Chapter 314

After finishing their meal, Yuan Yao and the two others left the restaurant.

Yuan Yao invited, saying, "Since we're heading the same way, why not travel together?"

Weng Mingshu was naturally delighted.

"Good!"

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Cloud Sect disciples, upon learning they would travel with Yuan Yao and Ying Wuji, felt somewhat excited in their hearts.

After all, Ying Wuji and Yuan Yao are not only disciples of the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, but also possess great strength; especially Ying Wuji's name is known throughout the Ninth Province.

In the Ninth Province, many young cultivators regard him as a goal to pursue.

Likewise, many young cultivators hold him in high esteem.

Several female disciples of the Heavenly Cloud Sect also stared at Ying Wuji with bashful expressions.

As for Yuan Yao, she also drew favorable feelings from the male disciples of the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

Yuan Yao nodded and smiled at them.

"Let's go."

"Please, Fellow Daoist Yuan," a male disciple quickly said.

At the same time, a voice from Yuan Yao's sea of consciousness came from the 250 System: 【Target Wang Gaoyang, Awakening Value reached 20. Target certain person, Awakening Value reached……】

Yuan Yao let out a deep sigh in her heart.

Since arriving in Yunshui Realm, she has not yet successfully captured any target.

…

Inside the Immortal Academy City.

The Immortal Academy City houses the four great academies, located respectively in the east, south, west, and north.

The four academies form a ring, like a great dragon tightly encircling the vast central grounds; this area is divided into the martial training grounds of the four academies, a holy place where their disciples spar and exchange.

The Water Mirror Immortal Academy lies to the south.

When Yuan Yao and her companions arrived, they could see from afar many figures gathered on the martial grounds—some whispering, others looking grave and furrow-browed, as if discussing an important matter.

With her keen hearing, Yuan Yao quickly caught snippets from the crowd: they were heatedly discussing the tragedy of the Water Mirror Immortal Academy's annihilation.

At that moment, Ying Wuji said to Yuan Yao, "My senior brothers are at the Water Mirror Immortal Academy; let's go there first to meet up with them."

"All right." Yuan Yao nodded.

Weng Mingshu also said, "Let's also go check out the scene first."

In the martial arts area, an orange-clad girl, upon seeing Ying Wuji, her expression turned delighted; she immediately stepped out of the crowd and hurried toward him.

"Wuji!"

Her voice drew frequent glances from the crowd; only to see the girl with a graceful figure and elegant steps, wearing a splendid wide-sleeved top and waist-high skirt, its hem fluttering in the wind like a dancing butterfly.

On her delicate oval face, her willow brows curved like crescent moons, and she gazed lovingly at the black-clad youth.

Yuan Yao watched her curiously, then turned her head to glance at her own junior senior brother.

She could clearly feel that this girl harbored affection for her junior senior brother, and since she addressed him directly as "Wuji," their relationship seemed somewhat intimate.

"Fellow Daoist Gu," Ying Wuji replied with a neutral nod.

At that moment, Weng Mingshu quickly tugged Yuan Yao's sleeve and whispered, "She is the eldest granddaughter of the head of the Gu family, one of the Ninth Province's three great clans—Gu Ningyun."

"The Gu clan?"

The little girl Gu Zhaozhao whom she had saved in Yunyin City earlier seemed also to be a granddaughter of the Gu clan's head.

In that case, Gu Ningyun would be Gu Zhaozhao's older sister, wouldn't she?

"Wuji, I never expected to see you here," Gu Ningyun said, her eyes soft as water fixed on Ying Wuji, seeing no one else.

"It seems we haven't met in about two years..."

As she spoke, her tone carried a hint of melancholy.

Seeing Gu Ningyun like that, Weng Mingshu inwardly snorted.

"She's being sentimental."

She and Gu Ningyun are peers, both from the three great clans, having known each other since childhood and even exchanged blows a few times, so she naturally knows Gu Ningyun's true character.

Ying Wuji said indifferently, "Sorry, we have matters to attend to."

Having said that, he reached out and directly lifted Yuan Yao by the back of her neck, steering her around Gu Ningyun and heading toward the Water Mirror Immortal Academy.

Yuan Yao had been watching the scene, but suddenly feeling a chill at the back of her neck, she immediately gave a dry laugh twice.

She waved at the astonished Gu Ningyun, saying, "Goodbye."

Seeing this, Weng Mingshu stepped before Gu Ningyun, arms crossed, and said, "Gu Ningyun, stop being sentimental; Fellow Daoist Ying doesn't like you."

Having spoken, Weng Mingshu led the Heavenly Cloud Sect party away in high spirits.

Gu Ningyun, having come to her senses, changed expression and shouted, "Weng Mingshu!"

Weng Mingshu turned her head, "What's wrong?"

Gu Ningyun's expression darkened; her gaze passed through Weng Mingshu to the girl being pulled away by Ying Wuji.

Just now she hadn't noticed the girl, but upon closer look, the girl was stunningly beautiful, her skin fairer than snow, dressed in narrow-sleeved white robes, her hair tied high in a ponytail, the multicolored ribbons intertwined with her hair fluttering in the wind, so lovely one could not look away.

Seeing Gu Ningyun lost in thought and ignoring her, Weng Mingshu let out a cold snort, immediately withdrew her gaze, and led the Heavenly Cloud Sect group to follow Ying Wuji and Yuan Yao.

Gu Ningyun, after regaining her composure, realized they had gone far.

She returned to her clan's entourage and asked the person beside her, "Who is that girl following Ying Wuji?"

"Probably his junior sister, Yuan Yao," said a Gu clan elder, "This Yuan Yao is also Zhaozhao's lifesaver; by rights we ought to thank her."

"Zhaozhao's lifesaver..." Gu Ningyun lowered her eyes.

A sense of unease welled up in her heart.

Will Ying Wuji perhaps like his junior sister?

…

On the other side, Yuan Yao could not suppress the curiosity in her heart and asked Ying Wuji, "Youngest Senior Brother, have you known Miss Gu for a long time?"

Ying Wuji gave her a faint look.

He reached out and heavily patted her head, saying, "Don't try to shoehorn me and her into the stories you've read."

Don't overthink; you don't have enough brains.

Yuan Yao: "... Ying Wuji, can't you stop being so sharp-tongued?"

Ying Wuji lowered his gaze to look at her, "Do you dare admit you didn't think too much just now?"

Yuan Yao extended a finger, "I just thought about it a little."

"No thinking allowed." Ying Wuji's attitude was firm.

Yuan Yao let out an "oh."

She lifted her eyes to look at him, "Then do you have someone you like?"

As long as you don't like the female lead Lu Xiangxiang.

"No." Ying Wuji said somewhat helplessly, then thought of something, slightly furrowed his brows and asked, "Do you?"

Yuan Yao froze for a moment, "No."

"Train well." Ying Wuji patted her head.

Yuan Yao touched her head, which had suffered several pats, and gave Ying Wuji a resentful glare.

Soon they arrived at the gate of the Water Mirror Immortal Academy.

At that time, many people were coming and going at the Water Mirror Immortal Academy, and inside the academy floated a faint fishy smell.

Upon entering the academy, they discovered that bloodstains lingered on the ground, walls, etc.

The Water Mirror Immortal Academy was vast in scale, its interior divided into many different areas.

Therefore, Yuan Yao and Ying Wuji decided to carefully investigate the crime scene while also searching everywhere for traces of Eldest Senior Brother and the others.

As they walked down a narrow corridor, they saw from afar a crowd gathered together, seemingly watching something.

Yuan Yao felt curious, hurried forward to investigate, and only heard whispers all around.

"This child is truly pitiful..."

"Why not come to our sect?"

"Don't be afraid, everything is already over."

"That night, did you notice any abnormality? If you can recall any key details or clues, we will surely do our utmost to help you catch the culprit who harmed your father."

"This child actually insists on staying at the Water Mirror Immortal Academy, refusing to leave… it's almost been half a month… sigh… truly pitiful."

After Yuan Yao squeezed to the front of the crowd and took a close look, she realized that everyone was surrounding a seven- or eight-year-old little boy who chattered incessantly, while the boy tightly held a wooden puppet, his head perpetually lowered, his face full of bewildered helplessness and pitiableness.