Beauty under the lamp

No matter how difficult it was to secretly keep Chu Changqing, life had to go on.

Thank goodness, after waking up that time, his Blackening Value did not increase further. Although the days he was unconscious were longer than when he was awake—this was a good thing, Chang Wan enjoyed the peace.

Besides taking care of Chu Changqing, Chang Wan had been studying the contents of the jade slip, not aiming to become a cultivation prodigy overnight, but at least mastering some spells.

The lecture day three days later arrived unexpectedly. With some foundational knowledge, Chang Wan lectured at the Sage Hall quite coherently. Of course, even if she made a mistake somewhere, no disciple dared to say anything to her.

Because she was afraid disciples would ask questions that exposed her knowledge gaps, Chang Wan planned to slip away immediately after the lecture, but she stopped as soon as she stepped out the door.

It seemed that thinking she had truly left, people behind the Sage Hall began to discuss things unrelated to cultivation in low voices.

“I heard there’s some unrest in the south; the Sect Leader might have to go on a long trip…”

Chang Wan changed her mind. She stood quietly by the door, concealed, pretending to admire the scenery, and began eavesdropping.

Through her inquiries over the past few days, she had roughly learned some news about the Qingfeng Sect.

The Qingfeng Sect Leader was named Qi Bing, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, the same youth she met in the main hall that day.

It was said he came from the wealthy Qi Clan of Yangzhou, a prestigious family. He was exceptionally gifted but, due to some unknown incident, eventually came to the poor and remote Qingzhou in the north, near the sea, and joined the Qingfeng Sect.

Because of his youthful talent, he helped the Qingfeng Sect overcome great difficulties several times. Before the former Sect Leader of Qingfeng Sect passed away, he left a written instruction for Qi Bing to become the next Sect Leader.

As for her, Chang Wan’s original identity… seemed to be the legitimate daughter of the local Chang family in Qingzhou.

For some unknown reason, the original owner gave up being a young lady from a prestigious family, abandoned her clan, and joined the Qingfeng Sect to become an Elder of a faction.

Families in the Nine Provinces that could be called a “Clan” by the cultivation world were not ordinary mortals; they usually needed foundations spanning several hundred or even several thousand years of cultivation, housing figures above the Nascent Soul stage to earn the title of “Clan” in the cultivation world.

Although the Qingfeng Sect was one of the top sects in Qingzhou, it still lacked a certain prestige compared to the great clans.

Thus, the original owner giving up being a proper young lady to become an obscure Elder was puzzling.

As for the matter of the original owner’s “sister” mentioned by Elder Xia, Chang Wan still hadn’t managed to find out about it.

However, she did gather quite a bit of scandalous gossip about the original owner and the Sect Leader. Whether it was true or not, it made her feel awkward listening.

Recalling her thoughts, Chang Wan continued eavesdropping.

“If the Sect Leader goes on a long trip, then only the three Elders will remain in charge of the sect?”

“I heard Elder Xia will go with him too.”

“…”

“Ah? Then only Elder Qiu and Elder Chang will be left? I wonder what important matter in the south requires the Sect Leader to leave…”

“Don’t worry about that. I heard that young lady from the Fire Sect Elder’s daughter is coming to our sect as an exchange student early—the Sect Leader leaving, this matter…”

“That’s not something to worry about. Supposedly that young lady arrived early—enough about this; quickly think about what Elder Chang just taught. I’m almost forgetting. Did you take notes?”

“…”

The Sect Leader and Elder Xia having an important errand to take a long trip? That was cause for great celebration!

Chang Wan’s joy showed on her face. Suddenly, someone stepped out of the classroom. She was leaning against the wall, and he didn’t see her at first. Before Chang Wan could react, he suddenly turned back.

Chang Wan’s expression of joy froze on her face: “…”

The person who turned back was a youth with single eyelids and crescent-shaped eyes. When he looked at people, he seemed to be smiling all the time, making anyone who saw him feel that beneath that beautiful exterior must reside an interesting soul, making it hard not to be pleased upon seeing him.

He blinked, saw her, and the beautiful corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Chang Wan composed herself, suppressing her joy, and adopted a stern appearance, “It’s not time for the end of class. Who allowed you to come out?”

He blinked, shook his head without speaking, and with a flourish like a magic trick, waved his hand, making a talisman appear. He used his finger as a brush and his spiritual energy as ink, writing freely. A few words materialized on the paper.

[You should smile more; it looks very good.]

……Is he mute?

Wait, what would the original owner do if she were teased like this? Would she slap the person to death with one palm?

Before Chang Wan could decide how to handle this, he grinned, revealing a small canine tooth, stuffed the talisman into her hand, then turned and re-entered the Sage Hall.

His movements carried the childish air of a young man.

Chang Wan looked at the talisman in her hand. The handwriting was refined and elegant, yet carried a hint of sharpness amidst the flowing style.

……But why did she accept this??

Just as she was about to throw it away, the system, which had been pretending to be dead, suddenly sprang back to life.

“This is a mission item; please keep it safe.”

Chang Wan held the talisman, not knowing how to dispose of it, and looked up to see the disciple guarding the door glancing sideways at her. When he saw her looking over, he quickly turned his head back.

Chang Wan held the talisman, deep in thought.

~

She threw the books she held—A Guide to Safely Passing the Heart Movement Stage, How to Safely Navigate the Heart Movement Stage, The Necessary Path to a Still Heart—onto the small table. They were all proper blue-covered bound books, so why were the titles so awkward?

She rubbed her temples. With a glance to the side, she saw the youth draped in clothes, the candlelight flickering, illuminating the blue book scroll in his hands. His long black hair was scattered over his shoulders, and he wore clean, neat black undergarments, spotless.

Because of the plot she had seen earlier, even though Chang Wan didn’t try to snatch his jade pendant, she was afraid he might accidentally succumb to demonic cultivation. So, she brought back these books. One reason was to make herself a more competent teacher, and the other was to give him something to do to ease the tension.

He flipped the page of the book slowly under the dim candlelight, his fair fingertips moving deliberately.

His movements were graceful and unhurried.

It seemed that no matter what difficulty he faced, he could smile and place himself at an unhurried pace.

Just like now, clearly aware that he was her prisoner, he could still remain composed; just like in the mountain prison, even when poisoned and covered in wounds, he could still flash her a smile—if one ignored the ruthlessness in his eyes, the desire to take her life given the first chance.

He was a person of clear good and evil who had been toyed with by fate, turning him into an unforgivable villain.

Thinking of his situation, Chang Wan stared at him, lost in thought for a moment.

When she came to her senses, the scroll in the youth’s hand had been turned over, placed neatly by the head of the bed. He was also looking at her, his eyes as black as obsidian, yet silent.

Chang Wan felt awkward for a moment. She turned her head away, silently tidying the books on her own desk, trying to compose herself.

The youth watched her, his gaze deep and varying.

Chang Wan could feel his gaze like a sharp edge on her back. She brushed past the thick books and said uncomfortably, “Read more books, don’t…”

Don’t stare at me.

The words turned at her throat, and she said, “Don’t look around randomly.”

Chu Changqing lowered his head, “Mm.”

Her voice was cool, carrying the softness of a Jiangnan lady.

Chu Changqing didn’t know what she wanted to do.

But he felt it was very comfortable.

Her aura, the tone of her voice, every frown and smile—unconsciously, it seemed to differentiate her from the stern and cold person from the mountain prison, making her seem like someone else.

It made him involuntarily retract the sharpness on his body and listen to her gentle words, yet his restlessness in his heart grew stronger.