bookbashuk Chapter 5 The Gentleman on the Second Floor
Chapter 5 The Gentleman on the Second Floor
"Young friend Su, you're here!"
"Come here quickly, the teacher at the back of the academy wants to see you."
Professor Huang He's voice came from not far away, his tone full of excitement.
The four characters "Back Mountain of the Academy" drew the attention of Su Yu, Li Yu, and Chen Pipipi like a spell.
Su Yu bid farewell to Chen Pipi and headed towards Professor Huang He's location with Li Yu.
Chen Pipi was left standing there, stunned. Behind the academy, on the second floor, was his ultimate goal for this trip—a place full of endless fantasies, which he also longed to visit.
"Young friend Su, have you ever heard of a two-story academy?"
On the way to meet the teacher at the back of the academy, Professor Huang He tentatively asked Su Yu, since Su Yu had just started practicing cultivation and Huang He couldn't guess how much Su Yu knew about the current cultivation world.
"I've heard the legend," Su Yu said.
The academy was a treasure trove of talent for the Tang Empire, the largest and most prestigious institution of learning in the world, and a source of pride for the people of Tang.
The second floor of the academy is an even more sacred place built behind this top-tier institution of learning, the foundation upon which the Tang Dynasty stood for a thousand years.
Professor Huang He proudly told Su Yu about the legend of the second floor of the academy.
"There are unknowable places and unknowable people in this world."
"The second floor of the academy is an unknowable place within the Great Tang Empire, and also the only unknowable place in the world at present."
"People only know that the outer courtyard of the academy recruits hundreds of disciples every year. After graduation, these disciples become the backbone of the Tang Empire, and the outstanding ones become important figures in the eyes of some people."
"But this outer courtyard is just the tip of the iceberg of the academy."
"The reason this academy is an academy is because on the second floor of the academy stands the most sacred and great headmaster, the Master!"
When Professor Huang He spoke of Confucius, his shoulders trembled slightly with excitement, his voice trembled almost imperceptibly, but his eyes shone brightly, as if flames were burning in them, almost overflowing.
"Su Yu, you must have heard the legends about the Master."
Su Yu nodded and said, "Master, you should be the teacher of all things."
Professor Huang He said, "Ordinary people have never seen the Master and think that he is just a legend, but I know that the Master has always been alive. He has lived for many years, for a very long time."
"He will live on, past, present, and future."
"Countless cultivators exist in the world, but only in the unknowable realm can one ascend to the pinnacle, stand among the strongest, and gaze upon the most glorious world!"
"Your opportunity is to ascend to the second floor of the academy and become a disciple of the Master."
"The gentleman I'm about to take you to see is the one on the second floor of the academy, and also a disciple of the Master."
"Su Yu! If there is an opportunity, I hope you can become a disciple of the Master."
Huang He was very serious. He held Su Yu's wrist, hoping that Su Yu would listen to everything he said.
Su Yu has every right to be proud, just like Ke Haoran back then. Even when the Master accepted disciples, Ke Haoran was unwilling to become a disciple. In the end, the Master accepted disciples on behalf of his master, which made him the junior uncle of the academy.
Su Yu is also a Heavenly Master, with all his Qi Sea and Snow Mountain openings. Even if he were to emulate Ke Haoran back then, it wouldn't be impossible. However, Huang He had some selfish motives; he didn't want Su Yu to be too arrogant.
Too much rigidity leads to breakage. Su Yu's talent has already reached its peak. Becoming the Master's disciple would be the greatest pride in the world. If he becomes the Master's junior brother, then who in the world would Su Yu submit to?
Ke Haoran fought against heaven and earth; he suffered greatly.
Since the path taken by our predecessors is no longer viable.
Then let's try a different approach.
Su Yu chuckled and said, "I hope to become the Master's disciple."
Becoming a junior master of the academy would shock the world and attract the attention of Buddhism and Taoism, or becoming a disciple of the Master would give you the greatest backer in the world. Is there even a choice?
Becoming a junior uncle means you have to shoulder your own responsibilities, while becoming a junior brother means you can call on your senior brothers and sisters for help whenever you need it. Why not?
A three-story wooden building hidden deep within the academy, unadorned, with its upturned eaves and corners faded, simply built against the mountainside. The wooden pillars of the building bear the marks of wind and rain, and it is unknown how many years it has stood here.
On the second floor, by the east window, a female professor sat quietly, writing beautiful small regular script. Not far from her stood a pretty young girl.
The young girl was Mu You, the seventh teacher on the second floor of the academy, and the female professor was Yu Lian, the third teacher of the academy, who had sat by this window for many years.
Yesterday evening, after Huang He and Su Yu parted ways, Huang He went to the back mountain of the academy and met the Eleventh Master of the Back Mountain.
Under the guidance of the Eleventh Master, Huang He met the Second Master of the Academy, Jun Mo, and informed him about Su Yu, the Heavenly Enlightened One.
The fact that Qi Sea and Snow Mountain are fully open is a miracle of an era. His talent is comparable to that of his junior uncle Ke Haoran. This news has caused a great shock to the people in the back mountain of the academy.
Before the junior disciple from the Taoist sect had even entered the sect, another peerless genius stood before them.
With neither the Master nor the Head Master present, the disciples discussed together how to approach Su Yu the next day and how to bring him into the second floor of the academy.
Jun Mo is very strong, but he is too proud and not suitable to meet Su Yu, as he might leave a bad impression on her.
Mr. Wang Chi, the eleventh gentleman, was skilled in debate. He could persuade Su Yu, but he might not be able to make Su Yu like the academy.
If the Master were here, it would surely be the kind and honest Master who went to see Su Yu, but unfortunately the Master and the Master were out.
Next were the senior and junior disciples who were skilled in playing the zither, the flute, and chess. It seemed that they were all suitable, but not quite. In the end, after discussion, it was decided that it would be Muyou.
The seventh lady, Mu You, was an expert in formations and enjoyed embroidery, playing cards, and chatting. She became the best bridge to establish a connection with Su Yu.
Thus, the scene of Muyou and Yulian waiting in the old bookstore came about.
"Third Senior Sister, do you think this Tian Tong Zhe will become our junior brother? Or will he become our new senior uncle, just like our junior uncle did back then?"
Upon hearing the words "Junior Uncle," Yu Lian frowned slightly and said softly, "You are free to handle this matter. Whether it's our junior brother or Junior Uncle, it's a good thing for the academy right now."
"The academy needs this support."
Mu You didn't notice her third senior sister's strangeness. She looked out the window and said with delight, "Senior sister, they're here. Should I find a chair to sit down and act a little more reserved?"
Yu Lian shook her head and said softly, "You silly girl, we're not finding you a husband, what's with all the pretense? That's our junior brother."
Mu You blushed slightly and said, "I understand, Third Senior Sister."
Su Yu, who was downstairs, saw the three characters "Old Book Building" from afar. She never expected that she would come here to see the teacher on the second floor of the academy.
The Old Book Pavilion contains all the classics in the Haotian World, including those of cultivators.
Having been preserved by scholars of the academy throughout the ages, the collection of books in the old library of the academy, in a sense, has surpassed the traditional books of the Taoist school.
The rules and regulations of Taoism ultimately restricted the circulation of some books.
The abundance of classical texts in the academy was even more suitable for the unrestrained Su Yu.