Chapter 41: The Absent Student and the Secret Search

In the tranquil quiet of dawn, Night Xuehui, with her usual composed stride, entered the classroom, methodically preparing for the day’s lessons.

Yet, even as the bell for class was about to chime, the seat beside her remained conspicuously empty.

Night Xuehui found herself frowning slightly, her thoughts turning inward. ‘Could Xiyue, that rascal, have overslept and be late?’ ‘Or perhaps he was too enamored with the warmth of his bed, unable to tear himself away?’ A playful smile touched her lips, as she secretly plotted to tease him relentlessly should her suspicions prove true.

Ten minutes drifted by unnoticed.

Night Xuehui instinctively scratched her head, her gaze flitting between the empty seat and the classroom door, yet Ouyang Xiyue’s figure remained absent.

The corridor outside was deserted, without a trace of him.

Night Xuehui’s brows furrowed deeply, a flicker of irritation sparking within her. She had explicitly warned him last time about the severe penalties for tardiness. ‘How could this guy be so audacious, so utterly reckless?’

Despite her annoyance, a wave of tender affection washed over her. She sighed inwardly. ‘Ah well, if the teacher blames him, I, as his ‘older brother,’ will bear the responsibility for him. Who can blame me for doting on him so much?’

A moment later, the teacher entered the classroom with a steady gait, yet Ouyang Xiyue was still nowhere to be seen.

Night Xuehui, resigned, lightly tapped her forehead, her heart heavy with helplessness, realizing she would have to clean up this mess herself.

“Class, a quick announcement: Ouyang Xiyue has requested leave for today.

Now, let us continue our study of intermediate magic control.” Having delivered the news, the teacher prepared to resume the lesson.

“Wait, teacher!” Night Xuehui interjected suddenly, her voice rising with urgency. “May I ask how long Ouyang will be absent?”

The teacher paused, slightly taken aback, before responding kindly, “Approximately two weeks.

Ouyang mentioned he might return to class earlier if he resolves matters quickly.” With that, the teacher prepared to continue his lecture.

Upon hearing the teacher’s reply, Night Xuehui’s brows instantly knitted together.

A powerful intuition told her that the situation was far more complex than it seemed.

Without another word, she strode purposefully out of the classroom.

By this point, the students in the classroom were already buzzing with chatter.

“Hey, why do you think Night Xuehui is so concerned about Ouyang?” Student A asked, her face alight with curiosity.

“Yeah, I find it strange too,” Student B added. “I never noticed them being this close before.

Their relationship seems a bit… subtle lately. Could it be…?” Student B trailed off, their eyes sparkling with gossip.

“Hush! Don’t talk nonsense! How could my idol ever fall for a mere mortal!” Student D retorted with unwavering conviction.

“No, no, no, let me tell you,” Student You whispered conspiratorially. “I recently heard that Night Xuehui often calls Ouyang to the student council office.

What they do there, I’m not sure.”

“Perhaps it’s just official business,” Student D insisted, sticking to her opinion.

“You’re too naive; it’s never that simple,” Student You declared with certainty. “A lone man and a lone woman, alone in a room—how could they *only* discuss official matters?

Look at them: a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven! They might already be together.”

“Together? How could that be? If they were together, why would there be no news for so long?

If I were with Night Xuehui, I’d have announced it to the whole world by now!” Student D gushed, her face flushed with infatuation.

“That’s not necessarily true; perhaps they have some concerns,” a sudden voice interjected.

“Concerns? We’re old enough now; what concerns could we possibly have?

Besides, the school doesn’t forbid dating,” Student You said dismissively.

“But the school *does* forbid whispering during class,” the voice chimed in once more.

The whispering students looked up, their faces instantly paling with shock.

The teacher had been standing right behind them, quietly listening to their entire conversation.

A sense of dread simultaneously washed over them; they knew they were doomed.

“You few, go stand at the back of the classroom.

Daring to slack off during class!” the teacher said with a sigh of resignation. “If only you’d channelled your gossip into your studies, you’d be as excellent as Night Xuehui by now.”

****

The scene shifted, transitioning to the student council office.

Night Xuehui sat in a chair, one leg crossed over the other, her brows furrowed in a deep frown.

One hand rhythmically tapped the desk, while the other held a phone, her face etched with clear frustration.

“Mingri, help me locate Ouyang Xiyue’s current whereabouts.” Night Xuehui spoke, her voice laced with anxiety. “That guy actually took leave, and for two whole weeks at that! I hope nothing untoward has happened to him.”

“Understood, Young Master. Please give me a few minutes,” Mingri’s steady voice responded from the other end of the line.

Minutes later, Mingri’s voice came through the phone once more: “Reporting, Young Master. Your subordinate has tracked Ouyang’s phone and located him, sending the information to your email.

Please check it.”

“Good, you’ve worked hard. You may go,” Night Xuehui said before hanging up.

She immediately opened her computer, eagerly scanning through her emails until she finally found the location information.

‘Wanbolin Library?’

Night Xuehui murmured to herself, ‘Isn’t that guy short on money? Why would he go to such an expensive place?

What could he possibly be doing at the library?’

The Wanbolin Library stood as the largest and most opulent library in the Sacred Sea region.

Its collection was vast, boasting every conceivable type of book, even ancient texts dating back centuries.

The information resources housed within were nothing short of an encyclopedia, yet the cost of entry was equally exorbitant.

On average, spending an hour inside would set one back approximately two thousand gold coins.

Should one opt for additional services, such as beverages, meals, or assistance from a librarian in finding books, the cost could easily increase by another three thousand gold coins.

However, in this particular establishment, such expenditures were considered entirely commonplace.

Night Xuehui’s mind swirled with questions, but she chose not to dwell on them.

She resolved to go directly to the library to find him, convinced that the truth would reveal itself once she arrived.

She slammed her hand down on the table, then rose and rushed out the door without a backward glance.

Employing her Sword Flight technique, she soared through the air at incredible speed, arriving at the entrance of the Wanbolin Library in less than five minutes.

Gazing at the ridiculously massive library before her, Night Xuehui couldn’t help but mutter in complaint.

“Why would anyone build a library this enormous? It’s practically an office building.”

As she spoke, she stepped into the library’s grand hall.

The moment she entered, two sharp-eyed receptionists immediately scurried over to greet her.

With years of experience, they instantly recognized the blue-haired individual as Night Xuehui of the Night family; after all, Night Xuehui likely held a considerable number of shares in the library, and the Night family’s name was renowned throughout the establishment.

“Young Master Night, what brings you here today?” a receptionist asked, a wide smile plastered across their face. “Are you here to consult some materials?

Leave it to us; we’ll ensure everything is perfectly arranged for you.”

Night Xuehui waved her hand dismissively, her tone icy. “Ouyang Xiyue visited this morning, correct?

I need to find him. Take me to him immediately.”

“Yes, yes, right away!” The receptionist scurried to the front desk, whispered a few words to the staff there, then rushed back.

“Young Master Night, please follow me. I will lead the way.”

****

The scene shifted once more, revealing Ouyang Xiyue in a corner of the library, frantically sifting through books, his face etched with anxiety.

“No… still nothing! Where is it?” he muttered, frustration mounting. “A method to revive the dead—I’ve searched through so many books and found nothing! I’ve even checked ancient texts from a hundred years ago, yet there’s still no clue!”

He irritably ran his hands through his hair, tossing the books he held one by one onto the floor.

At that moment, he completely failed to notice the sign on the wall that read: ‘Damaged Books: Full Price Compensation Required.’

Many of the books here were priceless, but Ouyang Xiyue was far beyond caring about such trivialities.

His sole focus was on discovering a way to bring the dead back to life.

Having arrived early that morning, he had spent hours in a desperate search, yet remained utterly devoid of any leads.

By now, the floor was strewn with the books he had discarded.

The usual Ouyang Xiyue would never have been so uncomposed, but having firmly resolved to revive that girl, he would not break his word, having even sworn an oath to the gods.

Defiantly, he fixed his gaze on a row of golden-bound books, volumes that compiled various mysterious events spanning a century.

Ouyang Xiyue then employed a magic grab technique, retrieving a book from afar.

Closing his eyes, he silently chanted an incantation.

Two ice-magic clones materialized instantly beside him, and within seconds, they transformed to bear his exact likeness.

“You two, go search over there for me, and make it quick!” Ouyang Xiyue urgently instructed his clones.

He then opened another book, rapidly flipping through its pages, his eyes darting across the text.

Yet, this speed proved insufficient.

He scratched his head, set the book aside, and suddenly recalled Harry Potter’s method of reading, his eyes instantly brightening.

‘That’s it! I remember there’s a spell that can quickly store all the contents of a book in one’s mind, filter keywords, and discard useless information.’

‘This book should have it recorded,’ Ouyang Xiyue murmured to himself, then began rummaging through the books he had just discarded on the floor.

“Found it! It’s right here!” Ouyang Xiyue finally managed a faint smile.

As he studied the book’s contents, he realized the spell was not difficult.

Given his abilities, he could master it in mere moments.

Thus, Ouyang Xiyue closed his eyes and began to meditate, teaching himself the spell as described in the text.

Just as Ouyang Xiyue entered his meditative state, the door to the private study room suddenly swung open.

Seconds later, a scream echoed from outside the room.

“Oh my heavens! What happened here? It’s an utter mess, as if it’s been ransacked!” A service worker rushed in frantically, immediately spotting Ouyang Xiyue meditating on the floor.

The service worker gazed at the chaotic, disordered study room, a furious fire igniting within their heart.

Their indignation compelled them to rouse Ouyang Xiyue, who sat nearby, eyes closed in meditation.

However, a gaze as chilling as winter frost shot from behind them, an invisible shackle that abruptly halted their steps.

“Get out!” Night Xuehui’s voice was sharp, her entire being exuding a biting coldness, her eyes like sharpened blades. “If there are any damaged books, I will compensate for them myself.

And don’t you dare touch him with your filthy hands.”

Facing such a daunting Night Xuehui, the service worker’s face instantly twisted into a fawning smile, like a startled quail, and they scurried out in a panicked rush…