Many of her memories had already blurred.
She only remembered that after that, Fourth Junior Brother became even more clingy and obedient, as if he was terrified she would slip away to play by herself again and leave him behind.
He also seemed to have learned some healing skills from Eldest Senior Brother. Every time she returned from sparring, hunting demons, or fighting outside, he would immediately spot her wounds and chase her down to treat them.
When Song Yao woke up, she stared at the ceiling, finding it difficult to connect the Fourth Junior Brother of her memories with the current Xie Zhou.
Wait.
The ceiling?
How did she end up in bed?
Her shoes were neatly placed to the side, and the book she had just opened to the first page was still spread out on the table.
Assuming she had just tumbled onto the bed in her drowsy state, she didn't think much of it. She climbed out of bed, let out a yawn, and went outside to feed the chicks, ducklings, and fish.
The moment she stepped out of the room, she saw Xie Zhou sitting in the courtyard drawing talismans.
He wore a plain, moon-white robe, his dark hair bound with a simple jade hairpin. A few stray strands fell across his forehead, making his features look gentle and elegant.
Unfortunately, there was no warmth in his eyes, only detachment and coldness.
Song Yao was just about to open her mouth to greet him when she caught sight of two paper effigies carrying sweeping tools out of the corner of her eye. She shivered in fright once more, instantly waking up completely.
They had no faces, their skin was made of paper and was frighteningly pale, and they wore coarse linen tunics as they worked in a rigid, mechanical manner. How did they look even creepier than demons?
Song Yao walked over, crossing her arms to stare at them a bit longer, trying to get used to them. Unfortunately, she failed. Turning around, she sought Fourth Senior Brother's permission. “Fourth Senior Brother, can I draw eyes on them?”
Without even raising his head, Xie Zhou replied coldly, “Since you are living in this courtyard, you do not need to ask my permission for anything you do.”
Song Yao: “...”
Seriously?
What was this kid posing for?
Did he think he looked cool?
Since she didn't dare to complain to his face right now, she merely lifted her chin and walked out of the courtyard even more arrogantly than him to look for drawing tools.
Behind her, Xie Zhou's hand holding the brush paused. His gaze fell on her retreating figure, his expression dark and unreadable.
A wisp of black energy silently wrapped around his fingertips.
The half-drawn talisman paper was contaminated by the black energy, wrinkling slightly as a blurry black stain bled across it.
He curled his lips into a mocking sneer.
Now she actually consulted him on everything.
Back then, why had she been too impatient to listen to even a single word he said? She had abandoned him without a second thought, showing not the slightest hint of reluctance.
What did he even mean to her?
...
Song Yao had run out to look for makeup, but before she could find any, she was caught by Cheng Yue, who had specifically come looking for her. Cheng Yue dragged her straight to the outer yard to attend class.
Slouching dejectedly in a corner, she glanced up at the Teaching Elder and said with a long face, “I thought personal disciples didn't have to attend classes?”
“Not anymore,” Ning Zhou said, sitting beside her. “I heard they're afraid of another Third Senior Sister appearing. The more talented a disciple is, the more they need to study moral principles so they don't stray from the righteous path.”
Song Yao: “...”
She was already dead, so why was she still being tortured by her past self?
Ning Zhou reminded her, “Besides, you just took first place, so the sect highly values you. They said you can skip other classes, but you absolutely must attend the Teaching Elder's lectures.”
“Also, there's an exam in a few days. If you fail, you have to keep retaking this course.”
Song Yao: “...Wow. Just kill me now.”
Cheng Yue, who was busy taking notes, couldn't help but frown at her words. “Don't say such things.”
Song Yao slumped onto the table, staring at the lecture notes that looked thicker than her remaining lifespan, feeling like she couldn't keep up the act much longer.
Could she just burn these books right now, snatch the Teaching Elder's toupee, and put it on the paper effigies in her courtyard?
Obviously not.
Doing that would probably get her thrown back into the Earth Realm to die all over again.
To keep herself from falling asleep, she pulled a chessboard from her spatial pouch and called out to Ning Zhou, “Want to play?”
Ning Zhou was no saint either. He leaned over with a grin and asked, “What game?”
“Whatever.”
“How about Tic-Tac-Toe?”
“Sure.”
The two played sneakily for a while. Song Yao wasn't very good at it and was caught trying to steal pieces. They almost came to blows before Cheng Yue firmly held them down.
The Teaching Elder's temples throbbed as he watched them. For the sake of Cheng Yue, his star student, he barely managed to restrain himself from calling them out by name.
Once the game was over, the two quickly made up.
Ning Zhou fished two meat buns out of his spatial pouch. “Want some? Master told me to bring these to you this morning, but since you didn't show up for class, I forgot about them.”
They were still warm when he pulled them out of the spatial pouch.
The flatbreads were slightly toasted, stuffed with pork shoulder that was a perfect mix of fat and lean, and the savory gravy had almost soaked through the crust.
Song Yao nodded. “I'll eat.”
The two ducked their heads under the desk and diligently munched on the meat buns, their rich aroma wafting through the room.
The other disciples, who were already absent-minded, instantly had their souls lured away by the scent. They kept casting glances in their direction, and the sound of swallowing saliva echoed here and there throughout the hall.
The Teaching Elder's face grew darker and darker. He took a deep breath.
With a flick of his finger, a gust of wind swept through the hall, blowing the aroma away. He then slammed his lesson plan heavily against the desk, pulling everyone's attention back. “Is this old man lecturing to himself?! Where have all your souls wandered off to?”
“If you all had even half the dedication of Cheng Yue and Jiang Jin, I would thank the heavens!”
After delivering his scolding, he saw the two culprits in the corner still buried in their food, completely ignoring their surroundings. Fury surged in his chest. “Do you think I'm talking about everyone but you? Lin Mu! Ning Zhou! The two of you, stand up and listen!”
Ning Zhou shuddered.
Song Yao's first instinct was to climb out the window and run, but remembering that she was supposed to be an honest, well-behaved person, she immediately stuffed her half-eaten meat bun back to Ning Zhou and stood up obediently.
Ning Zhou, who had probably rarely been punished, clutched the meat bun with a bright red face as he stood beside her.
The Teaching Elder caught his breath and said coldly, “For today's essay, 'Tianshu Academic Theory', anyone who cannot recite it from memory shouldn't dream of stepping foot out of this hall.”
A low wail instantly echoed through the hall as pages rustled furiously. Everyone was now fully alert.
Holding her book, Song Yao turned to look at Ning Zhou's despairing face and whispered comfortingly, “It's fine. A person has to experience many things in life. Being punished by the Teaching Elder is also a very valuable experience.”
Ning Zhou: “...Didn't we already have this exact 'valuable experience' last time?”
Song Yao mumbled with an air of solemnity, “You can never have too many valuable experiences. Life is made of all sorts of experiences. You're still young right now. Once you reach my age, you'll understand that none of this matters. Even life and death are nothing.”
Ning Zhou: “...I probably have to be reincarnated just to reach your age.”
Song Yao shook her head solemnly. “I can't make you understand.”
Ning Zhou: “How can you not make me understand? We entered the sect together. We should be the ones who understand each other best.”
As their conversation drifted further off-topic, Ning Zhou suddenly remembered something. “By the way, why were you a dead person back then?”
Song Yao clamped her hand over his mouth. “You're the dead person. Watch your mouth!”
Rate on N.U.
