Chapter 458: Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land

According to reason, she told Fu Hanxiu they had gone to Shenzhou Academy; with his abilities, he should be able to find them soon.

But in fact, there wasn't.

"I don't know what he's up to. Forget it, I don't care about him."

Ye Qingran muttered to herself, turned back to the carriage, and entered Shenzhou City.

Shenzhou City exists solely because of Shenzhou Academy.

This academy, with a ten-thousand-year foundation, draws people from everywhere each day; over time, a huge city naturally sprang up.

On the wide street several dozen zhang across, carriages and horses flowed like water; the group had long abandoned their carriage and were strolling along the street.

"Miss, Bai Bing found a place to stay half a month ago and has been waiting for a while."

Ye Qingran hummed in acknowledgment, indicating she understood.

Since returning from the imperial palace that day, she immediately had Bai Bing set off for Shenzhou Academy. She never worried about Bai Bing's efficiency.

On the street, all kinds of people were present; compared to Xiliang City, it was bustling more than tenfold.

"Make way!"

"If you don't want to die, move aside!"

Not far off, a troop of cavalry came galloping, the sound of hooves like a sudden rain.

What's more, on horseback wearing golden armor were a group of men also in golden armor, numbering over twenty—not many, but their strength looked astonishing.

Everyone hurried to make way, cursing under their breath, but once they saw who these people were, each fell silent like a cicada in winter.

Ye Qingran shielded the children beside her, eyes scanning the troop that flashed past, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Miss, they're from Huangjin City!"

Leng Yue said coldly.

Ye Qingran gave a slight nod.

Their attire was truly ostentatious; anyone with a bit of discernment could tell.

After the Huangjin City contingent rushed past, the passersby began to chatter.

"I heard the Little City Lord of Huangjin City came to Shenzhou City with his wife and two children, about to begin a three-year cultivation journey."

"The Little City Lord of Huangjin City actually came to our Shenzhou Academy?"

"It's said this Little City Lord's wife is the cherished daughter of the Lord of Dan Valley, and the two children are prodigies!"

"Indeed! It's said the Little City Lord's wife of Huangjin City will apply for this year's Special Grade Instructor position at Shenzhou Academy! The two children are about to challenge the Academy's Heavenly Word Top Class!"

Special Grade Instructor?

Heavenly Word Top Class?

Hearing these discussions, Ye Qingran raised an eyebrow.

The Donglin Emperor said her mother had been taken away by people from Shenzhou Academy; if she wanted to enter the academy to investigate, it would be best to have a legitimate status.

Being an academy disciple is fine, but the authority ultimately doesn't match that of an instructor.

What more, a Special Grade Instructor?

As for the Heavenly Word Top Class...

She would work as an instructor at the academy, her sons would study there, and they could interact with peers their age—simply perfect!

"Sir, you just said what does it mean that the academy is recruiting a Special Grade Instructor this year?"

A passerby of average looks, somewhat chubby, seeing Ye Qingran's celestial beauty, was utterly astonished and eagerly, patiently explained: "It's like this: Shenzhou Academy hires instructors each year according to need. Special Grade Instructors aren't recruited every year; just recently a Special Grade Instructor had an accident, so this year they're recruiting one. Special Grade Instructors are highly esteemed, enjoying a lofty status in the academy, second only to Elders. Therefore, the requirements are also very high..."

From the passerby's explanation, Ye Qingran roughly understood that Shenzhou Academy would recruit one Special Grade Instructor this year, the Huangjin City Little City Lord's wife would apply, plus three Regular Instructors, with relatively lower requirements.

It's just somewhat lower.

It's said even the basic threshold for a Regular Instructor is Xuan Zun...

Special Grade Instructor, at least Xuan Huang.

The threshold for instructors at Shenzhou Academy can be imagined!

Even so, each year hundreds or thousands still crowd in, eager to try.

After all, once you enter Shenzhou, you rise straight to the clouds!

"Xiao Hu, do you want to go to school?"

After thanking the passerby, Ye Qingran asked the two children.

"Um..."

The two kids obviously hesitated.

"What's wrong?"

"Will going to school separate us from Mother?"

"No." Ye Qingran said with a smile: "Mother will work as a Special Grade Instructor at Shenzhou Academy; from now on you'll attend the Heavenly Word Top Class there, and we'll all be together at the academy."

When Ye Qingran said that, she hadn't thought much about it. But the passersby passing by didn't see it that way.

Gazes fell upon them, looking at the mother and three children as if they were fools.

"Ah, these youngsters nowadays, they know nothing of humility!"

"Morals deteriorate day by day, hearts are no longer ancient!"

"I've seen confident people, but never someone this confident!"

"This lass, the prettier she is, the bigger her mental issue!"

Ye Qingran and the five: "......"

Xiao Hu and Xiao Chen didn't care about that; hearing they could study while staying with Mother, they were all eager.

"Great, Mother, from now on we'll go to the academy to study, Mother will work as an instructor at the academy, and we'll stay together."

Having just arrived, Ye Qingran and her party got well acquainted with Shenzhou City, and bought a lot of things on the side.

On the way to Bai Bing's prepared residence, Ye Qingran suddenly saw a familiar figure.

"Is that... Qingshu?"

She froze, and her steps halted.

"Miss, what's wrong?"

"I just seemed to have seen Ninth Prince Uncle's personal attendant, Qingshu."

"Ninth Prince Uncle? Miss, do you mean Donglin Country's Ninth Prince Uncle, Dongfang Mo?"

"Hmm."

Han Xing Leng Yue's eyes both showed confusion: "But how could Dongfang Mo appear in Shenzhou City?"

Ye Qingran barely shook her head.

However, during that time in Xiliang City, she hadn't seen Dongfang Mo for a long time.

She also didn't know whether he was still in Xiliang City or had already left.

As for this Donglin Ninth Prince Uncle, Ye Qingran felt quite fond of him.

After all, he had given her help many times.

It could be seen that Ninth Prince Uncle Dongfang Mo was a good person.

Back then, she wanted to check his leg disability and possibly heal him, but she didn't expect his reaction to be especially intense; after that, they never saw each other again.

"You go back first, I'll follow up to see."

After Ye Qingran had settled the children, she then followed Qingshu's trail.

Qingshu obviously hadn't noticed anyone following him; he walked along the street and entered an inn.

Inn room.

"Master, I'm back."

"How's the situation with Nangong Hao?"

Dongfang Mo sat in his wheelchair, facing the window outside.

"Their family of four has already arrived in Shenzhou City and taken residence in Huangjin City's temporary palace here."

Hearing that, a flicker of gloom quickly crossed Dongfang Mo's eyes.

"Master, for the next three years we will be staying at Shenzhou Academy; Nangong Hao will definitely not let us off..."

Qingshu's brows were tightly knit, his eyes full of worry.

"When the troops come, we'll block them; when the water comes, we'll cover it with earth, I..."

Before he finished speaking, his gaze suddenly turned sharp.

He shot toward the doorway and demanded, "Who?"