Chapter 23: The Silhouette of Little Yiyi (III)

In the early morning, leaning against the corner of the wall, Ma Yuan watched as Gu Yi raised his hand and traced shapes in the air, delicate tinkling sounds following his movements. His figure was tall and upright, his back slender, standing in the morning breeze like a graceful, handsome youth.

His fingertip seemed to be pointing toward the distant signboard, emitting a faint glow that left a shimmering trail in the air.

Suddenly, Ma Yuan shivered. Where on earth had he fallen asleep this time?

"Awake?" Gu Yi didn't turn around, but he already knew.

"Master..." The bald-headed man was still groggy. "What are you doing? What am I doing?"

"I'm trying to restore the broken talisman on that signboard. But I've drawn far too little."

"You mean that's a spirit talisman?"

"Yes. And it's definitely not the hidden poetry charm Miss Ye spoke of—it's just a remnant of a talisman."

"Then did no one in all of Luyang notice? Only you, Master?"

Smack!

Gu Yi lightly rapped him on the head. "What nonsense are you spouting? Wake up! Take me to the Celestial Academy today!"

After grabbing a quick bowl of noodles at a roadside stall, the two made their way toward the academy.

"Last night, when you were drunk, you mentioned the Hall of Spirit Talismans and the Sword and Sword. What are those?" Gu Yi asked as they walked side by side.

"The teachers at the academy only instruct the new students. Once you've reached the Meditation Realm, there are no more teachers. But there are three places for students to comprehend the Way and cultivate: the Hall of Techniques, the Hall of Spirit Talismans, and the Sword and Sword. The Hall of Spirit Talismans is where the spirit talismans are stored, and the Sword and Sword is the sanctuary for sword cultivators. This lasts for three years. After that, regardless of cultivation level, everyone must leave the academy, unless their talent is truly exceptional..."

At this, Ma Yuan looked a bit unwilling.

Gu Yi turned to prompt him, "And if their talent is exceptional?"

"They're given leave to remain in the academy. They're allowed to continue cultivating, gaining access to the best resources. But such positions are extremely rare. If successful, they're called Scholars—a formal title, with salaries even higher than ours."

"So that's why you said the academy's Scholars..." Gu Yi caught on quickly. "But even if those positions are rare, the country has stood for three hundred years—there must be quite a few Scholars in the academy. I told Changsheng to challenge the Hall of Techniques, and he thought I was joking."

Perhaps because no one truly knows how many monsters of talent are hidden within the academy's walls.

"The number isn't that high, actually. On average, only one Scholar is retained every three years. Those from the early days have all passed away. And not all remain inside; some, it's said, have gone to the outlying islands. So there aren't that many Scholars in the academy now. No one knows the exact number, and for those who reach such heights, the number hardly matters—one is enough to protect a nation. As for me, your unworthy disciple, I've only ever seen the Seventeenth Pavilion Lord."

Gu Yi was puzzled. "Seventeenth Pavilion Lord? Is that a Scholar?"

"Scholar is the official title. In the academy, we call them Pavilion Lords, because after being retained, His Majesty grants them a pavilion as a residence. Master..." Ma Yuan, uncharacteristically meek, confessed, "We can look from the outside, but I can't take you in. Not only have I left the academy, but even if I were still there, I couldn't just bring people into the Hall of Techniques."

"If you're honest, I understand." Gu Yi patted his head. "It's reasonable for the academy to have such rules. Otherwise, all kinds of riffraff would be sneaking in."

Ma Yuan added, "It's more than that. Members of the royal family are allowed free entry, and they often come in search of immortality. If access weren't controlled, they'd be in danger."

That, perhaps, was the goal the Yin clan sought during that war.

In the nation's early days, some sects even dared refuse royal disciples to seem impartial. As a result, all the ambitious youths flocked to the sects—who would still respect the emperor if everyone revered the sect master?

To Gu Yi’s eyes, the academy gates looked utterly ordinary: a tall structure with a chunk missing from the corner, a curious sight.

Ma Yuan explained, "The gates are like a farmer’s, because the academy believes students come from all walks of life—not just the sons of noble houses. And passing through these gates doesn’t mean you’ve entered the Dragon Gate. Most importantly, the Celestial Academy doesn't need to rely on grand architecture for prestige."

"The missing corner was knocked off by a student named Huang Bo. He was ugly and short, but exceptionally gifted. Unwilling to be belittled, he challenged the most famous scholar of his year, Liu Chang, and accidentally broke the gate in their duel. His Majesty, to commend such a spirit, left the gate as it was, a constant inspiration."

Gu Yi paced back and forth, and said, "Hearing your stories, the academy truly is unique. But this kind of gate isn't exactly friendly to me—it looks like a villager's doorway, nothing to see at all."

"Yes, the academy is built into the mountains, and though the inner buildings aren't grand, they have the subtle mystery of immortals' abodes. But from the outside, you really can't tell."

Ma Yuan had an idea. "If you truly wish to enter, Master, you could wait for the admissions exam in half a year. If you pass, you’ll be a student, free to go anywhere. But if you try to sneak in and get caught..."

Gu Yi did have a reason he must enter, but waiting six months was a long time, and every student’s background was investigated—royal kin studied here, and his own unclear identity would be a problem.

These matters he kept to himself.

But today, the bald one seemed changed.

"What’s gotten into you? Did something happen yesterday to make you so meek?"

Thinking of yesterday, Ma Yuan grimaced, unwilling to recall it. "No, it’s just—I may not be a Scholar, but as a former student of the academy, I’m still addressed as sir and receive a stipend from His Majesty. No matter what, I should have some respect. Standing here at the gate, I dare not be disrespectful."

His nature wasn’t bad, after all.

Or perhaps, the Celestial Academy truly was a place none in the immortal world could ignore.

A broad road led from the gate up the mountain, vanishing into the distance. A few shops lined the entrance, and in either direction, the path led toward a temple tower—likely symbolic.

The passersby looked ordinary enough, but when two people walked out side by side from within the gates, Ma Yuan instinctively hid behind Gu Yi.

"What’s the matter? Might be your old classmates—why hide?"

Ma Yuan, as honest as a child, replied, "That's exactly why I'm afraid. If my old classmates see me like this, it would be humiliating... Master, if you’re done looking, let’s leave quickly. My acquaintances are bound to be around here."

Gu Yi looked at him—he really was the picture of the middle-aged man who failed to thrive after graduation.

"Ma Yuan, remember this: since you’ve called me Master, you’re the most enviable man in the world. Do you understand?"

Suddenly hearing such encouragement, the middle-aged man felt a warmth well up inside, even a little moved. "Master…what you say is false, but it's so well said."

"I’m not lying," Gu Yi assured him. "Though you have little talent and love to boast, your head’s bald from cultivation, you’re not much to look at, your figure is poor, your pockets are nearly empty, and you still find ways to amuse yourself. But…you must believe you’ll be envied."

Ma Yuan’s eyebrow twitched—wasn’t that just an insult? How could he believe that?

Never mind, he waved his hand and was about to leave.

"Come back!" Gu Yi called him back. "Tell me, do you want those who mocked you yesterday at Jade Treasure Pavilion to envy you just once?"

Ma Yuan was almost frightened, clutching Gu Yi’s arm. "Master, don’t get so worked up. I’m used to it. After a drink, I’ve forgotten all about it—let’s just go home."

But Gu Yi didn’t think it was enough to simply forget. Perhaps Ma Yuan was the most ordinary cultivator in the world—only at the Mind-Setting Realm, but he respected the academy that taught and raised him, respected the emperor who paid him silver, and, should the command come, would likely go to war without hesitation.

Perhaps, if he died, no one would even remember his name.

When he was seized in Quanmen County, even facing death, he wasn’t afraid.

When Changsheng came for Gu Yi, knowing he couldn’t win, he still didn’t try to escape.

"That day, you insisted that if you were to learn my spirit talismans, you must kneel and call me Master. Yet after you knelt, I never truly taught you anything. Not only that, I ate up most of your livelihood."

Whether cultivating the Way, studying talismans, or simply being a person, one cannot lack confidence. Today, Gu Yi was going to help him find it again.

The disciple of the immortal of Xiaoyuan Mountain, even if he was ugly, deserved to be teased by his own master—but never by outsiders.