The Divine Prodigy, Fan Dazhi

As usual, this lesson was mathematics. Lin Qiu Chi explained the three questions on the test paper in detail, then asked the students below whether they understood. Some still had only a hazy grasp, while others eagerly began asking questions. After the previous lesson, everyone's interest in mathematics had noticeably grown.

While she was answering the students' questions at the front, a sudden knock came at the classroom door. A flicker of displeasure crossed Lin Qiu Chi's face at the interruption. She walked over and opened the door, her expression blank.

A sharp, capable-looking attendant stood outside, holding a multicolored flag. His face lit up when he saw Lin Qiu Chi.

"Master Lin, this Formation Flag is damaged. The Academy Head sent me to ask whether you could repair it."

Lin Qiu Chi frowned slightly, took the multicolored flag, and examined it.

"Which formation does this Formation Flag belong to?"

"Reporting to you, Master Lin: this is the Formation Flag for the Isolation Barrier Formation at the Women's Dormitory. We don't know why it broke. If you can repair it, I'll report back to the Academy Head right away!" the attendant replied respectfully.

"Yes, I can."

Lin Qiu Chi answered with breezy composure, as though discussing some trifling matter.

"Wonderful! I'll report back to the Academy Head!" The attendant turned to leave, then stopped. "Er... Master Lin, when will it be ready? I'll come back to collect it."

"Come back when this lesson ends."

With that, Lin Qiu Chi closed the classroom door, returned to the front, and placed the Formation Flag on the desk.

The flag was about the size of a palm, covered in strange symbols of every color. Its pole looked wooden, yet gave off a faint, dark sheen, and intricate patterns were carved into its surface.

"Who could have such powerful divine sense?... Strange... someone who's reached that level... why would they... stoop to something as filthy as peeping into the Women's Dormitory?"

Her brow tightly furrowed, Lin Qiu Chi stared at the Formation Flag on the desk and could not help murmuring to herself.

He An's hearing was exceptional. Even from far away, he caught her words at the front of the classroom. His heart jolted, and he cast a suspicious glance at Fan Dazhi. The fellow had lowered his eyes and tucked in his head, looking distinctly guilty.

Lin Qiu Chi glanced over the students, pulled a soft sheet of Xuan paper from a stack of lesson notes, and used it to cushion her grip as she picked up a charcoal stick from the box on the desk. Turning, she wrote a mathematics problem on the large white wooden board hanging on the wall.

One plus two plus three plus four plus... ninety-eight plus ninety-nine plus one hundred. What is the total?

"Mathematics requires not only meticulous thought, but also a good command of calculation speed. Start working on this problem. Whoever finds the answer first, speak up!"

With that, Lin Qiu Chi put down the charcoal stick, dusted off her hands, gently pulled over a stool, and sat at the desk.

Since mathematics lessons had only recently begun, this problem should keep the students busy for quite a while. She could use the opportunity to repair the damaged Formation Flag.

Watching the students take up their paper and brushes and bend over their calculations in concentration, Lin Qiu Chi drew a small cloth pouch from her sleeve and unfolded it on the desk. Inside were numerous little pockets, each holding delicate, compact tools: files, needles, knives, shears, and more, along with all sorts of oddly shaped objects whose names were impossible to guess.

She drew out a finely made ruler and measured the Formation Flag. With one hand tracing the patterns on the pole, she held a brush in the other and rapidly worked through some calculations on the Xuan paper.

A moment later, Lin Qiu Chi set down her brush, took out a small carving knife, and carved an intricate pattern into the pole. Her movements flowed with extraordinary skill. The new pattern covered the original lines, yet strangely, there was not the slightest discord. Instead, it looked even more beautiful and mysterious.

Having finished, Lin Qiu Chi took a red drawing brush from a pocket and drew a peculiar symbol on the flag. Then she resumed her rapid calculations on the paper. A moment later, just as she picked up the knife to carve into the pole again, a voice rang out from below.

"Instructor, I've worked it out!"

Lin Qiu Chi's knife hand paused. She glanced down. The student who had spoken was Fan Dazhi.

"What is the answer?"

Without lifting her head, Lin Qiu Chi continued carving patterns into the pole and asked in a cool voice.

"Five thousand and fifty!"

Fan Dazhi quietly gave the number.

The knife in Lin Qiu Chi's hand nearly cut into the wrong line. Disbelief appeared on her face. Had he worked it out that quickly? Her hand, normally steady as Mount Tai, actually trembled. With difficulty, she finished carving a pattern that was ordinarily effortless for her, then put everything down, stood, and walked to the classroom door to pull it open.

"Fan Dazhi, come outside for a moment!"

Lin Qiu Chi folded her arms across her chest. The cold wind brushed her cool face as she carefully examined the student named Fan Dazhi standing before her.

He had a broad forehead, thick brows, a square face, and large ears, with a black soot mark still on his chin. His looks were hardly appealing-utterly ordinary, one might say. On top of that, he was round and plump, a little fatty through and through.

"How did you work it out?"

Expressionless, Lin Qiu Chi stared into his eyes as she asked, only to discover that they were exceptionally clear. For an instant, she had the absurd impression that two flawless crystals had been mistakenly set into a crude face.

"I... I noticed that one and one hundred add up to one hundred and one. Two and ninety-nine also add up to one hundred and one. Three and ninety-eight still add up to one hundred and one... added together like that, there are fifty lots of one hundred and one, so the result is fifty times one hundred and one. The answer should be five thousand and fifty... um... that's how I worked it out!"

Fan Dazhi spoke softly. When he finished, he stole a quick glance at Lin Qiu Chi. Seeing that his instructor neither approved nor disapproved, he lowered his head glumly.

Lin Qiu Chi let out a long breath. In the cold wind, it resembled a puff of white smoke, dispersing in an instant.

She forced down the excitement in her heart. When she looked at Fan Dazhi again, an extraordinary light shone in her eyes.

"Would you like to study formations?"

Lin Qiu Chi suddenly asked this inexplicable question.

"With your talent and aptitude, you could become an outstanding formation master."

Lin Qiu Chi added.

"Huh? Study formations? Become a formation master?"

Fan Dazhi scratched his head. Wouldn't that mean dealing with numbers all day? Calculating and memorizing, writing and drawing, buried in piles of old papers, poring over texts until my hair turned white... that wouldn't be any fun at all.

At the thought, Fan Dazhi shook his head like a pellet drum.

"You don't have to decide right away. Think it over, then give me your answer."

For once, Lin Qiu Chi's icy voice softened considerably. A faint smile even appeared on her face.

Fan Dazhi pressed his lips together and kept his head lowered, unmoved.

"It's windy outside. Go back in."

Watching Fan Dazhi's retreating figure, Lin Qiu Chi narrowed her eyes, fine crow's-feet blossoming at their corners.

"A genius!"

Standing in the wind, Lin Qiu Chi whispered as though talking in her sleep.

"I thought Dragon Gate Academy had gathered all the finest talents under heaven. Who would have imagined... such a heaven-gifted prodigy would be here? The headmaster truly has extraordinary luck!"

Inside the classroom, students began arriving at the result one after another. The answer was indeed five thousand and fifty, just as Fan Dazhi had said. Surprised, several began discussing it quietly. As more students reached the same answer, the classroom gradually grew noisy. Now that the answer was known, some who had not finished simply gave up and joined the chatter.

"You'd never guess it, but he's so clever. You really can't judge a person by their appearance." The speaker was a girl with a few freckles sitting in the front row.

"Exactly! How do you think his brain works? Could all the food he eats be feeding his brain instead..." The girl who chimed in covered her mouth and laughed.

"Hey! What do you think... the instructor called Second Brother Fan outside for?" Han Chanjuan turned sideways and asked He An quietly.

"To praise him, of course!"

He An answered with confidence, wiping ink off the back of his hand. He had also worked out the answer shortly after Fan Dazhi went outside, and could not help feeling great admiration for his brother.

"O Dazhi, a divine prodigy indeed!"...

Zhuge Guagua imitated their poetry instructor's usual manner of recitation, chanting with an exaggerated expression. Paired with his crossed eyes, it looked utterly ridiculous, and everyone burst into laughter.

Amid their laughter, the divine prodigy Fan Dazhi pushed open the door and entered. Every gaze instantly landed on him.

Head lowered, Fan Dazhi took small, steady steps, watching his protruding little belly and the moving tips of his feet. Suddenly, he sensed something strange in the classroom. He looked up to find countless eyes fixed on him and could not help feeling bewildered.

The gazes directed at Fan Dazhi held envy, jealousy, surprise, encouragement...

Under everyone's scrutiny, Fan Dazhi grew flustered. He stood frozen for a moment, suddenly unsure whether to move his left leg or his right foot first. He managed a few awkward steps, stumbled, and nearly fell, drawing a roar of laughter.

The bell rang to end the lesson, and the classroom began to bustle. At the Knowledge and Practice Institute, students had one day off after every ten days of lessons, also called a "rest-and-bathing day." Tomorrow happened to be that day, and some students whose homes were near Luoyang City began packing their bundles.

The winter sun had already set early. In the Knowledge and Practice Institute's flower beds, only a few spire-shaped pines remained green. The other shrubs and vines had lost their flowers and leaves, looking desolate in the cold wind. A few sparrows chirped as they hopped and fluttered among the branches.

He An and Han Chanjuan walked side by side along the gravel path between the flower beds, with Fan Dazhi trailing slowly behind.

"So many days of lessons in a row! I'm exhausted. Tomorrow I can finally have a lovely lie-in!"

Han Chanjuan stretched with her little fists clenched, complaining rather dramatically.

"You like hot pot. If you're free tomorrow, let's go to Dong Lai Shun. But let me say this first-my treat!"

He An gazed at Han Chanjuan's profile with a touch of affection, smiling as he waited for her reply.

"Oh my! I almost forgot you're rich now. You won a hundred-tael banknote in that match, and it's already gone to your head? Dong Lai Shun is expensive, you know."

Han Chanjuan teased him with a smile, two adorable dimples appearing in her cheeks.

"It's expensive because you're worth it! Someone precious deserves something pricey!"

He An deliberately drew out his words, matching her tone as he played along.

"Oh-my! When did you become such a smooth talker?"

Han Chanjuan looked delighted, her smiling eyes curving into crescents. Then she seemed to remember something, and her smile suddenly collapsed. She stamped her foot petulantly and kicked a pebble into the flower bed, startling several sparrows off the branches.