Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 244 This person looks just like the princess!

The eldest princess frowned slightly, clearly thinking of what had happened to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

The room fell silent for a moment. All three knew what had happened afterward, and when they talked about it now, they could only sigh with regret.

But the story wasn't over yet. After a moment of contemplation, Tan Lin continued, "Once all the students left the market, I returned to the foot of the academy mountain to see if I could find a way back to the academy. Unfortunately, the white jade staircase never appeared again."

Tan Lin then wandered around the foot of the mountain day after day.

The surrounding towns and villages gradually learned that a disciple of the academy had sneaked down the mountain and was unable to return to the academy.

As more people know about it, more people will become curious.

Every day when Tan Lin left the market to go down the mountain to the academy, idle men would follow him, wanting to see the excitement.

Later, it even developed into a situation where people in the market started betting on when Tan Lin would return to the academy.

Everything was heading in an absurd and unrestrained direction. Even Tan Lin sometimes felt unsteady on his feet and confused when he walked down the mountain of the academy.

He didn't know how things had turned out this way.

Hearing this, Zhou Wei almost laughed; Tan Lin was indeed an interesting person.

He's like a bug in the dungeon; even after leaving the dungeon, strange things still happen to him.

"So, later on, every time you went to the foot of the academy mountain, you were always followed by a group of people?"

Tan Lin nodded, a wry smile on his face: "Yes, that scene... was truly speechless. They were all ordinary people from the market, and I couldn't very well scold them."

“They prepared food for me every day and followed me around, just to see when I could go back to the academy.”

"Gradually, people started setting up stalls at the foot of the academy mountain to sell tea and food, and there were also peddlers carrying loads of trinkets."

This time, Zhou Wei couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Whoever turned the academy into this mess, they must have hoped that it would be kept quiet and that as few people as possible would know about it.

That's great!

If Tan Lin continues to cause trouble like this, it probably won't be long before a new market town forms at the foot of Shuyuan Mountain.

So, things are about to start to change!

Sure enough, Tan Lin continued, "Later I thought, with so many people following me every day, it's too distracting and makes it impossible for me to calm down and properly investigate the clues at the foot of the academy mountain."

"One night, while the people in the market were fast asleep, I set off alone to the foot of Shuyuan Mountain under the cover of darkness. This time, before I even got close, I could vaguely see wisps of mist appearing in the distance."

"I cried out in surprise, unable to believe my eyes! The long-lost white jade staircase had actually reappeared, though it was still hidden in the mist. Compared to its previous complete disappearance, this was nothing short of a miracle!"

Upon hearing this, the eldest princess looked at Zhou Wei.

"Weiwei, didn't you say that Mr. Tan could no longer return to the academy world? Why has this white jade staircase reappeared?"

Zhou Wei explained with a smile, "The appearance of these steps is not to make him go back, but to make him give up."

Tan Lin was used to Zhou Wei's surprising remarks and her accurate guesses every time, so this time she didn't show any excessive shock.

He simply nodded and said, "Zhou Dianjun is right. I thought that with the reappearance of the white jade staircase, I could return to the academy and solve all the mysteries. I never expected that this was just the beginning of my suffering."

Although the staircase is still hidden in the mist, Tan Lin has been looking forward to it for a long time.

Without a second thought, he stepped onto the stairs and soon returned to the academy's archway!

Looking at the familiar archway, Tan Lin almost burst into tears of joy; he was finally back.

But his excitement didn't last long before he noticed something was wrong.

"I started climbing the steps in the middle of the night, but when I got to the archway and looked up, the sun was hanging directly overhead."

"The midday sun is a bit too bright; staring at it for too long can make you feel dizzy."

"Of course, that's not the strangest thing. If it were noon, the academy would be very lively. This is after lunch, and most of the fellow students would come out to stretch their legs."

"But as I walked along the archway toward the Mingzheng Hall, I didn't see a single person."

Tan Lin walked alone in the academy, his initial excitement gradually turning into despair.

He searched the academy thoroughly, but didn't find a single living person.

Everything inside the academy is exactly the same as it was when the mountain gate was locked that day!

On Mingzheng Hall's desk, there were even books that he had casually opened when he left that day.

Everything is still there, only the people are gone!

The entire academy was eerily silent, like a ghost town. Standing there, Tan Lin couldn't help but shiver.

At that moment, he finally realized one thing: he couldn't go back.

He could never go back to that academy world that would occasionally reset!

Tan Lin spoke with a hint of confusion: "I sat in the empty Mingzheng Hall, and I even felt a little regretful. If I hadn't stepped into the mist that day, would I still be able to stay with my fellow disciples?"

"But now, there are no ifs. Even if the white jade staircase reappears, all that will be left for me is an empty academy."

"Over the years, I've been thinking about one question: Where have the headmaster, the teachers, and my fellow students all gone?"

"Could it be that this academy is actually a demon that devours people? My teachers and fellow students have all been devoured by it?"

At this point, Tan Lin paused, seemingly trying to calm himself down.

From the overall structure of the story, his bizarre experience has come to an end; what remains is to unravel the mysteries within the story.

However, it is clear that he has not made much progress in the past ten years or so.

Zhou Wei asked with suspicion, "Did you go back to that empty academy later?"

Tan Lin nodded, "I've been back a few times, but it's always the same as the first time—there's no one in the academy."

Zhou Wei stroked her chin, having many guesses about this instance.

Two different academies, one completely empty, the other capable of being reset repeatedly.

Either one is true and the other is false, or both are false!

To find out the specifics, one must personally visit the academy.

For a smart man like Tan Lin, there was no need to beat around the bush. Zhou Wei asked directly, "Mr. Tan, you have kept the events at Zhengshan Academy a secret for so many years, never telling any outsiders, not even the people in the blessed land. Why are you telling us now?"

"Could it be that Mr. Tan believes that the princess and I have the ability to solve this mystery?"

The eldest princess also said, "Yes, Mr. Tan, you are the rightful successor of Zhengshan Academy, while Weiwei and I are just ordinary people."

"Although Weiwei has some skills, if she were to face a cultivator, they would probably all be nothing more than fancy moves."

"If even you can't solve this problem, telling me and Weiwei won't help."

The princess and Zhou Wei's words carried a hint of wariness, and even a subtle rejection of him.

They were indeed going to a blessed land, but their itinerary only included Kongshan Temple and Shenyi Valley.

The situation at Zhengshan Academy is strange. If it's not necessary, given their current cultivation levels, it would be better for them to stay away!

Tan Lin was not deterred by this subtle rejection.

He remained calm, seemingly certain that the Princess and Zhou Wei would not refuse.

“Your Highness, if I were you, I would definitely go to Zhengshan Academy.”

The eldest princess raised an eyebrow: "Why?"

Tan Lin didn't say much, but instead took out a painting from his pocket and handed it to the princess.

"The princess will know once she sees the painting."

Zhou Wei stepped forward and took the painting, slowly unfolding it. As the canvas expanded, the princess's expression gradually became solemn.

After she could see the person in the painting clearly, the princess stared at Tan Lin with a cold gaze.

"Mr. Tan, what does this mean? Who is the person in this painting?"

Tan Lin cupped his hands in greeting: "The person in the painting is my good friend, Ji Zhengyao."

Zhou Wei was standing on the other side of the painting and couldn't see what it contained. Hearing Tan Lin say this, she became curious.

When you turn the painting over, you see a tall man holding a folding fan. His clothes are fluttering in the breeze, and he looks dashing and handsome.

However, when Zhou Wei's gaze fell on the man's face, she was shocked.

"Princess, how come this Ji Zhengyao looks so much like you?"