Chapter 177: The Lame Man Was Punished by Standing

During the trial for the new cohort of students at the Alchemy Academy, the supervising Mr. secretly harmed his own students and was killed by the heir of the Sacred Land. Another classmate who followed and plotted in secret died unexpectedly at the hands of a giant turtle.

This was a rare malicious incident in recent years; it spread like wildfire through the capital on the very day, causing great shock in the capital.

Qin Zhiyu cautiously sought out Ye Tinglan to perform the Backtracking Art, confirming the account given by Dugu Qingli.

Although it is difficult to prove that the Xuanming Grass belonged to the Huo family—it could have been a bribe from someone else—at least Daoist Xuan Qing was cultivated by the Huo family, a fact Huo Heng stated publicly at the restaurant. Thus, viewing Wang Wang Yueshen as someone bought by the Huo family is logically sound.

Qin Zhiyu erupted in fury that night, writing a voluminous impeachment memorial, and at dawn the next day, he publicly blasted the Huo family in court for interfering in the Alchemy Academy trial and ordering the murder of students.

Unfortunately, there was no direct evidence that the Huo family gave the order; Daoist Xuan Qing could claim personal jealousy, and Wang Wang Yueshen could simply deny everything. Qin Zhiyu's blast ultimately turned into a wrangle, making the old man's beard bristle with anger.

After several days of chaotic wrangling, the Huo family could not be convicted, yet the situation was enough to give them a headache.

Qin Zhiyu is one of the few Grade One Alchemists in Great Qian; having served as Dean of the Alchemy Academy for so many years, he is of high virtue and great prestige, with disciples everywhere, and countless high officials and nobles have received his medical treatment, giving him half the court's goodwill. Although the Academy itself holds little power, Qin Zhiyu's words carry immense weight.

Gaining such an enemy made the Huo family's heads swell several sizes larger.

If there were someone capable of observing Qi, they could almost see decay and withering hanging over the Huo family's residence.

"The Huo family's Qi is declining but not yet extinguished." On the Star-Gazing Platform, Ye Tinglan quietly looked toward the Huo family's direction and said in a low voice, "A mere Grade Five figure entering the capital to topple a Grade One family's decline; Lu Xingzhou is quite interesting..."

Dugu Qingli stood beside her, protesting, "What do you mean he's interesting? Wasn't it me who helped him? Otherwise, a Grade Three enemy would have beaten him to death, and he wouldn't have had the leisure to hug Sheng Yuanyao!"

Ye Tinglan sighed, "Without you, this person might not have participated in the trial. You see, he clearly could have taken first place by refining pills on the spot, yet he willingly settled for second; he simply did not care about the trial results at all. If his only goal were the gains from the Demon Suppression Domain, given his relationship with the Demon Suppression Bureau, having Sheng Qingfeng open a backdoor for him to undergo the trial alone would not be too difficult."

Dugu Qingli paused, "Does Master mean he deliberately entered the Demon Suppression Domain just to trap the Huo family?"

"Obviously. With the cards he holds, there was no daily angle to attack the Huo family; he entered the game personally to bite the Huo family." Ye Tinglan shook her head again, "His obsession is still too heavy. If he continues to take such risks, he will eventually fail one day. Who can guarantee they will never make a mistake when an ant tries to shake a tree?"

Dugu Qingli fell silent, calculating in her mind whether to advise Lu Xingzhou, then shook her head inwardly; this feeling could not be advised against.

Lu Xingzhou had not told her the details of his grudge against the Huo family, but she knew him well; for instance, with enemies like Ye Wufeng, Lu Xingzhou never intended to seek trouble actively; this fellow actually has quite a broad mind.

Only a blood feud could make him so obsessed.

Ye Tinglan added, "Moreover, whether the Huo family can be toppled depends entirely on whether the Emperor can be made to lose trust in them. These peripheral tricks are useless; they serve only to vent anger... The Huo family has far worse things; do you really think Gu Zhanting doesn't know? What is the murder of a student?"

Dugu Qingli instinctively said, "Master also dislikes the Huo family; why not guide him on how to proceed?"

Ye Tinglan looked at her disciple strangely.

Dugu Qingli hurriedly added, "It would also be using his blade to complete Master's own scheme."

Ye Tinglan did not suspect her disciple much, but suddenly remembered the divination she had cast for Lu Xingzhou: "Chasing a deer without a gamekeeper."

Lu Xingzhou's retaliatory actions against the Huo family seemed consistently effective, yet they were merely peripheral blows. The only one truly dead was Huo Yu; Huo Lu was severely injured but still had a chance to recover; Huo Jin was merely imprisoned and would be out in three years. None of this dealt a crippling blow to the Huo family.

However, making several powerful enemies for the Huo family was somewhat useful; the Wan Hua Sword Sect now constantly targets people of the Huo faction abroad, and now the Alchemy Academy has turned against the Huo family; both are quite valuable.

But this is not enough.

Without a "Gamekeeper" to guide the true path, he can only place himself in crisis to snatch chestnuts from the fire; sooner or later, something may go wrong.

Neither the Sheng family nor the Pei family can currently serve as this Gamekeeper. Ye Tinglan herself is qualified enough, but on what grounds? On the grounds that he doesn't even fight for trial rankings and doesn't care about opportunities?

"Although I dislike the Huo family... the Huo family is not the key. You do not understand these matters, so do not make random suggestions." Ye Tinglan said no more and directly changed the subject, "You fought a Grade Three powerful enemy; did you gain anything? Cultivation breakthrough is the only thing you need to focus on now."

"Originally, during the fierce battle, I gained some realization. At that time, he wanted to kill me; the life-or-death warning sharpened my sword heart. But then, for some reason, he suddenly wanted to run, causing my realization to vanish... Alchemists are indeed not a good profession."

"... I am also an Alchemist."

Dugu Qingli said nothing.

"Since that is the case, enter seclusion here to digest your realization... This is the Mirror of Backtracking; looking back at the battle may yield some gain." Ye Tinglan stepped away from the Star-Gazing Platform, "I am going out for a while."

Dugu Qingli still did not know where her Master had gone to work at the Alchemy Academy and found it strange, "Where is Master going?"

"It concerns you not; cultivate well."

"Wait, Master, there is something..."

"What?"

"Besides hair on the head, what other places on the human body grow hair?"

"Armpit hair." Although for aesthetics, female cultivators had long started removing their own armpit hair.

"Besides that?"

Ye Tinglan was stumped, thinking for a long time, "None." Dugu Qingli scratched her Bai Mao, looking confused; since her Master was the same as herself, normal people must be like this, so was Lu Xingzhou abnormal?

That made sense; what normal person was hugging Pei Chuyun and gnawing on her in a wheelchair one day, and hugging Sheng Yuanyao and gnawing on her in a wheelchair the next? Go ask around which disabled person uses a wheelchair like that?

Oh, no, he has stopped pretending to be lame.

Ye Tinglan stepped into the classroom.

Her gaze swept over the room; Daoist Xuan Qing's seat was already empty, Lu Xingzhou was no longer sitting in a wheelchair, and Chen Yu sat at the back with an unchanged expression, as if nothing had happened.

However, those whose gaze she swept over instinctively felt a tingling on their scalps, though they did not know why.

Normally she was so indifferent, yet today she made people feel chilled, including Lu Xingzhou and A Nuo, who both felt their scalps tingle.

"What a terrifying woman," A Nuo muttered, "When her gaze sweeps over, it's like being lifted by both cheeks with one hand, choking the neck..."

Ye Tinglan glanced at her and decided to try that posture in the future.

Lu Xingzhou replied in a low voice, "I feel like being stepped on the chest by high heels, looked down upon from above... Oh, and there's a pair of glasses."

Ye Tinglan: "..."

What are high heels?

"Today's lecture is still on alchemical pharmacology, but mainly analyzing the pills you refined from the Demon Suppression Domain. Being able to analyze and combine various special crops you have never seen before to successfully refine pills proves you are all outstanding among young alchemists. But there are still flaws, such as the pill refined by He Hui..."

Ye Tinglan began her lecture, and everyone understood the reason for her cold aura today.

Students had only just entered the academy, and people were already killing each other during the trial; which teacher would be in a good mood?

Moreover, due to the matter of Wang Wang Yueshen, the teachers of the Alchemy Academy were still under investigation; who would dare to investigate this terrifying Lady Ye?

"Lu Nuonuo's pill shows good understanding and combination. But can anyone tell me, what is the meaning of a child like you refining a pill to calm the bewitching heart of a succubus? What does your Master usually teach you?"

A Nuo: "..."

Is it my fault?

Lu Xingzhou's expression didn't change: "A healer's heart, how can it concern itself with such things? Mr. is attached to appearances."

"Good." Ye Tinglan said coldly: "The second-to-last to submit a blank paper, stand at the back of the classroom."

Lu Xingzhou's face turned green; could one resist such a terrifying woman?

People secretly looked at Chen Yu. The second-to-last had to stand in punishment; what about the last?

Ye Tinglan said: "What is that look on your face? Being made to stand in punishment means there is still hope. As for the hopeless ones who came in last, do you think I would even bother with them?"

Chen Yu: "..."

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

The cripple was made to stand in punishment.

News like black humor quietly spread through the Pill Academy, then reached the adjacent Grand Learning Academy, where Pei Chuyun elegantly took small, quick steps over to watch the spectacle.

Seeing Lu Xingzhou standing obediently at the back like a coward, Pei Chuyun laughed so hard she nearly rolled on the ground: "Hahaha... you have your day too!"

Lu Xingzhou had always left a very imposing impression on Pei Chuyun; to be honest, she was a bit afraid of him deep down. This was the first time she had seen him humiliated and embarrassed, which was exceptionally amusing, making even him seem cute.

She thought someone like Lu Xingzhou, being so proud, would simply skip class if made to stand in punishment; who would have thought he would be so thoroughly subdued and stand there obediently? This Mr. is truly formidable!

Lu Xingzhou glared at her, the meaning clear: wait for me after school.

A hint of seduction appeared in Pei Chuyun's eyes; she was already considering where to cultivate together tonight... He had been slighted, so would he be extremely wild tonight?

But then the female Mr. spoke lightly from the platform: "Very well, that concludes this lesson. Next time, bring a newly refined pill to show how much you have absorbed. And as for those two with blank papers, I know you have materials too; refine one and bring it up then. Class dismissed."

Just as Lu Xingzhou was about to make a run for it, Ye Tinglan said coldly: "You, the one standing in punishment, come with me."

Pei Chuyun's smile vanished.

Old woman, well played.

"Lu Nuonuo, come along too."

The smile transferred to A Nuo's face.

Pei Chuyun breathed a sigh of relief; with A Nuo's large lantern glowing so brightly it dazzled the eyes, it seemed the old woman didn't mean that kind of thing.

Tonight's date might be off. Never mind, it's not a festival anyway; may everyone with a date tonight be kept behind by the old woman alone!

(End of this chapter)