CHAPTER 485: CHAPTER 436: REPLY TO THE LETTER

Shen Tuyu tried to keep his voice calm, but his words were infused with a chilling killing intent.

"What did it mean to be ’related to Jianquan’?"

Jianquan had been famous for many years, with friends and old acquaintances all over the world. Great Scholars corresponded with him, discussing philosophy. Notables from the Two Capitals invited him to their residences to discuss Buddhism. Noble families visited him to listen to Buddhist verses.

"Could it be that all these people were suspects? Did they all need to be thrown into jail, tortured severely, and interrogated about whether they knew the hidden details of Jianquan’s demonic possession?"

Even the Emperor of Yu wanted to invite Jianquan to the Imperial Palace to explain Buddhist sutras. Even Taihao Mountain once invited Jianquan to the Holy Sanctuary to pay homage to the Head.

"If one were to truly investigate, wouldn’t even the Emperor of Yu and the Head of the Haotian Taoist Sect be suspects?"

Li Ang remained silent. The extreme, even exaggerated reaction from the upper echelons of Yu Country precisely confirmed Jianquan’s prophecy—No ruler wanted to see the appearance of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion. Moreover, no ruler wanted to see their subjects preferring to enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion rather than live in the current world. In the past, even when faced with terrifying natural and supernatural disasters, various forces harbored their own agendas, secretly scheming and harming one another. But now, from West Jing to Nanzhou, from Taihao Mountain to Chang’an, all the emperors of kingdoms, religious leaders, noble families, and Hidden Sects had temporarily put aside past hatred and disputes, uniting to try to suppress the rumors of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion. How ironic.

Li Ang lost interest in listening to any more of Shen Tuyu’s instructions. He quietly backed away, joined Sui Yi outside the city, and began helping the common people injured during the evacuation.

Jianquan’s death meant heavy losses for Xingzhou City. Nearly the entire city garrison was wiped out, almost seventy percent of the streets were destroyed, many areas suffered geological collapses and depressions, and over a thousand houses were deemed hazardous and no longer suitable for habitation.

Out of some peculiar psychological impulse, Li Ang did not participate in the pursuit of Jianquan’s disciples organized by the garrison. He continued to stay in Xingzhou, helping with disaster relief and recovery.

His friends joined him as well, helping to fill sinkholes in the city, repair roads, reinforce houses, and purify water sources. This continued for nearly half a month.

During this time, there was some good news: He Fanshuang was promoted to the Cloud Patrol Realm. When she had left Xingzhou City, using sword control to fly to Wei State for help, she raced against time. Driving her Flying Sword with all her might and utmost concentration, she naturally broke through her realm, becoming the first student from the third year of Zaiqian to reach the Cloud Patrol Realm.

Li Ang couldn’t help but feel that there were indeed differences even among geniuses.

Later, after returning to Chang’an, he resentfully continued his search through the vast sea of books related to the Supreme Mysterious Sect, seeking possible leads on Mo Si.

「The sixth year of Zaiqian, late summer.」

The weather was hot. Cicadas clung to the trees, weakly fluttering their wings and making a grating sound like broken gongs.

Li Ang yawned, crawled out of his bedroom bed, and ended his afternoon nap.

It was hot outside, but the room was surprisingly cool—the talisman technology of the Academic Palace had recently made a breakthrough. Its cooling talisman board was capable of further fine-tuning temperatures and was almost indistinguishable from the air conditioners he remembered from the Otherworld.

In some ways, it was even better than air conditioning. For instance, it didn’t lower the indoor moisture content, which would dry out the air and cause discomfort.

It just lacks a remote control. I have to press the button myself every time I want to adjust the temperature.

Li Ang muttered as he pushed open the bedroom door. Stepping out, he could hear the loud clamor of children playing downstairs through the floorboards.

Since he had taken Ouyang Shi as a Disciple, his close friends and relatives were always hoping he would take on a few more—even if only as nominal disciples.

They called it ’basking in his good fortune.’

Li Ang was amused yet exasperated by the various visits and requests. He couldn’t exactly close his doors to all visitors, so he relented slightly, allowing the children of his friends and relatives to come over during the summer to play, practice their calligraphy, read books, and so on.

He just treated it as a summer camp.

Li Ang walked down the stairs and saw Chai Chai energetically leading the children in games like hide-and-seek, drop the handkerchief, and eagle catches chick. She didn’t look like an Academic Palace Disciple at all.

When they tired of playing, Chai Chai had all the children sit down in their seats and gave each of them a piece of pastry.

All the children sat obediently in their seats, munching on their sweets like little squirrels.

After all these years, her personality still hadn’t changed.

Li Ang watched Chai Chai, who was like a leader among the children, and smiled faintly. His mind momentarily drifted back to their time in Yizhou.

Childhood at the pharmacy had actually been somewhat boring.

Li Ang’s parents were training him to be a future Doctor. From a young age, he not only had to read classics like the Four Books and Five Classics but also memorize various complex and obscure medical canons and medical books.

If he memorized poorly, he would be punished by having to stand still; if he memorized well, he could eat fruits and snacks.

Li Ang had a good memory and memorized well. However, he didn’t particularly like snacks, so he would hide the little treats his parents gave him in his clothes pocket. At night, he would sneak them out to share with Chai Chai.

Chai Chai ate double portions of snacks every day (including the exceedingly sweet honey jujube cakes) and quickly gained weight, so much so that other children teasingly called her ’Fatty.’

She came to Li Ang crying, saying that he had made her ’belly grow big’ (literally) and that he must take responsibility in the future.

His parents, who accidentally overheard this, were shocked and nearly whipped him to death with a bamboo switch.

Remembering those times, Li Ang chuckled softly, yet he also felt a touch of melancholy and wistfulness.

"Teacher, tea."

Ouyang Shi quietly approached and handed him a cup of warm tea.