Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 305 Sneaking Away!

The three had previously analyzed the situation at Zhengshan Academy.

However, those things were too strange and involved the future of Zhengshan Academy, so Tan Lin had to be cautious.

Zhou Wei thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Zao has no cultivation, so telling her would be useless and would only add to her worries."

"As for Wan Qianliang and Shen Shuqing..."

As Zhou Wei spoke, she glanced back at her fellow disciples.

He shook his head: "Don't say anything more. These two have impure intentions. If we find out anything, it might cause trouble."

"On the contrary, since they know nothing, they might stumble upon some unexpected and effective results."

Tan Lin didn't understand what Zhou Wei meant by the miraculous effect, but seeing that the princess didn't object, he accepted it.

In fact, Zhou Wei's so-called miraculous effect is just an uncertain variable.

If everyone entering the instance together knows the ins and outs and acts cautiously, they are more likely to fall into the trap and arrangements of the person behind the scenes.

Jiang Zao walked alongside the little monk, chattering happily the whole way.

"Zhu Qi, if we can't find a cure for the peach we ate, will we really die?"

Zhu Qi knew the truth, and could only try to cover it up: "Perhaps, Xiaozhao-neechan, are you scared?"

Jiang Zao shook her head, her expression calm and her tone relaxed.

"I'm not afraid! If it weren't for Miss Ning's rescue, and Aunt Zhou and the princess's pity, I would have died long ago."

"Not only am I alive and well now, but I have also received a divine favor. Although this divine favor may cost me my life, I am content."

"If I hadn't come out with the princess, how could I have seen such a beautiful land?"

As Jiang Zao spoke, her gaze lingered on the buildings of the academy.

Zhu Qi clasped her hands together and said, "Sister Xiaozhao, you have great potential."

Jiang Zao chuckled and ruffled his hair: "Even if I have the potential to become a monk, I can't be one. My six senses are not pure."

The group walked for a short while before arriving at Mingzheng Hall, where they followed Tan Lin inside.

Looking up, one can see that the interior of Mingzheng Hall has an extremely high ceiling, and the building materials are clearly thousand-year-old golden nanmu.

It exudes a scholarly atmosphere with understated luxury, showcasing the profound heritage of a thousand-year-old academy.

Unlike the magnificent architecture, the Mingzheng Hall, which should have been filled with the sound of students reading, was completely deserted.

Shen Shuqing couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Tan, is there no one at your Zhengshan Academy?"

Tan Lin glanced at Zhou Wei helplessly, his meaning clear.

The scene now is the same as when he last entered the academy.

The headmaster, teachers, and disciples of Zhengshan Academy have all disappeared.

Tan Lin felt helpless and somewhat disappointed. He had thought that if the princess and Zhou Wei traveled together, there might be a turning point.

Unexpectedly, the academy remained unchanged.

Zhou Wei thought for a moment and said, "Everyone, spread out and search around the academy to see if there is anyone else there."

No one declined, and they began to wander around the vast academy.

An hour later, the group returned to Mingzheng Hall, but still found nothing.

“Princess, Sister Zhou, there’s no one in this academy at all,” Jiang Zao wiped the sweat from her forehead, “but it’s very clean everywhere, so it doesn’t look like it’s been abandoned for a long time.”

As a prisoner being escorted, Wan Qianliang had no right to speak.

But once he entered the blessed land, he relaxed both physically and mentally, and became much bolder.

He frowned and asked, "Mr. Tan, has something happened at your Zhengshan Academy?"

Before Tan Lin could answer, Zhou Wei said sarcastically, "You're just a criminal who impersonated a prodigy from a blessed land. Do you even have the right to speak here?"

"You!" Wan Qianliang's face flushed red, but when he thought of Zhou Wei's skills, he could only swallow his insults.

After thinking for a moment, Wan Qianliang suppressed his anger and said, "Mr. Tan, when Zhengshan Academy closed its gates, all the major sects in the blessed lands knew about it."

"Although the mountain gate was closed hastily, there was no emergency. People from all over who came here to study all descended the mountain in an orderly manner."

"There's no one at the mountain gate now; something's clearly wrong. Aren't you worried?"

The eldest princess gave Wan Qianliang a cold glance.

Who says that the geniuses of blessed lands are innocent?

Although Wan Qianliang doesn't interact much with worldly affairs, he is quite shrewd in his speech and actions.

With just a few words, they turned their attention to Tan Lin.

If Tan Lin hadn't already confided in Zhou Wei and Jiang Yueli, the two might have panicked and harbored resentment towards Tan Lin because of Wan Qianliang's words, which would have reminded them of the trial of conscience on the Jade Stairs.

Tan Lin also understood the unspoken meaning behind Wan Qianliang's words, but he was too lazy to pay attention to it.

The situation at the academy was too complicated, and he no longer had the energy to engage in any scheming or intrigue with others.

After thinking for a moment, Tan Lin said, "We've all had a long and tiring journey."

"The academy is empty, and there are plenty of rooms. Everyone can choose any room and go back to rest. I'll go prepare the meal."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zao offered, "Mr. Tan, I'll help you."

Without hesitation, Zhou Wei pulled the princess towards the disciples' dormitory.

Wan Qianliang and Shen Shuqing exchanged a glance but did not follow immediately.

After everyone had gone far away, Shen Shuqing said, "Senior brother, is there something strange about this academy?"

Wan Qianliang nodded solemnly, "Tan Lin spoke evasively, but Zhou Wei, with her fiery temper, didn't get angry. There must be something fishy going on here."

“I suspect that they already knew what happened at the academy, but they just didn’t tell you or me.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuqing felt a little nervous. In addition, the Mingzheng Hall was very large, and only the two of them were left there. Shen Shuqing couldn't help but shiver.

She reached out and tugged at Wan Qianliang's sleeve, her voice tense as she asked, "Senior brother, Zhengshan Academy... it's not haunted, is it?"

Wan Qianliang shook his head: "Zhengshan Academy is a place for studying the classics, and it naturally has a strong sense of righteousness. Such strange and supernatural things should not happen there."

Shen Shuqing, however, remained very nervous.

"No, senior brother, this isn't right," she looked around, "There's not a single person in the academy, yet everything is spotless, clearly someone is cleaning it!"

"Senior brother, do you think it's possible... that those people came out at night?"

Wan Qianliang was shocked by what Shen Shuqing said.

He was not afraid at all. As a cultivator, he knew that there were very few spirits and ghosts in this world because the laws of heaven and earth made cultivation difficult.

Fox demons like Hu Youniang are so rare that even a single one might appear in a blessed land for a thousand years.

Not to mention ghosts and monsters.

But for some reason, Shen Shuqing's words made him think all sorts of things.

A chill ran through both legs.

"Junior sister, stop talking! It's getting dark soon, and Zhengshan Academy is huge. Let's not linger here and go find a room to rest."

As Wan Qianliang spoke, he turned to leave.

Shen Shuqing grabbed him, her tone both seductive and nervous, "Senior brother, Zhengshan Academy is strange. Zhou Wei and the others aren't paying attention to you and me. Why don't we sneak down the mountain tonight and leave the academy?"

Wan Qianliang turned around, glanced at Shen Shuqing, and looked at her with an inscrutable expression.

"Leave the academy?"

Shen Shuqing nodded, "Yes! We can wait for them at the foot of the mountain. If there are no problems, they will come down on their own. If there are problems here, then it's their bad luck."

“Senior brother, we have already left the capital and arrived at the blessed land. Even if we escape, we can go directly to the Valley of Divine Physicians to find our master.”

Wan Qianliang remained silent, seemingly pondering Shen Shuqing's suggestion.

Shen Shuqing did not give him any extra time.

"Senior brother, don't think about it anymore. I have a feeling that something is wrong with this academy, and I'm scared."

"Given the grudge between you and me and that bitch Zhou Wei, if there is any real danger, she will definitely use you and me as the first shield."

"In that case, we might as well go down the mountain as soon as possible."

Wan Qianliang thought about it and felt that Shen Shuqing's words made sense.

"Alright, then let's meet at the archway at the white jade steps when it gets dark."