Hidden Shadow – CH 037

Chapter Thirty-Seven: I Will Kill Them

The Dark Academy selected three from the second branch of the family and two from the first branch.

Of these five, the three from the second branch all wore expressions of joy. Mei Rujian from the first branch, suffering a broken leg, was still recovering and therefore had not come to the clan academy. Mei Jiu, meanwhile, stared blankly at her toes, her expression dazed.

“The rest may choose whether to stay or leave,” said Headmaster Zhao.

The Mei family members were different from Mei Jiu. From a young age, they were instilled with different values ​​than the rest of the world, and most considered it an honor to join the Konghe Army. However, studying at the Dark Academy was life-threatening, so those who lacked confidence in their abilities generally dared not stay.

Watching the crowd gradually leave, Mei Ruyan hesitated. She glanced at Mei Jiu, thinking whether she should really go with her.

Mei Ruyan was not afraid of killing or arson; it was just that she had not even mastered the basics yet. Going to the Dark Academy would be tantamount to suicide.

The disciple boy looked around and whispered, “Headmaster, only Seventh Young Lady Mei and Fifteenth Young Lady Mei have stayed.”

Headmaster Zhao nodded and asked loudly, “Has anyone else left?”

Mei Ruyan simply lowered her eyes, enduring the sharp pain in her right hand, suppressing the slight hesitation and cowardice in her heart, pretending that she was rooted to the spot.

Headmaster Zhao helplessly walked down the stone steps and stood beside Mei Jiu, kindly advising, “Fifteenth Young Lady, perhaps you should re-enter the Dark Arts Academy next year.”

Mei Jiu looked up in surprise.

The disciple rubbed his forehead, quickly stepped forward, and whispered, “Headmaster, this is Fourteenth Young Lady, and the one next to her is Fifteenth Young Lady.”

“Ahem.” Headmaster Zhao took two steps to the side, squinting hard. “Fifteenth Young Lady’s internal energy has not formed yet; it’s best not to act rashly.”

Mei Tingyuan exclaimed, “Headmaster? You mean she does not have internal energy?”

“Yes.” Headmaster Zhao recognized the speaker by the voice. “She just took your book; her palm bones are probably already fractured.”

Mei Ruyan had not expected it to be so serious; a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. “Headmaster, please take a look?”

“I’ve already informed Master Mo; he will take you to Elder Qi,” Headmaster Zhao advised again. “I see you have a good aptitude and are hardworking; you will definitely achieve something in two years. Do not ruin your future because of a moment of rashness.”

Mei Jiu finally regained some composure. “The fewer people who go, the better. Sister, you do not need to accompany me; go see a physician quickly.”

“Master Mo has arrived,” the disciple said.

Everyone turned to see a man in a wide-sleeved, plain robe walking towards them. His robes billowed like flowing clouds with each step, and his dark hair was half-loose, half-casual, loosely tied back.

From afar, he appeared to be an ethereal being, untouched by worldly concerns. However, as he drew closer, Mei Jiu realized he was tall, with a sharply defined face, brows like blades, deep eyes, and thin lips that were slightly pursed, exuding a cold and aloof air.

“Headmaster Zhao,” Master Mo greeted him with a slight nod.

“Please do not be angry, Master Mo. It was just the young lady playing around.” Headmaster Zhao knew Master Mo’s temperament somewhat. His arrogance was not just about being aloof; he looked down on even those who were aloof. But he was also eccentric; anyone who dared touch his possessions would be punished relentlessly until he was satisfied.

While Mei Ruyan was certainly not a mere object, she had at least studied under him for a few days.

Mei Ruyan held her chin high, glaring at Master Mo with pursed lips. However, being only up to his chest, she could not express arrogance, only stubbornness.

“I do not hit women,” Master Mo said, glancing at Mei Ruyan indifferently, without asking whose fault it was. “Have your hand healed before you fight. If you lose, get out.”

With that, he turned and left.

Headmaster Zhao wiped away a bead of sweat. “Hurry up and go with him. Healing your hand is the priority.”

Seeing Mei Ruyan looking over, Mei Jiu urged, “Sister, go quickly.”

“Alright,” Mei Ruyan replied, clutching her arm as she followed Master Mo away.

“Seventh Young Lady Mei.” Headmaster Zhao turned around, vaguely seeing a figure in the distance, and asked again, “Are you sure you want to join the Dark School?”

The disciple sighed and tugged at his left sleeve. “Right here.”

Having long since lost sight of Master Mo, Mei Tingyuan breathed a sigh of relief and firmly said, “Yes.” Mei Tingyuan’s martial arts were not weak, so Headmaster Zhao did not try to persuade him further.

“In that case, you do not need to go to your respective teachers this afternoon. Go back and rest well; someone will come to fetch you this evening. Also, you must attend classes at the clan school every three days and participate in the monthly examination.”

“Yes,” they all replied in unison.

“You can go back now,” Headmaster Zhao said.

The four members of the second branch happily prepared to descend the mountain, while Mei Jiu went back to her room to pack her books.

Headmaster Zhao put his hand on the disciple’s shoulder and led him into the house.

The disciple grumbled, “I do not know why you sealed your inner strength. Otherwise, even without your eyes, you could use your other five senses to determine location, people, and objects. You would not always be a laughingstock.”

Master Zhao raised his hand and slapped him on the back of the head. “What’s so laughable about bad eyesight? You are always so bored; why all the complaining when I just give you a little shove?”

The disciple was thinking of a rebuttal, forgetting that Master Zhao’s hand had left his shoulder, and continued walking forward. “I am never bored! Every day before dawn, I open the mountain gate, sweep the steps…”

Thump!

A heavy sound followed. The disciple felt the ground tremble slightly beneath his feet. He froze, then covered his face and peeked through his fingers at the terrible scene behind him.

In less than five steps, he had fallen into a flowerpot under the eaves. Several thriving red plum trees had their branches broken, and broken branches pierced his forearm, blood gushing out.

“Headmaster!” The servant boy rushed over, helping him up while crying, “Help! The headmaster is injured!” Students inside rushed out, frantically carrying him and noisily taking him to the physician.

The courtyard emptied instantly.

Mei Jiu, carrying several scrolls of books, descended the mountain alone.

Because of the sudden selection of participants for the secret training, Yao-Ye, unaware that Mei Jiu had finished school early, did not come to pick her up.

Mei Jiu saw the second branch of the family not far ahead and slowed her pace.

“An Jiu.” She had not forgotten that someone had always been by her side.

An Jiu ignored her, muttering to herself, “I do not want to learn how to kill; I do not want to kill, but I have no choice, and I dare not tell my mother. I know she has gone to great lengths; her hair has turned gray these past few days.”

These words seemed to touch something within An Jiu, and she said, “Take some sleeping pills tonight. I will kill the person.”

“Sleeping pills” was an unfamiliar word but easily understood.

Mei Jiu felt increasingly ashamed. “You helped me like this, yet I thought of harming you.”

“Do not flatter yourself!” An Jiu said coldly.

Ever since discovering her existence in this world, An Jiu had harbored the thought of escaping the killing and living a peaceful life, herding sheep alone on the sparsely populated grasslands. The sky was high and clear, the grasslands a verdant expanse, and flocks of white sheep huddled together like clouds in the sky.

She was weary of killing, yet killing was a part of her soul. How could she separate herself? An Jiu thought for a long time before realizing that perhaps “weary of killing” was just an excuse; she was weary of herself.

“But did you not say you did not want to kill anymore?” Mei Jiu felt as if she were falling into hell whenever she recalled An Jiu’s horrific memories. She had her own selfish motives, but she did not want to use someone else’s to shield her from disaster.

“Fool, you believe everything I say! How can a devil not kill?” An Jiu said irritably. “Consider it rent!”

After a pause, Mei Jiu realized that An Jiu was referring to her living inside her body. “I did not expect you to be joking.”

Joking?! What’s so funny? An Jiu was too lazy to pay her any attention.

“Young Lady?” Yao-Ye saw Mei Jiu enter. “Why are you back now?”

“The Dark Academy is selecting people,” Mei Jiu said.

Yao-Ye, being a servant born into the Mei family, was well aware of the rules of the Mei clan. Without Mei Jiu needing to explain further, she understood the situation. “You rest first; this servant will go and inform Lady Yan.”

“Do not tell her yet,” Mei Jiu said, pulling Yao-Ye back. After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “Even if you tell Mother, it will not make a difference; it will only make her worry sooner.”

Yao-Ye had received Mei Yanran’s order to report immediately once the secret academy selected members. She could not disobey her mistress, nor could she disobey Mei Yanran’s orders, so she could only explain to Mei Jiu, “The young lady cares for Lady Yan, and Lady Yan cares for you too. If she’s not the last to know, she will worry even more.”

“Then we will talk about it later. First, prepare some sleeping pills for me,” Mei Jiu said.

Yao-Ye asked suspiciously, “What does the young lady need those for?”

Mei Jiu’s palms were sweating. “They said they’d come to take me to the secret academy tonight. I want to sleep for a while to refresh myself, but I am not sleepy.”

This reason was sufficient; Yao-Ye did not want to refute it. “Alright, this servant will go and get some sleeping incense for the young lady.”