Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 63 Morning Bell
The melodious morning bell echoed in the mountains, startling the birds and disturbing their good dreams.

"Young master, get up," Chen Xuan woke up when he heard the voice, lit the lamp and went to call Gao Jingming who was sleeping soundly.

It was just getting light outside the window, and the mountain air, faintly scented with the fragrance of flowers, was still a little chilly.

"Xiao Cai, let me sleep a little longer. I'm so sleepy." Gao Jingming turned over and muttered to himself before continuing to sleep.

It seems that he hasn't gotten used to having me accompany him to study in school. Chen Xuan was speechless. This kid wakes up early at home, so why is he so sleepy in school?

Is it possible that I can sleep better in the academy? Or is it that a place like the academy is conducive to sleep?
Gently pushing him, Chen Xuan threatened: "Master, if you don't get up and gather, you will be punished if the teacher finds out."

Gao Jingming paused for a moment, his eyes closed as he continued, "It's A Xuan. Ah, I thought it was Xiao Cai and the others. Prepare some hot water for washing up, I'll be up soon."

"Then young master, you'd better hurry up, otherwise I will pour cold water on your bed. Butler He said that I have the responsibility to supervise," Chen Xuan continued to scare him.

"Oh, so annoying..." Gao Jingming rubbed his eyes helplessly and sat up.

Putting the lantern on his bedside table, Chen Xuan went to the outer room to light another lamp and prepare hot water for washing.

At this time, the surrounding houses were already bustling with activity, and the noisy voices of children broke the morning tranquility.

Chen Xuan was not a maid and had no obligation to help Gao Jingming put on his clothes. He had to do it himself. Fortunately, Gao Jingming was not a useless person who couldn't even put on his clothes without a maid.

After washing up and closing the door in the dormitory, they walked into the groups of students and gathered in the open space in front of the classroom.

During the school term at Yushan Academy, students had to gather every morning, unless it was windy or rainy. This was especially true on the first day after the holiday, when the ceremony was just like the flag-raising ceremony on Monday. Chen Xuan felt as if he had returned to the past, except that everything and everyone had changed and the world had changed...

Gao Jingming seemed to be still asleep and was staggering when he walked. Chen Xuan could only follow him to prevent him from falling.

After finding their respective classes, they gathered in order of height. Chen Xuan, as a study companion, also had to go together and stand next to Gao Jingming.

Looking around, I saw that there were about two to three hundred students in the entire Yushan School, but at least one-third of them were tutors. Some students from poor families naturally could not afford to hire a servant.

Formal students stand in a row, with study companions accompanying them.

When the students and teachers had almost gathered, Mr. Yushan pushed his wheelchair to the front. Facing all the teachers and students, he spoke in a gentle but clear voice, "Recite with me: 'Accepting the mandate of Heaven, with great majesty and virtue, opening the Great Yuan Dynasty, with the four seas submitting, advocating the boundless mystery, with benevolence covering all directions, ruling the country with saints, and controlling the vast lands with kings, shining brightly, with great vistas lasting for ten thousand years.'"

"...Great Scenery for Ten Thousand Years"

Mr. Yushan recited a sentence in a rhythmic manner, and the people below followed him, and Chen Xuan naturally followed suit.

I couldn't help but wonder. There wasn't a flag-raising ceremony, but it was almost there. What was Mr. Yushan reading? A eulogy of Jingguo? Maybe it even mentioned the reign title and the emperor's honorific title. I could find out later. The atmosphere was so solemn and dignified right now, and any disturbance would be disastrous.

Then Chen Xuan noticed that Gao Jingming and many children looked drowsy, and it seemed that they took what Mr. Yushan was reciting as a lullaby.

After the ceremony was over, Mr. Yushan coughed lightly and said, "A new semester has begun. It's time for all students to concentrate and focus on their studies. I have a few things to say. First, last semester, some students in several grades and classes caused a lot of trouble. I would like to criticize them by name. They are... The teachers in these classes will be asked to discipline them strictly and never let such things happen again. Secondly, when we entered school yesterday, a few students brought things they shouldn't have. I won't mention them by name here, but if they do it again, they will be severely punished..."

Listening to Mr. Yushan talking in front, Chen Xuan was speechless. My goodness, he has changed the world, but why can't he escape this?
Mr. Yushan, you agreed to just say a few words, but you kept talking on and on.

Well, just bear with it. Didn't you see that everyone was listening 'attentively'? After Mr. Yushan finally finished speaking, another old man with a white beard went up to speak. He mainly talked about safety and rules and regulations. I guess it was the same old stuff.

Then another burly man came up...

Okay, keep enduring.

As the sky brightened and the sun was about to rise, the thin old man finally walked away with a feeling of being unsatisfied.

Chen Xuan originally thought that this was the end, but then teachers from each class walked to the front of the line and said, "Next, the team leader will come to the front and lead everyone in morning class. Maintain order. Anyone who dares to make trouble will be sent to clean the toilet!"

There are morning classes? What morning classes?

Chen Xuan didn't understand, and Xiao Cai and the others had never introduced it, so he was a little curious.

Then Deng Lingfeng from Gao Jingming's class walked to the front with a bit of arrogance, and the morning glow was rising in the distant sky.

It was only at this time that Chen Xuan realized that the so-called morning class was probably morning exercises. Did ancient schools have this kind of class?
Then a resounding voice announced, "Everyone, focus! It's about to begin. Let me repeat, this set of tranquility and health-preserving exercises was developed through years of discussion between imperial martial arts masters and numerous scholars. Anyone can practice it, and it's beneficial. It's especially beneficial for people of your age. Diligent practice can invigorate blood circulation and nourish qi, and even invigorate the mind and eyes. Externally, it can strengthen the muscles and bones, and lay the foundation for the six martial arts of a gentleman. Perseverance can strengthen the body for the elderly, and daily morning practice for the elderly can prolong their lifespan. Don't take it lightly..."

"Everyone, begin! First movement, step left, slowly extend your arms forward, push hard, exhale, lower your body, lean your upper limbs to the left, turn right, inhale, bring your hands to your waist, make fists, and swing..."

Listening to the sound coming from nowhere, Chen Xuan muttered in his heart, is this really morning exercises?

They even came up with some kind of calming and health-preserving exercise, which is truly "keeping up with the times". Moreover, it was perfected by martial arts masters and scholars, which sounds pretty cool.

The voice explained clearly and concisely, describing every movement and even the inhalation and exhalation. As everyone around him was following the voice, Chen Xuan followed suit. His movements were not fast, but they were not difficult at all.

But at this moment, Gao Jingming beside Chen Xuan was just trying to fool around weakly, muttering indifferently, "What the hell is this? It happens every morning unless it rains. I keep repeating it every time, my ears are getting calluses. This bullshit Qi-calming and health-preserving exercise is just a lie. It's not even as useful as any set of boxing techniques from Ling Feng's martial arts school. There's no point in practicing this. Even if I want to learn martial arts, I need some top-notch martial arts elixirs and secret manuals. Who cares about this..."

This guy kept mumbling incessantly, his resentment almost showing on his face. He was even more angry than a ghost. He didn't shut up until the teacher in their class came over and glared at him.

Chen Xuan felt amused, but it was not appropriate to respond at this time. He just followed the other person's movements and breathed in and out according to the voice's instructions.

It is easy to follow others, but it will probably take some time to fully master it. After all, even learning physical exercises during class breaks takes more than a day or two.

Children of all ages were practicing some kind of calming and health-preserving exercises under the slowly rising sun. Most of them were just doing it perfunctorily and didn't take it seriously at all, just like Chen Xuan's classmates who slacked off during their exercises in school. Only the class leaders were quite serious.

I don't know if this can be considered martial arts. It should be related to it, but at most it is just a foundation and is dispensable. Out of a little curiosity, everyone is doing it, so Chen Xuan just followed suit.

It was not perfunctory, nor was it serious. Gradually, Chen Xuan didn't know if it was an illusion, but he always felt a slight heat all over his body, as if he was soaking in an invisible hot spring. Even the cool morning air seemed to have a refreshing smell when he breathed it.

"Interesting. It seems there's something real about this Qi-restoring and health-preserving exercise promoted among students. Of course, it's also possible that I'm just practicing it, and the movement of my hands and feet is causing my body to naturally heat up. After all, physical movement generates heat, so there's nothing wrong with that..."

He was surprised, but seeing that no one else had any special reaction, as if they were used to it and most of them were just going through the motions, Chen Xuan figured everyone was the same, so he didn't think too much about it and continued to follow the routine with everyone else. It was quite comfortable anyway, and before he knew it, he was starting to like this feeling...

(End of this chapter)