Chapter 72: The Exposed (Part )

Xu Shanshan pushed him away, put on a mask and said, "It's just an old problem. It won't be a problem anymore."

Gu Yuejiarong saw that she looked normal, with long crescent-shaped eyebrows and dark eyes that were clear and calm, and it seemed that his worries just now were out of thin air.

Releasing her hand, he gathered his sleeves to cover his hands, and gently rubbed them with his fingertips, as if to slowly melt the warmth from her skin that penetrated into her bones.

It is warm, she is "Xu Chu", not that Ying Mei.

"The rules Xu Chu just mentioned..."

Xu Shanshan immediately changed his tone and said with deep affection, "Yes, I should have collected the reward for removing evil spirits and disasters according to the rules, but I am willing to break this rule for you, sir."

Gu Yuejia Rong was stunned: "Since it is a rule, how can it be easily broken? Master..."

"No need." Xu Shanshan refused righteously. She smiled and sighed softly, "As a student, it is my duty to do something for my teacher. How can I take away a valuable thing from my teacher as a reward?"

Gu Yuejiarong felt even more guilty when she heard her say that. As she said, although they were teacher and student, they should not morally blackmail her livelihood and serve her for free, which was breaking the rules.

Although... he was not sure what kind of living she was doing outside while studying in the academy.

But he has also seen many students from poor families who, in order to be able to study in college, studied hard while working to save money.

He thought that even if she didn't accept it, he should make up for her "rules" afterwards.

Xu Shanshan stood up, cleared the leftovers on the table, and bowed to say goodbye: "Sir, the shadow ghost will not appear until nightfall. I will go downstairs to prepare first, and I will wait with you later."

"Xu Chu, if this is dangerous for you, I hope you can tell me the truth." He looked at her sincerely, his eyes as clear as a jade spring: "We can solve problems in many ways, self-reliance, external assistance, and detours are all possible, but taking risks is the worst."

"Sir, your situation is urgent. If you seek external help... I'm afraid it may be too late. Even so, sir, don't you want your students to take the risk?" she asked with a smile.

Xu Shanshan, wearing men's makeup, hardened the soft outline of a woman, but when she tilted her head and smiled teasingly, it was like the late autumn wind, gently blowing through people's hearts, taking away all the messy emotions, and even slowing down time.

Gu Yuejiarong was also infected by her and smiled relaxedly, but his tone was serious and solemn.

"Yes, Master doesn't want you to take risks, even for me."

This is what teachers are like. They always treat their students like children, believing that they need care and protection, but they do not have to bear the burdens and risks of adults.

But as a teacher, Xu Shanshan’s educational philosophy is different from his.

Although she was taught this way, she never took on too much responsibility for those red-robed gods' messengers or even the people closest to her. Her gentleness was limited and her heart was cold. She believed that everyone doing their job was the ultimate goal of her teaching.

She doesn't care about being disobedient or having other thoughts. Being loyal forever is the greatest betrayal of human nature.

So she never exchanges feelings for anything. People's hearts are fickle, so one can only watch the changes in the world and control all changes in one's own hands. As long as one is strong enough, the world will calm down and listen to your voice.

"It's reassuring to be your student."

Xu Shanshan added: "But this is just a small matter, it is not difficult for students to handle it, sir, don't think too much about it."

After she left, Gu Yuejiarong went to find Gong Anguo. He had made an appointment with Gong Anguo yesterday, but he never showed up. Based on his understanding of Gong Anguo, this was really not right. He went to the residence arranged for Gong Anguo by Yingtian Academy. When he passed a room, he inadvertently heard the sound of a clear bell. He stopped, turned his head and listened carefully again, but he couldn't hear it again.

I knocked on Gong Anguo's room, but no one answered the door for a long time. Someone nearby heard it and opened the door.

He was a teacher from Yingtian Academy. He knew Gu Yuejiarong and immediately smiled and walked over to him to exchange a few words. When he learned that Gu Yuejiarong was here to look for Gong Anguo, he thought for a moment and said, "I remember that he went out around twilight hour yesterday...but I haven't heard any sign of him coming back."

After listening to this, Gu Yue Jiarong looked solemn. After saying goodbye to the gentleman, he searched for Gong Anguo everywhere in Yingtian Academy. However, after asking many people, they all claimed that they had not seen him all day.

Gu Yuejiarong searched for a whole day, and he felt more and more uneasy.

Could it be related to Shadow Phantom?
Was it she who captured Gong Anguo?
But didn’t “Xu Chu” say that the shadow ghost was not murderous by nature, it was just affected by the Peach Blossom Evil and would do some... things to him. Moreover, it was transformed by Yin energy, which dissipated at sunrise and appeared at sunset. How could it hide a person?
With no other options, he returned to "Lan Yue Cottage". It was dusk now, and "Xu Chu" was already waiting there under the green bamboo forest.

The wild paths were all dark, she was leaning on a lotus lantern, the wind blew up "his" green collar, like white clouds floating on the green, and clouds fell on his shoulders and arms for no reason. She smiled lightly, looking forward to his arrival as if returning home.

Gu Yuejia's calm heart seemed to be disturbed by a sudden gust of wind, causing ripples.

"How long have you been waiting? Sorry, I'm late."

He quickened his pace unconsciously and walked closer to "Xu Chu". He saw a half-yellow bamboo leaf fallen in her hair and naturally reached out to pick it for her.

"gentlemen……"

Gu Yuejia was stunned for a moment.

"Your hospitality is so warm, Ying Mei is really... flattered."

He strode back, all the warmth and apology on his face gone, and said coldly: "Why are you pretending to be Xu Chu?!"

Ying Mei waved her hand, and the surrounding scene suddenly changed. He looked around in surprise. The forest became increasingly green, and the evening glow was bright with heavy clouds. She pushed him hard, and he missed his step and fell straight into the deep pool of green water with a splash.

"Sir, you are confused. How could you ask Xu Chu to deal with me? Don't you know that Xu Chu and I are actually the same person?"

He was floating in the water, but he could hear Yingmei's voice clearly.

"You do not believe?"

Seeing Gu Yuejiarong's eyes as cold as glass in the water, she smiled maliciously and teased, "There is something even more unbelievable, do you want to hear it?"

"For example... the name Xu Chu is fake. In fact, she is——"

"What interesting secret is that? Can I listen to it too?"

A gentle voice, neither loud nor soft, perfectly covered up Ying Mei's chaotic voice. A hand accurately grasped Gu Yue Jiarong. He turned around in surprise and saw the face of "Xu Chu".

Before, he always felt that Yingmei used her face. When she didn't appear, Yingmei dressed exactly like her, and he would still be confused. But when the two of them really appeared in the same picture, he realized that "Xu Chu"'s presence was absolute.

He was pulled out of the "pool". When he broke through the water, he took a deep breath unconsciously, only to find that he had returned to the "Lan Yue Cottage".