Chapter 199: Mama, I'm Sleepy

Lu Xingzhou leaned against the cave wall to cultivate, while in his mind he was also pondering this hexagram, and sorting out the gains and losses of his four-month journey from Xiazhou to the capital.

If "The Marrying Maiden, Delayed Return" means a late return that has its proper time, the same can be applied to his revenge hexagram.

The trip to the capital had several goals, and the one dealing with the Huo family was actually a failure from start to finish — so-called "Staking the Deer Without a Guide," no way to make a move, only able to beat the drum on the sidelines; it looked like a flourishing bouquet but actually had no real value.

Far better were the results from the two battles at Xiazhou and Menggui City — one slaughtered Huo Yu, the other crippled Huo Lu... In the capital there were too many scruples, nothing could be done.

Of course, the other side had just as many scruples; at least they couldn't take his life. A draw.

It was only that his emotional life was charging forward triumphantly, masking the total lack of progress on revenge.

Just when he had a mentor and dealt a major blow to Huo Zhang, it was already time to leave the capital.

The hexagram has changed, that's fine — a late return has its proper time; an opportunity will come sooner or later.

The goal of gilding was half a success. He could enter the Alchemy Academy under the name of Top Graduate, his Golden Body was gilded, and he successfully followed a first-rank mentor, with the knowledge he wanted to learn also in hand. His cultivation broke straight through to fourth grade, he subdued a brand-new fire seed, his immortal bones pierced through his entire body, he slew the former top of the new talents and publicly challenged the current top of the new talents, and his fame soared. Both civil and martial paths could be considered great harvests, brimming to the brim.

To say he is currently the most eye-catching rising star of the Daqian is absolutely no problem.

But because the time was short, there are still quite a few regrets. The most typical is failing to build good relationships with classmates — these are all future connections. Students who can enter the Alchemy Academy are all quite strong themselves; either they come from very high backgrounds, or they will certainly become important figures of some factions in the future. Having this batch of classmate bonds is itself a layer of gilding for the future.

Lu Xingzhou had already realized this, and had been actively avoiding earning hatred. After a few small gestures, the classmates' little jealousy and little resistance toward him had faded, but in the end he hadn't made any friends.

However, according to Ye Tinglan, classmates are always classmates, different from passers-by, and at the appropriate time they can always be transformed into connections.

That statement is also true; there will always be chances to take it slowly in the future.

At least after the trial he still has to return to the capital to graduate, and will still spend a period of time with his classmates; we'll talk about it then.

Isn't this also "The Marrying Maiden, Delayed Return" — a late return that has its proper time?

This hexagram is guidance for the future, but is it not also a summary of the past?

Lu Xingzhou felt, for the first time, a slight awe toward the Way of Divination. This thing is rather interesting...

"Um... Mr." In the flickering light of the bonfire, Lu Xingzhou suddenly spoke and broke the silence.

"What?" Ye Tinglan opened her eyes in a corner.

"I want to learn divination too. Can you teach me, Mr.?"

"I won't."

Lu Xingzhou: "?"

"What Yan Jun taught you, I can teach better than her. What she didn't teach — am I stuffed?"

Lu Xingzhou: "???"

Wait a moment — what's the point of taking me as a disciple?

Isn't it to monitor me and get information about Yama Hall from me, but rather... to compete with Yan Jun?

Ye Tinglan seemed to feel she had misspoken, closed her eyes, and no matter how much Lu Xingzhou called out, she said nothing more.

…………

The three of them subsequently braved the wind and slept under the open sky for several days on the road, and only upon arriving at Menggui City did Ye Tinglan for the first time agree to enter the city to rest.

Lu Xingzhou and Anuo thought she simply disliked entering cities and insisted on maintaining the lofty hermit style of lodging in the mountains... Following a mentor on a trial, this counts as part of the trial, right?

No choice but to stay in caves.

Upon arriving at Menggui City, Meng Guan seemed to have received some kind of report and came out to greet them well in advance outside the city, cupping his hands: "Lady Ye's gracious presence makes Menggui City shine."

Ye Tinglan returned the courtesy.

This courtesy startled Meng Guan so much he nearly jumped, but he forcibly held it in, stroking his beard as he accepted it.

After all, the one before him right now is merely a Mr. of the Alchemy Academy, not the National Preceptor, not the National Preceptor.

"Greetings, Prefect Meng — we meet again." Lu Xingzhou, with Anuo, disheveled like savages, appeared before him.

Anuo's bun was half undone, her hair like a bird's nest.

Meng Guan: "... You've always struck me as elegant and gentle in bearing. What happened?"

"Anyone who spent several consecutive days in the wild during heavy rain would look about the same. We're actually doing fine — at least we can prop up a qi barrier so filth doesn't touch us..."

Meng Guan's cheek twitched: "I've prepared a guesthouse. Follow me."

It was only while following Meng Guan toward the guesthouse that master and disciple realized why Lady Ye had refused to stay at inns all along, insisting on braving the wind and sleeping under the open sky.

She was unwilling to be seen lodging with a man and a child, unwilling to bear even a fraction of an outsider's gaze at a family of three — even though the shop assistants didn't recognize anyone at all.

She'd rather stay outdoors the whole way; after all, no one would know.

As for being dirty from the heavy rain all along, it didn't matter to her — her powerful cultivation repels every speck of dust, and besides, she neither worked nor slept.

Once here, with an official acquaintance to receive her, it was proper and aboveboard, and only then was she willing to stay. The cheated master and disciple suddenly realized that all their suffering along the way was just for the sake of her little bit of face. Lu Xingzhou, leading Anuo along behind, watched her graceful figure, and a touch of petty malice rose in their eyes in unison.

So you want face, do you?

Afraid of people talking, are you?

Up ahead, Ye Tinglan was saying to Meng Guan: "There's no need for a welcome banquet; we are all of the pure cultivation..."

"Mama~" Anuo, rubbing her eyes, hugged her from behind: "I'm tired, I want a hug."

Ye Tinglan: "?"

Meng Guan: "!!!"

Ye Tinglan's poise and bearing were nearly lost entirely; she grabbed Anuo's ear in exasperation: "Who's your mama? What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Oh." Anuo suddenly covered her mouth, eyes panicked: "Forgot I'm not allowed... sorry, Mr."

Meng Guan's gaze turned probing; he looked at Ye Tinglan, then at the tall, handsome Lu Xingzhou, his expression an impossible mix of disbelief and a three-part hint of "I see."

No wonder — the Alchemy Academy has never had students go out independently with a mentor this early; it normally starts after half a year at least, and it's also rare to bring only one student. Now it all makes sense.

A little puppy, handsome and good-looking — understandable. Who would have thought the National Preceptor, famed for pure cultivation and abstinence, also has needs...

Lu Xingzhou would bet that even an award-winning actor would struggle to perform the micro-expressions Meng Guan was giving, but this was no time to appreciate it. He swiftly stepped forward and took Anuo away: "Sorry, Mr., Anuo's sleepy and muddled..."

Ye Tinglan took a deep breath, her chest heaving; the power within her was like a volcano about to erupt, and anyone with even a smidge of sense "whooshed" several zhang away.

Meng Guan timely said: "Children are like that — when they see someone close to them, they love to call out randomly. But speaking of which, a teacher is like a parent; Lady Ye is Lu Nuonuo's mentor, so it's not uncalled for."

At least the situation was smoothed over. Ye Tinglan took a deep breath, pressed down her shame and annoyance, and said coolly, "Let's go. Lodging will be fine, I won't attend the welcome banquet. A'Nuo loves to eat, you can take them separately."

Lu Xingzhou hurriedly said, "Then we won't eat either."

"Eat! Why wouldn't you eat!" Ye Tinglan said angrily, "Get lost, now."

Master and disciple said in unison, "Then we'll reluctantly go eat a little."

Seeing the matching grins on master and disciple, Ye Tinglan's voice caught in her throat. So all this fuss was just so you could go eat at the banquet?

Just for the banquet! You just wait! When the time comes, I'll have people eat *your* banquet!

Of course it was just for the banquet. Eating roasted sweet potatoes all the way here hadn't killed anyone yet, and now that we've reached Menggui City you still say you won't attend the welcome banquet, just lodging? You won't eat, but my A'Nuo the Great Emperor wants to eat!

It wasn't just for the food, but also to make the Mr. who was putting on airs descend to the mortal world.

I thought your realm was so high, you looked so aloof and serene, but turns out you still can't take honor and disgrace as passing wind. Why care how others see you? It's also because of this that you're full of worries, always fretting over things that shouldn't belong to her concerns?

"Um... Xingzhou..."

The banquet was a private one, with only Meng Guan accompanying Lu Xingzhou and his disciple for the meal. A'Nuo clung to a roast chicken, eating with great relish, while Meng Guan chatted privately with Lu Xingzhou. His attitude had clearly shifted from that of a Commandant bringing along a junior; there was now a hint of caution, and his address had become the extremely familiar "Xingzhou."

Damn, the National Preceptor's face-slave isn't something an ordinary person can handle.

"Ah? Commandant Meng, please give your instructions."

"No instructions." Meng Guan lowered his voice: "Lady Ye never takes disciples. Xingzhou gaining her favor is a matter of fate."

"Actually, Mr. is only cold on the surface. In daily life she's quite easygoing."

Of course—who could enjoy her easygoing nature? Meng Guan grumbled inwardly, but said aloud: "That demonic woman last time... was it... Pei..."

Lu Xingzhou hurriedly interrupted: "Has the Commandant still not caught that demonic woman from last time?"

"... No, she should have fled elsewhere long ago, perhaps the capital." Meng Guan had actually gotten his answer and said no more. Damn, this Lu Xingzhou's luck is really strange. A mere young scholar, yet everyone he's connected to is this kind of faction—the Phoenix Princess, the Pei family, the Tianyao Holy Land.

Oh, and probably the Yanluo Hall too.

Actually, Meng Guan forgot that he himself was also one of the factions Lu Xingzhou was connected to. As someone who fought side by side with Lu Xingzhou to take down the demonic cultivator Infant Ghost, and as a rare good official in Lu Xingzhou's heart, his brother Meng Li had also looked after Lu Xingzhou much at the Alchemy Academy. In outsiders' eyes, the Meng family was also very close to Lu Xingzhou.

The Meng family wasn't a huge clan like the Pei family, nor did they have the currently flourishing power of the Huo family in court, but they were equally a thousand-year lineage with pure and proper pedigree, and both brothers' positions were not low. Though they would mostly have to choose a larger faction to attach to, it was more of a cooperative nature. The Pei family they currently depended on also had to give them the utmost respect, and wouldn't really treat them as subordinates to order about.

In the Great Qian imperial court, families like theirs were the backbone.

Now, in Meng Guan's eyes, Lu Xingzhou had become a hot commodity, a rare treasure worth hoarding. Along with that, his judgment of the Tianxing Sword Sect and Shen Tang had quietly shifted a little.

Lu Xingzhou ate as he casually asked, "These past days I've been in the capital, not setting foot in the jianghu. I wonder if there are any fresh happenings in the world?"

Meng Guan smiled and said, "I heard you're on good terms with the chief editor of the Heroes List in the capital. Do you still need us to tell you about these things? She knows more than anyone."

Mm, it's a pity she never spreads melon when eating it—call it the integrity of a melon-eater. Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Really don't have any."

Meng Guan stroked his beard and said: "The Yanluo Hall's Yan Jun dealt a major defeat to the Corpse Sect's Sect Master, then dispatched Eastern Ghost Emperor Ji Wenchuan to break the Corpse Sect's Bronze-Iron Corpse Puppet Grand Formation, forcing the Corpse Sect to submit and swear allegiance. Does that count?"

Lu Xingzhou was stunned for a long while: "How did the Yanluo Hall and the Corpse Sect get into it?"

"The cause is unknown. They say the Corpse Sect offended one of their people? But the Corpse Sect doesn't admit it, says there's no such thing—it's probably just an excuse."

(End of chapter)