"Zhang Nannan, Zhang Nannan."
Zhang Nannan looked in the direction of the voice, her expression absentminded. She met her tutor's confused gaze and shivered instantly, "Tutor."
The tutor frowned, looked at her, shook his head, and turned back to grade the students' assignments.
Zhang Nannan pulled herself together, daring not to think wildly anymore. She endured until the tutor finished grading, and just as she was about to leave, he called out to her.
"I've noticed you've been quite distracted these past few days. Is there something you wish to tell me? I am your tutor, and also your elder. If you encounter any difficulties, you can tell me, and I can help you find a solution."
The tutor had, in a way, watched Zhang Nannan grow up. He saw her as he would his own younger generation. Seeing her in such poor condition lately, he couldn't help but feel concerned.
"Tutor, I'm fine. Perhaps I'm just a bit tired from preparing lessons these past few days. I'll be better after a few days of rest," Zhang Nannan forced a smile.
"You..." The tutor paused, wanting to say more, but finally sighed and shook his head, "Very well, you may go."
Since Zhang Nannan was unwilling to say more, asking further would be of no help and might even be bothersome. He could only wait for Zhang Nannan to come to terms with it herself.
"Thank you, Tutor."
Zhang Nannan bowed and left the tutor's study. She then clasped her hands together and quickened her pace out of the academy, heading towards the outskirts of the city.
Her mind had been uneasy all day, and she couldn't help but worry if something unexpected had happened with Wang Yao.
She had been changing Wang Yao's dressing and cleaning his wounds these past few days. However, the Sacred Attendant had not held back when he attacked. Furthermore, she was not a medical cultivator specializing in medicine. Wang Yao's condition could only be considered stabilized, but there was no sign of improvement.
If this continued, Wang Yao would not only lose his sight but possibly his life...
Thinking of this, Zhang Nannan clasped her hands even tighter.
She dared not delay and hurried along. Before long, she arrived at the barren mountains.
However, before she could reach Wang Yao's hiding place, she sensed an unsettling aura in the air.
Without a second thought, she immediately turned to leave.
"Take one more step, and don't blame me for striking."
The deliberately heavy footsteps echoed from the mountain forest.
Zhang Nannan's face instantly turned as pale as paper, her eyes filled with despair.
...
"Senior Brother Xiong, I've brought her back, but she refuses to say anything."
Zhang Nannan was shoved into the stone cave. Her eyes immediately fell upon Wang Yao, whose eyes were bandaged with white gauze, and the tall man squatting beside him.
Zhang Nannan's pupils contracted, and she subconsciously lowered her head.
"You recognize me?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang had not missed Zhang Nannan's reaction. He glanced at Wang Yao and stated with certainty, "Then you must also be a student of Qiming Academy. You studied with me back then."
He had only visited Mo City once. The only people he knew in Mo City were the students and tutors of Qiming Academy.
However, he, Wang Yao, and Zhang Nannan were not in the same class. Yet, with the extraordinary memory of cultivators, he had a few impressions of them.
Zhang Nannan's reaction just now confirmed his guess.
"Speak, what happened to his eyes? And why did you hide him here instead of taking him back to Mo City to recover?"
Zhang Nannan bit her lower lip, remaining silent.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang looked to his left and right. "Left, I didn't touch her. She was like this when I caught her. She didn't struggle or resist, but she won't say a word."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's brow furrowed. "You recognize me, and you likely know my identity. We are not bad people, nor are we intending to rob or kill. You don't need to be wary of us."
Zhang Nannan still kept her head down, showing no reaction.
"Hey, what's your problem? Our senior brother is talking to you, and you have no manners," Fei Hua said from the side, displeased.
Senior Brother Xiong had never spoken to him in such a gentle tone. This woman truly didn't know what was good for her.
But no matter how they persuaded her, Zhang Nannan remained unresponsive.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang finally lost his patience. "Since you refuse to speak, tomorrow I will take you and Wang Yao back to Mo City together. The tutors of Qiming Academy will surely know the reason."
"No!" Zhang Nannan suddenly looked up, her eyes pleading, "No, please don't tell the academy, I beg you."
"Then tell me what happened," Xiong Zhuangzhuang pressed in a deep voice.
"I..."
Zhang Nannan opened her mouth, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh and asked Xiong Zhuangzhuang a strange question, "Where is Xu Yi? Why isn't she here?"
Upon hearing Xu Yi's name, Xiong Zhuangzhuang finally remembered that this person before him and the one lying on the ground were both classmates of Xu Yi at the time.
"Xu Yi is in seclusion," Xiong Zhuangzhuang said.
"Seclusion?" Zhang Nannan nodded blankly, "Seclusion is good, seclusion is good."
At least Xu Yi wouldn't see her in such a pathetic and terrible state.
However, she would ultimately be unable to fulfill the promise she had made to Xu Yi back then.
They would never be able to meet again.
Zhang Nannan closed her eyes, a look of liberation appearing on her face.
"Not good!"
Yin Li, who had been silent, had been observing Zhang Nannan's expression. Noticing her abnormal state, she immediately stepped forward to stop her, striking Zhang Nannan's back with a palm and interrupting her self-detonation.
"Pfft!"
Zhang Nannan vomited a large mouthful of blood, her expression weak, and she leaned back listlessly, caught by Yin Li.
"Why..."
Zhang Nannan's eyes widened as she stared intently at Yin Li.
Why wouldn't they let her die?
Yin Li clearly saw the profound hatred in Zhang Nannan's eyes.
Her chest felt tight, and just as she was about to speak, Zhang Nannan closed her eyes and fainted.
Yin Li had no choice but to place Zhang Nannan beside Wang Yao, and also administered several pills to her.
She had interrupted it very timely. Zhang Nannan's injuries were not severe; it was just the surge of qi and blood, coupled with the mental shock, that caused her to faint.
Looking at the two bodies lying on the ground, Xiong Zhuangzhuang shook his head.
Qiming Academy in Mo City was a pure land in his eyes. He hadn't expected that this pure land could no longer be preserved.
"Senior Brother Xiong, both of them don't know when they will recover. Why don't we first go to Qiming Academy in Mo City to gather some information?"
"Junior Brother Zuo, I think you just want to go to Qiming Academy."
Zuo Shi chuckled and did not refute.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang also felt that Zuo Shi had a point, so he asked Yin Li and Fei Hua to stay and look after the two while he took Zuo Shi to Mo City.
Fei Hua also wanted to go, but he dared not defy his senior brother's decision. He resentfully agreed and watched Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Zuo Shi leave.
After the two left, Fei Hua secretly glanced at Yin Li. Seeing her displeased expression, he didn't dare to bother her and instead called out his treasure-hunting mouse to play with him.
Yin Li leaned against the stone cave, her eyes gazing into the distance, lost in thought.
Neither they nor Xiong Zhuangzhuang, who was currently heading to Mo City, could have guessed that the purple-robed figure they were trying to investigate was heading towards the barren mountains.
And they would soon have a direct confrontation.