My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 361 - 266: What Virtues and Abilities Do I Have to Teach You Guys! (Happy New Year, Good Brothers!)

Chapter 361: Chapter 266: What Virtues and Abilities Do I Have to Teach You Guys! (Happy New Year, Good Brothers!)

Linlu Academy backed by the spiritual Linlu Mountain, facing the Li River, embraced by Linlu forest on the left and Du You valley on the right.

Verdant mountains and azure waters reflected each other, lush woods and clear springs intertwined, and the strings and songs of a thousand years made it the sacred land for reading in the northern half of Taiching Prefecture.

Only here could one find such a multitude of captivating and scenic spots within a single Academy.

If the red maple riverscape to the west of the Academy was the ultimate autumn scene of Linlu Academy, then the silver ginkgoes in the secluded valley beneath Linlu Mountain to the east were another unparalleled autumn spectacle.

According to Zhao Rong’s knowledge, such unique sights were merely two of the eight scenic autumn views of the Academy; in addition to these, there were also the "Mountain City Clear Mist," "Rainy Evening Bells," "Linlu Autumn Moon," and other splendid scenes.

At this time, it was the afternoon.

At the foot of Linlu Mountain, within Cheng Cong Valley.

A group of students from Mochi, neatly dressed in blue collars, were quietly walking in the valley, led by the only young scholar not dressed like a student, who strolled ahead with his sleeves rolled up, back ramrod straight, glancing around now and then, his clear eyes reflecting the golden ginkgo woods of the valley.

The young scholar’s followers, though, kept a considerable distance behind him, neither too close nor straying away, trailing behind like a kite on a string, liable to be blown away by the wind at any moment.

However, there were two exceptions.

One was a student with a White Jade Hollow Jade Gourd tied around his waist, staying very close to the leading young scholar, matching his pace step by step, looking at the latter’s back with a face powdered pale and an expression of hesitancy.

The other was a short-statured young woman with a plain face, her student’s outfit appearing too large for her. She stood between the leading young scholar and the neatly dressed group of students behind him, frequently frowning at the "new Teacher" in front and then turning to look at the assorted expressions of her classmates.

This bizarre combination of attendees attracted the attention of many passersby.

Could it be considered... a unique scenic sight?

The young scholar leading the way seemed oblivious to any oddity, casually strolling with his hands behind his back, enjoying the scenery along the way, while his classmates... or rather his students, followed quietly behind, which wasn’t an issue, although among them many had started to show expressions of confusion, displeasure, and discontent...

Under the valley, the ginkgoes cast shade, and the suspended streams washed over the stones’ purity.

The sunlight was just right in the afternoon.

Under the sun, the tall, golden yellow ginkgo trees, swaying with the gentle autumn breeze, shimmered, creating a long, golden canopy that stretched into a small shaded lane.

Zhao Rong stepped forward, and as this golden, vivid scroll unfolded before him, his eyes were filled with the warm hues.

The autumn breeze at noon was pleasantly warm.

Among the ginkgo trees and beside the springs, on the bluestone, one could occasionally see students from the Academy sitting quietly and reading in secluded spots.

Therefore, everyone’s steps became naturally light.

However, some odd noises still echoed through the valley.

Cheng cong————!

The source of the sound from somewhere within the valley was unclear, but it wasn’t noisy, not disturbing the scholars’ reading, and upon listening closely it carried a tune that calmed the mind and concentrated the spirit.

Zhao Rong surveyed the environment in the valley for a while, somewhat understanding the origin of the name Cheng Cong Valley, the corners of his mouth curving up as he discovered a good spot for quiet reading and contemplation.

It was the surprise and eagerness of discovering something new.

However, the warmth of the valley’s autumn colors also left him somewhat dazed.

Zhao Rong remembered that at the beginning of the year, when he had just set out from Longquan Crossing in Great Chu, it was Jingzhe with spring thunder awakening the earth and rain pattering on banana leaves; in the blink of an eye, it was now the time of rich autumn colors, thick autumn clothes, and soon it would be the Moon Festival.

He had also grown from a scholar at the foot of the mountain with nothing to his name, step by step, to be a student of the Confucian Academy about to ascend the Fu Yao Realm and transform like a red Jiao dragon into a real dragon, well, mostly a mountain man now, currently halfway to being a Calligraphy Teacher, leading a group of Mochi students who conformed in attire but not in heart.

Thinking of this, Zhao Rong turned back to glance at the students following him and smiled brightly.

The students behind him were briefly startled, exchanging bewildered looks, but some began to feel uneasy; after all, if it wasn’t broad daylight, that sudden smile would indeed have been... quite unsettling.

Zhao Rong, with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face, turned his head away again.

I don’t need your hearts, just your compliance in form will suffice.

He had promised Zhu Yourong that he would teach wholeheartedly and without reservations—it was probably also why Yu Huaijin tacitly allowed him to lead Shuaixing Hall—but whether you listen or not is up to you.

It wasn’t arrogance born of choice whether to learn or not, but a mutual understanding and respect.

Because Zhao Rong was also an ’old student’ and very much understood the feelings of some of his classmates behind him. For instance, he had absolutely no interest in Music Art, but hadn’t he still been compelled by Yu Huaijin to take extra lessons and be serious in front of her, while his mind wandered to what to have for dinner, to awaiting his turn in the cycle of time, and to the relief of finally finishing playing....

To win ’hearts’ is ever so difficult, and besides, he wasn’t interested in the hearts of men either.

With that thought, Zhao Rong shook his head.

Meanwhile, seemingly spurred by the bounty of autumn, he glanced back.

Throughout this past half-year journey, he stumbled upon a silly little fox girl, befriended a scion of a powerful family, outwitted a Daoist gentleman, plotted and blasted a Confucian Scholar with a Golden Core to death, buried a person who was both a teacher and a friend beneath Qingshan, and even promised to meet another "Qingshan"... In the end, Zhao Rong did achieve his purpose set out at the beginning of the journey, returning the jade to Qingmei. Of course, the most important thing was holding her hand and pulling her back into his embrace.

So, hadn’t this past half-year been pretty packed and fulfilling?

Zhao Rong chuckled at his own silence, shaking his head.

For some reason, he suddenly remembered Teacher Fan staying behind in Great Chu, probably still teaching at the Imperial College in Qianjing...

At that moment, Zhao Rong’s pace halted and he suddenly turned, deviating from the path strewn with apricot leaves. He stopped in front of a ginkgo tree by the road, plucked a ginkgo leaf, and carefully tucked it into his sleeve.

The students from Shuaixing Hall who followed behind looked at each other in bewilderment.

His expression as usual, paying no attention to the crowd, he walked back onto the main path and strode forward with big steps.

He vividly recalled the moment he decided to leave Qianjing, when Teacher Fan had parted with the words, "When next year’s spring comes around, don’t be the one who hasn’t returned."

Now it seemed that Zhao Rong probably wouldn’t be returning by next spring. But he couldn’t be considered a "non-returner," because Teacher Fan hoped he would go to find Qing Jun as well. Moreover, "home is where the heart feels at peace," and Zhao Rong felt that wherever Qing Jun and the little one were, that was where home was.

As for Teacher Fan... Maybe just send back a ginkgo leaf, with some words attached. "Seeing one’s face in a letter," to pay him a visit. It’s just that he didn’t know if it could be sent out now, whether it would arrive with the next spring.

The young Confucian Scholar’s thoughts fluttered like the falling leaves beside him.

Zhao Rong felt that now, studying and cultivating leisurely in the Academy, while Qing Jun was nearby in the Taiching Prefecture, diligently on her own cultivation path—they were both busy with their careers. But whenever they missed each other, they could meet with just a short walk. Life like this... seemed pretty nice as well. They could even consider having a child later, round and chubby...

Cough cough, perhaps that was thinking a bit too far ahead.

Then let’s look a bit closer, into the future.

For now, he was to guide the students of the two Halls through their Calligraphy classes, and soon there would be a major examination in the middle of the month. Then came the Moon Festival, the time for families down in the mountain to reunite for the Mid-Autumn Festival. He definitely wanted to spend it with his wife, and Zhao Rong was even planning some surprises for Qing Jun. However, the pressing matter was to enter Fu Yao Realm first, to strive in cultivation. Who knows, while practicing, if he might become physically stronger than Qing Jun. Then he could hold her wrists, clasping both her delicate hands behind her, his wife unable to resist, and then... then might submit to him?

Would that piece of soft jade hidden away in their son’s canteen still be so easy to play with, so generously accessible and openly his for the taking?

It seemed like a promising prospect.

A certain student with the surname Zhao blissfully imagined these daytime fantasies as he went about his business.

Behind him, Fan Yushu, who had been closely following, felt that his good friend was acting out of character.

Seeing the strange smile on Zhao Rong’s face, Fan Yushu quietly reached out to tug at him, whispering, "Hey, Ziyu."

Zhao Rong was taken aback, returning to his senses, "Ahem, what is it... Wait, what did you just call me?"

He pulled a serious face and crossed his arms behind him, glancing at Fan Yushu.

Fan Yushu punched Zhao Rong lightly, "Cut it out, Ziyu. Stop pretending, I know you too well."

Zhao Rong raised his eyebrows and looked back at the students from Shuaixing Hall, all of whom were eavesdropping on their hushed conversation; it was difficult to keep anything secret in the quiet You Valley.

He turned back, frowning, "What’s this about?"

Fan Yushu hesitated a moment, then asked with a glance at his good friend’s expression, "Ziyu, is this what they call ’happy education’? Isn’t this just playing around? You’ve been leading us on a leisurely walk all this time."

Zhao Rong frowned, took a sharp breath, and sized up Fan Yushu, eyes filled with shock, "Indeed, with your intelligence, I could not keep it from you!"

Fan Yushu: "......"

Zhao Rong patted his shoulder and glanced once more at the students from Shuaixing Hall not far away, shaking his head with an emotional tone, "What virtues or abilities do I have to teach you all!"

Yu Huaijin and the other students: "......"

Fan Yushu’s face remained expressionless.

You’re just a member of the Demon Sect!

——————

PS: Suddenly remembered that I forgot to wish you all Happy New Year in the last Chapter. Little Rong, tucked in bed, felt so guilty that he simply couldn’t sleep...

Sleep my ass, Little Rong immediately kicked the covers off and jumped out to start typing. The beautiful and fragrant friend from the group chat, who had come from far away to be with me for a new year´s swordplay, was so startled that he shrank back...

Cough cough, he’s still waiting for me to come back and comfort him, so I better slip away now.

Lastly, I hope everyone can find a good brother to cross swords with in the new year! (If you can’t find one, don’t give that chance away cheaply to a woman, come find Little Rong, you know what I mean?)