Seizing Name and Righteousness

In the blink of an eye, another month had passed. It was already late April. There was still no sign of rain over Auspicious Light City, and lately one could often see Academy attendants carrying buckets of water about to irrigate the flowers and trees.

These past days, Zhang Yu had been actively making all kinds of preparations. He had ordered Li Qinghe to gather various antiques and Strange Monster bone fragments from the medicinal markets, but among the things brought back so far, none contained Source Energy.

He also knew very well that this was not something that could be rushed. What was needed was patience; who knew when he might suddenly reap a harvest.

Meanwhile, the Miscellaneous Storehouse had delivered two more batches of Strange Monster bone fragments this month. The Divine Essence absorbed from them, added to what he already had, was nearly enough for him to read two more chapter seals.

Now he was waiting for this month's final batch of bone fragments. Once it arrived, he should have enough Divine Essence to read three seals.

Yet if the Heartlight Seal and the Sword Seal that still had not been filled were included, the shortfall remained considerable. But looking on the bright side, this was still better than possessing Divine Essence without any chapter seals to read.

That day, after finishing his lessons, he was preparing to mark the students' assignments when his heart suddenly stirred. Looking up, he saw a man in the official robes and cap of the Protectorate Office enter. The man cupped his hands and said, "Forgive the interruption. Are you Assistant Instructor Zhang?"

Zhang Yu rose and returned the salute. "That is me. May I ask who you are?"

The man glanced around. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, might we speak privately?"

Zhang Yu turned aside and gestured. "This way, please."

The two went to a room behind the classroom. Once they were seated, the man introduced himself. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, my name is Qi Song. I am a functionary of the Guest Reception Office of the Protectorate Office. I have come at my superior's instruction to ask you something. Among the students in your classroom, is there anyone who can now communicate with the natives of the Steel Claw Tribe?"

Zhang Yu said, "These students are all intelligent, but they have studied for too short a time and have not truly had contact with members of the Steel Claw Tribe. The Steel Claw Tribe is exceptionally combative. If one says something wrong and they feel insulted, they will resort to force. If these students are sent there rashly now, it could lead to consequences no one wishes to see."

Qi Song said, "From what I have learned, Assistant Instructor Zhang is rather familiar with the Steel Claw Tribe. If you were asked to communicate with this tribe, how confident would you be?"

Zhang Yu calmly replied, "That depends on what the Protectorate Office wishes me to accomplish."

Qi Song thought for a moment, then nodded. "I understand." He rose from his seat and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Assistant Instructor Zhang, for speaking truthfully."

Zhang Yu stood and returned the salute, then watched the man depart.

A thought turned in his mind. It seemed the Protectorate Office was preparing to establish formal contact with the Steel Claw Tribe.

He had been following the newspapers closely of late. Last month had been fine, but since this month began, news about the Steel Claw Tribe had started appearing more often. The number of Steel Claw Tribe natives entering the Open Plain must have reached a considerable level by now.

He guessed this might also be related to the recent changes in rainfall. There had been no rain across the Protectorate Office's territory for two months. Perhaps there was no issue yet in the upper and middle reaches of the Dawn River, but the lower reaches would inevitably be affected. This would likely force those of the Steel Claw Tribe to move upstream, making it impossible for the Protectorate Office to ignore them any longer.

Returning to the classroom, he found a slender girl standing there with a cloth bookbag clutched against her chest. He said, "An Chuer, why have you come back? Is something the matter?"

An Chuer bowed to him, somewhat nervous. "Teacher, someone from my tribe came to find me just now. They asked whether, if Teacher was absent, I could communicate with the Steel Claw Tribe on my own. I felt I should tell Teacher about this."

Zhang Yu nodded. "I understand. An Chuer, thank you for coming to tell your teacher. Focus on your studies. Do not worry too much about other matters."

An Chuer gave a firm nod. "Teacher, then I'll be going."

"Wait." Zhang Yu took a small booklet from his sleeve and handed it to her. "Take this. I may need to leave the Academy soon. If I am unable to come to the classroom, you may study from this first."

An Chuer accepted it with both hands and said earnestly, "Teacher, I will study it with all my heart."

At the same time, in the inner hall of the Protectorate Office's Governance Office, Chi Chao, the Academy Supervisor of Taiyang Academy, stood below the hall and was being sternly questioned by the newly appointed Lord Liu Fengquan.

Liu Fengquan spoke in a severe tone. "Academy Supervisor Chi, Taiyang Academy knew of this matter long ago, did it not? Why did you not report it to the Protectorate Office in time?"

Academy Supervisor Chi answered without fluster, "During the Scholars' Deliberation in February, the Academy had not yet had time to confirm the matter. In March, Yao Gongfu left office, while Liu Gongfu had not yet assumed his post. No one presided over the Metropolitan Hall. Raising the matter rashly might have caused too much turmoil. However, the Academy had already reported it to the Protector, so it cannot be said that we failed to report it."

Liu Fengquan stared at him for a while. "Yao Gongfu knew about this too, didn't he?"

Academy Supervisor Chi stood there without answering.

Liu Fengquan did not press further. Sitting in his chair, he waved dismissively. "Academy Supervisor Chi, you may return. I hope the people you have arranged this time will not spoil matters."

Academy Supervisor Chi cupped his hands, turned, and left.

Liu Fengquan rose, his hands behind his back as he gazed down at the vast Auspicious Light City, his expression grave and profound.

At this moment, a functionary entered from outside and bowed. "Lord, Lord Zhan has arrived."

Without turning around, Liu Fengquan said, "Let him enter."

After a while, an old man leaning on a cane slowly walked in. His face was covered in wrinkles, his hair and beard sparse, but he appeared hale and vigorous, and his eyes were bright with spirit. Half lifting his cane, he bowed toward the front. "Lord."

Liu Fengquan turned around. "Lord Zhan, please sit and speak."

Lord Zhan cupped his hands slightly. "Before you, Lord, where would this old man have a seat?"

Liu Fengquan did not urge him again. He returned to his own chair and flipped through an official document he had not finished reading earlier. Only after a while did he raise his head and ask, "Can the matter you mentioned be accomplished?"

Lord Zhan leaned on his cane, yet his body stood perfectly straight. He spoke unhurriedly. "Though this old man is no longer the Chancellor of Taiyang Academy, quite a few people are still willing to grant me this small measure of face."

Liu Fengquan looked at him. "I am not asking how you will do it. I am asking only whether you can do it well."

A keen gleam seemed to emerge in Lord Zhan's clouded eyes. "This old man has lived for more than a hundred years and has never uttered empty boasts. Whether I can do it well? Heh heh, Lord, just wait and see."

Liu Fengquan studied him for several moments, then nodded. "Good. I will wait."

After Zhang Yu left the classroom, he returned to his residence. He had originally planned to go to the Miscellaneous Storehouse after noon and collect the Strange Monster bone fragments that might be delivered that day.

But before he could set out, an instructor came to find him, saying that Academy Supervisor Chi wished to see him.

The highest academic office in the Academy was that of Chancellor, but it was merely a nominal position, an honorary rank bestowed upon those of renown. The one responsible for practical affairs was the Academy Supervisor, so the holder of that post was the Academy's true master.

Since this man had summoned him, other matters naturally had to be set aside first.

He followed the instructor all the way to Kuiwen Hall, the main hall of Taiyang Academy.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw Academy Supervisor Chi Chao seated in the central position of the great hall. On either side sat the four Academy commandants of highest standing, while below them were more than thirty hall stewards and functionaries. Liu Guang, Zhu Anshi, and Xin Yao were also seated there, though they could only respectfully occupy the lowest seats.

Academy Supervisor Chi had never met Zhang Yu before, having only repeatedly heard his name. Upon seeing him now, eight words could not help but arise in his mind: "Clear bearing and godlike poise, elegant as jade standing tall."

It was not only him. The others present who were seeing Zhang Yu for the first time also could not help privately marveling.

Zhang Yu came before the hall and clasped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Academy Supervisor. Greetings, honored instructors."

Academy Supervisor Chi nodded and returned the salute. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, please take a seat."

Zhang Yu saluted again, then took his place at the seat before the assembled crowd, without the slightest trace of restraint or discomfort.

Academy Supervisor Chi watched his expression. Seeing that he remained composed and unruffled even before such an imposing gathering, he secretly nodded.

He said, "Assistant Instructor Zhang, you likely already know why you have been invited here today."

Zhang Yu replied, "A Functionary Lin from the Guest Reception Office came to see me this morning and asked about communicating with the Steel Claw Tribe. Since the Academy has now summoned me, I presume it is for the same matter."

Academy Supervisor Chi said gravely, "Since you understand, I will not waste words. The Protectorate Office's strategy has always been to suppress the north and pacify the south. There are now more than five thousand members of the Steel Claw Tribe on the Open Plain, and the existence of Strange Gods has been confirmed. The natives south of the Open Plain number roughly tens of thousands, scattered here and there. If these people are gathered together, it will bring about enormous disaster. At present, it appears only Assistant Instructor Zhang can communicate with them, so the responsibility you must shoulder is truly no small one."

One of the Academy commandants seated to Academy Supervisor Chi's left spoke up. "Since you are to undertake this matter, your current status as an assistant instructor is somewhat too low. We have discussed it and intend to promote you to—"

"Hold on!"

At that moment, an aged yet still resounding voice came from outside, cutting him off. An old man leaning on a cane then entered the hall, supported at his side by a handsome young man.

Someone cried out, "Lord Zhan?"

Most of those present rose to their feet and saluted him. As the old man made his way forward, calls of "Lord Zhan" rang out without cease.

Lord Zhan walked directly to the front, stopping only a few steps from Academy Supervisor Chi's seat. He turned around, swept his gaze across the hall, tapped his cane against the floor, and said, "This old man believes that for this matter, it would be more suitable for my son, Zhan Zhitong, to take the lead!"