"Look at you, you coward! It's just the Taiyin Academy, and you're already scared!"
Zhao Youqian said with a look of disdain.
Lu Zineng put on a bitter face: "Two Immortal Masters, it's not that I'm cowardly, but you outsiders don't understand the ins and outs of this place."
"Tell me about it."
Chen Xuan asked with interest.
Lu Zineng picked up the whip from the ground and said in a low voice: "That Taiyin Academy is a paradise for female cultivators, but a hell for male cultivators.
I once heard an elder who had stayed at Taiyin Academy say that after he moved in, every night he could hear a voice calling in his ear.
And every day he stayed, his body grew weaker. Over time, his life would be in danger, so he escaped after staying there for seven days."
"Hearing you say that, I'm even more curious about this Taiyin Academy."
Chen Xuan waved his hand: "Let's go. When we get there, you just need to wait for us outside."
"Yes."
Lu Zineng didn't try to persuade them further. After all, he was just a carriage driver, and the affairs of important people weren't something he could decide.
The carriage drove out of the city, and after about half an hour, it finally stopped.
"Two Immortal Masters, we've arrived at Taiyin Academy."
Chen Xuan opened the carriage door and stepped out.
An academy built halfway up a mountain came into view. This famous Taiyin Academy looked no different from other academies on the outside.
If one had to find a difference, it was that ordinary academies had an old man as the gatekeeper.
But the gatekeeper at Taiyin Academy was a young maiden.
Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian glanced at each other, then walked toward the academy's entrance.
When the gatekeeper maiden saw a handsome young man walking toward her, a charming smile appeared on her face:
"Little brother, are you here to find someone, or to study?"
"We're here to find someone."
As soon as Chen Xuan spoke, Zhao Youqian beside him had already stuffed a spirit stone into the gatekeeper maiden's hand.
Sure enough, after receiving the spirit stone, the maiden smiled so broadly her eyes became slits.
"Which sweetheart are you here to find?"
"Sister, we're not here to find a sweetheart. We're here to find our junior brother. His name is Leng Li."
Zhao Youqian said with a grin.
When the gatekeeper maiden heard this name, the gossip on her face instantly disappeared, and she said with a smile:
"Oh, you're here to find Leng Li. He lives over at Qingfang Courtyard. After entering, turn right and go straight, and you'll see it. He's probably practicing swordplay by the lake right now."
"Thank you, sister."
After expressing his thanks, Chen Xuan followed the gatekeeper maiden's directions. After walking for a few minutes, he indeed saw a courtyard with the three characters "Qingfang Courtyard" written on it.
The two walked straight in. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw a group of young ladies standing by the lake, pointing and whispering about something across the water.
They could vaguely hear their discussions.
"This Brother Leng is so brave! He's been at the academy for so many days, and he's still there."
"He's quite handsome too, just a bit cold. The young ladies who went to deliver things to him before all came back crying."
"..."
Zhao Youqian couldn't help but remark when he heard this:
"I didn't expect Junior Brother Leng to be living quite well. He has beauties watching him every day."
"That's because he's the only man here. Want to switch places with him?" Chen Xuan said with a smile.
Zhao Youqian said seriously: "Sure, if possible, I'd switch with him!"
As they spoke, they arrived at the lakeside.
When the young ladies around saw the two, their eyes instantly lit up.
"The young man with the sword is so handsome. Is he also a new student?"
"Just go ask him."
"No way, you always make me go. I'm always the one embarrassed."
"..."
Chen Xuan was already used to such comments. After all, in his previous life, he had been a playboy.
"Junior Brother Leng!"
When Leng Li, who was practicing his swordplay, heard this voice, his hand holding the sword became unsteady. He immediately sheathed his sword, turned his head, and said calmly:
"Two Senior Brothers, you've finally come!"
Although his tone was flat, there was a rare hint of excitement in his voice.
"This isn't the place to talk. Follow me."
With that, Leng Li led Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian away from the lake, under the gaze of many young ladies, and into a separate small building.
The interior was elegant and quiet, with flowers and plants both inside and out. Various paintings hung on the walls, giving a poetic and artistic feel.
Zhao Youqian surveyed the decorations and furnishings, waving his folding fan:
"Junior Brother Leng, you're living quite well here, and yet you sent us an urgent message for help."
"Senior Brother, stop making fun of me. I only realized how dangerous this Taiyin Academy is after I arrived here," Leng Li said with a helpless expression.
Chen Xuan changed the subject: "Let's not talk about the danger for now. I want to know why all records of your arrival in Jinyang were deleted?"
"That was an agreement between me and Minister Zhuo."
Leng Li took a sip of water and slowly explained: "After learning that Xiao Zhuo had been reincarnated, I went to ask Minister Zhuo to marry Xiao Zhuo to me. But Minister Zhuo said that as merely a Tianyuan Realm cultivator, if I wanted to marry his daughter, I had to pass a test.
He told me to survive at Taiyin Academy for three years on my own and complete my studies. During this time, he would delete all my information from the outside world, so I didn't mention anything about Taiyin Academy in my letters.
At the time, I didn't think much of it and agreed. Only after coming here did I learn that no man has ever graduated from Taiyin Academy within three years. Those who could last a year were already considered strong."
"Then aren't you afraid that Minister Zhuo will say you violated the agreement by asking us for help?" Zhao Youqian asked with a smile.
Leng Li said earnestly: "I have Senior Brother's teachings to thank for this. Senior Brother often says that calling for reinforcements using one's own abilities is also a skill."
Zhao Youqian: "..."
Chen Xuan almost laughed when he heard this. Junior Brother Leng had been corrupted by this guy.
"Then tell us, what exactly is the danger in this Taiyin Academy?"
Leng Li shook his head: "I've been at this academy for some time now, but I still haven't found anything. Apart from feeling my cultivation weakening day by day, there's the voice whispering in my ear every night."
Chen Xuan asked: "What does it say?"
"Only one sentence."
Leng Li said calmly: "You've come, you've finally come. I've been waiting for you for so long."
"Didn't you sense any demonic aura or anything unusual?"
"No."
Leng Li continued: "I specially made two demon-seeking talismans and placed them around. But when I woke up the next day, not only did the talismans not react, but there wasn't a trace of demonic aura on them either.
I also tried to find the source of the voice, but no matter where I went, it echoed in my ear, like a nightmare."
"Interesting."
Chen Xuan smiled: "Then let's wait here for a night and see what happens."
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