Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 481 - 59 Morning Routine of Chatting and Reading the Newspaper

Li Mumu got up early in the morning to collect the newspaper, and as she returned to the library with it, just about to open the door, she caught sight of Wang Yunxiao sneaking out from the archive room next door, clutching a thick stack of files in his hands.

"You’re back?"

"Ah, I came back last night."

"Did you have fun outside?"

"It was okay, it was okay."

Wang Yunxiao casually closed the door behind him, slipped the small iron lock pick back into his pocket, and said with a mischievous grin, "I was in such a rush on the way that I didn’t manage to get you any gifts, I’ll definitely make up for it next time!"

Do I need your gifts?

Li Mumu sneered inwardly as she looked at the file bag in his hand and deliberately raised her voice to ask, "Wang Yunxiao, why are you going through student files?"

"Shh——!"

Wang Yunxiao quickly gestured for her to be quiet, "Keep it down, I’ll treat you to ice cream later!"

As if I’m in need of your ice cream.

Li Mumu raised an eyebrow but didn’t continue to make things difficult for him, pushed the door open, and walked into the library, with Wang Yunxiao following closely behind.

"Anything new in the newspapers these past two days?"

"Not much news, just that the miraculous traditional medicine that was hyped up before doesn’t seem so miraculous anymore. The newspapers have mostly been discussing that these past few days."

In fact, some extremist voices had escalated to the point of questioning the entire field of traditional Chinese medicine, and Li Mumu felt that there must be people behind this stoking the flames, but there was no need to explain that to Wang Yunxiao.

He wouldn’t understand even if I did tell him.

After categorizing the newspapers, Li Mumu picked out a few books from the shelf, sat down opposite Wang Yunxiao, and started flipping through the indexes.

Early in the morning isn’t the best time for reading, of course, unless you’re studying normally. Li Mumu’s routine was to come over in the morning, pick out books, briefly browse the content, and then decide whether to take them home as bedtime reading.

The school library’s collection consisted of many classical Chinese thread-bound editions, which posed a reading challenge to the average student. Only excellent students like Li Mumu, who had immersed themselves in a broad range of knowledge, could freely choose to read all kinds of books. She could find interest in anything from Saddam’s battle preparations to the postnatal care of an old sow.

Looking up, Wang Yunxiao asked curiously, "Why are you starting to study Buddhism? Planning to become a monk?"

Li Mumu pondered for two seconds before lowering her voice, "You might not believe me if I tell you, but there’s a ghost haunting the school at night!"

"Ah? Oh, this..."

Wang Yunxiao wasn’t sure what kind of face to make at the moment.

"It’s the ghost of a girl who hanged herself in the bathroom!"

"Sss... Sounds terrifying, but what does that have to do with studying Buddhism? Are you planning to convert her?"

"I don’t have the power to do that. I’m just thinking of chanting Buddhist scriptures a few more times before going to sleep so she won’t dare to scare me."

Li Mumu was deadly serious as she talked nonsense.

"But speaking of Buddhism, I’ve discovered something very interesting in the books I’ve been reading these past few days—have you ever heard of The Scripture of Laozi Converting the Barbarians?"

Wang Yunxiao frowned and said, "I’ve heard of the term, but I don’t quite understand the story behind it. Isn’t it something about Laozi exiting Hangu Pass?"

"Exactly, the Records of the Grand Historian notes that Laozi traveled west through Hangu Pass and disappeared without a trace. Based on this, someone wrote The Scripture of Laozi Converting the Barbarians, which details how Laozi went to teach the Barbarians west of Hangu Pass, even claiming that Buddha Shakyamuni was his disciple. So, in essence, Buddhism originated from Taoism; the two were merged into one. Sounds fascinating, doesn’t it?"

Li Mumu explained with a giggle, "Do you know what the most interesting part is? After this scripture was written, both Buddhists and Taoists thought it was a false text created by the other side to slander them. But in the end, they both held their noses and acknowledged it."

Where’s the fun in that?

Wang Yunxiao didn’t get the punchline of the joke and asked puzzledly, "The philosophies of Buddhism and Taoism are quite different to begin with. Forcing them together doesn’t make sense, does it? Why would they still hold their noses and acknowledge it?"

"Some things are just like that, like the Emperor’s new clothes. Everyone knows the Emperor has been fooled, but no one dares to say it out loud. Who has the courage to be that honest child?"

Li Mumu spread her hands and said, "The Scripture of Laozi Converting the Barbarians is the same; everyone knows it’s fake, and you could even say it has no academic value. But Buddhists had to hold their noses and accept it because, as a foreign religion, lacking this lineage would easily shake their very foundation."

"The same goes for the followers of Taoism. They’re not as powerful as the Buddhists and don’t win over the rulers’ favor as easily. If they don’t put Buddhism down a peg, it gets even harder to compete with them."

Wang Yunxiao originally had little interest in this topic. The subjects Eldest Miss Li researched were generally complex and obscure, and he, being academically challenged, could only act as an observer, or perhaps be seen as playing the role of a sidekick.

However, as he listened to Li Mumu, something clicked in his mind, and he felt like he might be onto something critical.

Laozi Converting the Barbarians... the Imperial Jade Seal...

"So what are you actually looking for?"

"Huh?"

Wang Yunxiao snapped out of his reverie and found Li Mumu staring at him curiously, along with the student records he was holding.

By all rights, any information about current students should be confidential and not disclosed by the school, much less allowed for someone like him to review.

"I’m looking for someone. He’s a junior, just graduated."

Wang Yunxiao carefully chose his words in his mind: "You’ve met Old Master He before. I went with him to pay respects to our ancestors, and incidentally, I also resolved an old debt of honor for our school."

"And incidentally met your pretty little junior niece?"

"Yes, the very same junior niece I told you about. She has been cursed since she was young... or maybe it’s something else; we don’t really understand it. Anyway, we need to find this family first and investigate their background thoroughly. It just so happened I remembered this family has a member who studied at our school, and that guy is no good egg," added Wang Yunxiao.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yunxiao continued, "I heard he pursued a female classmate and, when rejected, harmed her. It’s just that his family is wealthy and influential, so they managed to suppress the story. That female ghost you saw at the school might be related to him."

"Wow, how can someone be so bad?"

Li Mumu couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice, "Is there anything I can help with? Like your junior niece, has her issue been resolved? Does she need me to check on her?"

Wang Yunxiao was about to decline when he suddenly remembered that the girl in front of him was not only a wealthy heiress but also of a witch lineage—although she claimed she had no particular talent and was also an expert in medical skills.

...What kind of leading lady setup is this?

The matter could indeed be considered, but the issue wasn’t with Li Mumu.

Would He Lan really be presentable enough to take out without causing embarrassment?