Chapitre 104: I come from the south.
"Isn't that Gao Yanan from the Imperial Medicine Department? What is she doing here today when her class is not held in this location?"
"Perhaps she is waiting for someone."
For the other students of Qingluan Academy, the tranquility and harmony of the academy continued unabated. On this day, as students enrolled in the elective course on toxicology made their way to the Poison Valley, they discovered Gao Yanan waiting by the side of one of the mountain paths.
As the students speculated about who this exceptionally talented and beautiful girl from the Imperial Medicine Department might be waiting for, a figure clad in the attire of the Zhi Ge department approached her briskly, coming to stand directly before Gao Yanan.
"It's him..."
Upon recognizing that the student from the Zhi Ge department was Lin Xi, the expressions of the other students became complex.
Some gazed at him with admiration, others with envy, while some regarded him with disdain and hostility.
As Lin Xi had previously mentioned in his conversation with Tong Wei, the most difficult aspect of the world is human nature; even when faced with the same situation or a singular, monotonous hue, perceptions can vary greatly. Some may find beauty where others see ugliness.
Lin Xi's performance in his duel against the students of Thunder Academy had already spread, and the claims of his "Ninety-Pound Chosen One" had been thoroughly debunked. However, in light of his prior calm demeanor, some students interpreted his behavior as magnanimous indifference to disputes, while others, like Liu Ziyu, suspected he was merely biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to strike back.
Among these sharply divided factions, some students who previously held no strong opinions about Lin Xi found their sentiments shifting. Like many other academies, Qingluan Academy had a significant male-to-female ratio, and the young men, driven by their instincts, often harbored unspoken admiration for the notable female students.
Girls like Qin Xiyue and Gao Yanan undoubtedly attracted their fair share of admiration.
Yet, since their return from the Half-Snowy Plains, many had noticed the close bond forming between Qin Xiyue, Gao Yanan, and Lin Xi... Although every student in the academy was an elite talent of the empire, their youth led many to feel discontent simply because of this connection to Lin Xi.
Now, witnessing Gao Yanan standing gracefully on the mountain path, akin to the most exquisite flower awaiting Lin Xi in the morning light, it was unclear how many harbored feelings of envy, or how many felt a simmering resentment in their hearts.
...
"Yanan, did you seek me for something?" Lin Xi inquired as he approached Gao Yanan with a gentle smile.
"Let's walk a bit further away," Gao Yanan replied, nodding at Lin Xi as she stepped into a hillside adorned with wildflowers, disregarding the dew soaking her shoes.
Lin Xi had sensed the envy and jealousy in the gazes of other students, and compared to the youth of this world, he, with his wealth of knowledge, possessed a higher emotional intelligence. He understood that walking alone with Gao Yanan in a secluded area would inevitably draw unwarranted hostility. Yet, buoyed by a unique sense of pride, he felt no fear of this unprovoked animosity, so he nodded and happily followed her.
As the morning breeze enveloped them, he walked alongside Gao Yanan, feeling a sweet warmth blossom in his heart, thinking... this could be considered a date.
"Are you one of them?" Suddenly, Gao Yanan halted, her voice dropping to a whisper only they could hear.
The meaning behind her words was ambiguous, yet Lin Xi, who had anticipated this moment, was not taken aback. Turning to her, he nodded, "You agreed too?"
The mountain wind tousled Gao Yanan's hair, causing it to dance beside her face, yet her brow furrowed as she continued, "The academy has confidence in us, but the other side is even more assured... Their five members likely surpass you in cultivation, so you must be cautious."
"You came all this way just to tell me that?" Lin Xi couldn't help but laugh, his smile radiant.
Gao Yanan, slightly irritated, stamped her foot but then recognized it was ultimately her own issue. Unable to disclose her true identity, she shook her head in frustration, exclaiming, "Doesn't that sound like a trivial remark?"
Lin Xi genuinely could not derive deeper implications from her simple statement. He merely found Gao Yanan's flustered demeanor and childlike anger endearing, so he stifled a laugh and replied earnestly, "It may seem trivial to others, but it holds significance for me, and it genuinely makes me happy to hear."
Gao Yanan paused, looking at Lin Xi for a long moment before saying, "Lin Xi, has anyone ever told you that you're quite the smooth talker?"
Lin Xi met her gaze, shaking his head earnestly, "No, because I don't believe I've ever spoken such words to anyone."
"Not only are you smooth-tongued, but you also have quite the thick skin," Gao Yanan concluded in her mind. However, after reiterating her warning to be careful, she waved at Lin Xi and walked away, looking down at her feet.
...
...
Nanshan Mu sat quietly by a pond covered in duckweed, gazing at his fishing rod.
Suddenly, a spark of realization flickered in his eyes, and he turned around sharply.
Just as he did, Nangong Weiyang emerged from the nearby red pine forest.
Nanshan Mu's entire body had been tense, an unspoken aura seemingly radiating from him. However, upon seeing the somewhat disheveled young girl emerging from the woods, who, while observing him with a serious expression, possessed large, bright eyes filled with a rare maturity for her age, he relaxed and couldn't help but chuckle, asking, "Are you a practitioner from our dynasty?"
Most practitioners in this world appear unremarkable, yet here in Biluo Ridge, which seems serene but is one of the most perilous places, how could an ordinary girl wander so deep?
Nangong Weiyang nodded in response to Nanshan Mu's question, "And you?"
Seeing her serious demeanor as she nodded, Nanshan Mu found it amusing and nodded back. But before he could say anything further, Nangong Weiyang's gaze fell upon the murky water of the pond before him, and she asked, "Are you fishing?"
Nanshan Mu nodded.
Nangong Weiyang continued, "If you're daring enough to fish here, why not go to Jingtian Lake or the great river behind the Mizing Forest?"
Nanshan Mu chuckled, "Because when I passed by here before, I had a thought: I wanted to see if there might be big fish in this kind of pond."
Nangong Weiyang glanced at him, "You seem rather bored."
Nanshan Mu shook his head earnestly, explaining, "I was simply too busy before, unable to pursue the things I wanted to do... Now, I finally have some time to engage in activities I once fancied but never attempted."
"That makes sense," Nangong Weiyang nodded quietly. "In that case, it's not boredom, as you enjoy doing this."
"You are quite interesting, and I enjoy meeting you," Nanshan Mu said affectionately, looking at her. "What is your name? Which academy do you belong to?"
Nangong Weiyang shook her head, "My name is Nangong Weiyang, and I am not a student of any academy. What about you?"
Nanshan Mu found their conversation delightful. Realizing he might not have much time left, meeting such a girl made him smile even more. "I am Nanshan Mu. Have you heard of my name?"
"No," Nangong Weiyang shook her head. "I usually don't remember people's names; I only recall the names of those I've met in places I've visited."
Nanshan Mu chuckled, "I haven't heard your name either."
Nangong Weiyang nodded, "That's because I'm not well-known, and hardly anyone knows my name."
Nanshan Mu laughed again, looking at Nangong Weiyang's somewhat tattered clothing, "So, Nangong Weiyang, where do you come from, and where do you intend to go? It seems you've traveled a long way and have endured many hardships."
Nangong Weiyang replied earnestly, "I come from the south, and I wish to see the Tianshan Mountains."
"Ah, so you wish to make a pilgrimage to Qingluan Academy. Following the southern path to Biluo Ridge... you have indeed journeyed quite a distance." Upon hearing her response, Nanshan Mu, who had categorized her as a free-spirited practitioner, grew serious and advised, "While you can visit Qingluan Academy, it may not be very peaceful lately, so it would be wise to take your time and arrive later."
"You are quite a good person," Nangong Weiyang said, glancing at Nanshan Mu.
Nanshan Mu was taken aback, then self-deprecatingly smiled, thinking that if one day the historical records recognized him as this girl suggested, then his life would have been worthwhile.
"Nangong Weiyang, one should never judge a person by appearances. I have done many wrongs in my life and harmed many..." Originally, Nanshan Mu intended to offer more advice to this innocent girl, but sensing that saying too much might dampen the mood, he hesitated slightly before offering an apologetic smile and saying no more.
However, to his surprise, Nangong Weiyang remarked, "I don't judge by appearances; I just think you're a good person."
Nanshan Mu found her perspective and logic quite peculiar, momentarily at a loss for words, remaining silent for a long time.
"Our names both contain the character 'Nan,'" Nangong Weiyang observed, perhaps searching for conversation, or perhaps noting the oddity of Nanshan Mu's logic, she said this earnestly.
Then her gaze fell upon the ring on his right hand, "That ring is quite nice."
"This is the Golden Bell Ring. The runes on it are still a mystery to the various academies... If one reaches the enhancement stage, one can infuse soul energy into it, making it an excellent defensive soul weapon." Nanshan Mu glanced at the beautiful runes adorning the golden ring, smiled warmly, and directly removed it, offering it to Nangong Weiyang, "You are right; we both have 'Nan' in our names... If you like it, I'll give it to you."
Nangong Weiyang didn't hide her fondness but shook her head, "This is an ancient artifact; it holds great value for you, why give it to me?"
Nanshan Mu looked at her, realizing he couldn't speak insincerely to such a serious girl, so he replied earnestly, "I am likely to die soon; it will be of no use to me."
Nangong Weiyang looked at him, her expression unchanged, shaking her head, "You will not die."
Nanshan Mu forced a smile, "Life is unpredictable; as a practitioner, I am certainly in good health, but one can still die if someone cuts off their head."
Nangong Weiyang pondered for a moment, then accepted the Golden Bell Ring from Nanshan Mu, sincerely thanking him.
Yet, just as Nanshan Mu smiled again, she shook her head, saying, "No one here can take your head."
Nanshan Mu shook his head, gazing at his unyielding fishing rod, "What if the General of the West, Wenren Cangyue, comes to take my head?"
Nangong Weiyang frowned slightly but still shook her head, "He cannot take your head."
"Never mind." Nanshan Mu assumed Nangong Weiyang had never heard of Wenren Cangyue, unaware of his formidable reputation. He thought that knowing too much might not be good for this girl, so he shook his head and chose not to say more.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone