Mingyi's ears grew warm at her sudden words, and she hastily averted her gaze, peeling the girl off her. "What's there to like... Get back to work. At least learn how to use the molds properly today."
"Okay!" Xiuyun beamed sweetly, hopping to the ground and resuming her tasks.
The two students, unwilling to let it go, turned to seek Headmaster Qin for justice. However, they hadn't gone far before Ji Bozhai blocked their path.
"L-Lord Ji?"
Ji Bozhai radiated impatience, his entire demeanor restless. "Why trouble her?"
"We... we just thought you—"
"My affairs with her are none of your concern."
Quick to read the mood, the pair immediately realized Ji Bozhai's interference wasn't out of dislike for Mingyi—quite the opposite, perhaps even because...
Eyes gleaming, one of them stepped forward. "I have an idea to ensure Ming Guniang receives the iris flowers. Then, my lord, you can naturally bring her to your side."
"Indeed, my lord. She's just a woman. Even if she knows Artifact Crafting, she's still a woman. Controlling her should be easy. Why must you—"
"Spare me the trouble." Ji Bozhai sidestepped, clearing a path for them.
The two hesitated, words dying on their lips, before finally hurrying away.
Ji Bozhai knew better than they did how easily women could be controlled. In this world, women were like rootless duckweed—with power and influence, they could always be obtained, just as he had done before.
But Mingyi hadn't grown up as a woman. In her mind, she was born equal to men, even superior in Essence Power. She was a towering mountain or a vast ocean, never content to be mere duckweed.
Forced fruit might quench thirst, but he preferred sweetness.
Glancing at the sky, Ji Bozhai left the Academicians' Court and headed for the city gates.
Today was the day She Tianlin returned to Sunspire City. He hadn't told Mingyi, partly to avoid a painful farewell, and partly because he knew what she was doing now. As long as they didn't meet, he could pretend ignorance and let her pursue her desires.
Mingyi had extraordinary talent for Artifact Crafting, though it had long been overshadowed by her formidable Essence Power, making it seem less significant. If that talent could now become her reason to live, She Tianlin thought it splendid—never mind Sunspire City or Star Yearn City. He had only this one disciple; her survival was all that mattered.
Tribute-laden carriages streamed out of the city like flowing water. She Tianlin, seated inside one, was about to close his eyes when the carriage abruptly halted.
His heart leapt, and he immediately lifted the curtain.
Outside stood not Mingyi, but Ji Bozhai. Hands clasped behind his back, he gave a slight nod. "I've come to see the Headmaster off."
The joy in She Tianlin's eyes faded. He pursed his lips. "Get in."
The curtain fell back as Ji Bozhai took a side seat, regarding the elder who clearly held some disapproval of him. "There's something I'd like your guidance on."
"Hmm."
"How did Mingyi come to be poisoned?"
She Tianlin's eyelids twitched. He glanced at him. "Why ask?"
"The Headmaster must know that the poison in her... I might be able to cure it," Ji Bozhai said calmly. "But I have only one antidote. I won't use it on her lightly."If he wouldn't use it on her lightly, then what more was there to say? She Tianlin was slightly annoyed, but after calming down and studying Ji Bozhai carefully, he lowered his voice: "The Empress of Sunspire City—her mother—was afraid she wouldn’t obey, so she had someone seek out this poison to feed her. Originally, the antidote was given on schedule, but the place where it was stored was burned down by Meng Shi, which is why the poison took effect and destroyed all her meridians."
Could there really be mothers in this world who would use poison to control their own children?
Ji Bozhai fell silent for a long moment before scoffing, "It seems not having a mother since birth was a blessing in disguise."
She Tianlin’s expression finally softened. He sighed, "Both you and she are victims of fate, bound by circumstances beyond your control. Who would have thought you’d end up together? If you have a way to save her, please do. Whatever you want, just tell me, and I’ll do my best to fulfill it."
Ji Bozhai snapped out of his thoughts and raised an eyebrow. "What if I want the mentors to go easy on me during the Six Cities Tournament?"
She Tianlin lifted his hand, the black muzzle of his Divine Tool "Ten Thousand Arrows Piercing the Heart" aimed squarely between Ji Bozhai’s brows, his anger flaring. "Young man, watch your words."
The Six Cities Tournament was a sacred event—no room for such jokes.
Ji Bozhai lowered his gaze. "Just a passing remark. Even if the mentors don’t go easy, I’ll still win that match."
"How you win is none of my concern. Whose Divine Tool you use to win is also none of my business. But the moment she steps foot in Sunspire City, bloodshed will follow. If you can’t protect her, don’t take her there." She Tianlin withdrew his Divine Tool. "Don’t drag her into ruin."
The city that once took pride in her now sought her destruction? Ji Bozhai thought coldly. These cities were heartless and ungrateful, utterly unworthy of loyalty. Only she had been foolish enough to give hers for seven years.
"Is there anything you’d like me to pass on to her?" Ji Bozhai asked as they neared the city gates.
She Tianlin rummaged around and produced a piece of high-grade rare iron. "She’ll need this later."
"Thanks." The carriage stopped, and Ji Bozhai stood to take his leave, disappearing beyond the curtain.
She Tianlin remained seated in the carriage. Only after a long while did he realize something was off and cursed, "That was for Mingyi! What’s he thanking me for? Who does he think he is, that brat?"
Ji Bozhai returned to the city, casually bought some scallion pancakes, and had them delivered to Mingyi along with the rare iron.
Mingyi recognized the rare iron as Old She’s handiwork at a glance, but the scallion pancakes beside it? Puzzled, she picked one up, sniffed it—it didn’t seem poisoned—and took a bite. It was just as well, since she’d been too busy with artifact crafting to eat.
Life in the Academicians' Court was fulfilling yet exhausting. By day, she crafted artifacts; by night, she secretly trained. Perhaps the spiritual energy here was denser than elsewhere, but as she practiced, the pain in her meridians gradually lessened, and her Essence Power began to replenish.
Luo Jiaoyang and the others might dislike Ji Bozhai, but they loved dropping by the Artifact Smiths' hall to chat with Mingyi. Even if they just sat on small stools by the door, they always had endless things to say—mostly about Divine Tools, but it was lively all the same.
"With this 'Like the Sun in the East,' I actually got the upper hand against Ji Bozhai today!" Luo Jiaoyang exclaimed excitedly, gazing eagerly at Mingyi. "Do you have any even more powerful Divine Tools? Something that could let me beat him outright?"
Mingyi chuckled as she worked on her crafting. "If such a thing existed, the world wouldn’t revere Fighters—it’d be ruled by Artifact Smiths."Luo Jiaoyang scratched his head, "But don't you have even more high-level Divine Tools here?"
"Do you really need Ming Guniang to spell it out for you?" Fan Yao said impatiently. "What Ming Guniang means is that since you have purple Essence Power, you can only wield Divine Tools compatible with purple Essence Power. Even if we gave you more powerful ones, you wouldn't be able to use them."
The group burst into laughter. Luo Jiaoyang snorted and muttered sullenly, "That still doesn't change the fact that I don't like Ji Bozhai. No matter how talented he is, that guy is just plain annoying."
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