73. Natural Barrier (Part 1)
◎The matter of locking away spirits...? ◎
However, just as she was about to step out of the academy's main gate, a clear voice rang out from behind her, carrying a hint of laziness.
"You just left like that?"
Ran Qinghe turned around and saw Hua Jin standing not far away, a smile on his lips.
He strolled over and said, "How could you so easily refuse the offers from various sects? Wouldn't that be a waste of the title of leader?"
Ran Qinghe didn't stop walking, but asked distantly, "Is there something you need?"
Hua Jin chuckled softly, walking beside her while maintaining a perfectly appropriate distance:
"I just saw that you, Qinghe, refused the recruitment of the five sects, so I thought I'd give it a try."
Ran Qinghe raised an eyebrow: "Is it an invitation to join with a Heavenly Rank spirit beast?"
Hua Jin's smile widened: "That disciple from Fei Feng did exaggerate, but joining Fei Feng might be able to solve your urgent problem, Qing He."
Ran Qinghe frowned slightly and looked at him: "What does this mean?"
"Let's not beat around the bush," Hua Jin said, his smile fading slightly as he looked directly at her.
"I know that you have an indelible grudge with the Qingxiao Sect, especially Sect Leader Qianzhong. Moreover, the great test is over, and disciples can decide for themselves whether to stay or leave. Qinghe, do you think Sect Leader Qianzhong would easily let you leave and escape his control?"
"Although I do not know the details, I can promise the protection of the Crimson Maple Sect, in the capacity of... the young sect master of the Crimson Maple Sect."
Ran Qinghe's heart skipped a beat. Although she knew his identity long ago, she did not expect him to speak so bluntly.
But she still refused outright, saying, "This is my business, no need for you to worry about it."
Every action has its purpose. In the end, her relationship with Hua Jin was only that of classmates for a year, so he really didn't need to do anything unnecessary for her.
But Hua Jin continued to persuade her, "If you, Qinghe, only want to be a rogue cultivator, then naturally I don't need to worry about you. But on the path of cultivation, resources and spiritual treasures are indispensable. Rogue cultivators face many difficulties and are more easily wiped out by certain forces... without a sound."
"Among the five sects, Qingxiao is the most powerful, with Xuanshui, Foshou, and Baixu having intricate relationships with it. Only Feifeng, located in the southern border, has no prior connection with Qingxiao in the central region, yet it has enough confidence and ability to protect those it wants to protect."
He paused, observing Ran Qinghe's expression, and continued to offer his bargaining chips: "Qinghe, you are exceptionally talented and have a free and easy spirit, which is exactly in line with my Feifeng Dao. If you join my sect, I can guarantee in the name of the young sect leader that resources will be allocated to you without hesitation."
"Of course, you don't need to agree immediately. You can think about it for a few days and then reply to me."
After saying a lot of serious things, he suddenly put his hands behind his head and slowly teased, "Of course, besides being an inner disciple, Qinghe, if you want to have any other identity... that's fine too."
Ran Qinghe failed to grasp his implied meaning, and only thought to herself.
She did need to leave the academy, but with her current strength, she was neither able to ascertain Ye Buchen's alleged betrayal of the sect, nor could she deal with Qian Zhong. The Southern Frontier was far away, and even Qingxiao couldn't extend its reach that far. Right now, it seemed to be her best option.
Seeing her silence, as if she were pondering, Hua Jin wisely refrained from saying anything more, and simply handed her a maple leaf-shaped jade talisman: "Use this to send a message. I await your news."
After saying that, he stepped aside to make way for her, waved goodbye, and left Ran Qinghe standing alone, staring at the jade talisman in her palm.
However, just as Ran Qinghe put the jade talisman into her storage bag, a powerful pressure descended without warning, like an invisible shackle, firmly locking down the small world in front of her.
Ahead, Qian Zhong's figure slowly emerged, his face solemn and his voice devoid of any emotion.
"Ran Qinghe, come back to Qingxiao with me."
This is not a question, but a command.
Ran Qinghe's heart sank; the worst had happened. She forcibly circulated her spiritual power, but the difference in their cultivation levels was so vast that even resistance seemed insignificant.
"Sect Leader Qian, the academy's final exams are over. I am free to leave or stay, and I have no need to obey Qingxiao's orders."
Qian Zhong snorted coldly: "Heh. Qingxiao is not a place you can come and go as you please. You destroyed the Qingxiao spiritual vein and then stole the Mirror of Past Life. Since the Discipline Hall can't do anything to you, you will be sent to the Qingxiao Water Prison for a minor punishment."
Before he finished speaking, he took a step forward, shrinking the distance to an inch in an instant, and grabbed Ran Qinghe's shoulder with one hand.
Ran Qinghe's pupils shrank sharply, and she used her spiritual power to dodge. Even though she knew it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, she would never surrender.
At this critical moment, "Sect Leader Qian..."
A clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out, and Qianzhong's hand froze. The oppressive force that had almost crushed her also eased for a brief moment.
Ran Qinghe felt a lightness in her body and immediately took several steps back, panting heavily, and looked up.
Lou Tinglan appeared behind Qian Zhong at some point, and the Tranquil Heart Sword was pointed directly at the back of Qian Zhong's neck.
Qian Zhong slowly withdrew his hand, turned to Lou Tinglan, his face so dark it could drip water, and the tip of the Tranquil Heart Sword pointed at Qian Zhong's brow.
"Tinglan, for her sake, you actually resorted to such a despicable act of sneak attack. Is this how you use the Azure Sky Sword Technique?"
Lou Tinglan slowly walked from behind him to in front of Ran Qinghe, completely shielding her, a gesture of utter protection.
"I dare not," Lou Tinglan said, her eyes fixed on him. "I just want to remind Headmaster Qian that this is Yunya Academy. Since Ran Qinghe has passed the academy's grand examination, she remains an academy disciple until she is officially removed from the academy's roster. As the head of the Discipline Hall, it is my duty to protect the disciples within the academy."
Qian Zhong was even more furious: "For an outsider who destroyed the spiritual veins and stole the sect's treasures, you have repeatedly defied me?"
Lou Tinglan lowered her eyelids slightly, then raised them again, her gaze calm: "These are the rules of the academy, and I am merely acting in accordance with them. As for the grudges between Qingxiao Sect and Ran Qinghe, Sect Leader Qian should be aware of whether it is just an excuse."
"Following the rules, huh!" Qian Zhong sneered, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "I think you've been bewitched by her!"
Lou Tinglan seemed not to hear the rebuke, and continued, "Moreover, if Sect Leader Qian wants to take forceful action, he probably needs to weigh the pros and cons."
Qian Zhong narrowed his eyes: "What do you intend to do?"
Lou Tinglan met his gaze: "The vengeful spirit in the Tower Prison is not entirely without mind. Over the past year, I have pieced together most of the truth from back then, such as... the matter of locking the spirit."
Qian Zhong's aura suddenly froze, the surrounding spiritual pressure grew even heavier, and his voice was squeezed out from between his teeth: "What did you say?"
Lou Tinglan spoke clearly and deliberately: "The events of that year have been fully revealed by the vengeful spirit. If Sect Leader Qian doesn't mind, I can send the photograph that Fei Yan recorded to the desks of the other four sect leaders."
"Lou Tinglan!" Qian Zhong roared in fury, his oppressive aura spreading out uncontrollably, causing the surrounding ground to tremble slightly. His question, filled with shock and anger, echoed in front of the silent doorway.
"You dare threaten your grandfather for the sake of an outsider?!"
Despite Qian Zhong's fury, Lou Tinglan remained unmoved, only her hands clenched tighter in her sleeves.
He silently recalled the Tranquil Sword that had been hovering between Qian Zhong's brows. "Please, Sect Leader Qian, reconsider."
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a communication talisman suddenly flew in from behind him. Qian Zhong impatiently waved his sleeve, scanned the contents of the talisman with his divine sense, and his expression instantly became even more unpleasant.
The message came from Elder Qingxiao and was concise and to the point.
A disturbance has occurred in the Mortal Valley at the foot of Qingxiao Peak. Those cultivators who have not even reached the Foundation Establishment stage have gathered together and launched a surprise attack on the Qingxiao disciples responsible for transporting the immortal ships at the foot of Qingxiao Mountain. They have seized three immortal ships and are heading straight for the outer gate of the Qingxiao Sect. The situation is urgent, and we request the sect leader to return immediately to make a decision.
The cultivators' rebellion and the attempt to seize the immortal ship is a blatant slap in the face to the Qingxiao Sect!
Qian Zhong gave Lou Tinglan a deep look, his gaze filled with complex emotions, including anger, disappointment, and even more so, apprehension.
"Fine, very well!" Qian Zhong was still furious, but he had no choice but to leave temporarily.
Qian Zhong's figure flickered and disappeared from the spot in an instant, and the powerful pressure that enveloped the surroundings also dissipated.
The brief tranquility in front of the academy gate was restored, leaving only two figures standing one in front of the other.
"Thank you." Ran Qinghe said softly. Regardless of Lou Tinglan's purpose, he had indeed saved her once again.
"And... I'm sorry."
This apology was to repay him for showing her leniency on the day of his important exam.
Lou Tinglan slowly turned around. In the sunlight, his face seemed even paler than usual, and his cold eyes looked at her, his emotions unreadable.
“No need.” His calm voice carried a hint of hoarseness. “I’ve said it before, this is the chief’s responsibility.”
Ran Qinghe knew that whether it was the previous major exam or his threat to Qianzhong about the vengeful spirits in the Tower Prison, it had far exceeded the scope of "responsibility".
"Regarding the matter of locking the spirit..." Ran Qinghe hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question.
Lou Tinglan's gaze darkened. He looked away and said calmly, "I don't know either. I was just testing the waters, but I didn't expect it to be so closely related to what happened back then."
“However, this matter is none of your concern.” His expression remained indifferent.
"Unrelated? If it really has nothing to do with me, why are you using this to threaten Qianzhong? Lou Tinglan, I'm not stupid." Her heart tightened inexplicably.
Lou Tinglan: "Knowing too much won't do you any good. Qianzhong... is not someone you can shake on your own."
"So, I'm supposed to be confused and either be protected by you, recruited by Hua Jin, or... captured by Qian Zhong and locked in the water dungeon?"
Ran Qinghe's tone was mocking, but her eyes were filled with stubbornness. "Lou Tinglan, I don't need anyone to decide for me what I should know and what I shouldn't know. I have the right to know the truth... especially since what happened back then might even be related to Ye Buchen."
Lou Tinglan was silent for a moment, then changed the subject when she spoke again, her voice carrying a heavy restraint: "The Crimson Maple Sect is a good choice."
So he knew everything—his predicament, his choices—yet he still chose to push her away.
Ran Qinghe stared at Lou Tinglan's empty brow and suddenly chuckled. Instead of backing away, she took a step forward, almost bumping into his arms.
"Lou Tinglan," she said, raising her hand to press against his chest, and a wisp of pure spiritual energy silently flowed over him.
"Since you're unwilling to talk about it, I'm not willing to force you."
Lou Tinglan stiffened slightly, trying to avoid it but was firmly held down by her.
“But Feifeng Road is far away. If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime.” She slowly withdrew her hand, turned and walked towards the academy gate, her voice carried clearly on the wind.
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