Chapter 278: Imperial Academy, Masters of the Hundred Schools, Great Confucians, Renowned Scholars, Qilin

After recognizing the identity of the youth, Wen Lingjun immediately sat up, struggled to his feet, and bowed with clasped hands, his voice calm and gentle:

"Student Wen Lingjun of the Imperial Academy greets Qin Wu Hou."

Li Guanyi said: "Mr. Wen, you need not be so formal."

Wen Lingjun fell silent for a moment, sighed, and said: "Qin Wu Hou has already brought Wen He under your banner—likely, Wen He himself came to fetch me, knowing full well that he has already written letters to my friends and colleagues, and has refused both my family and the imperial court."

"The former merely humiliated me; the latter has made it utterly impossible for me to serve in the court—even if I did enter, I'd be relegated to a sixth-rank clerk."

Li Guanyi: "…………"

At this moment, he again marveled at Wen He's presence in his own camp.

Wen Lingjun looked at Li Guanyi and said: "Since we've come to this, no more pleasantries. I am merely a scribe with a talent for pen and ink. If Qin Wu Hou values me, then I have one question I wish to ask you."

Wen Lingjun was not swayed by Li Guanyi's sincerity.

He said softly: "Do you intend to overthrow the Red Emperor's realm?"

Wen Lingjun came from generations of high ministers, had long drawn imperial stipends, and received great favors—he naturally had to ask this question. At this moment, if Li Guanyi said "no," Wen Lingjun would join his side.

Li Guanyi thought for a moment, then answered: "I don't know."

Wen Lingjun was surprised: "Why say 'I don't know'?"

Li Guanyi replied: "Because I myself do not know what choice I will make in the future. Mr. Wen, do you know? My original goal was simply to save up one tael of silver each month, so I could share a roasted goose with my aunt every month."

"Then, safely leave the borders of Chen State, and find my great-grandfather."

"At that time, I didn't know my origins, nor who my great-grandfather was—I only wanted to live well with my aunt, own a few mu of land, find a good wife, have several children, and earn a little money."

"A few mu of idle fields, three or five close friends, drinking tea and laughing, sitting to play the qin."

"With nothing weighing on the heart—that would be a life worthy of the immortals."

Li Guanyi's face carried a faint smile—he truly believed this.

Then he returned to reality.

He said: "But the tides of this world have brought me to this point."

"The Qin Wu Hou of today is merely a minor pharmacist in the Revival Pharmacy."

"I cannot prove to you what kind of man Qin Wu Hou will become tomorrow, or how far I will go—whether I will burn to ashes under the world's curses, become a regional lord, or retire into the rivers and lakes. I do not know."

Wen Lingjun fell silent, then sighed: "If Your Lordship says 'no,' I will join you—but offer not a single strategy. If Your Lordship says 'yes,' then Wen Lingjun would rather die than serve you."

Li Guanyi said: "Then today, I too have a question for you, Mr. Wen."

Wen Lingjun bowed, saying: "Your Lordship, ask."

Li Guanyi said: "Mr. Wen, are you loyal to the realm—or to the clans?"

Wen Lingjun answered: "The realm."

Then Qin Wu Hou said: "Then, may I ask you, Mr. Wen."

"Is this realm the realm of all people—or the realm of one family, one person?"

Wen Lingjun froze.

This was a soul-cutting question.

Li Guanyi pressed his palm down, gripped Chixiao Sword, lifted the divine weapon, and placed it upon the table. When the blade settled, it emitted a quiet sound. Li Guanyi asked slowly:

"Is a gentleman loyal to the grace of the Red Emperor's lineage—or to the realm?"

"If loyal to grace, then if I grant you greater grace, will you betray?"

"Surely not."

"But if loyal to the realm."

"Why then bind yourself to the bonds of grace?"

Wen Lingjun fell silent, then said: "Your Lordship truly speaks with great eloquence."

"Without the Red Emperor's lineage, there would be no flourishing of the Wen clan—that is true grace."

Li Guanyi's palm rested on Chixiao Sword, thought for a moment, then said: "Then let me offer you a proposal."

"For now, you might as well stay and see how far I will go. Today, I am Qin Wu Hou of the Red Emperor's lineage, the Supreme Strategist of the Heavenly Strategy; you are a student of the Imperial Academy."

"Today, can we not join forces?"

"And tomorrow, if you choose to leave, I, Li Guanyi, will not stop you."

Wen Lingjun lowered his gaze. In this world, Li Guanyi, Chen Dingye, Jiang Wanxiang—Li Guanyi was the only one still claiming fealty to the Red Emperor. This was his heart's choice. Yet his mind still echoed that phrase: 【Whose realm is this realm?】

It rang like a demonic chant in his ears.

Reason clashed with the loyalty to the Great Emperor instilled by his clan's upbringing.

Yet this very question was utterly upright, unassailable.

In contrast, the words "loyalty to the sovereign" now seemed pale and powerless.

The clan's conditioning had taken root in this young man's mind—but he was still young, still open to new possibilities. At this moment, Qin Wu Hou's single sentence pierced like a blade into the gap within the clans.

The talent of a statesman had keenly perceived: the clans had conflated "loyalty to the sovereign" and "love for the realm."

Wen Lingjun rose, bowed deeply, and said:

"Your Lordship speaks thus—I dare not refuse."

"I offer my humble service."

Li Guanyi laughed heartily: "Mr. Wen, please rise."

As he helped Wen Lingjun to his feet to step outside for air, he saw Wen He sitting there reciting poetry. When Wen He spotted Wen Lingjun, he smiled carefree: "Lingjun, you're awake?"

"You can't hold your liquor—you got drunk yesterday, so I brought you back."

"What happened?"

Wen Lingjun looked at Wen He.

The gentleman couldn't help but kick him.

Wen Lingjun's face twisted, while Wen He stood utterly still; he wiped his sleeve, and beneath the hem glinted the cold sheen of ink-black linked mail, calmly saying, "Who studies without wearing armor, Lingjun?"

"Your thinking is still not comprehensive enough."

Wen Lingjun took a deep breath, and then Li Guanyi invited Wen Lingjun, Wen He, and Generals Ling Pingyang to drink tea; after understanding the situation, Wen Lingjun said, "My Lord, yesterday on the Imperial Road, you were magnificent, radiating the spirit of a heroic leader—but one thing was amiss."

"That one flaw was caused by Ji Daochun—he used his own death to pit the aristocratic clans, the imperial family, and My Lord against each other, and as a result, many young scholars have been swept up and dare not come here to join."

"If I'm not mistaken, not a single scholar came today to recommend himself and join the Tiance Prefecture, correct?"

Wen He said, "No, one did."

Wen Lingjun was startled. "Where?"

Wen He said, "You."

Wen Lingjun: "…………"

He took a deep breath and said, "This isn't about right or wrong—it's because My Lord has just arrived, while the aristocratic clans have long dominated this land; their influence outweighs yours, causing scholars to hesitate."

"I wish to offer My Lord a strategy."

"One that may grant My Lord prestige equal to, if not greater than, that of the aristocratic clans."

Li Guanyi said, "Mr. Go ahead."

Wen Lingjun said, "Thank you, My Lord, for your understanding—but I hear you have a fine wine called Thousand-Day Drunk. Might I have some?"

"I know of a great talent in the Imperial Academy named Feng Xiao—his strategies shift endlessly; he is especially skilled at judging grand trends, devising cunning schemes, and employing elusive military tactics, as intangible as a unicorn's horn suspended in midair."

"He naturally counters me; elsewhere, I cannot sleep soundly or enjoy my meals. I beg My Lord to give me the Thousand-Day Drunk so I may bring him back."

These final words were spoken by Wen He.

He even mimicked Wen Lingjun's tone.

Wen Lingjun looked at Wen He and smiled.

"If Qingyu keeps acting up, I'll lose my temper."

Wen He sipped his tea, eyes lowered, nose steady.

Wen Lingjun turned to Li Guanyi and said seriously, "Yuan excels in battlefield formations, Wen He masters grand trends, while my own strengths are less concrete. Feng Xiao's ingenious stratagems, paired with Yuan's directness, form a perfect balance of orthodox and unorthodox—this will compensate for our army's deficiencies."

"Please, My Lord, give me the Thousand-Day Drunk."

"I will invite this great talent for My Lord."

Wen Lingjun left with Li Guanyi's wine flask.

The next day, the Fire Qilin had not returned.

Li Guanyi saw the same drunken boy in the same place as yesterday; using the Art of Observing Qi, he saw the boy's scholarly brilliance blazing brilliantly above his head, yet he was still utterly, hopelessly drunk.

Generals Ling Pingyang: "…………"

Li Guanyi: "…………"

The elegant cavalry commander hesitated, staring at the table and chairs; long after, when leaving Zhongzhou City, he took the entire table with him. When others asked why, he said it was a miraculous object that fostered top-tier strategists—taking it home would bring good fortune.

Li Guanyi looked at Feng Xiao, his mouth twitching, then turned to Wen Lingjun.

"How much did he drink?"

Wen Lingjun held up one finger.

Li Guanyi exhaled in relief. "One cup?"

Wen Lingjun said, "He kept drinking."

Li Guanyi's expression froze—he remembered the flask held exactly three dou and three sheng of the world's strongest liquor. Even after some had been used, there was still plenty left. Feng Xiao had drunk nonstop for an entire hour.

Li Guanyi could only laugh and sigh, then used the Book of Imperial Supreme Cosmic Order to sober him.

These three strategists: one had consumed mafeisan laced with wine.

One had traces of blood mixed into his entire body's alcohol.

And Li Guanyi himself had to keep helping them detoxify and recover.

Hmm? It seemed only one person here had suffered no ill effects?

Li Guanyi looked toward the humble young strategist.

The young strategist smiled gently.

Said nothing, stepping half a pace back among them.

Feng Xiao was merely drunk; when he woke, he grabbed Li Guanyi's arm and declared that if he could keep drinking, he'd do anything—opening his mouth with "My Lord, My Lord."

He was truly addicted.

Li Guanyi grinned wryly—he realized his cheap older brother really was a good man!

One flask of Thousand-Day Drunk had drawn three rising stars of the younger generation: Wen He, Wen Lingjun, and Feng Xiao—two of them were top strategists rivaling Po Jun in grand-trend mastery, though Po Jun differed from them.

Po Jun was equally formidable in other fields.

Except when fighting—he was weak but had a terrible drinking habit.

Thus, Wen Lingjun was appointed Chief Historian of the Tiance Prefecture.

Feng Xiao was appointed Military Advisor of the Tiance Prefecture.

But Wen He adamantly refused any high post, insisting only on the lowly post of scribe, taking the humble title of Clerk of the Tiance Prefecture—and then—

The Tiance Prefecture had no one left.

Not because no one came—but because no one dared.

Li Guanyi had seen many scholars watching from afar, hesitating, pacing, unable to approach, finally sighing; Feng Xiao drank with Li Guanyi and laughed, "My Lord, don't worry."

"Just drink. Come!"

"In my view, it's a trivial matter. Drink."

"The aristocratic clans are vast; scholars wish to join but must protect themselves. My Lord's reputation blazes like a drawn sword, yet the clans have long dominated here, while the states of Chen and Ying loom like massive boulders colliding—scholars risk being crushed between them."

"But in my view, My Lord will win. The aristocratic clans will lose."

"Let's not talk about who won or lost."

Feng Xiao watched clearly and chuckled: "The students have legs. While the Lord is here, they dare not approach you beneath the great clans' feet. But once the students scatter across the land, naturally, talents from all under heaven will flock to Jiangnan."

"The great clans are like rotting bones in a tomb, paper tigers—capable only of crushing others with raw power."

"The more you suppress the students now, the stronger the backlash will be when you leave this place."

"Hahaha, drink, drink!"

Li Guanyi thought this fellow would eventually drunkenly die in alcohol.

He thought for a moment and said: "After returning to Jiangnan, you can look up Lei Laomeng."

Feng Xiao asked curiously: "Lei Laomeng?"

Li Guanyi nodded and said: "And Shi Dalin—they can brew up... " Li Guanyi wanted to say a medicine to cure hangovers, but thought better and changed his phrasing: "A fruit that lets you drink more alcohol. No—I mean, a fruit."

Feng Xiao was overjoyed.

Wonderful, wonderful.

He thought to ask Gongyang Su Wang later—what was that loud rooster?

Then go to Jiangnan to find Lei Laomeng and Lao Shitou.

Eat those fruits that let you drink more alcohol!

"Brilliant, brilliant! When the time comes, I'll go find that old Stone Mister, flatter him, sweet-talk him—I'm the Lord's Military Sacrificial Wine Master. How could he not hand over the fruits properly?"

Another day passed.

The Fire Qilin still had not returned.

Fang Ziqiao invited Li Guanyi to the Academy, saying Master Wang Tong had summoned him. Li Guanyi gladly went, planning also to look for the Fire Qilin; though he trusted Zhao Laoqi, as one of only two Fire Qilin in the world, Zhao Laoqi wouldn't harm the youngster.

But these good fruits had been eaten for too long.

Just how many good fruits are there to eat?

Summer was nearly over. Li Guanyi and Fang Ziqiao went to the Academy and met Master Wang Tong again. Master Wang Tong's expression was gentle and serene; he invited Li Guanyi to sit. On the table sat a small bronze incense burner, its smoke curling gently.

It was Master Wang Tong's own-made pine incense.

A Confucian gentleman is not one who is idle and ignorant of the five grains.

Master Wang Tong asked softly: "Tiance Prefecture can't find anyone?"

Li Guanyi held his tea, slightly embarrassed—this matter had spread everywhere. Master Wang Tong smiled and asked back: "What do you think is the reason?"

Li Guanyi said: "The great clans."

Master Wang Tong nodded: "Partly correct, but still insufficient. It is not merely because Ji Daochun rallied the imperial clan and the great clans against you to safeguard his own reputation. The deeper problem lies in..."

"Don't view them as a single whole."

"See the individual."

Master Wang Tong's expression remained gentle and serene: "The great clans constitute a vast entity. They have flourished for eight hundred years—even before the era of the Red Emperor, they already existed. They harbor many clever individuals, and these clever individuals, by virtue of their birth..."

"... immediately choose to aid the great clans."

"You and I can perceive the great clans' flaws. So can they."

"Therefore, they will also seek ways to save their own clans."

"Recruiting talent is one such method."

Master Wang Tong poured more tea for Li Guanyi: "There are many students in the Academy, mostly divided into two types: those born into the great clans, and those born to commoners. Some might assume that those from the great clans look down upon commoner students."

"But in truth, they do not."

"The children of the great clans treat commoner students who earned their place in the Academy with kindness—they provide silver to subsidize living expenses, clothing, and grain; they assist their families, alter their household registrations, and exempt them from land and field taxes."

"Even toward their parents, they maintain proper courtesy."

"Moreover, the wastrel sons will not offend promising students. What the great clans term 'wastrels' merely refers to those who cannot distinguish themselves in literature or martial arts—they take commoner talents on journeys everywhere."

"The great clans even willingly marry their own daughters, precisely at marriageable age, to these men—employing favors, gold, and marital kinship to recruit talent and strengthen their clans."

"Under these circumstances, it's natural they don't choose you."

Li Guanyi held his tea and suddenly said: "Truly, every step is hard."

He felt the immense resistance to achieving his goal.

This was a time of chaos, but not yet total collapse.

The old order and the great clans' rules layered upon one another, blocking him. Master Wang Tong said: "Yet there remains ambition, pure ideals, and the vision of why one studies."

"Some humble-born students will enter the great clans in pursuit of favors, wealth, and glory."

"Some children of the great clans will join you for the vision of universal harmony."

"People are complex."

"Debates in the Academy determine these students' paths."

"The great clans will obstruct what you wish to accomplish. But so too will those great Confucian masters who have already attained fame."

Li Guanyi said: "Great Confucian masters?"

Master Wang Tong whispered: "Yes. Once a great Confucian master gains fame, his disciples and disciples' disciples wield enormous influence throughout the Academy. Often, even seeking knowledge is not truly free."

"The great Confucian masters are honored by the great clans, praised by the states of Chen and Ying, followed by many disciples—and thus they establish doctrines to be transmitted through generations. Your conflict with them is direct."

"They will all be your opponents."

"And they will exert tremendous influence over the Academy's students."

Li Guanyi fell silent: Great Confucian masters, famous scholars, the great clans, the Wang Hou.

This world, layer upon layer, truly made one gasp for breath!

Li Guanyi said: "The Academy isn't pure either."

Wang Tong said: "Academic knowledge is pure—but when it becomes such a school, it changes flavor. The current state exists only because Gongyang Su Wang and others struggled to hold it together, preventing these schools from tearing the Academy apart."

"Otherwise, time and again, chaos would have scattered the Academy into the various states."

Li Guanyi said: "Great Confucians, renowned scholars—whose side will they take?"

"Some say, whoever wins the hearts of the people, whoever wins the allegiance of the scholars and great Confucians of the Imperial Academy, shall win the world."

Master Wang Tong gazed at his disciple and said gently:

"Want to hear the truth?"

Li Guanyi said: "Of course!"

The master whispered: "They help whoever wins."

These six words laid bare the sickness within the Academy at this moment.

Li Guanyi looked at the master before him, only thirty-three years old.

The master smiled, gentle.

Master Wang Tong was not a rigid scholar who knew only classics and books.

Master Wang Tong said: "You have no roots in the Academy. When the debates come, you may walk freely, follow your own path without restraint. Those drawn to you will follow you; those who seek only wealth and rank—you cannot give them that."

"My hundreds of disciples will also enter Tiance Prefecture."

The master smiled:

"For the next half-month, come here for tea and idle chat. During this time, no noble families will come to you, nor will any students. Do not resent them."

"Many people born into this world carry all manner of constraints, each with their own burdens."

"Pure souls are rare."

Li Guanyi nodded.

The afternoon was slightly stifling, but not as suffocating as midsummer's air that seemed ready to crush you.

Outside the master's door faced a pond, where a string of bronze bells hung, tinkling in the wind; cicadas buzzed noisily. Young Qin Wu Hou rested his chin on one hand, listening to the crisp sound, thinking of the rules of the world blocking his path, thinking of the world's turbulent waves.

Playing chess with the teacher.

Wei Xuancheng found a melon, tied it with a rope, and lowered it into the well to cool.

Beneath the faint scent of pine, he played chess; the pieces clacked crisply against the board. The master's expression was gentle. By evening, Wei Xuancheng sliced open the melon. Li Guanyi ate while tossing arrows into a distant wooden barrel.

Listening as the master explained the principles of Juan Sect.

Speaking of Confucian composure.

Speaking of Daoist freedom.

Speaking of Buddhist purity.

Speaking of how the Three Teachings may become one.

Abandon what is contested, embrace what is discarded—is this not the way of the gentleman?

These days were plain, ordinary, as if they would stretch on endlessly, into a very, very long future.

The master was only thirty-three.

After evening fell, Li Guanyi bade farewell to the master and walked away. After a moment's thought, he turned aside to visit Gongyang Su Wang's residence. He called out for a long time—no answer. He did not know what the Fire Qilin was doing.

Li Guanyi knocked on the door. No response.

Perhaps Su Wang was not home.

Li Guanyi prepared to leave.

Suddenly, a loud shout startled Li Guanyi.

Li Guanyi leapt back a full step.

Boom!!!!

Almost a ball of fire burst forth!

It landed on the ground, taking the form of the Fire Qilin—majestic, towering, locking eyes with Li Guanyi, lifting its head, pressing its paws down, scales blazing with fire, claws stepping upon auspicious clouds, awe-inspiring, formidable.

As Li Guanyi was stunned by the Fire Qilin's transformation, the Fire Qilin saw him—and instantly changed expression.

Its eyes filled with two large pools of tears!

"Wu wu wu wu, you finally came to find me!"

It could now speak human speech.

"It's been three years already!"

"Three years!!!"

"I've been waiting for you all this time, wu wu wu wu…"

Li Guanyi froze: "It's only been three days…"

Fire Qilin: "????"

Li Guanyi: "????"

Boom!!!

A claw reached out from the shadows and clamped onto the Fire Qilin's head.