Settling Down

This paradise hidden within the mountain belly was far more vast and vibrant than Chen Jin had initially perceived.

Chen Jin and the others followed Ji through a patch of lush, green fields, where several young students with their trousers rolled up were squatting in the mud, tinkering with a few peculiar-looking rice seedlings.

Not far away, a stream gurgled; someone sat by the water, loudly reciting from bamboo slips. Under the shade of the trees, one could faintly see the flow of spiritual energy, as if someone were practicing techniques.

"This place... doesn't quite look like an academy." Chen Jin was slightly surprised.

Hearing this, Ji chuckled and gestured toward a student in an open space dismantling a pair of wooden bird wings: "Look over there—that's the Mohist School's Mechanism Art, taking things apart to assemble them, then assembling them to take them apart." He then pointed to the people in the fields, "Those are fellow disciples of the Agricultural School, spending their days pondering how to make millet ripen once a month."

As they spoke, Yan Clan Member walked past carrying a winnowing basket of sun-dried bamboo slips and chimed in, "It's not just the Agricultural or Mohist schools. Yin-Yang, Vertical and Horizontal, Logicians, and even the Military strategists—everyone is practicing here. The Libationer says that knowledge isn't just buried in bamboo slips; it must be practiced by hand and tested in person."

Chen Jin looked up at the massive, naturally formed cavern in the mountain wall, where layers of wooden shelves and scrolls were faintly visible at the entrance.

"Is that the academy's library?" he asked.

"Yes," Ji said with a tone of reverence, "It contains everything from the classics of the Hundred Schools to rare, incomplete manuscripts, and even jade slips and golden books left over from ancient times."

Yan Clan Member set down the basket and sighed, "The rarest thing isn't the books, but the people. If you grab any student and ask them an obscure question, and they can't answer, the Libationer Jiang Yan certainly will."

She smiled, "I once witnessed someone asking for the interpretation of a hexagram from the lost Lianshan records. The Libationer not only answered it but also explained the differences in the commentaries of three different schools... His knowledge is as vast as the sea."

Following Ji through a lush bamboo grove, they arrived at a quiet little courtyard.

The plants in the yard were neatly trimmed, and the stone steps were spotless, clearly tended to with great care.

Just as they settled in, a shadow in the corner shifted slightly, and a figure emerged with hesitation.

It was a bizarre-looking humanoid—half of his face was as delicate as a youth's, while the other half was covered by a cold metal mask. One eye was warm and dark, while the other was a spiritual stone embedded in the socket, glowing with a faint blue light.

His torso, left arm, and right leg were constructed from dark wood and bronze mechanisms, with gears and bearings visible at the joints.

He made a faint "click" sound as he moved, keeping his head down, afraid to look at anyone. He held a stack of clean linen clothes, placed them carefully on the stone table, and then quickly retreated to the corner, as if trying to melt into the shadows.

Nuonuo was startled and hid behind Chen Jin. Wang Wu also instinctively pressed his hand to his sword hilt, his expression guarded.

Ji smiled gently and raised a hand to signal them to relax: "No need for alarm. This is 'Eleven.' He usually sweeps and tidies up this courtyard; he is very reliable."

He turned to the figure huddled by the wall, his voice softening further: "Eleven, come and greet our guests."

The half-puppet mechanism man, known as Eleven, trembled slightly. Still keeping his head down, he took half a step forward, emitting a very faint, gear-grinding whimper from his throat as a form of greeting.

Chen Jin's gaze fell upon his half-wood, half-flesh knuckles and asked, "Is this... the work of the Mechanism Art?"

Ji nodded: "In the old days, if poor families gave birth to children who were disabled or too sickly to raise, and they lacked the means for medical care, they were often abandoned in the wilderness."

At this moment, Eleven was bowing his head to wipe the stone table. His metal knuckles touched the wooden surface with a rhythmic, faint sound, as if he hadn't heard them, though his movements seemed to slow down.

"He is fortunate," Ji continued. "Years ago, when the Libationer was searching the mountains for materials, he found him—he was already on the verge of death, his limbs severely damaged. Had he not encountered a Master of Puppetry, he would have had no chance of survival. Fortunately, the Libationer is well-versed in the arts of the Hundred Schools and was able to use the Art of Puppetry to extend his life."

Wang Wu's guarded expression softened, and Nuonuo peeked out from behind Chen Jin.

"The Libationer took spiritual wood and refined gold, fusing them with his remaining flesh to rebuild his body bit by bit." Ji's pace slowed, as if reminiscing, "Though he could never be exactly like a normal person, he survived. The Libationer, being kind-hearted, took him in as his foster son and named him 'Eleven'."

"Then why... is he doing chores here?" Chen Jin asked.

"It is the Libationer's instruction," Ji explained gently. "The Libationer worries that if he were to pass away, there would be no one to repair Eleven's body, so he requires Eleven to learn the Art of Puppetry. The Art of Puppetry is difficult to master, but Eleven lacks the natural talent, making his studies very strenuous. He is often punished by the Libationer to sweep the academy grounds."

Eleven had already quietly moved to the corner of the yard, picking up a broom to sweep the fallen leaves in silence.

Ji added, "He cannot speak, but he understands instructions. If you have any clothes that need washing, or if you lack anything in your rooms, just leave them on the stone table in the yard, and he will handle it properly."

Eleven kept his head bowed, retreating silently back into the deepest shadows, as if only then could he avoid all scrutiny and gaze.

Chen Jin meditated in the small room for a while. Feeling that he was no longer hindered, he was about to rise to find Jiang Yan to discuss the subsequent matters when he saw Jiang Yan walking toward him.

"Young friend, do you feel any better?" Jiang Yan asked with concern. Seeing that his complexion had recovered, he nodded with satisfaction.

"I am no longer in any trouble. Many thanks for the miraculous effect of your pill, Senior." Chen Jin cupped his hands.

"Good, that is good." Jiang Yan stroked his beard, then shifted the conversation, looking at Nuonuo, who was sitting quietly to the side, "Her father has already told me about this little girl's condition... The situation within her body is quite complex; it was caused by an imperfect secret technique of the Fangxian Dao, and the Yin-evil death energy has taken deep root."

"Whether it can be completely eradicated to harmonize Yin and Yang, I cannot guarantee, but I will try my best. Before that, I am afraid I must continue to trouble you, young friend, to use your flesh and blood to temporarily appease the 'hunger' within her."

"It is no trouble; consider it done," Chen Jin agreed without hesitation.

He then remembered something and took the pair of [Symphony of Myriad Phenomena] from his personal mark.

At this moment, the twin guns were dull and lusterless; the originally flowing runes had turned charred black, and the barrels were even slightly warped—clearly damage from overuse.

"Senior, these guns are of vital importance to me, and they have been damaged due to my overuse. I wonder if there is anyone in the academy skilled in this craft who could repair them?" Although Chen Jin asked this, he vaguely felt that this unfathomable Libationer might just have a way.

Jiang Yan took the twin guns, his fingers brushing lightly over the hot and slightly deformed barrels, a look of amazement flashing in his eyes.

"Exquisite craftsmanship, yet... a waste of such talent," he muttered, then nodded at Chen Jin, "The principles of its construction are quite peculiar; it is interesting. Leave it to me, I shall see what I can do."

Seeing Jiang Yan agree to take them, Chen Jin felt relieved and stopped bothering him.