My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 324 - 245 The Ancient Pavilion Has an Old Well

Chapter 324: Chapter 245 The Ancient Pavilion Has an Old Well

Linlu Academy was located on the east bank of the Li River outside Du You East City, adjacent to the great river.

However, Zhao Rong had been at the Academy for nearly a decade, yet he had never heard the sound of the rolling river, which was still visible to the naked eye from not far away.

It was indeed strange.

In the early morning, within Linlu Academy, on a road to the west.

Zhao Rong, Fan Yushu, and Jia Tengying, each with a guqin on their back, walked together towards the riverside to the west of the Academy.

Zhao Rong, with his sleeves rolled up, walked between the two fellow students and friends with drooping eyelids and occasionally bowed his head to cover his mouth and yawn.

Because of last night’s mishap with the backlash of Innate Primordial Qi, his body’s Innate Primordial Qi had dissipated, leaving him in his weakest state since he had begun Qi Sensing.

Therefore, with no Innate Primordial Qi to support his physique, along with last night’s backache and soreness, he had no energy left, resulting in him waking up weak and lethargic this morning. This was a first for Zhao Rong since he had begun his cultivation and ascent up the mountain.

Zhao Rong slightly raised his eyes.

At the end of his view, a vast expanse of Red Maple Forest spread out like a fiery red ribbon laid across the riverside. The waters of the Li River were hidden in the faint morning mist, as if covered by a pale white curtain.

Shuaixing Hall had two Art Studies classes this morning, one for Music Art and one for Calligraphy.

The Calligraphy class, in particular, was taught by a female Teacher named Zhu Weirui, whom Zhao Rong had brushed past when he was first brought into the Academy by his eldest martial brother. Today would be his first time attending her class.

Upon thinking of this, Zhao Rong’s mind flashed with the Poetry Paper that Zhu Weirui had sent him, along with the script that appeared to be carefully copied by her.

His pale lips gently pursed.

The first class was from Teacher Si for Music Art, at the fourth watch of the early morning. Yesterday, they were reminded by Yu Huaijin that Teacher Si would be teaching in the Red Maple Forest on the west side of the Academy by the riverbank this morning.

Thus, the three of them were now hurrying to the riverside. Incidentally, this was also Zhao Rong’s first visit to the Red Maple Forest by the riverbank since he had joined the Academy. He had occasionally heard Teacher Yan mention it before.

Zhao Rong drew back his gazing eyes and turned his head to say, "Yushu, the river is so close by, yet I haven’t heard a single sound of river waves. Could it be that our Academy has shielded it with magic?"

Fan Yushu raised an eyebrow.

"I thought Ziyu would have known by now. What you said is almost right. However, rumor has it that a Teacher of our Academy, who held a title even higher than a gentleman, scolded the riverbank with a shout of ’Silence!’ during his first lecture at the Scripture Teaching Pavilion that lies ahead of us. Ever since then, the river on this side of the Academy has never had a sound pass beyond the Scripture Teaching Pavilion."

He pointed towards the ancient pavilion they were about to pass by.

"Look, Ziyu, that’s the pavilion, called ’Scripture Teaching.’ Sometimes, a few Teachers from Mochi Academy enjoy taking us to teach there, and other Teachers from our Academy also frequently lecture there. Often one can see fellow students and martial brothers gathered and sitting in a circle."

Zhao Rong lightly nodded, yawning as he lifted his hand, "So it is."

They were now approaching the ancient pavilion.

"Ziyu, wait a moment, don’t go yet. Inside the Scripture Teaching Pavilion is an ancient well. The students and martial brothers at the Academy all call it the ’Upstanding Crown Well.’ Usually, everyone passing by stops at the wellside to use the clear water, which shines like a mirror, to straighten and tidy their garments, readying themselves with proper appearance and uprightness."

Fan Yushu said with a smile,

"I heard from our eldest martial brother before that, according to the rumors, if one were to draw and drink from this well water, those with dishonest hearts would suffer from endless vomiting and diarrhea, severe headaches, until they repent and mend their ways. But for upright gentlemen, the water would bring no harm after drinking; they might even taste a cold and strong fragrance, a divine substance for brewing tea."

Jia Tengying, who had been silent, took over the conversation, addressing a listening Zhao Rong,

"Upstanding Crown Well may be used to adjust one’s clothes, but drawing water for drinking is expressly forbidden by the Academy, whether it’s students, martial brothers, or the Academy Teachers. I guess only the Mountain Master can draw water from this well."

"Alas," Fan Yushu sighed, stamping his foot and shaking his head, "Ziyu, Brother Jia, it’s a pity, such a perfect item for making tea, and I am destined not to taste it."

Zhao Rong and Jia Tengying couldn’t help but glance sideways at him. "Are you sure you’re not the one who got taught a lesson and had to start all over?"

Unconcerned with the odd looks from the two, Fan Yushu turned and ran towards the Scripture Teaching Pavilion. "Ziyu, Brother Jia, I’m going to straighten my attire. Do you want to come along?"

After a moment of thought, Jia Tengying also lifted his foot to follow, adopting the practice common among scholar-brothers within the academy of grooming themselves with the help of the reflecting well water.

Zhao Rong stood still, basking in the early autumn morning sunlight and stretched out with a yawn, not budging. Mainly because he felt somewhat lethargic and couldn’t be bothered to run.

With his hands clasped and nothing to do, he surveyed the ancient pavilion not far away.

From the outside, one could see the pavilion was octagonal in shape, with an ancient glazed well enclosed within it, looking very old and hidden amongst a copse of greenery, appearing rather solitary and serene in the early morning.

At this moment, Jia Tengying and Fan Yushu stood by the well, their heads bowed as they gazed into the water, adding a slight touch of human presence to the scene.

Zhao Rong looked around and lifted his eyelids with curiosity. The location of this pavilion and well was rather uncommon, flanked by two green mountains close together, with the structure nestled within the valley’s shaded side.

The three of them were passing by here because this valley served as a shortcut within the Academy to the western riverside. Otherwise, they would have had to detour around Green Mountain, which would be quite troublesome.

Zhao Rong took a good look at the ancient pavilion and well, shrouded under the valley’s tree shade where the sunlight could never reach, then didn’t linger on it any further.

Before long, the sound of a bell echoed from the distant forests. It was no longer early, so Fan Yushu and Jia Tengying returned, and the three set off again.

And just as they left the Scripture Teaching Pavilion and passed through the valley,

the roiling sound of river waves, mingled with the rustling of leaves, carried on the Li River breeze, assaulted Zhao Rong’s face.

...

By the time Zhao Rong and the others arrived at the clearing outside the Red Maple Forest by the riverbank, most of the students from Shuaixing Hall had already gathered, and Teacher Si, blind yet dignified, stood with his back to everyone, embracing a zither on the riverbank. His robes fluttered in the breeze, and it was unclear how long he had been standing there.

At this moment, desks and benches were neatly arranged on the clearing where most students had already taken their seats, enjoying the river breeze and anticipating the lesson amidst the sound of the waves and rustling leaves.

At the road entrance behind them, a thin and short woman with a flat expression stood poised, her gaze fixed on the tardy arrival of Zhao Rong and his companions.

"Senior Yu."

Zhao Rong, along with Fan Yushu and Jia Tengying, greeted her with a bow.

Yu Huaijin looked them over, her gaze lingering on Zhao Rong for a moment, then she bowed in return, her tone formal and even. "Brother Zhao, Brother Fan, Brother Tengying, please rise."

The commotion at the entrance caught the attention of many Shuaixing Hall students, who turned to look. Seeing who it was, many curled their lips in disdain.

Among them was Wu Peiliang, who had previously had a spat with Fan Yushu.

He had been sitting with his eyes closed, enjoying the sound of the waves, his head swaying gently; a fashionable scarf tied to his hairpin fluttered carelessly in the river breeze, adding a touch of elegance.

Upon hearing the voices at the entrance, Wu Peiliang stopped playing his zither and turned to look, shaking his head with a sneer when he recognized the three newcomers.

Yu Huaijin ignored the stir behind her, expressing seriously, "You’re a bit late, try to come earlier next time so we can start the lesson sooner. After all, Teacher is in poor health and arrived quite early."

Before Zhao Rong and the others could nod in agreement, a murmur of complaint suddenly erupted.

"Exactly. Who knows what they were up to last night, they can’t even get out of bed on time. Hmph, it’s bad enough that they drag down our Shuaixing Hall during the mid-month examination, but now they’re dawdling for regular classes too. Haven’t they seen how long Teacher Si has been waiting? What a waste of everyone’s time..."

The voice was impatient and clearly displeased.