Chapter 544: Secret Exposed

After listening, Nan Yan repeatedly sneered coldly in her heart.

Ye Qingran, what gives you the right to oppose me?

Hong Wu could no longer bear to watch from the sidelines; she strode over angrily and said, "Nan Yan, just keep pretending. It's clearly you who tricked Instructor Ye into coming here, yet you're putting on a saintly act—truly disgusting!"

Upon seeing Hong Wu, all the disciples felt quite surprised.

Is Hong Wu speaking up for Ye Qingran?

When did her relationship with Ye Qingran become so good?

Seeing Hong Wu speak so rudely, Nan Yan couldn't help but narrow her eyes.

"I didn't. Hong Wu, I know you reject me because of Senior Sister Feixue, but I really didn't deceive Instructor Ye as you claim!"

Nan Yan lowered her head, feeling wronged.

The hidden meaning in those words made people unconsciously glance at Qin Feixue.

Qin Feixue's face turned pale.

"Yaner, what does this have to do with the Feixue Senior Sister you mentioned?" Ling Xueyao asked deliberately.

"Huh? No relation, I just misspoke..."

Nan Yan hastily covered her mouth, as if she had misspoken.

But her reaction only showed she had a guilty conscience.

"I heard someone saw Qin Feixue come to the rear mountain earlier—could it be... she also admires Lu Yunfeng?"

Such a voice came from the crowd.

A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.

"So Qin Feixue also admires Lu Yunfeng! Truly unexpected!"

"It seems the goddess has feelings, but the king has no dream!"

"No wonder Hong Wu stepped forward to slander Nan Yan—it's not because of Ye Qingran, but because of Qin Feixue!"

Hong Wu's face changed repeatedly.

She never expected that merely speaking up for justice would give Nan Yan an opening to exploit.

Few people knew of Qin Feixue's admiration for Lu Yunfeng, and she seemingly did not want others to know this secret.

Yet because of her, this matter became known to everyone...

Seeing Qin Feixue's face grow paler by the moment, Hong Wu didn't know what to do for a while.

She is straightforward and cannot play those deep schemes.

"Senior Sister Feixue, I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."

Nan Yan looked at Qin Feixue with a guilty face; this remark undoubtedly nailed down the fact that Qin Feixue admires Lu Yunfeng.

Qin Feixue stared blankly at Lu Yunfeng.

Yes, she truly admires Lu Yunfeng.

From the first time she saw him and saved him back then, she knew this man was the calamity of her life.

When she was full of love and ready to confess, she learned he lacked a human soul and no longer knew what love was.

Thus, she could only hide her love in her heart and resolutely head to the Broken Soul Sea, risking her life to search for his human soul.

All so that one day he, too, could possess normal emotions and desires.

She doesn't fear others knowing; she only fears that if he finds out, his inability to empathize will make him despise her.

Therefore, when the truth was laid bare, it caught her off guard.

For a moment, she didn't know how to face it.

Seeing Qin Feixue like this, Nan Yan felt delighted in her heart.

Hasn't Qin Feixue always hidden her feelings for Lu Yunfeng?

Then she insists on announcing it to everyone!

What aloof goddess of the Academy?

But she's merely a pitiful creature who loves in vain!

If the male disciples of the Academy who admire her learned that Qin Feixue secretly loves Lu Yunfeng, I'm afraid each of their hearts would break.

Lu Yunfeng looked over at Qin Feixue, and their gazes briefly met.

At that moment, Qin Feixue felt her heartbeat stop.

However, Lu Yunfeng's gaze quickly shifted away.

In his eyes, from beginning to end, there was not a ripple.

Obviously, to him she was merely a stranger.

Her heart ached to numbness.

Ye Qingran, meanwhile, began to scrutinize Nan Yan seriously.

Nan Yan resembles Ling Xueyao somewhat; she must also be from Dan Valley.

However, compared to Ling Xueyao, Nan Yan's scheming is clearly deeper.

Yet, with just these little schemes, they think they can deal with her?

Go home and drink more milk!

"Lu Yunfeng, if I say someone sent me a message to meet on the rear mountain, would you believe me?"

Ye Qingran lifted her gaze and stared directly at Lu Yunfeng.

She was certain Lu Yunfeng would believe her.

Don't ask where her confidence comes from.

This is her sixth sense!

Lu Yunfeng gazed into Ye Qingran's eyes; for some reason, meeting that look made his heart gradually become calm...

"Instructor Ye, you dare say that—there must be evidence, right?" Nan Yan twitched the corner of her mouth and asked with a cold sneer.

She was convinced that Ye Qingran could not produce any evidence.

Sure enough, Ye Qingran shook her head, "No."

"Ye Qingran, do you think Lu Yunfeng is a fool? Without evidence, what makes him trust you?"

Ling Xueyao said disdainfully.

Many disciples also nodded in agreement, thinking that Ye Qingran was simply talking nonsense.

Nan Yan merely watched everything with a cold sneer.

She dared to conclude that Lu Yunfeng would not believe!

However, Lu Yunfeng's reply left everyone utterly astonished.

"I believe."

He nodded and said softly.

His gentle voice felt like a spring breeze on the skin.

What?

Nan Yan thought she had misheard, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at Lu Yunfeng, "Brother Yunfeng, did you say that wrong..."

The others reacted similarly to Nan Yan, all finding it incomprehensible.

Only Ye Qingran's mouth curved even deeper.

See? Everything was exactly as she had expected.

"Did you hear that? Lu Yunfeng doesn't mind at all; don't you think you are being overly meddlesome?"

Ye Qingran's gaze swept over those who had just spoken insolently.

The words, like a slap, struck those people's faces hard.

Hong Wu felt especially vindicated!

Nan Yan's complexion took on a hint of grim ferocity.

"Brother Yunfeng, I know you are kind-hearted, and I also trust Instructor Ye, but to believe someone's one-sided words so easily—might that be improper?"

Nan Yan forced herself to hold back her displeasure and pretended to speak casually.

Lu Yunfeng's gaze at Nan Yan was cool; though he showed little emotion, it still made Nan Yan feel his impatience.

"What is improper?"

Lu Yunfeng asked in a deep voice.

After speaking, he added, "I trust her!"

That sentence made Lu Yunfeng himself pause in surprise.

He found that, subconsciously, he was full of trust toward her.

Why is that, after all?

Nan Yan almost bit off a silver tooth, "Although I think Instructor Ye has no ill intent, her unauthorized entry into the back mountain is an undeniable fact. If she admits it, we can treat it as if nothing happened; why does she look for these unrealistic excuses?"

"Unrealistic excuses?"

Ye Qingran raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Then tell me, why do you think it's unrealistic?"

"Ye Qingran, the only one qualified to invite you up the back mountain is Lu Yunfeng alone; you and he aren't close, so how could he possibly invite you? Don't you even think for yourself? You're just that, a Special Grade Instructor of the Academy! What a disgrace to the Academy!"

Ling Xueyao scolded angrily without any courtesy.

She had long harbored resentment toward Ye Qingran, so naturally she would seize any chance to humiliate her to death.

"Who says I'm not close with him? What did you say?"

Ye Qingran chuckled.

With that remark, many people widened their eyes.

Ye Qingran meant that she and Lu Yunfeng had known each other before?