44. Nagatomo (Part Two)

I hope you stay.

Breakthrough Pill, as the name suggests, is a pill used by cultivators to assist in breaking through to a higher realm.

The Breakthrough Pill was of little use to someone with her innate spiritual body, but it was a treasure to those cultivators who had been searching for a breakthrough for many years without success.

For example, her master, Ye Buchen.

She poured almost all the spirit stones and pills she obtained from Qingxiao into him, but he still couldn't make any progress; his cultivation seemed to be sealed off.

However, if one possesses a Breakthrough Pill, the situation is entirely different. The rarity of a Breakthrough Pill lies in the fact that the materials used to refine it are already scarce, and if even a slight deficiency occurs during the refining process, one must start from scratch.

Although she could have easily learned alchemy on her own, then painstakingly searched for the rare and precious materials needed to refine the Breakthrough Pill, and finally spent several years refining it.

But in that case, Ye Buchen might not be able to wait until then. He never revealed his age, probably because his time was coming to an end.

“But,” Ran Qinghe stared intently at her, “how did you know I needed the Breakthrough Pill? You sent people to investigate me?”

Lou Guan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment; she had nothing to hide from admitting this.

She would investigate anyone who appeared around Lou Tinglan. Since he lost his father at a young age, it was only right that she take extra care of him.

"So, with the Breakthrough Pill as your bargaining chip, are you willing to join Yunya Academy?"

Ran Qinghe was puzzled: "Since you blocked me in the Void Cauldron, shouldn't my withdrawal from the academy selection be more to your liking? Why are you now willing to use the Breakthrough Pill as an exchange?"

Her suspicions were not unfounded. Lou Guan's realm was unfathomable. If she, like Xi Shu, had discovered her innate spiritual body, she would likely face endless exploitation and torment.

Lou Guan smiled without saying a word.

She did have a fleeting thought of separating the two completely to eliminate any inappropriate feelings Tinglan might have. However, on one hand, she genuinely admired Ran Qinghe, and on the other hand, she suddenly thought of Lou Yunya and Qianxue.

Lou Yunya's willingness to risk everything for Qianxue was due to the obstruction of others; their love was so passionate because of the opposition. If they had been allowed to get closer from the beginning, even the most intense feelings would eventually have faded into ordinariness.

Lou Guan smiled and handed her the jade box containing the pills. The box was opened, and the pills inside slowly flowed with an iridescent luster, as if they contained infinite spiritual power.

An invisible force compelled her to step forward. Just as she was about to take the jade box, Lou Guan closed it first.

"However, if you get the Breakthrough Pill, feed it to Ye Buchen, and then run away, how am I supposed to catch you?"

"After all, you escaped from the Tower of Babel prison three times, so there's a precedent to follow..."

Ran Qinghe casually pointed and said, "Then let your head of the Discipline Hall testify for me."

She smiled and asked Lou Tinglan, "You said we're friends, and friends shouldn't be unwilling to be together, right?"

Lou Tinglan was taken aback at first, then replied with a "yes," before saying, "Reporting to the elder, this disciple is willing to testify, but..."

Lou Guan's expression darkened almost imperceptibly for a moment, then he smiled and asked, "What is it?"

He frankly said, "I knew that Ran Qinghe would take the pill and run away, so I could only take the punishment for her. I can't be considered a witness."

Ran Qinghe: ...

*

She compromised.

Yeah, right.

Lou Guan made a promise with her that if she could hold on until the academy's grand examination a year later, he would give her the Breakthrough Pill.

But she couldn't wait any longer; she couldn't even wait a day, let alone a year.

On the night the selection ended, she stepped into the moonlight and made her way up Wunian Peak.

Wunian Peak is a separate site set aside by the Discipline Hall. Unlike the steep peaks elsewhere, the summit of Wunian Peak is as flat as the ground. There is a legend that Lou Yunya used his spiritual power to carve out the peak, and later, Yunya Academy was built here according to the terrain.

Therefore, Wunian Peak is also known as Bald Peak.

Of course, these were just anecdotes and unofficial historical accounts that Ran Qinghe read in her spare time. She scoffed at them when she read them, thinking to herself that they must have been fabricated in the teahouses and taverns of Biluo Mountain.

However, when she actually reached the summit, she discovered that the rumors were actually quite credible.

Yunya Academy lies quietly on the flat ground atop the mountain, surrounded by ancient pine trees. Looking into the distance, one sees a cluster of green tiles and gray walls, their elegant colors blending seamlessly with the mountain.

The main gate is made of black wood and locked with a binding array. The plaque hanging above the gate is particularly special. The four characters "Yunya Academy" are carved with swords as brushes, through thousands of sword marks.

But this academy was not her destination for tonight. She swept past the academy heading due north.

According to the information she obtained from Mingyu during the day, the residences of the three elders of Yunya Academy are located on three floating islands above the academy.

Her target was the floating island in the very center, the residence of Lou Guan, the second elder of the Discipline Hall.

Mingyu also casually mentioned to her that the elders were gathered in the council hall tonight, seemingly to discuss important matters. With such a favorable time and place, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully if she didn't come and investigate.

She was surrounded by heavy darkness, carefully concealing her presence and moving stealthily by instinct.

Suddenly, just as she was about to round a dense grove at the corner of the academy, she stopped abruptly, her back tensing instantly.

It's not an illusion.

In the shadows not far ahead, beside the gnarled trunk of the ancient pine tree, a shadow seemed to move very subtly.

Who is it? A night patrol disciple from the academy? Or...?

She instinctively took a half step back, a slight surge of spiritual energy surging at her fingertips as she secretly formed a defensive hand seal within her sleeve. Her voice, deliberately lowered and wary, asked, "Who?"

The man did not answer immediately.

He simply stood there quietly, almost blending into the shadows of the trees. Moonlight filtered through the dense pine needles, perfectly outlining his straight back.

"Lou Tinglan?"

She blurted it out almost without thinking, her voice trembling slightly with a hint of relief that she herself didn't even realize, but it was quickly overshadowed by greater embarrassment and anger. He had been standing there all along... waiting for her to come to him.

"Hmm." He finally responded, his voice carrying a slightly indistinct tone as it traveled through the night wind.

He took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. The scent of pine and snow emanating from him clearly lingered around her, mingling with her breath.

"Is there any restlessness in your spiritual energy?" he asked, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather, yet in this context, it carried an inexplicable air of intimacy.

Her thoughts were drawn back to the morning before the academy selection. "No need to trouble yourself," she tried to make her voice sound cold and hard, while turning aside to walk past him.

Just as she brushed past him, her wrist was gently grasped by a cool yet strong hand. The force was light, like a cool night breeze brushing against her wrist.

"Ran Qinghe".

When he called her name, it wasn't with the usual businesslike distance, but rather with a hint of indescribable...helplessness.

She turned around and met his eyes. In his usually calm and composed eyes, there seemed to be some suppressed emotion surging within.

His thumb, almost imperceptibly, caressed her wrist.

A tingling, weak sensation washed over her, and she instinctively shook off his hand again: "Is something wrong?"

"Where are you going?" Lou Tinglan looked at her, his gaze deep.

Ran Qinghe made up a story on the spot, saying in one breath, "I'm officially entering the academy tomorrow, and I'm so nervous that I can't sleep, so I came out for a walk."

"What... happened?" she asked casually.

“In that case,” he turned around, “come with me.”

Ran Qinghe followed half a step behind him: "Where are you taking me?" She hadn't forgotten the important purpose of her trip tonight, but after Lou Tinglan interfered, she had to deal with him first.

He led her back along the same path until they stood once again in front of the Xuanmu Gate of the academy.

Ran Qinghe: ...

Why did you bring me here?

Lou Tinglan: "Didn't you say you were nervous?"

Ran Qinghe sighed inwardly. She was just talking nonsense, saying whatever came to mind. This man was such a blockhead. Couldn't he see that it was just an excuse for her to avoid him?

Lou Tinglan raised his hand and drew something in the air, and the Xuanmu door slowly opened. He turned to the side, palm up, gesturing for her to go in first.

She stepped straight in, and as soon as she entered, the surging spiritual energy almost swallowed her up.

Lou Tinglan stood to her right rear, speaking in a calm and unhurried voice, "The academy can be divided into three main parts: the lecture hall, the trial tower, and the library."

The two arrived in front of a grand hall, and he continued, "In the lecture hall, three elders take turns teaching the basics of mental cultivation, talismans, medicine, weapon crafting, beast taming, and so on. Once the disciples are proficient, they can practice on their own."

Ran Qinghe's interest was piqued: "Are the three elders proficient in the various methods of the Five Sects?"

Lou Tinglan replied, "Basically, yes. If it comes to matters requiring specialization, the academy will invite elders from various sects to come and offer guidance to the disciples."

Therefore, the academy almost brought together the best of all five schools of thought.

"This is the Trial Tower, which complements the Lecture Hall. The Trial Tower will generate corresponding trial illusions based on the disciples' cultivation level, so all disciples will practice what they have learned in the Lecture Hall, whether it be talisman techniques or mental cultivation methods, here."

"This is the library. You can find any cultivation techniques, secret manuals, miscellaneous knowledge, unorthodox methods, or historical records from within the realm here."

Lou Tinglan showed her around, introducing her to almost the entire academy.

"So what? What exactly do you want to say by bringing me here?" She stopped and their eyes met.

The corners of his lips seemed to curve slightly for a fleeting moment: "I just wanted to ask you, would you like to stay?"

She suddenly froze. This wasn't a question; it was more like an invitation with a pleading tone.

She feigned ignorance: "Didn't I already promise the Second Elder that I would stay?"

Lou Tinglan nodded: "Indeed. If you weren't trying to sneak into the Second Elder's residence at night to steal the Breakthrough Pill after listening to Mingyu, I would believe you."

When Ran Qinghe saw that he had exposed her, she became angry and embarrassed: "So you knew?"

Lou Tinglan frankly admitted, "The Breakthrough Pill is not in the Second Elder's residence, nor has she gone to the council hall to discuss matters. Therefore, even if you successfully sneak in tonight, it will be a waste of your time."

Ran Qinghe then realized what was happening and raised her voice in disbelief: "You had Mingyu test me?"

"Yes." Lou Tinglan gazed into her eyes, which held a hint of anger, and continued:

“Those born with a spiritual body are indeed suitable for cultivation, but without guidance, they will suffer the same fate as you that day, with their spiritual power surging violently, and there is even a risk of their meridians breaking through.”

So... I hope you stay.