Chapter 69. Squeak!

Long Huacheng hurriedly headed back to the annex.

He was completely flustered.

Just a moment ago, things that were clearly well-organized began to unravel.

How could things go so wrong?

Fortunately, the Heavenly Gong Pill was still in the annex.

It seemed the search for the wild boar wasn't going smoothly.

Long Huacheng instead faced the eldest prince, who greeted him warmly.

"Isn't it Scholar Jiao? I see you often today. But why have you come back? You're even sweating."

As soon as the greeting ended, Long Huacheng explained the situation.

"…I am. Scholar Mo from Nanhua Academy knows everything and brought it up, which left me quite flustered… Uh… Eldest Prince…"

Long Huacheng stammered as he concluded his explanation.

The eldest prince's expression had already turned stern and rigid.

"Scholar Jiao! If Nanhua Academy knows, what do you mean by that!"

"I'm sorry."

Long Huacheng wasn't really that sorry, but with the eldest prince's stern look, he found himself apologizing.

"Heh heh, really…"

Prince Hou looked at him with a disapproving expression.

Although he himself had used the Heavenly Gong Pill to stir up trouble for the Medicine King Sect twice, and last night had instructed Yinyangkai and Xiaotiankai to drop a letter and leave, he now pretended to be innocent.

Long Huacheng felt increasingly uneasy.

"Scholar Mo's guard seems to have spied on our situation like a mouse. I thought we were thoroughly prepared, but there must have been a gap."

"Indeed, you should be more careful. How could you be so sloppy with the Medicine King Sect?"

"There's no excuse. To be honest, I'm still flustered myself."

Prince Hou shook his head disapprovingly.

"I'm very disappointed. I constantly reminded the Heavenly Gong Pill not to look in the direction of the main hall of the Mystic Gate, but where was your mind, Scholar Jiao?"

Long Huacheng was sweating profusely, feeling like a subordinate.

"What's done is done. There's no point in regretting it. The more I think about it, the more I find your actions disappointing, but what more can I say?"

"…"

"So why does Scholar Mo from Nanhua Academy want to see me? He hasn't even finished decoding the documents, so why does he need to meet me now? It would be better to spend that time decoding even one more character…"

Long Huacheng forced a smile.

'That time…'

While his words were true, they weren't something someone who had just rushed to the library to cool off should say.

"Perhaps if the two of you can communicate, there might be a chance for cooperation. Eldest Prince, would you like to meet him?"

"The answer is already decided."

"Really?"

"If I refuse Scholar Mo's request, it will look like I'm avoiding it out of lack of confidence. It would make me look ridiculous, so this meeting is already set."

"Ah…"

Long Huacheng finally understood.

Considering the reputation and status of the Heavenly Scripture Repository and Nanhua Academy, as well as their competitive relationship, this situation was a matter of the two geniuses' pride.

"Since it's mentioned, I'll go get Scholar Mo right away."

Without waiting for a response, Long Huacheng used his lightness technique and ran off.

Now was not the time for regret or sentimentality.

Time was of the essence.

If they were to meet, it was best to minimize the chances of conflict.

This was the optimal time, with the unpredictable Heavenly Gong Pill not in place.

***

As he followed Long Huacheng to the annex, Mo Ying's eyes narrowed. He found Scholar Jiao's state suspicious.

'Even considering the urgency, he seems too anxious.'

Long Huacheng's hurried appearance was like someone rushing to put out a fire.

"Scholar Jiao."

"Yes, what is it?"

With a hurried heart, Long Huacheng slightly slowed his pace to respond.

"What happened? Why do you seem so rushed?"

"Well, they're hunting wild boars… No, that's not it. Since we're meeting, it's better to do it quickly."

Lost in thoughts of wild boars, Long Huacheng inadvertently revealed his true intentions. He quickly covered it up, but Mo Ying had already stopped.

"Wild boars?"

To Mo Ying, this was an unexpected mention of an animal.

Long Huacheng bit his lip.

He considered making an excuse, but that would only make the story longer. The truth is always the shortest and clearest.

"The subordinates of the Heavenly Scripture Repository are hunting wild boars."

"Subordinates?"

"Yes, they're called the Heavenly Gong Pill. There are quite a few of them, and they are very peculiar and strong-willed. They happen to be hunting wild boars now. It's better to hurry and talk without them around."

Mo Ying frowned.

"So you're saying I have to be cautious of the subordinates of the Heavenly Scripture Repository?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant."

Long Huacheng quickly waved his hands.

While he understood Mo Ying's reaction, explaining the Heavenly Gong Pill would take more time. Besides, the Heavenly Gong Pill was hard to describe in words; one had to experience it to understand.

At this moment, Fen Huashichang, Mo Ying's guard, openly showed his displeasure.

Feeling a relative sense of insult as Mo Ying's guard, he turned red with anger, ready to explode.

Mo Ying quickly raised his hand to stop him and then spoke to Long Huacheng.

"Scholar Jiao, it seems you can't see the person beside me."

"How could that be? Scholar Mo's guard is known as the Jiangxi First Spear, Fen Huashichang. But the Heavenly Gong Pill includes people with both good and bad reputations, and they are all quite peculiar…"

"Enough."

"Excuse me?"

Mo Ying smiled slightly at Long Huacheng's question.

"If you hadn't told us in advance, we might have made a mistake."

"What do you mean…?"

"Peculiar people… Fen Huashichang is known for being rough with those who are impolite, and I always worry about that."

"…?"

"If we hadn't known, we might have seriously injured them."

"…??"

Long Huacheng's eyes blinked rapidly, unable to understand.

'Who would injure whom?'

But Mo Ying interpreted Long Huacheng's confusion as nervousness. He turned to Fen Huashichang.

"Please be careful not to harm the Heavenly Gong Pill, even if they are impolite."

"I will do my best to restrain myself."

Fen Huashichang responded, understanding immediately why Mo Ying had said this.

The significance of meeting the eldest prince of the Heavenly Scripture Repository.

This was a battle of geniuses and a confrontation between families.

And just now, he had become a part of this confrontation.

Intimidate the opponent and show pressure.

The hint was to handle them roughly but not to the point of serious injury.

"Let's go."

"Yes, let's go."

Long Huacheng nodded and quickened his pace.

Explaining the Heavenly Gong Pill further would only delay things. The best course was to finish the conversation while they were hunting wild boars.

**

But life is not so easy.

Life is unpredictable and doesn't go as planned.

Squeak!

As they almost reached the annex, a loud noise was heard.

Long Huacheng's face crumpled instantly.

'…They're back.'

This was clearly the sound of butchering a pig.

Mo Ying and Fen Huashichang, startled by the rustling, tried to maintain a calm expression.

Long Huacheng continued walking.

"Let's go. They seem to be butchering the wild boar."

"…"

Mo Ying's eyes widened, thinking it was just a casual remark.

At the edge of the forest and the start of the annex courtyard, they encountered a bizarre scene.

The courtyard had turned into a slaughterhouse.

In the center, a large pit had been dug, and the Wu Mountain Twin Heroes were holding the wild boar upside down, draining its blood.

Gush, gush, gush.

The blood was flowing out smoothly.

By the time Long Huacheng arrived, they were already cutting the head, body, and legs into pieces. The skill with which the Wu Mountain Twin Heroes handled their knives surpassed that of professional butchers.

"Hehe, look at those plump legs."

"Hehehe, that's what makes it a pig."

"Uncle Twin Heroes, are you going to throw away the organs?"

"Too much meat to waste."

The Heavenly Gong Pill was in a festive mood.

As Long Huacheng approached, he stopped.

He felt something was missing behind him.

Turning around, he saw Mo Ying and Fen Huashichang standing far away like statues, their expressions not good.

Long Huacheng frowned and inwardly sighed.

'Even if I told them to hurry…'

He approached the Heavenly Gong Pill and bowed.

The busy Heavenly Gong Pill barely acknowledged him.

Only Jin Die showed some courtesy.

"Welcome. How is it? Isn't the wild boar impressive?"

"The meat looks good."

"Hehe, it took some effort to find this one. Oh, but you're not alone today. Who are those people over there?"

Long Huacheng immediately replied telepathically.

- Sir, this is Scholar Mo from Nanhua Academy. I've already discussed the general situation with the eldest prince.

"What? Scholar Mo from Nanhua Academy? Oh, so they found out!"

"…"

Long Huacheng's face turned pale.

In a martial world, it's common to pretend not to know when someone switches to telepathy during a conversation, especially when the other party already knows the situation.

Feeling awkward, Long Huacheng turned around.

Mo Ying and Fen Huashichang had stopped again, halfway to the annex.

'…They found out.'

Given that the Heavenly Scripture Repository had known about Nanhua Academy for a while, Mo Ying's expression was stone-cold.

Mo Ying was extremely displeased.

He glared at Long Huacheng and whispered to Fen Huashichang.

"They are so noisy and chaotic. Do you recognize them?"

"…"

Fen Huashichang, contrary to expectations, swallowed hard and his face turned ashen, making Mo Ying frown.

"Why?"

"They are…"

"Do you know them?"

"Anti-Demon… Three Difficulties…"

At that moment, a lively voice came from the Heavenly Gong Pill.

"Hey, isn't that you, Shichang?"

"Yep, it's me. I can tell by the spear. How long has it been?"

"When did you join Nanhua Academy?"

It was Anti-Demon Three Difficulties.

Miao Bingbing, standing nearby, asked curiously.

"Why are you called Ten Spears when you only have one?"

"His spear technique is amazing."

"Oh! So when he wields the spear, it looks like ten to the opponent? Hey, that's a cool nickname!"

Mo Ying watched this with a scowl.

Their attitude towards him was disrespectful.

Just as he was about to order Fen Huashichang to act, Fen Huashichang rushed forward, creating a gust of wind.

'Sure enough! The reputation of the Jiangxi First Spear is not exaggerated…'

Mo Ying's admiration was cut short.

After Fen Huashichang rushed forward, he bowed to Anti-Demon Three Difficulties.

"Seniors, greetings. You recognized me right away. But why are you at the Medicine King Sect?"