Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 143 - 139: Wicked Taste

Chapter 143: Chapter 139: Wicked Taste

After practicing cultivation early the next morning, Li Fan proceeded to Bai Lu Academy as planned.

Walking down White Deer Street, many people were discussing the battle that took place there last night.

"Yesterday, demons invaded White Deer Street, heading for the residence of Ji Feng. These demons are truly despicable, losing on the battlefield and resorting to such lowly tactics."

"I heard that the mysterious figure appeared, not Ji Feng."

"Indeed, it wasn’t Ji Feng. I saw last night’s battle. That mysterious figure wore a mask and a black cloak, and with a single sword stroke, he slain the demon. Truly exceptional."

"I guess he is cultivating at Bai Lu Academy."

Li Fan heard the chattering around him. Overnight, the news that the mysterious person wasn’t Ji Feng had already spread.

However, this was part of his plan—to help Ji Feng get rid of trouble before leaving so that he wouldn’t be implicated after his departure.

Arriving at Bai Lu Academy, some from the academy recognized Li Fan, so they did not stop him.

After entering the academy, Li Fan went to where Qu Qingfeng resided.

"The plum blossoms bloomed beautifully last night, as if to welcome a guest visit," Qu Qingfeng stood under the plum tree and said in a low voice, "Please come in."

Li Fan stepped into the courtyard, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Mr. Qu."

"Are you here for Liu Ji?" Qu Qingfeng smiled. Not far behind him, Liu Ji was sitting quietly at a stone table reading a book. She only put it down and looked at Li Fan when he arrived.

"Yes." Li Fan nodded with a smile and said, "It seems that your guidance has been effective; this Snake Demon is quietly reading now."

Liu Ji’s enchanting eyes rolled as she shot him a glance.

"Liu Ji is indeed teachable," Qu Qingfeng laughed, "Whether in cultivation or learning, it all depends on self-enlightenment."

Li Fan stepped forward and said to Liu Ji, "I plan to leave for a while. How about you staying here to study with Mr. Qu? I will write to you later to let you know where I am."

"Do you plan to abandon me, Master?" Liu Ji felt somewhat uneasy at heart, though she smiled, her heartbeat slightly quickened.

She didn’t know when it started, but she needed to be by Li Fan’s side to feel safe.

Perhaps it was because she, as a demon among humans, didn’t have a sense of belonging. Although her cultivation was stronger than Li Fan’s, when she was with him, she at least felt integrated into this world.

"Staying here to study sounds good." Li Fan said.

"No way." Liu Ji flatly refused. Although she had embraced this lifestyle and found it quite nice, that was because Li Fan wasn’t far away.

If Li Fan left and never returned...

She suddenly felt an indescribable loneliness.

Unknowingly, her human emotions had gradually deepened.

Qu Qingfeng smiled from the side, realizing that as Liu Ji’s human emotions became richer, her demonic wildness faded, signifying that she was gradually integrating into the human world.

Li Fan felt a headache; Liu Ji hadn’t been studying for long, yet she seemed determined to follow him once more.

"Brother Yang, I heard that you came to the academy." A voice came from outside; Huang Xiong and Xiao Kui approached, saluted Qu Qingfeng, and said, "Mr. Qu."

Qu Qingfeng smiled and said, "Don’t mind me."

Huang Xiong looked over to where Li Fan was, listening to Li Fan say, "Brother Huang, I came to bid farewell. I’m leaving Yun Meng City."

"So soon?" Huang Xiong was somewhat surprised, but after considering the recent events, he nodded. Leaving before anyone knew he was the mysterious figure was a good idea.

"When are you setting out?" Huang Xiong asked.

"Since I’ve decided, there’s no reason to delay. I’ll set out now," Li Fan replied.

Huang Xiong pondered for a moment and said, "Brother Yang, let me see you off."

"Alright," Li Fan nodded and looked at Qu Qingfeng, saying, "Mr. Qu, thank you for your care."

With that, he slightly bowed to Qu Qingfeng.

"Bai Lu Academy always welcomes you," Qu Qingfeng smiled and nodded. He had no strict demands on Li Fan’s coming and going, letting fate decide.

"Mr. Qu, thank you for your guidance over these days," Liu Ji also stood up to bow. Li Fan turned back to look at her somewhat helplessly; it seemed she wasn’t planning to stay behind.

"Alright." Li Fan said no more, "I’ll go bid farewell to Lu Yuan."

With a final bow to Qu Qingfeng, he left the courtyard.

Walking through Bai Lu Academy, Li Fan encountered some people who seemed surprised to see him, shouting, "Yang Qingshan."

Li Fan looked at them, noticing their unusual gazes.

"Yang Qingshan," others approached from outside, stopping upon seeing Li Fan. This made Li Fan feel uneasy.

What was going on?

"What guidance do you have for me?" Li Fan asked.

"I just returned from outside. There’s a rumor circulating in Yun Meng City, saying the mysterious cultivator who fought the demons that day isn’t Ji Feng but Yang Qingshan," an academy student spoke, making Li Fan’s expression tighten, his brows furrowing.

Who released this information?

"Brother Yang, it’s definitely not from the academy. You might want to investigate outside. The rumor spread from outside White Deer Street, fermenting in Yun Meng City. It won’t be long before the entire city knows."

"Thank you," Li Fan replied.

It seemed he couldn’t leave silently now.

Before, without his identity being revealed, he could leave quietly before the demons discovered him.

But now, with the news out, leaving would be dangerous.

White Deer Street was somewhat safer.

"Is Yang Qingshan that mysterious cultivator?" More and more people gathered around, and upon hearing the news, the academy people came over, looking at Li Fan.

That mysterious cultivator had stunned them, fighting until the end, they hesitated even though they were touted as academy geniuses, yet that mysterious cultivator took down a demon with one sword stroke.

"Is the rumor true?" someone asked Li Fan.

"Who’s spreading such baseless rumors?" At this moment, an elderly figure appeared—it was the elder from that day.

He had strictly warned the Bai Lu Academy students not to discuss the matter.

"Sir, it’s not us spreading rumors; it came from Yun Meng City," someone said, still looking at Li Fan.

Is it really him?

Li Fan looked at the elder, saluted, and said, "Thank you, sir, for what you have done."

Having said this, he looked at everyone and said, "Indeed, it’s me."

The situation at this point left no need to hide anymore.

Rumors had previously said it was Ji Feng, drawing demons to him. Even if he didn’t admit it now, the demons wouldn’t relent.

Admitting or not, the outcome was the same.

Hearing Li Fan’s words, the surrounding crowd erupted in buzz. The cultivators of Bai Lu Academy looked at him with changed eyes.

"I will get to the bottom of this, and when I find out who leaked the information, I will not let them off lightly," the elder said coldly. Li Fan was considered a hero in Yun Meng City, yet someone with an ulterior motive wanted to harm him.

Such behavior could not go unpunished, no matter who it was.

"Yang Qingshan."

Amid the crowd, Ji Xue approached, looking at Li Fan with complicated emotions.

Even though she had already suspected it was him, hearing him admit it still felt surreal.

"Thank you," Ji Xue bowed to Li Fan.

"Miss Ji, you’re too kind," Li Fan replied courteously.

Feeling his courteous manner, Ji Xue’s heart felt particularly desolate.

At this time, many people made way, and a graceful figure approached, it was Lu Yuan.

"If the whole of Yun Meng City knows your identity, the demons from Yun Meng Swamp likely know too. Why not stay within the academy?" Lu Yuan suggested softly, somewhat worried about Li Fan’s safety.

This time coming from Li Mountain seemed like a solo journey; otherwise, there would have been no need for a pseudonym.

"There’s an array on White Deer Street. If a top-level great demon enters, the array will react. There shouldn’t be a problem," Li Fan smiled in response. Noting the attitudes of the two, the surrounding people’s expressions were varied.

It seemed Lu Yuan had long known.

Their relationship seemed quite familiar.

That day during the battle with the Yun Meng Swamp, Lu Yuan, Huang Xiong, and the mysterious figure made a name for themselves, unexpectedly, the three were friends.

"No," Lu Yuan replied, looking at Li Fan.

"Hmm?" Li Fan looked at her, as did Ji Xue and the others.

Lu Yuan was making a decision for Li Fan?

Were their relations at that level already?

Now, many of Bai Lu Academy’s outstanding young talents fancied Lu Yuan, but perhaps only a heavenly prodigy like Li Fan could match her.

"Ultimately, there’s still some distance. If a great demon targets your location early, it might be too late," Lu Yuan insisted.

Li Fan’s life was very important.

He was not only ’Yang Qingshan’, he represented the Li Mountain Sword.

So, Li Fan couldn’t come to harm.

"Lu Yuan is right; that Peacock Demon King was incredibly fast that day. If he targets your location, he could take you down in no time," the elder advised, "You should take Lu Yuan’s advice and remain at the academy for now."

Li Fan glanced at the elder, then at Lu Yuan, and with a bitter smile said, "Alright, I’ll listen to you."

Saying this, he turned to the elder and said, "Then I’ll intrude upon the academy and you, sir."

"Young friend practicing at the academy means the students can seek your guidance too. It’s beneficial for the academy, not an intrusion. Although the great demons of Yun Meng Swamp are strong, they wouldn’t dare intrude into the academy," the elder said.

"I have empty rooms in my courtyard; you may rest there," Qu Qingfeng approached and offered.

"Thank you, sir," Li Fan replied.

The people at Bai Lu Academy were somewhat envious; an outside cultivator was being treated like the center of attention at the academy, with Lu Yuan close to him and the academy masters proactively inviting him.

If Li Fan wanted to become a disciple, chances are the academy’s masters would compete for him.

"I’ll go pack my things and come back," Li Fan said, heading outside.

"I’ll go with you," Lu Yuan followed, walking side by side.

The Bai Lu Academy disciples made way, seeing the two of them walking out shoulder to shoulder, envious expressions could not be contained.

Exiting the academy, many people turned their attention to them.

"It’s Lu Yuan."

"Yang Qingshan, the mysterious cultivator."

"Lu Yuan walking with him, seems like the rumors are true this time."

People on White Deer Street were engaging in an animated discussion, yet no one disturbed Li Fan. Their gazes held respect.

Truly a heroic young figure.

Back at his residence, Li Fan said to Lu Yuan, "Do you have something you want to say?"

"How did you know?" Lu Yuan looked at Li Fan curiously.

Li Fan smiled without a word; he could discern a bit about Lu Yuan’s character.

Lu Yuan’s expression turned serious as she asked, "Can you contact Li Mountain?"

"I can," Li Fan nodded.

"Shouldn’t we have someone from Li Mountain come over?" Lu Yuan suggested, looking at him.

"No need; the mountain is high and the road is long. It’s uncertain when they would arrive. If there’s real danger, I still have some means to protect myself," Li Fan replied.

Hearing this, Lu Yuan felt reassured, knowing Li Mountain had left him some form of safeguard.

"Yang Qingshan might become famous now. If he knew you used his name..." Lu Yuan chuckled.

"If he knew Lu Yuan was smiling at ’Yang Qingshan’, he’d surely be very happy," Li Fan replied.

"Is this your strange sense of humor?" Lu Yuan’s brows arched like a crescent moon, her beautiful eyes gave him a playful glare, quite different from her usual demeanor.