Ten days passed.
Peace reigned at the Cottage.
Ye Qiubai took over Hong Ying's duties, cooking every day.
And since joining the Cottage, Hong Ying, who had long since ceased needing food, had developed the habit of eating three meals a day...
Aside from cooking, he sparred with Xin Hongyi or cultivated the Primordial Sword Scripture.
Hong Ying, meanwhile, spent her time in secluded cultivation whenever she was not eating.
Sometimes, she also went out.
As for what she did, that remained unknown.
Neither Ye Qiubai nor Lu Changsheng asked.
Lu Changsheng was still the same as ever, though a trace of worry would show on his face...
"Come on, the food's ready."
Just then, Ye Qiubai came out carrying several plates of food.
Sitting at the dining table, Lu Changsheng picked up a cup of wine he had brewed himself and said, "Go call your junior sister over to eat."
Ye Qiubai nodded.
Soon, he returned with Hong Ying.
Just as the three were about to pick up their chopsticks, Lu Changsheng suddenly said, "All right, Qiubai, go get another bowl and pair of chopsticks."
Ye Qiubai paused, but did as instructed and ran into the kitchen.
When he brought out the bowl and chopsticks, he saw a middle-aged man sitting on the other side of the table.
"Changsheng, you've made quite a comfortable little life for yourself."
Lu Changsheng said helplessly, "Uncle Qin, just tell me what you need."
Qin Tiannan nodded as he accepted the bowl and chopsticks, then laughed heartily. "Let's eat first and talk afterward. I haven't eaten anything in several hundred years myself."
Lu Changsheng rolled his eyes and began eating.
"Oh? This wine is good."
"..."
"Hmm? After drinking this wine, I feel my cultivation stirring after years without the slightest progress?"
"..."
"Changsheng, did you brew this yourself?"
Lu Changsheng finally could not stand it anymore. He waved his hand, and a large jar of wine instantly landed before Qin Tiannan.
His face darkened as he said, "Take it, take it!"
Only then did Qin Tiannan smile and say, "Oh, how could I accept?"
Even as he spoke, however, his body was much more honest as he put the wine away.
Hong Ying: "..."
Ye Qiubai: "..."
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill.
Only then did Qin Tiannan get down to business. "I came this time about the academy exchange."
"As you know, our Hidden Dao Academy has branches throughout the four regions, and we are the Southern Region branch."
"Every ten years, the Hidden Dao Academies of the four regions hold an academy exchange to determine how the resources issued by the main academy will be allocated."
"The academy tournament back then was held in preparation for this. So, Qiubai, come with me to the Northern Region."
This exchange between the four regional academies would take place in the Northern Region!
Hearing this, Ye Qiubai paused, then looked at Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng said calmly, "Decide for yourself whether you want to go."
The Northern Region was the Sunset Dynasty's territory.
Jiang Chan was there, too.
At that thought, Ye Qiubai's gaze grew firm, and he nodded.
Seeing this, Qin Tiannan said with satisfaction, "Very good. What about you, Hong Ying?"
Though she had not participated in the academy tournament.
Hong Ying's strength was beyond question. If she was willing to go as well, that would naturally be best.
Hong Ying shook her head. "I have some matters to attend to first, but I'll also be heading to the Northern Region. Once I'm finished, I'll come take a look."
Qin Tiannan nodded. "All right. Gather at the academy entrance tomorrow."
The next day.
An immortal crane departed from the Hidden Dao Academy.
This time, Qin Tiannan personally led the group.
Hong Ying left the Cottage alone, heading for the Northern Region.
Those participating in the exchange between the four regional academies were Ye Qiubai, Huo Qingming, Lin Ce, Zhong Wu, Xin Hongyi, and one other person Ye Qiubai had never met.
According to Xin Hongyi, however, this person was Qin Tiannan's disciple.
His name was Huang Yuan.
Apparently, he had always cultivated under Qin Tiannan and had only emerged into the world today.
Just then, the Confucian Academy elder said, "All right, let me explain the rules for this academy exchange."
Everyone turned to look at him.
The elder's gaze was grave. "The student exchange is divided into two aspects: a martial Dao exchange and a Confucian Dao exchange."
"Huang Yuan will lead the martial Dao exchange team, with Ye Qiubai, Huo Qingming, Lin Ce, and Xin Hongyi participating. Zhong Wu alone will handle the Confucian Academy exchange."
Qin Tiannan also walked over at this point, his expression solemn. "Our Southern Region has placed dead last several times in a row. You could also say that our overall strength falls short of the other three regions."
"However, this is also the most promising chance our Southern Region has had. So..."
Qin Tiannan bowed to them. "I entrust the academy's honor to you."
The Confucian Academy elder bowed alongside Qin Tiannan.
Both were among the academy's strongest experts and held lofty positions.
Yet now, they were bowing to the students.
It showed just how much importance Qin Tiannan placed on this academy exchange.
Meanwhile.
At the Eastern Region's Hidden Dao Academy.
"We must strive to take first place in this academy exchange."
"First place will probably still go to the Northern Region. Their foundations are simply too strong. Last place, though, should still go to the Southern Region."
"Yes, the Southern Region has the weakest foundations. They definitely won't be able to catch up."
At the Western Region's Hidden Dao Academy.
"We only need to beat the Southern Region in the martial Dao exchange. After all, it isn't our strong suit."
"Yes, but we must beat the Northern Region in the Confucian Dao exchange this time!"
"Don't worry. We have Wuming this time."
"Yes, Junior Brother Wuming is the reincarnation of a holy Buddha. There's no way he'll lose the Confucian Dao exchange."
At the Northern Region's Hidden Dao Academy.
"There's no question we'll take first place again this time, right?"
"Barring any surprises, yes. Several more peerless geniuses have emerged among us this time."
"We have Senior Brother Jian for the martial Dao exchange and Senior Sister Mu for the Confucian Dao exchange. With those two, first place is bound to belong to our Northern Region."
Meanwhile.
In the Northern Region, there was a little, nameless mountain, and within that mountain lay a village.
This village was extremely underdeveloped.
No one cultivated the Dao.
They tilled the fields at sunrise and rested at sunset.
However, in an open space in the village, a young man dressed like a scholar was teaching the village children.
"All right, class dismissed."
One child asked innocently, "Teacher, are you leaving tomorrow?"
"No, Teacher, can't you keep teaching us? We still want to study!"
The man smiled. "There is no banquet under heaven that does not end. Though I want to keep teaching you, I am still on the road of learning myself, so I must leave."
Upon hearing these words.
Only then did the village chief step forward. Taking the man's hands in his own heavily calloused hands, he said gratefully, "Thank you for teaching these past few months, sir, and giving these children a chance to study."
The man shook his head. "It is what I ought to do."
The next day, before dawn.
The man left behind a few books, shouldered his book basket, and departed from the little village.
After walking out of the village, he looked back and could not help sighing.
"Reluctant to leave?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him. Startled, the man stepped back and asked, "Who are you?"
The white-robed man before him chuckled. "My name is Lu Changsheng. I wish to take you as my disciple."