Chapter 343: The Second Master with the broken arm, the Master

Bianjing, Taofu Street.

At the end of this street stands a five-story brick-and-wood structure facing south, a heavy-eaved building with a hard-hill roof. The sloping roof is covered in blue tiles like scales, layer upon layer, gleaming faintly in the moonlight.

The first floor is six bays wide and six bays deep; the second floor, excluding the stairwell, is a large open space partitioned by bookcases, with the "Diligent Study Lake" excavated in front of the pavilion.

The gardens are built around themes of "Self-Cultivation, Poetry, Books, Rites, Changes, Arithmetic, Riding, Archery, and Miscellaneous."

This place is the "Academy."

Just two plain and simple characters, without any decorative description.

Yet it is a place revered by scholars all over the world.

The highest point of the Academy is the Self-Cultivation Pavilion, which was also the place where the Master originally began teaching and educating people.

It is only five stories high, so out of respect, other buildings in the Academy, and even Taofu Street, have no buildings higher than five stories.

At this moment!

At the entrance of the Self-Cultivation Pavilion.

Forty students stand, their figures as straight as pines, their aura restrained and deep. All are people of profound cultivation. Gathered together, they actually form an aura like "a silver bottle suddenly breaking and water splashing," resembling a flood dragon coiled, ready to strike.

Great Qi is vast, and martial arts are prosperous; there are only a few dozen people in the Xuan Dan Ninth Grade realm, yet the Academy alone occupies twenty seats.

Even more astonishing is that the Academy occupies half of the martial arts powerhouses in the top three realms of Great Qi. Precisely because of this, the name of the Academy can deter the world.

At this moment, all forty people are silent, staring intently at the entrance stairs of the Self-Cultivation Pavilion, as if waiting for some important moment.

This Self-Cultivation Pavilion was once the residence where the Master preached, taught, and resolved doubts. Now it has become the dwelling place of the Second and Third Masters, the most sacred place in the Academy.

"The Master has always been punctual; why is he late today?"

Someone asks in a low voice, with a hint of doubt in their words.

"Perhaps the Master was delayed by important matters."

Another person guesses, but the tone is also strange; the Master has never been late.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar in front, wearing a green shirt with a refined face, looks back at the crowd and says in a deep voice: "A gentleman does not speak, do not speak if it is not according to ritual. We just need to wait quietly."

Hearing this, the few bow and salute, their expressions respectful, and they stop talking.

In the Academy, respecting teachers and valuing the Way is the primary principle; one must never lose etiquette at any time.

Among these forty people, more than a dozen are disciples or grand-disciples of the Third Master, which can be considered a lineage of learning.

As for the Second Master, he has lived a free and unrestrained life, traveling everywhere, and has never taken in a disciple capable of inheriting his academic lineage and skills.

The crowd continues to wait under the moonlight!

On the fifth floor of the Self-Cultivation Pavilion, that legendary sacred place, the place where the Master usually cultivated his body and nature, is now exceptionally quiet.

The entire Bianjing, and even the entire Great Qi, is full of awe and curiosity about this place. Even the dozen or so generations of monarchs of Great Qi have never had the fortune to ascend to this fifth floor to find out.

Since the Master did not return from seeking immortals in the East Sea two hundred years ago, this fifth floor has become the place where the Second Master recuperates.

The Second Master, that figure who exists like a god in the Academy, his illness has always been a mystery, and even the inside of the Academy knows very little about it.

However, this legendary fifth floor is actually just an old, small pavilion.

Moonlight shines through the mottled windows onto a somewhat old desk, on which lies a sword broken into two pieces, seemingly telling of past glory and vicissitudes.

Behind the desk, strings of bead curtains hang down lightly.

At the end of the bead curtains stands a middle-aged man with a blurred face, wearing a Confucian robe, quietly watching the bead curtains.

He says softly: "Second Yu Shixiong, we are going to the Flowers Banquet."

A violent coughing sound comes from behind the bead curtains, as if he wants to cough out his internal organs.

Afterwards, a low, hoarse voice slowly rings out: "Master An, be careful on this trip."

An is the courtesy name of the Third Master; very few people in the Academy know about this.

"Wuxin, I have long wanted you to leave the Academy, thinking about it for many years."

Su Jing, courtesy name Wuxin.

The middle-aged man says lightly: "Wuxin is good at planning. If you just wanted me to leave the Academy, you wouldn't have needed to go to so much trouble."

"He wants to know where the Master is, and what exactly for..."

"Wuxin's obsession is too heavy. Even if he gets the Master's Corpse-Dissolution Method, he cannot escape human disaster..."

The coughing sound behind the bead curtains becomes heavier, as if every breath is a great consumption of life.

After a long time, a voice comes.

"I am here, don't worry."

The middle-aged man's face is full of worry, "Second Yu Shixiong, your illness is heavier."

The night deepens, and the Self-Cultivation Pavilion under the moonlight appears even more solemn.

After a long time!

Behind the curtain, that self-deprecating voice rings out again, with a hint of helplessness and desolation: "I... in this unpresentable appearance, I should have died long ago. Cough cough..."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man lowers his head in sorrow.

He says softly: "All this will end."

"Second Yu Shixiong, I'm leaving first!"

"Wait a minute!"

The middle-aged man had already turned around, but turns back.

"Be careful in everything."

"I know!"

With the sound of light footsteps gradually fading away, the fifth floor returns to silence.

The curtain is slowly lifted by a withered hand, revealing the true appearance inside.

There are two low white beds in the room. The owner of this withered hand is lying on the outer bed, a disheveled, thin middle-aged man. He is shirtless, his ribs as thin as skin and bones, his right arm broken, leaving only one hand.

This hand is densely covered with eyes, the eyeballs constantly turning.

He raises his head slightly, revealing a face, but this face is like a white mask, leaving only a mouth, without any facial features!

This face appears exceptionally eerie, making one's hair stand on end.

However, even more astonishing is that when the middle-aged man slowly gets up, he reveals his back.

On his back, there is actually an old man's face! This face looks more real, as if the voice just now came from here.

He walks to the desk under the moonlight, stroking the broken sword on it.

There is also paper on the desk, with a few words written on it. Although written crookedly, one can still barely recognize: "Peng to the North Sea, Phoenix to the morning sun, carrying books and swords on a vast and uncertain road."

"In the end, books and swords are drifting."

The moonlight is like water, quietly shining into the compartment on the fifth floor.

Behind the curtain, there is another bed.

Lying on the bed is a tall old man wearing a Confucian robe, also missing an arm, the difference being that the arm looks like it was gnawed off by some animal.

The tooth marks are dense.

The old man's face is rosy and kind, but there is no sign of life.

It is actually a corpse!

If anyone from the Academy were here, they would definitely recognize the old man's identity at a glance.

Because his appearance is exactly the same as the portrait of the Master that has always been hanging in the main hall of the Academy.

The middle-aged man suddenly coughs violently from his back, his body shaking violently.

He staggers, walking to the white bed where the tall old man behind the curtain is lying.

Trembling, he holds an arm, the only mouth on his face slowly approaching.

On the face behind his back is a look of pain and satisfaction, struggling.

A hair-raising chewing sound rings out on the fifth floor.

～

～

Flowers Banquet.

It has long been bustling, and the Zhi River banks on both sides are already crowded with Bianjing people, all straining their necks in anticipation.

Just waiting for the top courtesans to take the stage and perform.

Pushing the liveliness of the Flowers Banquet to the highest peak.

The square stage, the "Invite Zui Xian Lou" directly opposite.

At this time, the hour is not early.

People from the Nine Great Clans have been entering the building one after another.

The building is four stories high, also implying not to be higher than the Academy.

Xie Hong supports Old Madam Xie as they walk slowly towards the Invite Zui Xian Lou, with Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao, the mistress of the Second Courtyard, at his side.

Behind them are Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Yuan and Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhuge of the Great Courtyard.

Old Madam Xie has a happy face.

Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao also follows closely beside Xie Hong, her face happy, glowing with health.

Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Yuan looks at Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao of the Second Courtyard walking in front, her expression poor.

Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhuge's expression is normal.

Strangely!

Behind the few are two more people, one is a woman wearing a bamboo hat and veil who entered the residence with Xie Hong.

And a man wrapped in a black robe, wearing a hood.

Neither is any junior of the Xie family.

Old Madam Xie and the others, although suspicious.

However, this is Xie Hong's arrangement, so naturally no one opposes it.

The Xie family group arrives at the Flowers Banquet.

Along the way, many people see Xie Hong and bow, and Xie Hong only nods slightly.

Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao sees this, feeling honored.

Arriving at the entrance of the Invite Zui Xian Lou.

The maids downstairs hurriedly come out to welcome them.

Xie Hong stops, saying to Old Madam Xie.

"Mother, you go straight to the second floor."

"Chongshan has some things to handle, to see some old friends, and will arrive shortly."

The Invite Zui Xian Lou has four floors, each with its specific dignity and status symbol.

The fourth floor is the most noble, specially reserved for Prime Minister Su and the Third Master of the Academy today.

The third floor is set for the Academy and high-ranking court officials, as well as the heads of the Nine Great Clans.

The second floor is the exclusive floor for the families of the Nine Great Clans and the royal family, as well as the imperial concubines.

And the first floor is where ordinary court officials and their families gather.

To ascend to a higher floor, one needs to possess a higher-level invitation.

The hierarchy is strict!

Xie Hong looks at Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao again: "Madam, please help support Mother."

Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao's face is full of joy: "Master, please rest assured."

Old Madam Xie laughs: "Chongshan, you haven't set foot in the court for many years. The court has long changed to a new atmosphere. Many old friends have been promoted, and several of your disciples are already first-rank high officials, coming to the residence to send gifts every year. Contact them more, don't chill the hearts of the scholars."

"It's good to see them. If one day you want to return from Qingliang Temple to be an official, there will be people to recommend you."

Old Madam Xie strokes her youngest son's hand: "You know your brother's temperament; he doesn't like dealing with those Confucian scholars in the court, and no one in the family can speak in the court."

Speaking of this, Old Madam Xie can't help but sigh: "It's the end of the year, but the court's decree is delayed, and Ling'er is still guarding the border, unable to return home for a reunion."

"Go, go, just rest assured and go see your old friends. Mother will go to the second floor herself, it doesn't matter."

Now Xie Ling has not waited for the court's decree to return, still guarding the border.

Old Madam Xie is often worried about Xie Ling's affairs.

As parents, how can they not plan for their children and grandchildren.

Xie Hong says slowly: "I will keep an eye on Brother's affairs."

Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Yuan of the Great Courtyard's expression improves, hurriedly saying:

"I will trouble Chongshan with this matter."

If Xie Hong is willing to help, this matter will be much easier.

Xie Hong nods and stays at the entrance of the Invite Zui Xian Lou.

The woman in the bamboo hat and white veil and the man in the black robe also stop with Xie Hong.

Lu Hua watches Old Madam Xie and the others walk into the "Invite Zui Xian Lou," looking at the plaque above.

Lu Hua can't help but laugh: "Invite Zui Xian Lou, inviting immortals, it really looks like that!"

～

Xie Hong takes the two to the third-floor private room prepared in Qimo Spring Workshop nearby.

The three enter the private room!

Xie Hong pushes open the window.

The Flowers Banquet is built on the bridge over the Zhi River, and people on both banks can see it.

The Flowers Banquet is built on the bridge spanning the Zhi River, and people on both banks stop to watch, bustling with excitement.

The moonlight is like water, shining on the sparkling Zhi River. Men on the flower boats beat drums to cheer, and singing girls sing tunes, pushing the festive atmosphere to a climax.

Endless cheers come from both banks.

The most eye-catching is the brightly lit "Invite Zui Xian Lou," where shadows are flickering inside.

Xie Hong's gaze lingers on the Invite Zui Xian Lou for a moment, then says lightly:

"Su Jing has already entered the Invite Zui Xian Lou. It's just that the Academy people haven't arrived yet."

Lu Hua's expression becomes a bit more solemn, and she says in a low voice: "In a place like Bianjing, Great Qi, assassinating an Academy Master does sound a bit risky."

At this time, the man in the black robe has already taken off his hood in the private room, revealing a face covered in scales, with two large bumps bulging on his forehead, no eyebrows, and golden vertical pupils revealing a fierce aura, as if a demon had descended.

He slowly squeezes a sentence from his throat: "Kill... kill him, he deserves... to die!"

The voice is awkward, like two grindstones pushing against each other, revealing the anger in his heart.

Xie Hong turns around and says: "Today, both the Demon-Slaughtering Division and the Hidden God people have arrived, and the defense is strict."

"However, the most worrying thing is the Academy people. It depends on how Su Jing distracts these Academy Masters."

"Before the Flowers Banquet ends, I will trouble Master Lu and Long Yi to wait here."

Lu Hua doesn't commit, this is something they had already decided.

The man in the black robe also nods.

Xie Hong doesn't stay long, only giving a few instructions before going downstairs.

Only Lu Hua and the man in the black robe are left in the private room.

Lu Hua yawns, drags a chair to lean against the window, and watches the scenery on the Zhi River.

The man in the black robe named Long Yi seems to be thinking, his eyes strange.

Long Yi says in a hoarse voice: "I... go out... come back."

Lu Hua waves her hand indifferently.

"Go, a lone man and a lone woman in one room, although I am a Daoist, you are not a human."

"Don't let anyone notice you and implicate me. Let the fellow Daoist die, not the poor Daoist."

Long Yi says: "Go... water."

After the man in the black robe finishes speaking, he goes downstairs, lowers his head, walks along the crowd to the bank of the Zhi River, and the whole person dives into the water.

He secretly tracks an aura. He felt vaguely at the Xie residence that the aura on that Xie family youth was wrong.

This Lord of the Ze Lake demons has a different feeling.

As long as he eats that youth.

He can transform into a dragon and ascend.

Long Yi has been quietly paying attention to the youth for the past few days, but with Xie Hong by his side, he never had a chance.

Now the opportunity has come!

Long Yi swims in the water, thinking of this, his whole body feels hot, and he can't help but swallow his saliva.

～

On a flower boat, a lady looks at the water surface, seeing waves rolling, her face turning pale as she exclaims: "There is something in the water?"

"A big snake?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 344 =====