67 Breaking Through the Realm (Part 5)
◎Ye Buchen has disappeared...◎
The last two words are not a question, but a statement of certainty.
Shui Rong'er's pupils involuntarily contracted. Although she still tried to remain calm on her face, her body stiffened for a moment, which said it all.
"Absurd!" Shui Rong'er suddenly stood up, her sleeve flipping over the teacup on the table, spilling tea that dripped along the edge of the table with a pitter-patter sound.
"Why should I suffer a backlash? What nonsense are you spouting without any evidence?"
The spilled tea on the table reflected Shui Rong'er's slightly swaying image. She stared at the puddle, as if she could see some answer in it, her lips pressed together until they turned white.
Ran Qinghe also stood up and looked at her, "Why is Fu Ji suddenly cultivating so desperately, determined to win the competition? Is this really none of your business?"
Shui Rong'er's face paled even more. "How should I know? What's gotten into him all of a sudden?" she said angrily. "I don't want to talk to you anymore... I'm going back..."
After saying that, she stopped looking at Ran Qinghe, almost staggered as she turned around and fled the place in a panic, leaving behind only a mess and a room full of silence.
After that night, Ran Qinghe and Shui Rong'er fell into a subtle cold war.
Shui Rong'er no longer came to Ran Qinghe's residence. Even if they met in the academy's lecture hall or other places, she would quickly avoid his sight or simply pretend not to see him.
Ran Qinghe knew that if Shui Rong'er insisted on hiding it, there would be no use in asking. So she had to suppress her doubts for the time being, but she secretly paid more attention.
At the same time, she visited the Valley of Mortals more and more frequently, as if the gloom in her heart would temporarily disappear in that simple but warm courtyard.
After several visits, she gradually noticed some differences. Although the courtyard was still simple, some subtle changes had occurred. The broken swing rope had been repaired more securely, and the books piled up in the corner were much neater.
What puzzled her most was that once, when she was instructing a rather insightful little boy on how to cultivate inner energy, she discovered that what he was holding was not the introductory cultivation method she had previously borrowed from the library, but a book titled "Detailed Explanation of Spiritual Techniques" with clear handwriting and detailed annotations. The annotations were written in a sharp and incisive style, definitely not the casual and sloppy style of Ye Buchen.
"Did Ye Buchen give it to you?" Ran Qinghe asked, seemingly casually.
The little boy shook his head, holding the book like a precious treasure, then nodded: "Master said it 'fell from the sky,' and he suddenly found it in the basket where we put odds and ends."
Ran Qinghe: ...
Ran Qinghe took the book and carefully flipped through it. The pages had a very faint scent of ink, and the annotations seemed to have just been added. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
She couldn't help but recall the enigmatic look in Lou Tinglan's eyes when he left that day, and the slight furrow in his brow when he mentioned her "stagnant cultivation"...
This guess was confirmed in the days that followed. Not only did she find more classic texts suitable for beginners in the corner of the pile of books, but she also found some high-quality blank talisman paper and cinnabar.
"Old man Ye," she found a moment to walk over to Ye Buchen, who was dozing off in a bamboo chair, "How come I didn't know that this book could fall from the sky and just happen to land in your little shabby courtyard?"
Ye Buchen lifted his eyelids, a knowing glint in his cloudy eyes. He chuckled twice, a hint of mischief in his voice: "What? Did a windfall make you uneasy?"
Ran Qinghe didn't respond to his question, but instead pointed out, "Lou Tinglan... he came again, didn't he?"
Ye Buchen stretched, sat up, picked up the broken teapot next to him, took a sip, and then slowly said, "That kid is scheming but thin-skinned. He came a few times, but always left some things and left when you weren't around, without saying a word."
He glanced at Ran Qinghe meaningfully: "If it weren't for someone, and his concern that someone might neglect their cultivation, even a high and mighty immortal lord would probably not have set foot in my little courtyard."
The taut string in Ran Qinghe's heart seemed to be gently plucked.
Regardless of Lou Tinglan's actions or intentions, she temporarily suppressed all her chaotic thoughts. The most important thing right now was the upcoming academy exam.
She was determined to get the Breakthrough Pill.
She began to visit Mortal Valley less often. Firstly, Ye Buchen was looking after Mortal Valley, and secondly, she had previously secretly intimidated Wei Lin, so he dared not do anything excessive.
She devoted most of her time to cultivation and studying magic. The academy's annual grand examinations always involved cultivators drawing lots to determine their opponents. The two opponents would be suppressed to the same realm, and regardless of the method—swordplay, talisman techniques, etc.—the winner would advance to the next round.
This process continues until a final candidate is chosen.
Ran Qinghe was already exceptionally talented and possessed a natural spiritual body. Once she calmed down, her progress was astonishing. Her realm, which had been stagnant due to deliberate restraint, began to surge with spiritual energy in the quiet room where no one could detect it, constantly impacting the invisible barrier in her sea of consciousness.
However, as the big exam drew closer, a strange sense of unease and anxiety quietly crept in.
At first, she thought it was due to the intense training, so she deliberately slowed down the pace and focused her mind. However, the unease did not dissipate; instead, it reached its peak on the evening of the day before the exam.
As dusk settled outside the window, Yunya Academy was enveloped in a tranquil glow. The disciples were either preparing for battle or calmly adjusting their breathing, creating a scene of calm before an impending storm.
Ran Qinghe, however, was restless, her heart inexplicably pounding with anxiety. With a flash, she headed towards the direction of the Valley of Mortals.
The courtyard was empty, with only the swing swaying in the evening breeze, making a soft creaking sound, adding to the loneliness. The bamboo chair where Ye Buchen often lay was also left alone to the side.
"Old Man Ye?"
Ran Qinghe called out, but no one answered.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly walked towards Ye Buchen's simple house. The door was ajar, and it was pitch black inside.
She pushed open the door and entered, a wisp of spiritual energy gathering at her fingertips, illuminating the small space.
The room was empty, with only a few unfinished wooden toys scattered on the floor, as if the owner had knocked them over in a hurry to leave.
Ye Buchen... has disappeared?
A chill ran through him. Although Ye Buchen was slovenly and carefree, he would never leave without saying goodbye. Moreover, according to him, he had hardly ever stepped out of the Valley of Mortals in his life, so how could he suddenly disappear?
She forced herself to calm down and carefully examined the traces in the room. There were no fluctuations of spiritual energy from a fight, nor any obvious signs of an intrusion. Everything seemed extremely natural, as if Ye Buchen had simply knocked something over when he got up and then disappeared.
She rushed out of the house and found Little Bell's home. Little Bell, who had been woken up, rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at her blankly.
"Sister Qinghe, Master said he has to go on a long trip for a while..." she said, then leaned close to Ran Qinghe's ear and whispered, "Master gave us a lot of spiritual medicines and told us not to tell anyone, and to cultivate diligently..."
When did he say that, and did he say where he was going?
Little Bell shook her head: "Master was here yesterday, but we couldn't find him when we went back today..."
Ran Qinghe's heart grew heavier and heavier. She immediately released her spiritual sense throughout the entire Mortal Valley, almost sweeping over every inch of land and every corner.
Even under the old trees where Ye Buchen often slacked off and dozed off, no trace could be found. He left her no words, no information about his whereabouts; he simply vanished into thin air.
Time flew by anxiously as they searched. Night faded, and the sky began to lighten with the first light of dawn. The time for the academy's grand exam drew ever closer.
Ran Qinghe stood in the center of the empty courtyard, struggling with her emotions.
Ye Buchen's disappearance was no accident, and she could not ignore it. However, once she missed the major exam, she would lose the Breakthrough Pill, and everything she had done before would be for naught.
Ultimately, her concern for Ye Buchen's safety overwhelmed everything else. She gritted her teeth and decided to stop limiting herself to the Valley of Mortals and search further afield.
At this moment, the martial arts arena of Yunya Academy was bustling with activity. The academy's grand examination was a major event, and almost all the disciples would be there to watch.
The bell is about to ring. The disciples participating in the competition must gather in a designated area and wait for the draw.
Lou Tinglan stood quietly among the contestants, dressed in a cloud-white, wide-sleeved robe. His face was stern, and his gaze calmly swept across the entire arena, as if searching for something, but he quickly looked away, revealing no emotion.
His appearance alone had already caused quite a stir, as this was the first time the chief disciple of the Discipline Hall had participated in the Grand Competition.
No one knew that his purpose in participating in the competition was not for the empty title or reward of the champion. His gaze swept across the crowd several times, but he never saw the familiar figure he had imagined.
He knew that Ran Qinghe was determined to obtain the Breakthrough Pill, and he also knew that Fu Ji's strength was not to be underestimated, and that he was even determined to fight to the death. So, he came.
Time passed slowly, and the Second Elder Lou Guan, standing in the center of the training ground, frowned slightly and began to call out names.
One by one, names were called out, and the disciples responded in turn.
"Ran Qinghe".
The square was silent; no one answered.
After scanning the entire room, Lou Guan repeated, "Is Ran Qinghe here?"
Still no one answered.
A low murmur arose from the surroundings.
"In previous years, some people have also deserted at the last minute during the major exams. I suppose Ran Qinghe doesn't want to lose face..."
"Not necessarily. I've heard that Ran Qinghe's cultivation level is quite high."
Lou Tinglan tightened her grip on the hand hidden in her sleeve. She would never give up the Breakthrough Pill so easily, unless... something unexpected happened?
Lou Guan waited a moment, and seeing that no one answered, he was about to cross her name off the list of candidates for the grand examination. According to the rules, those who did not arrive before the bell rang were considered to have forfeited their eligibility to participate.
Just as the pen was about to fall, "Disciple Ran Qinghe is here!"
A slightly hurried, clear voice rang out, and Ran Qinghe rushed over, landing behind the gathered crowd.
Her gaze swept quickly across the participating disciples, and when she saw that unexpected figure, she even forgot to hide the surprise in her eyes.
Lou Tinglan was also looking at her. In the instant their eyes met, he clearly caught the weariness and unease hidden beneath her astonishment.
Lou Tinglan knew that something must have happened to her to make her look like this.
Ran Qinghe temporarily suppressed the turmoil in her heart caused by her fruitless search for Ye Buchen and bowed in the direction of Lou Guan.
"Thump—"
Just then, the melodious and resounding bell rang through the sky, announcing the official start of the major exam.
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