Chen Zui found Lu Qinghe’s reaction somewhat amusing.
“What? You think my method was unsophisticated?”
“It’s not that it was unsophisticated,” Lu Qinghe said, shaking his head and adopting a serious expression.
“It’s just that such deceptive tactics for quick thinking are entirely different from what I usually study.”
He removed the bamboo book box from his back and placed it at his feet.
He pulled out a yellowed old book, flipped through a few pages, and pointed to a passage as he read aloud.
“《The Book of Rites: The Great Learning》 says: ‘What is meant by making the thoughts sincere is the allowing no self-deception.’ The masters of the academy teach us that in conducting ourselves and handling affairs, we must take sincerity as our foundation and establish ourselves in the world with honesty.”
He closed the book, placed it back in the box, and looked up at Chen Zui, his gaze filled with earnestness.
“The masters say that in dealing with others, sincerity is paramount. In debating right and wrong, facts are paramount. But after seeing Brother Chen’s methods today, I have discovered...”
He paused, seemingly weighing his words, before finally letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
“I have discovered that sincerity and deception do not seem to be as clearly divided as they are in books.
You used deception, yet you exposed a fraud.
The onlookers valued honesty, yet they almost allowed a fraud to succeed.”
Chen Zui chuckled.
“I don’t understand a single word of that flowery talk of yours.
Sincerity, deception... I’ve never read books. I just act according to my heart.”
Lu Qinghe froze for a moment, then scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, his ears turning slightly red.
“How shameful. This is an old habit of mine.
As soon as I open my mouth, I can’t help but quote the classics.
The masters at the academy have scolded me I don’t know how many times for it, but I just can’t seem to change.”
He laughed at himself as he shouldered his book box again. Suddenly, as if remembering something, his expression turned serious.
“By the way, Brother Chen.
You acted righteously just now and offended the Tang family.
Although Tang Heqing was talked away by me, he is narrow-minded. I fear he will not let it go at that.
If Brother Chen doesn’t mind, why not come stay at Qingya Academy for a few days?
While the academy is not a bustling place, it is quiet and peaceful—a good spot to lie low.”
Chen Zui initially wanted to refuse, but then he reconsidered. Currently, he was being hounded by people in the martial world who wanted the sword manual, leaving him no peace.
A place like Qingya Academy was somewhere ordinary martial artists would never dare to intrude, making it an excellent hideout.
Furthermore, the academy held immense prestige in the Jiangnan region. Perhaps he could even gather some clues about Zhizhou Tower there.
“Then I would be honored to accept,” Chen Zui said with a smile.
Seeing him agree, a look of genuine joy appeared on Lu Qinghe’s face as he hurried to lead the way.
“This way, please!”
Lu Qinghe led Chen Zui out of the city and up a mountain path paved with bluestone.
Qingya Academy was built halfway up the mountain, nestled against the peaks and near the water, far from the clamor of the world.
From a distance, a cluster of blue-gray buildings was visible, hidden among lush ancient trees. The upturned eaves and white walls with black tiles merged with the mountain mists, giving it the appearance of a paradise on earth.
As they drew closer, Chen Zui realized the academy was much larger than he had imagined.
Above the main gate hung an ancient wooden plaque with the words “Qingya Academy” written in vigorous, profound brushwork.
In front of the mountain gate stood a bluestone tablet about half a man’s height.
Carved into the stone were the words: “Learning to Become a Whole Person.”
Chen Zui couldn’t help but take an extra look at the stone tablet as he passed.
Crossing the threshold, they found a straight bluestone path lined with emerald bamboo. The rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind intertwined with the faint sound of students reading in the distance, instinctively causing one to lighten their footsteps.
Several students carrying scrolls passed by under the corridors, stopping to salute Lu Qinghe as they saw him.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Lu.”
Lu Qinghe returned each salute. He was gentle but not overly warm, maintaining a perfectly appropriate distance.
Chen Zui took note of this, thinking that this man seemed to be quite popular within the academy.
The two of them crossed through two courtyards and arrived at an independent bamboo building deep within the academy.
The building had three floors and was surrounded by a bamboo fence. An old plum tree grew in the courtyard.
The flowering season had already passed, and the tree’s green leaves swayed gently in the breeze.
“This is the Mountain Lord’s residence,” Lu Qinghe whispered as a reminder. He straightened his clothes before the door and lightly knocked three times.
“Grandfather, your grandson has brought a guest back.”
Hearing this, Chen Zui’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“So it turns out this kid is well-connected; he’s the Mountain Lord’s grandson.”
Just then, an old but resonant voice came from inside the room.
“Is that Qinghe? Come in.”
Lu Qinghe pushed the door open and entered, with Chen Zui following behind him.
The furnishings inside the bamboo building were extremely simple.
A bamboo couch, a desk, and several shelves of books.
Hanging on the wall was an Ink-Wash Landscape painting of the entire Qingya Academy. The brushwork was sparse and clear, and the atmosphere was majestic.
Seated behind the desk was an old man with hair and beard as white as snow. He looked to be at least seventy years of age, yet his spirit was exceptionally vigorous.
This man was the Mountain Lord of Qingya Academy.
Lu Chenzhou.
He was currently holding a book. Hearing footsteps, he looked up.
His gaze passed over Lu Qinghe and landed on Chen Zui.
His eyes were not cloudy; on the contrary, they were remarkably bright, as if they could see right through a person from the inside out.
“And this is?” the old man asked, his voice booming as he set down his book.
Lu Qinghe bowed and said, “Grandfather, this is the young hero Chen Zui.”
He then proceeded to recount everything that had happened at the dock in full detail.
After listening, Lu Chenzhou stroked the few sparse white hairs of his beard, looking at Chen Zui thoughtfully.
He set down his brush and took a sip from his tea cup, his gaze still fixed on Chen Zui.
“I am aware that the Tang family boy has a crooked heart.
However, for a young man like you to wield a long spear and suppress the Tang family’s guards is quite extraordinary.
Although I am but an idle man of the mountains, I have heard some news from the martial world.
Recently, there has been a young spearman in the martial world who defeated Xie Jiuzhen in Luoyan City, crippled the Young Sect Master of the Jinyang Sect, and carries the sword dao inheritance of the Sword Attendant Gu Yiyou.
I wonder if you have heard of such a person?”
Lu Qinghe’s expression changed slightly, and he instinctively looked at Chen Zui.
Chen Zui rubbed his nose and smiled.
“Mountain Lord, there’s no need to beat around the bush. The person you’re talking about is me.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Qinghe’s face shifted again, and he quickly took a step forward.
“Grandfather!
Although Brother Chen is a man of the martial world, he acts righteously and is by no means an evil person.
Just now at the ferry, he was the one who stood up to expose Tang Heqing’s tricks.
You often say that to judge a person, one must observe their actions. Every one of Brother Chen’s actions has been an act of chivalry.
I hope you will judge clearly and not listen to martial world rumors...”
Lu Chenzhou glanced at him calmly.
“Qinghe, you go out first.”
“Grandfather...”
“Go out.”
Lu Qinghe’s lips moved, but in the end, he did not dare to disobey and could only bow and withdraw from the bamboo building.
The door was gently closed.
Only Chen Zui and Lu Chenzhou remained inside.
Chen Zui stood where he was, his face expressionless.
If this old Mountain Lord wanted to kick him out, he wouldn’t shamelessly stay.
At worst, he would just find another place to lie low.
Lu Chenzhou picked up his tea cup, took another leisurely sip, and pointed to the bamboo chair across from the desk.
“Sit.”
Chen Zui didn’t stand on ceremony. He leaned his long spear against the wall and sat down casually.
“I have heard that you possess the sword dao inheritance left to you by Gu Yiyou?”
Chen Zui’s heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm.
As expected, even the Mountain Lord of Qingya Academy had heard this rumor.
“Old sir, to be honest, that’s false.
I don’t know who is spreading such rumors behind my back.
I’m a spearman. Even if Senior Sword Attendant really wanted to pass something down to me, it should have been a spear technique. Why would it be a sword manual?”
“You needn't be nervous. We at Qingya Academy never meddle in the affairs of the martial world.”
Lu Chenzhou set down his tea cup, his voice peaceful.
“I am not trying to drive you away.
Quite the opposite—I would like to invite you to stay for a few more days.”
Chen Zui’s brow furrowed slightly.
“What do you mean by that, Mountain Lord?”
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