After listening to the storyteller, the old gentleman continued to wander through the small town.
Before long, he arrived at the Hall of Literary Prosperity, the most prosperous place in the town, the Hefeng Academy, founded by Gu Lingyu, a virtuous scholar of the Confucian school. The old gentleman had met Gu Lingyu before; he was a good child, a natural seed for learning, gentle and clear-minded.
In the old gentleman's eyes, Gu Lingyu might become another Qin Suihan, capable of bearing the decree of the Confucian Sage. Of course, to truly become a Confucian Sage, much effort would be required.
Outside the academy, a young scholar was setting up a very simple stall, writing on a black wooden board with gypsum. The inscription read: "Human nature at birth is inherently good." A group of children in tattered, patched clothes were learning to recognize characters. Many of their parents were poor people who had drifted to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake.
Hefeng Academy was only so large, unable to enroll all the school-aged children in the town. Moreover, the young scholars needed money for food, lodging, and to marry and have children. Therefore, Hefeng Academy had to charge tuition fees to survive in the long run.
However, Gu Lingyu did not wish to disappoint the children who couldn't afford to study but wanted to learn. Thus, every day he arranged for one of his students to teach literacy and classical texts on the street outside the academy, and these lessons were free of charge.
The old gentleman chuckled softly, conjured a small stool, and sat in the last row with the children, listening to the young scholar teach literacy with a faint local accent. The old gentleman smiled so broadly that his buck teeth showed.
He listened to the lesson until evening. The young scholar packed up his stall and prepared to leave, waving goodbye to his students with a smile. When the young scholar saw the old gentleman, he couldn't help but be taken aback. However, he didn't notice anything unusual, only wondering why there was such an old student.
"Time to go home for dinner~~~"
The children, carrying their small stools, quickly ran home.
Finally, only one child with a small braid lingered behind. He carefully looked at the characters the young master had written on the blackboard again, frowned, and looked dejected.
Just then, the old gentleman walked over and asked with a smile, "Child, what is your name, and why are you not going home?"
The young boy pursed his lips and said, "Old sir, my name is Qi Shutong. I just learned a few characters the teacher taught today, but I forgot them right after..."
He said, looking dejected, "My father and mother hope I can study hard and make something of myself, but I've disappointed them. I'm afraid... I'm simply not cut out for learning. My dull mind never grasps things, and I'm not suited for studying at all. In the end, I'll have to follow my father and become a bricklayer."
The old gentleman couldn't help but laugh. "If your mind is dull, then keep studying until it opens up."
The young boy frowned. "Old sir, you're from out of town, aren't you? I've never seen you before."
"Yes, I just arrived."
"Oh."
The young boy looked at the old gentleman. "Are you a scholar too, old sir?"
"Kind of."
The old gentleman smiled. "When I was young, I also found it difficult to study. It took me a long time to grasp things. Now, I'm considered half a learned person. How about this: you give me one of the candies in your pocket, and I'll teach you how to open your mind?"
The young boy hesitated. "Old sir, you must keep your word. This candy... there's only one left."
"I'll keep my word."
"Okay!"
The young boy handed the candy wrapped in paper to the old gentleman, then widened his eyes. "Old sir, quickly teach me how to open my mind!"
The old gentleman chuckled, placed his hand on the boy's head, gently patted it three times, and said, "Open your mind! Open your mind! Open your mind again!"
After that, he quickly popped the candy into his mouth.
"..."
The young boy looked bewildered, then tears welled up in his eyes. "Old sir, you lied to me! My mind didn't open at all! Old sir, give me back my candy!"
Just then, an elegant figure emerged from the academy. It was Gu Lingyu. In that very instant, he had seen the old gentleman transfer a wisp of literary fortune into the boy's mind. Forget about opening his mind; as long as his family continued to let him study, Qi Shutong would at least be among the top three in the imperial examinations in the future!
"Qi Shutong."
Gu Lingyu said with a gentle smile, "You have already opened your mind. Don't blame the old gentleman anymore. Go home for dinner quickly."
"Ah? Dean Gu?"
Although the young boy was poor and couldn't afford to study at the academy, he recognized the renowned Dean Gu. In the rumors circulating throughout the town, the most powerful person in Snow Domain Heavenly Lake was naturally the Mountain Master Lin Baiyi, and the second most powerful was Gu Lingyu, the scholar of Hefeng Academy.
It was rumored that Gu Lingyu had once been the Grand Libationer of the Imperial Academy in Baidi City. What kind of person was that? Moreover, he was handsome and refined, with scholarly grace. Which eligible young woman in the town wouldn't want to marry such a scholar?
Unfortunately, Gu Lingyu lived a reclusive life, and the academy refused all visitors. Otherwise, the doorstep of Gu Lingyu's academy would have been trampled by matchmakers.
"Oh!"
Young Qi Shutong exclaimed with joy and excitement. "Dean Gu, I understand! I'll come back tomorrow to learn characters!"
With that, the boy, carrying his stool, ran home. After running a few dozen paces, he seemed to remember something, quickly turned around, knelt before the old gentleman, and kowtowed twice. "Old sir, thank you for opening my mind!"
The old gentleman looked at ease, stroking his beard and smiling.
"Gu Lingyu pays his respects to the Ancestor!"
Gu Lingyu bowed.
"Lingyu, no need for ceremony," the old gentleman said with a smile and a nod.
Gu Lingyu said, "Hefeng Academy is quiet. Will the Ancestor stay for dinner?"
"No, thank you."
The old gentleman waved his hand and said with a smile, "My junior uncle is waiting for me at the mountain peak villa. I'll be going there now. I came on this trip because of him."
Saying this, the old gentleman looked deeply at Gu Lingyu and said, "Lingyu, your cultivation and state of mind are very good..."
Gu Lingyu blushed a little upon receiving such praise. "Thank you, Ancestor!"
"Let's go, let's go."
The old gentleman waved his hand and strode towards the mountain peak villa.
...
Mountain Peak Villa.
Smoke curled from the kitchen of the Tianran Residence. Under Lin Zhao's instructions, Dongcang and Liu Liying did not go to greet the distinguished guest but stayed to prepare a sumptuous banquet. Entertaining guests at the mountain peak villa could not be taken lightly, especially when it came to food; excellence was paramount.
At the foot of the mountain.
Lin Zhao stood at the front, followed by Huang Tingyu and Zhu Zhi in the second row. The third row consisted of Tang Guangjun, Lin Zhujie, Mu Jua, Chu Yu, Chen Ben, and Yu Wanling. In the last row were the younger generation: Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong.
As the old gentleman slowly ascended the mountain from below, his entire being was shrouded in an ethereal aura.
Although Huang Tingyu was a sword immortal of the thirteenth realm, he dared not probe the old gentleman's depth. Even if the old gentleman were not angered, such an act would be considered extremely impolite.
Seeing the old gentleman approaching, Lin Zhao cupped his hands in a salute and said respectfully, "Lin Zhao, on behalf of the residents of the mountain peak villa, welcomes the old gentleman."
"Mm."
The old gentleman chuckled. "I have been dispatched by the Confucian literary world to visit the human realm. There may be some inconvenience."
"It's nothing,"
Lin Zhao smiled. "Old sir, please."
"Good."
The old gentleman smiled heartily and looked at the crowd behind Lin Zhao. The smile on his face deepened. Good heavens, there was truly a diverse array of individuals here.
A demon cultivator sword immortal of the thirteenth realm, whose true form was an ancestral heavenly dog. Another demon cultivator sword immortal of the twelfth realm, whose true form was a stick insect. Additionally, a peak twelfth realm one-armed female sword immortal with considerable presence, and a peak twelfth realm military strategist sword cultivator who looked rather unsightly.
Furthermore, there was a peak eleventh realm martial artist with the "God of War's Gall," and the other three martial artists were not weak either. As for the younger generation, they were growing robustly, especially ten-year-old Tong Yu, a genuine sword immortal embryo. With proper cultivation, his future was promising, and the thirteenth realm would be within his grasp.
This mountain peak villa had an extraordinary aura!
The old gentleman's smile grew wider. His direct lineage was truly producing talents in abundance.
...
Tianran Residence. The level of hospitality for distinguished guests was extremely high. Lin Zhao even took out a crucian carp from the fishpond, which already had golden patterns on its forehead, to make soup. The aroma of the soup alone made one's mouth water. In addition, Lin Zhao produced a pair of bear paws hunted by Chen Ben in the mountains. Such precious ingredients were extremely rare.
Thus, while Lin Zhao was busy tending to the pots and pans, the old gentleman sat beside him with a small stool, watching his grand-disciple busy at work with a smile.
Very good. Although he was a tenth-realm sword cultivator and a Confucian disciple who had inherited the legacy of the Confucian Sage, he had not lost his connection to the human world. Such a person could achieve true scholarship and was indeed needed as a leader in the human realm.
Shortly after, a succession of exquisite dishes were served.
Lin Zhao personally served the old gentleman. Although he didn't know who the old gentleman was, since he was a great sage from the Confucian literary world, it was best to ensure he ate and drank his fill. If the other party didn't wish to reveal his identity, there was no need to ask. Thus, Lin Zhao brought out a jar of Dongting Purple Bamboo Wine. This rare delicacy had just been opened, and its aroma alone made the old gentleman sniff his nose.
Afterward, the old gentleman, without needing Lin Zhao's assistance, began to eat and drink at his own pace, enjoying a sip of wine with a bowl of food.
The old gentleman was particularly fond of the soup made from the two-jin crucian carp; it was incredibly fresh and fragrant, and the fish meat was tender yet not greasy, exceptionally refreshing. Next was the braised cured meat with green garlic made by Dongcang, which was also superb. As for the Dongting Purple Bamboo Wine, while precious, it was not difficult for the old gentleman to obtain if he wished.
It was this taste of home-cooked food that the old gentleman found hard to resist.
Having become a sage in the upper realm, one of the few at the fifteenth realm, the old gentleman had almost reached the apex of the Great Dao, a true immortal. Yet, he still had some attachments to the human world.
Huang Tingyu was initially cautious, not daring to offer a toast. After all, the other party might be a legendary fifteenth-realm cultivator, and a single misstep could result in him being easily crushed. Everyone said that thirteenth-realm sword cultivators were formidable and could contend with fourteenth-realm cultivators, but if the other party were fifteenth-realm? He could be easily crushed with a single blow.
However, seeing the old gentleman and Lin Zhao toasting each other amicably, Huang Tingyu relaxed and began to exchange toasts with the old gentleman, almost putting his arm around the old gentleman's shoulder and asking, "Brother, what's your ranking in the Confucian school?"