Rites Follow the Dao's Affinities

After Zhang Yu left the Learning Affairs Hall, he headed back to his residence.

He did not know at this point that the academy application he had submitted to the Learning Affairs Hall had been intercepted halfway.

Yet he had never entrusted success or failure to others, especially in matters of importance. He had always insisted on keeping them in his own hands.

In two days, he would visit the Learning Affairs Hall again. If he still received no reply by then, he would not sit waiting. He would take another academy application and personally deliver it to the Profound Residence.

Even if someone brought it up afterward, he would have ample justification. He had followed the Academy's procedures from the outset; only after receiving no result for so long, with the deadline looming before him, had he been forced to make such a choice.

There were increasingly more pedestrians along the road back, and he inevitably encountered some Academy colleagues passing by.

Seeing his refined bearing and exceptional presence, they paused in amazement to exchange greetings with him. Whatever their status, he returned their greetings with neither servility nor arrogance.

Just as he was about to reach his residence, he saw a woman standing beneath a pavilion ahead, dressed in a white deep robe and carrying herself with dignified poise.

"Teacher Xin?"

Zhang Yu was surprised. He recognized her as Xin Yao, the female teacher from the debate platform that day. From the look of it, she seemed to have been waiting here specifically for him.

Xin Yao was not wearing her glasses today, and her eyes seemed especially clear. She said evenly, "Assistant Teacher Zhang, when you entered the gate that day, you performed three bows. That is an old rite of Ancient Xia, and it has its own meaning. I wonder whether what you bowed to was 'ruler, elder, teacher,' or 'Dao, virtue, knowledge'?"

Zhang Yu's heart stirred. He answered solemnly, "Naturally, Dao, virtue, and knowledge!"

Xin Yao said calmly, "I understand. Thank you, Assistant Teacher Zhang, for telling me truthfully." She gave him a formal curtsy, then turned and departed along the little path through the flowers.

Zhang Yu fell into thought. From Xin Yao, he sensed something at once familiar and unfamiliar. Together with the question she had raised, he could conclude that she must have some connection to the Profound Residence.

In truth, this was not especially unexpected. He had slain a Yao Salamander as a mere mortal before, and the matter was now fermenting. The Profound Residence would certainly have taken notice of him.

But regardless of what others did, he only needed to proceed step by step and handle his own affairs well.

After returning to his residence, he washed up briefly, sat behind his desk, and thought for a moment. Then he brought over a stack of paper and began writing down the names of various medicinal ingredients.

There were only a few pellets left in his pill bottle. It was time to compound more.

The pills had been a gift from his former teacher, called Primordial Elixirs. Taking two or three could strengthen one's foundation, greatly benefiting the gathering and refining of Divine Essence. He had always used them in place of daily meals.

Naturally, he did not mistreat himself. If he came across fine food, he did not mind sampling it.

Before long, he had filled several pages. Not all of the ingredients were for the pills; some had been deliberately mixed in so that no one could discern the original formula.

He was not worried that Auspicious Light City would lack these things. Both its waterways and sea routes were well developed, and most of the Protectorate Office's goods converged here. Besides, the Profound Residence surely possessed similar pills and often sent people out to purchase ingredients, so everything should be gathered quickly.

At that moment, he heard a voice outside. "Is the master at home?"

Zhang Yu's thoughts turned. He put away the two academy applications on the desk, went out and opened the door, and found a young man in his twenties standing outside, likewise dressed in an assistant teacher's robes.

The man clasped his hands and bowed. "I am Qian Chang. I live in that humble dwelling thirty paces to the right. This courtyard had long stood empty, but today I suddenly saw that it had an owner, so I came to pay a visit."

Zhang Yu returned the bow with cupped hands. "Since we are neighbors, please come in and sit for a while."

After several polite exchanges, Qian Chang followed him inside. His gaze swiftly swept around the room. He coughed, took out a tin of tea leaves from his sleeve, and placed it on the table. "These are homegrown tea leaves from my hometown. They are not worth much, but Brother Zhang may as well have a taste."

Zhang Yu invited him to sit. As he had only just moved in and had nothing to offer, he brewed the tea Qian Chang had brought and entertained him with it while they chatted.

After they had finished a cup of tea, Qian Chang's eyes shifted, and he said, "I have enjoyed talking with Brother Zhang today, and it has stirred a bit of poetic inspiration in me. I fear I may lose the mood later, so may I borrow some paper and a brush from Brother Zhang?"

Zhang Yu gave him a meaningful glance, then led him into the study.

Qian Chang's eyes turned, and he immediately spotted several sheets of paper on the desk. He gave a startled sound, rushed forward to pick them up and look them over, then exclaimed, "Fine handwriting! Fine handwriting!" But then a puzzled look appeared on his face. "This is a prescription, is it not? Is Assistant Teacher Zhang feeling unwell?"

Zhang Yu said, "It is merely medicine to refresh the mind and clear the head."

Qian Chang said, "So many medicinal ingredients. Assistant Teacher Zhang does not have an attendant yet, does he? Why not let my attendant make the trip for you?"

Zhang Yu said, "Since Brother Qian is willing to help, then Yu thanks you."

Qian Chang repeatedly said there was no need. He then took up the paper and brush, put on a show of writing a poem, chatted a while longer, and took his leave.

Zhang Yu privately guessed that this man had likely been sent by the Academy. Perhaps some people did not trust him and wanted to see what he was doing, or perhaps they wished to catch some leverage on him so they could control him better. Only, this man's acting was somewhat exaggerated; his self-cultivation was still lacking.

Still, he considered whether he should find an attendant. Many trivial matters could then be handed over to that person, allowing him to free himself from them.

But after another thought, he decided to put it aside for now. It was difficult to truly trust people within the Academy. He could wait until he entered the Profound Residence and gained some ability to protect himself.

Taiyang Academy, Eastern Court Profound Office.

Located directly north of the Academy, it was a solemn complex of palaces surrounded by city terraces and outer walls, with three halls within.

Its position could be said to stand first in Celestial Xia's ritual order. In fact, the entire Taiyang Academy had been expanded around this place.

In the Affairs Hall, Xiang Chun, the chief administrator of the Profound Residence, was reviewing this year's academy applications. He examined them with great care, writing a line of comments on each one personally after turning it over.

After marking the last application, he looked at the application box. The stack within was roughly ten finger-widths thick, and he could not help nodding. "There are quite a few more students wishing to come to our Profound Residence for study this year than in previous years."

Xu Ying, seated opposite him, was dismissive. "What use is it no matter how many come? How many can devote themselves to cultivation and persist until the end? Most cannot even sense the Seal of the Great Dao, much less read its methods. The Academy students of today truly value only their own official careers. Even if there are talents among them, they will not emerge from this sort."

Xiang Chun shook his head. "Junior Brother, you are too arbitrary. Did you and I not come through the same way?"

Xu Ying retorted, "But we brothers had followed our teacher from childhood, steeped in his influence day in and day out. That was why we did not stray from the proper path."

Xiang Chun looked up at him. "You are going to bring up that young man of the Ji clan again?"

Xu Ying said with perfect confidence, "Senior Brother Xiang, I have told you before: Junior Nephew Ji was taught by Junior Brother Chen from childhood, and he himself is indeed an outstanding talent. If anyone can uphold the Profound Residence through its next sixty-year cycle and withstand the pressure of the Divine Commandery Army, then after you and me, only he can do it. Junior Brother Chen was killed by that traitor. Now we have a responsibility to teach him. I have already decided that in a few days, I will personally bring him to the Profound Residence."

Xiang Chun pondered for a moment. "Very well."

Xu Ying said delightedly, "Senior Brother, you agree?"

Xiang Chun said, "I also want to see what sort of young man this person you praise so highly truly is. But you must take great care of your own safety. Junior Brother Chen is gone. I do not want you to follow in his footsteps as well."

Xu Ying waved a hand. "Rest easy, Senior Brother. That traitor probably does not think me worth his attention." His spirits rose. "Besides, if I can bring Junior Nephew Ji into the Residence, then the loss of one Xu Ying amounts to nothing."

Watching his impassioned manner, Xiang Chun said earnestly, "Junior Brother Xu, do not place too much weight on one person. The more talent, the better, certainly, but who can make the future clear? The Turbid Tide is receding. If the Protectorate Office returns to Celestial Xia, what would the Divine Commandery Army amount to then?"

Xu Ying replied without the slightest courtesy, "But what if Celestial Xia is gone? Ever since Junior Brother Chen passed away, I have known that we cannot rely on others. We can only rely on ourselves!"

Xiang Chun did not argue with him. He sighed faintly. "Even so..." He pointed at the name cards in the application box. "There may not be a lack of fine talents among these students."

Xu Ying wore a thoroughly unconvinced expression.

At a glance, Xiang Chun knew that he had not taken a word to heart, and he felt quite helpless.

At that moment, an attendant walked in, bowed, and presented a letter of application in his hands. "Academy Administrator, another academy application has arrived."

Xiang Chun found this somewhat strange. Academy applications generally arrived together. One delivered separately had not come through the Academy's channels, but had instead been recommended by someone within the Profound Residence. This indicated that its owner might possess some unique quality.

He took it seriously as well, accepted the name card, and examined it carefully.

"Oh, an assistant teacher as well? And he entered the Academy through self-recommendation. That is rare indeed."

Xu Ying had gotten what he wanted and had originally been preparing to leave. Hearing this, however, he turned back. "Senior Brother, I know the person you mean. I heard that the Yao Salamander some days ago was killed by him." He snorted. "A mere mortal could kill a Spiritual Aberrant? That might fool ordinary fools, but nothing more. Perhaps the Divine Commandery Army arranged this deliberately. The Profound Residence cannot accept such a person."

Xiang Chun frowned. "Junior Brother, you are too extreme. So long as he is not a follower of the Other God Cult, even if he truly has ties to the Divine Commandery Army, if he is willing to enter our profound path, the Profound Residence can accept him. You know as well as I do that anyone with impure intentions cannot travel far on our path."

Xu Ying held to his view. "In any case, this man's origins are unclear. There is absolutely something wrong with him. Even if Senior Brother chooses to accept him, I will keep watch on him." With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode out.

Xiang Chun shook his head and carefully read through the academy application in his hand once more. When he saw that Zhang Yu was proficient in Ancient Natural History and also understood the languages of many indigenous tribes, he could not help sitting straighter, his expression turning more serious.

"This man must be recruited into our Profound Residence!"

After some thought, he picked up his brush and wrote a comment upon it. Once he had stamped it, he handed it to the attendant and instructed, "Deliver it to Assistant Teacher Zhang as quickly as possible. Do not delay."