She wants to go to Qianqiu Academy?! A look of astonishment appeared on Gu Congshan's face.
He certainly knew what Qianqiu Academy was—or rather, within the State of Jin, there were few cultivators who had not heard of Qianqiu Academy. Even Gu Congshan, who had stumbled onto the path of cultivation by sheer chance, had heard of it.
Ever since the former ruler of Jin established Qianqiu Academy, it had received support from two successive rulers. The academy gathered cultivators from numerous schools of thought, its reputation steadily growing until it overshadowed all the immortal sects in the state, earning considerable renown throughout the Nine Provinces.
But hearing about it was one thing—a place like Qianqiu Academy had little to do with a rogue cultivator and wandering knight of humble origins and ordinary aptitude like Gu Congshan. He probably couldn't even set foot through its gates—those permitted to study at Qianqiu Academy were mostly sons of noble families. Without an illustrious background, one needed exceptional talent beyond that of ordinary people.
Ming Zhu lived in the mountains and hadn't even known what cultivation was before. Where had she heard of Qianqiu Academy?
Hearing Gu Congshan's question, Ming Zhu took out the Jade Slip and shook it. "It's written in here."
The first place recorded on the Jade Slip she had brought from Yugu Mountain was Qianqiu Academy.
Ming Zhu actually had no idea what Qianqiu Academy was. It was only because Gu Congshan asked at that moment that she, knowing nothing of the world beyond Yugu Mountain, could only recall what was recorded on the Jade Slip, and so she answered "Qianqiu Academy."
Ming Zhu, who had never walked among the world, didn't think it was a place she couldn't go. But Gu Congshan, merely thinking about it, felt a faint sense of awe rising in his heart.
A place like Qianqiu Academy was far too unreachable for him—perhaps in his entire life, it would never have anything to do with him.
Gu Congshan didn't doubt whether Ming Zhu could get into Qianqiu Academy. With the aptitude she had displayed, regardless of her background, there probably weren't many immortal sects that would turn her away.
But…
"If they discover that you…" Gu Congshan gestured vaguely, not finishing the sentence since A'He was right behind them.
She might not even be human!
Before she'd even gone to Qianqiu Academy, he was already worrying on Ming Zhu's behalf about something that hadn't even happened.
Ming Zhu didn't seem concerned about it. She'd just deal with it when they discovered it—she had no intention of giving up on going to Qianqiu Academy.
She had lived in the mountains for so long that she truly didn't know how treacherous the world could be. Gu Congshan was worried, but he really had no standing to stop Ming Zhu from going to Qianqiu Academy. After a moment's hesitation, he didn't say anything more, only suggesting they head to Pingxiang Town first.
Qianqiu Academy was located in the capital of Jin. From Pingxiang Town, heading north was the direction of the capital, so taking this route wouldn't be out of the way…
Better to sell the spiritual treasures first, then worry about everything else, Gu Congshan thought to himself.
A'He couldn't understand what Gu Congshan and Ming Zhu were saying. She led the mule, following step by step behind them, not daring to interject.
Sister Bai Zhi said they were immortal masters. As long as she followed the immortal masters, she would surely reach Pingxiang Town safely. A'He thought about this, then stole a glance at Ming Zhu. Even though it wasn't the first time she'd seen that face, her eyes still couldn't help but flash with admiration.
She was so beautiful…
So different from herself.
A'He lowered her head, thinking gloomily. Immortal masters were, of course, different from her.
She wasn't pretty, nor was she clever. Grandmother had taught her many times how to interact with people, but she had never learned anything.
Now that Grandmother was gone too, a layer of sorrow settled over A'He's dark-skinned face. She was the only one left now.
After a day of travel, on the second day, when they passed through a village market, Gu Congshan noticed Ming Zhu's curiosity and bought a packet of honeyed dates with his own money. He also asked A'He beside him, "Would you like some?"
Hearing this, she nervously tightened her grip on the mule's reins and said timidly, "Thank you, Immortal Master, but there's no need…"
She didn't dare accept Gu Congshan's kindness.
With A'He joining them, Ming Zhu and Gu Congshan's pace inevitably slowed somewhat.
Although Gu Congshan had already struggled to keep up with Ming Zhu back in the Wuyin Forest, he was still a cultivator who had entered the Dao, with physical stamina far surpassing that of an ordinary mortal like A'He.
A mortal like her not only needed morning and evening meals, but also required a full night's rest.
Aware that she was slowing them down, A'He was very careful in her actions along the way, not daring to cause them any trouble, afraid of being cast aside.
"You don't need to call me Immortal Master…" Gu Congshan felt deeply uncomfortable being called Immortal Master by A'He at every turn. With his meager cultivation, he hardly deserved such a title.
But A'He only looked at him with fearful eyes, refusing to change her address, tears nearly spilling from her eyes. She looked quite pitiful.
Gu Congshan was suddenly at a loss, flustered. He had never dealt with a girl of such temperament before, and for a moment didn't know what to say to put A'He at ease. He couldn't help but look toward Ming Zhu, thinking that as a fellow woman, she might be able to talk to A'He.
Ming Zhu was chewing on a honeyed date. Seeing him look over, she gazed back without understanding.
She felt nothing for A'He's anxiety, let alone any inclination to comfort her.
Forget it, it seemed he couldn't count on her. Gu Congshan pressed his forehead and gave up, silently dividing half the packet of dates and pressing them into A'He's hands.
They traveled for two more days. At dusk, because they hadn't managed to reach a village, they had to make do with spending the night in the wilderness.
A'He washed the wild fruits she had just picked by the water's edge, then carefully handed them to Gu Congshan, her eyes carrying a hint of ingratiation.
Only when she saw Gu Congshan accept them did a faint smile appear on her face.
If she could do things for them, she probably wouldn't be left behind—that was what A'He thought.
Gu Congshan could read her thoughts. As he started a fire to roast fish, he said, "You don't need to do this…"
Since he had promised Bai Zhi, he would do his best to bring her to Pingxiang Town.
"Being able to do things for you, Immortal Master, makes me very happy!" A'He said hastily.
This was all she could do.
Gu Congshan was about to say something more when suddenly music drifted down from above. He looked up following the sound and saw Ming Zhu sitting on a tree branch with her legs bent, holding a long, narrow leaf to her lips. A clear, ethereal melody flowed forth, carried by the wind into the distance.
All around was silent. Even though Gu Congshan knew nothing of music, he could feel his mind and spirit relaxing with the melody, all his previous fatigue swept away.
What he didn't notice was that within his body, his spiritual breath was quietly circulating along with the tune, flowing just slightly faster.
A'He also looked up. She stared blankly at the scene, a wordless longing showing on her face.
Ming Zhu lowered the leaf and met her eager gaze. She asked casually, "You want to learn?"
Under Ming Zhu's gaze, A'He's face flushed red. After hesitating, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to say no, and murmured, "Can I learn?"
"Why not?" Ming Zhu asked back, a little puzzled.
If she learned it, she could play it for Ming Zhu to listen to.
In the past, it was always others who played for Ming Zhu; now that she had left Yugu Mountain, she could only play for herself.
When Ming Zhu was teaching A'He, Gu Congshan also plucked a blade of grass and tried to learn along, but after several attempts, the blade in his hands could only produce sputtering sounds.
In the art of music, he truly had no talent.
A'He, however, turned out to be an unexpectedly good learner. Along the road to Pingxiang, intermittent strains of music rose and fell, and gradually more smiles appeared on her face. When facing Ming Zhu and Gu Congshan, she was no longer as timid and fearful as before.
So she wasn't incapable of learning everything after all, A'He thought, clutching the blade of grass preciously. A hint of radiance lit up her face from excitement, making her ordinary features come alive.
Seeing her like this, Gu Congshan was also delighted. A'He had finally dared to change her address to "Brother Gu," and he felt he truly couldn't bear the title of "immortal master."
"What tune is this?" Amidst the music A'He was playing, Gu Congshan asked Ming Zhu.
He didn't seem to have heard it before.
"Return to the Nether." Ming Zhu was holding the Jade Slip she had brought from Yugu Mountain, and for once, she recalled matters from the mountain.
It was also at this moment that Gu Congshan noticed there were actually characters carved on the Jade Slip.
"Xuantong."
The person who had brought Ming Zhu back to Yugu Mountain two years ago was named Pei Xuantong.
A long wind of ninety thousand li, transforming into wings to return to the Northern Nether.
This "Return to the Nether" was also taught to Ming Zhu by Pei Xuantong.
At the summit of Yugu Mountain, a middle-aged man stood with his sword propped upright. The wind whipped at his sleeves, yet his spine remained straight, as if it would never bend.
In the capital of the State of Chen.
The young man who had led cavalry up Yugu Mountain that very night now knelt half-prostrate in the hall, his head slightly lowered, making it impossible to discern his expression.
"These are all the scrolls you brought back from Yugu Mountain?" Above him, the ruler of Chen, whose temples were already touched with frost, flipped through the fire-scorched bamboo slips, his tone impossible to read as pleased or angered.
"That the place where Pei Xuantong resided could only yield such crude texts used for elementary instruction—if word of this were to spread, I doubt anyone would believe it."
The young man lowered his head another two inches. "The bamboo hut was burned. Before we arrived, someone must have gotten there first."
These scrolls had been snatched from the flames by them, but upon examining them, they discovered that none contained what they sought.
"It seems we were still a step too late." The ruler of Chen sighed. He had thought himself swift enough, but it turned out he was still slow.
"Your subject is incompetent—please punish me, Your Majesty!" The young man prostrated himself in apology, his right hand tightening within his sleeve, clearly equally unwilling to accept such an outcome.
The ruler of Chen merely raised a hand to signal the young man to rise, showing no intention of meting out punishment. He said thoughtfully, "Tell me, whose people do you think arrived before you?"
Even if he were to punish the young man now, it would do no good, and besides, this could not truly be counted as his fault.
He had been sent on orders and had arrived at Yugu Mountain even earlier than planned.
"It seems this is the handiwork of that old fox of Jin once again," the ruler of Chen said in a deep voice.
The young man said nothing, but he privately agreed. Only Zhangsun Yan, Jin’s chief minister, famed for never miscalculating, could have accomplished such a feat.
After a moment of frozen silence, the ruler of Chen flicked his sleeve, sweeping several bamboo scrolls off the table, and sneered, "Good. Very good!"
That he had beaten them to it was one thing, but leaving these bamboo slips behind—was it a deliberate provocation?! The ruler of Chen had already concluded that Zhangsun Yan had not only taken the cultivation technique hidden in the bamboo hut but had also deliberately left these worthless slips behind as a taunt.
The bamboo slips hit the ground with a resounding crash, and the attendant waiting nearby flinched, holding his breath and daring not to make a sound.
In but a moment, the ruler of Chen reined in his surging fury, leaving only a deep, unfathomable darkness in his eyes.
Chen would surely demand recompense from Zhangsun Yan for this!