Chapter 1837: Chapter 1864: “Heard Chen Qingquan Wants to Seize Power
Yu Huan Shui pushed past the scholars and walked inside. Li Xiaobai hesitated a little but, realizing that his retreat was blocked by a group of scholars, he had no choice but to brace himself and follow.
Inside the thatched hut was a hall.
The higher-ups were gathered, discussing something, and when they saw Yu Huan Shui suddenly walk in, their expressions were inevitably stunned.
“Sir?”
“Is it really Sir who’s back?”
Those seated here were all great scholars, including young talents and older generation academics.
They were shocked to see Yu Huan Shui appear before them unscathed, just as they had received news from the Three Talents Domain which they hadn’t had time to verify.
“It’s me. Nothing happened, right?”
Yu Huan Shui strolled leisurely to the main seat with his hands behind his back, smiling at everyone.
A middle-aged man was seated in the main seat, looking uncomfortable as if he was sitting on pins and needles. Continuing to sit was disrespectful to Yu Huan Shui, but with the teacher watching, he didn’t dare to get up recklessly.
“During Sir’s absence, Senior Brother Chen managed the academy in an orderly manner, and he pacified several disturbances in the Eight Desolates Domain, making a small contribution and maintaining the reputation of Yumi Academy.”
“It was just that Sir was taken by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and the students were very worried, discussing rescue strategies. How did you get out, Sir?”
“The pursuers from the Netherworld have already reached the Eight Desolates Domain, and the students are willing to fight for Sir!”
An old man with a white beard furrowed his brows, concern all over his old face, eager to rush into battle if Yu Huan Shui gave the order.
But this was just a false front; even the disciples guarding the door knew of Yu Huan Shui’s return, and the people in this room were as clear as a mirror inside. Their overly concerned words only proved their guilty conscience.
The problem indeed lay with the academy’s leadership. Li Xiaobai only hoped Yu Huan Shui wouldn’t act recklessly; he needed to stay alive first and find a chance to escape.
“Master, I’ve missed you for a long time…”
The middle-aged man in the main seat stood up respectfully, but before he could finish his sentence, his head was almost sent flying back by a heavy blow.
“Slap!”
Yu Huan Shui did not respond and turned to slap Chen Qingquan in the face.
The violent action left the cultivators present dumbfounded. They had thought that Yu Huan Shui might see through their plan, but how could a man of Sir’s temperament act so rashly?
“Mr. Yu heard you were gathering people to discuss countermeasures, intending to raid the Eighteen Levels of Hell?”
“To place Yumi Academy in a perilous situation is an act of disloyalty and betrayal. I slapped you, do you have any complaints?”
Yu Huan Shui spoke condescendingly, indifferently.
“Disciple dares not!”
Chen Qingquan’s mouth bled as he bent over, very humble.
“Hmph, if you make another mistake, I’ll cut you down!”
“Tomorrow, we’ll host a celebration banquet. The high-level officials of the Netherworld have been killed except for Ksitigarbha and the King of the Underworld. I’ve returned victorious, and you shall welcome and honor me!”
“Yes!”
“Strictly follow Master’s teachings!”
Chen Qingquan proclaimed loudly.
Yu Huan Shui flicked his sleeves, passed through the crowd, and strode away.
Several breaths later, the hall remained enveloped in a silent atmosphere.
Until Chen Qingquan broke the silence.
“What do you all think?”
“He seems to have changed; he used to be a madman at heart but didn’t show it. His behavior today was excessively unrestrained, he must have experienced something in the Eighteen Levels of Hell.”
The old man with the white beard, who earlier expressed loyalty to Yu Huan Shui, spoke up.
The others nodded in agreement, feeling the same way.
“Senior Brother Chen, do you think Mr. Yu has noticed any abnormalities within the academy?”
“Sir has just returned to the academy, how could he notice? In my opinion, we should take this opportunity to sideline him and support Senior Brother Chen as the head of the academy, allowing Sir a peaceful retirement.”
Chen Qingquan frowned, pacing. “He definitely noticed, there’s no time to delay. At tomorrow’s reception, crown me as the master, and I’ll make him agree.”
…
Meanwhile.
In a double-story thatched hut in the central area of the academy.
Servants had already prepared tea, and the two were drinking.
Yu Huan Shui: “Damn, there really were problems brewing. Good thing I escaped quickly; if I’d been exposed in the hall, I might not have even had a chance to walk out.”
Li Xiaobai was speechless: “So you were just pretending to be so composed when lecturing them?”
“What else could I do? If I really fought, my sealed cultivation level would be exposed.”
“Is Chen Qingquan your disciple? How did you figure out he had a problem?”
“The feel was off.”
Yu Huan Shui pondered.
Li Xiaobai was curious: “What feel?”
“The feel of a slap. In the past, when I hit him, his body was soft and completely accepting of my tough love, but today when I slapped him, his head was slightly stiff—that’s a sign of resistance.”
“In these months I’ve been away, he’s grown a rebellious streak.”
Yu Huan Shui spoke leisurely.
“You’ve beaten him until you’ve gained experience; no wonder he grew rebellious.”
“I have a mini altar, how about we set off for the battlefield at once?”
Li Xiaobai took out the Rainbow Colored Mini Altar he had obtained from Immortal Hu.
“There’s no need, you don’t understand the world of academics. As long as we stay connected with the people, they won’t dare touch me.”
“Academics care about their reputation; they won’t risk public outrage. Even in a power struggle, they can’t afford to tear through the polite façade.”
Yu Huan Shui was completely unconcerned.
Li Xiaobai: “Does Mr. Yu have a good strategy?”
“No, not really.”
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t understand the world of academics. Let them take the position if they want; the headship is theirs.”
“Becoming a leader isn’t about commanding the scholars of the world; it’s about gaining the scholars’ acknowledgment, and I’ll give them a lesson in that.”
That night.
Li Xiaobai wandered outside the academy.
The Teleportation Formation in the Eight Desolates Domain hadn’t stopped, and countless cultivators, on learning of Yu Huan Shui’s safe return, flocked to visit, eager to see this grandmaster of the literature circle.
Many also wanted to find out how Yu Huan Shui escaped to gauge the Netherworld’s strength.
All in all, the visitors had various motives; they didn’t check into inns but queued up and sat on the ground in front of the academy, waiting for dawn.
Li Xiaobai finally understood why Yu Huan Shui wasn’t worried. With so many admirers arriving, anyone daring to harm him at this critical juncture would provoke public outrage, angering countless cultivators across the starry sky.
“Mr. Yu is truly mystical; he was hunted by Ksitigarbha for three months before being imprisoned in the Eighteen Levels of Hell, yet he managed to escape not long after.”
“And it’s said he used the Teleportation Formation from the Hehuan Sect in the Three Talents Domain to get over. Academics usually look down on the practices of the Hehuan sect, even condemning them as filthy, yet they secretly had connections all along.”
“The literary circle is deep; scholars’ talk of virtue is just a front. Behind the scenes, they indulge in drinking and pleasures.”
The cultivators who stayed outside the academy engaged in familiar conversations.
Li Xiaobai moved around, whispering rumors in various small groups.
“I’ve heard Mr. Yu’s disciple wants to seize power…”
“Mr. Yu’s Great Disciple plans to take over tomorrow…”
“Chen Qingquan must not succeed…”
“…”
“Shall we deal with Chen Qingquan…”