Chapter 190: Got Roped In Again

It wasn't just A'nuo who thought this scene was beautiful; Lu Xingzhou himself found it unexpectedly harmonious.

The two were so close that turning his head slightly would let him bite off her veil... The faint fragrance wafting into his nose could, without him noticing, make his heart race and his mind wander.

Just a short while ago they had been at odds, yet this Mr. truly held no grudge at all.

Actually, this kind of big-sister-teaching state had existed between him and Yuan Muyu long ago... The only slight difference was that back then, Yuan Muyu would always tease him secretly after just a few lessons, creating moments like suddenly turning her head so her nose brushed his cheek... Thus, a proper lesson would turn quite romantic.

But now, Mr. Ye was serious, dignified, and intellectual, with not a single stray thought; the only one with stray thoughts was himself.

"Hmm?" Ye Tinglan seemed to sense something: "You understood every word so quickly before, why do you need me to repeat things now?"

Lu Xingzhou quickly gathered his thoughts: "Nothing, perhaps I'm just a bit tired."

Ye Tinglan turned her head, looking at him suspiciously.

As she turned, her veil lifted slightly, brushing past Lu Xingzhou's nose.

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

It was only then that Ye Tinglan realized the two were too close; she had always had only a well-behaved, cold female disciple and forgotten that having a male disciple could be inconvenient... She made no further remark, merely waving her hand like shooing a fly: "Since you're tired, go back and rest; we'll talk next time."

Lu Xingzhou said, "Mr. doesn't often stay in the office; where should I find Mr. on ordinary days?"

"Since I am responsible for guiding you, I will come daily for this period; we'll discuss changing locations whenever you decide to."

"Yes."

Ye Tinglan fell silent for a moment, then added, "The matter of the altar was me playing a trick on you, so I'll give you another piece of information in return."

Lu Xingzhou glanced at her but didn't answer.

Ye Tinglan continued on her own: "The demon tribes of the Northern Lands are invading again; originally it was just a small raid like gathering fodder, but the main general in that region, for some unknown reason, left the area completely undefended, leaving a border city without any defense. As a result, a small demon raiding party unexpectedly took the entire city."

Lu Xingzhou listened as if hearing gossip: "Isn't it deliberate collusion?"

"Actually, it isn't."

"Then with such a major event, does no one in the court know yet?"

"Because the main general is named Huo Zhang, and Huo Xingyuan, the Marquis Zhenyuan in charge of the Northern Lands, is his own father. Huo Zhang realized he made a mistake and is now trying hard to retake the city, pretending nothing happened. He sent troops out last night; the result is still unknown."

Lu Xingzhou: "..."If he gets beaten back, it'll be funny."

"Huo Zhang has been a seasoned battlefield general for many years; he shouldn't be that bad..." Ye Tinglan said leisurely: "Now that you know this, how will you use it?"

"His accidental loss of the city is very likely because he was secretly trading with the demon tribes, mistakenly thinking this raiding party was his own people, so he didn't intervene, but they weren't... thus the mishap occurred. That's the only explanation." Lu Xingzhou said, "This matter isn't like the altar incident; it can't be exposed directly, but we'd better find a way. If exposed directly, Huo Xingyuan could claim false accusation; the Emperor would send someone to investigate, and if by chance Huo Zhang actually retakes the city, it would indeed become a false accusation."

Ye Tinglan smiled: "Do you have any ideas?"

"This mainly depends on the demon tribes' intentions. If they have no intention of keeping the city and withdraw directly, he can retake it on the spot; but if they truly intend to occupy it and quickly send several powerful ones to garrison it, he really won't be able to retake it." Lu Xingzhou stroked his chin: "This matter could be small or large; if it escalates, it might turn into a full-scale war."

This world has no Great Wall; some mountain passes and strongholds aren't particularly formidable, making border regions easy to invade. But powerful cultivators can fly to support extremely quickly, and cities have strong defenses, so normally occupying a city is difficult. However, it also means that once the enemy occupies it, retaking it isn't easy either.

As long as they want to defend, if the enemy simply flies a First-Rank Great Demon to garrison there, Huo Zhang would be stunned.

Even if they don't want to defend, dragging Huo Zhang out for a few days isn't too hard. Because Huo Zhang likely dares not mobilize a large army, only daring to bring his own subordinates, making it hard even to besiege the city.

"Why should we report it..." Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment, then said, "The Northern soldiers have worked hard; sending someone to bring rewards and offer comfort is a common practice, isn't it?"

"It is common. Usually, eunuchs from the palace are sent."

"The Pei family should step up; let them propose rewards and comfort. On the surface, the destination is another defense zone, unrelated to Huo Zhang's area, but in reality, on the way they pull the eunuch straight to Huo Zhang's side, saying to give face to Lord Huo, Huo's second young master should be visited first; this shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Ye Tinglan's eyes held a smile: "Not difficult. However, if the Pei family proposes it, people will be alert; it would be better if the Imperial Preceptor mentions it casually, as if unintentionally. I'll go speak with her. We can also dispatch cultivators from the Imperial Observatory to bestow blessings together."

Lu Xingzhou quickly said, "Then I thank Mr. for this."

"Why thank me... This is your personal grudge, but isn't it also a matter of family and nation?" Ye Tinglan stood up, glanced down at Lu Xingzhou who was still sitting obediently, let out a cold snort with ambiguous meaning, turned, and left.

As if to say, Didn't you say you didn't want my help? Now you're thanking me so obsequiously.

Lu Xingzhou felt stepped on again...

"Master, Master?" A'nuo waved her small hand beside him: "Everyone's gone; why are you still zoning out?"

"My chest hurts."

A'nuo: "?"

"Let's go find Chu Yun to discuss what the Pei family can do about this." Lu Xingzhou's mood improved greatly: "Indeed, some people are different; just this kind of information is something I could never have obtained firsthand myself." A'nuo followed him toward the Imperial Academy: "She's a teacher at the Alchemy Academy; how could she know such a confidential incident? Huo Zhang deliberately concealed it; neither the Emperor nor the Imperial Preceptor would know."

"Within Huo Zhang's sphere of influence, other factions would likely be excluded, making it hard to learn his information, but the alchemists accompanying the army might come from the Alchemy Academy."

A'nuo suddenly understood.

In fact, the Imperial Preceptor Ye Tinglan truly didn't know this news; it was actually Lady Ye, a teacher at the Alchemy Academy, who knew. This was precisely why Ye Tinglan had been in contact with the Alchemy Academy these years and even deliberately came as a guest lecturer.

The Alchemy Academy is an important training ground for imperial alchemists; its influence permeates many factions in every aspect. She must exert certain influence; besides face and connections, she also secretly gathers some worthy individuals.

This time, it was a secret report from an alchemist she had secretly gathered, who felt this matter was too outrageous.

Thanks entirely to the Heavenly Yao Sacred Land, the Emperor was too vigilant, making many things impossible; theoretically, the Imperial Preceptor also couldn't recklessly involve herself in court affairs. This Lady Ye's identity, however, allowed her to extend many more tendrils.

So she was very tired.

And in recent years, the most important "prey" her tendrils had clung to might have been Lu Xingzhou...

Lu Xingzhou, in a good mood, led A'nuo to the Imperial Academy. The academy had already dismissed for the day; students were heading home in twos and threes, creating a bustling scene.

Lu Xingzhou immediately spotted the little white flower Pei Chuyun, holding a stack of manuscripts.

Having just lost her virginity, Pei Chuyun felt a bit guilty; she planned to stay home pretending for a few days, so today, as soon as school ended, she went straight home, not planning to come out tonight for any secret romance games.

But even going home properly, she was blocked: "Young Lady Pei..."

Pei Chuyun glared angrily at the Qi Tuizhi before her: "You're not done yet, are you? Didn't I beat you enough last time?"

"Young Lady misunderstands; this time I was entrusted by someone to invite Young Lady to a banquet."

"Who?"

"The Third Young Master Huo."

"He's inviting me to a banquet?" Pei Chuyun almost laughed out loud: "Is he here to fulfill his love promise with the roasted pig head?"

"The specifics are unknown to me; I was merely entrusted to deliver a message. Um, at Misty Rain..."

Before the words finished, someone grabbed his shoulder: "Brother Qi..."

Qi Tuizhi turned his head to look, finding Lu Xingzhou standing aside with a smile: "It seems my previous performance wasn't obvious enough... Well, since so many people are here today, I'll make my words clear: I, Lu, am fond of Young Lady Pei; please, everyone else, keep your distance. If I get jealous and cause some unsightly scene, that wouldn't be good..."

Pei Chuyun instantly became all smiles, then immediately felt her reaction was inappropriate, and quickly set her face stern again: "I am no one to you, yet you meddle so broadly."

Lu Xingzhou laughed: "I am temporarily no one to Young Lady, but I can make those who wish to become someone to Young Lady unable to do so."

Qi Tuizhi finally could not hold back: "Lu Xingzhou, have you not figured out who you are? Is the Imperial Academy a place where you can spout such nonsense, with so many Wang Hou and Young Masters present?"

"But now, the Wang Hou and Young Masters are very accommodating; only Brother Qi, who is neither a Wang Hou nor a Young Master, is so unaccommodating... What is that based on, being the top new talent?"

Upon mentioning the top new talent, the sarcasm overflowed in his expression, and people around were secretly laughing.

Qi Tuizhi, the top new talent who had been defeated in turn by the second and third place, had now become almost a term of mockery in people's mouths; everyone mentioned it with a strange smile on their face.

Qi Tuizhi himself could especially not bear to hear it; generally, others dared not mention those four words before him, for mentioning them was like lighting a powder keg.

At this moment, it was the same; his face instantly darkened: "But unfortunately, those who defeated me were the direct disciple of Tianyao and the direct daughter of the Pei family, not Your Excellency."

He had to emphasize the backgrounds of Dugu Qingli and Pei Chuyun, making his defeat seem understandable.

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "I, Lu, indeed have no status; even pursuing Young Lady Pei makes me feel somewhat ashamed... Hmm, I just happen to want to borrow something from Brother Qi to bolster my status."

Qi Tuizhi said coldly: "What?"

Lu Xingzhou bowed with great grace: "Your title as the top new talent."

The onlooking crowd erupted.

This was the third time in just a few days that Qi Tuizhi had been challenged!

As he said, both Dugu Qingli and Pei Chuyun had magnificent backgrounds, so their defeat could still save face.

But Lu Xingzhou did not.

It was well known that Lu Xingzhou was the abandoned son of the Huo family, and now was merely a guest elder of a third grade sect; his status, let alone comparing to most in the Imperial Academy, was not even up to the capital's average level; he was just an orphan from the countryside.

If this challenge resulted in another loss, Qi Tuizhi could commit suicide...

(End of this chapter)