Chương 5: The Chosen Disciple

The morning sun had just risen, and the thin mist gradually dispersed. At the beginning of the Rabbit hour, Jiang Huanyu got up and called both little fellows awake. After they simply ate a little, Hu Yufen personally dressed the two little fellows and tidied everything up. Then she instructed them, "When you arrive at the teacher's house, don't be naughty. You both remember the etiquette Mother taught you, right?" The two nodded.

"Mother, don't worry. We both remember." Jiang Huanyu, who was at the side, spoke at this moment.

"All right, it's time to go." The agreed time with Lu Zhiyuan was the end of the Rabbit hour. It was already almost time, so they should set off. Carrying the salted meat prepared yesterday as entrance tuition, Jiang Huanyu took the two little fellows and went out. Hu Yufen personally saw the father and sons out of the house, watching the figures of the three disappear into the alley. Lu Zhiyuan liked quietness. His small courtyard was built outside Golden Willow Village, near a small stream.

Jiang Huanyu brought his two sons along the small path between the fields, and very soon they arrived before the small courtyard. The path before the gate was paved with blue bricks, and at the entrance stood two peach trees laden with fruit. When Jiang Huanyu arrived, Uncle Ya was holding a broom and sweeping the fallen leaves before the gate.

"Uncle Ya." Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands and saluted. The two little fellows also imitated his appearance and slightly cupped their hands to Uncle Ya.

"Yi-ah…" Uncle Ya smiled and cupped his hands, then hurriedly placed the broom to the side, straightened his clothes, and led the three into the courtyard. Lu Zhiyuan had lived in Golden Willow Village for more than five years. Jiang Huanyu estimated that he was the first outsider to walk into this small courtyard. This was a two-entry courtyard, with white walls and black tiles. Several ink-black bamboo plants were planted by the entrance screen, lush and flourishing.

A corner archway connected to the inner courtyard. After walking in, on both sides of the straight bluestone path, several orchid plants were planted on the left. The artificial rockery near the wall and the courtyard wall were covered with climbing vines. An exquisite cool pavilion stood beside the artificial rockery, cleverly forming a sense of layers. On the right were several well-tended vegetable plots.

"Uh~" After leading Jiang Huanyu into the courtyard, Uncle Ya pointed at Lu Zhiyuan, who was holding a book scroll in the cool pavilion, signaling for them to go over themselves. Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands, then led Stone and Anu toward the cool pavilion.

"Teacher." When he arrived before the cool pavilion, he cupped his hands and saluted. The two little fellows were also somewhat restrained at this moment and respectfully cupped their hands. Lu Zhiyuan put down the book scroll in his hand, stood up, and cupped his hands. Then he examined the two little fellows. Jiang Huanyu did not speak from the side. He only quietly paid attention to the expression on Lu Zhiyuan's face.

"This old man would like to speak with these two children alone." After examining them for a while, Lu Zhiyuan spoke with a smiling expression. Jiang Huanyu was slightly stunned, then tactfully cupped his hands and left the cool pavilion. Inside the pavilion, Lu Zhiyuan looked at the eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, and asked, "Why do you want to take this old man as your teacher?"

Jiang Wenfeng hesitated somewhat, then respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Mother said Teacher is a great scholar from the Imperial Academy…" When his words reached this point, a trace of disappointment appeared on Lu Zhiyuan's face. He then turned to Jiang Wenyan and said, "You tell me. Why do you want to take this old man as your teacher?" The little fellow raised his head and replied, "Teacher is the most learned person under heaven. If I become Teacher's student and study properly, I can know many things."

After hearing this, Lu Zhiyuan asked with some surprise, "What do you want to know?" Seeing this, the little fellow's eyes brightened. He was just about to speak, but then lowered his voice and said, "Mother said I must not lose courtesy before Teacher. I…" Lu Zhiyuan smiled, stroked his beard, and said, "There is no harm in asking."

"Really?" The little fellow lifted his head excitedly. Lu Zhiyuan smiled kindly.

"Ask." Seeing this, Jiang Wenyan immediately threw the etiquette his mother had instructed him on to the back of his mind. He leaned forward and said, "Teacher, are there rivers, marshes, lakes, and seas in the sky?" Lu Zhiyuan was slightly stunned, then shook his head.

"No."

"Then where does rain come from?" Lu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "It comes from the clouds."

"Then where do clouds come from?" This question actually stumped Lu Zhiyuan. Jiang Wenfeng, who was at the side, saw that his younger brother's tricky and strange question had made the teacher freeze. He hurriedly cupped his hands.

"Teacher, please forgive him. Anu, he…"

"No harm, no harm." Lu Zhiyuan chuckled.

"Do you have any more questions?" Jiang Wenyan tilted his head and said, "When rain falls, it becomes water. Why does water flow toward lower places?" Lu Zhiyuan stroked his beard and said, "Water enters a hundred rivers, and a hundred rivers return to the sea, because the sea is at the lowest place." Jiang Wenyan asked curiously, "What is the sea?" Willow County was located in the western part of Great Yu. The largest river he had ever seen was the Lai River, and he had no idea what the sea was.

Lu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "The sea is the vastest water, boundless and endless." Jiang Wenyan seemed to think about it, then nodded his little head and said, "Then the sea is the smartest water." Lu Zhiyuan was puzzled.

"Why?"

"Because the sea knows to stay at the lowest place, letting all water flow toward it, so it grows the largest!" Jiang Wenyan grinned and said. Hearing this answer, a trace of surprise appeared on Lu Zhiyuan's face, and a ripple also rose in his heart.

"The sea accepts a hundred rivers; it is great because it has capacity." This was a principle he had spent more than half his life comprehending. He had not expected that today, a young child would actually speak astonishing words and express this principle with the simplest speech.

"Hahaha…" Lu Zhiyuan laughed, and his laughter was very loud. It caused Uncle Ya, who was tidying the vegetable plot not far away, and Jiang Huanyu to be unable to help turning their eyes over. The two stood up and looked curiously at Lu Zhiyuan, who was laughing heartily in the cool pavilion.

"Go. Call your father over." Lu Zhiyuan withdrew his smile and looked at Jiang Wenfeng beside him as he spoke. Jiang Wenfeng cupped his hands and hurriedly came before Jiang Huanyu.

"Father, Teacher asks you to go over." Jiang Huanyu patted the dirt from his hands and hurriedly came before the cool pavilion.

"Little Brother Jiang, please accept this old man's bow." If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Seeing Jiang Huanyu, Lu Zhiyuan straightened his sleeves, cupped his hands, and bowed. This scene left Jiang Huanyu completely confused. He hurriedly dodged and returned the salute, saying, "Teacher, why are you doing this?"

Lu Zhiyuan straightened up and looked with relief at Jiang Wenyan beside him, sighing as he said, "This old man began basic education at three. At six, I had already read the classics, histories, philosophers, and collected works thoroughly. At twelve, I passed the imperial examination and became a presented scholar. At the age of twenty, I entered the Imperial Academy."

"After that, I traveled under heaven and visited famous masters and great scholars. By the age of forty, I already claimed to know all learning under heaven."

"I wasted twenty years at the Commandery Academy. Five years ago, I resigned from office and came here, wanting to comprehend a field of learning that surpassed the sages, yet I was never able to find the way."

"When one investigates the Dao, one learns the depth of the Dao. When one observes oneself, only then does one know one's own smallness."

"Alas! Life has an end, and it cannot be defied. The scholars under heaven are all mediocre talents. None could enter this old man's eyes." Lu Zhiyuan stood proudly with his hands behind his back, his voice sonorous and powerful. At this moment, the image of a scholar's proud bones was displayed to the fullest. After this emotional speech, he withdrew his spirit and bearing. Then he reached out and rubbed Jiang Wenyan's head, saying with great fondness, "This child has come for the sake of seeking knowledge.

His heart carries the desire to know. This old man likes him greatly."

"This old man bows to you because you have sent this old man a proud student." After hearing this, Jiang Huanyu's expression was slightly stunned. Then he reacted and quickly looked at Jiang Wenyan, saying, "Anu, why haven't you quickly kowtowed and saluted?" Jiang Wenyan belatedly realized what was happening. He hurriedly bowed his head, knelt on the ground, and performed a great salute.

"Student greets Teacher." Lu Zhiyuan calmly accepted it, then chuckled and helped him up.

"Good, good, good…"

"From today onward, you are this old man's final student."

"All this old man has learned in his life will be taught to you. I hope you can surpass your teacher and reach a height this old man has never attained."

"Go back first. Tomorrow at the beginning of the Rabbit hour, just come straight over." The father and sons cupped their hands and saluted. Then, personally seen off by Lu Zhiyuan, they left the small courtyard. On the way home, Jiang Wenfeng's mood was somewhat low. The teacher had only said to let his younger brother come over tomorrow and did not mention his name at all. Clearly, he had only agreed to accept his younger brother as a student and had not taken a liking to him.

Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu rubbed his head and said, "Everyone has a path suitable for themselves."

"If studying doesn't work, we can still learn martial arts. Father will go to town tomorrow and ask about it." After hearing this, a smile appeared on Jiang Wenfeng's face. In his heart, he actually did not like studying and learning very much either. Earlier, when Lu Zhiyuan had asked him, he had also not known how to answer. When martial arts was mentioned, his heart instead felt somewhat excited.

"Father, I will definitely practice martial arts properly and join the army to become a great general in the future!" Jiang Wenfeng's young face was filled with seriousness. Jiang Huanyu smiled and rubbed his head, but did not speak. When the father and sons returned home, Hu Yufen was standing at the doorway, anxiously looking around.

"Mother!"

"Mother!" When the two little fellows saw their mother, they hurriedly ran over. Hu Yufen bent down and tidied their clothes, then raised her head to look at Jiang Huanyu, who was walking toward her.

"Husband, how was it?" Jiang Huanyu smiled faintly.

"The teacher accepted Anu." Hearing this, a trace of joy appeared on Hu Yufen's face. Then, noticing the disappointment on her eldest son Jiang Wenfeng's face, she quickly squatted down, touched his little face, and said, "Stone, don't be discouraged either. Your father and mother will think of another way." Jiang Wenfeng obediently nodded, and the family of four returned to the courtyard.

"Later, we'll divide this year's grain. Leave enough to pay taxes, store some, and pull the rest to town to sell." Jiang Huanyu said in a deep voice.

"So urgent?" Hu Yufen was somewhat puzzled. She had still wanted to wait for a while. Now that the new grain had just come down, the grain price would not be too high. Jiang Huanyu glanced at Jiang Wenfeng, who was playing in the courtyard, and said in a low voice, "I want to send Stone to the martial arts school in town to learn martial arts."

"This child's mind is not on books." Hu Yufen also knew that her man was right, but she was still somewhat worried.

"I heard that learning martial arts requires talent, and one must be able to endure hardship."

"More importantly, if you want to lay a good foundation, the money spent will not be a small amount. Our family… can afford it?" There were also quite a few children from Golden Willow Village studying martial arts at the martial arts school in town. The reason their families could afford it was because they had never thought of buying medicinal meals to condition their children's bodies.

They merely wanted the children to learn a few moves through martial arts, strengthen their bodies, and later, no one in the village would dare to bully them lightly. After all, the reputation of having "learned martial arts" still had a certain deterrent effect. Hu Yufen was educated and reasonable, so naturally she would not only have this sort of thought. Her plan was the same as Jiang Huanyu's.

Since they were letting the child walk this path, they had to provide him with the best resources and do everything in their power to let him become talented.

"You don't need to worry about this matter. The family's savings should be able to support two years. I'll think of another way." Jiang Huanyu sighed. Sure enough, people's greatest troubles all came from desire. If he did not want his two children to rise above others and achieve something, then relying on the family's current circumstances and living honestly, how could there be so many vexing matters?

The hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin obtained from Blackwater Pond yesterday could still sell for two hundred taels of silver. Adding the money they had saved over these years, then selling the grain, they should have nearly four hundred taels. If nothing unexpected happened, supporting the eldest in practicing martial arts for a few years should not be a problem. Time passed in a flash, and soon it was night. After the family finished dinner, they all rested early.

Moonlight was like water, hanging in the center of the window lattice. Jiang Huanyu lay on the bed, wanting to turn over, only to discover that Hu Yufen's entire leg was pressing on his body. Helpless, he did not dare move recklessly. He quietly looked at the gauze canopy above his head, thinking about how to make some changes on the current foundation so this family could live a little wealthier. Time passed bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, it was midnight. Ding!

[System Notification: Divination has refreshed.] [Today's Divination · Great Misfortune]: You decide to sell the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin. As a result, it attracts the attention of someone with intentions. You are followed back home. You resist desperately, but the other party is a very powerful martial artist. In the end, you and your family are killed, and the family's property is looted clean.

Most of the time, the system's divinations were insignificant small matters, so Jiang Huanyu had not originally cared much. He would only habitually glance at them after the divination refreshed. But this time, when he saw those blood-red large characters, his heart suddenly trembled, and he sat up from the bed! Great misfortune! Because of a single hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin, he would actually be followed home by a martial artist, ultimately causing his family to be destroyed and everyone to die!?

On a sweltering summer night, Jiang Huanyu was startled into a cold sweat by the words of the divination!

"Husband, did you have a nightmare?" His movement also woke his wife, who had been sleeping soundly beside him. Hu Yufen sat up. By the moonlight, she saw the sweat seeping from Jiang Huanyu's forehead and asked with concern. Jiang Huanyu came back to his senses and turned to look at his wife. The moonlight was gentle. Hu Yufen's hair was loose, giving her a strange, hazy beauty. He gently held his wife in his arms, gradually using more strength. Hu Yufen was completely confused by his inexplicable action.

Although she felt somewhat unable to breathe, she did not struggle. She only quietly stroked Jiang Huanyu's back with her palm and comforted him.

"It's all right, it's all right…" After his mood calmed, Jiang Huanyu released his arms, gently stroked his wife's cheek, lowered his head, and kissed her. After the clouds and rain were overturned and a release followed, Hu Yufen fell into a deep sleep. Jiang Huanyu once again glanced at the divination in his sea of consciousness, and a decision formed in his heart. No matter what, this hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin could not be sold!

Even apart from his wife, he would not let anyone know that he possessed the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin! Early the next morning, Jiang Huanyu, who had risen early, simply ate a little and hurriedly left home. When the sun had just risen, he arrived before a household at the eastern end of the village.

"Is Uncle Sun at home?" Inside the small courtyard, an old woman and two gray-clothed servants were busily drying all kinds of medicinal herbs. Hearing the shout, the old woman turned around.

"A-Huanyu, your Uncle Sun is in the medicine hut. Go straight there." Jiang Huanyu nodded and walked toward the house at the southwest corner of the courtyard. When he reached the door, a faint medicinal fragrance rushed toward his face. Just taking one breath made one feel refreshed and clear-headed. Jiang Huanyu knocked on the door. Only after hearing a "Come in" from inside did he push the door open and enter.

"Uncle Sun, I came to ask you for a prescription." Along both sides of the medicine hut, medicine cabinets were arranged against the walls. In the middle were medicine grinders and all sorts of tools for decocting medicinal herbs. Behind the central table, an old man with a stooped figure and grizzled hair and beard was holding an ancient bamboo slip and carefully studying it. Hearing Jiang Huanyu speak, the old man raised his head and narrowed his eyes for a while.

"Jiang family boy?" Jiang Huanyu nodded and cupped his hands.

"Recently, the heat has been fierce. I always feel dizzy and nauseous, and I have no appetite. I must trouble Uncle Sun to take a look and prescribe some medicine." The old man nodded slightly and said, "Sit. It is probably heatstroke." Jiang Huanyu came forward and sat down, stretching out his wrist. The old man placed his fingers on his pulse and felt it for a while, then said, "It is not very serious. This old man will prescribe you one set of medicine. Go home and boil it, then drink it like tea."

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands in thanks, then asked again, "Uncle Sun, my boy is preparing to go to town to learn martial arts recently. I wanted to ask you for advice. Are there any things to pay attention to in his daily meals?" While grabbing medicinal herbs, the old man said, "Although this old man does not understand the martial path, practicing martial arts is nothing more than needing a good body and abundant blood and vitality."

"If you want him to have some prospects, then the medicinal meals from the martial arts school naturally cannot be lacking. In daily food, it would be better to stew fine meat together with some ordinary medicinal herbs." Jiang Huanyu secretly remembered these things. Then, after hesitating for a moment, he said, "The martial arts school's medicinal meals are quite expensive. Are they truly effective?" After hearing this, the old man smiled.

"The medicinal meals of the martial arts school in town all use precious medicinal herbs. Just the ten-year Blood Toad's shed skin inside costs ten taels of silver for one piece."

"Blood Toad shed skin has the effect of strengthening the foundation, nourishing the origin, generating essence, and replenishing blood. Just a small piece can make a person lively and vigorous for an entire day. Paired with other medicinal herbs, the effect is even greater." Placing the gathered medicinal herbs on kraft paper and wrapping them, the old man smiled and said, "It is only because our Willow County has Blood Toads.

If it were another place, a single medicinal meal probably could not be bought without ten taels of silver." Jiang Huanyu deliberately showed surprise after hearing this.

"Learning martial arts really is a money-burning trade." The old man chuckled.

"Isn't that so? When this old man traveled through the commandery in his youth, I heard that those children of noble families used hundred-year-old Blood Toad shed skins to temper their bodies. Just the cost of medicinal meals alone was at least several hundred taels of silver every month."

"All right. After going back, decoct it over a gentle flame for half an hour. Add more water. Drink it for two days and you'll be fine." Jiang Huanyu quickly cupped his hands.

"Many thanks, Uncle Sun. How much?"

"Thirty copper coins." Jiang Huanyu paid the money and carried the medicinal herbs out of the medicine hut.