Chapter 57 Accomplices (Bonus Chapter at 13,000 words)
Yu Sui was originally waiting for Gu Gan to tell her that Mei Liangyu had discovered it, but there was no news by the afternoon. She tried to probe several times, but Gu Gan avoided the topic.
It seems he wanted to test Mei Liangyu's attitude first.
But Mei Liangyu didn't mention this matter.
Yu Sui stopped caring and let the two fight it out themselves, while she happily took Li Jinshuang to the outer city to buy new clothes.
Blackbeard arrived at the perfect time, neither too early nor too late, and waited outside the gates of Taiyi Academy.
The academy gate is a thick, high black wall with the four large characters "Taiyi Academy" on both the inside and outside. The black wall is as smooth and round as jade, and the color is very rich. At first glance, it feels gentle and pleasant. It has four wide entrances and exits, which together are more than a hundred meters long.
Each entrance and exit has a road leading to the outer city, but the roads all go in different directions and pass through different scenery.
Every day, many disciples and instructors come and go from the academy. Many disciples like to go to the outer city to play, or because of cultivation and trials, many people frequently travel between the academy and the surrounding islands.
Yu Sui and others waited at the first entrance of the academy. There were already quite a few people around. She leaned against the stone wall and looked down at the Wind Listening Ruler. After she sent the message, Li Jinshuang obviously went through a mental struggle before replying to her after a long time: "We've arrived."
However, it's always good to have the determination to make changes.
I'm afraid Li Jinshuang will just give up and live her life aimlessly, following her grandmother's orders.
Yu Sui was drawn to Li Jinshuang's unique sword spirit, a sword spirit with self-awareness that could argue with its master and actively help its master—a truly rare find.
Not to mention, it possesses immense power, a strength that even Li Jinshuang, at the fifth realm, cannot control or fully unleash.
As expected of a former military genius, Li Jinshuang has inherited the family's talents perfectly.
Yu Sui couldn't help but think of Zhongli Que.
Despite being suppressed by several generations of Qingyang Emperors, the Zhongli family's descendants have consistently maintained outstanding talent, leaving other families far behind.
The Zhongli family was originally in dire straits and was considered a thorn in the side. The late emperor originally intended to completely eliminate them and support a new power, but who knew that a Zhongli Ci would emerge that year.
With a talent surpassing that of any of his ancestors, he was hailed as a war god in his youth, achieving remarkable military exploits. The vassal states in Qingyang, harboring disloyalty and plotting rebellion, were all wary of Zhongli Ci, or the first step in their rebellion plans was to suppress Zhongli Ci's power.
The late emperor died with resentment, and the Zhongli family, under the leadership of Zhongli Ci, was revived. On the surface, they still seemed stable and safe, but the current Qingyang Emperor felt that the Zhongli family was the most dangerous.
Because he couldn't see through the current General Zhongli Ci, and even felt that after experiencing the family upheaval and the late emperor's suppression of the Zhongli family, he was no longer loyal to the Qingyang royal family and had rebellious intentions.
Zhong Li Ci's power also made everyone more cautious about the children of the Zhong Li family.
If the women of the Zhongli family were to learn the Nine Schools of Arts, the family would truly be completely out of control and without any weaknesses. In that case, the first person the Zhongli family would turn against would be the current emperor.
Zhong Lique once complained to Yu Sui that although she was not allowed to learn the family's swordsmanship, her father always made her watch whenever he taught her older brother.
The little girl said sadly, "If you're not allowed to learn, why do I have to watch over you?"
It was from that time that Yu Sui realized that General Zhongli Ci did not seem to want to restrict his children from learning the Nine Schools of Arts.
Perhaps Zhongli Ci was trying to teach Zhongli Que the family's traditional swordsmanship in another way, as he believed in his children's talent.
Yu Sui told Zhong Li Que to take a good look, and she expressed her guess: "Perhaps your father did not refuse to let you learn. When he taught your brother the sword techniques, key points, and movement methods, he was also telling you."
Zhong Lique later confirmed that Yu Sui was right.
After his elder brother went to Taiyi, his father had no one to teach him. He would occasionally practice his swordsmanship on his own, and Zhongli Que would carefully hang on the wall to watch him, year after year, and his father never discovered him even once.
However, it was impossible for Zhongli Ci, whose strength at the thirteenth realm was comparable to that of a saint, not to have noticed it.
Yu Sui couldn't help but ponder. Because of Zhong Li Ci, Qingyang Emperor was constantly moving closer to Nangong Ming. The two had the same goal: to rely on Zhong Li Ci to resolve the internal strife among the feudal lords, and to guard against him breaking through to sainthood. If Zhong Li Ci broke through to sainthood, then Nangong Ming would not be as at ease facing him as he was now.
As for Nangong Ming, Yu Sui had a bad feeling.
As the strongest force on the Tonggu Continent, the Saints cannot bypass the "Oath of No War" to attack other countries, but the Thirteen Realms can.
Perhaps Nangong Ming did not break through to sainthood in order to travel to various countries and achieve his goals, not because he was incapable of doing so.
If Zhongli Ci becomes a saint, Nangong Ming will have to break through his own realm in order to continue to restrain him.
In the capital city today, General Zhongli's mansion is the safest place, because once the armored formation placed in the mansion is activated, its range will cover the entire Qingyang capital city.
However, while this armored formation protecting the Zhongli family is powerful, it will also involve other ordinary people in the capital. If Zhongli Ci really does this, then others will have a legitimate reason to kill him.
For a master, the Heavenly Secrets Technique and the Asura Eye will allow them to see through military formations in the blink of an eye; it's only a matter of time.
Either kill everyone before the battle formation is broken, or use this time to retreat.
This is the choice Zhong Lijia made afterward.
Aside from the military formation, the Zhongli family's swordsmanship is also restricted by the "Asura Eye," so Zhongli Shan came to Taiyi to find a way to break the Asura Eye.
Yu Sui believed that Zhong Lishan was like her, with little time left.
This strangely similar situation gave her a sense of comfort, reminding her that she wasn't the only one struggling to shake off the threat chasing her. This unexpected turn of events offered her a strange sense of solace.
As a powerful military family, the Li family of Nan Jing Kingdom also had to consider their future.
If Li Jinshuang were to follow her grandmother's advice and seek revenge, given the Li family's current strength—with only Li Jinshuang holding the fort—it wouldn't be revenge, but rather a suicide mission.
Li Jinshuang probably knew this too, so all she could think about was protecting the remaining members of the Li family who were still alive.
However, her sword spirit is unstable, so it cannot even do something like protection.
When Yu Sui saw that Li Jinshuang hadn't arrived yet, she started playing with the Wind Listening Ruler. She told Zhong Lique about taking Li Jinshuang to the outer city to buy clothes, but Zhong Lique hadn't replied yet. Then she remembered that today was Madam Sun's birthday, and Zhong Lique was probably still busy.
When a disciple went out, he saw Yu Sui and greeted her. Yu Sui looked up, smiled, and responded. The group chatted together.
Yu Sui caught a glimpse of Wei Ren walking towards them from a distance. His goal was clear: to reach Yu Sui. However, he was stopped midway.
The two disciples blocking Wei Ren's way stood in front of and behind him, and they didn't seem very friendly; it looked more like they were holding him hostage.
Wei Ren remained calm, glanced at Yu Sui standing at the entrance, and then followed the two disciples away.
They happened to be coming from the entrance on Yu Sui's side, but Wei Ren didn't even glance at her or speak to her. Yu Sui had never seen the two disciples following Wei Ren before, but she sensed something was wrong. So she flicked a Five Elements Light Core from her fingertip and followed the three of them.
Not long after Wei Ren left, Li Jinshuang arrived.
She still looked conflicted, as if she might run away at any moment. After Yu Sui grabbed her hand and led her onto the carriage, he told Blackbeard to rush to the outer city as quickly as possible to prevent Li Jinshuang from changing her mind and running away halfway.
In the car, Yu Sui said to Li Jinshuang earnestly, "It's just changing clothes. It's perfectly normal for a girl to wear women's clothes. You've been wearing men's clothes for over ten years, so what's wrong with wearing women's clothes again?"
Li Jinshuang is tongue-tied; she's not as eloquent as Li Jinshuang. When she gets stuck, her emotions get stuck in her chest, making her feel sullen.
Yu Sui then said, "Repeat after me, I am a girl."
Li Jinshuang looked up at her, and Yu Sui was also looking at her intently.
“...It’s very difficult,” Li Jinshuang said in a trembling voice.
Yu Sui said, "Okay, it's hard to get over the psychological hurdle of having you say that on the first day, but whether it's spoken or written, you have to make a statement, a statement to yourself."
"Since you still can't say it out loud, then send me a message."
Li Jinshuang's hand holding the wind-listening ruler was trembling.
Yu Sui looked at her calmly. It was something that should have been easy, but for her, it was incredibly difficult.
There will always be people like that in the world.
The moment Li Jinshuang admitted it, she also denied her past of more than ten years.
It negates her perseverance every year, the suffering she endured every day, and the self-comfort she made every moment to keep going and bear it.
Li Jinshuang gently tapped the crossword grid, her well-defined fingers pausing for a while before finally moving again.
Outside the car window, the glowing lights of the night and the sea flashed by. In the distance, clusters of islands shone with countless lights like stars. Birds flew past the window, their wings beating as if teasing little girls, but it made Li Jinshuang's heart throb.
Yu Sui received a message from Li Jinshuang: "I am a woman."
She rested her knee on one hand against the car window, propped her head up, and looked at Li Jinshuang, saying, "I don't like wearing men's clothes."
Li Jinshuang pursed her lips, moved her fingers, and slowly uttered the words: "I don't like wearing men's clothes."
Yu Sui said, "I am a woman."
Li Jinshuang began to send the message a second time with difficulty: "I am a woman."
Yu Sui: "I can protect the Li family."
Li Jinshuang's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly looked up at her. In a daze, some of the shame and embarrassment dissipated, and Li Jinshuang also felt that the gentle and lovely Princess Qingyang was actually quite strict.
She tapped on the crossword puzzle, calmed her emotions, and sent it to Yu Sui: "I can protect the Li family."
Yu Sui waved the communication interface of the Wind Listening Ruler at Li Jinshuang and said with a smile, "Remember to send it once a day from now on."
"Send it until you can say it out loud."
For eighteen years, Li Jinshuang's grandmother told her, "You are a man," and "You must become a man as strong as your grandfather and father."
But Li Jinshuang has a long life ahead of her, and for countless eighteen-year periods to come, all she needs to do is speak the truth and listen to the truth.
Even after nightfall, the outer city remains bustling with people coming and going. This is because the island is mostly inhabited by sorcerers of low social standing, but they also cater to a small number of ordinary sorcerers. The buildings are all bizarre and towering, with long corridors that overlap three or four times, encircling the outer city and connecting different places.
The Taiyi Kingdom is as vast as the seventh kingdom of the Xuangu Continent.
The outer city alone is comparable to two Qingyang imperial capitals.
All the rules and order here are established and maintained by the twenty-four sages of Taiyi.
Blackbeard led the way, taking the two up the long, red corridor to a shopping mall that was also located at a high place.
This area is all owned by the Nangong family. Although there are countless royals, nobles and aristocratic families from various countries, and most of the students who come to Taiyi Academy have some status and background, and come from wealthy families and are never short of money, there are not many who can have stable businesses in the outer city of Taiyi.
Li Jinshuang never went out to buy clothes; her clothes were always prepared by others and delivered directly to her house.
Not to mention coming to a place that specializes in making gold and silver jewelry, gorgeous clothes and skirts for women; she would be afraid to even glance at such a place on the street normally.
Yu Sui led her into the house with practiced ease. The clothes rack was filled with beautiful dresses that Li Jinshuang dared not look at. Her averted gaze happened to fall on the rows of gold hairpins, jade hairpins, tassels, jade pendants, earrings, and other exquisite items on the table, which made her feel affectionate and want to possess them.
Li Jinshuang stood in the room, feeling more lost than ever before. No matter where she looked, all she saw were gorgeous dresses and exquisite jewelry, and the air was filled with the soft and elegant fragrance of women.
The maids skillfully and sweetly recommended different styles of dresses to her.
Yu Sui asked her, "Do you have someone you like?"
Li Jinshuang couldn't answer; she didn't even dare to look at him.
Yu Sui sighed, tiptoed, and gently cupped Li Jinshuang's face, forcing her to look up: "Do you like these clothes, or do you hate them?"
Li Jinshuang's neck was extremely stiff. Her lips moved slightly, and she answered softly, "...I don't dislike it."
"It's good that you don't dislike it." Yu Sui nodded with a smile. "Li Jinshuang, this is just an ordinary little thing. If you don't even dare to do something this small, then don't talk about subduing the sword spirit or protecting your family."
Li Jinshuang once again felt Yu Sui's sternness.
Although she smiled slightly and spoke softly, that undeniable pressure was only directed at her.
Li Jinshuang inwardly scolded herself, "You were the one who sought her help, and she gave you a solution. Why were you so timid? No one else would have helped you like that."
“Go remove your makeup and we’ll redo it,” Yu Sui said.
Li Jinshuang did as she was told, and followed the maids to wash up and let her hair down. The maids, following Yu Sui's instructions, spoke to Li Jinshuang in a gentle and soft voice. As the deliberately masculine makeup on her face was removed, her long, dark hair was let down and quietly draped over her shoulders.
The maids came and went around Li Jinshuang. Yu Sui said, "Take her to change into this outfit."
Out of the corner of Li Jinshuang's eye, she saw Yu Sui's slender fingers pointing at the cross-collar light purple dress on the clothes rack. The colors were gradient and layered, and the fabric looked very soft. The outer garment was covered with embroidered flowers. Li Jinshuang didn't know what kind of flowers they were, but she felt that they were elegant and noble, yet also exuded a gentle feeling.
The dress was so beautiful that she was momentarily stunned.
Yu Sui smiled and watched as Li Jinshuang was led into the changing room by a maid.
Li Jinshuang said stiffly, "I'm alone too..."
Yu Sui shook her head: "You can't do it by yourself. After you've tried on dozens of sets, I'll barely believe you can wear them by yourself."
Li Jinshuang, who was trying to be tough, shut up.
The maids chuckled, lowered the curtain, and helped Li Jinshuang change her clothes.
Yu Sui walked to the table to pick out jewelry for Li Jinshuang, and also to check on Wei Ren's situation.
The two disciples who took him away didn't seem to be simply looking down on Wei Ren and taking revenge while he was destroying his cultivation; rather, they knew each other.
More like a partner of the farmers.
The two disciples who attacked from both sides were clearly forcibly taking Wei Ren away from the academy.
When Yu Sui saw Wei Ren through the Five Elements Light Core, he found him in an empty alley, so quiet that even the chirping of insects could not be heard. Led by two companions, Wei Ren walked towards a small house at the end of the alley without any lights.
One of his companions pushed open the door. It was pitch black inside. Wei Ren went in alone, while his two companions closed the door and stood guard outside.
Wei Ren stood still, not moving forward. His expression was indifferent, and his head was slightly lowered. The darkness and silence in the room brought a silent oppression, which would cause people to have many unfounded associations, thus exerting psychological pressure.
As if they felt they had had enough time, a deep male voice slowly asked, "Tell me, how did Lu Haiye die?"
[Author's Note]
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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