Chapter 16: The Impudent One  

The obedient Su Han Sheng lay in Xu Nan Xian’s living quarters, dressed only in his inner garments and wrapped in Chong Jue’s plain robe that carried the faint scent of bodhi flowers, sleeping soundly through the day.  

When he woke again, the sun had already set.  

These past few days, Su Han Sheng had rarely been plagued by nightmares of headless ghosts surrounding him with shrill curses. Blinking sleepily, he pushed aside the bed curtains and stared blankly at the unfamiliar layout of the living quarters before finally realizing—  

This was already Enlightenment Academy.  

From the outer chamber separated by beaded curtains, Xu Nan Xian’s voice faintly drifted in.  

“…Mm, nothing serious, just a bit of a scare. I put some Tranquility Powder on his pillow—he slept soundly.”  

“Really, there’s no need to send Chang Kong over. Tch, as if I can’t take care of him?”  

“…I know I was wrong.”  

Still groggy, Su Han Sheng stepped out of the inner chamber and was about to push aside the curtains when a familiar voice reached his ears.  

“Don’t lead him astray.”  

Before his mind could process it, his body reacted instinctively—he shuddered violently.  

That was the voice of the eldest senior brother.  

Su Han Sheng immediately turned as pale as a mouse spotting a cat, his face draining of color as he stumbled backward, nearly falling onto his backside.  

Hearing the commotion, Xu Nan Xian raised an eyebrow. “Xiao Xiao, you awake? The eldest senior brother has a few words for you.”  

Su Han Sheng threw himself back onto the bed. “I don’t know anything!”  

With a clatter of beads, Xu Nan Xian strode in, amusement lacing his tone as he hauled Su Han Sheng up by the collar.  

“Now that I think about it, when you were little and afraid of getting scolded, you’d always yell ‘I don’t know!’ What are you so scared of? The eldest senior brother is thousands of miles away—he can’t smack you right now. Come on, say something.”  

Tears welled up in Su Han Sheng’s eyes as he trembled like a frightened chick, stammering toward the Voice Transmission Device in Xu Nan Xian’s hand.  

“Se—Se—Senior brother, g-g-g-good evening.”  

The eldest senior brother remained silent.  

Su Han Sheng waited and waited, but no reprimand came. Upon closer inspection, the runes on the device had already dimmed.  

—Xu Nan Xian had long since cut off the transmission.  

Su Han Sheng: “…”  

Seeing him so terrified, Xu Nan Xian burst into shameless laughter. “The Academy Board lists the eldest senior brother as your guardian. If you mess up, he’ll definitely come to give you a beating.”  

Still shaken, Su Han Sheng wanted to curse at Xu Nan Xian but didn’t dare. Swallowing his tears, he muttered weakly, “Senior brother, I’ll really behave. I won’t cause trouble.”  

Having thoroughly teased him, Xu Nan Xian tossed the Voice Transmission Device aside with a flourish.  

“Come on, I’ll take you to Bie Nian Nian Market. This time, we’ll bleed Zhuang Lingxiu dry!”  

Grumbling internally, Su Han Sheng dressed and followed his senior brother out of the living quarters.  

The academy at night was aglow with light. Many students, now in casual attire, walked out in small groups. The river winding through the academy was dotted with countless lotus lanterns, their glow stretching endlessly as if merging with the starry sky.  

Su Han Sheng didn’t bother with an umbrella, watching the bustling crowd as he pondered.  

Zhuang Lingxiu had shown him the academy’s “lack of gentleness,” while the Discipline Hall’s archery punishment revealed its “lack of kindness.”  

Surely, there had to be at least one virtue left—modesty.  

As they walked, a sharp “whoosh!” suddenly pierced the air from afar, followed by a streak of fire shooting into the sky. After a brief pause, it exploded in a dazzling display.  

The massive firework burst into countless sparkling fragments, which then erupted into smaller, scattered lights, crackling and shimmering in a breathtaking spectacle.  

Su Han Sheng gasped in awe. “Wow!”  

Xu Nan Xian, however, merely clicked his tongue.

Soon, two people came rushing over carrying a bulky spiritual artifact. Despite their slender arms, they were surprisingly strong and fled at lightning speed.

“Hahaha! One firework cost me five thousand spirit stones! A fresh batch of tender greenhorns just jumped into the fire pit—what’s wrong with setting off a firework to celebrate?!”

“Run! The Discipline Hall’s deputy is chasing us!”

“Hahahaha! This is exhilarating!”

After the two vanished in a puff of smoke, the beautiful deputy with the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye from earlier in the day came soaring through the wind, murderous intent radiating from him.

Xu Nan Xian casually pointed behind them.

The deputy nodded in thanks and charged forward with his serpent whip, poised to strike down the “insolent scoundrels.”

Su Han Sheng: “…”

One firework… five thousand spirit stones?

Where’s the frugality?!

Su Han Sheng finally realized.

Restraint wasn’t a virtue the students here possessed—it was upheld as a lesson precisely because it was unattainable.

Along the way, Su Han Sheng had seen enough of Enlightenment Academy’s “simplicity.” From initial shock and existential doubt, he quickly adapted and even felt a desire to blend in.

Students of the academy usually gathered under the towering Imperial House Tree at the entrance.

Xu Nan Xian waited there for a while until Zhuang Lingxiu arrived.

The restraining headband had been removed, but a faint pale line from prolonged wear was still visible. Zhuang Lingxiu deliberately let his bangs fall to cover it. His once-white hair had returned to its inky black, tied up with a jade crown, exuding the dignified grace of a noble gentleman.

Any student of Enlightenment Academy knew Zhuang Lingxiu’s infamously shameless temperament. Along the way, many students jeered at him.

“Boo—”

“Zhuang the Dog still dares to show his face?”

Zhuang Lingxiu walked leisurely through the chorus of insults, unfazed, fanning himself with an air of ethereal elegance.

Xu Nan Xian clicked his tongue in amazement. “Sometimes I really admire your audacity.”

“Thick skin fills the belly,” Zhuang Lingxiu replied offhandedly. His gaze softened further when it landed on Su Han Sheng. “Young Master, are you well? Has your health improved?”

Su Han Sheng nodded. “Thank you, Senior Zhuang.”

Zhuang Lingxiu smiled and was about to say more.

Xu Nan Xian cut in impatiently. “Why are you preening in front of my Xiao Xiao? Get lost.”

Zhuang Lingxiu said mildly, “Xiao Xiao has joined Enlightenment Academy, so he’s naturally my junior too. What’s wrong with showing concern for a fellow disciple?”

Xu Nan Xian snapped, “Since when do you call him ‘Xiao Xiao’?!”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this dog had lost his mind. Zhuang Lingxiu was notorious for mocking everyone in Enlightenment Academy—so why was he suddenly so ingratiating toward Xiao Xiao after just sharing a tower ship ride?

Su Han Sheng, however, didn’t notice anything particularly special about Zhuang Lingxiu’s behavior toward him. He stood there obediently, watching the two argue.

Fortunately, both remembered that private brawls would cost them three points, so they reluctantly called a truce and sullenly headed to Separate Year by Year together.

“Separate Year by Year” was the largest marketplace in all Three Realms.

Though the name sounded odd, most cultivators acquired their spiritual artifacts here. Its beacon towers, enabling communication across regions, were an unprecedented innovation. Rumor had it that the spirit stones earned daily by Separate Year by Year could cover the entire Magpie Mound if spread out.

The street was lined with towering pavilions and spirit mustard shops, flanked by towering elm trees. But instead of elm seeds, their branches bore strings of glittering golden spirit stones.

Lanterns illuminated the bustling street, yet no one dared to pluck the spirit stones from the trees.

Su Han Sheng looked around eagerly, fascinated by everything he saw.

The crowd was overwhelming. Seeing Su Han Sheng darting around like a puppy let loose for the first time, Xu Nan Xian grabbed his wrist to scare him.  

“These streets are full of unsavory characters. If you get lost, someone might sell you to a pleasure house!”  

Su Han Sheng quickly clung back to his senior brother’s side.  

“Why scare him for no reason?” Zhuang Lingxiu said disapprovingly. “Young Master, go ahead and enjoy yourself. If you encounter trouble, just show them your Enlightenment Academy Disciple Seal—no one would dare lay a finger on you.”  

Xu Nan Xian clicked his tongue, smirking. “Since when has Zhuang the Dog been so considerate?”  

Zhuang Lingxiu smiled faintly. “I’ve always been this way.”  

Xu Nan Xian: “…”  

Always his ass!  

The two bickered all the way until they reached a bustling pavilion in the market.  

Su Han Sheng looked up—a massive plaque bore the words “Drawing in Sand with an Awl”: the Ink Fetus Studio.  

As they ascended the steps and crossed the threshold, a white-robed female cultivator lounging on a sandalwood platform lifted her eyelids and smirked, swaying gracefully toward them.  

“Well, if it isn’t little Lingxiu. Here to return our studio master’s Tower Ship?”  

Zhuang Lingxiu, ever the charmer, raised his hand gently, letting the woman rest her delicate fingers on his knuckles.  

“Greetings, elder sister. Regarding the Tower Ship, the Vice Dean specifically sent Bu Bei and me to report the details to the studio master. Would you kindly announce us?”  

Xu Nan Xian, who had been asking the shopkeeper for Cloud Veils nearby, glared furiously. “Who said I came with you?!”  

The woman laughed, tapping Zhuang Lingxiu’s cheek with her painted nails. “Since your mouth is so sweet—fine. Both of you, follow me.”  

Xu Nan Xian fumed. “I already said I’m not—”  

The woman arched a brow, amused.  

Xu Nan Xian: “…”  

Damn it. He must have owed Zhuang the Dog a fortune in his past life!  

The shopkeeper had already brought out a selection of Cloud Veils. Xu Nan Xian motioned for Su Han Sheng to sit in a guest chair nearby.  

“Stay here and pick what you like. Don’t wander off. Whatever catches your eye, take it—Zhuang Lingxiu’s footing the bill anyway. Might as well bleed him dry.”  

Su Han Sheng sat obediently. “Alright. I’ll wait here for you, Senior Brother.”  

After giving the shopkeeper a few more instructions, Xu Nan Xian reluctantly followed Zhuang Lingxiu upstairs to the third floor.  

Su Han Sheng swung his legs idly in the chair, asking the shopkeeper to spread the Cloud Veils on the table.  

Popular among female cultivators, the veils came in countless styles—kingfisher feather hairpins, ribbons, forehead bands, Hua Sheng head ornaments—if not for the faint talismanic inscriptions, they could easily pass as exquisite jewelry.  

Su Han Sheng saw no issue with men wearing women’s accessories. He pointed at whatever caught his fancy.  

“This forehead band… oh, and that magpie thing?”  

“Magpie Pecking Needle,” the shopkeeper supplied. “—Magpies are tricky to craft. This is the last one in stock. You’ve got excellent taste, Young Master.”  

Having seen little in the way of adornments, Su Han Sheng picked it up and placed it in his hair.  

Recognizing a big spender, the shopkeeper hurried over. “Here, yes… Just channel a bit of spiritual energy to activate the array. A trace of energy lasts half a month—very convenient.”  

Once activated, the magpie seemed to come alive, wings spread as if ready to take flight.  

Su Han Sheng felt a gauzy, mist-like veil drape over his head. Curious, he lifted a hand—the snowy fabric, light as nothing, draped softly over his skin, enveloping his entire body.  

Truly a marvel.

Su Han Sheng was quite taken with it and was about to ask the shopkeeper to pack it up when someone nearby spoke up, “Shopkeeper, where is that Magpie Pecking Needle?”

The Ink Fetus Studio was bustling with people, and the first-floor reception area was exceptionally spacious.

Su Han Sheng turned toward the voice and saw several female cultivators dressed in white robes approaching leisurely. Even before they drew near, a faint, elegant medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.

The shopkeeper seemed to recognize them and hurried forward to greet them. “What auspicious wind has blown the fairies here today? Your esteemed presence honors us, and we apologize for not welcoming you properly.”

The leading female cultivator had features like a painting, her every movement exuding grace and nobility. She appeared to have been raised in luxury, her manners impeccable as she gave a slight nod.

“Greetings—the Listening Mirror Wall mentioned that the Ink Fetus Studio has an exceptionally beautiful Magpie Pecking Needle. Is it still available?”

The shopkeeper hesitated. “It is still here, but it has already been reserved by that young master over there.”

The female cultivator blinked in surprise.

If it had been reserved by a young miss or another female cultivator, it would have been understandable. But why would a man buy a Cloud Veil?

Su Han Sheng sat on the folding chair, leaning slightly to the side with his chin propped on his hand as he watched them. When his gaze met the leading female cultivator’s, he didn’t shy away but instead gave her a sweet, innocent smile.

The female cultivator was momentarily stunned before she averted her eyes. “Very well. If you receive another later, remember to save it for me.”

The shopkeeper, relieved that she wasn’t making a fuss, beamed. “Of course!”

The female cultivator nodded at Su Han Sheng in acknowledgment before turning to leave.

Just then, a crowd of people suddenly poured into the Ink Fetus Studio. At the forefront was a young man dressed in white robes with ink patterns, fanning himself with a smirk. “Junior Sister Fu Qu, the Pecking Needle hasn’t been sold yet, has it? Since he hasn’t paid, it’s not officially reserved.”

The female cultivator, Gong Fu Qu, immediately darkened. “Zhao Yu Ci, what are you doing here?”

“Junior Sister Fu Qu, what kind of question is that?” Zhao Yu Ci chuckled. “The Listening Mirror Wall mentioned that there have been many shady thieves lurking at night, following beautiful female cultivators. I was worried about you, so I came to protect you.”

The shamelessness of his words left everyone speechless, their faces turning green with disgust.

Gong Fu Qu had endured enough of this man’s relentless pestering. Her lovely face remained expressionless.

“If you continue to haunt me like a ghost, I’ll report you to the Vice Dean.”

“The Bie Nian Nian Market is open to everyone. I haven’t committed any crimes,” Zhao Yu Ci declared righteously. “My conscience is clear. Even if you report me to the Vice Dean, they can’t convict me or deduct my points!”

Gong Fu Qu’s eyes reddened with anger at his audacity.

Zhao Yu Ci swaggered over to Su Han Sheng, looking down at him with an air of arrogance, his tone dripping with condescension.

“Judging by the Disciple Seal at your waist, you must be a new student who just enrolled today.”

Before Su Han Sheng could respond, Zhao Yu Ci continued on his own.

“My father is Zhao Shanchang of the Ink Fetus Studio at the Enlightenment Academy. The owner of this ‘Ink Fetus Studio’ in the market is also my father’s prized disciple. If you obediently hand over the Magpie Pecking Needle to my future Dao companion, I’ll give you another Cloud Veil in exchange. How about that?”

Gong Fu Qu was thoroughly disgusted by the term “future Dao companion.”

She had been tormented by his relentless stalking for half a year, yet even if she reported him to the authorities, they couldn’t pin anything concrete on him.

Moreover, Zhao Yu Ci’s father, Zhao Shanchang, was highly respected, and many would turn a blind eye out of deference to him.

The shopkeeper hadn’t expected the two parties involved to remain civil while an outsider rushed in to stir trouble. He stood there, dumbfounded, unsure of what to do.

The chair was spacious, and Su Han Sheng was slender. Finding it a strain to turn around, he simply knelt on the seat, leaning over the backrest to look behind him. Propping his chin lazily, he drawled:

“But I don’t feel like giving it up.”

Zhao Yu Ci, accustomed to throwing his weight around, was taken aback by the refusal—especially in front of the woman he adored. His expression darkened instantly.

“Then I’ll pay triple the price for your Cloud Veil.”

Su Han Sheng tilted his head in thought before nodding. “Alright.”

Zhao Yu Ci smirked.

As expected of a new student—so easily intimidated.

Su Han Sheng added, “The Cloud Veil costs a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Triple that would be three hundred thousand, please.”

Zhao Yu Ci, who had been about to reach for his Spirit Stones, gaped in disbelief. “Nonsense! Since when does a Cloud Veil cost that much?! One this small is barely five hundred!”

The shopkeeper hesitated, about to speak.

Su Han Sheng cut in, “I can pay whatever price I choose. If I offer the shopkeeper a hundred thousand, would he refuse to sell it to me?”

Zhao Yu Ci: “You—!”

What twisted logic!

Rarely had anyone seen Zhao Yu Ci so flustered. Gong Fu Qu, who had been watching nervously, couldn’t help but cover her lips to stifle a laugh.

Zhao Yu Ci caught the mocking sound and snapped furiously, “What kind of man buys a Cloud Veil?! How effeminate!”

Su Han Sheng had never lost an argument with Xu Nan Xian, and now, estimating that Xu Nan Xian wouldn’t return for a while, he dropped his obedient act. Smirking, he rested his chin on his hand.

“You, a member of the Human Race, behave worse than swine and dogs—stalking young women like some filthy, lowly creature. What crime is it for me to buy a Cloud Veil? Today, I’ll not only buy the Cloud Veil but also rouge to wear and skirts to tear. If it offends you, feel free to end yourself. You might reincarnate as the pig-dog you truly are—wouldn’t that suit you perfectly?”

Zhao Yu Ci nearly choked on his rage. “You—! Damn you… I—!”

Su Han Sheng continued, “Ah, are you practicing your barks and oinks already? How diligent! Woof woof, oink oink.”

Zhao Yu Ci: “…”

Gong Fu Qu and the other female cultivators stared in shock. This seemingly delicate, well-behaved youth—how could his words cut so deep?

Zhao Yu Ci, driven to madness, lunged forward to strike. “You bastard! I’ll kill you—!”

His attendants hurriedly restrained him, whispering urgently, “Young Master, calm down! Brawling in the Academy will cost you three points! The Enlightenment Rite is in September, and your score can’t afford another deduction.”

Zhao Yu Ci’s chest heaved with fury, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Su Han Sheng.

Unfazed, Su Han Sheng grinned back.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Yu Ci’s gaze fell on the hairpin in Su Han Sheng’s locks. A cold smirk twisted his lips. “Cloud Veils shield against sunlight—understandable for women. But you’re buying so many without reason. Could it be… you’re from the Fuli Clan of the Western Corner?”

Before Su Han Sheng could react, Gong Fu Qu’s expression changed.

She stepped swiftly in front of Su Han Sheng, the chime of her waist ornaments carrying a crisp medicinal scent. Her voice was icy. “Zhao Yu Ci! How dare you fling such baseless accusations?!”

Zhao Yu Ci, who had pursued Gong Fu Qu for years without so much as a second glance, now watched her shield another man right before his eyes.

His eyes were bloodshot, fury rising from his heart and malice surging to his gall: “No man in the Three Realms has ever worn a Cloud Veil! Only those unsightly creatures of the Fuli Clan, who fear the light, would hide their faces all day like cowards!”

Gong Fu Qu was infuriated by this twisted logic and let out a cold laugh: “Those afflicted with Marrow Poison also fear the light. Are you going to condemn everyone with the same stroke of your Staff?”

Zhao Yu Ci, scheming something unknown, struggled to regain a shred of reason and stared fixedly at Su Han Sheng: “You ill-mannered brat, born with a father but raised without a mother—let’s see if you can still act so arrogantly once you’re dragged to the Discipline Hall!”

Su Han Sheng’s expression darkened abruptly, and he instinctively moved to step down from his chair.

But then he remembered Xu Nan Xian’s warning not to run off recklessly, and his foot, about to touch the ground, froze mid-air.

That brief hesitation was all Zhao Yu Ci needed. With a sweeping gesture, he sneered, “Let’s go.”

With that, the noisy crowd departed the Ink Fetus Studio.

Su Han Sheng’s amber eyes seemed to simmer with a sinister, honeyed glow as he stared unblinkingly at Zhao Yu Ci’s retreating figure. His lips parted slightly, emitting a soundless whistle.

From his shoulder, a withered branch split off from his Lifebound Tree, slithering like a cricket through the crowd before silently clinging to the hem of Zhao Yu Ci’s robe.

No one noticed.