Chapter 355: The thousand dao city 25.

Mo Yuxin tried to read everything.

Su Yubing kept reminding her that they had not eaten.

Mo Yuxin insisted that she was not hungry.

Ten minutes later, she started stealing fruit from Su Yubing’s plate.

Su Yubing stared at her.

"You said you weren’t hungry."

"I am not hungry."

"Then why are you eating?"

"You have better fruit."

Su Yubing sighed.

"You are unbelievable."

Mo Yuxin smiled and took another piece.

A young female student sitting at the next table smiled at them.

"Are you two sisters?"

Su Yubing answered, "Wives."

The student froze.

Then she smiled brightly.

"Oh. Sorry."

"It is fine."

The student looked slightly embarrassed.

"You are very affectionate."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Yes."

Su Yubing laughed.

The student introduced herself as Meng Xiaoqi, a first-year formation student.

She asked Mo Yuxin what she thought of one of the academy’s defensive arrays.

Mo Yuxin answered honestly.

"It is too complicated."

Xiaoqi stared.

"What?"

"The outer layer does three things that could be done by one layer. The formation consumes too much energy."

Xiaoqi looked horrified.

"That formation has been taught here for eighty years."

Mo Yuxin looked apologetic.

"Then it has been inefficient for eighty years."

Su Yubing covered her mouth.

Xiaoqi burst out laughing.

"You are the first person who has ever said that directly."

"Why?"

"Because the person who designed it is now one of the academy deans."

Mo Yuxin looked at Su Yubing.

"Should I say sorry?"

Su Yubing shook her head.

"No. Let her learn."

The three chatted for a while.

It was a completely ordinary conversation, and that was exactly what Mo Yuxin liked about the academy.

Nobody here cared much about sect politics when they were eating lunch.

Students were more interested in rankings, examinations, romantic gossip, and who had failed a particular teacher’s class.

One young man nearby was loudly claiming that he would become the strongest sword cultivator of his generation.

His friends laughed.

Another student was crying because her spirit beast had eaten her assignment.

Mo Yuxin watched everything with mild amusement.

Su Yubing noticed.

"Do you like it here?"

"Yes."

"Then we should come back."

"Definitely."

When they left the academy, the sun was already setting.

The city lights began to appear one by one.

Mo Yuxin bought dinner from a street stall.

Su Yubing chose a bowl of spicy noodles.

Mo Yuxin ordered the same thing.

Su Yubing looked at her.

"You don’t like spicy food."

"I like what you like."

"You will regret this."

Ten minutes later, Mo Yuxin was sweating.

Su Yubing laughed so hard that she nearly dropped her chopsticks.

Mo Yuxin looked at her with watery eyes.

"This is your fault."

"I told you."

"Then help me."

Su Yubing handed her tea.

Mo Yuxin drank it.

"Better?"

"A little."

Su Yubing smiled.

"Poor thing."

Mo Yuxin immediately leaned closer.

"Kiss me."

Su Yubing stared at her.

"What does that have to do with spicy food?"

"Everything."

"No."

"Please."

Su Yubing laughed.

"You are shameless."

"Only with you."

She finally kissed Mo Yuxin’s cheek.

Mo Yuxin looked satisfied.

The shopkeeper watched them with a smile.

"Young people are nice."

Su Yubing became embarrassed.

Mo Yuxin did not care at all.

On the way back to the inn, they passed the main street leading toward the Ten Thousand Dao Plaza.

The great sect towers were illuminated.

The Heavenly Sword tower shone with silver light.

Golden Mountain’s tower had golden formations climbing its walls.

Azure Cloud’s headquarters looked like a giant floating scroll.

Purple Heaven Valley’s pavilion smelled faintly of medicinal herbs.

Cangming Palace’s tower had water flowing along its outer walls.

Nine Heavens Academy had lights in almost every window.

And the Battle Maiden branch remained comparatively dark.

Mo Yuxin looked at it.

Su Yubing followed her gaze.

"That bothers you."

"A little."

"Because of the sect?"

"Because they are making it look normal."

"What do you mean?"

"The darkness."

Su Yubing looked more carefully.

The Battle Maiden branch had enough spirit stones to keep its outer lamps lit. Yet only a few remained active.

It looked like a sect struggling to survive.

Which was exactly the image the conspiracy wanted everyone to see.

Mo Yuxin said quietly, "Someone is helping create the appearance of weakness."

"From inside?"

"Possibly."

"The traitor."

"If there is one."

Su Yubing nodded.

They returned to the inn.

Later that night, Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing sat on their balcony.

The city stretched endlessly in front of them.

Spiritual boats moved between towers.

Music came from the entertainment district.

Distant sword lights crossed the sky.

The city was alive even at midnight.

Su Yubing rested against Mo Yuxin’s side.

Mo Yuxin wrapped an arm around her.

"Do you regret coming here?"

"No."

"Even with all the trouble?"

"Yes."

Mo Yuxin smiled.

"That did not answer the question."

Su Yubing laughed.

"I don’t regret it."

She looked toward the distant Battle Maiden banner.

"There are too many people here. Too many stories."

"You like stories."

"I like ours most."

Mo Yuxin turned toward her.

Su Yubing continued.

"And I like the people we have met. Qinghe. Shuyue. Ruyan. Su Lian. Even Ye Qinglan."

"You forgot me."

Su Yubing looked at her.

"I said our story."

Mo Yuxin smiled.

"Good answer."

Su Yubing shook her head.

"You really need to stop asking for reassurance every hour."

"I only ask when I want to hear you say it."

"Say what?"

"That you love me."

Su Yubing turned fully toward her.

"I love you."

Mo Yuxin’s expression softened completely.

"I love you too."

They hugged for a while.

No politics.

No sects.

No ancient formations.

Just the two of them beneath the lights of Thousand Dao City.

Neither knew that the following night would be far more violent.

That night, however, there was one more quiet conversation before they returned to the inn.

Ye Qinglan had invited Su Yubing to the Battle Maiden branch again, this time without the larger group. Only Mu Qingru, Ji Ruyan, and Su Lian were present.

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TO BE CONTINUED.