Chapter 75

Song Yi observed Teacher Yuan’s expression. He looked like he still knew nothing.

She immediately clutched her stomach. “Teacher, I need to go to the bathroom.”

At the same time, she discreetly poked Li Wenwen.

Li Wenwen copied her example, and then it was like one infection spreading to two others. All four kids were hit. “Teacher, I need to go to the bathroom too.”

Teacher Yuan still did not think they were up to something. His brows furrowed slightly. “Was there something wrong with the food you ate just now? I’ll take you to get checked.”

At the exhibition, there were naturally also foods promoted by sects like the Spirit Cuisine Sect, which specialized in delicacies, and these children’s mouths had not stopped moving the entire time. Now that they suddenly showed uncomfortable expressions and all wanted to go to the bathroom together, it might be physical discomfort.

Song Yi immediately said, “It’s fine, Teacher. You should go to your appointment first, or it’ll be too embarrassing. We just ate too much.”

Old Yang patted Teacher Yuan with a smile. “You go on ahead. I’ll watch them.”

Song Yi and the others had already started exchanging looks. What should they do? Should they find a way to send Old Yang away too?

After Teacher Yuan left, Old Yang crossed his arms over his chest and said with an air of calm certainty, “Don’t try the same tricks on me that you used on your Teacher Yuan. Something went wrong with Wanqi Sect’s simulator spirit. You did it, didn’t you? Those people from Spirit Elementary are looking for you, aren’t they?”

He had already noticed something was off on the cloud whale. Why were these guys asking about Wanqi Sect for no reason?

The children clung to Old Yang’s legs, their smiles eager and ingratiating. “Our dearest Teacher Yang, you’re on our side, right?”

When they needed something, he was their dear Teacher Yang. When they did not, he was Old Yang.

“Let me think. Who was it who recorded me and threatened to tell Old Yuan if I didn’t cooperate?” Old Yang was not going to let them off so easily.

Everyone decisively pushed Lin Ze out. “Teacher, it was him. Just punish him by giving him more homework.”

Lin Ze: “...”

Old Yang: “...”

Well, well. Cutting off an arm to save the body, were they?

Old Yang had still wanted to scare them a little, but this move left him completely speechless.

Li Wenwen tugged at the corner of Old Yang’s clothes, looking pitiful. “Teacher Yang, if someone called Cloud City trash and called your friends trash, could you put up with that?”

“Absolutely not.”

Li Wenwen turned her head and glanced at Lin Ze. “Did you record that?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Old Yang, now we’re on the same boat again.” Li Wenwen’s little expression vanished. “What bad intentions could children have? It must have been the teacher who told us to do it. Something as amazing as a simulator spirit? We haven’t learned that yet.”

Song Yi followed up. “Teacher Yang, you covered for us the whole way here, and Teacher Yuan knows that too. Wanting to jump ship at the last minute would be really dishonorable.”

Cold sweat suddenly appeared on Old Yang’s forehead.

He seemed to have suddenly become the perfect scapegoat.

That familiar feeling of being arranged into a role made him instantly remember what had happened back in Jade City.

Back then, he had also somehow, without understanding a thing, become these children’s “accomplice.” Even now, there were still people trying to ask him for fortune-telling, and the fate studies research society had even sent him an invitation to join.

Making a name for oneself was a wonderful thing to some people, but for Old Yang, who feared trouble, it was endless future trouble on a massive scale.

Old Yang’s fists felt a little hard. He had the urge to righteously destroy these children.

Eating and drinking for free in the club was very enjoyable, but once he was the one being arranged, he could no longer smile.

Whether fate’s gifts had marked prices or not, Old Yang did not know. But he now understood one thing: all of Song Yi’s gifts definitely had prices secretly attached.

Damn it!

He stood facing off against the children. Their gazes crossed, as if sparks of arc light were being rubbed out between them.

Killing intent spread in all directions.

Come on, then. Let’s hurt each other.

Just then, Lu Shan walked toward them. The moment Song Yi saw her, she had sent her a message.

In the current situation, without Lu Shan’s help, they could not handle Teacher Yuan.

Lu Shan first greeted Teacher Yang politely. This nearly brought tears to Old Yang’s eyes. It had been so long since he had interacted with normal children that he was about to forget what normal children were like.

Lu Shan quietly edged a little farther away from Old Yang. This teacher was a little strange.

Then she put her hands on her hips and puffed up her cheeks. “Song Yi, I already know everything. You actually impersonated me! I still need to settle accounts with you!”

Song Yi denied it outright, widening her eyes as she argued, “It wasn’t impersonating. It was borrowing! Between classmates, when you borrow something and return it, how can that be called impersonating? I told you about it ages ago. You agreed yourself.”

Lu Shan: “?”

How could she possibly agree to something so absurd?

Then she suddenly remembered that strange, inexplicable conversation she had with Song Yi a few days ago. Even by the end, she had not understood what Song Yi wanted her to help with, and later she had forgotten about it.

Lu Shan looked down at the child whose whole face was written with “sincerity” and told herself that she was a reasonable child.

But when facing someone like Song Yi, who was full of twisted logic, her reason seemed unable to get through.

After considering it for three seconds, Lu Shan decided not to endure it anymore and pounced toward Song Yi. “Fine! So you were scheming against me from that long ago! I’m fighting you!”

She had never seen such a shameless person!

“Mercy, Study Committee Member!” Lin Ze and Li Wenwen cried out in shock and were just about to protect their liege, but they underestimated the explosive power of a top student.

Lu Shan made a light feint, dodged their attempt to hold her back, and actually managed to rush right up beside Song Yi.

Unfortunately, Song Yi’s defenses were not so easy to break. She caught Lu Shan’s hand, dissolved her offensive, then casually patted her shoulder and said in the tone of an elder, “Your footwork is pretty good. How far have you learned the sword art I taught you all?”

Lu Shan was immediately led off track. “I should already be at the second realm.”

“Not bad, not bad. Keep it up.” Song Yi always felt very gratified when she saw this kind of good seedling for future sword Dao.

Now, Cloud Elementary’s style had been led a little strangely by Song Yi, and First Grade Class One was the worst-hit area.

In the past, first-grade children basically had not started learning Martial Dao courses much, but now everyone carried swords, and they were not the kind of swords used just for show.

Lu Shan was just about to nod when she suddenly remembered that this was absolutely not the occasion to let Song Yi act like an instructor. “Little Song Yi! Don’t change the subject!”

She had accidentally shouted Song Yi’s nickname, because calling her that felt a little more imposing.

“All right, all right, don’t be mad. Back then, I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. It wasn’t premeditated. I was just borrowing it first. I didn’t know it would be so useful either.” Song Yi waved a hand. “How about this? You can borrow my name too.”

Lu Shan: “...What would I need your name for? To help take the lightning strikes when someone wants to beat you up?”

Naturally, reporting Song Yi’s name carried the effect of showing off, but that name was also packed full of hatred. Lu Shan had to wonder if she had sinister intentions.

Otherwise, why did she not use her own name?

Song Yi rubbed her chin. “That’s a good idea.”

Lu Shan silently raised her hand again.

“I’m joking, joking!” Song Yi pressed her palms together. “You’re magnanimous, so please help us.”

Lin Ze and the others also looked at her eagerly.

Among all the gazes, Lu Shan found Old Yang’s, and goosebumps rose on her skin again. “Aren’t you a teacher? Why are you begging me along with them?”

Lu Shan was a normal child. When a teacher looked at her with eyes like that, she would feel bad.

Old Yang’s tone was weathered. “This all begins with me joining this damned club...”

Lin Ze casually explained, “No need to listen to his long-winded story. In short, he got on a pirate ship and can’t get off, so he can only walk with us down this dark road to the end.”

Lu Shan: “...”

This teacher really was not very normal.

Lu Shan silently added Old Yang’s elective course to the list of classes she absolutely would never choose in the future.

Then she sighed and said, “You don’t need to be too nervous. It looks like they want to cooperate with you.”

The honest child wanted to take off the crown again and give it to Song Yi. “This should be yours.”

Song Yi put the crown back on her. “It looks better this way.”

Even Li Wenwen and the others, who had been shouting before that their luck was bad, did not say they wanted it.

Wanting it was one thing, but they could not snatch it from a classmate. This wool had to be fleeced from Wanqi Sect. “It’s fine. Wanqi Sect should still have plenty. You’re too polite. You should take more.”

Wild as these children were, they also had strange principles. Being generous with Wanqi Sect’s money was something they were very skilled at. Anyone who did not know better would think Wanqi Sect was their own backyard.

Song Yi scratched her head in distress. “We aren’t afraid they’ll hold us responsible.”

Children who understood the law knew very well that there was room to defend everything they had done. If they had really committed an offense, the cloud whale would have been the first to hand them over.

And they did not regret their words and actions at all. Those people from Spirit Elementary were asking for a lesson too badly.

“We’re afraid of Teacher Yuan,” Song Yi and the others said, wilted and drooping. “We made three rules with him and promised that we wouldn’t cause trouble while we were out having fun.”

If they were not discovered, that meant they had not caused trouble. But if they were discovered, it would be a little hard to explain.

“All right, I’ll help you.” This time, Lu Shan agreed very readily.

Song Yi and the others instead became a little uncertain. “We didn’t threaten or bribe you, okay? You agreed all on your own, okay?”

Lu Shan rolled her eyes. “It’s not for you either. It’s because of Cloud City. I’m from Cloud City too, okay? Just don’t do this kind of thing next time.”

“Definitely next time.”

Lu Shan returned to the restaurant, while Old Yang led the children in squatting sneakily behind the restaurant greenery to observe the situation.

At this moment, Teacher Yuan’s old friend was warmly introducing him to the Chu Wen father and son.

The old friend was all smiles. Back on the cloud whale, when he had heard Old Yuan say he was traveling for work, he had not paid attention. He had not expected that Old Yuan was just as deeply hidden as before.

The sect master of Wanqi Sect had taken the initiative to ask him to make introductions. Although he did not know the details, he could vaguely glimpse one or two things from that attitude.

He had profited this time! But if he had known earlier, he should have caught up with Old Yuan more on the cloud whale.

“Teacher Yuan, I’ve long admired your name and have always wanted to get to know you. This time, I’ve finally found the chance.” Father Chu’s attitude was extremely friendly.

This left Teacher Yuan utterly confused. If his old friend had asked him here, it might have been because he wanted help with a legal issue.

But the sect master of Wanqi Sect looking for him? Their sect’s own legal advisory group should be very strong.

He could still tell that this was an attitude of someone deliberately trying to build a connection. He just did not understand the reason. Their relationship was so distant it could not be hit with eight poles.

Father Chu was smooth and tactful. He knew how to interact with someone like Teacher Yuan. Before coming over, he had already read Teacher Yuan’s legal writings in advance, so he and Teacher Yuan had a fairly enjoyable conversation.

Lu Shan’s parents were also at the table, so the atmosphere was still quite harmonious.

“I wonder whether Teacher Yuan would be willing to become our sect’s legal advisor? Of course, as a part-time position. The compensation is open to discussion.”

This kind of good thing falling from the sky made him even more confused. Did one’s status change after boarding the cloud whale?

Teacher Yuan did not quite understand this operation. “Uh, but I feel like you’re not exactly lacking me, are you?”

His old friend prepared to help clarify Father Chu’s purpose. “Actually, they wanted to meet Student Song Yi...”

“Uncle, why did you call me?” Lu Shan asked upon returning.

Now everyone at the dining table was stunned. “Lu Shan, we were just talking about Song Yi.”

Lu Shan showed an innocent smile. “Ah, recently Song Yi and I have been playing a game where we swap identities. When someone calls Song Yi, I have to answer. When someone calls Lu Shan, Song Yi has to answer.”

Impersonating an identity? That did not exist. This was a game between children.

If Song Yi said something like this, Teacher Yuan would have to suspect whether she wanted to do something. But toward a student like Lu Shan, who was excellent in both character and studies, Teacher Yuan was still very reassured. Of course he would not go so far as to interfere with a child’s game.

Lu Shan’s parents were both smart people. Their daughter had left and then returned with a changed story, so they simply smiled and said nothing.

Chu Wen could not quite hold himself back. “No, Lu Shan—ah, no, Song Yi...”

Father Chu smacked him on the back, leaving him unable to speak.

From small details such as Teacher Yuan attending alone and Lu Shan leaving and coming back, he had guessed a bit of Song Yi’s attitude. “So that’s how it is. Actually, my son spoke improperly and wants to apologize to Student Lu Shan, so we should be looking for Student Song Yi?”

He said not one word about what Song Yi and the others had done, helping them cover over that part.

Of course, this was also good for him. Since Song Yi and the others wanted to keep a low profile, it was more convenient for him to resolve the conflict between the two sides.

Lu Shan nodded and pointed not far away. “Song Yi and the others are coming over.”

This was a play without a script.

Teacher Yuan felt as if something was not right somewhere, but he could not say what was wrong. He just had the feeling that he was being acted at.

Chu Wen bowed to Song Yi and apologized. “I’m sorry. Earlier, whether it was me or my classmates, what we said was wrong. Thank you for the help you gave me too.”

“This matter is over.” Song Yi waved indifferently.

Yes, she did not say she forgave him. She only said “it was over.”

Forgiveness meant there might be a possibility of becoming friends in the future. But it being over meant the grudge had already been repaid in full, and from now on everyone would be strangers.

Some accounts that had been settled clearly were not worth keeping in one’s heart.

And at this time, Teacher Yuan had already figured it out. There was something wrong here! It might be true that Chu Wen had spoken improperly, but Song Yi and the others were definitely not the kind to let others bully them!

Something he did not know about had definitely happened.

Teacher Yuan looked toward Old Yang. Old Yang wished he could stare a hole into the plate in front of him. This pattern is really nice. Is someone looking at me? Absolutely not.

There was absolutely something fishy going on!

A peaceful, uneventful exhibition visit really had only been his imagination.

Teacher Yuan revealed an awkward yet polite smile. “Excuse me. Song Yi, come outside with me for a moment.”

Song Yi looked back with every step. Help!

Old Yuan simply picked her up. This was faster.

Song Yi thought what awaited her would be a furious storm, but to her surprise, after Old Yuan let her go, he gently patted her head. “Did you suffer a loss?”

Song Yi froze, then looked up at him.

Teacher Yuan sighed. “We don’t cause trouble, but we don’t fear trouble either. I didn’t bring you all out here to be bullied. If you’re unhappy, we can just leave. You don’t need to think so much.”

Wanqi Sect was very powerful, but it had no authority over the Ministry of Education. If he did not want to give them face, he could refuse.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Song Yi instantly became bright and animated. “Teacher, we didn’t suffer any loss. You don’t know what the situation was like at the time. That guy’s expression was so funny, and those lackeys of his were simply unable to withstand a single blow...”

What battle of wits against Spirit Elementary students, horror inside the simulator spirit, clever use of identity swapping, fooling Old Yang into cooperating... It could be seen that her Literature and History classes had not been wasted.

She was speaking with rising excitement, at the most thrilling part and still not satisfied, when she felt a chill creep upward.

Sure enough, she met Teacher Yuan’s kind expression.

Song Yi quickly shut her mouth. It was over. She had accidentally said too much!

“Keep talking. I’ll keep learning about your rich and colorful lives.” Teacher Yuan smiled.

Song Yi, who had started floating, was knocked back to her true form on the spot. She held her head in both hands. “Teacher, you’re the one who said not to be afraid of trouble...”

“What I said was that if you haven’t caused trouble, don’t be afraid of trouble. I didn’t tell you to cause trouble and not be afraid of it at the same time!”

Could you not take half of my sentence as an imperial sword of authority?

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