Seeking Instruction at the Profound Residence

Chapter 12: Seeking Instruction at the Profound Residence

Inside an elegant teahouse at Taiyang Academy, Zhang Yu wore a loose sky-blue Daoist robe and sat in the open bamboo-and-wood veranda, gazing into the distance at the solitary, towering Goddess Peak.

Three days had passed since the day he had recommended himself.

Taiyang Academy had asked him to remain there for the time being and promised to give him an answer.

He knew the Academy's Upper Layer would not jump to conclusions based solely on newspaper reports. They would certainly find a way to verify matters there.

By his reckoning, the time was about right.

He reached for the purple clay teapot on the low bamboo table, poured himself a cup, then picked up a volume of the Atlas of Strange Things amid the curling fragrance of tea.

This was a hand-painted atlas he had borrowed from the Academy collection. He did not know who had compiled it, but it recorded many strange plants and animals from this land, all illustrated in great detail.

Some of the things in it he had encountered before, while others he had never even heard of. Such illustrated volumes could only be found at Taiyang Academy; they were part of the Academy's deep foundation and could never circulate outside.

Just as he was absorbed in reading, the small jade pieces tied with red knots beneath the eaves suddenly swayed, producing a string of crisp chimes.

His heart stirred. He's here.

He spread his wide sleeves and rose from the meditation cushion. As he reached the teahouse courtyard, he saw an attendant lift the curtain with a bamboo pole. Liu Guang entered from outside with a smile and cupped his hands. "Mr. Zhang, pardon my abrupt visit."

"Instructor Liu." Zhang Yu returned the salute. "Please, sit inside."

Liu Guang readily agreed.

The two took their seats in the teahouse, and attendants came over to pour tea for them.

After the attendants withdrew, Zhang Yu asked, "Instructor Liu, has there been news from Open Plain?"

Liu Guang was an easygoing man who did not stand on ceremony. He nodded directly. "The Academy has confirmed that your words were true and acknowledges your judgment." He paused. "Your appointment has also been decided. For now, you will serve as an assistant instructor at the Academy."

Zhang Yu considered this. "An assistant instructor?"

Taiyang Academy's instructors were divided into two ranks: regular instructors and assistant instructors. When people normally spoke of instructors, they meant regular instructors, while assistant instructors were a rank below.

Liu Guang said apologetically, "With Mr. Zhang's learning and character, you should certainly have been made a regular instructor. But someone expressly opposed it and even used your age as an argument. Though the three of us fought on reason, we could not oppose a decision made above. We can only ask that you bear with it."

Zhang Yu had long been prepared for this. He had entered through self-recommendation and had also used a little cleverness, so those who had come up by the conventional route would inevitably reject him. Perhaps some of them even came from the Academy's upper ranks of power. It was entirely possible that they had casually pressed him down a notch.

Yet he did not truly care much about it.

He had entered Taiyang Academy only to study the New Method and obtain an identity that would let him move conveniently within the Academy. That goal had now been achieved, and far exceeded his original expectations.

There might be some lingering consequences. His earlier high-profile conduct might bring certain side effects upon himself, but that was unavoidable and a price that had to be paid.

Besides, all things had two sides. If handled properly, good and bad could transform into each other.

Liu Guang said, "If Mr. Zhang has no objections, the Academy will soon send someone with the assistant instructor's robes, cap, jade pendant, and jade seal. They will also ask you a few questions in passing. But the matter has already been settled, so if you do not wish to answer, there is no need to pay them any mind."

Zhang Yu set down his teacup and joined his hands in salute. "I have troubled Instructor Liu by making you come all this way."

Liu Guang likewise joined his hands and smiled. "No need for courtesy. There is only one thing: starting next month, Assistant Instructor Zhang will be responsible for teaching the language of that foreign tribe."

His expression grew somewhat more serious. "You must take this matter to heart. When the time comes, those above will send some students to learn from you. Mr. Zhang, you must be especially careful and not allow any mistakes." After making this veiled point, he took out a booklet and set it on the table. "I will leave a copy of the Academy regulations here. Look through it when you have time. If there is anything you do not understand, feel free to ask me."

Zhang Yu nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Instructor Liu. I understand."

At present, he alone knew the language of the Firm Claw Tribe. Whatever he said went, so the Academy certainly would not be at ease. They would surely send people to learn from him and quickly understand how to communicate with the tribe.

But from Liu Guang's words, these students might have some background; their identities were likely far from ordinary.

Once Liu Guang had explained everything, he did not linger. Citing other business, he left the teahouse.

Zhang Yu picked up the booklet Liu Guang had left behind. Sipping tea, he slowly leafed through it. It contained the rules that Academy instructors and students were required to observe, along with various punishments.

He considered the contents of the booklet extremely important. Once he had memorized them and acted according to the regulations, he could reduce the chance of making mistakes. When matters arose, he would also have grounds and evidence to fight for his own interests.

Beyond that, the rules revealed how strict or lenient the Academy's teaching was and the overall leanings of its Upper Layer. Ideally, he would find the old regulations from previous years. Comparing the two would make things even clearer.

The Academy moved quickly. Barely one summer hour after Liu Guang left, an instructor brought over his assistant instructor's robes and insignia and asked him several routine questions.

Perhaps because they did not wish him to leave the Academy for the time being, the Academy had also specially arranged a residence for him.

That suited his wishes quite well.

The matter of the Yao Salamander was currently causing a tremendous uproar. Though he did not know what the Divine Commandery Army had wanted from him last time, they might not have given up yet. Living within the Academy would allow him to avoid those matters.

The instructor knew he was merely going through the motions, since the decision had long been made above. He did not ask much, and after a few words, the matter was hastily concluded.

Before leaving, however, he told Zhang Yu that according to the rules, an assistant instructor could be assigned an assistant attendant. Zhang Yu himself would bear half the wages, while the Academy would cover the other half. If he had no suitable candidate, he could choose one from among the Academy attendants.

After seeing the man off, Zhang Yu returned to the teahouse and sat in quiet thought. Only after finishing another cup of tea did he leave and make his way to the residence the Academy had arranged for him.

The residence stood on a small rise in the southern part of the Academy. Most of those living nearby were also assistant instructors. Shade trees were everywhere, clear springs babbled, flowering trees bloomed in profusion, and the temperature was exceptionally pleasant.

Finding the place satisfactory, he immediately instructed people to move all his belongings there.

After taking care of every miscellaneous matter, he went to the terrace at the highest point of the residence, where flower trellises had been set up. Taking out paper and brush, he began sketching the scenery before his eyes.

Ruiguang was like spring all year round. Taiyang Academy in the morning light was surrounded by brilliantly colored trees and flowers, an undeniably beautiful sight. He sincerely hoped this peace and beauty could continue forever.

By the time he put away his charcoal pencil, noon was already drawing near.

He did not eat lunch. Instead, he took several pills and sat in the quiet room to regulate his breathing for a while, immediately feeling much clearer in mind. He then thought, "Now that I have gained a foothold in the Academy and there are no obstacles ahead, it is time to go to the Profound Residence and study the New Method."

The "Profound Residence" was the place where the New Method was taught, located within Taiyang Academy itself.

To outsiders, this place seemed deeply mysterious, but within the Academy, it was not so.

It was essentially a place within the Academy for specialized study, only its status was somewhat unusual.

In theory, anyone at Taiyang Academy, whether student or instructor, could go there to study the New Method. But whether one could truly enter the gate depended on whether one possessed the necessary affinity.

Zhang Yu took out the paper and brush he had prepared long ago and carefully wrote a petition requesting instruction in the New Method from the Profound Residence.

He then copied it twice more. After checking them carefully and finding no problems, he pushed open the door and headed for the Learning Affairs Hall, which specifically handled such matters.

Petitions for instruction could only be submitted before the fifteenth day of the second month each year. If one missed that date, one would have to wait until the following year. Fortunately, there was still ample time.

Most of the halls and offices responsible for handling the Academy's internal and external affairs were located in its southeastern corner. The Learning Affairs Hall was there as well, not far from his residence.

Having looked over the Academy map beforehand and personally drawn it once, he was already familiar with the distribution of its buildings. He quickly found the Learning Affairs Hall.

After entering the main hall and explaining his purpose, he handed over his petition.

The person who accepted it was a young assistant instructor surnamed Song. He smiled. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, please wait patiently. All petitions must first be submitted for review by the academic directors of each specialized discipline. Once there is news, I will promptly notify you. If all goes smoothly, there should be a result within the next few days."

Zhang Yu joined his hands and bowed. "Then I shall trouble Assistant Instructor Song."

Assistant Instructor Song repeatedly assured him it was no trouble. Following proper etiquette, he personally escorted Zhang Yu to the door before returning to the hall and sitting down again. Just as he was about to process the petition, he suddenly sensed something strange. Looking up, he saw a square-faced middle-aged instructor standing there watching him. He hurriedly rose and bowed. "Chief Wang."

Chief Wang said expressionlessly, "Give me the petition for instruction that was just submitted."

Assistant Instructor Song quickly answered yes and offered the petition with both hands.

Instructor Wang took it, glanced at it, and a look of disgust suddenly appeared on his face. "Such a person who entered the Academy by taking shortcuts is unworthy of studying here!" With that, he tucked the petition into his sleeve, turned, and walked out.

Assistant Instructor Song was dumbfounded. Only after a long while did he grasp what had happened. First panic seized him, then he fell into conflict.

What should he do?

From Chief Wang's manner, it was obvious he intended to sabotage this matter. Should he tell Zhang Yu about it?

But if he did, would he offend Chief Wang?

He knew Zhang Yu had entered the Academy through self-recommendation and had no real backing here. Chief Wang, on the other hand, was not only the head of the Learning Affairs Hall, but was said to have frequent dealings with certain important figures.

That made the decision not especially difficult.

"Forget it. If Assistant Instructor Zhang comes to ask, I will say that I submitted the petition. Even if he misses this year, he can submit another petition next year. It should not matter much, should it?"