Chapter 50: The Fox Flaunts the Tiger’s Might

The Bridge of Transcendence arched between two mountain peaks, beneath which lay an emerald lake. The lake gathered rainwater, each droplet sending ripples across its surface.

Gu Yi crouched in the shrubs with Xiao Hexian, not far ahead, where two young women who looked like students were loafing about.

Their appearances were pleasing enough, but their tempers seemed ill, as they thrashed at branches and muttered complaints.

“…Why has Senior Sister Shule called us out to work in this rain?”

“It’s all because of that Hexian. Relying on the favor of the Dao Master, she helped that Gu Xiaoyao.”

“I think she must have feelings for someone else. I don't see what’s so special about Gu Xiaoyao that she’s so captivated. My father always used to say that a married daughter is like water thrown out—now I see it’s true.”

Xiao Hexian could only listen, unable to retort. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she avoided his gaze, her eyes glistening as if on the verge of tears.

“Don’t listen to their nonsense. These two only joined the institute in the winter of the third year of the Chengping era; they barely understand anything.”

“Just joined? Then should I teach them a lesson for you?” Gu Yi whispered in her ear.

“How…how would you teach them?”

“They don’t know what I look like, so I have my ways. Just wait and see.” Like a turtle retreating into its shell, Gu Yi slowly emerged from the shrubs.

The two girls ahead were still chattering.

“That Gu Xiaoyao is only at the Settled Mind stage. Even if she did defeat the palm master, she’s just one person. Is all this really necessary?”

Gu Yi suddenly appeared and rebuked them sternly.

“What are you doing? Gossiping about Lele behind her back, are you? Is this all you've learned since joining the institute?”

His voice was commanding and struck a nerve. The two newcomers turned pale with fear. “We admit our mistake! Please—”

“Please what? Is this matter to be solved with ‘please’? Lele has her reasons for this arrangement. You two lack ability but have plenty of opinions, idly chattering here. If that scoundrel Gu Xiaoyao passed right by you, you wouldn’t even notice!”

From the shrubs, Hexian stifled her laughter: this man truly had a knack for pretending. He was, in fact, Gu Xiaoyao himself, yet here he was calling himself a scoundrel so they wouldn’t suspect a thing.

Ma Yuan had also said that at Luyang Institute, after the initial period with teachers, everyone was left to their own devices. No one really knew one another, and even if you recognized someone, who could say whether a stranger was a reclusive senior in training?

The two girls looked up at him in terror, failing to recognize him. “We—we admit our mistake. Please, Senior, don’t tell Senior Sister Shule. We won’t do it again!”

“Not just her—Hexian as well! Do you think I didn’t hear? Spreading rumors about Hexian liking Gu Xiaoyao—does a young woman’s reputation mean nothing to you? Truly outrageous!”

Yes! Hexian snorted in agreement. Indeed, indeed.

He really is a good person, she thought, knowing to defend a girl’s reputation.

“I won’t trouble you further. Go admit everything honestly to Lele yourselves, lest I have to do it. Let this be a warning: I joined the institute with Lele. If I find out you didn’t go, it’ll be a mistake atop a mistake, and I’ll punish you myself!”

“Senior…”

The two girls, already frightened to tears, could barely speak.

“What are you waiting for? Go now!”

They rose reluctantly, glancing back every few steps. Gu Yi kept up his act, growling, “Aren’t you going? Fine, I’ll go to her myself.”

“No, no, Senior, please don’t be angry! We’re going now.”

Watching their hasty retreat, Hexian finally burst out laughing.

“Oh, you’re terrible! Why are they so afraid of you?”

“Guilt makes one fear the knock at midnight.” Gu Yi brushed his nose with his thumb. “Borrowing authority, you see—I act unfazed and they panic. Now you’ve had your revenge; after this fright, they won’t dare slander you again. Well? Wasn’t my act just like that insufferable Fan Ling?”

“It was! Just as strict and unreasonable.” Hexian’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes shining as she looked at him. “Thank you.”

“There’s no need for thanks between us.” Gu Yi’s gaze fell on a peach tree he’d spotted earlier. “Come on, let’s go over there.”

Beneath the peach tree, rain mingled with fallen petals, flowing with the mud into the lake. Nothing seemed amiss here.

But when Gu Yi touched the lake, he felt a distinct force, and the water had a viscous quality.

“This lake water—is it imbued with spiritual energy?”

Hexian nodded. “There’s a Pavilion of Transcendence on the bridge. When there was still a master, they lived right here.”

There was once a master, which meant there wasn’t one now.

“As long as it’s not a trap…,” Gu Yi pursed his lips. “In that case, let’s dive in.”

As he made to enter the water, Hexian tugged at his sleeve.

“Hm? What is it?”

“I’m still worried.” Her face clouded with concern. “If we’re discovered entering here, the curator will be furious. I have my Dao Master aunt to shield me—a scolding at most—but you…”

“We’ve come this far, are we really not going down?”

“Are you truly risking your life just for that girl?”

Was there a hint of jealousy in her words? A sense of foreboding crept into Gu Yi’s heart; he averted his gaze: Surely not, I was only teasing a little.

“Someone’s coming!”

Suddenly, Hexian crouched down, pointing to the mountainside path above the lake, where two people were flying toward them.

Gu Yi quickly pulled her into the water, activating a talisman that shielded them from getting wet.

At the same moment, the people above spotted someone entering the lake.

“That looks like Gu Xiaoyao! She’s gone under!”

“Are you sure?!”

“Let’s check!”

The water, infused with spiritual energy, was thick and made swimming difficult.

Fortunately, they were surrounded by a protective aura, so Hexian didn’t need to exert herself, and with Gu Yi channeling his energy, their pace wasn’t slow.

“We’ve been spotted—what do we do?” Hexian asked.

Gu Yi smiled slightly. “You found this place by chance—even you didn’t know about it. So, if we go under, they’ll search up and down the lake, not suspecting we’re heading for the techniques archives.”

“But what if they dive in too?”

“We’ll just block the entrance. I’ve found it.”

Sensing the flow of spiritual energy, he detected a cavern below.

They had to move quickly, before anyone could follow. Fortunately, Hexian remembered the location precisely—they found it within seconds of entering the water.

The world beneath the surface was mysterious. Various spiritual creatures darted about the lake, but none could enter the cavern, as a thin membrane of light barred their way.

“What’s that?” Hexian asked, seeing something covering the entrance.

“A simple trick.”

With his left hand, Gu Yi traced a talisman behind him, while with his right, he pierced the membrane with a finger.

He moved swiftly; though a little water seeped in, the cavern was soon sealed again.

“Step aside,” he told her.

He quickly drew stones over to block the entrance, as talismans would attract attention if anyone dove down. With stones in place, it would seem like nothing but the lakebed.

Hexian rested her hands on his outstretched arm, watching him seal the entrance.

“All right, it’s done. Remove the talisman now, or we’ll be in trouble if someone outside notices.” The young woman stamped her foot in anxiousness.

She was right, but Gu Yi didn’t fully follow her advice. He removed the outer talisman, but placed another within.

“There’s pressure underwater. This side is hollow—even with a few stones, the entrance would collapse soon.”

“Indeed—a clever child.”

Suddenly, a deep, ancient voice echoed in the darkness, so startling that Hexian dove straight into Gu Yi’s arms.

“Who’s there?!”