Chapter 647: 疏抿学宫

## Chapter 642: Shumin Academy

He Lingchuan's neighbor and Little Fatty's father were both officially dispatched to Yuheng City, as the official accounting department was overwhelmed. The large number of accounts indicated a multitude of diverse matters.

"Why is Yuheng City being expanded?" He Lingchuan calculated the locations of the two places in his mind. "I thought Panlong City placed more importance on Xiji's old capital. Is it because Yuheng City is on the border, separated from Jintao Nation by only one river?"

"Xiji's old capital is located to the west but on a plain. If Panlong City wants to guard the gateway to the western mountains, it only needs to control Dragon Throat Pass. Yuheng City, as you said, is a border fortress. But from what I see, Commander Zhong's focus in managing Yuheng City isn't on defending against Jintao Nation."

"Oh?" He Lingchuan hadn't visited in a long time and was unaware of the changes in Panlong City's eastern territories. "Tell me about it."

"Two scholars who recently returned from Yuheng City said that Xiji Nation is actually plagued by banditry. Even Yuheng City has been plundered by bandits from the south."

He Lingchuan asked, surprised, "Bandits plundering a military town? That's unheard of."

When he was the young master in Blackwater City, there were always sand bandits on Red Cliff Road. However, they only robbed merchants and travelers, never disturbed border towns, and fled at the sight of officials and soldiers.

Bandits are generally quite disorganized, making it difficult for them to form a proper local armed regime to challenge the authorities. That's why the sand bandits of Red Cliff Road had an old saying: "The people (bandits) do not fight officials."

"The southeast of Xiji seems quite unusual," Sun Fuling chuckled. "Ruthless bandits are rampant, and the authorities have no effective way to deal with them. These bandits even threaten the southern trade routes. I heard Xiji built official roads that took a detour just to avoid them, but they still plundered the southern trade routes."

He Lingchuan nodded. "When I went to Yunzhen Island to buy things, White Fatty always made excuses for price increases, claiming that bandits were rampant on the southern road and goods couldn't be transported." Besides the Ghost Cicada Molts, there were also many delicious fruits, whose prices increased every single time he bought them!

"Now that Xiji belongs to Panlong City, I wonder what Commander Zhong's plans are for these ruthless bandits."

He Lingchuan thought for a moment. "Commander Xiao, who was previously stationed in Yuheng City, has been transferred back. I wonder who will be sent there next."

Sun Fuling hummed in acknowledgment, resting her elbows on the wooden armrest, supporting her head as she gazed up at the sky. "It's been a long time since we had such good weather." Above them was a deep indigo sky, the Milky Way twinkling like diamonds scattered on black velvet.

He Lingchuan's gaze moved from her tight, well-defined jawline to the night sky. He casually glanced for a moment, and then he froze. "Huh?" He couldn't help but point. "When did that star light up?"

Thanks to the missions he had performed in reality, he could already identify the positions of the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper in the night sky at a glance. However, next to the Alkaid star, another bright star was twinkling, its brightness far exceeding that of the Nine Stars!

"When did this star appear?" Sun Fuling was also observing carefully. "I don't seem to have seen it before."

But He Lingchuan knew: that was the Sky Net Star! Doesn't the Sky Net Star only appear when the Grand Cauldron is activated? Why is it shining tonight? Could it be that Zhong Shengguang or General Hong activated the Grand Cauldron? No, that's not right. Given their caution, they wouldn't do so lightly unless they were fully prepared. So, the most likely possibility is... The Dragon Punishing Pillar?

Shao Jian has been gone for a while. Have people started using the Dragon Punishing Pillars that he distributed? He Lingchuan's mind raced. The Grand Cauldron has always responded to his urgent needs. In reality, he needs to deal with the core of the Spirit Gathering Array. Will Panlong City provide corresponding assistance?

"Is there anyone skilled in celestial phenomena within the Academy, or in Panlong City?"

"Celestial phenomena?" Sun Fuling replied without hesitation, "Yes, Dean Xu."

Xu Shichu? He Lingchuan had attended his public lecture on ancient demon immortals, in which Mount Ju was mentioned. So Dean Xu's interests were that broad? Sun Fuling seemed to read his thoughts. "The Dean is learned and versatile, proficient in everything from astronomy to calendrical calculations."

"What about divination?"

"Well... we all think Mr. Wen Daolun is better at it, but the Dean doesn't think so." She gave He Lingchuan a side-eye and playfully chided, "Are you trying to catch me on a slip of the tongue?"

As soon as she glared, He Lingchuan immediately said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." He quickly returned to the main topic. "I'd like to consult Dean Xu about something."

"Personnel changes at the Academy are frequent, and with the major examinations to organize, Dean Xu has been extremely busy recently."

He Lingchuan bowed repeatedly to her. "Teacher Sun, please help me. With your vast abilities, you can surely arrange it for me."

Sun Fuling smiled, shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks. "If I go to great lengths to arrange it for you, what's in it for me?" The words "go to great lengths" were emphasized.

The Teacher Sun he had first met didn't seem to be like this. Who did she learn such tricks from?

"Then, you can command me as you wish?" He Lingchuan patted his arm and said heroically, "I'm a big man, you can use me however you like." He wouldn't dare say such things to Li Qingge, but Teacher Sun was a respectable person; she surely wouldn't "use him however she liked," right?

Sun Fuling glanced at him, and her look made him feel a little guilty. But she quickly bit her lip. "In a few days, I'll also be sending a batch of books to Yuheng City to be printed into textbooks there, and while I'm at it, order the examination papers for next spring. Will you come with me?"

He Lingchuan looked at her sideways. "You compile both textbooks and examination papers? Teacher Sun, what exactly is your position at the Academy?" He had originally thought Sun Fuling was just an ordinary teacher at the official academy, simply teaching and disciplining young children. Now, it seemed her role was more significant. That's right, now that he thought about it, she was the Dean of the Academy's personal disciple, and was familiar with Wen Daolun – these were all top figures in Panlong City. So, how could she just be a mere teacher?

"Finally remembered to ask today?" Sun Fuling huffed. "I am a Scholar of the Academy."

"Ah!" He Lingchuan was a little surprised. "So you are Senior Sun! My apologies for my disrespect!" Here, 'Scholar' isn't just an academic degree; it's a proper academic official who not only imparts knowledge and teaches but also manages books and records. They receive an official salary. No wonder Teacher Sun had so much firewood at home that it piled up in the corner, more than she could burn, eventually being sent to him. She also freely bought wine, meat, and snacks. So she was earning a high salary!

"You're too kind, Captain He." The donkey cart entered the South City Plaza. Instead of going directly to the Academy, it followed Sun Fuling's instructions and turned towards the market first. "If you're asking someone for a favor, it's not good to go empty-handed," Sun Fuling instructed him. "Go to the seventh shop and buy some cloud slice cake; don't get their signature sesame flavor, but the fresh cream one. Then buy a pound of butterfly pastry, the caramelized flavor. Then go to the shop across from White Fatty's and buy two boxes of tea transported from Xincheng in the south. Now that the southern trade routes have opened up, Dean Xu has recently become fond of aged tangerine peel tea."

He Lingchuan bought the items one by one and got back into the cart. This time, the donkey cart stopped directly at the Academy's entrance.

In front was the main gate of the Academy, with red walls and gray tiles that were many years old, their brick corners already faded to white. The four large pillars at the front each required four people to embrace them, looking thick and grand, but even the newly painted wood could not hide their original aged appearance. Embedded in the walls on both sides of the main gate were brick carvings: a dragon's head on one side and a mythical bird on the other, both highly stylized.

"This place has existed for over three hundred years, established even before the Xiluo Kingdom," Sun Fuling said. "After Commander Zhong took over Panlong City, he began expanding it, but preserved the Academy's old main gate, ancient buildings, and numerous old trees." She patted a large pillar. "Every year, new students entering through the main gate for the first time must pass these 'Questioning Pillars'."

Questioning?

Under the Academy gate's double eaves and *dougong* brackets, only the signboard was new, reading "Shumin Academy" in gold characters on a blue background, looking grand and dignified. He Lingchuan had passed through the south of the city countless times, even visited the adjacent government office twice, but had never entered Shumin Academy. Perhaps after studying for over a decade in the past, his subconscious mind simply didn't want to step into a school again.

Now, following behind Teacher Sun, he obediently stepped over the threshold. Like most schools he had seen before, a large plaza lay behind the Academy gate, with an exceptionally smooth bluestone ground, interspersed with hundreds-of-years-old towering trees. In the middle of the plaza was a large, square pond, where the koi were so fat they could barely swim. It was getting dark. He Lingchuan also saw several young men sweeping the plaza with bamboo-leaf brooms. Within the Academy, the swishing sound was remarkably pleasant.

"I thought there were only children in the Academy." Were there actually so many robust young men? Several others secretly watched Teacher Sun. He Lingchuan gave them a sharp glare, and the men obediently returned to sweeping.

"There are students of all ages; the oldest student I've taught was seventy-two," Sun Fuling said, walking briskly further in. "Commander Zhong has been in office for seventeen years and has always encouraged commoners to diligently study and cultivate. Therefore, the students are mainly young and strong adults, and they quickly apply what they learn."

Land in Panlong City was valuable, yet the Academy occupied forty *mu*, an area equivalent to two government offices. This clearly showed Zhong Shengguang's emphasis on the Academy. The entire Academy was divided into four sections of large courtyards, with a very strict structure. Many teachers and students passing by greeted Sun Fuling. Teacher Sun's popularity at the Academy was indeed excellent.

Upon entering the Academy, the clamor and rush from outside seemed to vanish, replaced by the lingering fresh scent of grass and leaves. Walking on such a campus path with a beautiful woman beside him, He Lingchuan felt a sense of peace, and his worries from reality were cast aside.

He started a conversation. "The capital of Beijia Nation also has an ancient spiritual tree called the 'Questioning Tree'."

"The one on Mount Xu?" Sun Fuling had clearly heard of it too. "I heard it was originally the guardian tree of the Great Revival Sect, and after enduring a world-shaking calamity, it helped the Great Revival Sect defeat a sky god. I'm surprised the Northern Demon Nation didn't cut it down when they occupied Mount Xu."

"They were originally going to cut it down," He Lingchuan explained, "but I heard that Shan Ze and the Precious Tree King both pleaded for it, and only then did the Demon Emperor spare it. Now it's a major scenic spot on Mount Xu."

"You know all this?" Sun Fuling praised him with a smile. "It seems you haven't put your books down. I was worried that with your heavy duties, you wouldn't have time for other things."

He Lingchuan gave a wry smile. "Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you survive." In reality, every time he entered Panlong City, two new books would appear by his bedside. Needless to say, these were Teacher Sun's masterpieces.