Venerable Law Confucian

The Imperial Academy, the Confucian School's Law Enforcement Hall.

The atmosphere was stagnant, even somewhat oppressive.

The four command officers wore icy expressions, putting on a solemn air without saying a word.

Orders had come from above to deliberately find fault today, to make trouble out of nothing. Wasn't this asking too much of them?

Inside the Law Enforcement Hall, Li Ziye straightened after bowing and stood quietly, smiling at the four men, in no hurry at all.

Keep pretending. I don't believe you can stay silent forever.

Sure enough, before long, one of the four command officers snorted and spoke. "Li Ziye, do you know your crime?"

"No."

Li Ziye smiled. "What crime have I committed?"

"Administering punishment without authority and beating students of our Imperial Academy. This is a serious crime!"

Another command officer spoke coldly.

"Beating?"

Li Ziye smiled. "The entire capital's populace can bear witness. I was merely defending myself. How does that constitute a beating?"

"Your martial arts far surpass theirs. You could clearly have stopped short, yet you disregarded benevolence and righteousness and struck viciously. If that wasn't a beating, what was it? So young, yet already so cruel and ruthless. Without punishment, you will surely become a menace." The third Confucian command officer spoke, his expression indifferent.

"Heh."

Li Ziye sneered. "By your reasoning, Officer, if foreign enemies one day invaded our Great Shang, occupied our land, and slaughtered our people, our Great Shang would only need to stop short and frighten them away. What sort of reasoning is that? Yesterday, I heard those people say, quite clearly, that they would cripple me. If I were cruel and ruthless, a few days bedridden would be the least of their problems."

"Clever words and sophistry!"

The fourth command officer snorted. "How can affairs of state be compared to private grudges? Li Ziye, we originally summoned you only to give you a small punishment as a greater warning. To think you show not the slightest remorse. Stubborn and incorrigible! Without severe punishment, who knows what trouble you might cause in the future? Attend us!"

"Here!"

Four Confucian students entered from outside the Law Enforcement Hall and bowed respectfully.

"Bring the disciplinary rulers."

The fourth command officer spoke calmly.

"Yes!"

The four Confucian students accepted the order.

Before long, the four students returned with disciplinary rulers held respectfully in both hands.

Inside the Law Enforcement Hall, Li Ziye showed no trace of panic. Looking at the four Confucian command officers, he said evenly, "Gentlemen, I am not a student of the Imperial Academy. Even if I must stand trial, it is not the Imperial Academy's place to judge me. Has the Imperial Academy now risen above Great Shang's laws, with the right to administer punishment privately?"

"Do not talk nonsense!"

The four command officers' expressions changed at his words, and they shouted.

This was not an accusation the Imperial Academy could bear.

"Even the Great Shang Dynasty's laws do not stipulate that self-defense warrants punishment, yet the Imperial Academy insists on forcing the blame onto someone else because of its own students' misconduct, and even intends to administer punishment privately. What tremendous power the Imperial Academy wields! If I were not a son of the Li Family, but an ordinary commoner, would no one dare say a word even if I were beaten to death here today? Has the Imperial Academy truly reached the point where it can blot out the sky with one hand in this capital?" Li Ziye sneered.

"You-boy, do not spout baseless slander!"

The more the four command officers heard, the more alarmed they grew. Cold sweat streamed down their faces as they shouted sternly.

We can't hold out.

This boy has a sharp tongue. He's hard to handle. We really shouldn't have accepted this job!

"Go ahead and beat me."

Li Ziye smiled faintly, standing perfectly still. "I will not resist. But the Imperial Academy ought to think carefully about how it will silence all the wagging tongues under heaven. Of course, the Imperial Academy can simply disregard them entirely."

Behind him, the four students holding the disciplinary rulers exchanged glances, their faces troubled. They could neither strike nor refrain from striking.

The four Confucian command officers also sat there awkwardly, not daring to give the order lightly.

They knew the Li Family's influence. If word of this spread, the Confucian School would undoubtedly be thrust onto the crest of the storm.

They had never intended to make things too difficult for this legitimate son of the Li Family. They had merely been ordered from above to test the young fellow. They had not expected things to develop this far.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Just then, applause sounded outside the Law Enforcement Hall. A man who looked about forty strode in, dressed in Confucian robes, his manner unsmiling. Step by step, he walked to the hall's principal seat.

"Our respects, Venerable!"

Seeing the newcomer, the four Confucian command officers immediately rose and bowed respectfully.

Li Ziye also turned his gaze toward the middle-aged man before him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Venerable Law Confucian!

The head of the Confucian School's Law Enforcement Hall, and also one of its Four Venerables.

"You may all leave."

Venerable Law Confucian spoke evenly.

"Yes!"

The four students accepted the order, turned, and left.

"And you four, go receive your disciplinary punishment yourselves."

Venerable Law Confucian looked at the four Confucian command officers kneeling below and spoke calmly.

"Yes, Venerable!"

The four Confucian command officers exchanged glances, their expressions shifting, then bowed respectfully once more, rose, and left.

After everyone had departed, only Venerable Law Confucian and Li Ziye remained in the Law Enforcement Hall.

The atmosphere was so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard.

"Li Ziye."

After a long while, Venerable Law Confucian spoke calmly. "The Confucian School has been discourteous. I hope you will not take offense."

"You are too kind, Venerable."

Li Ziye bowed. "I did indeed strike somewhat too hard yesterday."

One did not strike a smiling face. Since Venerable Law Confucian had taken the initiative to lower himself, Li Ziye could not refuse to relent simply because he was in the right.

After all, Old Qin might still be here in the Imperial Academy.

"Li Ziye, would you be willing to enter our Imperial Academy?"

Without beating around the bush, Venerable Law Confucian directly stated his purpose.

"Enter the Imperial Academy?"

Li Ziye frowned slightly. "It isn't time for the Imperial Academy to admit students yet, is it?"

"An exception can be made for you."

Venerable Law Confucian answered.

"Why?"

Li Ziye was puzzled. He was not so conceited as to consider himself some world-shaking genius whom even the Imperial Academy would tearfully beg to join.

There's definitely something fishy here.

I need to be careful. I can't let someone sell me off and then help them count the money!

"This was an instruction from the Head of the Confucians. I do not know why either."

Venerable Law Confucian said calmly, "You need only answer whether you are willing or unwilling."

"An instruction from the Head of the Confucians? May I meet him?"

Li Ziye asked in surprise.

"No."

Venerable Law Confucian said evenly, "The Head of the Confucians did not say he wished to see you. However, if you enter our Imperial Academy, you may have a chance to meet him."

"May I think it over?"

Li Ziye considered it, then asked.

"Yes."

Venerable Law Confucian nodded. "Give me your answer whenever you have made up your mind. There is no hurry."

"Thank you, Venerable."

Li Ziye cupped his hands and bowed in thanks. "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Mm."

Venerable Law Confucian nodded without asking him to stay.

Li Ziye turned and left, his mind full of questions.

The Head of the Confucians?

We've never even met. Why would he mention me?

After Li Ziye left, Venerable Law Confucian also rose and departed.

In a small courtyard in an inconspicuous corner of the Imperial Academy, Venerable Law Confucian arrived and bowed. "Head of the Confucians, he has left."

"He did not agree?"

Inside the courtyard, the old man spoke with a smile.

"He said he wanted to think it over."

Venerable Law Confucian answered.

"Mm."

The old man nodded. "I thought he would not agree so quickly. Let him be. Such things cannot be forced."

"Yes!"

Venerable Law Confucian replied respectfully.

"Oh, right."

Inside the courtyard, the old man thought for a moment. "That disciple of yours is too rigid. Have him spend more time with the Li Family's legitimate son."

At these words, Venerable Law Confucian's expression shifted slightly. He wanted to say something, but held back, bowed respectfully once more, and answered, "Yes!"

"Go back to your duties."

Inside the courtyard, the old man smiled and spoke.

That young fellow will probably conceal his abilities for quite some time. The capital will certainly be lively from here on!

Venerable Law Confucian accepted the order, then turned and left.

Half a day later, a young man in white Confucian robes left the Imperial Academy and headed straight for Li Garden.

At Li Garden, Li Ziye, who had found a rare moment to sit down for tea and rest after practicing his swordsmanship, spat out a mouthful of tea upon hearing what the young man in white before him said.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Li Ziye wiped the tea from the corner of his mouth and asked incredulously, "You want to stay here? Venerable Law Confucian sent you?"

"Mm."

Bai Wangyu bowed and said earnestly, "I hope you will take me in, Brother Li. Otherwise, I will be unable to account for myself to the Venerable when I return."

"Letting you stay is fine, but..."

Li Ziye's eyes shifted. Turning toward Hongzhu behind him, he asked quietly, "Is he formidable?"

"Not just ordinarily formidable."

Hongzhu likewise answered quietly, "This Bai Wangyu is Law Confucian's eldest disciple and the senior brother of all the Imperial Academy's students. His cultivation has reportedly reached the peak of the Second Realm. He isn't far from opening his third Divine Repository."

"Holy shit, that formidable!"

Li Ziye looked startled. Comparing oneself to others could anger one to death. He was still struggling in the early stage of the First Realm, while this fellow was already about to attempt a breakthrough into the Third Realm.

"Could this be a trick?" Li Ziye asked uneasily.

"Probably not."

Hongzhu said quietly, "Bai Wangyu is famously rigid. If Law Confucian had some other purpose, he wouldn't have sent him. Take him in first; we can discuss everything else later. Li Garden needs people right now. Keeping Bai Wangyu means we gain a free fighter. Besides, his status is distinguished. Anyone who wants to cause trouble at Li Garden in the future will have to weigh that carefully."

"Good point!"

Li Ziye gave her a thumbs-up, then coughed, sat up straight, and looked at the young man in white before him. "I can take you in, but Li Garden has its own rules. If you want to stay here, you must abide by them."

"I will follow all your arrangements, Brother Li," Bai Wangyu answered very earnestly.

"You know how things work."

Li Ziye was thoroughly satisfied. An obedient, formidable fighter was exactly what he lacked right now.

Finally, finally, Heaven has remembered its own dear son and arranged a little perk for me.

"Come, I'll take you to your room."

Li Ziye rose to arrange Bai Wangyu's accommodation personally.

"Thank you, Brother Li."

Bai Wangyu replied respectfully, then stepped forward and followed him.

Li Ziye led Bai Wangyu toward the west wing. Along the way, he did not forget to continue negotiating terms. "Brother Bai, I've been lacking an opponent for my sword practice lately. Do you think we could spar sometime?"

"If you wish to spar, Brother Li, I will certainly do my best to oblige," Bai Wangyu answered.

"Mm... there's no need to use your full strength."

Li Ziye said sheepishly, "It's only sparring. Just suppress your cultivation to the early stage of the First Realm so we don't hurt each other. Wouldn't you agree?"

"You make a good point, Brother Li."

Bai Wangyu nodded in full agreement.

"Heh, heh."

Looking at this senior brother of the Confucian School, as innocent as a little white flower, Li Ziye laughed awkwardly. For the first time, he felt somewhat guilty.

Why do I feel like the big bad wolf tricking Little Red Riding Hood?