Graveyard

At the quarter past the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), class at the academy ended.

As soon as class was dismissed, Xiao He and Xu Jixian dragged Xiang Yuan away, heading straight for Wang Wenxu's study. The two knew that the only acceptable paper that day had come from Xiang Yuan's hand, and though inwardly astonished, they remained outwardly unconvinced.

"The old man really does things flawlessly. He presents it as a test, but it's actually recruitment. No one could find fault with it."

"It's all thanks to older brother crying so much that the teacher got annoyed and came up with this plan."

The two clowns each took credit with a sentence, instantly claiming the accomplishment for themselves.

Xiang Yuan opened his mouth to explain, but upon remembering the plagiarized poem, he decided it wasn't something to be proud of. He chose to remain silent, letting the two take the credit.

The more modest he was, the more boastful the two clowns became.

"Brother Xiao, you were kicked out of the lecture hall and didn't see Little Brother Yuan's poem. I was closer and saw it clearly. To be fair, it's far inferior to my 'Night Farming'."

Xu Jixian cleared his throat twice and said with a fluctuating tone, "Hoeing grain under the midday sun, who knows it comes from the plate? It's simple and direct, showing that Little Brother Yuan really hasn't studied for many years. His skill is far below ours."

It's 'who knows it comes from the plate's contents', not 'from the plate', why does anything good come out of your mouth like you're driving a car?

Xiang Yuan showed disgust. If you're uncultured, don't speak, lest you reveal your ignorance the moment you open your mouth.

"That's natural. You and I have studied poetry and essays diligently. If Little Brother Yuan could surpass us the moment he arrived, wouldn't all these years of study be in vain!" Xiao He grumbled.

Xu Jixian's expression turned serious, and he cupped his hands: "May I ask, Brother Xiao, what is your masterpiece?"

"A poem called 'Idle Farming', expressing my feelings through poetry, a form of self-comfort. It can hardly be called a masterpiece." Xiao He returned the salute, placing one hand behind his back, and recited his work aloud.

Xu Jixian savored it three times and exclaimed, "I don't think so. It's clearly top-tier. Let's hear older brother's 'Night Farming'. It's elegant and leisurely, hardly suitable for a formal occasion. Don't laugh at me when I say it, Brother Xiao."

After he finished reciting, Xiao He was dumbfounded and sighed, "Brother Xu, you have great literary talent. I have indeed lost this round."

"Not at all, Brother Xiao clearly won."

"You are too kind."

The two clowns flattered each other, getting more and more into it. Xiang Yuan, unable to bear it any longer, was about to curse them for their nonsensical talk that disgraced scholarly decorum, when his attention was drawn to the couplets on the study walls.

At two, learn to speak; in a lifetime, learn to be silent. In autumn, study essays; for a hundred years, cultivate character.

What a profound saying, "in a lifetime, learn to be silent," and "for a hundred years, cultivate character." Xiang Yuan felt as if he had found a treasure, and the desire to argue with Xiao He and Xu Jixian faded.

Don't argue with fools, just let them be.

The three entered the study. Wang Wenxu had not yet returned after posting the results. Xiang Yuan dared not sit down and examined the calligraphy and paintings on the surrounding walls, impressed by Wang Wenxu's profound learning.

His writing was like brocade, his paintings like timely rain. His brushstrokes bloomed, and every word was a pearl. Viewing them was like basking in a gentle spring breeze, with a babbling brook flowing by, making one yearn for it, enough to eat three baskets of steamed buns.

Xiao and Xu, however, were rummaging through the bookshelves, searching for the 'strange books' that the teacher had confiscated during class.

They were all forbidden books, rarely circulated in the market. They had spent a great deal of effort to acquire them.

"How could they not be here?"

"The old man must have hidden them. He's alone, so he must read them every night, diligently and without stopping."

"Abusing power for personal gain, truly hateful."

A light cough came from outside the study. Xiao and Xu immediately restrained themselves and flashed to Xiang Yuan's side, flanking him.

"Esteemed teacher, you're here. What a coincidence! The three of us were just talking about how wonderful your painting is!" Xiao He shamelessly flattered him.

"Yes, look at this, and this... It's really good, isn't it!" Xu Jixian chimed in with a few more compliments.

Wang Wenxu's face turned as black as charcoal. He strode into the study. Xiang Yuan marveled at the old gentleman's robust health, thinking he must have martial arts skills. Any ordinary teacher would have been angered to death by Xiao He and Xu Jixian by now.

Xiang Yuan bowed in greeting. Wang Wenxu waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit by the desk, completely ignoring Xiao and Xu, as if they didn't exist.

"Your name is Xiang Yuan, right?"

"Replying to the teacher, it is indeed Xiang Yuan."

"Looking at your writing, I know your heart. It's not pretentious, not deliberately carved. It's sincere and true, pure and clear as water..." Wang Wenxu praised him extensively, holding 'Min Nong' in high regard and also showing great favor to Xiang Yuan, the author of 'Min Nong'.

Xiang Yuan's face turned red as he listened, his shame overwhelming him. He gritted his teeth and said, "Teacher, those were lines I copied."

"Whether they are or they aren't, your difficult youth has forged a mature disposition, which is a good thing, but it also lacks sharpness. A youth like you should dare to compete with others!"

Wang Wenxu taught according to aptitude. For the likes of Xiao He, he advised restraint, but for Xiang Yuan, it was the exact opposite.

"This student accepts your teaching." Xiang Yuan could no longer explain.

"You call yourself a student, so I will be a teacher. You can come to the academy to listen to lectures from now on. Be diligent every day, and don't slack off."

"Student Xiang Yuan greets the teacher." Xiang Yuan respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"Don't rush. I have one more condition. You have a severe rat infestation there. If this continues, you will be harmed. I cannot bear to see you fall into ruin, so I am willing to sponsor your studies. What do you say?" Wang Wenxu asked.

This was asking Xiang Yuan to quickly cut ties with Xiao and Xu, and not associate with failing students.

"Teacher, where are there any rat infestations? Brother Xiao and I are both upright individuals."

"Yes, esteemed teacher, don't forget. My father also contributed money for you to establish the academy. You can't just cross the river and burn the bridge!"

Xiao and Xu's expressions changed drastically, and they repeatedly voiced their refusal.

Xiang Yuan was also taken aback for a moment, marveling at Li Shen's cleverness. With a single poem, 'Min Nong', he had won over Wang Wenxu and secured a bright future for himself.

Connecting with Wang Wenxu would allow him to build a relationship with King Zhao Xiao Yan in the future, and he'd be better off than the less favored Xiao He. Cutting ties now was the only sensible thing to do.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir, but I owe the rats a debt of gratitude. I've learned their struggles and understand warmth and cold. If I abandon them for my future now, what's the point of learning benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness from the books?" Xiang Yuan explained his feelings.

It wasn't that he particularly liked Xiao He; this was a matter of principle. His heart felt this way, so it was so.

Wang Wenxu smiled and stroked his long beard. "Good, good, good. You are loyal and righteous, with outstanding character. You are worthy of the saying 'every grain is the fruit of hard labor.' From today onwards, you may study at the academy. You will pay your own tuition, but you must not break the rules."

Xiang Yuan was stunned. Was the temptation just now a test?

No, it's just studying, why so strict?

"That's great! Congratulations, Brother Xiao Yuan. You'll be studying under a wise master, and we'll be classmates from now on."

"It's the three of us."

"And the two of you rat-like scoundrels!"

Wang Wenxu was amiable towards Xiang Yuan but showed his displeasure to Xiao He and Xu Jixian. "It's bad enough that you're both ignorant, but if you corrupt Xiang Yuan, I have plenty of ways to deal with you."

With that, he waved his hand, telling the two clowns to get lost.

They dared not disobey and dragged Xiang Yuan out of the study.

In Xiao He's words, since Xiang Yuan was entering the academy, Wang Wenxu would handle his textbooks, and Xu Jixian would pay the tuition. Xiang Yuan just needed to show up.

Now that class was over, playing was the way to go.

Xiang Yuan received a salary from the yamen, and his main job was to accompany Xiao He in eating, drinking, and having fun. He never refused, focusing wholeheartedly on listening to crosstalk, cultivating his inner strength, and not neglecting anything.

Under the gaze of many students, Xiang Yuan, who should have been a good student, was led onto a carriage by two underachievers. The carriage wheels rolled, and they never looked back.

In the carriage, Xiao He counted on his fingers. "Brother Xu, how do you plan to spend your time tonight?"

Xiang Yuan's brow furrowed, afraid they would take him to the red-light district and make him pay to experience what "bloody storms" were like.

"I'm afraid I can't tonight. I need to go back to my manor to prepare for a tomb-sweeping trip to the south of the city to add some candles and paper money for my ancestors," Xu Jixian said helplessly.

Although the Xu family had fallen into decline, they had once been a prominent household. Even though Xu Jixian was useless, he dared not forget to worship his ancestors. The Xu manor was desolate all around, except for the family temple and ancestral hall, which were clean and tidy. This was evident.

"Tomb sweeping..."

Xiao He's eyes lit up. "That's good. I'll accompany you, brother. My divine weapon treasury hasn't had any new acquisitions lately. I can pick up a couple of Yin soldiers' sharp blades when we pass by the mass grave."

Xiang Yuan didn't understand, but Xu Jixian explained it to him.

The so-called divine weapons were wooden sticks and branches shaped like weapons. Xiao He liked to collect them and fill his treasury. The wooden sticks picked up from the mass grave were Yin soldiers.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, you haven't seen my treasury yet. When we go back tonight, you can choose three... I'll give you one. They're all treasures, no more than that," Xiao He said reluctantly.

He's so old!

Xiang Yuan was speechless. He craved real weapons, like the sharp sword in Sima Qingyan's hand. As for wooden sticks and branches, he had given that up at eighteen.

However, a mass grave...

Xiang Yuan's brow twitched. He was about to reach Acupoint Opening and could use the Formless Seal Method to simulate the Three Yin Life and Death Book. Perhaps visiting the mass grave and practicing there could be useful.

Take the Thirteen Changes of Yin Wind Ghost Mist, for example. It was a top-tier movement technique for the Acupoint Opening stage, requiring Yin energy to be lifelike and avoid detection by experts.