Guan Heng was quite confident in his own abilities.
However, when he stood on the hill behind the academy and looked at the blue and luxuriant Sly Butterfly Orchid in front of him, he still felt that it was troublesome.
The leaves in front of him were as dark as ink, and the edges of the long stalks flickered with a dark light. Large patches of Sly Butterfly Orchid were clustered together, spitting fog into the sky. The entire mountain area was covered in gray fog.
This was not the standard species that Guan Heng had learned from the [Illustrated Handbook].
It was probably a new product cultivated by the Central Academy after many years of breeding and nurturing with many spiritual herbs.
Guan Heng squatted down and tried to pull out an orchid from the ground. The Sly Butterfly Orchid's leaves trembled and suddenly spat out gray smoke. The black and long leaves were as sharp as a whip, whipping towards Guan Heng's face.
The youth reached out and slapped it away.
The Sly Butterfly Orchid had the word "Sly" in its name. It was famous for its illusory nature and its strange and mysterious nature.
Ranked spiritual plants had a probability of turning into Vision when day and night alternated, scaring passersby. It was said that people's fear was the most delicious organic fertilizer for this special plant.
If you gave an ending to a famous ghost story on the continent, as long as you said that it was caused by a Sly Butterfly Orchid, you could convince 70% of the naughty children.
The orchids raised by the Central Academy were even more peculiar. The spiritual energy was stronger, the branches were more brittle, and the ends of the leaves naturally formed a strange smiley face pattern. When plucked, the medicinal energy dissipated several times faster. The person who picked the plant had to hold it with both hands and use their own Xuan Li to nourish it for the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, until the broken branches were healed.
As expected, Wu Cong did not have good intentions.
Guan Heng did a rough calculation. According to the normal plucking procedure, he could only pluck four hundred plants after seven days.
If he used his chaotic power to speed up the healing of the broken branches, he could just pluck a thousand plants in seven days.
The premise was that he directly took root in the back of the mountain and did not sleep or rest … Eh, no, he calculated wrong. At night, the power of the spiritual plants would double, and the number of plants he could pluck would be halved.
How troublesome.
Apart from the problem of plucking the spiritual plants, Guan Heng had another ominous premonition.
It would not be as simple as just picking the grass. He thought that Wu Cong must have other tricks up his sleeve …
Lost in thought, the young man simply sat on the ground and crossed his two slender legs. He casually picked up a Sly Butterfly Orchid and gently kneaded its soft, dark blue leaves.
Suddenly, he felt a slight pain in his fingertips.
Guan Heng was stunned.
He tilted his head slightly, uprooted the Sly Butterfly Orchid in his hand and held it up to his eyes against the sunlight.
Behind the blade of grass, there was an inconspicuous bug. It had a small head and a wide abdomen. It was sneakily sticking out its slender and ferocious mouthpart and stabbing it into his finger.
"Oh!"
A sharp pain suddenly came from his chest, as if a cold stream had been drawn out from his heart.
Guan Heng suddenly clutched his chest and clenched his fists!
On her soft fingertips, the tiny wound caused by the bug did not bleed. Instead, an extremely thin and thick gray line flowed out, sticking together like a spider web. It was pulled out bit by bit by the bug and swallowed into its mouth.
The pain came quickly and left even faster. As the gray line was gradually pulled out, a special refreshing feeling attacked Guan Heng's mind.
It was like taking in the first breath of fresh grass after the morning rain. The fragrance of falling flowers assailed his nostrils, making him feel invigorated.
"… Strange."
The young man's handsome brows gradually furrowed.
He felt an extremely special Xuan Li wave from the bug. It was not the usual elements of metal, wood, water, or fire. He had never seen it before, but it was different from the chaos that he cultivated.
But … when did this gray gas appear in his body?
Why did he not feel it at all?
Could this be Wu Cong's method of poisoning him without him knowing?
While Guan Heng was puzzled, the bug had already sucked out all the gray gas. It was still drooling, moving its tiny limbs and probing its mouthpart repeatedly.
It sniffed for a long time, but could not smell any other gray gas. In the end, it lowered its head in disappointment, turned around, and aimed its butt at Guan Heng. The shell on its back opened, and it flew away.
Guan Heng pinched his fingertips and pondered for a long time as he stared in the direction the bug flew away.
"No," the young man muttered to himself. "I have to plan before I act. I have to go back and check the situation first."
…
In a secluded courtyard in a corner of the academy, Xie Ziyou walked around the courtyard in small, distressed steps.
The wind was gentle, the green leaves fluttered, and the bright sunlight shone into the young man's eyes, reflecting the thousands of worries hidden deep in his clear pupils.
"No, I can't stay," Xie Ziyou muttered. "I have to leave this world …"
His heart was not made of stone.
In front of Guan Heng's passionate and affectionate smile, he could hear an uncontrollable thump in his chest. It was so clear that it was almost deafening.
He could not hide it even if he deceived himself. Xie Ziyou clearly realized that it was the sound of his heart beating.
Moreover, the throbbing in his heart was constantly expanding. It was tyrannical, encroaching on his territory step by step like a tidal wave. The dam he tried to maintain was already full of holes and was on the verge of collapse.
If he stayed any longer, he was afraid that he would sink too deep and it would be difficult for him to break free.
The System transformed into a bee that flew back and forth in the air, and finally landed gently on the young man's silky black hair. It looked at Xie Ziyou's small red lips that were tightly pursed, and the glittering light in his eyes. It immediately understood.
It followed Xie Ziyou's words and said, "Okay, You. If this is your decision, I will support you."
"Indecisiveness will only lead to chaos. Should I go arrange for my escape?"
"Wait, wait, wait!"
Xie Ziyou suddenly raised his Fair Complexion palm and slapped the buzzing bee to the side.
"… There's no hurry. Let me think about it." He hesitated.
The young man pursed his lips and walked a few rounds in a daze. Then, he found a bluestone beside the pool and sat down. He supported his chin with his jade hand and stared at the pool in a daze.
The pool was so clear that the bottom could be seen. There were floating grasses and fish swimming in it. They swayed their tails as if they did not know their worries. It was very happy.
Xie Ziyou was annoyed. Seeing the fish's silly look made him very unhappy, so he stuck out a slender white finger into the water and secretly poked at the fish.
The fish lived in the small courtyard full of spiritual energy all year round, so it had developed some spiritual intelligence. At this time, it did not dodge. Instead, it swayed its head and came forward. Its small mouth touched Xie Ziyou's fingertip gently.
It parted with a touch. It was delicate and cool.
It reminded him of the light kiss in the cave at the Cliff of Reflection.
Xie Ziyou: "…"
So annoying!
"Miss!"
Suddenly, a slightly anxious shout came from outside the courtyard.
The wooden door opened, and Xiuya's beautiful maid walked quickly to Xie Ziyou. Her delicate cheeks were slightly red from anger, and her dark eyes were flickering.
Her footsteps were hurried, but she looked down slightly to avoid Xie Ziyou's gaze. She seemed to be a little guilty.
"I heard … that the boy who was rejected by Miss has come to the academy."
You Qin lowered her head slightly and bowed to Xie Ziyou. Her black hair hung down, and her flawless white dress fluttered in the breeze, outlining her slender waist.
Xie Ziyou was a little surprised. "Where did you find out?"
"It's all over the place." You Qin lowered her voice and said indignantly, "Miss, we know that boy's background. Two years ago, he couldn't even break through the Barriers from Heaven. How could he have such amazing talent?"
To be able to cultivate to the fifth level in just two years, even Xie Ziyou was not that abnormal back then.
You Qin would rather die than admit that the boy she thought was a toad back then was a genius more powerful than her Miss.
"I'm afraid that he's really practicing some evil demonic arts!"
The girl suddenly raised her head. Her eyes were cold, and her expression was firm.
Demonic arts?
Xie Ziyou said in surprise, "This is also being spread outside?"
"Yes, Miss, you don't know?"
"…"
She really didn't know.
You Qin's angry look didn't seem to be fake.
Xie Ziyou blinked her beautiful peach blossom eyes. Her slender willow-like eyebrows gradually furrowed, and the corners of her eyes curved subtly. Her thin lips were slightly pursed, and she was very puzzled.
He waved his hand, indicating for You Qin to leave. Then, he slumped on the bluestone and rested his chin on his hand.
A trace of joy and relief emerged in his heart.
The fish swimming in the water suddenly became much more pleasing to the eye.
Xie Ziyou looked at her delicate reflection in the clear water. She tried hard to suppress her jumping heart and unconsciously curved eyebrows. She forced herself to maintain an indifferent tone.
"Unfortunately, it looks like we can't leave for a while. We have to help the protagonist deal with this matter."
"What a coincidence, Guan Heng just stepped into the academy this morning, and now this matter is being spread all over the world?"
Even he and Wu Cong only found out this morning that Guan Heng had joined the Central Academy. How could it be spread all over the academy in such a short time, and even to the ears of their own maidservants who had always lived in seclusion?
"Yes, what a coincidence."
The System sighed, "For someone who doesn't want to leave at all, is there a better coincidence in the world than having someone send her a pillow just as she was about to doze off?"
"… Nonsense!"
Xie Ziyou's cheeks immediately turned red, and she suddenly jumped up from the bluestone.
"I don't want to care about Guan Heng's matters!"
"I just can't stand the fact that 'Devour the Sky' has been passed down as a demonic art, okay? It's simply ruining my reputation — that was carefully selected by me, and it's a divine art tailor-made for the protagonist! "
"Fine," the System said helplessly, "You, I'll reluctantly assume that you're telling the truth, if your tone can be firmer and more confident."
"… Why do you have so much nonsense to say?"
Xie Ziyou turned her head away, angrily avoiding the System's gaze, and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
Her steps were light, and her heart was beating fast.
Even the smell of the air seemed to be fresher. The bamboo rustled, and the green leaves were like jade.
Feeling the rapid beating of her heart in her chest, Xie Ziyou quickened her steps while facing the cool breeze. She frowned in distress.
… His reason clearly told him that he should leave immediately.
But his body's physiological reaction was so straightforward. When he thought that he had an excuse to delay for a while, when he thought that he had a reason to immediately see Guan Heng, his previously suppressed desire suddenly swelled, and in an instant, it occupied all of his mind.
He had overestimated his ability to control his emotions.
He had also underestimated Guan Heng's influence on him.
But … Was this really okay?
The teenager lightly jumped between the eaves, a trace of confusion flashing in the depths of her beautiful ice blue eyes.
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