Free Web NovelChapter 751: Chapter 570: Farewell_2
Seeing Nalan Shuo step in, the elder with the surname of Pu seemed to have found his confidence. He ordered his people to confiscate all the evidence in the room, including the drug packaging and food wrappers on the floor, not even sparing the sweet potato peels.
What was most outrageous was that even the bewildered homeless man leaning against the wall was taken into custody to be interrogated.
"What do you mean by this?" Yang Xiao knew this old coot was suspecting him and was deliberately targeting him.
"Heh," Elder Pu sneered coldly, "Captain Yang, don’t get me wrong. It’s just standard procedure, I need to have something to report back."
"Elder Pu, by doing this, do you mean you no longer trust me, Nalan Shuo?" Director Nalan, not annoyed, still wore a smile on his face.
Elder Pu was taken aback. A small figure like Yang Xiao was easy to control, but Nalan Shuo was the legitimate head of Rongcheng Patrol Division, and on his own turf no less. Elder Pu did not want to offend him, so he smiled politely, "Director Nalan, what are you saying? If I can’t trust anyone, how could I not trust you? With the support you’ve shown for our work, I will definitely report to the elders at the academy and let them know that Director Nalan is a friend of Yiling Academy."
Director Nalan also smiled, "Elder Pu, since you trust me, let’s not make things difficult for these youngsters. Captain Yang is my subordinate. If you target him, outsiders might think that you’re dissatisfied with me, Nalan Shuo, and have some grievance with our Rongcheng Patrol Division." freewebnoveℓ.com
This heavy accusation made Elder Pu dumbfounded. Even though it was no problem for someone with his status to control a captain, to openly oppose the entire Rongcheng Patrol Division was simply asking for trouble. Even if he managed to gain some advantage, he would be severely punished upon returning to the academy. Though Yiling Academy was also a top-tier power, compared to an established and formidable entity like the Patrol Division, it was nothing.
But what’s said is said, and water spilled cannot be collected again. Where was Elder Pu to place his dignity now? So, with a more reserved tone, he lowered his demands, "Since Director Nalan vouches for him, naturally there’s no problem. Let’s do this, I’ll just take this homeless man with me, after all... he may have seen the criminal."
Unexpectedly, the usually calm Director Nalan still shook his head, much to the frustration of Elder Pu, whose face grew dark, "How is it that a worthless homeless man is not even worth this bit of face from you, Director Nalan?"
"Elder Pu, even a homeless man is a human," Director Nalan said. "His life, just like yours and mine, is a life. There’s no distinction between nobility and lowliness."
At this point, the homeless man also realized that if he were taken away by these people today, the consequences would be very bad. So, he immediately started pleading for mercy.
Looking at Director Nalan’s imperturbable face, Elder Pu took a deep breath and, without another word, swept out of the room.
Seeing this, the rest of Elder Pu’s entourage followed suit and left. In a moment, the room, previously bursting at the seams, was instantly emptied.
Qu Muzhi saw the departure and was about to leave as well, but Director Nalan called him back, "Captain Qu, this isn’t our own family’s business; there’s no need to take it so to heart."
After nodding, Qu Muzhi also left with his people, and the room was now thoroughly cleared out, leaving only Director Nalan, Yang Xiao, and the bewildered homeless man.
Lifting his head, Director Nalan looked at Yang Xiao. Even without uttering a word, Yang Xiao felt as if his soul had been seen through.
"Do you like sweet potatoes?" Director Nalan suddenly asked.
Yang Xiao was stunned and after a long while, he returned to his senses, "Director, what did you say... what are you asking?"
"I’m asking if you like sweet potatoes," Director Nalan lifted his hand and gestured toward his mouth, and Yang Xiao immediately realized he still had sweet potato flesh on the corner of his mouth.
Yang Xiao’s face immediately turned a bit embarrassed, but Director Nalan didn’t say anything else. He pulled over an old piece of cardboard to use as a seat and sat on the ground, extending his hands toward the stove to warm them, bathed in a warm red glow that shone on his face and body.
Piercing a roasted sweet potato with an iron skewer from the side of the stove, Director Nalan suddenly turned his head to look at the homeless man squatting in the corner, lost and confused, "I’m eating your sweet potato, you don’t mind, do you?"
"I don’t mind, I don’t mind at all, take it all if you like. If it’s not enough, I’ll go steal more from the fields," the homeless man blurted out, immediately regretting it, "No no, if it’s not enough I’ll go buy more, I... I’ll give money."
"Eating someone’s food requires payment, and debts of gratitude must be repaid; it’s only right," Nalan Shuo said, staring at the sweet potato, his words seemingly meant as much for educating the homeless man as for Yang Xiao to hear.
"Um... you guys go ahead and eat. I... I’ll go stand outside, keep watch for you. You eat... There’s no rush, take your time." The homeless man couldn’t stay another second. All he wanted was to leave this place, where everyone he had met that night was far from normal.
"Stop right there."
Suddenly, the homeless man halted his steps, stopping just beyond the door, called back by Nalan Shuo.
The next second, as the homeless man turned around, he saw Nalan Shuo pull out his wallet, draw several hundred-dollar bills from it, and handed them over as he turned, "Find a small hotel, take a bath, buy some new clothes. Do not come back here within a week."
The homeless man was stunned for a moment, even unsure whether to come forward and take the money. Captain Yang stiffened his face, urging, "Take it if he tells you to. Take the money and leave at once; otherwise, when those people come looking back for you, they’ll want your life!"
With that warning, the homeless man quickly stepped forward, took the money with both hands, thanked them profusely, and then bolted out the door.
Once the homeless man had gone, only Nalan Shuo and Yang Xiao remained in the room. In front of his own director, Yang Xiao was always very honest.
"Director, this is hot; please eat mine." His fingertips were reddened from the heat, but Yang Xiao still stubbornly pried apart a sweet potato, wrapped it in thick cardboard, and handed it to Nalan Shuo with both hands.
Nalan Shuo was not reserved, taking and slowly eating the sweet potato. During this time, Yang Xiao explained the ins and outs of the situation to Nalan Shuo in detail. Halfway through, Nalan Shuo suddenly interrupted, "Is the covert competition at Ru Lin Academy still going smoothly?"
Caught off-guard, Yang Xiao paused for a moment, but quickly realized Lu Youdao must have told Nalan Shuo. After all, it was Coach Lu who had once guided him, explaining that the covert competition at Ru Lin Academy might help him deal with the Mirror Ghost.
"It’s going fairly well," Yang Xiao replied.
"Is the Mirror Ghost taken care of?" Nalan Shuo glanced up at him, and with just that simple look, Yang Xiao felt a chill run down his spine, instantly realizing that Nalan Shuo knew far more than he had imagined.
"It’s okay; I’ve found a solution, but... I’m still trying it out. I’m not clear on whether it will work in the end." Yang Xiao thought back to the Mirror Ghost’s attitude towards him and chose not to speak definitively.
"If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask Coach Lu in the future; he values you as his student a lot," Nalan Shuo said. "You’ve had a tough time, haven’t you?"
"Not too bad; I fought my way to the B-level competition." The battles had nearly cost Yang Xiao his life. However, considering the Daoist robe old ghost factor, it had been quite rewarding. More importantly, he had managed to deal with the threat of the Mirror Ghost, and that Young Master’s method had proved very effective—a rare talent indeed.
"From what I know, Qu Muzhi also went to Ru Lin Academy. You must have met him by now, and it seems... you got on quite well," Nalan Shuo shifted the topic.
"This... How did you know?" Yang Xiao was sure that Qu Muzhi hadn’t leaked the news, and very few people knew about it.
"Don’t overthink it; I guessed," Nalan Shuo finished the sweet potato skin, neatly folded it, stuffed it into the box, then looked up at Yang Xiao, "Qu Muzhi has doubted your identity several times before, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there was bad blood between you. But today, I see a significant change in his attitude towards you. Given that both of you went to Ru Lin Academy, the result is easy to guess."
"You’ve fought your way to the B-level competition this time, including the preliminary matches, you’ve had to fight at least four times. Even though injuries from the tasks heal, the backlash from using the Magic Artifact is inevitable. First, congratulations on resolving the big trouble with the Mirror Ghost. But you should know that your nightmare task is also approaching, your own Ghost Script."
Yang Xiao had a vague feeling that the director’s vibes were off today. Not just today, but different from when they’d spoken on the phone not long before. But he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the problem was in that moment.
The next second, Nalan Shuo lifted his head, a bittersweet smile on his lips, "Little Yang, I just received the Ghost Script on my way here driving."
