In the little courtyard.
Mr. Yan smiled at Qi Hanmo as though gazing at a peerless piece of uncut jade.
In Mr. Yan's eyes,
Qi Hanmo, as a musician,
had devoted himself wholeheartedly to treating Lin Yue-that was benevolence.
He had kept his conduct proper despite Lin Yue's affection-that was propriety.
He had refused riches offered by Lin Yue's elders because his elder brother had been insulted-that was righteousness.
He had not taken his anger over his brother's humiliation out on Lin Yue-that was wisdom.
He asked solemnly, "Young friend Hanmo, do you know who I am?"
Qi Hanmo shook his head in bewilderment. He was no fool. Mr. Yan's repeated guidance, coupled with the faint aura that occasionally emanated from him, had led Qi Hanmo to suspect that he was no ordinary cultivator.
But he truly did not know Mr. Yan's exact identity.
Mr. Yan raised his voice slightly. "I come from Jixia, and I am one of the Academy's lecturers."
"Jixia? A lecturer?" Qi Hanmo was stunned by his words.
He had never imagined that Mr. Yan, who had played chess with him for so many days, came from the sacred land of Confucian cultivators-and was even a lecturer, someone hailed as a sage of the present age.
After speaking, Mr. Yan paused briefly. Only when Qi Hanmo had regained his composure did he continue solemnly, "Would you be willing to return to Jixia with me to cultivate?"
"Cultivate in Jixia?" Qi Hanmo understood that Mr. Yan meant to take him as a disciple.
He hurriedly bowed respectfully. "You have taught me so much over these past days, sir. I am willing to honor you as my master and follow you in cultivation!"
Mr. Yan nodded. "Then pack your belongings. We will return to Jixia together today."
Yet