But she was now from the younger generation being fully propped up by the Yu Family, a person of great power and authority. And yet, she could still maintain such a close relationship with her disciple.
That was exceedingly rare in Yongzhou.
"Don’t cause a scene."
Lin Shu glanced at the two Vice Generals.
The siblings couldn’t hear the words Yu Sheng was secretly transmitting with her Essence Blood. Otherwise, the terror on their faces would have been several times more intense.
’Lin Shu, Lin Shu, why are people from the Demon-slaying Bureau here? Did she find out we’re Little Demons! Are they about to make a move?’
Hearing the faint excitement in the young woman’s voice, Lin Shu slowly pulled her off him and replied via Heart Thought, ’I’ll say it again: you’re not a Little Demon, and neither am I. We’re here on official business, not to become mountain bandits.’
"Oh."
Yu Sheng stood still, disappointed.
’She really didn’t want to go listen to that lifeless Elder Immortal Descendant teach her how to control Lin Shu anymore.’
’Ugh! I don’t want to go to class. I so badly want to blow up the academy!’
Although the little chick had released her arms, she still stood pressed close to Lin Shu’s side.
She had also heard all the recent rumors and gossip.
She couldn’t figure out a solution, so she could only use this childish method to declare her position to everyone.
"I think I got a lot stronger again today."
"I know."
"So, should we blow up the academy!"
"Shut up."
Sometimes, Lin Shu really envied the little chick’s reckless audacity.
’My Body Tempering Technique has only just reached the threshold of the early-stage Golden Core.’
’Even though Yu Sheng got stronger along with me, she’s at Core Formation Perfection at best.’
’The two of us together probably couldn’t even withstand a single squeeze from the Academy Headmaster, that Old Cyan Simurgh.’
"What are you all doing here?"
Just then, Ruan Xiangling snapped out of her surprise and glared toward the courtyard entrance.
Six Vice Generals clad in Profound Armor strode slowly into view.
Their leader was an older man with a square face and a black beard. He faintly exuded the aura of Core Formation Perfection, placing him a clear cut above the others.
Before him, even the normally composed Ruan Changfeng appeared somewhat young and inexperienced.
Behind the six Vice Generals followed seven or eight Captains, all of whom, like that Gong Yue, had already stepped into the Core Formation Realm.
The Demon-slaying Bureau’s arrival at Qiankun Academy with such a large contingent naturally attracted the curiosity of many lecturers and students, who all started to gather around.
"I am Lu Chengyu, paying my respects to Vice Mountain Master Yu."
The square-faced, black-bearded man ignored Ruan Xiangling, instead casually clasping his hands in salute toward the little chick.
"What is it?"
Yu Sheng looked over curiously, then secretly hid her hands behind her back, ready for Magical Combat at any moment!
"We have detected the trail of a Demon and are about to head to Wuyang County to eliminate it. We heard you’ve taken over Vice Mountain Master Chen’s position, so we’ve come to request some manpower."
Lu Chengyu lowered his hands, his expression nonchalant.
The Martial Arts Academy was no ordinary academy; it was a gathering place for disciples from the various great families. Besides their regular cultivation studies, they were also responsible for helping garrison the region.
Typically, the Vice Mountain Master of the Martial Arts Academy would issue an order for a lecturer to lead a team of students out of the city to assist the Demon-slaying Bureau in slaying demons.
A Vice General from the Demon-slaying Bureau would then grade the students’ performance for their academic record.
Wuyang County was a major county within Anren Prefecture and was indeed one of the areas under Yu Sheng’s purview.
Logically and procedurally, there was nothing wrong with the request.
However, someone in the watching crowd had already quietly grabbed a disciple, their expression grave as they whispered, "Quick, go get Vice Mountain Master Yu Mingxuan! Tell him the Qi Family is making trouble again."
The Yu and Qi Families jointly controlled Yongzhou, but their overt and covert struggles had never ceased.
The Yu Family had just started making moves to build up Yu Sheng’s prestige, and they were already being targeted by the Qi Family.
Everyone knew that Yu Sheng had only been a Vice Mountain Master for a little over ten days and was still pursuing her own studies at the Scholars’ Academy.
Furthermore, her situation was unique. She had returned from the Yongzhou Pass trial with only two disciples, one of whom was more of a study companion, leaving Lin Shu as her only true disciple.
And as it happened, Lin Shu was seriously injured.
The Demon-slaying Bureau’s request for manpower at this moment was a clear provocation. They wanted to brand Yu Sheng with the disgrace of being "unvirtuous in a high position, and too weak for a heavy burden."
This might not have been a problem for anyone else.
But Yu Sheng’s promotion had indeed been an artificial one.
"Senior Lu, now doesn’t seem like the time for these games, does it?"
Ruan Changfeng’s brow furrowed tightly, and he abruptly stood up.
’Have the Immortal Families grown too comfortable? Yongzhou Pass has fallen, yet instead of figuring out how to reclaim it together, all they can think about is their internal power struggles.’
"You’re not in your Profound Armor. In what capacity are you speaking to me?"
Lu Chengyu glanced over, his expression full of contempt. "If you truly wish to interfere in official business, you can go run and tell your master. I suppose General Lei would give the General some face and let you... and your pack of cowardly subordinates, come back to duty."
"Lu!" Ruan Xiangling seethed.
’Brainless fools.’
Lu Chengyu retracted his gaze. These people still didn’t get it. The Demon-slaying Bureau worked for the Immortal Families, not for some laughable cause like maintaining peace in Yongzhou and protecting the common folk.
’The most important thing, of course, is to curry favor with the Immortal Families.’
’They don’t even know who butters their bread. They deserve to be suspended without pay, right along with their Captains and new recruits. They’d better hope those lowly commoners can give them their cultivation resources.’
"Tch."
The Captains lowered their heads, trying to hide their smirks.
"My apologies for the interruption, Vice Mountain Master Yu. Let’s return to the matter at hand."
Lu Chengyu’s gaze returned to Yu Sheng. "Time is short; we depart tomorrow. It would be best to draw up the list now so they can make their preparations."
He said "they."
But the Vice General’s gaze quietly fell upon Lin Shu.
For the Qi Family, this was an excellent opportunity.
Because no matter what Yu Sheng chose, the reputation that had been so carefully built up for her would be shattered in an instant.
If she refused to send anyone, she would be deemed incompetent for her position.
If she sent the gravely injured Lin Shu, she would be seen as cold-hearted.
After all, Lin Shu was no ordinary disciple. Many people had heard the stories about him and Yu Sheng.
He was the disciple who had protected her since she was at her most vulnerable.
If she were to force him forward while he was so badly injured, just to protect her own reputation...
...then why would any other talented disciple, given a choice, ever pledge themselves to her?
Besides, even if Lin Shu did participate, his performance would be judged by the Demon-slaying Bureau.
Yu Sheng would still be unable to escape the accusation of incompetence.
With such a stain on her record, it would be difficult for her to become a true Celestial Pride.
"This is absurd! How can they be so aggressive? Master Lin hasn’t even recovered from his injuries. He hasn’t taught a single class—where is he supposed to get students from?"
The indignant voices of several lecturers rose from the crowd.
Lu Chengyu, however, acted as if he heard nothing, and simply waited quietly for her response.
"I don’t have any people..."
Yu Sheng didn’t understand all these machinations, and even if she did, she wouldn’t care.
She turned her head, about to refuse point-blank.
But then she saw the handsome young man adjust his lounging position in the bamboo chair and unexpectedly agree. "Got it. No need for a list. Just come find me tomorrow."
Despite the Demon-slaying Bureau’s aggression, his face showed no trace of anger, nor any sign of tension from being pressured by Vice General Lu.
The crowd outside the courtyard stared in astonishment.
’He’s putting on a brave face despite being so seriously injured?’
"I... am to come find *you*...?"
Lu Chengyu’s eyes narrowed, and his voice grew cold. "Are you certain?"
’Did this guy get too used to bossing around those Trial Disciples in the Border Region? He comes back to Anren Prefecture, completely clueless about the situation, and still tries to put on his Trial’s First Disciple airs.’
’Besides, I was asking for Vice Mountain Master Yu’s answer.’
’For this young man to step forward on his own like this, it greatly diminishes the impact of my power play.’
"Whether I’m certain or not is irrelevant."
Lin Shu lightly patted his sleeve and looked over calmly. "But from the moment you stepped into this courtyard until now, it seems you’ve forgotten to do one thing."
He said gently, "But that’s fine. Seeing as it’s your first offense, I’ll give you one chance."
As his clear voice carried, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.
The Vice Generals and Captains exchanged bewildered glances.
Only Lu Chengyu’s expression twitched. He stared at the Flowing Cloud Sword Robe the young man wore and slowly clenched his fists.
Under that gentle gaze.
The Vice General swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
His eyes filled with gloom, he reluctantly clasped his hands in salute again. "Lu Chengyu, a World Traveler Disciple of the Qi Family, pays his respects to the Yu Family’s Senior Brother Mountain Master."
’Even if he got his Mountain Master position by bullying Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he’s still a Mountain Master.’
’I’m only a World Traveler Disciple. When I meet a Senior Brother Mountain Master, I naturally have to be the one to offer greetings.’
"You may go," Lin Shu said with a casual nod.
"We’re leaving!"
Under the perplexed gazes of the crowd.
His face dark, Lu Chengyu spun around and stormed out of the academy, his entourage of Vice Generals and Captains in tow.

Comments

Loading...