Chapter 324: Who Could Ever Forget?

After a brief chat, Zhou Ye made a casual excuse to leave the ward.

The moment he stepped out, Ma Chulan immediately sat excitedly by Su Yan's bedside.

"Su Yan, is Mr. Zhou really that teacher you've been talking about all this time?"

Su Yan was amused by her exaggerated expression. Since she had clearly heard the teacher introduce himself personally, why was she still doubting his identity?

Did the teacher really look that much unlike a teacher?

"Yes."

She confirmed it with absolute certainty.

"But you never told us your teacher was so young. Looking at his age, he doesn't seem much older than my eldest brother, does he?"

This was the part that truly shocked Ma Chulan.

"Teacher just looks young. In reality, he's already in his thirties, or perhaps even older."

Su Yan actually used the word "perhaps" at the end.

"You don't know Mr. Zhou's exact age either, do you?" Ma Chulan immediately drew this conclusion, but was that reasonable?

To her surprise, Su Yan actually nodded. Ever since she had become self-aware, she had been accompanied by her teacher; he had always seemed this way. From childhood to adulthood, she had indeed never asked about his age.

For a moment, Ma Chulan was at a complete loss for words.

Ma Chulong asked, "Is Mr. Zhou the same kind of person as us?"

Su Yan froze for a moment before shaking her head in negation.

"No, Teacher is just an ordinary person."

A look of astonishment surfaced on Ma Chulong's face. To be able to become her teacher, how could he possibly be an ordinary person?

Su Yan seemed to read his doubt and offered a rare explanation.

"My abilities were taught to me by Granny Li, while Teacher is only responsible for my academic studies. As for what happened this time, it was an accident. The person who saved us was Liu Kang, the captain of the Special Operations Team."

In truth, Zhou Ye had already said this once just now.

"To be able to be friends with the captain of the Special Operations Team, your teacher's identity is definitely not ordinary." Ma Chulong spoke with implication, feeling that Su Yan might not truly understand Zhou Ye.

Su Yan was indifferent to this. She had lived with her teacher for over a decade, yet she had never noticed anything unusual about him.

"Never mind Teacher, how are you two feeling?"

Seeing her proactively change the subject, Ma Chulong stopped pressing further.

"Aside from some stinging in my eyes, everything else is fine. Little Sister and I just went to visit Gu Yang; his condition is much more serious than ours. You've already seen him, right?"

"Mm." Mentioning Gu Yang, a clear trace of worry appeared in the depths of Su Yan's eyes.

Looking at Su Yan, Ma Chulan felt a momentary flash of fear as the scenes from last night continuously surfaced in her mind.

The Su Yan from last night was truly terrifying.

So that was her true power.

No wonder she always wore a black cloth over her eyes during normal times.

If others were to see her when she unleashed her power, it would likely become a lifelong nightmare.

"What about you? Are you alright now?"

While showing concern, she cautiously checked Su Yan's aura.

"I'm fine." Su Yan could still feel the restlessness of her power, but it was still within a controllable range.

***

In the garden outside the ward.

A man stood before Zhou Ye.

The man was in his forties, and even without saying a word, he exuded an aura of slaughter.

"I have already told Yan Yan that you were the one who dealt with Liu Yiyi. Yan Yan still doesn't know my identity; you must keep it a secret for me."

"Why do you place such importance on that child?" Liu Kang's expression was complex; he could not understand Zhou Ye's actions over these past years.

Back then, Zhou Ye's name was a terrifying existence within the entire circle. Almost all exorcists followed his lead, and even the heads of the four great families had to address him as "Senior" upon meeting him.

Yet, such an invincible figure had suddenly chosen to retreat into seclusion thirteen years ago.

He had lived in seclusion for thirteen whole years.

If he had simply grown weary of the life of an exorcist and wanted to live differently, that would be understandable. However, Liu Kang knew that Zhou Ye's seclusion was solely for the sake of one child—and that child was Su Yan, who was currently in the hospital ward.

When Su Yan ran into trouble this time, Zhou Ye had appeared more promptly than anyone else.

If he hadn't been there last night, Su Yan would likely have met a tragic end.

"Yan Yan is my only disciple. You should know what to do from now on," Zhou Ye instructed calmly.

Liu Kang naturally did not dare to refuse, but there was one thing he truly did not understand.

"Why not let everyone know she is your disciple? If those people outside found out, they would all come to curry favor with that girl. No one would ever dare touch a single hair on her head."

So why bother giving him these instructions?

Zhou Ye gave a casual smile. "I haven't shown my face in a long time. Who could possibly remember?"

Liu Kang felt as if he had heard a massive joke. Who wouldn't remember?

"Enough. I don't want Yan Yan to know my identity yet. In her heart, I am just an ordinary teacher who taught her how to read and write."

Zhou Ye's words caused a crack to appear in Liu Kang's composure.

"Does she not suspect a thing at all?"

Zhou Ye did not answer. He merely patted him on the head and walked away.

Liu Kang respectfully watched his departing figure. He would naturally carry out the Senior's instructions to perfection.

***

When Zhou Ye returned to the ward, it was empty.

He showed no impatience, instead heading straight to the adjacent room—Gu Yang's ward.

Sure enough, upon pushing open the door, he saw Su Yan sitting by the bedside, murmuring something in a low voice.

She only stopped when she heard someone enter.

Zhou Ye looked at the unconscious Gu Yang without saying a word.

"Teacher, I once met a very powerful master. He calculated that Gu Yang would face a life-threatening calamity, and even said that I wouldn't live much longer either. Originally, I thought that with my current abilities, I could resolve this tribulation, but now I wonder if I was wrong?"

Su Yan's voice was somewhat heavy. Ever since she arrived in the capital, Gu Yang had encountered danger time and time again. Although Liu Yiyi's appearance wasn't directly related to her, she still fell into a strange pattern of thought.

It was as if as long as she was with Gu Yang, the words of that old Taoist would inevitably come true.

Even she couldn't explain why she had such a feeling.

Zhou Ye came up behind her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, as if doing so could transmit more conviction and strength to her.

"Yan Yan, do not put too much pressure on yourself. You have already done very well."

He spoke from the heart; if it were anyone else, they certainly could not have done better than her.

"But Brother Gu..."

"I can only say that everyone has their own destiny. Perhaps this is the destiny Gu Yang is meant to endure." As Zhou Ye spoke, his gaze flickered slightly, becoming unfathomable.

(End of Chapter)