Chapter 34: Time is Short, the Task Not Overwhelming

As evening fell, Fang Manor became quite lively.

The news that Second Young Master Fang had earned praise from his Elder Mentor at the Academy and demonstrated extraordinary skill by using the Art of Object Manipulation to lift a massive stone weighing nearly a hundred pounds had spread to Willow Lake City through the mouths of Academy observers. Elder Fang and Madam Fang were overjoyed. Madam Fang personally went to the kitchen, directing maids to steam a basket of fresh meat buns, simmer a pot of lingzhi mushroom and ginseng soup, and prepare several other dishes.

Elder Fang, who hadn’t cooked in many years, even tied on an apron and personally made a fresh fish drizzled with hot oil for Fang Cun.

The table was laden with food. Elder Fang even opened a jar of Jade Dew Wine he’d aged for three hundred years.

One whiff of that wine aroma told Fang Cun his father had spared no expense. This Jade Dew Wine was unique to Willow Lake; only water drawn from an ancient well in East City could produce such fine liquor. The longer it was sealed, the richer its fragrance. Back when Fang Chi was alive, people sent jars every year as tribute to Elder Fang. Now, he reckoned there’d be no more coming. It was a dwindling treasure.

At this small family feast, Elder Fang poured Fang Cun a cup himself, chuckling non-stop. “I had Old Huang investigate properly. Right now, the whole city is praising our Cun! Just look at Second Young Master Liang, Seventh Young Master Zhou of West City, that girl from Scholar Ling’s family over in Yellow Willow Bud Alley… weren’t they all boasting two years ago when they entered the Academy early? Well, turns out they were the least promising batch! Our Cun, only a month in, already surpasses them…”

Madam Fang kept putting food on Fang Cun’s plate, her eyes slightly red. Her voice was both melancholy and proud. “Our Cun takes after me, of course he’s better than their children. Those dull lumps don’t hold a candle to him in looks either!”

Elder Fang silently picked up a piece of chicken neck to chew. ‘Ah, now that he’s achieved something, naturally he takes after you…’ But ever since the eldest brother’s passing, his wife hadn’t been in high spirits. Best not argue, he supposed.

After coaxing enough food into Fang Cun for him to feel comfortably full, Elder Fang asked cautiously, “Cun, son, I heard today you haven’t had an Instructor teaching you these past months since entering the Academy? Why didn’t you tell us earlier…”

Madam Fang also tensed up, looking at Fang Cun with concern.

Seeing their expressions, Fang Cun understood their worry. Today, he had basked in the spotlight before the entire Academy, solidifying his reputation as a genius. This was a good thing and part of his original plan. Yet, while the whole city was abuzz about how brilliant he was, Elder Fang and Madam Fang were concerned about something else entirely.

News of his brilliance had spread, but so had the fact he was dismissed by his Instructor that very first day. While others cared about his achievements, this old couple was clearly worried about whether he’d suffered any injustice at the Academy.

“The stuff they teach there? Didn’t even need others to teach me,” Fang Cun said lazily, tossing his chopsticks aside. He chuckled. “Though I’m not so brilliant I learned everything entirely on my own. There was a Teacher. The one called Master Lan Shuang. He wanted to take me as his personal disciple; he’s been teaching me secretly. As for Instructor Yuanzhi, well, his skills are meager but his pride is huge. I deliberately avoided him. Why pick a lousy Instructor when there’s a good one?”

“Oh… oh, I see…” Elder Fang relaxed visibly. He took a gulp of wine and beamed. “Ah, how clever our Cun is!”

Madam Fang added, “Be that as it may, they are Instructors. Even if he was bad, you shouldn’t have offended him…”

Seeing they seemed to believe him, Fang Cun agreed casually. As a family, they tacitly dropped the subject. Children are best at deceiving their parents. Parents, in turn, are best at not calling out that deception.

…

After dinner, back in his bedroom, Fang Cun converted another hundred units of Merit into Innate Qi as part of his routine cultivation.

Then, he picked up the Scripture of Arts and began studying it carefully.

Listening to Elder Zhong Yue’s lesson today had resolved many of the difficulties he’d had with the Scripture of Arts. Now was the perfect time to ponder the Way of Object Manipulation and enhance his strength. In this regard, he enjoyed a unique advantage. Unlike others who expended significant energy on nightly meditation and Qi circulation, he didn’t need to. He could dedicate all that time entirely to studying the arts.

“Academy Disciples study for three years. In this time, they must master the Seven Classics, grasp the two foundational arts – the Art of Object Manipulation and the Art of Soul Capturing – and some even go deeper into one of the Seven Classics. They also need to elevate their cultivation. Some even reach the Treasured Body Realm during the three years at the Academy. Thinking about all this, the amount to learn is truly substantial!”

“And I… I only have a year.”

“Others probably think that although I started this year, I can remain for the next three-year cycle, having one extra year. But in truth, after this group of Disciples descends the mountain, the Academy might not necessarily keep me. As more time passes, elder brother’s influence wanes. The Academy might not wish to keep clinging to a hot potato like me!”

“So, within a single year, I must master what others take three years to learn!”

He thought to himself, his expression relaxing slightly.

The paths for Qi Refiners in this world were numerous. Academy Disciples were classmates for three years, but upon descending the mountain after completion, they scattered. Some joined the Night Palace, others entered the City Governor’s service, some became Rogue Cultivators. Yet none of these were the most prestigious route. To walk a truly exalted path, one had to enter a higher-order institution: the County Sect.

The County Sects, however, were extremely demanding when selecting Disciples from the Academy.

They evaluated talent, foundations, even reputation and family lineage. Only the outstanding across all aspects could become County Sect Disciples. This number was very small. Out of three hundred Academy Disciples, perhaps only a dozen or so received such honor.

Consequently, within this year, not only must he learn what others took three years to master, he must learn it better than them all. Though the Celestial Merit Record granted him aptitude far beyond the ordinary, this remained no simple task.

And hence, the matter of having an Instructor became critically important.

He had to admit, Meng Zhixue had helped him immensely in this matter!

Though subconsciously, Fang Cun wanted to maintain some distance from that woman to avoid unnecessary trouble.

…

The night passed. Fang Cun washed, dressed in his Academy robes, had Xiao Qingliu carry his book basket, and headed back to the Academy.

“Young Master, everything’s different for you now. Where shall we go?” Xiao Qingliu drove the carriage, shaking his head as he asked with some feeling.

Fang Cun pondered the question. Things indeed felt different now.

Before, driven out by the Instructor, he’d been rootless, free to wander wherever he pleased. Now, Instructor Yuanzhi was being punished. He’d hoped to enter Master Lan Shuang’s Study Pavilion, but that plan was scuppered by the hooded crone, making it temporarily unfeasible.

Therefore, the only option was to first return to Yuanzhi Pavilion. He needed to find a chance to accomplish some merit there, so he could eventually transition to Lan Shuang Pavilion legitimately!

“Last time, I got kicked out. Now I’m returning… might be quite amusing…”

Thinking this, Fang Cun’s interest was piqued, and he urged Xiao Qingliu to drive faster.

Upon reaching the Academy, he carried his book basket and headed straight for Yuanzhi Pavilion. Of course, Yuanzhi was currently punished and barred from returning without permission. This pavilion could no longer realistically be called Yuanzhi Pavilion for now. What it would be called later remained to be seen…

At the entrance to the pavilion, Fang Cun paused slightly before walking in.

Inside the pavilion, a low buzz of anxious conversation filled the air. All the Disciples were whispering tensely. Yet, the moment Fang Cun entered, the chatter immediately ceased. Everyone looked at him with exceptionally strange expressions. Previously, when Fang Cun was expelled by Instructor Yuanzhi, they’d all watched the amusement, thinking, ‘No matter how famous or talented you are, what good is it without an Instructor?’

But who could have imagined this man possessed such influence? Barely over a month later, he’d managed to deprive all of them of their Instructor too?

Especially during Elder Zhong Yue’s lesson, when no one in the entire Yuanzhi Pavilion could move that bluestone, while he — the one who hadn’t studied formally for a single day in the pavilion — was the one who showcased his skill! Did that not mean his cultivation now surpassed everyone present in Yuanzhi Pavilion?

Fang Cun smiled as he looked around at his Disciple-mates, seeming to say wordlessly: “Good to see everyone again…”

The Academy Disciples all lowered their heads, silently retorting: “Yeah, because we all wanted to see you again…”

Fang Cun returned to the spot he’d originally chosen for himself. He placed his book basket down and turned his gaze towards a particularly earnest-looking Disciple sitting nearby.

“Senior Brother Shen…”

The earnest Disciple visibly flinched. His brow furrowed downwards: “Junior Brother Fang? How can I assist you?”

Seeing his reaction, Fang Cun couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Nothing. Just saying hello…”

In his mind, the earnest Shen Shiming grumbled: ‘Just say hello then! Why did you have to scare me half to death?’

“Since Yuanzhi Pavilion no longer has an Instructor, what are we supposed to study now?”

Sitting down, Fang Cun pondered for a moment. He retrieved the Scripture of Arts he’d placed inside his basket. He knew what matter was most crucial. He shouldn’t spend too much time teasing these Disciples of Yuanzhi Pavilion. Cultivation remained paramount. After all, accomplishing the cultivation goals he’d set within a single year made the schedule rather tight indeed. Not a single day could be wasted casually.

As this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly sensed the surroundings falling silent. The atmosphere felt oddly oppressive.

Fang Cun was slightly taken aback. Looking up, his eyes met an unexpected figure blocking the pavilion entrance.

A hunched figure clad entirely in a thick black robe stood there silently. Her gaze swept across the pavilion’s interior like two pits of frozen ink. When she finally spoke, her voice was a dry rasp cutting through the quiet.

“Instructor Yuanzhi faces punishment, but your studies shall not fall behind. Elder Zhong Yue commands it… Thus, I shall temporarily step in to guide you…”