Chapter 4

"After enrollment, no lateness or early leaving for any course; at the academy, one must respect teachers and be friendly to fellow students……"

"Qing Xuan Shangjun's voice was gentle; the newcomers in the hall listened attentively, only one person was conspicuously looking around."

"To Wen Qingyin, these words were nothing but old hat, things he'd heard too many times, yet he still had to stand here and listen again."

"Suddenly feeling a gaze land on him, Wen Qingyin looked up and saw Qing Xuan Shangjun looking at him with deep meaning, as if he had taken in all his previous actions."

"\"Remember, in the academy, no fighting or brawling; violators will receive severe punishment. \""

"Whether intentional or not, Qing Xuan Shangjun added this sentence while looking at Wen Qingyin."

"Fighting and brawling?"

"Medicine cultivators use poison; can that be called fighting and brawling?"

"When the time comes, he'll secretly use poison—nothing like those sword cultivators who shout about fighting and killing every day."

"Wen Qingyin turned his face away in disapproval, but in a glance he saw Pei Junheng not far away looking over here."

"The young sword cultivator's posture was straight as a sturdy bamboo, his brows and eyes cold as mountain frost."

"And those deep eyes were fixed on him."

"What is he looking at him for?"

"Without fear, he met Pei Junheng's gaze, and Wen Qingyin gave him a fierce glare."

"That glare still didn't satisfy him; Wen Qingyin turned away, giving Pei Junheng a cold back. Beside him, Zi Shu Zhi timely poked his head out and made a ferocious expression at the still-watching Pei Junheng."

"Pei Junheng withdrew his gaze."

"At the same time, Qing Xuan Shangjun's talk was drawing to a close; he pointed to a dark stone platform about a person's height in front of him, indicating that the newcomers should come forward in order to place their jade slips and check their assigned lodgings."

"\"Each lodging houses two people; please get along well with your roommate~\""

"Watching the newcomers holding their jade slips with eager eyes, Qing Xuan Shangjun crossed his hands, placed his fists before his chest, and his eyes smiled even more."

"Every disciple of the Ten Isles and Four Immortal Mountains within the seas will possess his own jade slip after cultivating; the jade used to make the slips comes from a unique jade vein found only within the seas, so each person may own only one."

"As the sole identifier of one's identity, the jade slip can be said to be unique within the seas and impossible to copy."

"As long as immortal power is infused, the jade slip can serve many purposes, such as communication."

"\"Falling Star Courtyard. \""

"Wen Qingyin softly read the three large characters on his jade slip."

"That name sounds like a little cottage at first hearing."

"\"Young Master, what lodging do you have? \" Zi Shu Zhi had just finished checking his jade slip and returned; seeing Wen Qingyin, he asked."

"After Wen Qingyin told Zi Shu Zhi his lodging, Zi Shu Zhi said: \"I'm in Fallen Lotus House. Young Master, have you seen who your roommate is? My jade slip shows the other housemate is Chi Feiqian—I never expected it to be him. \""

"Thinking of Chi Feiqian's smiling, squinting face, how in the blink of an eye he sealed them all with a talisman, Zi Shu Zhi couldn't help but shiver."

"\"Probably just the academy's system randomly assigning, but as long as it's not that bunch of sword cultivators, it's fine; otherwise I'll make them look bad……\""

"Zi Shu Zhi kept muttering in his ear about how to give those sword cultivators a lesson, while Wen Qingyin stared blankly at his jade slip; the name of the other housemate was still blank, indicating that no one else had drawn this lodging besides him."

"Or perhaps his jade slip is broken?"

"While Wen Qingyin was pondering, Qing Xuan Shangjun over there spoke again: \"Everyone, first go to the course location indicated on your jade slip; afterward, Shangjun Chang Fu will teach you the academy's first lesson~\""

"Beside Qing Xuan Shangjun, Shangjun Chang Fu timely waved at the newcomers looking at him, his face bearing a refined, gentle smile."

"\"Rainbow Rain Pavilion? \""

"Zi Shu Zhi stared at the place name that popped up on his jade slip and spoke aloud."

"\"What place is this? \""

"Wen Qingyin leaned over to look at the content on Zi Shu Zhi's jade slip; after the three characters faded, the slip displayed a diagram."

"Seeing this, Wen Qingyin looked at his own jade slip in hand; the name of his housemate, with whom he would share a room, still hadn't appeared, but at this moment his slip likewise began to show the map of Yingzhou Academy."

"And the spot flashing on the map was Rainbow Rain Pavilion—their destination."

"\"Talisman and Medicine cultivators study together at Rainbow Rain Pavilion, while Sword and Artifact cultivators are at Star-Picking Pavilion; why don't we go together? \" An invitation came from behind them; Wen Qingyin and Zi Shu Zhi turned their heads in response, seeing a smiling youth walking toward them."

"His eyes were curved, his smile gentle."

"Again, that Talisman cultivator's heir."

"Remembering the feeling of his mouth being tightly sealed, Zi Shu Zhi's expression changed as he looked at Wen Qingyin."

"Wen Qingyin, on the other hand, had little reaction; his beautiful eyes lingered on Chi Feiqian's face for a moment."

"\"Delighted to the utmost. \" he said."

"Talisman and Medicine cultivators have no grudge; getting to know one more person upon entering the academy is no bad thing."

"Moreover, Chi Feiqian is the other housemate of Fallen Lotus House; he will be sharing a room with Zi Shu Zhi for years to come."

"Thus the three of them set off together for Rainbow Rain Pavilion."

"Yingzhou Academy is set upon a vast, undulating mountain; the winding paths are hard to travel, but thanks to the guidance of their jade slips, they still managed to reach Rainbow Rain Pavilion smoothly."

"Rainbow Rain Pavilion sits upon a clear pool amidst the mountains."

"The pool water is clear and cold; a towering giant tree grows in it, with thick, long branches lowering to stretch toward the bank for passage."

"Walking up along those branches, a porcelain structure is built at the tree's center, merging with the giant tree as if naturally formed—this is Rainbow Rain Pavilion."

"Because the lofty tree's branches bloom with snow‑white flowers, when the wind blows they fall like rain into the pavilion and drift onto the lake surface, hence the name Rainbow Rain."

"Many newcomers had already gathered in Rainbow Rain Pavilion; at a glance, all were dressed in the attire of Medicine and Talisman cultivators."

"Indeed, as Chi Feiqian said, those who come to study at Rainbow Rain Pavilion are exclusively Medicine and Talisman cultivators."

"The pavilion held many mats, arranged in pairs; upon arriving at Rainbow Rain Pavilion, Chi Feiqian was summoned by other Talisman cultivators, apparently to discuss something."

"Wen Qingyin picked a mat and sat down; Zi Shu Zhi sat behind him."

"Those around recognized him as the pampered Young Master of the Cloud Immortal Sect; Medicine cultivators thought they shouldn't sit beside the Young Master, and Talisman cultivators, having heard of his temper, dared not approach either."

"On the contrary, a Talisman cultivator voluntarily sat beside Zi Shu Zhi, furtively glancing at Wen Qingyin from the diagonal opposite."

"Zi Shu Zhi was about to demand what the Talisman cultivator was doing, but feeling a gaze from behind, Wen Qingyin turned his head and likewise looked at that oddly behaving Talisman cultivator."

The talisman cultivator behind him rolled his eyes, seeing Wen Qingyin turn around; not only was he not afraid and retreating, his face showed a suppressed, strange excitement.

This person is really strange.

Wen Qingyin's delicate brows furrowed.

But before he could ask, this talisman cultivator blurted out the question he had held in his heart for a long time: "Little Sect Master Wen."

"Could you tell me what exactly happened back then?"

The talisman cultivator's eyes glittered with the light of the Eight Trigrams.

The past events of the Cloud Immortal Sect and the Myriad Day Sword Sect are gossip among all the immortal sects within the seas; they only know that the Dragon Ridge Mountain's immortal vein vanished overnight, and the Cloud Immortal Sect and Myriad Day Sword Sect, divided by the mountain, each accused the other of stealing their spirit vein.

As an expert in the Eight Trigrams, the talisman cultivator also learned that the events of that year were inseparable from Wen Qingyin and Pei Junheng of the two sects.

After the incident at Dragon Ridge Mountain, neither of them stepped outside their sect's mountain gate stone until today, when they entered the Abyss Island Academy and finally appeared before the gathered crowd of the Four Immortal Mountains of the Ten Isles within the seas.

Having said that, the talisman cultivator waited for Wen Qingyin's answer.

However, Wen Qingyin's face turned cold as the last words fell, his lovely spring-like countenance covered in frost.

"What do you want to know?" he raised his eyes, and the talisman cultivator's heart skipped a beat at the intensity of his gaze.

Zi Shu Zhi beside the talisman cultivator was dumbfounded; this talisman cultivator really dared to say anything, although everyone in the immortal sect constantly cursed the Sword Sect's handling of that matter, yet no one dared to bring it up directly in front of Wen Qingyin.

The Little Sect Master obviously is angry now—shut up quickly!

Zi Shu Zhi, face flushed with anger, was about to make the talisman cultivator shut up, but this talisman cultivator clearly came with the determination to break the pot and ask to the end; he not only wasn't afraid but eagerly leaned forward: "I've heard that the Little Sect Master and the Sword Sect's Junior Sect Master once had an inseparable romance, but the Cloud Immortal Sect and Myriad Day Sword Sect harbor deep grudges; the two sides fought fiercely on Dragon Ridge Mountain to separate you, the battle so intense it shook heaven and earth, resulting in the destruction of the Dragon Ridge Mountain immortal vein. Afterwards, the Little Sect Master and Junior Sect Master were taken back to their sects to reflect on their mistakes."

Upon hearing the talisman cultivator's first sentence, Zi Shu Zhi's eyes widened.

What utter nonsense!

Yet the talisman cultivator's delivery was vivid and expressive, so much that Zi Shu Zhi forgot to interrupt right away and actually listened to the end.

He even showed a tendency to be misled.

Could it be… perhaps… this is actually true?

Zi Shu Zhi's originally angry expression turned thoughtful.

And after finishing his speech, the talisman cultivator still waited, expecting Wen Qingyin's answer.

Wen Qingyin's beautiful eye corners lifted, the upward curve as if about to refract a sharp light.

What an idiot!

Zi Shu Zhi, snapped back to his senses by Wen Qingyin's eye-knife, hurriedly looked at the talisman cultivator who didn't know whether to live or die.

He was about to retort when the eye-knife suddenly turned into a pool of water, and Wen Qingyin curled his lips.

Suddenly, like a warm, soft spring breeze brushing the face, jade blossoms covered the field.

Wen Qingyin, whose face could make even the most beautiful immortal mountain, Penglai, lose its color, merely curled his lips in a smile, and the talisman cultivator, who had been thinking of an answer, was left dumbstruck.

As the talisman cultivator was stunned by beauty, Wen Qingyin's clear eyeballs turned, his cherry-red lips opening and closing:

"You still don't know?"

"What?"

The sounds in his ears grew hazy, and the talisman cultivator, still under the beauty's blow, blankly repeated.

Wen Qingyin raised his eyebrows, his spirited expression making his already flawless features come alive, but the words he spoke left the onlookers' jaws dropped.

All that was heard was Wen Qingyin speaking in a nostalgic tone, earnestly saying: "Back then, the Myriad Day Sword Sect stole the immortal vein, and Pei Junheng actually dared to shamelessly pursue me. How could I possibly accept his pursuit, but he persisted shamelessly, hounding me relentlessly, until I finally couldn't help but strike him."

He appropriately lowered his gaze to his slender white hands, revealing a just-right sense of fragility.

"He was beaten by me until he rolled over, urine flowing, kneeling to beg for mercy, or perhaps the Myriad Day Sword Sect thought Pei Junheng had lost face and brought him back to the sect to reflect properly..."

Upon saying this, Wen Qingyin lifted his eyes, expecting the talisman cultivator to be shocked by the earth-shattering secret, but found the talisman cultivator's expression strange.

He then added: "What's wrong? Don't you believe me? If I utter a single false word, the Pei family line will end after three generations!"

But after he finished speaking, the talisman cultivator's face grew even stranger, his eyes continually fixed on Wen Qingyin's back.

Wen Qingyin was puzzled when he heard Zi Shu Zhi's trembling voice from beside him: "Little Sect Master..."

"What's wrong?" Wen Qingyin didn't think much of it, his eyes still fixed on the talisman cultivator.

The talisman cultivator, stared at by Wen Qingyin, silently turned his back on him.

Wen Qingyin:?

Only then, recalling the talisman cultivator's earlier gaze, did Wen Qingyin belatedly turn his face away.

At the entrance of the Rainbow Rain Pavilion, unbeknownst when, a large crowd had gathered, the two groups dressed respectively as sword cultivators and talisman cultivators; at a glance one could see Qiu Sanchi glaring over here.

Standing at the forefront, the young sword cultivator's aura was cold and sharp like a sword's edge, his eyes silently fixed on Wen Qingyin.

One also didn't know just how much of that preceding speech they had heard.