Chapter Sixty-Six: The Harmonious Squad

A gust of autumn wind swept away the restless heat of summer, and the yellowing leaves, carried by the breeze, drifted quietly to the earth. In the Talent Pavilion, only a handful of scholars remained; today was a rare day of rest, and most had ventured out to relax, leaving the study hall nearly deserted.

In the southeast corner of the second floor, a young man and woman were poring over their monthly exam papers, discussing various questions. They were Su Bai and Gu Fanshuang.

“Where did I go wrong with this question?” Gu Fanshuang asked, puzzled. “I checked the materials, and the answer I found matches this. How could it be incorrect?”

Su Bai said nothing, taking the paper from her and examining it closely. After a moment, he spoke softly, “I think the teacher set this question deliberately, just to prevent students like you from scoring full marks—a little wordplay, nothing more.”

He pointed out the question to Gu Fanshuang: “It asks who was the driving force behind the Ji Province mutiny, and only allows for one answer. Most filled in Ji Zhai; during class, it was only briefly mentioned, not explored deeply. But if you look into the history, after the Princess of Qi was murdered—resulting in two deaths—King Qi, Ji Zhai, decided to raise arms in rebellion.”

“But in the end, it was revealed that it was Changsun Zheng from Wei who orchestrated the deed, intending to escalate the conflict between the vassal kings and the court, so that Wei could reap the rewards. So, I’d guess Changsun Zheng is the real instigator.”

Hearing this, Gu Fanshuang’s crescent brows relaxed, and she nodded in agreement. “Indeed, I didn’t delve deeper at the time. Once King Qi flew into a rage for his beloved, I stopped researching. I see now…”

“It’s nothing, perfectly normal. You might not catch it next time either,” Su Bai teased.

“Why are you so annoying?” Gu Fanshuang raised her delicate fist and tapped Su Bai lightly on the head.

As the two joked, Xue Jiahuan appeared before them, her face full of melancholy. “I thought you disappeared early this morning, but it turns out you’ve chosen new companions over old ones.”

“Um…” Xue’s theatrical, sorrowful act left Su Bai and Gu Fanshuang exasperated.

After Gu Fanshuang discussed forming a group with Xue Jiahuan, she readily agreed; as for Baxia’s opinion, it hardly mattered (how humble indeed). With only one spot left, they simply recruited Ni Hanyan, though they usually kept their distance from her except for necessary discussions.

Su Bai had ranked in the top ten in the second monthly exam, forcing those below him to write a three-thousand-word self-critique, much to their misery.

Seeing her melodrama ignored, Xue Jiahuan protested, “You two are so competitive, especially you, Fanshuang. Ming Li’s progress lately has been remarkable. Can’t you let him relax for a day, instead of dragging him along in your grind? How are the rest of us supposed to keep up?”

“Enough out of you!” Gu Fanshuang stood up, feigning anger. “You’ve been secretly studying behind my back; you think I didn’t notice you placing third this time?”

But the smile on her lips betrayed her. “Haha, alright, alright. I just didn’t understand something and wanted to consult our talented Ming.”

“Oh? First and ninth place?” Xue Jiahuan looked at them in surprise, finally focusing on Su Bai.

Su Bai raised his brows and waved his hands, “Don’t look at me. I just guessed; it’s not necessarily right.”

“I didn’t expect this.” Xue Jiahuan squinted, circling Su Bai like a little fox, “Junior, are you so learned that even Senior Gu comes to you for answers?”

“Hey! Senior Ba!” Su Bai suddenly called out, hoping Xue Jiahuan would glance at the door so he could escape.

But Xue Jiahuan wasn’t fooled, her eyes flashing with a dangerous glint, causing Su Bai to lean back instinctively.

“You used that trick last time to slip away under my nose. Do you think I’ll fall for it again?”

“Heh.” Su Bai laughed dryly. “Did… did I?”

“Stop pretending!” Xue Jiahuan thrust her own exam paper before him. “You’re not leaving until you explain these questions! For your information, Baxia is busy writing his critique; he won’t bother you.”

“Ah, well…” Su Bai looked helplessly at Gu Fanshuang. “Can’t you help me out?”

“Isn’t this your chance to shine?” Xue Jiahuan blocked between them, her expression playful. “We’re supposed to help one another as group members. The leader hasn’t been decided yet; you help me with these, and Baxia and I will definitely support you.”

“I’d rather not.” Su Bai had no intention of being group leader; whoever wanted it could have it.

“Hey!” Xue Jiahuan, seeing Su Bai about to slip away, quickly added, “If you help, I’ll let Fanshuang go to you, won’t bother you two.”

Gu Fanshuang: “???”

“You two are truly fair-weather friends,” Su Bai said, sweating.

…

As the sun dipped below the horizon, sparrows chirped from the withered branches, reminding Su Bai and the others it was time to leave.

“Alright, let’s call it a day,” Su Bai stretched lazily.

“It’s getting late; we really should head back,” Gu Fanshuang glanced at the deserted second floor. There hadn’t been many people to begin with, and now it was completely empty.

They looked at Xue Jiahuan across from them: she was fast asleep on her books, drool nearly dripping onto the page.

Su Bai and Gu Fanshuang exchanged a quiet laugh, sensing a mysterious familiarity in each other’s expressions.

“What is this feeling? Why does he (she) seem so familiar?” Both wondered silently.

“Mm…” At that moment, Xue Jiahuan murmured in her sleep, breaking their reverie.

Gu Fanshuang quickly turned away, her ears flushed red, while Su Bai feigned indifference, gathering his books to leave. Passing Xue Jiahuan, he patted her shoulder. “Senior, if you don’t wake up, your books will drown in drool.”

Xue Jiahuan rubbed her sleepy eyes, seeing the sunset outside. “Oh no! When did I fall asleep? Honestly, I got nothing done today, and didn’t even sleep well.”

Su Bai bowed to Gu Fanshuang. “Senior, I’ll take my leave. Farewell.”

Gu Fanshuang watched Su Bai’s departing figure, murmuring, “Fare… farewell.”

Xue Jiahuan squinted, propping her chin with her hands and drawing out her words, “They’ve gone, stop staring already.”

“You!” Gu Fanshuang’s face reddened further, and she left at once.

Su Bai, returning books downstairs, saw Gu Fanshuang rush in, puzzled.

“You’re still here?”

“I haven’t returned the books I borrowed a couple days ago.”

“Oh.”

“With nothing else to do, shall we take a walk?”

“Sure.”

…

They walked in silence all the way to Gu Fanshuang’s residence, Birch Mist Manor.

Su Bai pretended surprise, breaking the quiet. “Oh? What a coincidence. Since we’ve arrived, I’ll leave you to rest. Farewell, Senior.”

“Mm, see you tomorrow,” Gu Fanshuang replied, bowing.

“I want to sit with her, but I don’t know what to say. What’s happening to me?” Su Bai didn’t consider himself susceptible to infatuation; if such a young girl could stir his heart, surely he must be ill.

He knew it was that sense of familiarity at work, and shook his head vigorously. “Get lost! How annoying.”

…

Three years passed in a flash; in half a month, it would be time for the final exams.

This exam lasted four hours, split between morning and afternoon—two hours each. The morning covered literature and history; the afternoon, languages and cultures from various nations.

Now, the Talent Pavilion was overcrowded, with all three classes—Heaven, Earth, and Man—gathered together. Hundreds brainstormed, making this midsummer unusually hot.

Su Bai and Gu Fanshuang, however, had no such worries. Their accumulated credits ensured a decent grade even without taking the exam. Su Bai simply opted out, spending his days meditating and cultivating martial arts.

…

Gu Fanshuang’s approach was different; though she hadn’t neglected martial arts these three years, she had reached the seventh layer of the Bronze Skin realm. She didn’t yet know that Su Bai had been at the Bone Forging stage for over two weeks.

Each time he claimed he was reading, he was really finding time to train.

“Phew…” Exhaling deeply, Su Bai opened his eyes and muttered, “Being a nominal disciple really pays off. I merely asked about the Blood River Pavilion’s exclusive technique, and it was handed to me.”

He stood, stretching with both hands overhead, his joints crackling audibly. Gazing at his maturing body in the bronze mirror, Su Bai finally smiled. He was now thirteen, growing rapidly these past two years. Having learned the art of mask-making from his master at Blood River Pavilion, he no longer worried about exposing himself to Gu Fanshuang.

Feeling the power coursing through him, Su Bai pondered, “I’ve reached the fourth layer of the Bone Forging stage; my cultivation speed isn’t slow. Yet it’s still not enough to roam the martial world, let alone face my enemies.”

At that thought, a fierce gleam flashed in his eyes. “I must reach the Spirit Focusing stage soon, or I’ll be powerless before those old devils.”

The formidable enemies behind him drove Su Bai relentlessly forward; he could never let himself stop, needing constant, intense training to feel secure.

Seeing daylight outside, he swallowed a calming pill, pulled up the covers, drew the curtains, and prepared to sleep.

Su Bai understood well the principle: “When water is full, it overflows; when the moon is full, it wanes.” After reaching his limit, he never forced his cultivation, fearing he’d fall into madness.

Meanwhile, the other four group members were deep in their tense review.

“This Ming Junior, honestly—he relies on his perfect scores and just decides not to take the exam. I really…” Baxia grumbled nearby.

Of the remaining four, Gu Fanshuang and Xue Jiahuan could also skip the exam, but they aimed for higher rankings. Especially Xue Jiahuan, whose martial arts talent in the Heaven class was only average; she needed to boost her literature score.

This was Blood River Pavilion’s unique scoring system: the three-year and seven-year major exams counted for fifty points, regular exams another fifty, with extra points for significant achievements.

If your score after seven years was high enough, you could be recommended as a true disciple of Blood River Pavilion—accepted as a personal disciple by one of the nine elders or the sect leader. Such cases were rare in the Heaven class; most earned the elders’ tutelage through final rankings.

In martial arts, progress without guidance was arduous and perilous; a misstep could lead to ruin. This was why Su Bai took three years to reach his current realm. With a master like Su Qing, his level would surely be higher.

Ni Hanyan had joined their review, but her aloof personality meant anyone speaking to her received nothing but a sullen face. Even the lively Xue Jiahuan avoided conversation.

Originally, they’d said they’d recruit anyone, but she was the only one left in the class, so Sun Xiuyuan simply assigned her to Su Bai’s group.

Ni Hanyan often copied their homework and even stole Xue Jiahuan’s things (she wouldn’t dare trouble Gu Fanshuang). Su Bai had caught her once but did nothing, seeing her as nothing more than a petty nuisance—someone else would handle her, and he couldn’t be bothered.

Gu Fanshuang and the others ignored her, focusing on their studies.

It was not until midday that Su Bai awoke from his dreams. Seeing the sun high in the sky, he tidied his bed and began a new round of cultivation.

…

Every pavilion in Blood River Pavilion was managed by an elder; Talent Pavilion was overseen by Elder Hong Gang, the fifth elder. Watching the students cramming, he felt helpless. During every monthly and final exam, Talent Pavilion stayed open late, and he, as the building supervisor, had to drive them out in the end.

“Pack up! Closing time!”

Xue Jiahuan set down her book, yawning as she addressed Gu Fanshuang. “Sister Fanshuang, let’s stop here for today and continue tomorrow.”

She glanced at the impassive Ni Hanyan and nudged Baxia with her elbow.

“Huh?” Baxia, already half asleep, nearly slammed his face into the desk when nudged.

Xue Jiahuan shook her head at him. “Time to go.”

“Oh, okay, let’s… let’s go,” Baxia scratched his head and blinked, preparing to leave.

No one cared whether Ni Hanyan stayed or left; the three departed without a backward glance. Unbeknownst to them, Ni Hanyan watched their retreating figures with growing resentment in her eyes.