Meeting Again, All Unspoken

Especially the voice of this person-she kept feeling it was somewhat familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

"For now, I shall trouble Miss Linghua to lead the way."

Seeing her look of contemplation, Yang Lingrui felt alarm bells ringing in his heart and hurriedly spoke to interrupt her.

As he spoke, he subtly adopted a hint of the southern Wangchao regional accent.

"Ah! Very well, Young Master Yang, please follow me."

Turning to the matter at hand, Feng Linghua set aside her doubts and led Yang Lingrui into the academy.

"Our Chengtian Academy is divided into the Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting Courts. As I am a disciple of the Painting Court, I shall start by showing you around there!"

"Very well, that sounds fine."

For the rest of the day, Feng Linghua guided Yang Lingrui through the entirety of the Painting Court.

What Yang Lingrui found most eye-opening were the Seven-Colored Corridor and the Dotting-the-Eyes Pavilion.

These two locations were places of enlightenment reserved for cultivators of the Dao of painting.

Built between three mountains, the Seven-Colored Corridor resembled a bridge piercing the clouds, connecting the three peaks.

It stored the Brush-Ink Spirits, which were immensely precious to painters. Those who could comprehend them would see their skill greatly increased.

The Dotting-the-Eyes Pavilion was located on the summit of the Painting Court's main peak.

It housed a collection of works from many renowned masters since the founding of Chengtian Academy for later generations to admire.

Every painting contained a portion of the Painting-Art Essence.

Since the pavilion's founding, the academy had decreed that any disciple who could obtain a Painting-Art Essence from it would immediately be designated a personal disciple.

Yang Lingrui knew nothing of this path, so he could only observe the spectacle without discerning its true depth.

In the few years since Feng Linghua had entered the academy, she had gained some insights, yet she still had a long road ahead before truly grasping the Painting-Art Essence.

Upon learning that it was tied to the quota for personal disciples, Yang Lingrui grew curious.

"Miss Linghua, to this day, how many in the Painting Court have obtained such a great Fated Chance in the Dotting-the-Eyes Pavilion?"

"Speaking only of our Painting Court, since the pavilion was established, eight Seniors have obtained the Painting-Art Essence. Three of them have already achieved the Condensed Origin realm and entered the academy's 'Heavenly Book Grotto-Heaven' to cultivate."

Feng Linghua replied earnestly.

Catching her initial qualification, a hint of suspicion rose in Yang Lingrui's heart.

If she specified "only the Painting Court," could it be that those who did not cultivate the Dao of painting had also managed to comprehend the essence within?

Noticing his confusion, Feng Linghua explained, "In the history of Chengtian Academy, there has been only one disciple who did not cultivate the Dao of painting, yet still managed to take a Painting-Art Essence from the Dotting-the-Eyes Pavilion."

"Such a genius-who might that be?" Yang Lingrui asked, his eyes showing a trace of surprise.

"That is the current leader of our Chengtian Academy, and the disciple hailed as the strongest in our history: Senior Brother Shen Yue!"

"Shen Yue!"

Hearing the name, Yang Lingrui recalled the man who had escorted Ye Lan and Li Qingwan away after the selection ceremony.

During that ceremony, he had seen Shen Yue sitting on the second-class viewing platform alongside He Shenglai and others; he had only ever seen the man's back from afar.

"As expected of one of the most prominent geniuses of the Wangchao, to cross paths and obtain such a Fated Chance-truly admirable!"

Yang Lingrui praised him sincerely.

"Hehe, Young Master Yang, you are quite impressive yourself!"

Feng Linghua smiled brightly. "The masters have said that you all are the elite figures sifted from the great tides of the Wangchao. Placed within our academy, you possess the caliber to rank upon the Golden Roll!"

"Haha, the masters of the academy are too kind."

As the tour of the Painting Court concluded, Feng Linghua escorted Yang Lingrui back to his residence.

"Young Master Yang, do rest early today. Tomorrow, I will take you to visit the Chess Court."

"Very well, my thanks to you for today, Miss Linghua."

Upon returning to his cave dwelling, Yang Lingrui quickly settled into a state of meditation.

The concentration of Spiritual Qi within the academy was not particularly high compared to the rest of the imperial capital, but the spiritual current was peaceful and the aura was clear and moist.

For a cultivator, meditating here felt like spring rain soaking into the heart, a most comfortable sensation.

For him personally, this environment helped to soothe the restless and overflowing spiritual power within his body.

Today's visit to the Painting Court had broadened his horizons, leaving him with a sense of anticipation for tomorrow's tour of the Chess Court.

The following day, when Yang Lingrui emerged from the stone gate, Feng Linghua was already waiting outside.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting, Miss Linghua."

"It is nothing; I only just arrived."

The two chatted idly until they reached the Chess Court.

"Young Master Yang, I am not very knowledgeable about the Dao of chess, but that is no matter. I have a dear sister who cultivates in the Chess Court; she observed the ceremony with you as well. I shall take you to find her."

A dear sister, cultivating in the Chess Court, present at the ceremony.

Upon hearing these words, the corner of Yang Lingrui's mouth twitched.

"Er, Miss Linghua, the person you refer to-could it be Fellow Daoist Li Qingwan?"

"Indeed!"

Feng Linghua nodded proudly. "It is Sister Qingwan. Do not think that because she is a woman, her understanding of the Dao of chess is shallow. Let me tell you, Sister Qingwan's talent in chess, especially in the art of killing moves, has even been publicly praised by the Western Consort in the palace!"

Hiss-

Yang Lingrui could not help but draw a sharp breath.

He had not known that Feng Linghua had entered the academy, much less that she maintained such a close relationship with Li Qingwan.

At this moment, he was profoundly grateful for his disguise.

If he were to face them both while recognized, the sheer awkwardness made his scalp tingle.

"It is fine, it is fine-I shall not be discovered on the spot."

He comforted himself with this thought.

Following Feng Linghua for a short while, they arrived outside a cave dwelling located on a mountainside.

Li Qingwan was a personal disciple of the Chess Court.

However, aside from its size, the dwelling lacked any decorations, exotic flowers, or plants. It was stark and plain, completely unlike the usual abode of a personal disciple.

Feng Linghua, clearly familiar with the place, stepped forward and cast several hand seals to trigger the protective barrier.

"Sister Qingwan! I have come to ask for a favor today!"

She called out softly, and before long, the stone gate of the dwelling slowly opened.

Li Qingwan, dressed in her familiar green robes, stepped out gracefully.

"Sigh... you little girl, I have told you many times to study the texts of the four courts, yet you never listen!"

"Hehe, that is because my cultivation has been so rigorous, I have had no time!"

Feng Linghua immediately stepped forward and linked her arm with Li Qingwan's. "Enough of that, let me introduce you-this is..."

"Greetings, Young Master Lingrui."

"Greetings, Miss Qingwan."

The two exchanged a polite salute.

Separated by years, meeting again face-to-face in such a manner, both felt a deep wave of emotion.

Thinking back to the Golden Scale Dharma Assembly, the Southern Mountain Li Family had been the premier power beneath the great clans, while the Yang family had been struggling in the small territory of Songshan over mere dozens of Spirit Crystals.

Who could have foreseen that in a few short years, the Li family would be submerged by the torrents of history, leaving Li Qingwan as the sole survivor, while his own Yang family, riding the surging tide, had grown to dominate an entire region?

In that brief exchange of glances, a complex web of emotions passed between them like a gentle, unexplained breeze, quietly stirring their hearts.

Feng Linghua, still intending to bridge the introduction, was surprised to realize they were already greeting one another.

"Sister Qingwan, you know Young Master Yang? Ouch..."

Li Qingwan tapped her head lightly. "Have you forgotten? My family was originally from Wangyue, and we were old acquaintances with the Songshan Yang family."

"Ah! That is right! I truly forgot about that!"

Feng Linghua stuck out her tongue playfully. "Perfect, then! Since everyone is an old acquaintance, Sister Qingwan, please, lead the way and show us around the Chess Court!"

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