8mi Chapter 516 : The Four of Them
Chapter 516 : The Four of Them
"Having met you both, this humble student is named Wang Shenghan."The scholar bowed and saluted the two of them.
Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu exchanged glances. They hadn't expected that this person would turn out to be their third roommate.
"This one is Xiao Mochi."
"This one is Lu Xiaoliu."
Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu each introduced themselves.
"For the next few years, the three of us will be classmates," Xiao Mochi said as he looked at Wang Shenghan. "Brother Wang, please come in. We've brewed a cup of tea—come and have some."
"Good, good. Then I won't stand on ceremony," Wang Shenghan said. "I'm just about thirsty anyway."
Wang Shenghan walked into the courtyard and set his pack down in his room.
In the courtyard, Xiao Mochi poured him a cup of tea, and the three of them gradually began to chat.
Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu wanted to learn more about Wang Shenghan, and Wang Shenghan naturally wanted to get to know his two roommates as well.
Wang Shenghan was from the State of Zhao, born of no ordinary background—he was the son of Zhao's current Grand Chancellor.
But Wang Shenghan gave off an approachable air. He didn't resemble a noble-born young master at all. Instead, he seemed more like a scholar from a humble family. His manner of speaking was modest and exceedingly polite.
Lu Xiaoliu didn't try to hide his own origins either. After all, they were going to be classmates from now on—living in the same courtyard, seeing each other every day.
And their time as fellow students could be short, just a few years, or long, over a decade.
So there was no point in hiding it. Sooner or later, they would find out anyway.
Besides, bringing it up himself was also a way to gauge Wang Shenghan's reaction.
If the other party looked down on him, then fine—Lu Xiaoliu would simply keep his distance in the future, maintain only surface courtesy, and preserve appearances.
But to Lu Xiaoliu's surprise, when Wang Shenghan learned of Lu Xiaoliu's background, he only stared in astonishment for a moment, then said with complete sincerity:
"Your mother is truly remarkable."
Lu Xiaoliu froze. It was the exact same thing Mochi had said back then.
Just from that one sentence alone, Lu Xiaoliu felt that this person might be worth befriending deeply.
Though it was their first meeting and they hadn't spoken for long, some people are just like that—you only need to meet them once to feel as if you've known them forever, as if meeting them late is a lifelong regret.
At first, Lu Xiaoliu had been worried he might not get along with his other roommate.
But now, it seemed his worries were unnecessary.
As for the reason behind Wang Shenghan's late arrival, Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu did ask. Yet Wang Shenghan only said he'd had something to take care of, speaking vaguely and not revealing what it was.
Naturally, Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu didn't press him further.
Everyone has their secrets. If he didn't want to say more, then he must have his reasons.
The next day, Wang Shenghan was summoned by Ji Jijiu.
There was no need to think about it—Ji Jijiu was surely questioning him about why he'd been late.
Not long after, Wang Shenghan returned from Ji Jijiu's place.
As if nothing at all had happened.
Xiao Mochi and the other two resumed their everyday student life.
Though Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu had struck that Wei noble unconscious from behind—though that man surely knew who had done it—he had no evidence.
And besides, Elder Jia had certainly applied pressure on his side, telling him not to make a big deal out of it.
Not to mention a mere royal noble—even the Crown Prince of Wei would have to give Elder Jia that much face.
This time, Master Jia accepted a total of twelve disciples.
All twelve were direct personal disciples.
They were the ones Elder Jia had taken a liking to during the academy examinations.
The twelve attended lessons together.
Among them was also one female disciple, named Nan Wenmo.
Nan Wenmo was the daughter of a marquis of the State of Qi, praised as Qi's Number One Talented Lady.
A peerless blend of beauty and talent, with no shortage of admirers.
Yet toward all those pursuers, Nan Wenmo remained indifferent and unresponsive.
Among the three hundred new disciples in White Deer Academy, the most talented were precisely these four under Ji Jijiu (Chief Instructor).
Every time Ji Jijiu attended various scholarly gatherings, his face would be glowing with pride.
And gradually, Xiao Mochi and the other three became the closest of friends.
Scholars of the Confucian path improved their cultivation realm through learning and knowledge.
In less than five years, the realms of the four of them had reached the Nascent Soul stage.
Two more years passed. During a debate assembly at Luomo Peak, the four of them not only refuted every student of their own cohort, but even argued the senior brothers of Luomo Peak into utter defeat, leaving them mortified and ashamed.
In the end, Xiao Mochi and Nan Wenmo formed one pair, while Lu Xiaoliu and Wang Shenghan formed the other—four people debating in two matched teams.
After that, Ji Jijiu realized that with his own scholarship, he could no longer teach these four.
These four had all graduated from his instruction.
After the debate assembly, Xiao Mochi and the others were called to Jia Junjie's courtyard.
"This debate assembly made this old man realize… there is nothing left that I can teach you," Ji Jijiu said with emotion as he looked at the four disciples before him. "From today onward, you have already completed your training."
Jia Junjie had a feeling—these four would become the finest disciples he would ever have in his entire life!
"Mochi—truthfully, in my heart, your talent is the greatest. But you love to play too much and cannot settle your mind.
If only you could devote more of your attention to your studies, you would rise yet another level.
Also, your temperament is far too impulsive. A gentleman persuades with words, not fists. But you, with such great learning, love to make others submit by force."
"Xiaoliu—you are gentle by nature, mild in temperament, always yielding when you can.
But Xiaoliu, remember this: there are some things we cannot yield.
Before you can make others comfortable, you must first make sure you yourself are comfortable.
To save others, you must first save yourself."
"Wenmo—you are already known as the Number One Talented Lady of Qi, so there is no need for me to say much. Yet in my view, you could even become the Number One Talented Lady under Heaven.
But your nature is stubborn. Sometimes you are too rigid and cannot turn your thinking around. In the future, you may suffer a great loss because of this."
"Shenghan—you carry the world in your heart. Among the four of you, your learning is also the highest. You are the eldest and the most mature, and you always take care of the others.
In the future, if they encounter trouble, you must counsel them well."
"Yes, Teacher," Wang Shenghan said, bowing with hands clasped.
"Then, Teacher… can we go down the mountain now?"
Lu Xiaoliu asked, feeling that everything had come too suddenly.
How many years had he been at White Deer Academy?
And now he was leaving?
"Down the mountain?" Ji Jijiu chuckled. "You're thinking too much. Though this old man can no longer teach you, there are still those whose learning surpasses mine. From now on… you will go to the Headmaster instead."