txolops Chapter 342 The Tacit Eye Contact of Stealing Osmanthus Cake
Chapter 342 The Tacit Eye Contact of Stealing Osmanthus Cake
Three days after the initial dust settled during the selection of the Holy Maiden and Holy Son, the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion returned to its usual tranquility.
However, this quiet was filled with noises that shouldn't belong in the library.
"Have you heard? Shen Zhaoxuan has temporarily assumed the responsibilities of the Holy Son. We'll have to see how he performs in three months."
"Who doesn't know that? I've even heard that Lu Qingheng has already joined the Xuan Yu Peak Sword Pavilion."
"Shen Shuangzhi is the real powerhouse. Coming from the outer peak, she directly overwhelmed all the female cultivators."
"Your information is too slow. I heard that the senior brother from the Scripture Pavilion on Qingquan Peak already understood it on the Sword Debate Platform."
"Which one?"
"Who else could it be, Mo Chengyue?"
"Isn't he on duty on the second floor?"
"So what if there's a second-level guard? Even a second-level guard can see through the sect's overall situation."
"Where is he now?"
"Pretend you didn't hear that over there."
Mo Chengyue sat behind the duty station, holding a tattered copy of a formation manual in his hands. He looked as serene as an old bamboo scroll that had been dried in the sun.
Lin Wanqing peeked out from behind the bookshelf, carrying a stack of returned books, her round face full of earnest effort to suppress a laugh.
"Senior Brother Mo, they're talking about you again."
Mo Chengyue turned a page, his tone steady.
"There's wind in the library; the wind can talk, so ignore it."
Lin Wanqing walked over and put the book down.
"Ke Feng said you're not just an ordinary guard."
Mo Chengyue said, "That Feng is too ignorant."
Lin Wanqing blinked.
"Some people even asked me if I was Elder Chen's secret successor in the Scripture Pavilion."
Mo Chengyue looked up at her.
"What was your answer?"
Lin Wanqing is very honest.
"I said that when Elder Chen trains people, he usually punishes them by making them copy texts first, rather than letting them go out to watch ceremonies first."
Mo Chengyue nodded.
"Very good, that's true."
Lin Wanqing added another sentence.
"And then they believed it even more."
Mo Chengyue closed the book and looked at her intently.
"Junior Sister Lin, have you ever considered that if you spoke less in the future, the sect would be more peaceful?"
Lin Wanqing whispered, "But I'm telling the truth."
Mo Chengyue said, "Sometimes the truth is more dangerous than rumors."
Lin Wanqing thought for a moment, then looked down and flipped through her booklet.
"Then I'll make a note of it. Speaking the truth is dangerous. Guards at the Scripture Pavilion should be careful what they say."
Mo Chengyue reached out and pressed down on the corner of the booklet.
"Junior sister, be good, you can't write this sentence carelessly."
Lin Wanqing looked up, her dimples appearing shallow.
"Brother Xie Mo reminded me today to talk less and move more books, is that alright?"
Mo Chengyue loosened his grip.
"That works, and it also makes me look diligent."
An outer disciple carrying a cultivation manual passed by and couldn't help but interrupt.
"Senior Brother Mo, are you really going to stay on the second floor forever?"
Mo Chengyue looked at him.
"Isn't the second floor nice? There's a table, tea, books, and peace of mind that you don't have to go on stage to get beaten up."
The outer disciple scratched his head.
"But you've already reached the Golden Core stage."
The sound of turning pages around me quieted down considerably.
Lin Wanqing also looked at Mo Chengyue.
Mo Chengyue moved the teacup to the side, his expression becoming more serious than before.
"We've just made our way in; we still need to build a solid foundation."
The disciple immediately cupped his hands in greeting.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother Mo."
Another inner disciple also came over.
"Senior Brother Mo, after reaching the Golden Core stage, can one advance to the third level?"
Mo Chengyue said, "Theoretically, it's possible."
The man's eyes lit up.
"Will you go?"
Mo Chengyue looked at the old teacup on his table, and then at the pile of tattered pages that needed repair next to it.
"If I said I wasn't going, would you believe me?"
The disciples all shook their heads.
"Won't."
"Senior Brother Mo will definitely go."
"The third layer contains more books and more information."
"Elder Chen has probably been waiting for you for a long time."
Mo Chengyue remained silent for a moment.
"You guys are making it hard for me to stay normal."
Lin Wanqing held the booklet and offered her words of comfort with great sincerity.
"Senior Brother Mo, you've been extraordinary for a long time now."
Mo Chengyue looked at her.
"Junior Sister Lin, comforting someone doesn't mean rubbing salt into their wounds."
Lin Wanqing whispered, "Then how about sprinkling candy?"
Mo Chengyue said, "Food is prohibited in the library's book area."
Lin Wanqing looked down at the half-piece of osmanthus cake peeking out from her sleeve, and silently pressed her sleeve back down.
"I don't."
Mo Chengyue said, "I didn't see it either."
The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked away, their coordination remarkably smooth.
In the afternoon, fewer disciples came to borrow books.
Sunlight streamed in through the high windows, slicing out alternating blocks of light and shadow between the bookshelves.
After registering the last damaged notebook on the second floor, Mo Chengyue pressed the repaired pages into the clipboard.
Lin Wanqing leaned over the opposite side of the guard post and whispered, "Senior Brother Mo, are you really going to find Elder Chen?"
Mo Chengyue looked at her.
"Did I make it too obvious?"
Lin Wanqing nodded.
"You haven't even had a third pot of tea today."
Mo Chengyue looked down at the teacup.
"Good observation. Don't observe me next time."
Lin Wanqing said, "Elder Chen also said that you will eventually reach the third level."
Mo Chengyue raised an eyebrow.
"When did Elder Chen say that?"
Lin Wanqing thought for a moment.
"He said that if that kid who used the rare copy of the talisman paper dares to stay on the second floor with his Golden Core still intact, I'll make him copy the entire damaged copy from the second floor."
Mo Chengyue slowly put down the teacup.
"This is not expectation, this is a threat."
Lin Wanqing said, "Elder Chen's expectations are usually like this."
Mo Chengyue stood up and straightened his sleeves.
"Then I'll go collect my expectations."
Lin Wanqing immediately picked up the booklet.
"Shall I go with you?"
Mo Chengyue said, "No need."
Lin Wanqing said, "But Elder Chen might yell at you if he sees you."
Mo Chengyue said, "I'll take the scolding myself."
Lin Wanqing blinked.
"Brother Mo is so considerate."
Mo Chengyue said, "The main thing is that having someone recording it makes me feel like I'm being judged by future generations."
Lin Wanqing hugged the booklet even tighter.
"I can choose not to write it."
Mo Chengyue looked at her.
"You said the same thing last time."
Lin Wanqing, feeling guilty, looked away.
"That time, my hand moved on its own."
Mo Chengyue turned and walked towards the stairwell.
"You stay on the second floor. If anyone asks me where I went, just say I went to repair the books."
Lin Wanqing asked, "What if Elder Chen asks?"
Mo Chengyue did not stop walking.
"Then say I'm turning myself in."
The nine-story library becomes quieter as you go up.
As Mo Chengyue ascended the wooden stairs, the wood grain beneath his feet made a slight sound. The protective barrier within the building gently swept over his disciple token, lingering on him for a moment.
He suppressed his outward aura to the level of someone who had just entered the Golden Core stage, kept his spiritual energy under control, and changed his robes into the most ordinary guard uniform for the Scripture Pavilion.
There is only one core idea behind this outfit.
One can advance in skill, but one shouldn't appear too formidable.
Just enough to cross the threshold is sufficient; a little too little and you'll be disliked, a little too much and you'll be suspected. The right distance is the safest.
Mo Chengyue sighed inwardly.
The world of cultivation is too difficult.
If your cultivation level is too low, you'll be bullied; if your cultivation level is too high, you'll be targeted; if you hide your cultivation level too well, people will ask if there's something wrong with you.
This is hardly the cultivation of immortality.
This is clearly a large-scale interpersonal risk management project.
Elder Chen's duty room was located on one side of the higher ground.
The door wasn't closed properly, and the sound of pages turning could be heard from inside.
Mo Chengyue stopped outside the door and respectfully bowed.
"Disciple Mo Chengyue requests an audience with Elder Chen."
The room was quiet for a moment.
Elder Chen's voice rang out.
"Come in."