Chapter 40

Chapter 40

News on Lie Shang

Mu Yu accompanied Tian Ran on her journey to ask cultivators as he was bored. They asked everyone he came across and could ask. Besides that, he inquired about General Manager Xun but was told the kind elder was no longer the manager at the academy. Reportedly, he never returned from a job he went out on.

Tian Ran, adopting a gravity-drawn shoulders form, sat on a rock. Nobody had heard of or knew what Celestial Sword Nine Guides or Sword Shadow Dust Gale were. She was told Sword Shadow Dust Gale was in the city, but it didn’t seem to be the case, baffling her.

“Sword Shadow Dust Gale is a person, right?” questioned Mu Yu.

Tian Ran nodded. “He’s supposed to be an incredible cultivator everyone knows. I don’t understand why none of you know him.”

By logic, he couldn’t have been that renowned if nobody at the academy recognised the name.

“How does he look? Does he have big eyes, big ears or bushy eyebrows?”Updated from n0velb(i)n.c(o)/m

Tian Ran never described appearances. She’d just ask people if they recognised the names.

“I’ve never met him before. I need him for something, though.”

There went any desire Mu Yu had to help Tian Ran. Before he had another issue on his hands, he made up his mind to get moving and expressed, “Keep trying, then. I’m going to look for my senior sister. If anything comes up, you can find me at Dustfallen Sect’s courtyard.”

“Sure.” Tian Ran waved goodbye.

Every sect was granted their own courtyard at the academy. Their disciples out on jobs were allowed to use them whenever. Mu Yu was impressed with the qi coming from Green Pine Sect’s courtyard when he passed by. A sect’s standing influenced the quality of the courtyard they were given access to. For instance, Green Pine Sect and Dustfallen Sect’s courtyards were a far cry from one another. Each sect would decorate their own courtyard to their liking.

Mu Yu didn’t want to say that. Howbeit, he wanted to somehow erase the bitter feelings and to hide the fact that Lan Ling’er’s hug got to him. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect and rubbed salt onto his wound.

“Shut up! Once he comes back, you’ll know what shame is.” Lan Ling’er gave Mu Yu a fierce glare. “Tell anyone I cried, and I’ll have you know my fury!”

Lan Ling’er was her usual self, but Mu Yu wasn’t his usual self.

Before Mu Yu knew it, Lan Ling’er occupied a place in his heart. He never knew why he was fond of lampooning her. He didn’t mind belittling himself for the bit of fun, either. However, he hated Lie Shang the moment he learnt she hugged him for Lie Shang’s sake. Even so, he forced a smile. “How did you find out? Don’t tell me you have interlinked hearts. I don’t subscribe to superstitious rubbish.”

Lan Ling’er looked at Mu Yu through her peripherals. “He must’ve been here recently. Shifu personally set the formation in our courtyard. Hence, we’re the only ones who know how to enter. There are no signs of anyone breaking in, meaning somebody entered the proper way. When I entered, I noticed the blanket folded differently to how I folded it. That’s how Second Brother folds blankets!”

“You haven’t been here in almost a year. How do you know that? You could’ve been the one who folded it.” Mu Yu judged Lan Ling’er to be convoluting the entire plot if not deluding herself.

Lan Ling’er shook her head. “I didn’t gold it. Shifu came here last month for the annual recruitment, remember? He’s not one to fold blankets. He pulls his blankets off and rolls right out of bed. Second Brother is cautious and orderly. Only he folds his blankets that style and sets them in that exact position every time. He taught me to fold them, so my memory wouldn’t fail me. I fold in the opposite direction to him...”

Lan Ling’er’s eyes turned red again as she recalled their time growing up alongside each other and his silent departure that shattered her dream. Mu Yu wanted to argue their Shifu might’ve folded it that way in memory of Lie Shang but stopped himself from dealing a mental blow to her. Yearning could lead to stubbornness. There was no reason to step on her feelings.

“I spent three days searching for Second Brother in the city to no avail. I thought he’d come here...” Lan Ling’er’s voice gradually tapered off as she spoke. She had been praying Lie Shang would suddenly show up and take her hand to explain why he left. She had so much to say and wanted just a glimpse of him. Alas, Mu Yu was the only one to appear.

Suddenly, Lan Ling’er raised her head enthusiastically and jumped to her feet. “Ah! He might’ve returned to the mountain. What am I still doing here? I’m sure he’s gone back. I need to ask Shifu if he folded the blankets next month. That’ll affirm my suspicions...”

Mu Yu sighed.

“You’re not going anywhere,” someone suddenly threatened, tone frigid.