Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 270 is going to be a difficult ending.
The academy is not located in Xunyang.

This place is still a hundred miles away from the southern foot of Wulao Peak, and it requires hiring a caravan and climbing mountain roads to reach it.

It's said that you can also see the Three-Tiered Spring Waterfall along the way. I wonder if there are people practicing cultivation under the waterfall, like making the waterfall flow backwards with a single punch.

The large city of Xunyang was the last resting place for the academy's students on their study tour.

We need to purchase supplies, hire a convoy of vehicles and bodyguards, and also buy some gifts.

While Professor Shi was away, he and his teaching team visited the governing officials of Xunyang and the deans of several small academies today.

The officials here hold similar positions to those of Youde Xian, each overseen by a matriarch on the mountain, and they maintain a very low profile.

Having two major academies come together is a great achievement for the education administration, so they are naturally very enthusiastic.

An elderly man, nearing the end of his life, approached shakily and struck up a conversation.

"Dear Normal University students, it's been a long time."

"The last time was when Headmaster Shen invited you to Lushan for secluded cultivation."

Professor Shi was not originally a professor at Chongqi Academy. After the "Song of the Ghosts and Gods," he was hunted down by an unknown force and was hidden in Mount Lu by Shen Yifu, who was not yet the headmaster at the time.

Several months later, Chongqi invited him to Qiantang for protection, so Xunyang also left his footprints.

Of course, it wasn't a good thing at all, because the governor of Xunyang at the time was also part of an unknown force. He later fell into the river and died, supposedly at the hands of river pirates.

It was that chase from north to south that instilled in Professor Shi a great aversion to interpersonal relationships.

Noise only distracts the mind, so they simply pushed Xu Xuan out to handle the social engagements.

Of course, he wasn't stupid. Chongqi had been a great benefactor to him, and he couldn't afford to lose face.

It was somewhat disrespectful to have a young instructor directly handle the task, so I suppressed my impatience and gave some background information.

"Xu Xuan, Xu Hanwen."

"The youngest teacher at Chongqi Academy and the leader of the Jiangnan Literary Society."

"These are the outstanding talents personally recruited by Madam Yin into the academy, and they are also the juniors recognized by all the professors."

Gu Wei praised his character and scholarship as being among the best of the best, Sheng Yuanfu said that his ability to solve cases was comparable to his own in his youth, and even the professor of history once said so.

"Brother Yifu specifically mentioned Hanwen's name during this invitation, and Brother Dingguo is also relieved to entrust him with the responsibility of leading the team."

Adding a barrage of praise instantly changes everything.

The officials present were completely stunned. Shi Kuang was an extraordinary person among extraordinary people, and he would never stoop to deceiving ordinary people like them.

So, everything you said is true?!
Madam Yin, Shen Yifu, and Yu Dingguo are the promising young talents simultaneously favored by the current heads of the three major academies.
There were also many praises from retired bigwigs like Chongqi, and even Professor Taishi spoke out.

what is this?
This must be a deity radiating golden light.

Everyone immediately lost interest in chatting with Shi Kuang across channels and instead started communicating with this promising young star.

It's not that they lowered their standards, but rather, as just described.

With the help of a network of connections that could influence most of the court, this young man could easily bypass the imperial examination system and be directly appointed to an official position.

Even wanting to be your own boss might not be a difficult thing.

Professor Shi breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this, and sat to the side with his eyes vacant, as if he couldn't understand the enthusiastic conversation.

Others were not surprised, as Shi Kuang was already well-known.

Besides, this place is at the foot of the White Deer; who would dare to be disrespectful to him? Are you really not afraid of mountain bandits and river pirates?
It was tough on Xu Xuan, who was forced to take on the heavy responsibility of socializing, which also served as an opportunity to expand his network.

With the ability to sense emotions through the White Lotus Dharma Form, she could easily manipulate ordinary officials with her own abilities, and soon the place was filled with joy and harmony.

However, if you continue like this, I, Xu, will lose my position as dean. It will be very difficult to resolve this situation. Towards the end of the conversation, the high-ranking officials enthusiastically introduced the location of today's banquet, mentioning two elegant events that would take place.

One is the performance of pipa music, a musical instrument from the Western Regions.

The word "piba" originated from the Hu people and was used to beat drums on horseback. Pushing the hand forward is called "pi," and pulling the hand back is called "ba," which resembles the sound of the drum, hence the name.

After being introduced from the Qin Dynasty, it was continuously improved. Recently, a pear-shaped four-stringed instrument was incorporated into it in the north, forming a new pipa.

The literati and scholars of Xunyang have found a perfect opportunity to see great musicians perform tonight.

Secondly, appreciate a painting of a goddess.

An old monk sells paintings in the marketplace to raise money for repairing a temple in the mountains.

This is not uncommon in Lushan, but this painting is not for sale for less than ten gold pieces. It is said that one can see celestial maidens scattering flowers dancing in the pavilion. It is a living painting and can be called a rare object.

It attracted a crowd and was later bought. It will be displayed tonight along with a pipa.

Xunyang is a place of great cultural prosperity, so even banquets must be elegant.

Although Qiantang boasts two major academies, it still has a stronger commercial atmosphere.

These officials, perhaps due to their long-standing influence, spoke eloquently about the matter.

Listening to music and appreciating paintings really fit the overall tone, and there was even a musical performance that Professor Shi liked the most, which was very thoughtfully arranged.

The atmosphere grew even more lively, and we just waited for nightfall.

While Xu Xuan was striving in his career, the students of the academy were doing their own things in Xunyang City.

The students from Jintian Academy were rather unassuming; they accompanied their instructors to visit other academies. It was the usual groundwork for building relationships and discussing academic matters.

Chongqi naturally dispersed, some to visit aristocratic families and relatives, and others to take care of personal matters.

Ji Rui immediately bought a gold-plated and silver-embroidered hat and put it on, replacing the plain headscarf.

Then they planned to sneak into the city for sightseeing, with Zao and Ning Caichen following along and watching.

"Your guardedness is making me quite sad."

"Am I, Ji Hanqing, some kind of person who acts recklessly?"

Despite his sincere words, his two friends didn't believe him at all.

They've even grown horns on their heads and they still won't stop causing trouble.

Here, nine rivers converge, and there are numerous waterways. If someone fell into the water and was captured by a monster, there would at least be a way to send a message.

The reasons were compelling, and Ji Rui, having struggled to no avail, could only accept his fate.

I took my friends to Qingyin Xiaoban, next to the famous Yanyu Tower in Xunyang.

"Ahem, this place is one of the beautiful sights of Xunyang, so let me take you on a tour."

"I visited this place with my father three years ago and broadened my horizons. Returning today is a way to reminisce."

The two friends were immediately deeply worried about Ji's father's educational methods. No wonder Ji Rui was so enthusiastic; it was due to his family's long tradition of scholarship.

Ji Rui was furious and said that they had misunderstood him and his father.

He's not usually... he doesn't do it often.
Well, the old man is indeed rather indulgent in matters of desire, but this place is different; this is a refined place!
He immediately began to walk and talk, his face full of composure and confidence.

"My two virtuous brothers are unaware that these places of pleasure are divided into four levels."

The "Qingyin Class" in Xunyang was the top of the four levels. These courtesans were skilled in playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, and composing poems. Their bright eyes and deep expressions often attracted celebrities, gentry, powerful and wealthy businessmen.

(End of this chapter)