Chapter 33: The Prohibitions of the Cultivation Academy

The Lujiang River split the city of Luyang in two, dividing it neatly into east and west.

Changning Street and Tianmu Street were separated by several blocks; Tianmu Street was mainly on the western side of Luyang, while Changning Street lay to the east.

East Luyang was not the equal of the west, a fact one could discern simply by comparing these two streets.

On Tianmu Street stood two of the Four Greats: the Immortal Academy and the Imperial Treasure Pavilion. The street’s end even connected directly to the palace.

East Luyang was largely a district for commoners and commerce, with Changning Street at its bustling heart.

People from the Immortal Academy rarely came to Changning. For one, it was forbidden; for another, they disdained to do so.

No matter what a person wished to accomplish, mixing with the crowd on Changning Street made it impossible. Even running a small business would see your money squandered away, let alone embarking on the arduous path of immortality.

Thus, it was a rare sight indeed for students from the Immortal Academy, let alone a Talent Master, to appear on Changning Street as they did today.

Xie Yiyi and the madam of the Inviting Moon Pavilion were worried. If Gu Yi came from the Immortal Academy, whether the Talent Master would involve their establishment depended entirely on his whim. Should he wish to teach them a lesson, they would have no choice but to endure it silently.

But from the sound of things, he was not.

Xie Yiyi could not say whether she was disappointed or secretly relieved.

Fan Ling, for his part, was a tall and broad-shouldered man, his waist thick and his stature well over six foot three, making Gu Yi appear almost like a younger brother beside him.

Yet Gu Yi did not shy away. He looked up and met Fan Ling’s gaze.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?” Fan Ling’s tone held a mocking edge. “Do you think that, by uttering one poetic line and becoming Lady Ye’s brother at the Imperial Treasure Pavilion, and since she is close to the Third Princess, you’ve climbed high enough that I cannot touch you? But do you know, Lady Ye is a woman of clear reason, and so is the Third Princess. Even if both of them were here, you would still be severely punished.”

“Punished for coming to a place like this? Punished for spending ten gold to see a young lady? What, do you live by the sea that you care so much about other people’s business?” Gu Yi returned with equal sharpness.

“And for bringing these two here as well!” Fan Ling’s fury twisted into a cold smile.

Chen Mingguang and Wu Gang dared not even lift their heads.

Gu Yi said, “I don’t know the original intent behind the Immortal Academy’s rules. I only know that Chen Mingguang and Wu Gang are unmarried youths of twenty, soon to face the battlefield. Even if the time here is brief, what harm is there in a bit of living? Even if they do something, so what?”

“Absurd! To go to war for the country is an honor. If they were not outstanding, His Majesty would never select them! This is no excuse to seek pleasure on Changning Street. And if, as you say, the odds of survival are slim, they should focus all the more on cultivation, sharpening their skills. By your logic, should we send all our students to Changning Street before facing death?”

Gu Yi nodded without reservation. “Those who have wives need not bother, but for those who don’t, I see no harm! Living is an experience; so is cultivating immortality, and so is strolling Changning.”

Such shamelessness nearly drove Fan Ling mad with rage! Behind him, Ma Yuan kept tugging at Gu Yi’s trouser leg—You really are my old man!

What harm in just yielding a little?

“Nonsense! You’re corrupting my students’ minds, leading them away from the path! At first I thought your ignorance of our rules excusable, but now I see you are incorrigible! Even if you are Lady Ye’s brother, so what? You think I dare not strike you?”

With that, he formed a hand sign, shifting from finger to palm, and suddenly his arm was wreathed in strands of violet light! In an instant, the very air around them grew sharp and fierce!

Gu Yi was prepared, but a force pulled him back, nearly knocking him over as he hadn’t eyes in the back of his head. The next moment, a tremendous crash sounded!

Boom!!

The shockwave scattered dust and swept back the crowd of onlookers.

The madam of the Inviting Moon Pavilion cursed Gu Yi inwardly—who talks back to a Talent Master like that? To think he spends money so recklessly—he really is a fool!

Xie Yiyi raised her sleeve to shield her eyes; her hair was whipped about by the blast. As the dust settled, she saw a rather strange scene unfold.

Just then, it was Chen Mingguang who had pulled Gu Yi out of danger, while Wu Gang and Ma Yuan both raised their arms to take the brunt of Fan Ling’s palm head-on.

The floor beneath their feet cracked under the force.

Twin streams of yellow spiritual energy clashed with Fan Ling’s massive violet palm! The grating hum was almost unbearable.

Fan Ling remained unmoved, but the other two could not budge at all!

“Master!” Ma Yuan strained with all his might, veins bulging and eyes bloodshot. “Quick! Get out of here!”

“Leave?” Fan Ling, now truly enraged, could not believe someone would interfere with his punishment. “Leave under my nose? Ma Yuan, you’re as foolish as ever. Today, none of you four will get away!”

Chen Mingguang, quicker on the uptake, knelt again and pleaded, “The Vice Dean has taught us: The Immortal Academy educates the world’s students, bestows the art of cultivation, and teaches the ways of battle not to kill, but to save. Brother Gu is a common man and cannot withstand the blow of a Talent Master. We students had no other choice. Please, show mercy! Let all punishment fall on me, Chen Mingguang!”

“And me as well!” Wu Gang gritted his jaw, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Witnessing this, Gu Yi could not help but be moved. So men would really face death on the battlefield without fear.

Even someone as mediocre as Ma Yuan.

This, too, satisfied Fan Ling, who shot Gu Yi a mocking look. “Well? When faced with error, they take responsibility. But you—slick talker—try to excuse yourself with ridiculous arguments about going to Changning before battle. Don’t you feel ashamed to associate with us of the Immortal Academy?”

For this reason alone, no matter what methods Lady Ye might use in the future, no matter whom she might call upon, the Immortal Academy of Luyang would never accept a student like you! My word is final!”

Gu Yi was impressed—but not with Fan Ling, rather with the spirit of these people.

He gave a slight bow.

Then, raising one hand, as his fingers spread, the surrounding spiritual energy suddenly gathered toward his palm.

Since leaving Xiaoyuan Mountain, he had always drawn in spiritual energy this way, unlike anyone else.

Even Fan Ling projected his energy outward from within, but Gu Yi did the opposite.

Few people, very rarely, had ever seen him use such a method—not even Ma Yuan.

So, like Fan Ling, Ma Yuan was stunned. “Master?”

Fan Ling narrowed his eyes. “Three fools! You dare deceive me? Is this your so-called ordinary man? You’ve been corrupted, learning to twist truth and lie to your teacher!”

Gu Yi judged the time was right and placed his palm flat, sending a swirl of white spiritual energy along the ground to circle Ma Yuan and Wu Gang, spinning rapidly upward!

Whoosh!

At last, Wu and Ma gained some support, breaking free from Fan Ling’s giant palm.

“So, you have some skill after all. No wonder you’re so arrogant!” Fan Ling swept his sleeve, full of momentum, and pointed forward: “You’re no ordinary man. All the more reason I cannot forgive you. So let’s make it simple: You fear me not—do you dare face me in open combat? Changning is a crowded market; do you have the courage to follow me to a deserted place and settle this?”

Chen Mingguang turned pale. He knew the Talent Master was truly furious now and quickly advised, “Brother Gu, just apologize to the Talent Master. He is not a bad man. We made a mistake, and even if his punishment is stern, it’s for our own good.”

Ma Yuan, supporting his trembling right arm, echoed, “That’s right, Master. Mingguang is right. The Talent Master isn’t a bad man. If you just apologize, he’ll forgive you. Why suffer now?”

“I am not of the Immortal Academy,” Gu Yi said quietly, stepping forward. “Nor do I wish to join. I don’t have to fear him, don’t have to show him respect, and if he dislikes me, so be it—I don’t like him either.”

He patted Ma Yuan’s shoulder, his fingers flashing as he cast a dual-wounding talisman.

Fan Ling’s thick brows grew colder. “Remember what you said today. Consider Lady Ye’s feelings as well. You think you can just enter the Immortal Academy if you wish? Luyang’s academy does not admit whom it pleases!”

Gu Yi was now completely sober, and spoke earnestly: “Of course, if I wish to enter, I will. But for now, I have no such desire. As for you all, you are true men, and I am honored to call you friends. Your advice is sound.”

“But as for apologizing…I don’t know what for. Is it wrong that I, not a student, visited the Inviting Moon Pavilion? Wrong that two lads about to go to war strolled down Changning? Even if the academy has rules and you must punish them, and if they’re willing to kneel, I won’t stop them. But what right have you to order me about or strike me?”

“I’m not your concern, nor are you mine. Our philosophies simply differ, and you struck out in anger. But if I were more powerful, and still maintained they should stroll Changning, would you dare raise a hand? It’s nothing but bullying, using your academy’s authority and your own strength to force others to your will. Who gave you the right to control me? Who do you think you are?”

“I refuse to apologize. So what will you do, Talent Master? You think to beat me because you’re stronger? But you can’t defeat me—not today, not tomorrow, not in ten years. You never will.”

“Master!” Ma Yuan was beside himself with anxiety. How would this end?

“Silence!” Gu Yi had never spoken so sharply to him.

He went on.

“Unless you threaten my friends, using their respect and fear of you to keep them from resisting—if they stand up for me, then for the sake of friendship, I would apologize. But I think you’re too proud for such tactics.”

Fan Ling’s anger had long since boiled over.

“Can’t beat you?! I’m a bully?! I envy your courage to say such things!” He pointed at himself, then at Gu Yi. “Let’s duel! If I lose, I’ll overlook their offense of sneaking onto Changning. If you lose, I’ll double their punishment!”

Gu Yi shook his head. “What nonsense. If I lose, that’s my business. Why punish them? If I lose, I’ll take your beating and, from now on, will walk the other way whenever I see you in Luyang.”

“Fine! I underestimated you. Boy, give me your master’s name. If you didn’t come from our gates, you must have a private teacher. Tell me, let’s see who you follow.”

“That’s not important. What matters is—if I win?”

“Name your terms!”

“Very well. I don’t know how high your office is, Talent Master, but if I win, could you take me to your technique hall and let me stay for a day?”

That was rather much to ask. One couldn’t just walk into such a place at will.

“So, you have your eyes on our technique hall.” Fan Ling found him even more disagreeable. “I lack the authority to grant that, but I can take you to the curator. If she agrees, you may enter. If not, there’s nothing I can do.”

So that’s all the authority a Talent Master has, Gu Yi thought.

“Fine. It’s settled, then.”

“Three days from now, at this hour, behind the Rain Hall. Fan Ling of Luyang Immortal Academy awaits you.”

“Agreed. But one more thing: For the next three days, you are not to punish Chen Mingguang or Wu Gang. If you’re angry, save it for me after three days.”

“And I have something to say as well. I do not like you. Even if, by some miracle, I lose, that’s my own incompetence. But the academy will never accept a student like you. This is Luyang Immortal Academy’s injunction against you, set by me, and no one can change it!”

Gu Yi waved him off. “Enough. I can’t control whether your academy’s people visit Changning, but don’t disturb my time at the Inviting Moon Pavilion.”