Chapter 175 — Martial and Mystic Arts in Mutual Support

" "A frozen man? " Shen Mu's heart stirred.

Could it be Pei Wujiu?

Seeing that it was still thronged with people, all eyes on them, Ling Yuxiu being rather shy said in a low voice, "There are too many people here. Let's go talk in my room. " Shen Mu nodded and followed her.

The two moved deeper into the Princes' Court when a figure flashed up beside them.

It was a handsome, graceful young man, his face dark, who said, "Seventh Sister, how can a girl's room be casually entered by a man?

Better to come to my rooms. " Ling Yuxiu flushed a little and murmured in assent. Ling Yushu said darkly, "Scholar Shen, please. " Shen Mu was mystified, wondering how he had offended this prince, whose eyes seemed to want to eat him alive.

They arrived at Ling Yushu's residence in the Princes' Court.

It was arranged like a Jiangnan garden, extremely refined.

The rockeries were not so high as mountains, yet streams meandered among them; the garden was not so vast as a forest, yet winding paths led through secluded vistas. It was multitudes better than the Scholars' Residence.

It was like a miniature palace, with palace maids passing to and fro, waiting on them attentively. Most of these maids were also divine-ability practitioners, not only lovely to look at but considerable in skill. Ling Yushu led them to a pavilion beneath which the view was fine and open. A maid came forward with a censer, placed it beside the pavilion, inserted smoking incense, and lit it, the fragrance curling upward on the air.

The sound of a zither came from not far away, slow and drawn out, like two old men leisurely playing chess, releasing a note only after a long interval, and the heart easily grew peaceful.

"The Second Prince truly has refined tastes," Shen Mu sighed in appreciation.

Ling Yushu's expression eased a little. "For my sister's journey beyond the frontier, I must thank you, Dr.

Shen, for all your care these days. She has told me everything about your adventures in the Golden Palace of Loulan, and I know you saved her life again and again; Yushu is deeply grateful. " Ling Yuxiu laughed, "The Cowherd is truly remarkable. I thought he was dead, and I even wept before the warlocks of the Golden Palace.

" Ling Yushu's eyelid twitched.

Wept?

She had never mentioned that. "It was nothing," he thought, "just the bond between classmates. When my sister's cat died in the past, she also wept.

" "We also met two elders of the Cowherd's," Ling Yuxiu went on, "and those elders praised me for being sensible and were very pleased with me. " Ling Yushu's eyelid twitched again. She's already met his elders?

His seventh sister had never told him that either!

Ling Yuxiu said heatedly, "Second Brother, Chancellor Bashan is truly impressive. This trip he took us on has greatly improved my strength; you saw it yourself. If Chancellor Bashan takes me and the Cowherd out a few more times, you won't even be able to beat me! " Ling Yushu shook his head.

"I've made inquiries. The next time Chancellor Bashan goes afar, he will bring the other alternate scholars.

" Ling Yuxiu was somewhat disappointed.

Ling Yushu turned to Shen Mu. "My imperial father has appointed Pei Wujiu as Grand Chancellor.

I hear you and Pei Wujiu have a grievance. After he became Grand Chancellor, he also inquired about you among the instructors at the Imperial Academy.

" Ling Yuxiu laughed, "I know the grievance between them.

Pei Wujiu's Chubao Sword was swindled out of him by the Cowherd, and so he bears a grudge. " Ling Yushu said, "Dr. Shen, you had best return the Chubao Sword to Pei Wujiu.

That man is of the demonic path, a grand master among the demonic arts, and has always been petty-minded. I am not in a position to remark on my father's appointment of him as Grand Chancellor, but his breadth of spirit is far inferior to the previous Grand Chancellor's, and there is no telling that he won't give you a hard time.

Let me host a meeting between you, dissolve your enmity.

I think he will at least show me that courtesy. " Shen Mu shook his head. "The rule in our Wasteland is that things swindled need not be returned.

" Ling Yushu half-smiled. "But this is not the Wasteland.

He is the Grand Chancellor; if he wants to exert control over you, it would be easy. " Shen Mu thought a moment. "I heard Pei Wujiu say he is the crown prince's guardian. A crown prince's guardian should be the crown prince's childhood teacher, no? Second Prince, do you think Pei Wujiu will give you face? " Ling Yushu's heart jolted.

Shen Mu continued: "Second Prince, if he were willing to dissolve the enmity, I wouldn't mind breaking the Wasteland's rule and returning the Chubao Sword to him.

But I think even if I return the sword, he will not give you face, nor will he let the grievance go. And besides, Second Prince, how is it you are not worried that he will make trouble for you?

"