add two hundred to his."

"Big Brother Wang, I'm Zhou You. I can knock you flat with a single punch!"

"Good. Add two hundred to his... Wait?"