Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 716 Leniency for confession
"After talking with you, Dean Shen had many insights and went into seclusion to study the wisdom of the ancient sages."

The two chatted casually along the way.

“Zichi,” Xu Xuan suddenly spoke, addressing him by Lu Nan’s courtesy name to show closeness, “have you ever participated in the spring and autumn sacrifices?”

The Holy Father does not fight unprepared battles, even if he is attacked. If he could know more about the recent situation of the academy, he might be able to understand Master Shen's feelings at this moment.

Lu Nan naturally said that he could not possibly miss it. The "Shidian" ceremony is held on the first Ding day of the middle month of spring and autumn every year. This is the most important event in the academy.

The rituals for worshipping the ancient sages and teachers can be traced back to the "ruler and teacher" rituals of the Zhou Dynasty. In the early days, they were used to worship mountains, rivers, temples, and schools. Later, they were gradually used exclusively for worshipping Confucius and became the highest-level ritual in the Confucius Temple.

Then, he also explained to Instructor Xu how extraordinary the Spring and Autumn Sacrifices of Bailu Academy were.

After all, in terms of cultural heritage, Bailu Academy is the most profound among the three academies, and it is particularly skilled in sacrificial rites.

Shen Shanzhang had already shown off his skills at the Jiangnan Literary Gathering, and he did it very professionally.

In any situation where he is present, it's almost impossible for the sacrificial rites to fall to someone else. Even someone as renowned as Yu Gong would be overshadowed in such matters.

Xu Xuan envisioned the scene of Master Shen presiding over the sacrificial ceremony—his simple blue robe fluttering in the incense smoke, his aged yet powerful voice reciting ancient sacrificial texts, seemingly able to communicate with heaven and earth. Indeed, when it came to sacrificial rites, no one in Jiangnan could surpass him.

As Lu Nan recounted the story, the grand scale and popularity of the Spring and Autumn Sacrifices at Bailu Academy came vividly to life.

On that day, the prefect, governor, state official, and other officials would all come to witness the ceremony.

It elevates humanity and Confucianism to their zenith.

"If you can come, you can also see our academy's treasures: the Zuo Fu Wu Ding, the Mu Gong Ce Ding, the Cang Bi, and the Bo Yi Gui."

"It is said to be a cultural treasure, imbued with the beliefs of the human race."

Lu Nan spoke with reverence as he described the wonders of the three treasures.

"Especially the Bo Yi Gui, which is said to be a ritual vessel bestowed upon the sages by the Zhou emperor. It contains five grains, symbolizing abundance in the five directions. During sacrifices, the head of the village would take a handful of grains from it and scatter them in all four directions—what a scene!"

Xu Xuan felt a deep sense of desolation. The Bo Yi Gui was on his person, but the five grains that symbolized a bountiful harvest and abundance were gone.

Do you understand if I disappear?

You can't understand, and I doubt even Lao Shen can accept it.

The road up the mountain was originally very long, but now it seemed so short.

After getting out of the car, Xu Xuan straightened his clothes and directly explained his purpose: to visit Headmaster Shen.

"The headmaster has gained profound insights from studying the classics of the ancients and is currently in seclusion," the professor who came to receive him said.

"Just tell him that Instructor Xu is visiting, and he will come out."

But the old professor was pulled back as he turned around.

"Um... Bailu Academy is a quieter place, there's something important I need to..."

Xu Xuan still cared about his reputation, so he chose a quiet place.

So they were taken to the front of Bailudong Cave, a place that students and professors generally do not approach.

As a result, Xu Xuan felt even more uneasy when he saw Bailudong, as if he had been given a debuff. He decided to just let it go.

Then I took out the ancient zither that shimmered with colorful lights and set it up. Although I came here to apologize, I also had to show off my achievements.

Ignoring its unconventional, scrolling lantern-like design, this zither has been refined over decades in the Yunmeng Marsh, and its quality has transcended the mortal realm, making it a true magical artifact.

A southern wind song echoed through Bailu Academy.

"South Wind" is the "sound of growth" and "poem for nurturing the people".

This is Emperor Shun's praise and expectation for the south wind. The south wind not only brings coolness and relieves people's worries, but also promotes the growth of crops and increases people's wealth at the right time.

Therefore, this song has extraordinary power.

If paired with a fine zither, it would truly be like hearing celestial music.

The entire Bailu Academy was immersed in the joy of the Southern Wind Melody.

When the song ended, a burst of laughter followed.

The laughter conveyed a sense of relief and joy.

"Instructor Xu, Young Master Xu, Brother Xu, you're finally back! Hahahaha!"

The spirited Shen Shanzhang walked with the speed of the wind, and his mood was even more excited when he saw the guqin.

“That’s right, that’s right, this is Ziye’s zither.”

"I can't believe you actually went into Yunmengze and even took the things out."

"Tell me quickly how you did it."

If you sit on the ground, you're meant to listen to stories.

But then she immediately remembered something: "Oh right, that Boyi Gui."

“Hey~~~ You’ve come to the right place. Yunmengze is no ordinary place. The information you’ve given us is still quite inaccurate, let me tell you,” Xu Xuan immediately interrupted.

Although they came to apologize, the order of the apologies must be correct.

First, they would boast of their achievements, then complain about their hardships, and finally apologize.

But Old Shen is an impatient person.

The Bo Yi Gui is a treasure of the academy, and he had secretly lent it out without the other teachers' knowledge. If those old scholars found out, they'd pluck his beard clean. He indicated he needed to return the Gui immediately.

Many conspiracies are exposed because the final step is delayed too long; we can't afford to make that mistake.

Xu Xuan gritted his teeth and decided to just go all out.

With a "whoosh," he untied the bundle, took out the bronze gui vessel, and lifted the lid in front of Headmaster Shen.

"Hiss~~~~"

The air froze instantly. The empty vessel gleamed with a cold light, the handprint slightly glaring, the fingerprints clearly visible.

Xu Xuan held his breath, awaiting the expected thunderous rage.

Even the jade pot already contained rattan.

Although Xiaoqing is good at talking nonsense, if you think about it carefully, throwing away all the grains that the academy has been sacrificing for countless years and only whipping them with a rattan cane is definitely a pure profit.

However, Headmaster Shen silently accepted the bronze gui vessel, his fingers gently tracing the deep and shallow handprints on its surface, as if reading a thrilling and harrowing battle.

"I was wrong this time," the old man suddenly said, his voice low.

Huh? Eh? This?
Xu Xuan was bewildered. We're not on the same wavelength, are we? He had imagined countless possibilities—being scolded, beaten, expelled from the academy, or even worse. But he never expected this.

Next, the renowned headmaster of Bailu Academy, who was famous throughout Jiangnan, actually bowed deeply to Xu Xuan.

His eyes held a guilt Xu Xuan had never seen before: "I knew Yunmengze was dangerous, yet I still let you take Boyi Gui on that adventure."

"No... Headmaster, please don't do this!" Xu Xuan hurriedly helped Headmaster Shen up. "Actually... actually..."

He said with some hesitation:
"Actually, it's not entirely your fault."

The Holy Father is indeed the Holy Father; he smoothly shifted the tone of his words.

The Holy Father, who was teetering on the edge of morality, felt that he was maintaining his friendship with the White Deer Grotto Academy.

He then expressed his deep regret, admitting that he had also made mistakes, and the two sides then engaged in a tug-of-war.

Shen Shanzhang's gaze made him realize the problem—the two had vastly different definitions of "danger."

Xu Xuan had experienced too many life-or-death situations. The trip to Yunmengze was at most a large-scale dungeon. It was challenging, but far from being hopeless.

Although Shen Shanzhang also traveled around in his youth, his experience was still not as extraordinary as that of a certain person.

In his view, the situation that could drive Xu Xuan to the brink of exhausting all the grains must have been extremely tragic, a desperate situation with only a slim chance of survival.

It's a miracle that anyone could come back alive; I, as the one who started this, am undeniably culpable.

“Hanwen,” Shen Shanzhang sighed and patted Xu Xuan on the shoulder, “When we first met in Qiantang, I felt that you were a capable and virtuous scholar.”

"Now it seems I'm no longer qualified to comment on your character."

"As for treasures, they are merely external things, not as important as people."

No wonder he's the headmaster of Bailu Academy; with his magnanimity and demeanor, it's no wonder he's famous throughout Jiangnan.

"Headmaster!" Xu Xuan felt that this topic could be put aside for the time being, otherwise, Old Xu would become a truly good person.

Usually, it's Song Qingtian who puts moral blackmail on me; I can't actually eat it myself.

The conversation then turned to a practical issue: what to do with the empty Boyi Gui vessel?

What should be done about the autumn festival in the second half of the year?

The Bo Yi Gui is a key sacrificial vessel in the grand ceremony, from which the head priest will take grains and scatter them in all directions under the watchful eyes of everyone. Now it's empty; isn't that...?
Shen Shan stroked his beard, a sly glint in his eyes.

He left for a short while and then returned furtively, just like he had done a few days earlier when he stole the Bo Yi Gui.

After looking around to make sure no one was around, he suddenly took out a small cloth bag from his sleeve, skillfully untied the rope, and poured the grains inside into the bronze gui vessel with a "whoosh".

Xu Xuan's eyes widened. They were just ordinary rice grains, yellowish-brown, without a single colored grain, let alone any magical power or wonder.

"This," Xu Xuan pointed to the grains in the vessel, then looked at Shen Shanzhang's calm expression, "your technique is quite skillful? And what's the point of keeping grains on hand all the time?"

What's even more terrifying is that you actually have the same thought process as Xiaoqing?

So she really has evolved, while I've fallen behind?
Master Shen chuckled and gently closed the lid of the gui vessel: "Actually, it doesn't matter if there's one more or one less; everyone just wants a good omen."

He patted the bronze gui vessel, making a dull sound: "The essence of sacrifice lies in sincerity, not in external objects."

"Furthermore, sacrificial vessels are important artifacts, and others cannot easily approach them. Only I, the headmaster, can designate who will carry them. As long as I move them myself, no one else will notice anything amiss."

Looking at Shen Shanzhang's sly expression, Xu Xuan suddenly realized—this old man must have done many similar things when he was young! Half of the legends about the miraculous efficacy of the White Deer Academy's sacrificial rites can probably be attributed to Shen Shanzhang's superb acting skills and techniques.

"Headmaster," Xu Xuan couldn't help but laugh, "you really are..."

"Really what?" Headmaster Shen stared wide-eyed.

"That's truly a far-sighted plan!" Xu Xuan quickly changed his tune, offering a quick compliment.

I never imagined that the most difficult matter of apologizing with thorns on one's back would be resolved so perfectly.

Xu Xuan was very grateful when he left the academy.

It can only be said that the wisdom of the old man is unfathomable. For the same problem, there are two solutions, and he chose the optimal one.

If anything happens at Bailu Academy in the future, Old Xu can't just ignore it.

(End of this chapter)