After Lou Mu Bai took Lou Mu Yan and left, Chi Yi Xuan and the others also left one after the other, leaving only some students behind, chatting.
A few girls in the same class as Lou Mu Yan gathered. One of the plain-looking girls who dressed simply said: "Did Lou Mu Yan go crazy? She actually promised a fight with Gu Yan Ran. Was she trying to vie for Chi Yi Xuan with Gu Yan Ran again?"
"Yeah, she actually wants to fight for him against Gu Yan Ran. In what way could she compare to her? Gu Yan Ran was currently an Initial-Phase impeGreat Sword Master and she was only an Initial-Phase Sword Apprentice. I heard she only got there because the Lou Clan spent a vast amount of money to buy high-grade medicinal resources for her. With her condition, she actually dared to initiate a challenge, did she want to die?" Another fancily dressed woman said with disdain.
Another person stepped up and said bitterly: "It's because her identity's higher than Gu Yan Ran. After all, she's got an Empress as an aunt, a Marshal for a grandfather who helped found the kingdom, and the Imperial Capital's God of War for a father."
"But even though Gu Yan Ran comes from a family of merchants, ever since her elder sister entered the imperial harem, she had always been favoured by the Emperor and rose to the Imperial Noble Consort status after only two years. Plus her clan's the Imperial Capital's richest clan. While her status isn't higher than the trash's, it wasn't too low either and just worthy enough for Chi Yi Xuan." The fancily dressed woman continued.
The first girl sneered: "Yeah, just last month she clashed with Gu Yan Ran and was accidentally severely injured. Who knew the moment she recovered, she'd shamelessly come back to the Academy? But so what if her background was strong? Since she was unreasonably causing trouble, even if the Lou Clan wanted to support her, they had no reason to. In the end it was the Prime Minister who became the peacemaker and the case fizzled out."
"Was her brain actually kicked by a donkey? She even dared to propose a challenge. Was she not afraid that the Lou Clan would lose all their face because of her?"
"Who cares, when the time comes, we'll just watch a good show."
Lou Mu Yan and Gu Yan Ran's promised battle spread throughout the Academy within only one day, and similar gossip could be heard everywhere within the Academy. The unanimous thoughts were that Lou Mu Yan's brain had a stroke, she was looking for a beating, and was probably trying to play some sort of tricks to attract Chi Yi Xuan's attention again. Basically, everyone in the school was waiting for a good show.
After Lou Mu Bai bandaged Lou Mu Yan, he looked at her with concern and asked: "Why do you want to fight Gu Yan Ran? You aren't her opponent."
"Right now I'm not her opponent, but I will be after three months. Don't worry, big brother." Ever since Lou Mu Yan inherited the memories of the original owner and agreed to live well in her stead, she was trying to integrate herself into the Lou Clan and treat the people of the Lou Clan as true family.
Lou Mu Bai looked at Lou Mu Yan with a complicated expression—his little sister actually changed.
When Lou Mu Yan was born, the Imperial Capital's Divine Seer told them that she would encounter a life and death situation at fifteen years old, but once she successfully overcame the situation, she'd be enlightened and completely change. Their family was told not to be surprised as this was a fortuitous opportunity and she may even be able to walk the path of the strong because of that. Now he couldn't help but believe the result of the Divine Seer's divination. Though a sister like this assured him even more.
"Then how do you plan on surpassing her? Have you thought it through?" Lou Mu Bai asked with a soft smile.
When Lou Mu Yan first entered this body, half-dead and in a conscious coma, she overheard her mother talk about how there was a person who divined that when she turned fifteen, her personality would change drastically. Therefore, she gradually revealed her true nature without concealing anything and let the members of the Lou Clan slowly adapt to her as their daughter. Even though this was the first time she saw Lou Mu Bai, but because she inherited the original owner's feelings, she felt close to this big brother of hers.
Lou Mu Yan pretended to be confused, as if recollecting something. After thinking for a while, she said: "Big brother, when I was injured and unconscious, I dreamt that I went to another world. There, the cultivation system was different to ours. I felt like I experienced thousands of years and learnt a lot of things, one of which was the Marrow Cleansing Pill that could change Terminal Meridians constitution."
Seeing shock in Lou Mu Bai's eyes, she continued: "I could eradicate my Terminal Meridians constitution completely and the blocked meridians could be unclogged as long as I take the Marrow Cleansing Pill."
"Really? That's fantastic! Do you know what ingredients are required for this type of pill?" Lou Mu Bai's eyes were filled with joy and excitement.
Lou Mu Yan nodded: "I know, and I can also refine it. I went to the Academy's library today to research. Even though the names of the Spiritual Herbs between the two worlds were different, according to the medicinal properties and the illustration on the books, they were definitely the same thing."
"Yan'er, it's a blessing in disguise this time. What Spiritual Herbs do you need? Write it down, big brother will go find it for you." Lou Mu Bai caressed Lou Mu Yan's head with a gentle smile.
Lou Mu Yan didn't dislike this gesture. Then she wrote down the names of the Spiritual Herbs and handed it to Lou Mu Bai. "These are the herbs. The rest are fine, but the Flame Fruit is a bit troublesome."
After reading the list of herbs, Lou Mu Bai frowned slightly, "The Flame Fruit is definitely a little troublesome, but little sister, don't worry, I'll definitely find it for you."
"Thank you big brother, I'll also look for it as well. Before the battle, I'll definitely refine the Marrow Cleansing Pill and improve my constitution. At that time, I'll also take back the stage I lost last time." A layer of coldness surfaced in her eyes.
Lou Mu Bai's face darkened, and he nodded: "Recently the Gu Clan has been very arrogant. Even aunty in the palace is being suppressed by Imperial Noble Consort Gu. If it wasn't that the Imperial Capital was preparing for war, and the Imperial Family needs funds from the Gu Clan, your incident last time wouldn't be suppressed like that."
When Lou Mu Yan was injured by Gu Yan Ran last time, Lou Mu Bai happened to be out training. There were two main reasons why the Lou Clan didn't pursue it until the end. One was that the Imperial Family intervened, hoping the Lou Clan wouldn't pursue any further. After all, Lou Mu Yan was fine in the end. And second, it was just as the divination said, Lou Mu Yan indeed recovered from near-death. Only because of this did the Lou Clan not pursue the issue further against the Gu Clan.
"By the way, about the challenge, I need big brother to put in a few good words for me when we return home. Otherwise Grandfather and Father and them will think I'm being wilful again." Lou Mu Yan begged as she hugged Lou Mu Bai's arm and swung it back and forth.
The reason why she provoked Gu Yan Ran to promise a fight only after she locked onto Lou Mu Bai's aura was so that he could deal with the Lou Clan. She definitely wouldn't be able to handle the tears of her beautiful mother.
Lou Mu Bai nodded helplessly, saying dotingly: "I really don't know what to do with you. Settle a little for the time being. I fear the entire population of the Imperial Capital knows of your challenge with Gu Yan Ran."
"Don't worry big brother, I will."
After her heavenly eldest brother left, Lou Mu Yan began to think about what to do next.
She planned to go to the Mercenary Union to see if there were any missions to the Blazing Mountain Range. The effects of the Flame Fruit could only be preserved for two months, so it'd be extremely difficult to find in the Imperial Capital. Instead of wasting time waiting without certainty, it was more reliable for her to seek for it herself.
She initially wanted to go home, but realised that if she went home now, she'd definitely be interrogated about the issue regarding the battle and might even draw out her mother's tears. So she decided she might as well not to return home for the time being. She'd return after Lou Mu Bai spoke with them.
Her residence was situated in a serene area. It was an independent, small courtyard and was a place specifically provided to pupils of meritorious clans by the Imperial Capital. It was a symbol of identity and status and wasn't something that could be bought with money. So it stirred the jealousy of many people when a weak person like Lou Mu Yan could inhabit this courtyard—Gu Yan Ran and Zeng Rou were amongst them.
After viewing the courtyard, she immediately collapsed onto her bed and fell deep asleep. She was very tired today—this body still required more exercise and training. So she decided to have a good rest and take a trip to the Mercenary Union early tomorrow morning.