The resonance of the bell in the Debate Hall lingered among the rafters for a long time.
The news, however, traveled faster than a mountain breeze.
In less than half a day, everyone in Qingya Academy, from top to bottom, knew one thing.
A young martial artist carrying a red-tasseled spear had left Zhou Yuanhao speechless in the Debate Hall, and Old Master Cheng himself had rung the bell for him.
This was a momentous event!
In the century since the academy’s founding, the bell in the Debate Hall had been rung countless times. However, the instances where Old Master Cheng personally rang the bell for an outsider could be counted on one hand.
That afternoon, several groups of students gathered outside Xiao Langgan, where Chen Zui was staying.
Some came to seek guidance on the “Debate on Righteousness and Profit,” some came to ask about his experiences in the martial world, and a few bold ones even asked if he was still taking disciples.
Annoyed by the persistent students, Chen Zui slammed the courtyard door shut, climbed onto his bed, and covered his head to sleep.
But the way things developed was far more absurd than he had anticipated...
...
Three days later.
When Lu Qinghe came to deliver his meal, he spoke hesitantly, mentioning that over a dozen students had already jointly petitioned Old Master Cheng. They requested the formal establishment of a new course at the academy, specifically to teach the “Harmony of Righteousness and Profit.”
“The student leading them is named Xu Yanping.
He’s a well-known troublemaker in the academy—extremely brilliant in his studies, but he refuses to follow the rules.
Normally, he has quite a few criticisms of Neo-Confucianism.
After hearing Chen-xiong’s words the other day, it was as if he had found a kindred spirit.
They even said they want to invite you, Chen-xiong, to be the lecturer.”
Lu Qinghe’s tone carried a hint of being stuck between laughter and tears.
Chen Zui was shoveling food into his mouth and nearly spat it out upon hearing this.
“Me, a lecturer? What am I supposed to teach them? How to swindle and cheat, or how to pick fights?”
“They say your theory that ‘profit is righteousness’ is unique and can pave the way for a new school of thought by taking a different path from the Confucian classics,” Lu Qinghe explained seriously.
“Nonsense!”
Chen Zui set his bowl down on the table.
“I just said those things on the fly to shut that Zhou Yuanhao kid up.
If you asked me to say it again, I wouldn’t remember a single word.”
That evening.
The student named Xu Yanping arrived at Xiao Langgan with seven or eight like-minded classmates.
At the time, Chen Zui was squatting in the courtyard eating watermelon. He looked up to see a group of young men in azure scholar’s robes standing in a neat row at the entrance.
Their eyes were burning with intensity, as if they had finally found their purpose in life.
Chen Zui felt a shiver of unease just looking at them.
“Mister Chen!”
Xu Yanping took a step into the courtyard and bowed deeply.
“I, Xu Yanping, implore you for your guidance!”
“What did you call me?”
“Mister.”
Xu Yanping looked up, his gaze incredibly sincere.
“What Mister said in the Debate Hall that day was filled with pearls of wisdom.
I have pondered it repeatedly for three days, and the more I think about it, the more I feel that Mister’s words deeply align with the Way of the Sages.”
The students behind him all nodded in unison, like chickens pecking at grain.
Looking at these young men, Chen Zui suddenly felt a headache coming on.
In his past life, he had seen plenty of fanatical fans, but for these Confucian scholars to chase after a martial artist like him—what was going on?
“Alright, alright, stop calling me Mister. It sounds weird.”
Chen Zui waved his hand.
“I’m just a wanderer of the martial world. I’m fine with fighting and meddling in people’s business, but teaching? Go find someone else for that.
You have so many instructors in this academy; any one of them knows more than I do.”
“The instructors teach the principles found in books, but Mister teaches living principles!”
Xu Yanping was relentless.
“I have already joined twenty-three classmates in petitioning Old Master Cheng to establish the ‘New School of Righteousness and Profit.’ Old Master Cheng gave his approval this afternoon. He said...”
“Said what?” Chen Zui interrupted quickly.
“Old Master Cheng said that Qingya Academy was founded on a spirit of academic freedom and is not restricted by sectarian bias. Since the students have a heart for learning, there is no reason for the academy to refuse. However...”
Xu Yanping scratched his head.
“Old Master Cheng said whether this course can be opened depends on whether you agree, Mister.”
Chen Zui fell silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a light laugh.
This Qingya Academy was indeed quite interesting.
He, a martial artist, had gone into their Debate Hall and spouted nonsense, yet not only did they not kick him out, they rang the bell for him and even let the students start a new course.
This level of academic freedom was rare even in his previous world, let alone this one.
“Fine, you want to learn, right?”
Chen Zui tossed a watermelon rind into the corner and wiped his mouth.
“But let me be clear: I don’t know how to give lectures.
If you really want to know what I think, then follow behind me and watch what I do.
If you understand it, you understand it; if you don’t, then forget it.”
Xu Yanping was stunned for a moment, and then an indescribable light flickered in his bright eyes.
He bowed deeply toward Chen Zui again. When he stood up, his voice was more solemn and knowing than before.
“So, Mister intends to teach by example rather than by words, allowing us to see with our own eyes and realize the truth for ourselves.”
He looked back at his classmates and then turned back to Chen Zui, his tone becoming increasingly earnest and firm.
“Rest assured, Mister!
You only need to lead the way!
As for the tedious work of establishing the new school, defining the syllabus, writing books, and debating critics—that is the duty of us scholars.
While Mister practices the principles through action, we will use our brushes as blades.
We will certainly organize Mister’s righteous principles into chapters and pass them down to future generations.
Leave these mentally exhausting trifles to us.”
Xu Yanping’s eyes sparkled as he gave another deep bow.
“...”
At these words, Chen Zui’s lip twitched, and he was momentarily speechless.
Is this what blind worship looks like?
Or is this a case of 'great scholars will handle the debating for me'?
Then, he cleared his throat.
“Can you please stop calling me Mister?”
“Mister, what should we call you then?”
“Call me Chen-xiong,” Chen Zui said with a grin.
“Chen-xiong!”
The seven or eight people shouted in unison, perfectly synchronized.
“By the way, Chen-xiong, I have one more thing to report.”
Xu Yanping straightened his back, the smile on his face fading slightly.
“I heard that Zhou Yuanhao and his group secretly visited the Mountain Lord’s bamboo tower yesterday.”
Chen Zui raised an eyebrow. “To file a complaint?”
“Most likely.
The Zhou family has deep roots in the academy; Zhou Yuanhao’s uncle is Instructor Zhou of the academy.
They probably feel that you shamed them in the Debate Hall and want to use the Mountain Lord’s hand to expel you from the academy.”
Chen Zui wasn’t angry; instead, he smiled.
“Filing a complaint? Excellent.”
He stood up and walked toward the gate.
“Chen-xiong, where are you going?” Xu Yanping chased after him for a couple of steps.
“To file a complaint.”
“Huh?”
“Since they filed one against me, I naturally have to file one back. It’s only polite to return the favor.”
Xu Yanping stood frozen in place.
Could the phrase ‘return the favor’ be used that way?
His classmates beside him also looked at each other in bewilderment.
This Chen-xiong’s style of doing things was indeed completely different from what was taught in books.
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