Chapter 43: Adversity Approaches Quietly

Qu Wanqing clutched the letter bearing the three characters "Netherworld Valley," her eyes flashing with a mixture of curiosity and determination. She was well aware that this might lead to an unknown and perilous exploration, yet her inner curiosity clawed at her heart like a kitten's paws, compelling her to uncover the origins of this mysterious place.

Consequently, she began making inquiries all over the academy, sparing no one who might possibly hold the answer.

"Master Zhang, do you know of Netherworld Valley?" Qu Wanqing walked up to the podium and asked cautiously. At that moment, her heart fluttered with apprehension; she both hoped Master Zhang could provide an answer and feared interrupting him as he graded papers.

Lifting his head, Master Zhang caught sight of Qu Wanqing, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes as if his train of thought had been abruptly shattered by the sudden question. "Netherworld Valley? I have never heard of such a place." His tone was chillingly cold. Without missing a beat, he lowered his head to resume grading papers, leaving her no opportunity for further questioning.

A pang of disappointment struck Qu Wanqing's heart, but refusing to give up so easily, she approached classmate Lin. Lin was chatting idly with other wealthy young scions. Catching sight of Qu Wanqing walking toward them, a gleam of malice flashed in his eyes, reminiscent of a venomous snake darting its tongue from the shadows.

"Classmate Lin, do you know anything about Netherworld Valley?" Qu Wanqing asked with a smile, forcing her expression to appear as amicable as possible, even though she already sensed he was unlikely to give a civil response.

"Netherworld Valley? The very name sounds like a wretched place. Are you up to some strange tricks again?" Lin sneered contemptuously, and the surrounding students chimed in, breaking into muffled titters. Their laughter pierced Qu Wanqing's heart like needles, yet she clenched her fists and told herself she must not yield.

Next, she sought out Scholar Wu, hoping this erudite man might provide an answer. "Scholar Wu, do you know of Netherworld Valley?" Qu Wanqing asked respectfully, a trace of expectation lingering in her eyes.

Scholar Wu laid down the scroll in his hand, a look of perplexity crossing his eyes behind his spectacles. "Netherworld Valley? I have never heard this name before. Could it be some hidden realm?" The scholar shook his head, his tone tinged with a hint of regret.

Qu Wanqing's heart was filled with uncertainty, and she began to feel utterly isolated. She had asked around the academy, only to be met with headshakes and incomprehension everywhere she went. The surrounding people cast inquisitive glances at her, as though they were observing some bizarre freak of nature.

Right at that moment, Master Zhang strode into the classroom and, seeing Qu Wanqing still probing into such eccentric matters, wore an even sterner expression. "Qu Wanqing, what on earth are you doing? During class hours, one should focus entirely on the lectures. How can you be distracted by inquiring about such bizarre places?" Master Zhang's voice echoed through the classroom, laden with censure and warning.

A wave of grievance washed over Qu Wanqing; she knew she had already lost face before her peers. Internal conflict tore at her; on one hand, she understood that the academy's rules demanded adherence to classroom discipline, while on the other, she simply could not let go of her burning curiosity regarding Netherworld Valley, which blazed like a raging fire within her breast. Yet this time, she offered no defense. Instead, she merely lowered her head in silence, tightly gripping the letter in her hand as a tumultuous storm raged inside her.

The class-ending bell rang, and the students filed out of their seats, leaving Qu Wanqing sitting alone at her desk. She raised her head, a resolute light flashing in her eyes, and murmured to herself, "No matter how difficult it is, I must find Netherworld Valley..." To everyone's astonishment, Qu Wanqing remained unusually silent, refraining from arguing her case or refuting Master Zhang's reprimand as she typically would have.

This anomalous behavior stunned all the students present, and whispers rippled across the classroom like water ripples. Master Zhang was likewise somewhat taken aback; accustomed to Qu Wanqing's sharp tongue, he found her uncharacteristic silence rather difficult to get used to. With a cold snort, he flicked his sleeves and walked away.

***

After class, paying no heed to the probing gazes directed at her, Qu Wanqing walked straight toward a secluded study deep within the academy. Pushing open the door, a faint fragrance of ink greeted her senses, and sunlight streaming through the lattice windows cast mottled patches of light and shadow upon the floorboards.

She unfolded the mysterious letter and studied it meticulously, her gaze focused and calm. What secrets were truly concealed within Netherworld Valley? This abrupt tranquility, resembling the stillness right before a tempest, evoked an even greater sense of inexplicable oppression.

Delighted to see Qu Wanqing publicly reprimanded by the master, classmate Lin felt that his chance to turn the tables had arrived. He exaggerated and distorted the entire incident, spreading flamboyant accounts throughout the dormitory. He claimed that Qu Wanqing not only lacked academic proficiency but had also talked back to the master, completely falling out of favor—thoroughly enjoying his role as an enthusiastic spectator at the frontlines of gossip.

The rumors spread like wildfire, quickly reaching Qu Wanqing's ears. Far from becoming angry, she merely wore a meaningful smile; she knew the truth would eventually come to light and saw no need to rush.

During the next day's classroom quiz, the other students all cast peculiar glances at Qu Wanqing, filled with mockery and suspicion. Yet she remained completely composed, knowing this was her chance to vindicate herself. When she began presenting her essay, her peers reacted with a mix of disdainful expressions and whispered murmurs, seemingly waiting to watch her make a fool of herself.

Slowly unfolding her paper, she read the brilliant passages word for word. With every single sentence she uttered, her classmates' expressions shifted palpably—transforming from initial contempt into gradual astonishment, their eyes widening fraction by fraction and their jaws slowly dropping. Finally, as she finished reading, their faces were plastered with admiration, and even Master Zhang could not help standing up to applaud. The room fell into absolute silence at first, as though time itself had frozen, before erupting into thunderous applause. With ringing resonance, Qu Wanqing declared, "I walk my own path; what business is it of yours? Rather than wasting painstaking effort on fabricating rumors and stirring up trouble, certain individuals would do well to improve their own scholarship so as not to make laughingstocks of themselves."

At that moment, the sunlight fell precisely upon her, making her resemble a luminous sage. Her formidable aura completely suppressed the surrounding students, and her voice reverberated through the classroom, lingering long afterward.

Classmate Lin's face turned crimson, resembling a fully ripened persimmon. Never had he imagined that Qu Wanqing would not only withstand the blow but shine even brighter; this counterattack was nothing short of a dimensional strike! Originally intending to watch Qu Wanqing make a fool of herself, he had ended up becoming the biggest joke of all, forced to slink cowardly behind the crowd, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Putting away her essay, Qu Wanqing swept her gaze across the crowd, finally letting it rest upon the doorway...

Jiang Yu had been keeping a close eye on Qu Wanqing. Knowing that her inquiries about Netherworld Valley might land her in trouble, he had deliberately made his way to the classroom entrance. Standing there, he had taken in everything that transpired. Seeing Qu Wanqing misunderstood by the masses, he hurried to her side, gently taking her hand while his eyes overflowed with trust and solace.

Feeling the warmth radiating from Jiang Yu, a surge of comforting heat welled up inside Qu Wanqing. This man was truly her anchor of peace!

Returning to her quarters, Qu Wanqing still found her emotions somewhat complicated. On one hand, she desperately yearned to unravel the secrets of Netherworld Valley; on the other, she did not wish to let her studies at the academy suffer. Ah, the world of adults truly held no such thing as an easy task! Why must it be so dreadfully difficult to have one's cake and eat it too?

Sitting at her desk, she held the mysterious letter in one hand while flipping through her academy textbook with the other, her heart torn as if being scratched by a pair of mischievous kittens.

To investigate, or not to investigate—that was the question.

***

Just as she was plunged into the depths of indecision, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her, and she sprang abruptly to her feet, a bright spark flashing in her eyes.

"Wait, I seem to have seen similar records somewhere..." Rapidly thumbing through the course catalog issued by the academy, her finger ultimately came to a halt under the entry labeled "Ancient Chronicles of Geography."

Ancient Chronicles of Geography was hailed as one of the ultimate treasures guarding the academy's library collection, rumored to document various strange tales and geographical wonders to which ordinary people had simply no access.

If Netherworld Valley genuinely existed, then this volume of ancient geographical records housed within the library would most likely contain relevant entries.

The very thought made Qu Wanqing unable to sit still a moment longer.

Without delay, she stood up and strode toward the library.

However, security at the library was exceptionally stern, with two guards standing vigilantly at the entrance, keeping a hawk-eye on every person coming and going.

Standing outside the library and gazing at its tightly sealed doors paired with the watchful guards, Qu Wanqing began turning plans over in her mind.

"It seems gaining entry to the library is no simple feat..." she muttered under her breath, a sliver of cunning gleaming in her eyes.

"Perhaps I shall require a little bit of assistance..." Turning around, she headed toward the opposite side of the academy, her figure vanishing into the night.