Chapter 217: Farewell

"I heard you pulled off another big one yesterday evening?" The next day, in the office, Ye Tinglan, arms crossed and legs propped up, watched Lu Xingzhou enter with a faint, knowing smile.

Lu Xingzhou chuckled, "If I can't do anything else, can't I at least beat someone up? So, did the Huo family complain? What's the Dan Academy's punishment?"

"Three days suspension."

"That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"...Plus a thousand-character self-criticism essay to be posted at the main entrance."

Lu Xingzhou stroked his chin, "Are they sure they want me to write it? They might regret it..."

"No need to write it," Ye Tinglan retorted, annoyed. "As if I don't know what kind of 'masterpiece' you'd come up with?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled, revealing his neat white teeth. "My teacher truly understands me."

Ye Tinglan shot him a glance. "So, are you planning to beat up a Huo family member every time you see one from now on?"

Lu Xingzhou grinned even wider. "You understand me so well, teacher, I'm almost embarrassed..."

"Cut the act. This time, Huo Heng was attending the Prince Jin's banquet, so he wouldn't bring any shadows or protectors. But what about next time? If a high-grade protector is hidden nearby, are you just going to your death?"

"I'll naturally look for similar opportunities."

"In similar situations, he'll likely have them with him. This time was too painful for him." A hint of amusement flickered in Ye Tinglan's eyes, but knowing he shouldn't encourage such mischief, he continued, "Ultimately, such actions are only for venting frustration. They don't have much significance. You'd do better to focus on the bigger picture."

"Understood. How are things in the northern territories?"

"The team heading north already departed last night. The capital isn't too far from the borderlands, so I imagine the Huo family will soon have their hands full and won't have time to bother you."

"The Grand Tutor is that efficient?"

"For minor matters, His Majesty is quite willing to show deference to the Grand Tutor's advice, so things move quickly." Ye Tinglan took a leisurely sip of tea. "The problem now is, it seems you've offended more than just the Huo family?"

Lu Xingzhou just smiled, offering no reply.

Prince Jin, Gu Yicheng... whether offended or not, he was naturally an adversary. Based solely on his instigating the Fenxiang Pavilion to suppress Shen Tang and poaching Jin Mingxiu from the Tianxing Sword Sect, Lu Xingzhou knew he would never get along with him.

Likewise, in Gu Yicheng's mind, Lu Xingzhou was also a natural enemy. If there hadn't been a connection to the Huo family, Gu Yicheng might have even tried to win him over. But with the Huo family involved, even superficial harmony was impossible. Gu Yicheng had already made his move during the Demonic Domain trial; wasn't Chen Yu his subordinate?

Ye Tinglan said, "With that attitude, you're not at all concerned about being considered an enemy by Prince Jin?"

"What can he do? He has to maintain the image of a virtuous prince, so he can do even less than the Huo family. Even the Huo family had to choose a place like the Demonic Domain to try to kill me; they wouldn't dare do it openly in the capital. He's no different."

Ye Tinglan said coldly, "If he sends a high-grade assassin, you wouldn't even have a chance to call for help. It would simply become an unsolved case."

"The Huo family wouldn't dare do that because no matter how cleanly it's done, people would easily pin the suspicion on them. It would be their fault regardless, so there's no need to resort to it unless absolutely necessary. In their eyes, I'm ultimately not that big of a threat. The same goes for Prince Jin; especially after yesterday's conflict, if I were to be assassinated immediately, his reputation as a virtuous prince would be ruined."

Ye Tinglan shook his head. "Not being a major threat is the key. You haven't reached the point where they'd go all out to kill you, and if you did, they wouldn't care about these trivial matters. But in reality, it's just a whim for them; if they're in a bad mood one day, they could target you at any time. I still believe you should leave the capital. Don't keep provoking them and flaunting yourself in front of them."

Lu Xingzhou actually agreed with this. His arrival in the capital had been premature. Not only were there few retaliatory measures he could employ, but he also constantly put himself in danger, depending solely on whether his adversaries were willing to pay a certain price on a whim.

His previous entry into the capital was solely for advanced studies at the Dan Academy. Now that he had a mentor, and even his mentor believed he should move elsewhere, the goal of his visit to the capital had, in fact, been perfectly achieved. He could indeed transfer with his mentor.

Should he really stay here and study for another year?

But if he was preparing to leave, it seemed he should conclude a few things first...

At this thought, Lu Xingzhou finally spoke. "Teacher, during the Demonic Domain trial, there was another third-grade swordsman who ambushed me in the sandstorm. The Dan Academy has been investigating for so long; are there any results?"

Ye Tinglan shook his head. "No. Currently, it can only be attributed to the Huo family or Prince Jin."

Lu Xingzhou blurted out, "It definitely wasn't them."

"Because Chen Yu identified him? That's not necessarily a reason. Although Chen Yu is Prince Jin's subordinate, he might not be privy to Prince Jin's core operations. He wouldn't necessarily know about other actions Prince Jin took."

"No. This wasn't a case of separate actions; they had a common goal. If they were both subordinates of Prince Jin or the Huo family, why wouldn't they be made to cooperate? Was it some kind of test for them? That makes no sense."

Ye Tinglan's expression became serious. "You believe there's another third party?"

"I do."

"But on the surface, you haven't offended any other factions."

"Indeed not."

"Then, against the backdrop of your recent conflict with Prince Jin and Huo Heng, if you were suddenly assassinated by this person, wouldn't everyone suspect Prince Jin or the Huo family, and no one would consider a third party?"

Lu Xingzhou nodded. "Precisely. This is my most dangerous moment."

Ye Tinglan asked, surprised, "From your tone, it sounds like you've already made a judgment? Yet you're still so calm."

Lu Xingzhou gave an apologetic laugh. "Well, I'm not fighting alone anymore, am I? I have my teacher's backing."

Ye Tinglan let out a scoff, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "So you've already included me, have you? I'm just your alchemy mentor; what do your personal vendettas have to do with me?"

"You wouldn't want to see your favorite disciple lying dead in the street, would you?"

"Who said I don't want to? I'd love to," Ye Tinglan said, waving his hand as if shooing a fly. "Die sooner so I can kidnap Lu Nuonuo and take her home."

Lu Xingzhou seemed to completely ignore what he said, continuing, "What if I invite someone for an outing in the garden, creating an opportunity for the other party, and you bring people to lie in wait? Frankly, this is also a matter for the Dan Academy, not just our personal affairs. We could have the Academy deploy a full net."

Ye Tinglan: "...Where would you set it up?"

"How about Qingyao Garden? It's the only place I'm familiar with."

"Who do you plan to take to the garden?"

"Chu Yun. She's strong enough not to be easily caught in the crossfire. And... if I'm leaving, Chu Yun is the person I should bid farewell to most."

Ye Tinglan pondered for a moment, deeming it feasible. "All right, I'll talk to Dean Qin about it."

Ah Nuo: "..."

Communicating with the old woman really does require Master.

Ye Tinglan tapped the table. "The ambush isn't happening right now. What are you two just standing there for? Aren't you here for class?"

Lu Xingzhou obediently pulled out the questions he had prepared the previous night, sat next to Ye Tinglan, and began the Q&A session.

The female private tutor still exuded a faint fragrance, but Lu Xingzhou had no mind to appreciate it now. With his departure from the capital imminent, he felt he should at least master the theoretical knowledge before leaving to bring some closure, then continue following his mentor to other training grounds.

"An outing in the garden?" At the Imperial Academy, Pei Chuyun still stood there, gracefully holding a stack of manuscripts, looking at the visiting Lu Xingzhou with surprise. "Why are you suddenly being so nice, inviting me to the garden?"

"Look at you, saying that. Shouldn't I be inviting you out?"

"You didn't even bring Ah Nuo." Pei Chuyun took a small step back. "You're either up to no good or planning something shady."

"You guessed right, the former."

Pei Chuyun actually had to process for a moment before realizing what he was implying, then her face flushed as she furtively glanced left and right, muttering, "We're in public, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Shall we find somewhere more private to talk, then?"

Pei Chuyun almost burst out laughing. "Alright, alright, where to? Qingyao Garden again?"

"Yes, I heard the trumpet creeper flowers are blooming beautifully there now. I haven't seen them in a while; I should go take a look."

Pei Chuyun replied cheerfully, "Let's go then."

"Don't you have classes this afternoon?"

"I'll skip them! That way my father will think I'm in class. Otherwise, how could I go out with you...?"

Lu Xingzhou felt he was perfectly embodying the role of a bad influence leading an innocent young lady astray, even forgetting that Pei Chuyun was actually a Succubus demoness. Her portrayal of a pure and lofty beauty at the Imperial Academy was truly impeccable.

"I'll be leaving the capital soon, Ah Shu." It wasn't until they entered Qingyao Garden and the lake came into view that Lu Xingzhou suddenly spoke.

Pei Chuyun's steps halted. She turned to look at Lu Xingzhou's profile, her expression somewhat complex.

The matters concerning the sect and the Pei family would clearly be a long-term affair, possibly taking two or three years to truly reach a critical point. Pei Chuyun hadn't expected Lu Xingzhou to remain by her side as her constant support; in fact, Lu Xingzhou's strength wasn't even sufficient to get involved in such events.

But she had never imagined that their separation would come so swiftly.

Nor had she ever thought that eighteen years of Heguan Sect training would make her feel so bittersweet about parting with a man.

This truly shouldn't be happening.

"I wonder if you'll blame me..." Lu Xingzhou murmured. "This farewell outing with you isn't truly a romantic stroll in the garden... I also plan to use this opportunity to draw out an enemy and deal with them."

Pei Chuyun smiled. "I already knew you were either up to no good or planning something shady. But it's still good that you're being straightforward with me."

"What, would I hide something like this from you?"

"No, you wouldn't." Pei Chuyun said slowly, "Come to think of it, even if our outing involves something else, it seems normal. Just like our relationship has never truly been a romantic love affair."

"Why not? Even if we started with mutual calculations, is that still the case now?"

Pei Chuyun looked up, thought for a moment, and smiled. "To say we started with mutual calculations isn't quite right. In reality, I was just your captive... and I still am."

Lu Xingzhou turned to look at her.

Pei Chuyun blinked. "Aren't I? A captive of your poetry, a captive of your tenderness, and... a steadfast pillar who disregards everything to stand up for me."

Seeing Lu Xingzhou about to speak, Pei Chuyun extended a slender finger to his lips and whispered, "I don't regret giving myself to you... But Lu Xingzhou, I still want to try to break free from your influence and be my own master. Your leaving for a while, I suddenly feel it's a good thing; it seems it might help me find myself."

Lu Xingzhou took her hand and moved it away. "What if you can't break free?"

"You know, there will be many men willing to give their lives for me." Pei Chuyun's eyes curved into a smile. "Let's see if you have the ability to truly captivate Pei Chuyun for a lifetime."