Chapter 12: Reading the Morning Air with Grandeur
Chapter 12: Reading the Morning Air with Grandeur
"Father, Mother, I'm off."
As the sky began to lighten, Su Changqing stepped out of the house and set off toward the foot of Greenhill.
Yesterday, Scholar Li had given him a few books, and he had finished them all. Though not many, they had greatly benefited him. The more he knew, the more he craved knowledge. He had gradually grown to love the feeling of constant improvement.
Feeling motivated, Su Changqing walked briskly out of the village.
"Cough, cough, cough. Changqing, are you going to read?"
On the way, Su Wenlin, his neighbor, greeted him with a pale face.
"Huh? Uncle Wenlin, what's wrong? Why are you coughing so much?"
Su Changqing stopped, concerned.
Greenhill Village was small, and the neighbors were all close. Seeing the usually robust Uncle Wenlin looking unwell made him worried.
"Oh, it's nothing. I caught a bit of a cold yesterday. I'll be fine in a few days."
Su Wenlin waved it off with a smile. "Hurry to school. Reading is important, don't be late."
"Uncle Wenlin, make sure to rest. I'll be off."
Relieved it was just a common cold, Su Changqing smiled and continued on his way.
However, he found it strange that many people he met on the way were also coughing.
"Autumn is cold. I should remind Father and Mother to be more careful."
As he walked, Su Changqing thought to himself, "I wonder if Scholar Li has any recipes for medicinal stones."
Before long, the book house came into view.
"Master Li."
Su Changqing called out and pushed the door open.
Inside, Li Qingchen was engrossed in the notes from the Scholar Emperor that Su Nan had given him. Without looking up, he gestured to the bookshelf filled with books and said:
"Your time here will be spent reading."
"Among all the ways to learn, reading is the simplest and the most challenging. To achieve greatness in the path of the Scholar, you must have a vast foundation of knowledge."
"The more you read and understand, the more you will grasp the principles of the world."
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Remember, don't rush. You must truly understand the meaning before you can say you've finished a book."
Su Changqing turned to the bookshelf, feeling motivated. He nodded.
"Understood, Master. I will read every book carefully."
With that, he pulled out a book at random, found a seat, and began reading.
As usual, he read incredibly fast. Despite skimming, his terrifying insight allowed him to instantly understand every word and its meaning.
Time passed quickly, and the sunlight through the window turned golden.
"Learning is endless. The Scholar Emperor's mastery of Confucianism is truly awe-inspiring."
Li Qingchen put away the notes, stretching lazily. But when he saw Su Changqing, he was taken aback.
By Su Changqing's side, a pile of books had grown to an astonishing number—over a hundred.
"Did you read all of these in one day?" Li Qingchen's eyes widened.
These were not ordinary books from the continent but rare Confucian treasures from the Holy Academy. While they didn't involve cultivation, they contained an immense amount of knowledge.
Even a great scholar from the Holy Academy could only read one or two books a day. Su Changqing had read over a hundred?
"Changqing."
Li Qingchen couldn't help but interrupt Su Changqing, who was still reading.
Su Changqing looked up at Li Qingchen, his eyes bewildered.
"This..."
This glance made Li Qingchen abruptly stand up, his eyes wide with shock. At that moment, Su Changqing's eyes were bloodshot, though he appeared slightly tired, his gaze was abnormally bright, as if it could pierce through the soul.
In just one day, Su Changqing's demeanor had undergone a significant transformation. He no longer looked like a simple villager but more like a scholar, bearing a striking resemblance to Li Qingchen.
More importantly, Li Qingchen's gaze seemed to penetrate Su Changqing's chest, where a tiny yet extremely pure stream of energy resided.
The Righteous Aura!
"Learning the Righteous Aura in a single day, this..."
Li Qingchen's mind was flooded with a wave of astonishment. For someone of Su Changqing's age to cultivate the Righteous Aura through reading wasn't particularly surprising; it was common in the Imperial Academy. But how many days had Su Changqing been reading? He hadn't even looked at a book before he turned eighteen, and now, in just one day, he had cultivated the Righteous Aura!
"Could he be the reincarnation of the Imperial Scholar?"
Li Qingchen remained silent, having seen many prodigies, but none could compare to Su Changqing. Su Changqing's level of insight had surpassed his understanding.
"No wonder the head of the Su family is making such an effort to suppress him."
"Such talent and insight, if not restrained, could lead him to the peak in a very short time."
"At that point, without a matching character, he would be doomed."
Li Qingchen took a deep breath, suppressing his shock. He then discreetly flicked his fingers, extinguishing the Righteous Aura in Su Changqing's chest. It wasn't time for Su Changqing to start cultivating yet; Su Nan's plan was for it to begin in two years.
Moreover, Su Changqing didn't need that bit of Righteous Aura. He had already accumulated considerable cultivation from the Imperial Scholar's statue. He would inherit it all once he entered the Imperial Academy.
Now, these minor details shouldn't interrupt Su Changqing's studies.
"Ah, it's already the ninth hour?"
Su Changqing, who had been so engrossed in his reading, came back to his senses and hurriedly apologized.
"Sorry, teacher. I was so absorbed in my reading that I lost track of time."
Li Qingchen waved his hand. "Diligence in studies is commendable, but you must also balance work and rest."
"Today's reading was satisfactory, but don't slack off. Your foundation is weak, and you need to finish these basic texts as soon as possible."
Li Qingchen couldn't even look Su Changqing in the eye as he spoke, fearing he might not be able to continue.
Su Changqing, hearing this, looked deeply remorseful.
"I am too foolish, teacher. Rest assured, I will finish these books tomorrow!"
Li Qingchen's lips twitched, and he waved his hand. "Go on, come back tomorrow."
He needed to take a moment to compose himself.
"Understood."
Su Changqing bowed his head and was about to leave when he remembered the encounter with Uncle Wenlin and the others that morning. Hesitating for a moment, he looked at Li Qingchen and asked:
"Master Confucius, do you have any books on refining medicinal stones?"
"Many people in the village have caught a cold, and I want to try learning how to brew a remedy to help them."
Li Qingchen was taken aback. He pointed in the direction of Greenhill Village, somewhat uncertain.
"You mean the people in Greenhill Village?"
"They've caught a cold?"
Li Qingchen thought he might have heard wrong. The people in Greenhill Village were all exceptionally powerful, either Great Kings or Saints. How could they possibly catch a cold?
(End of Chapter)
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