Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 705 - 635 Seat

DRIP.

Ink dripped from the tip of the brush, permeating the rice paper and forming a spot of ink.

Li Ang held his brush, hesitant to write. After a long time, he sighed deeply and put the brush back on the rack.

Despite the years of studying at the Academic Palace, his calligraphy had hardly improved. Even with Mo Si’s assistance, his handwriting was neat but lacked spirit.

This half-finished Sangluan-style calligraphy might as well stay for my own viewing.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

A rapid knocking sounded from outside. Li Ang set aside the calligraphy piece, got up, and walked to open the gate, seeing a bearded Cheng Juxiu.

"The teacher has been bailed out by me; I just sent him home."

The two walked back to the courtyard, creating a Telekinesis shield to block the drizzle. As they sat down, Cheng Juxiu stated, "It seems he hasn’t suffered much. Apparently, the garrison didn’t dare to really do anything."

Jun Qianzi had detonated hundreds of miles of dikes along the Yellow River, creating a catastrophic flood; his crimes were indescribable. His appearance also stirred up remnants from years ago. As the one who had indirectly let him escape, Pu Liuxuan was once again taken by the garrison for investigation.

Li Ang made tea, saying sincerely, "Senior Brother, you have worked hard."

"It’s nothing," Cheng Juxiu shook his head and smiled. "But what about you? Haven’t those people chilled your heart these past days?"

"It’s alright."

Li Ang could only force a bitter smile.

Back then, in Xingzhou City, all the officials and garrison soldiers had been simultaneously assassinated by Ya Jiu. Only Li Ang, who had impulsively visited Xingzhou, remained an unintended factor.

It was he who sent the news back to Luoyang and Chang’an, calling for reinforcements. However, this did not prevent voices of suspicion within Yu Country.

Why did Li Ang just happen to appear in Xingzhou when Zhao Ming made his move?

Why could Li Ang move freely amongst many Candle Cloud Cultivators and even escape without serious injury?

Why, according to a few eyewitnesses, did Li Ang release some secret technique in the city, summoning a puppet that resembled Lu Fengxian? The Academic Palace shouldn’t have taught him that, should it?

With such suspicions piling up, anyone else would have been locked up in the Academic Palace or a garrison dungeon by now.

It was only because the Mountain Master had left Ta’an Village without expressing anything unusual, and because of Li Ang’s special status, with guarantees from people like Tantai Leshan, that he was not imprisoned.

Nevertheless, necessary surveillance was still imposed. At this very moment, Cultivators of unknown identity were hiding in Golden City Square, quietly watching Li Ang’s home, unclear whether they were from the garrison or the Imperial Palace.

After drinking tea for a while, Cheng Juxiu asked, "The Mountain Master’s funeral is tomorrow. Are you going?"

Li Ang paused for a long time before slowly shaking his head. "I won’t go."

He, like the Mountain Master, believed only in himself, not in Gods and Buddhas or the afterlife, convinced that death meant all was void. Moreover, tomorrow... there will surely be people I don’t want to see, people I find repulsive.

"...It’s better not to go. I’m leaving."

Cheng Juxiu downed his tea in one gulp and stood up to leave.

Early morning, at the Imperial Temple.

The rain that had lingered over the Human World for many days finally ceased. Emperor Yu, clad in simple mourning clothes, stepped down the stairs with Shen Tuyu, Chen Danqiu, and Su Feng. Each taking a corner, they lifted the Mountain Master’s coffin.

The coffin, traditionally made from Yin Chen Wood, was light. It contained no bones or remains, just a set of clothes and a sword.

Yet, at the same time, it was immensely heavy, as if weighing a ton, pressing down on the four men into a silent solemnity.

The coffin was carried out of the Imperial Temple and carefully placed on a carriage, which then drove towards Vermilion Bird Avenue.

Academic Palace Disciples, and officials and scholars from the Academic Palace, dressed in mourning clothes, followed behind. Common people, who had spontaneously come to send the Mountain Master on his last journey, filled both sides of the street. They held white flowers, bowing their heads in remembrance as the carriage passed. The whole of Chang’an City was deserted.

Solemn-faced garrison soldiers, whether maintaining order on the streets or watching from high buildings, were alert to any potential threats.

Fortunately, all was peaceful.

The funeral procession passed through Vermilion Bird Street, exited the city from the western gate, and headed towards Xia Mountain, eventually stopping in a cemetery at the foot of Xia Mountain.

"In the seventh year of Wei Zaiqian, year of Bingwu..."

Following ancient rites, the Sacrificial Officer and Emperor Yu recited the eulogies in turn. As the coffin sunk into the ground and the tomb was covered with the last shovelful of earth, Lian Xuanyao’s life thus came to an end.

The common people were the first to disperse, followed by the Academic Palace Disciples and disciples from other academies. Emperor Yu stood in front of the grave, reflecting for a long time, before he finally suppressed his mournful demeanor and led the officials back to Chang’an.

Only five people remained in the cemetery: Chen Danqiu, Tantai Leshan, Xue Che, Xi Yangyu, and Cui Yixian.

"From now on, the responsibility of the Academic Palace rests on your shoulders."

Chen Danqiu slowly raised his head, finding the now empty cemetery eerily silent, with tombstones standing mute, each telling the history of the Academic Palace.

"Senior Brother..."

Tantai Leshan looked on with a complex expression. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, he still did not know what to say when the moment arrived.

"Take care of your responsibilities. Don’t let our teacher down."

Chen Danqiu smiled faintly, removed his mourning clothes, and gently placed them in Tantai Leshan’s hands. "I’m leaving."

Having just been appointed as Mountain Master less than ten days ago, he turned elegantly and strode deep into Xia Mountain.

In the mysterious, fog-shrouded mountain, a grand, Nameless temple silently opened its doors, as if a gigantic beast was opening its sinister maw, welcoming Chen Danqiu’s arrival. He was entering a life-or-death seclusion to break through to Lin Yuan. Only by doing so would he possess the power to protect the Academic Palace and Yu Country.

Sword Study Master Cui Yixian walked silently along a secluded path by Chuiyun Lake.

This was his small habit. Whenever his mind was troubled or he faced difficulties in his Sword Study, he would come here for a walk—this path had many insects, so he rarely encountered Academic Palace students who were secretly dating there.

Lian Xuanyao had suddenly passed away, and Chen Danqiu had sequestered himself away from the affairs of the world. The world had changed drastically in just ten days.

My own sword is still not sharp enough.

"Cui Siye?"

A voice called from not too far away. A senior male student in Academic Palace uniform, his sleeve adorned with a white cloth, hurried towards him.

"Xuru?"

Cui Yixian frowned. The newcomer also bore the surname Cui, from the same Qinghe Cui Family, and was his distant nephew by lineage.

However, Cui Yixian was a carefree person. He preferred the simple and unadorned Sword Study over the elaborate formalities of his clan. Thus, he wasn’t closely involved with the Cui Family. He never showed favoritism toward younger clan members studying at the Academic Palace, merely acknowledging them.

"Uncle."

Cui Xuru came to a stop, switched to a different form of address, and said with a smile, "You haven’t been back to Qinghe for several years. Great-grandfather wants to see you."

"I saw him at the funeral. There’s no need to see him again."

Cui Yixian’s expression remained blank as he walked past his distant nephew, heading straight forward.

Cui Xuru’s great-grandfather, who was also the Cui Family Patriarch, had old ties with the Mountain Master and had made an appearance at the recent funeral—seated among the representatives of the Five Families and Seven Hopes.

Cui Xuru turned to watch Cui Yixian’s retreating figure, lowered his voice, and said, "Your uncle is also there."

"..."

Cui Yixian paused. He had lost his father at a young age and was raised by his uncle, for whom he had always been grateful. Upon reaching adulthood, he had married his uncle’s daughter.

"I’ll lead the way."

Cui Xuru restrained the smile on his face and jogged ahead to lead the way, leaving the Academic Palace and getting into a carriage.

The carriage entered Chang’an City and stopped behind a restaurant. Cui Yixian ascended a building and was led by a waiter into a private room.

In the room, already filled with members of the Cui Family, his uncle sat awkwardly in a corner of the round table. Seeing Cui Yixian, his uncle couldn’t help but show an apologetic expression.

"Yixian,"

At the head of the round table, the white-haired, vigorous Cui Family Patriarch stroked his grizzled beard and said leisurely, "This position of Mountain Master should be yours."