Chapter Eighty-Five: How to Retrieve the Scroll — A Challenge for All

“You, you just love being mysterious!” Lan Mist tugged at Xiao Yin’s sleeve with a gentle smile, yet her tone bore not the slightest hint of displeasure. It seemed she harbored no blame for his secrecy; after all, among their little circle, who truly knew the depths of another’s heart? Who among them did not carry secrets, who was without private burdens? Such matters were of little consequence—so long as their affections and loyalty were genuine, that was enough.

Indeed, from the time they first met to becoming lifelong brothers-in-arms, what mattered most was opening their hearts to one another, not the grandeur of family backgrounds. Even if one’s family was illustrious and powerful, what did that matter to the bonds forged between them? Conversely, if one were a wanted criminal in every realm, could they truly harden their hearts and abandon years of friendship and devotion? The truth was, none of them knew much of each other’s past—only fragments here and there—yet it had never diminished their friendship.

They all understood: whether hero or commoner, it was their mutual affection that bound them, rendering other matters trivial by comparison. Why, then, should they dwell on Xiao Yin’s origins? Let him be, as if he too had been reborn from ashes, with no ties to the past. Yet, they still needed to curb Xiao Yin’s arrogant tendencies. Since he refused to reveal his history, he should not keep dangling stories of his family’s might before them. This constant push and pull between ignoring his boasts and wanting to uncover the truth was enough to drive anyone mad with curiosity! Better to silence him and enjoy some peace.

“But little lass, isn’t it precisely this mysterious side of me that you like?” Xiao Yin reached out and gently touched Lan Mist’s delicate cheek, his grin mischievous as he teased her. In that moment, he resembled nothing so much as a charming rogue taking liberties with a maiden, while Lan Mist, cheeks flushed with shyness, lowered her eyes and laughed softly, lovely as a blossoming flower.

“I think Sister Lan Mist doesn’t just love that about you—she loves every part of you, strengths and flaws alike!” Meng Youyuan couldn’t resist teasing as she watched the affectionate pair. Indeed, love’s power was astonishing—who could have imagined the once hot-tempered, fiery woman would become so gentle and tender, a transformation truly marvelous to behold!

“Brother Yin really does have a way with women—maybe you could teach your little brother how to turn a feisty lady into a gentle kitten!” Yu Xiaoran chimed in with a roguish smile, conceding that his own reputation as a ladies’ man was no match for Xiao Yin’s skill in winning hearts.

“So you’re saying I’m not gentle?” Yan Xuesu, feigning offense, clung coquettishly to Yu Xiaoran, her voice sultry as she spoke and blowing softly against his ear. Yu Xiaoran’s face flushed crimson, a rare and amusing sight for one so accustomed to flirting with courtesans and beauties. Who would have thought the infamous libertine would be rendered bashful by this unique flower?

“How could I think otherwise? To me, you’re perfect—gentle when you wish, fiery when you choose. No one could ever compare to you.” Yu Xiaoran lowered his voice, struggling to compose himself lest he embarrass himself further before their friends. If he lost control, the joke would only grow.

“Enough with the flirtations—keep it discreet, won’t you? Lest you forget, we are in the presence of our elder, and we still have important matters to attend to!” Yu Shang, having caught sight of Yu Xiaoran’s reddened cheeks, stifled a laugh and reminded the group in a hushed tone. Never had he expected the self-proclaimed playboy to be so easily ensnared.

All this had not escaped the watchful eyes of the old headmaster, who sighed to himself, “These young ones are bold and passionate, not like us in our day—so reserved, missing out on so much.” Seeing their unabashed affection, he felt a pang of nostalgia for his own youth when one could disregard the world, heed no one, and live as they pleased—what a beautiful time that had been.

Alas, there was no returning to those days—everything had changed, and nothing was as it once was. Now, he was merely the headmaster of Yanlan Academy, a puppet whose every thought was for the academy’s sake. He could no longer follow his heart or live freely; every word and gesture had to serve the academy, leaving no room for personal desires.

He had never wished to spend a lifetime scheming and calculating—he longed for a simple life amidst mountains and streams. Did he truly wish to plot and trouble others? Yet, for the good of the academy, he had no choice. To outsiders, he was a wily, cunning old man, but in his heart, he was still that idealistic youth with grand ambitions.

“Master, may I ask, how can we retrieve the family scroll?” Blue Ice String gazed at the nine imposing statues, finding no flaw, and so turned to the old headmaster standing in the corner, hoping for guidance to help them pass this final test.

“I have already bent the rules by letting you in. If I were to help you acquire the family scroll as well, the consequences would be too great. You’ll have to rely on your own wits; all I can do is ensure your safety.” The headmaster’s face was troubled as he explained.

His meaning was clear: I’ve kept my end of the bargain and brought you here—whether you find the scroll or not is no longer my concern. As for the contest, if things go awry, he could always claim that Yu Shang’s group acted independently; after all, he had never directly intervened.

The old headmaster was indeed a master strategist—this move killed several birds with one stone. He had extracted a favor from them, found scapegoats for any future blame, and ensured that they risked everything for Yanlan Academy with little to gain, and with no guarantee they would even obtain the scroll.

This old man had made quite the profitable deal. From the start, he had risked nothing while manipulating the group. In contrast, the young friends bore all the costs; even if they received his sword, it would eventually return to them if fate decreed it, and the old man’s gesture was no more than a token favor.

Now, all could only marvel at the headmaster’s cunning—such skill was beyond their reach. They had no choice but to try finding the family scroll on their own. If they failed, they could only blame their own bad luck, having labored in vain and nearly lost their lives.

“Senior brother, since you’ve already broken the rules by bringing us here, why not help us to the end? You’ve already violated the academy’s traditions; what’s one more time? Surely you wouldn’t want us to return empty-handed and suffer a humiliating defeat in the contest!” Xun Mishuang pleaded with the headmaster, refusing to give up.

Though she had the power to foresee the future, she was powerless to see through this treasury. It was as if it existed outside of time, or perhaps because some great master had set a barrier—only those with profound cultivation could see through it, leaving the rest with nothing to gain.

Xun Mishuang’s entreaty stirred envy in Meng Youyuan. It was like a child pleading with an elder—how she wished she could do the same with her own grandfather, to be doted upon with loving eyes. To her, these were all expressions of love, yet she knew such a day might never come.

She knew all too well what awaited her; the legendary figure would not let her go. Perhaps it was best to distance herself from those she cared for, for their sake and her own. She would not drag anyone else into her misfortune, nor let anyone suffer for her again.

Sometimes Meng Youyuan wondered if in her past life she had been too wicked, and that was why her fate was so bleak in this one—destined never to have a complete family, never to be truly loved, even doomed to lose her beloved one day. Perhaps this was karma, and she had only herself to blame.

“I am a man of my word. If I say I won’t help, then I won’t. There’s no need to waste your breath, junior sister,” the old headmaster declared righteously, earning a chorus of eye rolls. The group could hardly believe his gall—how could he utter such shameless words without fear of biting his own tongue!

“And you call yourself a man of your word? Why, then, do you refuse to see things through? You’d rather see us fail and lose face in the contest than hand over the family scroll,” Yan Xuesu retorted scornfully. She was certain the old man simply wanted to exploit them without paying his due.

“So there really are people in the world who never tire of taking advantage yet can’t stomach a loss. He ought to remember—without giving, there’s no reward. Benefit is always mutual; one-sided gain is worthless,” Yu Xiaoran added pointedly. Others might defer to the old man out of respect, but he cared little for such conventions.

He was willing to fight for Yanlan Academy, but not if it meant being bullied. If pushed too far, he might well burn the place down and be done with it.

“Enough, let’s not make things harder for the headmaster. His position limits what he can do openly. We should focus on figuring it out ourselves,” Yu Shang interrupted, seeing that no amount of wheedling would move the old man. Sometimes, it was best to rely on oneself.

“Brother Leng, didn’t you visit this place before? Surely you must have some idea how to retrieve the family scroll!” Yin Boxuan suddenly remembered, turning eagerly to Leng Huaiyi. At this, the others looked to Leng Huaiyi as well, hoping for a clue.

“If I truly knew, would we still be wasting our time here? I’d have taken the scroll and led you out long ago. I suspect Master foresaw this, and deliberately withheld the method from me to guard against this very day,” Leng Huaiyi replied with a resigned sigh.

Everyone glanced at the old headmaster; if looks could kill, he would surely be long dead. Yet the headmaster seemed utterly unconcerned, smiling lightly and looking away. To their eyes, he was simply waiting to enjoy the show. If ever they had the chance, they would surely return the favor—let him taste what it was like to be outmaneuvered.