Chapter 134: Inviting the National Teacher
At the summit of Jade Mountain, within the Grand Academy Hall.
The various directors of the Grand Academy, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the Libationers, and the Imperial Secretaries had all arrived, their expressions shifting between uncertainty and gloom. From time to time, someone from outside would rush in to report, and upon hearing each piece of news, the crowd’s faces grew even uglier. Only the young patriarch, seated on the sage’s throne, remained calm and composed, utterly unconcerned with victory or defeat.
At that moment, reports came in one after another: “Reporting to the Grand Libationer: The Dao Sect’s Dao Child has defeated the Second Prince!”
“The Dao Child has defeated the Southern Peace Prince’s heir, Jiu Yin!”
“The Dao Child has defeated the Western Peace Prince’s daughter, Princess Duoduo!”
“Ling Shi Ji of the Heavenly Strategy Manor has also fallen!”
“Lin Qiuhe has been wounded by the Dao Child!”
…
After a long while, no one came to report any further, but the crowd’s expressions had reached their nadir. The lack of reports meant that no more Grand Academy scholars dared to challenge Lin Xuan, the Dao Child. The scholars of the Grand Academy, once proud and sharp, had been utterly deflated by this young Dao Child, forced to watch helplessly as he blocked their gate.
One Libationer frowned and said, “Our Grand Academy has been open for so many years, teaching countless experts who became pillars of the state. Can we truly not find a single person capable of contending with the Dao Child?”
Another Imperial Academy Director shook his head and replied, “There are some—over the years, we’ve had three or five geniuses no less than the Dao Sect’s Dao Child. But these individuals are no longer scholars; they’ve left the Grand Academy to serve as officials in the court. Our Grand Academy is different from those martial sects. In the sects, there’s no concept of leaving, but once someone leaves our academy, they cease to be a scholar.”
The crowd let out a heavy sigh. Ling Yun Daoist sighed, “Are we really going to let this Dao Child block our gate? Isn’t that too humiliating?”
Everyone fell silent.
Suddenly, Fa Qing, the Chan Master of Qingyang Hall, said, “We should report this to the National Teacher immediately and have his disciples come. They might be able to defeat the Dao Child.”
“Great monk, the National Teacher’s disciples are not scholars of our Grand Academy. Even if they defeat the Dao Sect’s Dao Child, can we make the Dao Sect accept it?”
Just then, a grand ship slowly docked at the summit of Jade Mountain.
Several young people descended from the ship and walked straight to the Grand Academy Hall. The leader bowed and said, “Honored teachers, we are disciples of the National Teacher. The National Teacher heard that the Dao Sect’s Dao Child has come to cause trouble, so he ordered us to come.”
The Libationers, Imperial Academy Directors, and Imperial Secretaries exchanged glances, then all turned to look at the young patriarch. One Imperial Secretary said gravely, “Grand Libationer, the National Teacher’s disciples are not scholars of our Grand Academy. Whether they can represent our academy in battle is a decision that must be made by you.”
Ba Shan, the Libationer with a thick beard, suddenly slammed the table and shouted, “Nonsense! Even if the National Teacher’s disciples defeat the Dao Sect’s Dao Child, what then? The National Teacher’s disciples were trained according to old customs, taught solely by the National Teacher—no different from disciples of any sect! If this gets out and reaches the Dao Sect’s ears, they will surely rebel! If the Dao Sect rebels, all righteous paths under heaven will follow! Who will bear this responsibility? Who can bear it?”
The Imperial Secretary retorted angrily, “You’re a Libationer, you have the right to speak. Tell us, what should we do?”
“What should we do?”
Ba Shan, the Libationer, laughed loudly and said harshly, “Whatever we do is better than what you Imperial Secretaries do! You lot spend all day guarding that building full of broken books, claiming to study Dao techniques and divine powers. What have you studied out in all these years? If you had any real skill, you’d have developed a technique to counter the Innate Grand Profound Art, and our scholars wouldn’t be in this embarrassing position, unable to do anything while someone blocks our gate!”
In the Grand Academy Hall, the Imperial Secretaries erupted in fury, shouting back, “The Dao techniques and divine powers we developed were all passed on to you! It’s you Libationers and Imperial Academy Directors who are incompetent, unable to teach good scholars!”
“Exactly! Take the Medical Hall, for example—what do they even do? They spend all day teaching scholars to refine pills and gather herbs, neglecting their real duties. Every other day, some scholar is poisoned and spitting blood, or another’s face turns black from poison! And they still have the nerve to draw a salary!”
The physicians of the Medical Hall, who were also Imperial Academy Directors, grew furious at this. Physician You trembled with anger and said shakily, “If it weren’t for our Medical Hall saving lives, most of these scholars would have died from poisoning or qi deviation by now. The Imperial Secretaries are useless—you were tasked with organizing the pill formulas and medicinal recipes from various teachings, but you never delivered. The Empress Dowager’s illness was cured by a mere youth. Why don’t you just die?”
“Old fool, you should die first. Your Medical Hall couldn’t cure the Empress Dowager’s illness, and a youth had to do it. Why don’t you pluck out an eyelash and hang yourself?”
…
The crowd in the Grand Academy Hall argued fiercely, their tempers flaring higher and higher, leaving the National Teacher’s disciples exchanging bewildered glances.
After a moment, Ba Shan, the Libationer, suddenly laughed and said, “Alright, alright, stop arguing. Since we can’t come up with a plan, isn’t there someone in charge here? Grand Libationer, what do you think?”
Everyone turned to look at the young patriarch on the sage’s throne. He rubbed his temples, clearly annoyed by the noise, and said, “The National Teacher’s disciples are not scholars of our Grand Academy. If they were to fight and defeat the Dao Sect’s Dao Child, the Dao Sect would seize the opportunity to rebel. In that case, they’d have a just cause for rebellion, putting the empire in a difficult position. So, let’s invite the National Teacher himself.”
Everyone was momentarily stunned, not understanding his meaning. Even the National Teacher’s disciples looked confused.
“The Dao Sect are all stubborn fools.”
The young patriarch stood up, smiling. “They only recognize rigid principles. Trying to cheat or deceive them won’t work. So, let’s do it openly and honestly. It’s been a long time since the National Teacher gave a lecture at our Grand Academy, hasn’t it? He used to come often, teaching Dao techniques, sword arts, and divine powers. Some scholars are practically his half-disciples. You all go back and invite the National Teacher to come and instruct the Grand Academy’s scholars.”
The National Teacher’s disciples bowed in acknowledgment, then left the hall, boarded the grand ship, and departed.
Ba Shan, the Libationer, pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, “Grand Libationer, do you mean to have the National Teacher come and teach sword arts and divine powers, and then have our Grand Academy’s disciples defeat the Dao Sect’s Dao Child?”
The young patriarch nodded with a smile.
Ba Shan raised three fingers. “Three days! We only have three days! Old man, do you believe the National Teacher can teach a genius capable of defeating the Dao Sect’s Dao Child in three days?”
“I do.”
The young patriarch smiled and said, “Ba Shan, don’t underestimate the National Teacher’s abilities. He is, after all, the number one under the gods, with skills beyond your imagination. And besides…”
He walked to the door of the Grand Academy Hall, looked down at the mountain gate, and sneered inwardly: “This brat never acts without gain! I thought he’d lose patience and spar with the Dao Sect’s Dao Child, but he’s held his composure well! Fine, this time I’ll invite the Yan Kang National Teacher as well—it’s a good deal for him!”
At the National Teacher’s Mansion.
“The Grand Libationer invites me to give a lecture?”
The Yan Kang National Teacher was taken aback upon hearing his disciples’ report. “That old fox, what’s he up to now? He could simply stamp his seal to make you all scholars of the Grand Academy—why go to the trouble of inviting me?”
One disciple said, “The Grand Libationer’s reasoning is that the Dao Sect only recognizes rigid principles. If they found out we were your disciples, they wouldn’t accept it and would use it as an excuse to rebel.”
The National Teacher laughed and said, “The Dao Sect is indeed stubborn. I met the Dao Lord in my early years, and he had that same foul temper, only recognizing rigid principles. Fine, I’ll go. Summon the Little Poison King.”
Fu Yuanqing arrived, and the National Teacher handed him a dagger. “You’ve seen my wound. Now recreate it on my body, and make it look realistic.”
Fu Yuanqing was startled, but he took the dagger and traced a wound on the National Teacher’s chest, making it bloody. Then he used the blood as pigment to make the wound appear more authentic.
“Make the wound smell a bit rancid,” the National Teacher said, his eyes glinting.
Fu Yuanqing sprinkled some powder on the wound, giving it a faint, unpleasant odor.
The National Teacher said, “Now add some perfume.”
Fu Yuanqing did as instructed, using the fragrance to mask the rancid smell. The National Teacher changed his clothes, thought for a moment, then ordered someone to bring rouge and powder. He had a maidservant apply a sickly flush to his cheeks.
Once everything was done, the National Teacher smiled and said, “Now, can this fool the eyes of the rebels?”
Fu Yuanqing laughed and said, “Do you mean there are rebels in the Grand Academy? Then you’d better bring some experts with you, to make it look like you lack confidence.”
“The Grand Academy is vast, so naturally, a few rebels would be hiding there.”
The National Teacher understood his meaning but said, “Still, this is the capital. Who would dare kill me here? As for the Grand Academy, there are more experts there than in the imperial palace, so there’s no need to bring extra guards. Come along with me, to prevent the Empress Dowager from taking advantage of my absence and breaking in to kill you.”
Fu Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief. His original intention was exactly that—to have the National Teacher bring him along, to avoid the Empress Dowager making a move against him.
At the Grand Academy, a bell suddenly rang, echoing across the entire mountain.
The many Grand Academy scholars guarding the mountain gate heard the bell and immediately hurried up the mountain. Qin Mu was puzzled, but Ling Yuxiu explained, “This is the bell summoning all scholars to gather. When you hear it, you must go to the front of the Grand Academy Hall. The Grand Libationer likely has something to say.”
Wei Yong worriedly said, “Could it be that because they can’t beat this Dao Sect’s Dao Child, they’re going to disband the Grand Academy?”
Many scholars glared at him, and Wei Yong quickly shrank back.
When they reached the mountaintop, they saw that the area in front of the Grand Academy Hall was packed with people—princes, nobles, and common scholars alike, all gathered there.
After a while, everyone had assembled. The young patriarch smiled and said, “National Teacher, please begin.”