Su Huaizhi stood dumbfounded.
First, it had been Fang Qingxue, a scholar of the academy, and now even Chen Jinbei, one of its respected tutors, extended him an invitation. What had he done to deserve such an honor?
The very thought of scholars chasing after him to address him as "Tutor" made his scalp tingle.
Lin Yi, amused by Su Huaizhi’s hesitation, encouraged him with a smile. “This is a good opportunity. You should accept it!”
Initially, Lin Yi had been planning to leave some money behind for Su Huaizhi to settle down or find a wife. But now it seemed there was no need to stay in Daxing Town any longer.
Pingzhou Academy was an excellent place to be, offering both security and growth for Su Huaizhi—and for Lin Yi, it meant fewer concerns about his mentor’s future as he pursued his own ambitions.
After a moment of deliberation, Su Huaizhi nodded. “Alright, I’ll do it.”
Chen Jinbei clasped his hands in respect. “Having someone like you join Pingzhou Academy is a blessing for the scholars there, Tutor Su!”
A man capable of nurturing a prodigy like Lin Yi needed no further validation of his capabilities. By bringing Su Huaizhi to the academy, Chen Jinbei felt he had accomplished something extraordinary.
Not only had he retrieved the stolen Daoist techniques, but he had also secured a scholar with a Heavenly Aura of Righteousness and, as a bonus, recruited the very tutor responsible for teaching such a rare talent.
Threefold triumph!
The merchants observing this exchange were utterly stunned.
The poor scholar was now a tutor at the academy?
What had they done?
If only they had maintained their good relations with Su Huaizhi, they would have benefited immensely from this connection.
“We should go.”
Lin Yi slung Su Huaizhi’s belongings over his shoulder, ready to leave with Chen Jinbei for Pingzhou Academy.
“There are still a few things in the private school,” Su Huaizhi reminded him. “Yi’er, come with me to fetch them.”
“Alright.”
Lin Yi nodded, then turned to Chen Jinbei. “Chen Tutor, please wait here for a moment…”
“No problem.” Chen Jinbei smiled warmly. “Just don’t think about running off! Both you and Tutor Su belong to Pingzhou Academy now, and I won’t let you get away.”
Lin Yi could only chuckle in resignation and followed Su Huaizhi toward the private school. As they walked, the townsfolk instinctively parted to make way for them.
“Lin Yi, about my daughter—”
“I’m not interested.”
Lin Yi didn’t even let the wealthy merchant finish his sentence before curtly dismissing him. The man, now full of regret, felt his heart sink.
----------------------------------------
Meanwhile, a robed elder materialized on a street not far from the private school.
Though the street bustled with activity, no one seemed to notice the elder, as though he existed in a different reality altogether.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
This elder was none other than Zheng Zhiqiu, the Dean of Pingzhou Academy.
With his current cultivation in the scholarly arts, ordinary people without a "Heart of the Scholarly Way" wouldn’t perceive his presence unless he willed it.
“True recluse among the bustling world... This senior must be a hidden sage!” Zheng Zhiqiu murmured, his expression alight with excitement.
But soon, his brows furrowed. “Even with the guiding presence of Heavenly Aura, locating such a figure won’t be easy…”
The Heavenly Aura only pointed him to a general vicinity. Finding an exact individual would be near impossible unless that person actively manifested their aura again.
Still, he could sense the presence of one of the academy’s tutors nearby. “Good. At least there’s a connection here,” he said, looking in the direction of the private school.
In a single step, Zheng Zhiqiu vanished and reappeared just outside the private school.
“Chen Tutor?”
Chen Jinbei jumped in shock at the sight of the dean and quickly bowed. “This humble scholar greets the Dean!”
His surprise was evident—never in his wildest dreams did he imagine the dean would personally come to Daxing Town.
Could the phenomenon caused by Lin Yi’s Heavenly Aura have been so significant?
This also raised another thought in Chen Jinbei’s mind. Had the deans of Junji Academy and Qingping Academy felt the ripple as well? If so, would they come too?
If that happened, Lin Yi might have a chance to settle his grievances once and for all.
But then, Chen Jinbei noticed something unusual. “Dean, why are you dressed in a scholar’s robe?”
Zheng Zhiqiu straightened; his tone serious. “I came here to pay respects to a senior who has greatly benefitted our academy. Before such a figure, I can only present myself as a student.”
Chen Jinbei’s heart skipped a beat.
A senior so distinguished that even a fourth-rank gentleman like the dean would consider himself a mere pupil?
In such a small town?
Zheng Zhiqiu interrupted his thoughts. “Why are you here? Have you recovered the stolen Daoist techniques?”
“Yes, Dean.” Chen Jinbei retrieved the scroll from his sleeve. “They’ve been recovered.”
“That quickly?”
Zheng Zhiqiu’s gaze softened with approval. Accepting the scroll, he nodded. “Well done. When you return to the academy, you may select a calligraphy treasure for study.”
Chen Jinbei beamed. “Thank you, Dean!”
“There’s one more thing…”
Before Chen Jinbei could elaborate, Zheng Zhiqiu waved him off. “That can wait. First, we must locate this senior—this takes priority.”
“But Dean, I was just about to mention—”
“Later.” Zheng Zhiqiu’s focus remained unwavering. “Once we’ve found this senior, we’ll address whatever other matters you have. Until then, everything else can wait.”
With a resigned sigh, Chen Jinbei relented. He couldn’t help but think Lin Yi’s matter was no small issue either—this was a prodigy who had potentially elevated Pingzhou Academy to the Sacred Hall.
“Dean, do you know where this senior resides?”
“I’m unsure.” Zheng Zhiqiu shook his head but added with conviction, “This senior is undoubtedly a hidden master. If we find him, it could lead to unimaginable opportunities.”
“Do you have any clues about this senior?”
“No physical description, but he must be of great age,” Zheng Zhiqiu speculated. “Only someone with profound experience could compose a work like Diligence Carves the Way Through the Mountains; Hard Work Navigates the Boundless Sea. That level of insight can only come with age.”
Chen Jinbei suppressed his skepticism and offered, “I’ll quickly inform the others inside the private school, then we can search together—”
“No need!” Zheng Zhiqiu interrupted. “A private school doesn’t warrant such delay.”
Before he could finish his sentence, a faint ripple of energy spread through the air. Zheng Zhiqiu’s eyes lit up. “I’ve sensed it again! Wait here and follow later.”
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
Chen Jinbei stood frozen, his face twitching.
This was the first time he’d seen the dean so impatient.
“Just who is this senior the dean seeks?”
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Elsewhere in Daxing Town, the grand Zhu family manor welcomed an important guest.
Clad in a black scholar’s robe embroidered with the characters "Junji" on the chest, the visitor was none other than He Weijun, the Dean of Junji Academy, who had traveled from the provincial capital of Nanxiang.
“D-Dean?”
Zhu Liren felt the disturbance and rushed to the entrance. Upon seeing the guest, his heart skipped a beat.
What could have brought the dean here?
Could it be… had he been granted the opportunity to attend next year’s Sacred Assembly in the imperial capital?
The Zhu family wasted no time in extending their utmost hospitality to He Weijun, who entered the manor with measured steps.
Yet his true intentions were elsewhere.
He Weijun had arrived in Daxing Town only to find that the Heavenly Aura had already dissipated. Locating its source was now a daunting task.
Using supernatural means would be disrespectful, so he had followed a faint trace of familiar literary energy—to Zhu Liren’s household, no less.
A coincidence?
Smiling faintly, He Weijun turned to Zhu Liren, but his expression quickly hardened as he noticed something. In a flash, he appeared directly before Zhu Liren.
“You’re injured?” His tone brimmed with fury. “Who dared to harm a disciple of Junji Academy?”
In Nanxiang Province, anyone who injured a Junji Academy disciple was courting death.