Shen Ling’s voice was filled with despair and anger. In this world, no woman wouldn’t care about her appearance. Shen Ling, a young girl as beautiful as a flower at the prime of her youth, how could she accept having her looks ruined, becoming a hideous monster?
Zhang Gaoqiu was standing in front of the little princess inside the Exquisite Tower, teasing her. The little princess stood there with a cold expression, which made Zhang Gaoqiu a bit uneasy.
However, he couldn’t explain to her at the moment that he had already secretly solved all troublesome matters during the chaos in Jinling City, otherwise, if the incident with Shen Ling were discovered later, his words now would plunge himself and his family into an abyss of despair.
Yet Zhang Gaoqiu indeed had a silver tongue. As he kept teasing Shen Ling beside the little princess, her expression gradually shifted from somber to a smile.
But who would have known, at that moment, a familiar shout suddenly came from outside the door, startling Zhang Gaoqiu and making his heart skip a beat with a chilling feeling rising within him: "Shen Ling? That girl actually wasn’t killed by the fall?"
If Shen Ling wasn’t killed by the fall, then he was in big trouble.
"Your trouble is here!" Chai Wenji’s smile immediately disappeared as she walked away coldly, no longer paying attention to Zhang Gaoqiu.
Zhang Gaoqiu couldn’t be bothered with the little princess Chai Wenji, and quickly walked out of the Exquisite Tower. When he saw the hideous figure standing in the heavy rain, he recognized the person by her aura.
’Damn it, how did she survive the fall from the cliff? It’s supposed to be impossible! How could this happen? That wretched girl couldn’t even be killed by a thousand-foot cliff fall?’ Zhang Gaoqiu’s heart sank with a sense of impending doom as he looked at Shen Ling’s bloody and deformed face. His eyes showed a trace of horror, then he quickly steadied his demeanor, pretending not to recognize Shen Ling’s identity, and questioned, "Who are you, you hideous monster?"
"Zhang Gaoqiu! You despicable scoundrel, do you dare play tricks here? Don’t you know who I am? You damned bastard, you pushed me off a thousand-foot cliff to kill me, and today I will determine victory and life or death with you!" Shen Ling’s mentality collapsed upon hearing Zhang Gaoqiu call her a ’hideous monster’, and rainwater gathered in the void, turning into a sword made of cold ice, shooting toward Zhang Gaoqiu.
That sword emitted an unparalleled chill, freezing the rainwater it passed into ice that fell to the ground.
At this point, Zhang Gaoqiu had long lost his Bloodline Power and was no different from an ordinary mortal. How could he resist Shen Ling’s power?
As he was about to be pierced through the throat by the ice sword, a wave emerged in the void, causing the ice sword to disappear in midair. A suppressing force descended, preventing everyone from utilizing the Mysterious Power.
"No fighting is allowed within Chongzheng Academy. You two have broken our academy’s rules. I’m afraid our academy cannot tolerate you. Both of you, leave the mountain immediately!" Zhou Qiucheng’s figure appeared in front of the Exquisite Tower, looking at the two with a gloomy expression, his voice filled with indisputable finality.
"Sir, it wasn’t me who initiated the fight. I’m innocent. She wanted to kill me. Where would I have the strength to retaliate? I’m being wronged, please, sir, see the truth." Zhang Gaoqiu immediately cried out injustice. He wanted to obtain a mysterious object from within the tower, so how could he be willing to be expelled like this?
"Sir, I’m not leaving! Although I was the first to take action, it was Zhang Gaoqiu who pushed me off a thousand-foot cliff first. I was lucky not to die, saved by a benefactor. Shouldn’t I come to seek revenge?" Shen Ling’s voice was filled with anger.
Upon hearing Shen Ling’s words, Zhang Gaoqiu’s heart stirred: ’I was indeed curious about why she survived the fall; seems she has some fate on her side. But who was the wretch that ruined my plans?’
But who is Zhang Gaoqiu? He wouldn’t admit to such accusations without evidence.
He looked at Shen Ling with a compassionate expression: "Miss Shen, the love between us had long become a thing of the past. Since our destiny together is over, why do you still cling on? To take revenge on me, you even deliberately ruined your own face. Do you hate me that much? Have you forgotten our sweet moments?"
At this, Zhang Gaoqiu spoke with a sorrowful expression: "Why did it come to this?"
After speaking, Zhang Gaoqiu closed his eyes, boldly facing Shen Ling’s gaze that seemed to pierce through him, his voice filled with mourning: "If you hate me so much, just stab me with a sword. I’ll stand here motionless and won’t fight back. Take it as... take it as what I owe you..."
Zhang Gaoqiu put on an expression of readiness for death. He knew that as a descendant of the Zhang Family from Kyoto, Zhou Qiucheng wouldn’t allow him to die here.
Sure enough, after his words fell, Zhou Qiucheng coldly snorted: "Enough! I don’t want to get involved in your two’s messy affairs, nor do I wish to be involved. However, if you cause trouble in the academy, disturbing its peace, I won’t turn a blind eye. Your grudges, go settle them at the foot of the mountain. Our Chongzheng Academy is a place for studying, a place for nurturing talent for the court, and will not allow your antics. Regardless of who is right or wrong, you’ve both caused such a commotion here, stirring up the academy, and I won’t allow it."
"Starting today, both of you are expelled from the academy’s register and will not set foot in Chongzheng Academy again. You’re required to leave the mountain by tonight; if you dare linger, don’t blame me for being ruthless." Zhou Qiucheng’s voice was domineering and ruthless, giving no chance for explanation, nor caring who was right or wrong, dismissing both with a single stroke.
"Sir..." Zhang Gaoqiu’s face changed dramatically upon hearing this. What had he gone through so much trouble to enter Chongzheng Academy for? His goal wasn’t achieved, and now he was being driven out; how could he be willing?
Meanwhile, Shen Ling felt utterly discontent, as this wasn’t her fault at all. Why should she be expelled?
"Sir, I refuse to accept this!" Shen Ling’s voice was full of stubbornness.
"I’m not the judge here to decide who’s right or wrong between you two; it doesn’t matter to me at all. The peace of the academy is most important." Zhou Qiucheng raised his arm to interrupt Shen Ling and Zhang Gaoqiu, his voice filled with a certain coldness: "If you have any sense, just promptly leave. If you don’t, I’ll confine you both within the Exquisite Tower and suppress you, obliterating your Bloodline Power."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu’s expression changed: "Sir, how can you be so unreasonable? I’m afraid the Zhang Family will come to Jinling City to demand justice later. My Zhang Family will never swallow this grievance!"
"Ha! If your Zhang Family has the skills, then come. I, Zhou Qiucheng, fear neither the Human King nor your Zhang Family in Kyoto." Zhou Qiucheng’s eyes were filled with disdain.
Zhou Qiucheng glanced at the surrounding scholars and scolded them sternly: "Have you all finished your studies? Still crowding here to watch the commotion!"
Upon hearing this, the scholars dispersed like birds and beasts, and the area in front of the Exquisite Tower suddenly became quiet.
Then Zhou Qiucheng coldly snorted and turned to walk into the Exquisite Tower.
"It’s all because of you that I’m implicated too." Zhang Gaoqiu turned with anger in his eyes at Shen Ling.
"Despicable and shameless person, I will never let you go!" Shen Ling gritted her teeth, staring at Zhang Gaoqiu with a hint of apprehension, ultimately not daring to make a move.
The clash ended with the two being driven out of the academy.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen was sitting on the mountain peak, practicing alchemy, unaware of what was happening below the mountain. At that moment, a fragrant breeze came through, and Shen Ling, in a red dress, emerged from the rain, standing quietly not far from Zhang Chen.
Shen Ling wore a rabbit mask over her head, covering her shattered face, the red dress indistinct whether it was the original color or from the blood that had flowed earlier.
"I told you, don’t come to disturb me again." Zhang Chen turned toward Shen Ling, his eyes showing a hint of impatience.
"I’m just standing here looking at you. Do you really dislike me that much?" Shen Ling looked at Zhang Chen, her voice showing a trace of grievance.
"Yes!" Zhang Chen replied indifferently: "Disappearing from my sight is the best outcome for me."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ling’s mask hid a bitter smile: "I came today to bid you farewell. I’ve been expelled from the academy; we may rarely meet in the future. Revenge is my only motivation to keep living!"
"Why are you telling me this?" Zhang Chen maintained his distance despite the sentiment.
Honestly, he felt indifferent towards Shen Ling and had no desire to inherit any grievances, wanting no part with Shen Ling.
However, faced with Zhang Chen’s cold attitude, Shen Ling couldn’t help wanting to say something but ultimately didn’t speak, only uttering a resigned: "Take care of yourself in the future and look after yourself!"
After speaking, Shen Ling disappeared into the storm, and the red silhouette faded in the torrential rain.
Zhang Chen watched where Shen Ling had vanished and then looked toward Jinling City, where the Yangtze River Water God had completed its consecration. The Yangtze River Water God and Innate Water God engaged outside Jinling City, the fierce battle turning Heaven and Earth, continual turbulence of wind and thunder.
"If the Innate Water God is wise, it should withdraw now and not continue its entanglement, or else unfathomable troubles might arise. If Yellow Heaven Dao’s allies come, it might not even be able to leave." Zhang Chen looked toward the thunderous sea, muttering to himself.
Amidst swirling thoughts, the Innate Water God indeed withdrew, leaving Gu Mingyue standing outside Jinling City, laughing with pride. In the next moment, Gu Mingyue deployed Divine Techniques, and as the earth shook, the abyss outside Jinling City closed once again, transforming into level ground.