As for what it was about, there was no need to guess at all.
Starting with herself to ask the teacher for help? Li Yunxian thought it over and actually felt this was a pretty good opportunity.
When Li Tianying had mentioned this matter before, her tone and attitude showed she was prepared to go.
In this world, the righteous sects support each other; the Four Great Academies all maintain contact—it was just a matter of time.
The damage to the Xuanwen Secret Realm had to be repaired, but because of concerns that the damage might trigger a chain reaction, there was nothing to be done about it.
But regarding the Heavenly Communication Blood Pool, Li Yunxian knew exactly what was going on.
It was simply normal wear and tear from use.
Yes, normal.
There was nothing wrong with the Blood Pool, and she didn’t want her teacher to be wasting effort over this situation.
In a certain sense, her own needs and those of the Wenwu Academy aligned.
So, a conversation was possible.
With the direction clear, Li Yunxian didn’t show much enthusiasm toward Wenwu’s people.
She wasn’t eager to do business.
She just glanced at the Wenwu group and asked, “Are you all from the arena?”
Pei Dongyuan laughed shamelessly, “Yeah, didn’t you ask us to teach that Shen Bofeng a lesson?”
“We completed the task very well!”
Li Yunxian hadn’t expected that.
She eyed Pei Dongyuan and the others suspiciously.
Just one day, and they had dealt with Shen Bofeng? That guy looked stubborn—was he really so easy to handle?
And… Li Yunxian looked at their sullen faces.
The more she looked, the more she felt they were the ones who got dealt with.
The facts proved that with Li Yunxian’s experience, nothing was amiss in her judgment.
Pei Dongyuan cheerfully continued, “In a few days, he’ll probably start thinking he’s invincible again.”
Simply put, they had all been knocked down.
Reverse education was still education.
Li Yunxian couldn’t help but smile.
Pei Dongyuan’s endless chatter was truly a no-holds-barred attack.
That included himself.
Soon, the particularly talkative Pei Dongyuan started from the arena story, chatted from one topic to another, and finally landed on his experience with the exchange students.
Pei Dongyuan grinned at Li Yunxian, winking and saying, “When we left the academy, we all went back home once.”
“It’s only reasonable to relax a bit after officially graduating from the academy.”
“I’ve been inside Wenwu for over three years, locked up the whole time. This time I didn’t even notify anyone, just to scare my parents.”
He rambled with little regard for logic, his full attention on Li Yunxian’s expression.
What Pei Dongyuan was saying was the result of their little group’s discussion—something that could sway Li Yunxian.
Material stuff was hard to use to sway her, so they went for the emotional angle!
Li Yunxian was a freshman, and what did freshmen long for most?
Homesickness!
Before entering the academy, cultivators lived with their parents and went home every day.
Once at the academy, they had to endure up to five years of seclusion, hard to leave—especially difficult at first.
Yesterday, the students Li Yunxian chatted with all said the same.
They admitted that in their first year, many nights, when quiet, they secretly wiped tears under their blankets.
This trick was especially tempting for freshmen, those still far from Foundation Establishment stage.
Pei Dongyuan started babbling about his experiences at home, and other students chimed in with their own stories.
This tactic was actually very effective.
They could clearly feel other students at nearby tables slowing their eating motions, some with slightly reddened eyes, even dabbed at tears with tissues.
But… Li Yunxian’s hand didn’t move even once.
She didn’t even realize that Wenwu’s emotional display was meant to tempt her.
Inside, she thought Wenwu’s attempt to sway her was taking way too long.
They’d been digging into their maps forever—why were they still digging?
She was already prepared to be swayed, willing to use Wenwu’s people to settle the Blood Pool issue.
So why were they still dragging things out?
Pei Dongyuan and the others talked themselves out, only to hear Li Yunxian respond mechanically with occasional meaningless “Wow,” “That’s nice,” and “Sounds good.”
Finally, Pei Dongyuan couldn’t hold back any longer and bluntly asked Li Yunxian, “Do you want to go home for a visit?”
“Once the one-month exchange period ends, we’re heading back. If you want, you can come with us.”
“This time, three teachers came with us, all Nascent Soul stage—very safe!”
“After leaving the academy, we’ll rest in the city for half a month. You can definitely go home and visit.”
“No worries about returning to school.”
“You can come back with us to Wenwu. In three months, there’s the Qingteng Selection Trial. Then you’ll go with our recruitment teachers to the capital.”
“After the trial, you’ll return to school with your Heavenly Communication teachers.”
“It won’t be long. You can experience our Wenwu Academy.”
“Later, if there’s more exchange, you can consider the other two academies. Maybe you’ll get the chance to experience all Four Great Academies.” Pei Dongyuan winked at Li Yunxian.
They thought this was perfect—no student could resist such temptation.
As for whether Li Yunxian could actually stay in Wenwu for three months… that depended on how their teacher’s efforts with Professor Li went.
Occasionally sending messages: saying Li Yunxian didn’t know anyone at the academy and was lonely.
***
Today in class, she seemed distracted, maybe thinking about her teacher.
“Ah, our Wenwu’s artifact crafting teacher still can’t compare to you. Feels like Li Yunxian isn’t improving enough. Wish you were here.”
Sending one or two messages like this daily.
Which teacher could resist?
They’d definitely be able to sway her!
Only now did Li Yunxian fully understand.
She looked at Pei Dongyuan, who spoke with emotional intonation, as if truly heartfelt.
Wasn’t… Wenwu trying to bribe her with nothing tangible?!
Li Yunxian had lived thousands of years, but this was the first time she’d encountered such a bribe.
Her expression couldn’t hide her shock.
Pei Dongyuan didn’t notice her surprise but vaguely sensed something was off.
He thought, maybe… something’s not quite right.
He reviewed what he had said and cautiously asked, “You… don’t miss home?”
Li Yunxian silently looked at Pei Dongyuan and honestly replied, “My parents are divorced and remarried. Since high school, I’ve lived alone.”
She wanted to say yes.
She wanted to be tempted!
But getting swayed by such conditions really felt too fake!!
Pei Dongyuan:
Pei Dongyuan:
He felt for the first time what it meant to kiss up and end up stepping on the horse’s leg.
How had no one ever told them this?!
His cultivated temperament in Wenwu seemed useless in this moment.
Under Li Yunxian’s steady gaze, Pei Dongyuan stood up.
“Sorry to bother you.” He said with a blank face and wasted no time, swiftly leading his classmates away.
Li Yunxian:
Clearly, this was a mutually willing matter, so how did Wenwu manage to find the only dead end?
Li Yunxian was silent for a long time before finally looking down at the food in front of her.
The situation being as it was, she might as well keep eating.
That night, Wenwu’s group gathered again.
Qi Ke cleared his throat, “There’s still over half a month left, no rush. Let’s discuss Plan B.”
***
The next day, Li Yunxian ‘accidentally’ met Wenwu’s students again.
To be precise, after seeing them coming her way, she deliberately bumped right into them.