The Mass Burial Ground

At 3:15 p.m., classes at the academy ended.

As soon as class was over, Xiao He and Xu Jixian dragged Xiang Yuan away and headed straight for Wang Wenxu's study. They knew that the only passing paper that day had been Xiang Yuan's, and though they were secretly shocked, they still refused to admit it.

"The old man really covered every angle. On the surface, he had us do an assignment, but in reality, he was recruiting students. No one could find fault with it."

"Still, my crying was what did the trick. The teacher was so fed up that he had no choice but to come up with this plan."

The two jokers each got a line in, and in no time they'd claimed all the credit for themselves.

Xiang Yuan opened his mouth to explain, but then remembered that the poem he'd copied wasn't anything to be proud of. In the end, he said nothing and let them take the credit.

His modesty only made the two jokers boast all the louder.

"Brother Xiao, you were kicked out of the classroom, so you didn't see Little Brother Yuan's poem. I was sitting closer and saw it clearly. To be fair, it was nowhere near as good as my 'Night Farmer.'"

Xu Jixian hummed twice, then recited with exaggerated cadence, "Hoeing grain beneath the noonday sun; who knows what's served up on the plate?" The lines were simple and straightforward, which just went to show that Little Brother Yuan hadn't studied for many years. His skill was a long way below that of the two brothers.

It was "who knows the food on the plate," not "who knows what's served up." How did everything sound dirty once it got into your mouth?

Xiang Yuan looked disgusted. If you were uneducated, you shouldn't speak—otherwise, you'd give yourself away the moment you opened your mouth.

"Of course. We two brothers have studied poetry and prose so hard. If Little Brother Yuan could surpass us the moment he arrived, wouldn't all those years of study have been wasted?" Xiao He grumbled.

Xu Jixian straightened his expression and cupped his hands. "I haven't had the pleasure of asking, Brother Xiao, what's your masterpiece?"

"A little piece called 'Leisurely Farmer.' I poured my feelings into it to console myself. It hardly deserves to be called a masterpiece." Xiao He returned the salute, clasped one hand behind his back, and recited his work in a clear voice.

Xu Jixian savored the lines three times, then exclaimed, "I don't agree. It's clearly top-notch. Now listen to my 'Night Farmer.' It's just an elegant little piece, not fit for the grand stage. Brother Xiao, don't laugh at me for sharing it."

When he finished, Xiao He gaped in astonishment and sighed, "Brother Xu, what a fine talent you have! This time, I've lost by a hair."

"Not at all, not at all. It's clearly Brother Xiao who won."

"You're too kind, you're too kind."

The two jokers flattered each other, getting more and more carried away. Unable to bear it any longer, Xiang Yuan was about to tell them their poetry was utter nonsense and an insult to proper letters, when the couplets on either side of the study door caught his attention.

At two, learn to speak;

For a lifetime, learn to keep quiet.

Three autumns to learn the written word;

A hundred years to cultivate the heart.

How true: "For a lifetime, learn to keep quiet"; how true: "A hundred years to cultivate the heart." Xiang Yuan felt as if he'd found a treasure, and lost all desire to argue with Xiao He and Xu Jixian.

There was no point arguing with idiots. Let them be.

The three entered the study. Wang Wenxu hadn't returned from posting the results yet, and Xiang Yuan didn't dare sit. He looked over the calligraphy and paintings on the walls, impressed by Wang Wenxu's wealth of learning.

His prose was exquisite, his paintings refreshing. Flowers seemed to bloom beneath his brush; every word was a gem. Looking at them was like basking in a gentle spring breeze or listening to a stream babble past a little bridge. They stirred the soul—and made you hungry enough to eat three baskets of steamed buns.

Xiao He and Xu Jixian, however, rummaged through the bookshelves in search of the "strange books" the teacher had confiscated from them during class.

They were all banned books, rarely circulated on the market. It had taken a lot of effort to get their hands on them.

"How can they not be here?"

"The old man must've hidden them away. He's all alone, so he must read them every night, working hard without a break."

"Abusing his authority for personal gain. Outrageous."

A measured cough came from outside the study. Xiao He and Xu Jixian immediately composed themselves and slipped over to Xiang Yuan, one on either side of him.

"Honorable teacher, you're here! What a coincidence—we were just praising this painting of yours!" Xiao He said, shamelessly trying to butter him up.

"Exactly! Look here, and here... See? It's really good!" Xu Jixian chimed in, adding a few words of praise.

Wang Wenxu's face darkened like charcoal as he strode into the study. Xiang Yuan marveled at the old man's robust health; he must have martial arts to his name. Any ordinary schoolteacher would have been driven to an early grave by Xiao He and Xu Jixian.

Xiang Yuan bowed. Wang Wenxu waved him over to sit at the desk, ignoring Xiao He and Xu Jixian as if they weren't there.

"Your name is Xiang Yuan, right?"

"Yes, sir. I'm Xiang Yuan."

"I've seen your writing and understand your heart. You don't put on airs or embellish for show. Your feelings are sincere, and your nature is as pure as water..." Wang Wenxu praised him at length, lavishing admiration on "Compassion for Farmers" and showing considerable fondness for Xiang Yuan, who had written it.

Xiang Yuan blushed as he listened. His shame got the better of him, and he gritted his teeth. "Sir, I copied those lines from someone else."

"If you did, then you did. If you didn't, then you didn't. The hardships you suffered in your youth have given you a maturity beyond your years. That's a good thing, but you lack a certain boldness, too. A young man like you ought to dare to stand up to others!"

Wang Wenxu adapted his teaching to each student. He urged the likes of Xiao He to be more restrained, while Xiang Yuan needed exactly the opposite.

"I'll remember your lesson." Xiang Yuan saw no point in explaining further.

"You call yourself a student, so I'll take the role of your teacher. You may attend lectures at the academy from now on. Study diligently every day, and don't slack off."

"Your student, Xiang Yuan, pays his respects to his teacher." Xiang Yuan bowed respectfully with cupped hands.

"Don't be so quick. I have one more condition. There's a serious rat problem around you. If it continues, it'll surely bring you to ruin. I can't bear to see you fall into depravity, so I'm willing to fund your studies. What do you say?" Wang Wenxu asked.

He was telling Xiang Yuan to cut ties with Xiao He and Xu Jixian at once and stop hanging around with bad students.

"Sir, what rat problem? Brother Xiao and I are both decent people."

"Exactly! Honorable teacher, don't forget that my father contributed money to help you establish the academy. You can't just cross the river and tear up the bridge!"

Xiao He and Xu Jixian panicked and protested repeatedly.

Xiang Yuan was also taken aback. Li Shen really was impressive. A single "Compassion for Farmers" had won Wang Wenxu over and secured Xiang Yuan a bright future.

By getting on Wang Wenxu's good side, he could also build a connection with King Zhao, Xiao Yan, in the future. That might even work out better for him than sticking with the disfavored Xiao He. This was the perfect moment to cut ties.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir. But I've been cared for by these rats and have received their kindness. I know what warmth and coldness mean because of them. If I cast them aside for the sake of my future, what would be the point of studying benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness?" Xiang Yuan made his feelings clear.

It wasn't that he particularly liked Xiao He. This was a matter of principle. His heart told him what to do, so he did it.

Wang Wenxu laughed and stroked his long beard. "Good, good! You're loyal and principled, and your character is outstanding. You're worthy of the words 'every grain is hard-earned.' From today on, you may study at the academy. You'll pay your own expenses, and you mustn't break the rules."

Xiang Yuan was stunned. Had that offer just been a test?

That didn't make sense. Was enrolling in school really so serious?

"Fantastic! Congratulations, Little Brother Yuan, on becoming a student of our honorable teacher. Now we'll be classmates."

"All three of us will."

"And the two of you are rats!"

Wang Wenxu was gentle with Xiang Yuan, but his expression turned cold when he faced Xiao He and Xu Jixian. "It's bad enough that you refuse to study. If you lead Xiang Yuan astray, I have plenty of ways to deal with you."

With that, he waved his hand and told the two jokers to get lost.

They didn't dare disobey and dragged Xiang Yuan out of the study.

According to Xiao He, now that Xiang Yuan had enrolled in the academy, Wang Wenxu would take care of his textbooks and such, while Xu Jixian would cover his tuition. All Xiang Yuan had to do was show up.

Classes were over now. Playing was the right thing to do.

Xiang Yuan was paid by the yamen, and his main job was to keep Xiao He company while they ate, drank, and had fun. He didn't refuse. He could listen to their banter, cultivate, and still keep up with his work.

Under the gaze of the other students, Xiang Yuan—who should have been a model student—was led onto a carriage by the two bad students. The wheels turned, and he never looked back.

In the carriage, Xiao He counted on his fingers. "Brother Xu, how are you planning to spend the evening?"

Xiang Yuan's brow furrowed. He feared the two of them would take him to the red-light district and even pay out of pocket to show him what real bloodshed was.

"I'm afraid not tonight. I'll go back to the residence to get ready, then head south of the city to visit the graves and leave candles and paper money for my ancestors," Xu Jixian said helplessly.

Although the Xu Family had fallen into decline, they'd once been a prominent household. Xu Jixian might not amount to much, but he hadn't forgotten to honor his ancestors. The Xu Residence was overgrown and desolate on all sides, yet the family shrine was clean and tidy—a telling contrast.

"Visiting graves..."

Xiao He's eyes lit up. "That works too. I'll go with you, Brother Xu. My divine weapon vault hasn't had any new additions lately. We can pick up a couple of yin soldier blades when we pass the mass burial ground."

Xiang Yuan didn't understand, so Xu Jixian explained.

The so-called divine weapons were sticks and branches shaped like weapons. Xiao He enjoyed collecting them and had filled his vault with them. Any stick he found at the mass burial ground counted as a yin soldier.

"Little Brother Yuan, you haven't seen my vault yet. When we get back tonight, you can pick out three... I'll give you one. They're all treasures, but I can't part with any more than that," Xiao He said, as though it pained him.

What a grown man!

Xiang Yuan was speechless. He liked real weapons, like the sharp sword Sima Qingyan carried. He'd given up sticks and branches when he was eighteen.

But the mass burial ground...

Xiang Yuan's brow lifted. He was about to reach Acupoint Opening, and he could use the Formless Seal Method to imitate the Three Yin Book of Life and Death. He could scout out the mass burial ground; it might come in handy when he cultivated.

Take the Thirteen Transformations of Yin Wind and Ghost Mist, for example. It was a top-tier movement technique for the Acupoint Opening stage. It needed yin energy to look convincing, so no expert could spot the flaws.