The night was deep, and the walls on both sides of the alley were mottled. Occasionally, a breeze blew by, sweeping up the dry leaves on the ground and making a faint, rustling sound.
Mu Heng said nothing. He only stared intently at Lin Lumi, his eyes deep and carrying a hint of chilliness.
But Lin Lumi did not care to speculate further. Knowing she had delivered her message, she didn’t think much of it and left the place immediately.
The next morning, before the mist had fully dispersed, a steady stream of disciples was already heading along the mountain path toward the examination hall.
Hua Tian had left the dormitory before dawn and ran all the way to the examination venue.
The second round of the assessment lasted from morning until noon. With the scorching sun directly overhead, the bluestone ground outside the examination hall was baked hot.
When she stepped out of the venue, she felt as if even the air she breathed carried a touch of sweetness.
Today, they actually tested the Swift-Run Talisman! Fortunately, Lin Lumi had explained the key points of the talisman spell so patiently yesterday. Although Hua Tian dared not say she would get a high score, a passing grade was definitely in the bag.
At this thought, the corners of Hua Tian’s mouth curved up unconsciously, and her mood was so light that even her steps felt a bit airy.
Just as she was planning to rush back to the dormitory to drag Lin Lumi out to celebrate, her shoulder was suddenly tapped gently.
Hua Tian froze, and looking back, she saw a man standing behind her.
The man wore a silver mask. Although his clothes were luxurious, they were not the sect uniform, so she figured he was some candidate.
Still, what was he doing wandering around the examination hall with a mask on in broad daylight?
Puzzled, Hua Tian spoke up: “Are you looking for me?”
The man said nothing extra, only nodding calmly: “A word in private.”
His voice was low and pleasant, sounding somewhat familiar. Hua Tian was stunned for a moment, but without thinking too much, she instinctively followed him.
The two walked far away until they left the noisy crowd behind and reached a quiet stone path. Only then did the man stop.
He raised his hand and slowly removed the mask.
The moment the silver light swept past, a handsome face was revealed.
Hua Tian was stunned: “Mu Heng!?”
She covered her mouth exaggeratedly: “Long time no see! I didn’t expect you to really be at the Eastern Ridge Lingshu! When Lin Lumi said so yesterday, I still couldn’t quite believe it!”
Mu Heng’s fingers brushed against each other unconsciously: “She… took the initiative to mention me to you?”
“Of course. To think she crossed rivers and climbed mountains only to run into an enemy like you, how could she not be worked up? And she even went out to meet you in the middle of the night yesterday. If you ask me, the two of you have way too much energy.”
Mu Heng’s long eyes narrowed slightly: “Then did she tell you why she looked for me?”
“Of course she did.” Hua Tian took half a step closer and lowered her voice, “Wasn’t it to make you keep the secret of the marriage contract?”
“You actually know about the marriage contract?” Mu Heng’s gaze sharpened, “Since she wanted me to keep it a secret, why did she tell you?”
“You guessed wrong there~” Hua Tian shook her index finger triumphantly. “I knew about the marriage contract back in the imperial capital; my father let it slip to me long ago. But…” She suddenly blinked mischievously, “Now, she and I share food and lodging, which is practically sharing a bed. Between girls, there are no secrets.”
Mu Heng nodded thoughtfully: “It seems I found the right person.”
Hua Tian tilted her head to size him up: “Now that we’ve said all this, what exactly are you looking for me for?”
The midday wind swept through the bamboo grove. Amidst the rustling, Mu Heng remained silent for a long time before finally lowering his voice to say: “There is something I want to ask… but I need you to keep your mouth shut.”
Hua Tian’s eyes lit up instantly, like a cat smelling fish. She nudged her cheek with her tongue, sized Mu Heng up from head to toe, and suddenly clicked her tongue: “It seems you really have something you must ask, since you went so far as to wear a mask. Kid, you’re not trying to win me over to your side, are you? Let me tell you, I am Lumi’s most loyal sister, so don’t even think about making me betray her!” Her tone shifted as a mischievous gleam flashed in her eyes, “But if you have some troubles on your mind, I don’t mind listening. Ask away!”
Mu Heng: “…”
His intuition from years of training warned him that Hua Tian was definitely not someone who could keep a secret. But at the moment, other than her, he truly had no other choice.
“Last night, Lin Lumi asked me to keep the marriage contract a secret, saying it was to avoid getting in the way of each other finding cultivation partners.” He spoke cautiously, “Could it be that she… already has someone she likes?”
“Huh?” Hua Tian shrank her neck back, looking incredulous. “You called me out so mysteriously just to ask about this?”
“Why, is that not allowed?”
“It’s not that it’s not allowed…” She tilted her head, tapping her chin gently with her finger. “But you are neither her parents nor a matchmaker. What decent gentleman would go out of his way to pry into a girl’s private feelings? Unless—” She suddenly widened her eyes and pointed her finger straight at Mu Heng’s chest, “You care about Lumi a lot! Or rather, you actually fancy her!”
“Me? Fancy her?” Mu Heng pointed at himself and let out two dry laughs. “What a joke. I’m just worried she’ll be deceived by some sketchy person and neglect her cultivation by wallowing in love all day. As you know, she is my most important rival. If we lose such an interesting competition, how boring would that be?”
Hua Tian narrowed her eyes, studying him suspiciously: “According to your logic, prying into Lumi’s sweetheart… are you planning to cause trouble?”
“Of course not.” Mu Heng denied it flatly, though his gaze drifted elsewhere. “I have cultivated at the Eastern Ridge Lingshu for ten years and have seen countless people. If I can find out that person’s identity beforehand, I can help check them out for your sister. If she runs into someone who is all show and has bad intentions, wouldn’t that ruin her life? One may know a person’s face but not their heart.”
These words sounded sincere, and Hua Tian couldn’t help but believe him a little.
“But how can I trust you? You and Lumi used to be as incompatible as fire and water. Would you really be this kind-hearted now?”
“Stop, stop.” Mu Heng waved his hands repeatedly. “Don’t talk about being incompatible as fire and water anymore. We are merely close friends who spur each other on and make progress together.”
“Close friends? You?” Hua Tian pointed at Mu Heng and shook her head straight. “Stop flattering yourself! Ever since the two of you were tested for spiritual roots and entered school together ten years ago, you have never stopped bickering. Every time you returned to the imperial capital, you either argued until the heavens shook or fought until everything was in chaos. Does that count as being close friends?”
“What’s wrong with bickering and playing around in our youth?”
Hua Tian put her hands on her hips: “Fine, let’s not talk about the past. Just take two years ago, when the two of you fought and actually collapsed the pavilion at the academy. How do you explain that?”
“That was because—”
The Adam’s apple in Mu Heng’s throat moved slightly, swallowing the rest of his sentence.
Mu Heng swallowed.
It was only because he wanted so badly to test the depth of Lin Lumi’s cultivation. He had been blessed with exceptional cultivation resources in the Spirit Gathering Sect, making rapid progress. Yet, Lin Lumi had nothing; the Marquis’s estate paid no attention to her, and she merely listened to those teachers in the academy. Despite that, she could actually fight him to a draw.
He was simply too curious, which was why he couldn’t hold back.
Mu Heng cleared his throat: “That time didn’t count. In short, you wouldn’t want Lin Lumi to find some shady man at the Eastern Ridge Lingshu either, right? Knowing the background is always safer, isn’t it? Besides, there are relations between our fathers. As a senior, it is only right for me to look after you all more.”