"There has to be a time limit, Father!" Zeng Anmin called out to his father's receding back.
Confucian Dao Cultivation didn't conflict with his plans; he wasn't against it. But without silver... what joy was there in cultivation?!
His father paused slightly. After pondering for a moment, he gave Zeng Anmin his answer.
"You may return once you have opened your Purple Mansion."
At this time, Emperor Jianhong was still in Liangjiang Commandery, and the mastermind behind the theft of the Dragon Inspection Map had yet to be caught. Zeng Shilin did not want his son to be dragged into this mess.
He thought, "Great, then I can come back tonight."
Of course, Zeng Anmin would never say that out loud. Even if he did, it would only be after he had completely unraveled the secrets behind the Dragon Inspection Map.
"Then I'll try to be quick," Zeng Anmin said, a relaxed smile on his face.
His father didn't stop walking, though a faint hint of amusement touched his face.
He thought, "Quick? How quick can he be?"
He, Zeng Shi, had begun studying the Confucian Dao at sixteen, and it had still taken him three full years to open his Purple Mansion. And that was already considered an exceptional, heaven-sent talent.
...
"Young Master, let's go. The carriage is waiting outside," a goofy, honest-sounding voice rang out.
Zeng Anmin watched as a brown bear—or rather, a man who closely resembled a brown bear—walked into the room. It was Qi Dachun, Mr. Qi's son. Standing nine feet tall, he was broad-shouldered and powerfully built. When he walked, he looked like a massive, moving wooden door. The only issue was that the look in his eyes seemed a bit... too "wise."
...
Shuidu Academy was located outside the southern gates of Liangjiang County City. Leaning against Feng Mountain and bordering lush, green waters, it was a picturesque utopia of clear mountains and pristine rivers.
When Zeng Anmin saw the surrounding environment of Shuidu Academy, his soul experienced Purification from this beautiful, natural scenery.
It was already autumn. The mountain air was crisp and cool, and the slopes were covered in vibrant red maple leaves. In his previous life, Zeng Anmin had lived in a modern, heavily industrialized city and rarely saw such spectacular natural landscapes. Overcome with emotion, he sighed.
"Stop the carriage to make—ahem, the frost-kissed leaves are redder than February flowers. What beautiful mountains, what beautiful scenery."
"Heh heh, it is pretty nice," Qi Dachun's goofy laugh chimed in.
Zeng Anmin turned to look at him. Dachun was currently carrying bedding for two people, daily necessities, two large trunks, and four or five bundles on his back. Even though he was already a Graded Body Cultivator, he still couldn't help but huff and puff from the exertion.
"Dachun, why are you picking up so many rocks?" Zeng Anmin asked, staring at the other man's hands.
Despite carrying such a heavy load, Dachun had still managed to scoop up several odd-shaped stones.
Dachun licked his thick lips and said, "Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to pick things up and take them home whenever I go out. It's a habit."
Zeng Anmin's mouth twitched. "Taking 'finder's keepers' to heart?"
"Huh?" Dachun looked completely bewildered. "Find her... creepers?"
"If you don't find something on the road, the regret will creep up on you," Zeng Anmin explained.
...
In a small courtyard within Shuidu Academy, an elderly man sat fishing. Holding a yellow bamboo fishing pole, he wore an expression of complete leisure and contentment. The old man was slightly thin, with silver hair and a youthful complexion. His most striking feature, however, was eyes that brimmed with profound wisdom. It felt as though meeting his gaze for even a second would allow one to perceive the profound mysteries of Confucianism.
He was the Dean of Shuidu Academy, Qin Shoucheng.
"Dean, Governor Zeng's only son has enrolled," the elderly butler reported respectfully.
"Hmm," Qin Shoucheng nodded absentmindedly.
"Are you not going to take a look?" the butler asked after a moment of hesitation.
After all, he was the Governor's son. Regardless of his academic abilities, they ought to show some respect for his status alone.
Qin Shoucheng glanced at him and scoffed. "As the son of a Great Confucian Scholar, he hasn't made any name for himself in sixteen years. Do you really think he's a talent of the Confucian Dao? Say no more. I won't see him. I won't see him."
He thought, "If word got out, wouldn't outsiders mock me, Qin Shoucheng, for currying favor with the powerful?"
...
Shuidu Academy was opening a new term, but they had not accepted many students this time around. Including Zeng Anmin, there were only a dozen or so newcomers. Not every Confucian Dao student was qualified to enter Shuidu Academy; they needed a recommendation.
The students who came to Shuidu Academy all shared one common trait: they were hyper-competitive.
During the first class of the term, no one's mind wandered. Everyone paid rapt attention to the Tutor's lecture.
"The path of the Confucian Dao heavily relies on accumulation," the Tutor explained. "Focus on experiencing Enlightenment regarding the profound intent within the books. For those whose minds are open, it only takes one year to comprehend Literary Qi.
"Only after comprehending a single thread of Literary Qi can one reach the first realm of the Confucian Dao, known as the Self-Cultivation Realm.
"The foundation of Literary Qi is the human body's Essence Qi. Therefore, one must be at least sixteen years old with abundant Essence Qi to cultivate. Otherwise, at best, your lifespan will be shortened; at worst, you will die an early death."
The Tutor was in his forties. Dressed in a scholar's robe, he had a solemn face and a placid gaze. He gently waved his hand, and a faint, milky-white halo flickered at his fingertips.
"Ah..."
All the students, Zeng Anmin included, stared at the white halo in shock. Anyone would be amazed upon witnessing such a supernatural phenomenon for the first time.
The Tutor was used to their reactions. He pulled a black jar from under his desk and gently opened it.
WHOOSH!
A mass of visible black smoke instantly burst out.
"This is Evil Qi. If an ordinary person is entangled by it, they will suffer from dizziness and feel as though they are being crushed by a heavy boulder," the Tutor explained unhurriedly.
As soon as the black smoke appeared, it circled the classroom rafters a few times before impatiently lunging toward one of the students.
"Ah!" the student cried out, his face turning pale with fright.
"Hmph!" The Tutor's expression turned cold. With a flick of his finger, he shot out the halo from his hand. The milky-white light arrived in the blink of an eye.
SIZZLE! A teeth-grinding noise echoed through the room. In just a moment, the black smoke dissolved into nothingness.
"However, for us Confucian Cultivators, just half a drop of directed Literary Qi is enough to disintegrate and dispel it." Smiling, the Tutor turned to look at the students.
As expected, the dozen or so students were flushed red with excitement, their eyes glowing with intense desire. They wished they could read like their lives depended on it and master this Confucian Dao Wen Qi on the spot!
Naturally, Zeng Anmin felt the same.
"The path of Confucianism has a long history. Through the explorations of generations of predecessors, three books have been summarized as the easiest texts from which to comprehend Literary Qi. They are right there on your desks..."
FLIP, FLAP!
Before the Tutor could finish speaking, the impatient sound of pages turning filled the classroom. The goal of the first lesson of the term was to ignite the students' enthusiasm for learning, and he did this better than anyone else in the entire academy. To achieve this effect, he had gone to immense trouble just to find a tiny bit of Evil Qi. The Confucian Dao flourished in the Great Saint Dynasty, making ghosts and Evil Qi almost impossible to find.
Like the rest of the students, Zeng Anmin's eyes searched his desk. The books were The Imperial College, Master Yi, and Confucian Scripture.
He casually picked up The Imperial College and opened it. The contents were incredibly dense and esoteric. Fortunately, Zeng Anmin had the foundational knowledge left behind by his predecessor, so he could just barely understand it.
Just as he was about to put the book down, his gaze suddenly froze. The contents of the book were deeply imprinted in his mind, lingering stubbornly! At the same time, he suddenly felt a warm current form in his mind, rushing straight toward his Sea of Consciousness...
Literary Qi!
A thoughtful gleam flashed through Zeng Anmin's eyes.