Chapter 53: Azure Cloud (31)

With a single sweep of his arm, Fu Fengyan bestowed a slap upon everyone present. Those with higher cultivation managed to hold on and remain conscious, while those with weaker cultivation fainted the moment they were sent flying.

Yun Zhi was slapped into a daze. Clutching his face, his head buzzed, followed immediately by a searing, burning pain. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with shock as he stared at Fu Fengyan.

A year ago, this man was a mortal with no cultivation, blind and frail, someone easily manipulated. It had been barely a year, yet now his eyes could see, he no longer gasped for breath when speaking, his frailness was gone, and his cultivation was terrifyingly high… It seemed that, just as Shen Xiyuan had said, there was definitely something suspicious about these two’s identities.

On the journey to Azure Cloud Academy, he and Shen Xiyuan had reviewed the events repeatedly. Back when the incident first occurred, he had assumed Shen Xiyuan’s swordsmanship was lacking or that he had simply missed his mark.

But later, they confirmed again and again that He Tingtong’s heart meridians and spiritual foundation had indeed been shattered at the time. Luoxue Cliff was nearly a hundred zhang deep. Falling down without the ability to use spiritual energy meant certain death—bones crushed to dust. Even if he could still ride the wind back then and didn’t die from the fall, being frozen in that blizzard for so long should have resulted in death from severe injuries.

Fu Fengyan stood in the middle of the road, his eyes slightly lowered. There was not a trace of emotion in his gaze as he stared coldly at everyone, as if looking at dead objects.

This manner of regarding human life as mere grass… truly did not resemble the way of a celestial cultivator.

Yun Zhi became increasingly certain of his guess. For He Tingtong to return from the dead and have such an accomplice, he must have made an exchange with an Evil Cultivator. It was even possible that the soul inside that body was no longer his own!

Otherwise, why would his temperament have changed so drastically? How did he go from such an honest person to someone so vindictive and abnormally fierce?

Why had he only focused on worrying about Shen Xiyuan back then and failed to investigate deeper? If he had exposed them at that time, he wouldn’t have ended up in his current state.

Such a clumsy, hole-ridden excuse—how had it fooled all of them? How had he not exposed their scheme on the spot back then!

Yun Zhi wrung his hands, filled with endless regret.

The commotion here was simply too loud, and it soon attracted the instructor patrolling nearby. “Hey, you few over there! Azure Cloud Academy prohibits brawling!”

Seeing a savior, someone on the ground scrambled towards him, rolling and crawling while shouting, “Instructor, save us! Someone is killing people here!”

“Is this the rule of Azure Cloud Academy? We were merely passing by and greeted this Senior Brother. He found us too noisy, said we disturbed another Senior Brother’s dreams, and slapped us without a second word!”

“Instructor, look, some people were beaten unconscious and still haven’t woken up. You must uphold justice for us!”

Fu Fengyan: “?”

He watched the dark mass of people using their numbers to invert black and white. It seemed they truly hadn’t taken his words seriously at all.

Hearing the chaotic chorus of complaints from afar and seeing the crowd gathering, the instructor wondered who was bold enough to cause trouble in the academy. But as he approached in a few steps and took a closer look, he instantly stopped in his tracks.

It was simply too noisy. He Tingtong frowned, half-opened his eyelids, lay on Fu Fengyan’s shoulder, and gave a weary smile to the newcomer. “Instructor Chen, what a coincidence.”

“Oh my, how is it you two? Are you heading back?” Instructor Chen looked at He Tingtong, who seemed like he couldn’t even catch his breath, and asked with trepidation, “Did you stay up all night again?”

He Tingtong shook his head. “I haven’t slept for two days and nights. I finally settled the new expansion site, and I’ve organized the stipends for all the instructors for this year. They will be distributed in two days.”

Hearing that the money was coming, Instructor Chen immediately beamed with joy. “Little He, ah, with the Dean away, we really rely on you for these miscellaneous matters. Don’t overwork yourself, hurry back and rest!”

He Tingtong lazily lifted his eyes, glancing at the group of stunned youths behind the instructor who had gone silent at some point. His expression was indifferent. When his gaze landed on Yun Zhi in the corner, he was slightly surprised, then smiled at him. “Young Sect Master, long time no see. Why don’t I see Junior Brother Shen? Did he not accompany you?”

The moment He Tingtong spoke, everyone’s gaze landed on Yun Zhi like needles.

“He was expelled from the sect. Don’t you know that better than anyone?” Yun Zhi blinked, and tears immediately streamed down. He wiped them away casually and said softly, “Little Senior Brother, when you left the sect back then, I worried for a long time. To reunite at the academy this time truly makes one emotional.”

He Tingtong nodded. “Emotional indeed. I assume you still remember the words I said before we parted.”

Yun Zhi gripped the sword at his waist tightly and revealed a smile that couldn’t be more twisted. “Naturally, I remember.”

He Tingtong must hate him to the bone. What a coincidence; he felt the same.

Sliding down from Fu Fengyan, He Tingtong slowly stood up straight. In this past year, he had grown taller like bamboo after rain—tall and slender. He wore the fitted attire of the Sword Pavilion, black and white interlaced. Though there were dark circles under his eyes, his pupils were clear and bright. “A year unseen. If there is a chance, you and I should indeed catch up properly.”

“I will certainly pay a visit another day.” Yun Zhi’s gaze fell on He Tingtong’s Sword Pavilion robes, the corner of his eye twitching. The thing he desired most in this life, He Tingtong had obtained one step ahead of him…

The Hanshan Region was remote, and the travel expenses were exorbitant. He didn’t know how He Tingtong had managed it.

Looking closely now, it had only been a year, yet it felt as if they hadn’t seen each other for centuries. The annoying youth who used to follow behind him, desperately trying to please him, was gone. He couldn’t understand the current He Tingtong, but whether in demeanor or temperament, the difference was truly heaven and earth.

Instructor Chen was still pondering how to handle this group. Although many people came to Azure Cloud Academy, expelling dozens in one breath seemed a bit excessive.

While he hesitated, Fu Fengyan spoke up from the side, looking aggrieved. “He Tingtong, they slandered me.”

“Slandered you about what?” He Tingtong frowned slightly.

He was indeed too tired just now and had momentarily lost consciousness. He could hear the noise in his ears, but it was blurry and hadn’t registered in his brain. However, seeing the chaotic chatter of the group, he knew it wasn’t anything good.

“They said the two of us were engaging in illicit trysts, having an affair in the academy!” Fu Fengyan said loudly. “Although I really want to, I’ve clearly never succeeded!”

“We are still in a pure and innocent relationship as close friends because you haven’t relented at all!” As he spoke, a tone of grievance crept into Fu Fengyan’s voice.

He Tingtong: “…”

Instructor Chen coughed several times, turned his head away, and pointed at those few youths with a look of disappointment. “Yes, how could you slander him like that! Spouting nonsense without restraint. Behaving like this before even enrolling—how will you work for the Immortal Alliance in the future? How can you uphold justice impartially?”

“Who started the rumors? This old man will go find someone to strike their names from the registry right now!”

Fu Fengyan helpfully pointed out the few who had been the most loose-lipped, especially Yun Zhi. He tapped his finger in Yun Zhi’s direction twice, then looked expectantly at He Tingtong, hoping he would uphold justice for him.

Hearing Instructor Chen say this, many faces instantly turned pale.

Those standing here had all rushed from all corners of the world. Except for those from remote places like the Hanshan Region, most had spent a fortune to travel here. If they had signed up only to be swept out the door before even passing the preliminary test, their families’ efforts would be wasted, and they would surely face a scolding upon returning home.

Immediately, regret sprouted in many hearts. Even worse, some had already begun to secretly hate Yun Zhi. If not for this person’s instigation, they certainly wouldn’t have been so frivolous as to speak wildly to a Senior Brother of the academy.

Who could have known that two people who looked like ordinary students would have such a significant background!

“Many thanks, Instructor Chen. I appreciate your kindness, but there is no need to strike their names. Azure Cloud Academy values character first, and ability second. Since they have already received punishment, there is no need to penalize them further. I only hope they remember this lesson and repent in time.” He Tingtong patted Fu Fengyan on the shoulder to soothe him. “Fellow Daoists, there are three trials ahead. Since you are here, do not waste the opportunity, and especially do not waste time on verbal disputes.”

“The Azure Cloud Preliminary Test is in three days. Focusing on the exam is the proper path.”

He Tingtong waved his hand dismissively. “I’ll trouble the Instructor to guide them to their respective courtyards so they don’t wander around anymore. This student is truly exhausted and will go down to rest first.”

Instructor Chen agreed, “You two go, this old man will handle it right away.”

He Tingtong nodded and led Fu Fengyan away.

Only when they had walked far away did he explain to the person beside him, “It’s not that I didn’t want to uphold justice for you, but there’s no need to strike their names right now. The Dean has given me more and more tasks these past few months, and there are already instructors in the academy dissatisfied with me. If I cut people out at this time, someone will likely say I am using power for personal gain and eliminating dissidents, treating Azure Cloud Academy as my back garden.”

Moreover, he only needed one glance to know that those few people wouldn’t pass the trials.

Their mentality was too poor, too impetuous. Even if their cultivation was sufficient, they would be weeded out during the re-examination. It really wasn’t his turn to act.

In his current position, indeed, the more he did, the more mistakes he risked.

Yun Zhi, however, was a surprise. He hadn’t expected to have the chance to meet him again in this life.

But Azure Cloud Academy was a place the Yuheng Sect Master had coveted for a long time, so sending him here was logical. It was just strange that he didn’t see Shen Xiyuan. Logically speaking, those two should have been glued together, never separated.

There had been simply too many things lately. He Tingtong was so tired his brain felt numb, and he really wasn’t in the mood to think further. His eyelids drooped heavily. Before he could speak, Fu Fengyan beside him perceptively reached out and scooped him up by the waist. “Sleep. We’ll talk about everything else when you wake up.”

“Okay.”

The road to the small courtyard was long. Lying in Fu Fengyan’s arms, He Tingtong stiffened for a moment, but after a while, drowsiness finally conquered his consciousness. His body gradually relaxed and softened. He rested his head against Fu Fengyan’s chest and closed his eyes again.

This time, finally, no one disturbed him, allowing him to sleep soundly.