My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 456 - 314 Unknown Assessment, Strict Defense_2

Chapter 456: Chapter 314 Unknown Assessment, Strict Defense_2

Zhao Rong glanced at Old Master Meng, the Sacrificial Officer, and roughly sketched out the old man’s status within the family...

At the same time, he gained a renewed understanding of a certain traditional woman who took minor etiquette to the extreme.

Truly a ’super-sized Yu Huaijin’.

Facing the somewhat guilty Old Master Meng, Zhao Rong nodded and then shook his head.

"I won’t compete with her, and there’s no need to."

Old Master Meng’s whitening eyebrow on the left quirked up, and he watched Zhao Rong with a smile, remaining silent.

Gu Yiwu, somewhat awkwardly, interjected, "Mr. Teacher, that is, the Ritual Skill examination is coming up soon, and I heard that Meng Xuezhen... will she send some students down the mountain?"

Understanding the situation, Old Master Meng nodded, "Mmm, indeed we need to send someone down the mountain, she came just now to discuss this matter."

He chose some details he could share and mused:

"This matter, when Xiao Meng was returning to the Academy and passed by the neighboring Great Li Dynasty, had already been roughly settled. Not long ago, Great Li sent an envoy again, inviting our Academy..."

Old Master Meng paused, glancing at the two youths in front of him with their ears pricked up, listening intently.

He smiled and stopped himself.

"The affairs of Great Li are not something urgent, but as for what exactly it is, I cannot say yet."

"If I did, it would be revealing the questions for the upcoming Ritual Skill examination. Your Teacher Xuezhen plans to use this as part of the assessment for certain Mochi Academy students."

"The examination in the middle of the month will start with Ritual Skill, and the specific details will be announced in the Academy in a couple of days."

Gu Yiwu smiled naively, probing, "Mr. Teacher, is this issue with Great Li kind of troublesome?"

Old Master Meng’s expression remained unchanged.

"A small matter. You are representing the Academy, what trouble could there be? However, compared to the Ritual Skill examinations of the other students remaining inside the Academy, it might be slightly more difficult, but there are gains and losses, and fairness will be ensured."

Gu Yiwu relaxed at first, but upon hearing the words ’slightly more difficult,’ he sighed again.

He turned his head, rubbing the back of his neck.

Old Master Meng lifted his fishing rod slightly, "You don’t have to worry too much. As for who will go, Xiao Meng should consider it carefully and ask for your opinions. However, at least one person from Mochi Academy must go."

Gu Yiwu felt no comfort whatsoever.

He glanced at Zhao Rong, who looked calm, and muttered, "Sacrificial Officer, whatever you say, I feel even more worried now... this ’at least one person’ is going to be me, isn’t it..."

Gu Yiwu wanted to ask more, but Zhao Rong had already opened his mouth.

"Brother Yiwu, it’s getting late. We’ve disturbed the Sacrificial Officer for quite some time. Let’s visit the old teacher another day."

Gu Yiwu nodded.

Old Master Meng laughed and shook his head, "It’s fine. I am just waiting for a few fishing and chess friends."

As he spoke, he turned to look outside the water pavilion toward the courtyard, where he saw the figures of some old friends already appearing.

Seeing this, Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu knew not to stay any longer.

The two of them said goodbye and left.

At the entrance of the water pavilion, Zhao Rong paused slightly, looking up at the plaque of this water pavilion.

Tide Listening Pavilion.

During these days, Zhao Rong had been getting to know more about some of Old Master Meng’s hobbies.

It seemed to Zhao Rong that the old man did not really consider the role of Sacrificial Officer as his main pursuit. It would be more accurate to describe it as a sinecure.

Most days, Old Master Meng had nothing to do except for a routine visit to the Six Halls, peeking through a back door window on tiptoes.

Most of his time was spent meeting with some friends from within the Academy, mostly elderly, to fish, play chess, and the like.

And these friends, who seemed about as old as Old Master Meng, differed greatly in status.

Some were elderly teachers from within the Academy whom Zhao Rong recognized, as well as some older janitors or bell-ringing elders.

They seemed to enjoy each other’s company greatly.

So now, the Tide Listening Pavilion located within the Academy had apparently evolved into a senior activity center.

It was also jokingly referred to by some Mochi Academy students as a place where big shots gathered.

One might even chance upon the seldom-seen Mountain Master if they frequently offered to pour tea or water there.

However, these remarks were mostly made in good humor.

Whether or not these elders had remarkable backgrounds, it was customary to show respect and greet them within the Academy.

After all, most of them had labored within Linlu Academy for a lifetime and deserved respect.

At this moment, Zhao Rong turned his head to look as several elders passed by.

He bowed respectfully.

An elder with a dignified Confucian air carrying a fishing rod bag stopped and returned the greeting.

A kindly-looking elder arrived with a small stool and a bag of sunflower seeds, with a warm smile.

There was also a thin, austere-looking elder carrying a small chess board, bowing his head to read a book, paying no mind.

Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu then turned and left.

On their way back,

Zhao Rong suddenly remembered something and curiously asked:

"By the way, I didn’t see what that person scolding you in front of the Tide Listening Pavilion pulled out earlier. What is that little booklet she was writing in?"

Gu Yiwu’s face instantly darkened.

Just as his mood was improving, it was destroyed again.

He looked around, especially behind him, and after turning around to take a quick glance, he complained bitterly, "A notebook, for tattling. A little notebook."

Zhao Rong raised his eyebrows, "Report to whom? The Sacrificial Officer?"

Gu Yiwu sighed deeply, "The Mountain Master."

He waved his hand dismissively, "Let’s not talk about it. I’m probably going to be docked points again. The good impressions I’ve accumulated before will likely lose most of their value."

Zhao Rong looked at Gu Yiwu’s expression, thoughtful.

Is this about... ’Reading Seed’?

The only thing that seemed to matter greatly to his companion from Justice Hall was probably this.