Chapter 97: THE GIRL WHO USED HAND SIGNS(1)

Li Yan listened through the rest of the class, keeping his attention on the teacher while ignoring the growing number of eyes that kept drifting toward him.

After what had happened earlier, some disciples were curious about him, while others seemed to be waiting for another opportunity to see whether the first-ranked disciple would make another mistake. Li Yan had no intention of entertaining them, so he focused on the lesson and let the whispers around him pass without a response.

A young woman sitting beside him wore a pale blue robe with several small patterns embroidered along the sleeves and collar. The stitching was not the work of a professional tailor, since some of the designs were slightly uneven, but it was obvious she had decorated the robe herself.

She had remained quiet throughout the lecture, paying attention to the teacher while occasionally glancing toward the medicinal samples at the front.

After a while, the girl gently tugged at the edge of Li Yan’s robe. When he turned toward her, she raised one hand and gestured for him to lean closer. Li Yan moved nearer without hesitation. He had always been curious about other people’s business, so when someone appeared to have something to whisper, there was little chance he would refuse to listen.

The girl leaned toward his ear and said, "Brother Li, can you explain what the teacher is saying? I cannot hear anything."

Although she had lowered her voice, it was still loud enough for several disciples sitting at the back to hear. Li Yan’s lips twitched as he looked at her.

If she could not hear the teacher, he could understand why she wanted someone to explain the lesson, but he could not understand why she had asked him to lean closer only to speak at nearly the same volume.

"You are shouting. The teacher might hear you," Li Yan whispered, not wanting to be called out for another disturbance.

The girl immediately lowered her head and began moving her hands in a series of signs that Li Yan could not understand.

He watched her fingers for several seconds before admitting to himself that he had no idea what she was trying to communicate. Rather than waste time trying to guess, he sought Xiaoxiao’s opinion.

"Xiaoxiao, do you understand what she is doing?"

"I believe the young lady is deaf, and this is her method of communication. I have not seen this particular method before, though. Most deaf people I have encountered usually write down what they wish to communicate."

Li Yan’s expression changed when he heard that. He looked at the girl again and finally understood why her speech sounded unusual and why she had spoken so loudly without realizing it. If she could not hear her own voice, then she would have no way of judging how loud she was speaking.

The girl seemed to misunderstand his silence. She lowered her hands and bowed her head, appearing to think she had bothered him and that he no longer wanted to communicate with her. Li Yan noticed the change in her expression and immediately reached into his space, taking out his writing materials.

He did not usually go out of his way to help strangers, but the girl had not done anything wrong, and she seemed pleasant enough.

He placed the paper and brush on the desk before writing down the important points from the lecture so she could follow along.

When he finished, he pushed the paper toward her and pointed at the information he had written. The girl’s eyes widened when she understood what he had done, and she gave him a grateful smile before looking back toward the teacher.

Li Yan returned his attention to his own notes and continued writing. Since he had more knowledge of herbs than most new outer disciples, he did not need to record every word the teacher said, but he still noted the points that might prove useful later. Though he was only taking notes for the girl.

She copied some of his notes while occasionally looking toward the front to follow the teacher’s demonstrations.

The rest of the lesson passed without another interruption. When the teacher finally announced that the lecture had ended, the disciples began gathering their things, the next part of their Apothecary training required them to move into the alchemy room and practise making remedies.

Li Yan closed his writing materials and prepared to stand, but the girl beside him moved much faster.

By the time he pushed himself out of his seat, she had already reached the entrance. Li Yan immediately picked up his pace and followed after her, although the movement made his injured waist ache enough for him to slow down once he reached the corridor.

When Li Yan stepped outside, he saw the girl surrounded by several female disciples. They had blocked her path, and the person standing in front of them was Su Lianhua.

"You really think someone like Li Yan would be interested in you?" Su Lianhua asked. "Do not flatter yourself. He would never choose someone like you."

Another girl laughed and looked the girl up and down. "She should be grateful he spoke to her at all. She is nothing more than an ugly street rat who should never have entered the sect."

The girl lowered her head without responding, her hands moving slightly as though she wanted to communicate but did not know how to answer them. They were talking too fast which made her overwhelmed.

Su Lianhua crossed her arms and continued, "Do you really think you belong here? Someone like you should have stayed wherever you came from instead of coming to the sect and embarrassing yourself."

Li Yan had been standing a short distance away when he heard the last remark. He looked toward Su Lianhua and then at the girl she had surrounded, his expression becoming cold as he walked over.

"And you are not?" Li Yan asked.

The laughter around Su Lianhua stopped.

Li Yan continued toward them and looked directly at her before adding, "It seems being with Mo Lang has fried your brain. You should be more careful with what you say when your own words make you look foolish."

Su Lianhua’s face tightened when she recognized him, but Li Yan did not give her the opportunity to start another argument.

He reached the girl, hooked his arm around hers, and pulled her away from Su Lianhua and the other disciples.

"I was looking for you," Li Yan said as he glanced down at the girl. "Were you so eager to meet your friends? They do not look like good people to me. Come with me, big brother will buy you a treat."